THE MANILA TIMES | FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Rice tariffication to start March 3 – NFA Council»Story on B1 ++

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Fraudulent portrayal of PH media situation OBSERVER YEN MAKABENTA First word HAVE looked and looked, but I still could not see how the cyberlibel case against Maria Ressa could in any way be construed as involving freedom of the press in this country.

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The right to a good name

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Trusted since 1898

Court set to uphold martial law extension

BY JOMAR CANLAS

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HE Supreme Court is set to deliberate and vote on Tuesday on the petitions assailing the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte to prolong martial law in Mindanao, and Congress for agreeing to it.

Unimpeachable sources of The Manila Times in the high court said an overwhelming majority of the justices sought to uphold the extension.

The petitions against martial law extension were listed on the Supreme Court en banc or full-court agenda on Tuesday, under Item 42.

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HERE is so much about freedom of expression and the right to a free press these days, and not enough, to my mind about the right to a good name — an implicit though crucial limitation to the right to free speech.

TWO weeks since the Department of Health (DoH) declared a measles outbreak, the agency has reported 136 deaths and over 8,000 cases of the disease, and THE kGURES CONTINUE TO RISE

³AquinoA6

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My take on the taho-throwing incident

Rice tariff law has safeguards – Palace

IN MY LINE OF SIGHT

RAMON T. TULFO

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HOT CARS

A fireman hoses the remnants of cars worth millions of pesos charred by the fire that hit the Autoplus Supply Corp. in Mandaluyong City on Monday. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

What’s inside RIGHTS GROUP’S SITE HACKED, SHUT DOWN

MALACAÑANG on Monday assured loCAL FARMERS THEY WOULD BENEkT AND AT THE same time be protected under the recently SIGNED 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION LAW Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo

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‘NOT AN OVERNIGHT DECISION’

NewsA2

BARMM ‘last Sara to decide in 2021 chance for peace’ on presidential run

BY WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL

RESSA’S POLITICAL THEATER

Sass Rogando SasotA6

DURANT WINS MVP, SPARKS TEAM LEBRON COMEBACK IN ALL-STAR SportsC1 GAME

³Extension A2

Measles toll hits 136 as cases continue to rise – DoH

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

HANG Jiale, the Chinese student who threw taho (sweetened soybean curd) on a uniformed cop at a train station, does not represent the whole Mainland Chinese community in the country.

The court was given until Friday, February 22 to rule on the matter as required by law. It must decide on the MATTER WITHIN DAYS FROM THE kLING of the last petition on the case. The last petition against the extension of martial LAW WAS kLED ON *ANUARY

ANN CURTIS FULFILLS DREAM FOR CHILDREN’S WELFARE

EntertainmentD1

THE soon-to-be-established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was the last chance to achieve peace and economic prosperity in the Muslim South and the whole country, according to a respected Muslim leader.

Former TawiTawi governor Alamarim Centi Tillah, special envoy of the President to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Q Former Tawi-Tawi governor Alamarim Centi Tillah ³Chance A2

REACH US AT: E-mail: newsdesk@ manilatimes.net Tel. Nos.: 524-5664 to 67 Address: 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday said she had yet to make up her mind on whether she would run for president or not, amid persistent talk that she was being groomed to be her father’s successor.

Speaking to reporters after the campaign sortie of her Hugpong

³Decide A2

A2

News

˜ The Manila Times

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TUESDAY February 19, 2019

Rights group’s site hacked, shut down

BY DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ

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UMAN rights group Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights said its website was subjected to a cyberattack that led to a shutdown from January 20 to February 15.

)NITIAL kNDINGS OF THE 3WEDISH )4 kRM 1URIUM FOUND THAT THE website was subjected to a spike in numerous massive bogus TRAFkC OR TECHNICALLY DISTRIBUTED denial of service that caused the site to collapse.

As the signature of the attack was found identical to that of

alternative online media groups Bulatlat, Altermidya and Pinoy Weekly earlier this year, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay believed that it was aimed toward silencing the group’s online advocacy.

Bulatlat previously reported the same cyberattack on its website

from January 25 to February 4.

Editors of 18-year-old news website Bulatlat have called the cyberattacks as a means to suppress its freedom of expression. “I think it’s a highly organized and well-funded attack,� Palabay said.

She explained that the attack, which was launched repeatedly and continuously from various virtual private networks, used infrastructure that could only be attributed to those who have resources. “The resources, the money that is needed to undertake those kinds of attacks are really huge,�

Palabay said.

Palabay believed that it was part

of a “continuing effort to silence those who are vocal online and OFlINEu BY TAKING DOWN THE SITE

which is aimed at giving information on human rights cases and advocacies and analysis of issues. “Even the cyberspace is used to suppress and silence these voices so we think that one, it’s a suppression of freedom of expression online. Secondly, it essentially violates people’s right to information,� Palabay aid.

Palabay said that with the assistance of Qurium, the website was migrated to another host and restored. However, cyberattacks persist.

Q DOH FROM A1

Measles toll hits 136 Data from the DoH Epidemiology Bureau showed that from January 1 to February 16, there were 178 laboratoRY CONkRMED MEASLES EPIDEMIOLOGY LINKED CONkRMED MEASLES

“measles compatible� cases, and 3,718 cases with pending status.

The total was well over the 2,393 cases and 23 deaths reported in the same period in 2018.

4HE TOP kVE REGIONS WITH THE HIGHest number of measles cases were Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) with 1,875 cases; Metro Manila, 1,831; Central Luzon, 1,338; Northern Mindanao, 490; and Western Visayas, 484.

Other regions in Luzon recorded 804 measles cases, in the Visayas, 632; and in Mindanao, 979.

The Public Health Surveillance Division of the DoH said that 64 percent of those affected with measles were not vaccinated; 1 percent got one to two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine; 18 percent had no available data on the number of doses received and 16 percent had no available data on vaccination status.

Of the total number of fatalities, 83 percent did not receive an MMR vaccine.

The measles outbreak was declared in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Central and Western Visayas.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd, as well as President Rodrigo Duterte, have repeatedly asked parents to have their children protected against measles

and other curable disease through clinically proven vaccines.

Duque maintained that vaccination remains the best defense against measles.

Government health workers have been deployed in the field to go house-to-house in communities of affected regions to urge parents to have their children vaccinated.

Thousands vaccinated Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), said the organization and the DoH were able to vaccinate children aged kVE YEARS AND BELOW SINCE ITS MASsive anti-measles vaccination drive started last Saturday. “Manila is the battleground for measles. There is no other people who need more fighting chance than those living in Manila,� the Red Cross chairman told The Manila Times in interview.

Gordon said he was confident the PRC and DoH would be able to vaccinate over one million children.

World Health Organization data showed that some 2.6 million FilipiNOS MOSTLY CHILDREN BELOW kVE YEARS old, are unvaccinated.

Health Undersecretary Rolando Domingo admitted last week that immunization rates gone been below the target of 90 to 95 percent.

For the past 10 years, Domingo said the rate was about 70 to 80 percent.

CATHERINE A. MODESTO AND ED VELASCO

Q DECIDE FROM A1

Sara to decide in 2021

DEATH WARRANT? Rice watch group Bantay Bigas and labor group Anakpawis protest the Rice Tariffication Act, recently signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte, that lifts import limits on rice. PHOTO BY RUY L. MARTINEZ

Q TARIFF FROM A1

Rice tariff made the assurance after some farmers’ groups questioned the LEGALITY OF THE RICE TARRIkCATION LAW “Like what the President told them, there are safeguards to protect them,� Panelo said in a NEWS BRIEkNG Panelo said the law had alloted P10 billion annually for six years for a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to ensure that rice imports would not drown out the agriculture sector and rob farmers of their livelihood. “The law, at the same time, protects our farmers from the emerging competition as a result of its implementation through a direct safety net and productivity support in the form of the Rice

Q CHANCE FROM A1

BARMM stressed, though, that for the Barmm to succeed, its incoming head, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad, should immediately implement high-impact projects, focused on the basic needs of the Bangsamoro: food, shelter, water, power and livelihood.

Murad should harness the best and the brightest talents and those who have the necessary experience to head the departments, while developing young people who will take over the posts in the future. “If Chairman Murad heeds my

Competitiveness Enhancement Fund,� he said.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) disputed the government’s claims about the BENEkTS OF THE LAW The KMP said the law would be a “death sentence� to the local rice industry and to rice farmers as it would open the country to “unbridled rice importation and increasing rice prices.�

Panelo said the Palace welcomed the farmer groups’ plan to seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) on rice tariffication. “It’s their right,� he said.

Rosendo So, president of Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), said the safeguard duty ON IMPORTED RICE WOULD BENEkT local farmers and help prevent the SUDDEN OR EXTREME lUCTUATION OF prices in the market.

In an interview with The Manila

Times on Monday, So said Sinag SUPPORTED THE RICE TARIFkCATION LAW

but that the government must ensure that part of the revenues from tariff collections would go to local farmers to increase their productivity. “The tariff on rice is what really needs to be done. If we will not tariffy rice, we will be questioned by the World Trade Organization.

The worst case could be is that rice will be imported at zero tariff and it could be a very serious problem,� So said. “Our farmers will suffer even more if we don’t have a law that tarIFkES RICE !CTUALLY RICE TARIFkCATION serves as a protection to our farmers and this is what should be made clear to many people, particularly farmers themselves,� he added.

He echoed the statement of the National Economic and DevelopMENT !UTHORITY THAT THE BENEkTS OF

RICE TARIFkCATION WOULD NOT BE FELT until early next quarter, citing the need to draft implementing rules.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law last week the bill ON RICE TARIFkCATION WHICH ALLOWS unlimited importation of rice as long as private sector traders secure a phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the 35-percent tariff for shipments from neighbors in Southeast Asia and 50 percent elsewhere.

The implementing rules and regulations of the measure, howEVER HAVE YET TO BE kNALIZED Economic managers of the administration have repeatedly urged Congress to pass the rice TARIFkCATION BILL WITH FOOD PRICES pushing inflation to nine-year highs in 2018.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

kRST ADVICE THEN PERCENT OF HIS chances of success is ensured by harnessing the best and the brightest among the Muslims,� Tillah told The Manila Times. “I think that must be the kind of attraction — performance. Nothing less than performance,� he said, adding that without economic development, the BARMM would be no different from the ARMM, which, despite the billions of pesos poured in by previous presidents, was a failure.

Tillah also stressed that the BARMM would not be enough to achieve unity and prosperity. “The way I see it, the last hope we have for unity is establish a federal system of government,� he said. “What we can do with the BARMM

is get it into the federalist constitution so that it will now be institutionalized.

The BARMM can even be the pilot of a federal state, after which will be patterned all other regions, except for the Shariah [Law] because it’s only for the Muslims,� he added.

Tillah explained that if the BARMM is not included in the federal constitution, it can be changed or abolished by Congress anytime AND THAT WOULD DEkNITELY LEAD TO civil unrest in Muslim Mindanao. “This is not just for Muslim or Mindanao but for the entire country, particularly regions, provinces and cities not touched by development and are behind because the focus is on imperial Manila,� he added.

Except for the MILF and the Moro

National Liberation Front (MNLF), Muslims and other regions outside of Metro Manila were never consulted on issues that mattered to them, he argued.

In a federal system, “we will decide what we want, what we need, that’s the way of government not the other way around,� Tillah said. “Enough of the peace talks. We’ve been in peace talks for half a century.

Time to look at the basics. The MNLF and the MILF don’t even comprise 10 percent of the population of the ARMM. How about the greater 90 percent of the population,� he said. “We are supposed to be a democracy. In democracy, majority rules.

Are the MNLF or MILF the only citizens in this country?� he added.

Pagbabago (HNP) regional party in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said she might announce her decision in January 2021. “Running for president is not an overnight decision. It needs money, machinery, but the most important thing is wisdom and guidance from THE ,ORD BECAUSE IT WILL BE DIFkCULT IF it’s not intended for you,� DuterteCarpio said in a chance interview. “It depends on the circumstances.

Maybe, let’s just set a deadline, in January of 2021,� she added.

Duterte-Carpio made the statement after Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said he would not be surprised if the President’s daughter followed the footsteps of her father.

Panelo said this after he was asked where Duterte-Carpio got funding for a nationwide caravan supporting the senatorial slate of her party. “Definitely, Mayor Sara is very strict. You know what the people there in Davao City said when she was mayor until now, she is strict[er] than Mayor Digong, especially in terms of expenses,� he said.

The younger Duterte, despite her strong survey numbers and public clamor, has repeatedly said she will not run for a national post.

The President’s daughter earlier said she was planning to seek reelection as Davao City mayor in the May 13 midterm elections.

CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND GLEE JALEA

Q EXTENSION FROM A1

extension of martial law.

He said that martial law under Proclamation 216 did not become FUNCTUS OFkCIO EXPIRED BECAUSE OF the cessation of the Marawi siege, because terrorism continues to haunt Mindanao.

Lawmakers led by Albay Rep. %DCEL ,AGMAN HAVE kLED A PETITION seeking to declare the third extension of martial rule as well as the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao as unconstitutional.

Other petitions were filed by other opposition lawmakers, group of Lumad, former Commission on Elections chairman Christian Monsod and Bayan Muna party-list.

The suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in -INDANAO WAS kRST IMPOSED BY THE President for 60 days on May 23, 2017, as a result of the attack in Marawi City by the Maute Group and its followers, through Proclamation 216.

In February 2018, the high court declared constitutional the declaration of President Duterte’s extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2018.

Afterwards, Duterte asked Congress for an extension, and it voted 240-27 for the extension until Dec. 31, 2018. Congress again extended martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao for another year or until Dec. 31, 2019.

Court set However, the regular en banc sessions of the Supreme Court are done on Tuesdays only, unless the high court calls for a special en banc session before Friday to vote on the matter.

The Manila Times sources said the ponente of the case, Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, had circulated his draft ponencia or decision on the matter last week, against the extension of martial law.

As of press time, sources said, several justices have manifested their dissent on the Caguioa draft.

Doing the headcount, the sources said an overwhelming majority of the magistrates were inclined to uphold the extension of martial law.

4HE /FkCE OF THE 3OLICITOR 'ENERAL has stressed that if terrorism and rebellion continue, such would be a factual ground for its extension. It cited the presence of communists and Muslim extremist rebels.

Data showed that the Abu Sayyaf Group had a total of 424 members WITH kREARMS 4HEY ARE SCATTERED all over Basilan, Sulu Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga. The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters has 264 MEMBERS WITH kREARMS Solicitor General Jose Calida has argued that it was within the powers of Congress to determine the sufkCIENCY OF THE FACTUAL BASIS FOR THE

News

˜ The Manila Times

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New law on political ads levels playing field – Go FORMER special assistant to the President and 2019 senatorial candidate Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to sign into law a bill requiring media outlets to give higher discount rates for political advertisements of candidates and parties during elections. “Malaki po ang maitutulong ng batas na ito para makilala rin ng publiko at makilatis lalo na ang mga kandidato na may kakayahang magsilbi pero walang sapat na pondo para tapatan ang mga datihan nang mga politiko (This law would allow the public to scrutinize candidates who have the ability to serve but who lack campaign funds),� Go said. “Hindi lamang po ang mga kandidato ang makikinabang dito kundi ang buong bansa dahil kung makikilala nila ng mas malalim ang mga kandidato at masusuri ang kanilang plataporma ay matutulungan ang mga botante na magkaroon ng matalinong desisyon pagdating ng halalan 4HIS LAW WILL NOT ONLY BENEkT candidates but the the entire nation because if the people will be able to know a candidate and his platform better, they can choose better on election day),� he added.

The law, which amends Republic Act, 9006 or the “Fair Election Act,� provides that discounted rates shall be as follows: from 30 percent to 50 percent for television and from 20 percent to 40 percent for radio. The discount for print was retained at 10 percent.

Go said the law would provide equal opportunity to all candidates.

He said Duterte himself experienced how it was to be an underdog when he ran for the presidency in 2016 with very little campaign funds. “Tulad ko rin po, hindi naman ako ipinanganak na may kilalang apelyido, kaya pabor din sa akin ang batas na ito. Mabuti na lamang po at marami tayong mga kaibigan na handang tumulong sa atin. Pero paano naman yung walang gaanong resources pero may kakayahan ding magserbisyo sa tao? (My name is not known to households, that’s why this LAW IS ALSO BENEkCIAL TO ME ) AM LUCKY BECAUSE ) HAVE SUPPORTERS WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP BUT what about the others with the capability to serve but do not have the resources?)� Go said.

Go earlier said that he agreed to run for the Senate to prove that someone like him without any political pedigree or name recall but with QUALIkCATIONS AND A SINCERE DESIRE TO SERVE

could get elected.

He vowed to observe the President’s stance on fair play in the 2019 senatorial elections. “Lalaban po tayo ng patas at ayon sa batas 7E WILL kGHT FAIRLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE law),� Go stressed.

Q Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go

Ejercito lauds signing of cancer control law SEN. Joseph Victor “JV� Ejercito on Monday thanked President RodrigoDuterte for signing into law Republic Act, 11215 or the “National )NTEGRATED #ANCER #ONTROL !CT u “Nakakataba ng puso dahil pinirmahan ito ni Presidente noong February 14 mismo, 6ALENTINE S $AY )T IS HEARTWARMING BECAUSE the President signed this on February 14). ) AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS VERY AFFECTIONATE ‘gift’ by the President to cancer patients and their families and to the people,� he said in a statement.

Ejercito, principal author and sponsor of the measure, also thanked various civic organizations and stakeholders, like the Cancer Coalition Philippines, for their support.

He said the law would address the various gaps in cancer care and integrated solutions.

The law mandates a more focused prevention and integrated cancer program that would improve the survivorship of cancer patients.

Cancer is the third leading cause of adult death and fourth in child mortality.

Data from the Department of Health reVEALED AN ALARMING INCREASE IN CANCER CASES )T is estimated that there are up to 8 deaths per day for childhood cancer and up to 11 new cases and 7 deaths every hour for adult cancer.

This means 110,000 new cancer cases and over 66,000 cancer deaths each year.

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

A3

Drug war a success – PNP

BY DEMPSEY REYES

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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) said the government’s campaign against illegal drugs has been a success and Filipinos have noticed it, as proven by the result of a survey where majority of the respondents said the number of drug users in their communities have dropped.

Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, said authorities have cleared 11,000 barangay (villages) of drugs. He added that the campaign would continue since illegal drugs remain a menace in society. “The threat is still there. We will show that there is a marked improvement on our focus in strengthening our anti-illegal drugs awareness,� Banac told reporters in

an interview at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

A survey by the Social Weather Stations showed that 66 percent of Filipinos believed the number of drug users in their areas dropped, while 14 percent showed that it increased.

Banac said the survey respondents “proved� that there was “change� in the communities where anti-illegal drug

operations were carried out. “This 66 percent, this is considered as the majority in the whole country and they represent our fellow Filipinos, voicing out that there was a big indication on OUR kGHT AGAINST DRUGS u HE SAID “This also shows that those villages formerly infected by drugs are now cleared,� he said.

The survey also showed that most Filipinos want drug suspects to be arrested and not killed, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said on Monday. “This particular survey is a manifestation that Filipinos want drug offenders to undergo due process. Naniniwala ang taumbayan na dapat may hustiya para sa lahat (The people believe that there should be justice for everyone). Unfortu-

nately, our government does not consider this,� Alejano said in a statement. “We should take no pride in thousands of cases of extra-judicial killings,� he added.

Alejano urged the government to consider the drug problem as a public health issue instead of looking at it through the lens of criminality alone. “Tingnan natin ang problema ng droga bilang isang public health issue. Naniniwala ako na isa sa mga paraan upang matuldukan ito ay sa pamamagitan ng rehabilitation at substance abuse prevention education, (Let’s look at the probLEM OF DRUGS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE ) believe that one way to put an end to the problem is through proper rehabilitation and substance abuse prevention education),� he said.

WITH GLEE JALEA

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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E d i to r i a l

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Third wheel in US-NKorea talks

EXT WEEK 53 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP AND .ORTH +OREAN 3UPREME ,EADER +IM *ONG 5N WILL MEET IN A SUMMIT IN 6IETNAM THEIR SECOND MEETING IN AS MANY YEARS 4HE kRST FACE TO FACE MEETING IN 3INGAPORE LAST YEAR WAS A BREAKTHROUGH

DESPITE CRITICISMS ABOUT THE LACK OF CONCRETE MEASURES 7E DISAGREE WITH THE CRITICS "EFORE 3INGAPORE -R 4RUMP WAS THREATENING MILI TARY ACTION IN RESPONSE TO -R +IM S PROVOCATIONS THAT INCLUDED MORE FREQUENT MISSILE TESTS AND HASTENING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF nuclear weapons. )NCIDENTALLY THOSE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAVE THE CA PABILITY TO REACH THE 53 AND ITS ALLIES INCLUDING THE 0HILIPPINES 7ORSE A kERCE WAR WOULD SURELY ENGULF #HINA *APAN AND OF COURSE 3OUTH +OREA ALL OF THEM KEY TRADING AND INVESTMENT PART NERS OF THIS COUNTRY AND OTHERS IN 3OUTHEAST !SIA 3UCH A SCENARIO WOULD HAVE A DISASTROUS ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE 0HILIPPINES

ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD "UT THE SUMMIT IN 3INGAPORE BROUGHT AN END TO THOSE FEARS OR AT LEAST A REPRIEVE /F COURSE WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE PROGRESS IN THE SECOND SUM MIT !LREADY EXPERTS JOURNALISTS AND ORDINARY CITIZENS ARE WEIGHING IN AND HOPING FOR ACTUAL DENUCLEARIZATION TO COMMENCE -ORE THAN WORDS THE WORLD IS HOPING FOR -R +IM TO MAKE MEANINGFUL AND VERIkABLE STEPS TOWARD LASTING PEACE 4HAT IS MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IF A THIRD COUNTRY NAMELY #HINA PUSHES .ORTH +OREA HARDER TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND COMMIT ITSELF TO THE TERMS OF A DENUCLEARIZATION DEAL #HINA IS .ORTH +OREA S BIG BROTHER SO TO SPEAK )N THE HEAT OF THE +OREAN 7AR IT WAS THE #HINESE ARMY THAT REPELLED THE 53 LED FORCES FROM ITS SOUTHERN BORDER BACK TO THE TH PARALLEL !ND ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT #HINA IS KEEPING .ORTH +OREA FROM COLLAPSING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS Through China and a handful of other countries, North Korea IS SUSPECTED OF ILLEGALLY GETTING OIL THROUGH SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFERS #HINA IS ALSO A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF FOREIGN CURRENCY EARNED FROM #HINESE TOURISTS VISITING .ORTH +OREA ACCORDING TO A 3OUTHEAST !SIA EXPERT 4HE #HINESE TOURIST MARKET IS SO VITAL TO .ORTH +OREA THAT ACCORDING TO A REPORT IT ALLEGEDLY EXECUTED A +OREAN +U MGANG ++' DIRECTOR AND TWO OTHER UNIDENTIkED OFkCIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR A BUS ACCIDENT IN THAT KILLED #HINESE TOURISTS 3UCH ACCIDENTS THREATENED THAT LUCRATIVE MARKET

China also wants peace 4O BE FAIR WE BELIEVE THAT #HINA ALSO WANTS PEACE IN THE +OREAN 0ENINSULA -OREOVER WE ARE CONkDENT THAT #HINA DOES NOT WANT ANY NEIGHBOR ARMED WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS 3UCH AN ASSUMP TION MIGHT HELP MAKE SENSE OF UNVERIkED REPORTS SUGGESTING THAT #HINESE INTELLIGENCE HAVE BEEN GOING INTO .ORTH +OREA

along with the tourists, perhaps to look at its security services, OR MAYBE TO HELP PREEMPT IT FROM STARTING 7ORLD 7AR 7HAT we do know is that China, like any country, will protect its in TERESTS !ND AS THEY SAY IN DIPLOMACY THERE ARE NO PERMANENT FRIENDS ONLY PERMANENT INTERESTS -OREOVER WITH REGARDS TO #HINESE INTERESTS EXPERTS HAVE POINTED OUT THAT "EIJING WOULD NOT LIKE THE 53 TROOPS IN 3OUTH +OREA OR EVEN A UNITED PRO !MERICAN +OREA ON ITS BORDER 4O DAY .ORTH +OREA SERVES AS A BUFFER TO THE MORE THAN 53 SOLDIERS GUARDING THE TH PARALLEL ALONG WITH 3OUTH +OREA S MILITARY FORCES )N OUR VIEW THE BEST OUTCOME FOR #HINA IS A SCENARIO THAT AL LOWS IT TO RETAIN .ORTH +OREA AS A BUFFER STATE AGAINST THE 5NITED 3TATES OR ANY OTHER FOREIGN POWER %VEN BETTER FOR "EIJING IF -R +IM WOULD ACT LIKE A RESPONSIBLE LEADER WHO WOULD NOT GO OUT OF his way to provoke China’s only superpower rival and risk start ing a world war.

For peace to happen, North Korea would need to forego its NUCLEAR AMBITION IN A MANNER THAT INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS COULD OBSERVE AND INSPECT 0LUS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE COM PLETED WITHIN A TIMETABLE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL THE POWERS WITH A stake in the talks.

7E HOPE TO SEE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN 6IETNAM "UT AS WE HAVE POINTED OUT .ORTH +OREAN DENUCLEARIZATION WOULD HAVE THE BEST chance of happening if three, instead of just two, countries pushed HARDER TO NUDGE ALONG -R +IM

~

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

The Manila Times

VOLUME 120 NUMBER 130

DANTE A. ANG, Chairman Emeritus RENE Q. BAS, Publisher Emeritus NERILYN A. TENORIO, Publisher-Editor ARNOLD E. BELLEZA, Executive Editor FELIPE F. SALVOSA II, Managing Editor LEENA C. CHUA, News Editor LYNETTE O. LUNA, National Editor TESSA MAURICIO-ARRIOLA, Lifestyle Editor PERRY GIL MALLARI, Sports Editor LEA MANTO-BELTRAN, Supplements Editor JOMAR CANLAS, Chief of Reporters RENE H. DILAN, Chief Photographer DANTE F. M. ANG 2ND, President and CEO BLANCA C. MERCADO, #HIEF /PERATING /FkCER RODA A. ZABAT, Advertising Director VICENTE P. CRUZ, JR., Circulation Director DENISE O. CALNEA, Marketing Communications and Services Director Telephone All Departments: 524-5665 to 66; Subscription: 524-5664 Local 222 Advertising: 524-5664 Local 121 Telefax: 310-5895 or e-mail advertising@manilatimes.net www.manilatimes.net • e-mail newsdesk@manilatimes.net Letters to the Editor THE MANILA TIMES is published daily at 2/F Sitio Grande, 409 A. Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila 1002 The owners, managers, publishers and editors do not necessarily share the opinions expressed and the statements made by individual authors of columns, commentaries and other articles published in The Manila Times.

Q MAKABENTA FROM A1

Fraudulent portrayal of PH media situation .EXT ) HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET for proof of Maria Ressa’s work as A JOURNALIST THAT MIGHT SUBSTANTIATE THE EXTRAVAGANT CLAIM THAT SHE IS AN EXEMPLAR OF 0HILIPPINE JOURNALISM

YET ) COULD NOT kND EVEN SCRAPS OF her writing and reportage.

Finally, I have also tried to de TERMINE HOW AND WHY 2APPLER A NEWS WEBSITE HAS BEEN FOISTED AS THE EPITOME OF OUR JOURNALISM WHEN ITS SERVICE IS BY NO STRETCH COMPARABLE TO THAT OF A FULL lEDGED AND SERIOUS ME DIA ORGANIZATION LIKE THE YEAR OLD -ANILA 4IMES AND '-! 46 4HE FRUITS OF MY RESEARCH ARE AN odd collection of accounts and STATEMENTS ON THE FORTUNES MIS fortunes, travails and scandals of Maria Ressa and Rappler, and their CLAIMS THAT THE $UTERTE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SHUT THEM DOWN

Constitution on press freedom )T SAYS IN !RTICLE ))) 3EC OF THE #ON STITUTION g.O LAW SHALL BE PASSED ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH

OF EXPRESSION OR OF THE PRESS OR THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE AND PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR redress of grievances.� ) CANNOT kND IN THIS CASE ANY LAW THAT ABRIDGES PRESS FREEDOM SO ) DO NOT SEE HOW THE BILL OF RIGHTS HAS BEEN VIOLATED OR HOW PRESS FREEDOM WAS ASSAULTED Therefore, I want to ask those who ARE AGITATED BY THE CASE OF -ARIA 2ESSA

AND WHO CLAIM THAT HER CASE IS AN ASSAULT ON PRESS FREEDOM TO KINDLY EXPLAIN HOW FREE EXPRESSION AND THE GOVERNMENT OF 0RESIDENT $UTERTE ARE IMPLICATED IN THIS CASE

Keng vs Ressa According to the court records, this CYBERLIBEL CASE INVOLVES AS LITIGANTS one, Wilfredo Keng as the plaintiff THE COMPLAINANT AND TWO -ARIA 2ESSA AND 2EYNALDO 3ANTOS *R AS defendants (the accused).

4HE FALSE PORTRAYAL OF THE CYBERLI BEL CASE AS A kGHT OVER PRESS FREEDOM ARISES FROM A BASIC MISUNDERSTAND ING OF LIBEL LAW OR A DELIBERATE DECI SION TO DISTORT THE MEDIA SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY MOST LIKELY THE LATTER ) KNOW WHAT LIBEL LAW IS ABOUT BECAUSE AS A FORMER CHIEF EDITOR OF A NEWSPAPER AND A MAGAZINE ) HAVE BEEN ON THE DEFENDANT S END OF VARIOUS LIBEL CASES AND SAW SOME

O

OF THEM TO THEIR EXCRUCIATING END

Journalism and communication law ) TAKE GUIDANCE FROM TWO MUCH QUOTED VOLUMES ON JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION LAW NAMELY 1. 4HE ,AW OF *OURNALISM AND -ASS #OMMUNICATION BY 2OBERT 4RAGER *OSEPH 2USSOMANNO AND 3USAN $ENTE 2OSS #1 0RESS 7ASH ington DC, 2010).

2. -C.AE S %SSENTIAL ,AW FOR Journalists BY 4OM 7ELSH AND Walter Greenwood, Butterworths, ,ONDON

4HE DISCUSSION OF LIBEL LAW BY THESE VOLUMES IS ILLUMINATING AND HELPFUL FOR COMPREHENDING THE INTRICACIES OF THE CYBERLIBEL CASE against Maria Ressa. ) WILL QUOTE kRST THE LAW ON JOUR NALISM TO EXPLAIN LIBEL LAW )T SAYS g,IBEL LAW IS MEANT TO PROTECT AN individual’s reputation. It allows A PERSON WHO BELIEVES HIS OR HER REPUTATION HAS BEEN INJURED TO kLE A CLAIM AGAINST THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE

ASKING FOR DAMAGES IN AN EFFORT TO OBTAIN MONETARY COMPENSATION AND to restore the person’s reputation.� !S STATED BY THE 53 3UPREME #OURT

THE COMMON LAW ON SLANDER AND LIBEL IS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE gSOCIETY S pervasive and strong interest in pre venting and redressing attacks upon REPUTATION u 4HE CHALLENGE BECOMES ONE OF BALANCING THE STATE S INTEREST IN COMPENSATING PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS FOR injury to their reputation against the Constitution’s interest in protecting THIS TYPE OF EXPRESSION

Facts of cyberlibel case 4HE BARE FACTS OF THE CASE AGAINST Maria Ressa are: In 2012, the Philippines enacted 2EPUBLIC !CT TITLED g#YBER CRIME 0REVENTION !CT OF u /N &EBRUARY AN ARREST WAR RANT WAS ISSUED BY *UDGE 2AINELDA %STACIO -ONTESA OF THE -ANILA 2EGIONAL 4RIAL #OURT "RANCH AND the NBI was ordered to arrest Ressa AND 2EYNALDO 3ANTOS *R A FORMER Rappler researcher, for allegedly VIOLATING 3ECTION OF 2!

4HE WARRANT STEMMED FROM THE COMPLAINT OF BUSINESSMAN Wilfredo Keng over an allegedly LIBELOUS STORY PUBLISHED BY 2AP pler on May 29, 2012.

+ENG HAS ISSUED A FULL STATEMENT ON THE LIBEL CASE WHICH HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY SOME NEWSPAPERS 4HE STATEMENT LAYS OUT THE FACTS THE history and the issues of the case in such detail, that any interested reader can decide whether this case INDEED HAS BASIS TO PROCEED

Bizarre defense against libel Instead of defending herself against THE LIBEL CHARGE WITH THE USUAL LIBEL DEFENSES 2ESSA HAS EMPLOYED THE tactic of portraying herself as a vic TIM OF PERSECUTION BY THE $UTERTE GOVERNMENT 3HE IMPLORED THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS TO EMBELLISH VICTIMIZATION WITH THE EVEN BIGGER LIE THAT SHE IS SOME KIND OF EXEMPLAR OF JOURNALISM IN THE COUNTRY 4HIS IS A BIZARRE DEFENSE AGAINST LIBEL TO SAY THE LEAST By attacking the Philippine gov ERNMENT AND INDUCING THE 7ESTERN press to attack it as well, Ressa MEANS TO TAKE THE OFFENSIVE 4HERE IS ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS 2ESSA IS AN !MERICAN CITIZEN AND BARELY A &ILIPINO ) LEARNED YESTERDAY FROM READ ING MY 4IMES COLLEAGUE 2IGOBERTO Tiglao, that Maria Ressa is a natural IZED !MERICAN CITIZEN AND ONLY A &ILIPINO BY DUAL CITIZENSHIP 4IGLAO WROTE g2ESSA BECAME A 53 CITIZEN SHORTLY AFTER HER FAMILY MI GRATED TO THE 53 IN AND SWORE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE REQUIRED OF NATURALIZED !MERICANS THE VERY kRST sentence of which declares: @) HEREBY DECLARE ON OATH THAT ) ABSOLUTELY AND ENTIRELY RENOUNCE AND ABJURE ALL ALLEGIANCE AND kDELITY TO any foreign prince, potentate, state, or SOVEREIGNTY OF WHOM OR WHICH ) HAVE HERETOFORE BEEN A SUBJECT OR CITIZEN g7HILE SHE ACQUIRED 0HILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP IN UNDER THE country’s ‘dual citizenship law,’ this HAS BEEN ONLY FOR CONVENIENCE FOR her to own property in the country.�

Filipino journalist when posing as victim Maria Ressa apparently has no hesi TATION ABOUT IDENTIFYING HERSELF AS A &ILIPINO JOURNALIST 3HE HAS &ILIPINO citizenship when she postures as a VICTIM OR AS A PARAGON OF 0HILIPPINE JOURNALISM 3HE IS !MERICAN WHEN SHE ASKS FOR PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT

BY THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ESPE

CIALLY THE 53 MEDIA )N MY CURSORY RESEARCH ON HER WORK as a journalist, I was startled to discov ER VERY LITTLE BY LINED MATERIAL IN HER JOURNALISM 4HIS MAY BE EXPLAINED

BY THE FACT THAT SHE DID MUCH OF HER WORK IN BROADCASTING !S FOR WRITING AND PUBLISHED JOURNALISM THERE IS REMARKABLY LITTLE WRITING AND ANALYSIS on national and international affairs.

4HERE ARE MORE MATERIALS WITH HERSELF AS THE SUBJECT OF THE STORY )N 3EPTEMBER 2ESSA CAUGHT SOME ATTENTION IN -ANILA WHEN THE 7ALL 3TREET *OURNAL PUBLISHED AN OP ED ARTICLE UNDER HER BYLINE @-ARIA A. Ressa.’ The piece was headlined, g.OYNOY lUNKS HIS kRST TEST u 3HE WROTE g&ILIPINOS HAVE high hopes for President Benigno @.OYNOY !QUINO RD WHO TOOK POWER TWO MONTHS AGO WITH THE LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY IN TWO decades and an 85 percent approval RATING (IS POPULARITY RESTED MOSTLY ON PROMISES OF GOOD VALUES AND CLEANER GOVERNANCE ‡ PROMISES HIS MOTHER DEMOCRACY ICON #ORY !QUI NO MADE TOO 9ET HIS kRST MAJOR TEST IN OFkCE SHOWS HOW EARLY POLITICAL COMPROMISES ARE EXACERBATING PROBLEMS IN THE WEAK INSTITUTIONS HE S PROMISED TO REFORM u 3TRANGELY 2ESSA DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW SHORTLY AFTER 73* did not PUBLISH HER AGAIN 3HE CLOSED OUT HER WORK WITH !"3 #".

WHERE SHE SERVED FOR A TIME AS NEWS DIRECTOR 4HERE WAS talk then that the 73* article and a PERSONAL SCANDAL AT THE OFkCE COM BINED TO FORCE HER OUT 3HORTLY AFTER SHE RESURFACED AS THE HEAD OF THE ONLINE NEWS WEBSITE

2APPLER 4HEY WOULD kGURE PROMI NENTLY IN .OYNOY !QUINO@S VILE AND CORRUPT CAMPAIGN TO IMPEACH THEN Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Rappler served as cheerleader for EVERY SORDID TURN IN THE IMPEACH MENT TRIAL UP TO THE VERY END IT SAID nothing when the prosecution was CAUGHT MANUFACTURING EVIDENCE

AND WHEN !QUINO WAS EXPOSED IN HIS BRIBERY OF THE SENATOR JURORS If Ressa and Rappler were real JOURNALISTS SWORN TO JOURNALISM S code of ethics and practice, would THEY HAVE ASSISTED IN THE CRUCIkXION of an innocent jurist, or run away FROM THE BRIBERY OF SENATORS IN A sensational trial?

I say, they would not.

YENMAKABENTA YAHOO COM

How will Japan balance its relationship with China and Taiwan?

N the second day of the new year, China’s President Xi Jinping delivered a speech in WHICH HE CALLED FOR THE FULkLLMENT of the “historic task� of reunifying 4AIWAN AND THE MAINLAND

BY FORCE if necessary. Days later, Taiwan’s national leader appealed to the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR HELP 4HE SITUATION IS DIRE )N MID January, the Pentagon released a report, “China Military Power,�

WHOSE gMOST CONCERNINGu CON clusion, according to a senior DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE OFkCIAL WAS THAT "EIJING MIGHT SOON TRUST ITS MILITARY CAPABILITIES ENOUGH TO invade Taiwan.

4AIWAN S FRIENDS IN !MERICA

FRANK CHING have proposed that Taiwan leader 4SAI )NG WEN BE INVITED TO ADDRESS A JOINT MEETING OF THE 53 #ON gress, a stunningly provocative MOVE FROM "EIJING S PERSPECTIVE /DD TOO SINCE !MERICA DOESN T RECOGNIZE HER GOVERNMENT 4S A I H A S B E E N T R Y I N G T O STRENGTHEN 53 TIES SINCE $ONALD 4RUMP S ELECTION CREATING AN IN TERNATIONAL INCIDENT BY TELEPHON ING TO CONGRATULATE HIM 4RUMP

HAS TALKED ABOUT 4AIWAN AS A CHIP IN #HINA NEGOTIATIONS 5N DERSTANDABLY 4SAI IS CULTIVATING other friends as well. While they ARE NUMEROUS ONE IN PARTICULAR stands out — Japan.

In late 2015, while a presi DENTIAL CANDIDATE 4SAI MET KEY OFkCIALS IN 4OKYO /NE THING SHE LOBBIED FOR WAS 4AIWAN MEMBER SHIP IN THE 4RANS 0ACIkC 0ARTNER ship trade accord. On Jan. 18, 2016, two days after her electoral TRIUMPH #HIEF #ABINET 3ECRETARY 9OSHIHIDE 3UGA INDICATED *APAN S support for Taiwan in the TPP. 0RIME -INISTER 3HINZO !BE AND &OREIGN -INISTER &UMIO Kishida congratulated Tsai af

ter her election. The Japanese OFkCIALS CALLED 4AIWAN gAN IM portant partner and a precious FRIENDu WHO SHARED BASIC VALUES But they were careful to say that deepening of cooperation would BE gBASED ON THE EXISTING POSI TION TO MAINTAIN *APAN 4AIWAN relations as working relationship ON A NONGOVERNMENTAL LEVEL u The two sides worked to take their relationship to a higher LEVEL )N /CTOBER THEY HELD A MARITIME COOPERATION dialogue and, a year later, they SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UN DERSTANDING ON MARITIME SEARCH and rescue operations.

ÂłChing A5

˜ The Manila Times

Opinion

A5

w w w.manilatimes.net

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

Q TULFO FROM A1

Rice tariffication: The bitter pill we need R FLIPSIDE

My take on the taho-throwing incident 3OME PEOPLE WANT TO PAINT HER AS THE SYMBOL OF WHAT #HINA thinks of the Philippines. How ever, that is just a ploy to suit their own ends.

But hers is an isolated case.

Mainland Chinese fear authority as they live in a totalitarian soci ety. Their society has a tradition of recognizing law and order. ) VE BEEN TO #HINA ‡ "EIJING

3HANGHAI 8IAMEN ‡ SEVERAL TIMES NOT TO MENTION (ONG +ONG AND Macau, which are now under the CONTROL OF THE "EIJING GOVERNMENT AND SAW FOR MYSELF THE RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY AMONG ITS CITIZENS :HANG SHOULD BE DEPORTED BACK TO #HINA WHERE SHE WILL BE TAUGHT BY HER GOVERNMENT to respect the law. There, she should learn her lesson well, and BECOME A BETTER CITIZEN 3HE HAS BEEN IN THE 0HILIP PINES SINCE /CTOBER ON a special resident retiree’s visa.

3HE IS A STUDENT IN A SCHOOL IN Makati City. ) AM NOT JUSTIFYING HER ACTIONS

BUT IN THAT LENGTH OF TIME THE ordinary Filipino’s low regard for POLICEMEN HAS PROBABLY RUBBED off on her.

9OU SEE MANY COPS ARE ABU SIVE AND THIS HAS MADE THE CITI ZENRY REGARD POLICEMEN WITH DIS DAIN %VEN WHEN ENFORCING A BAN ON LIQUIDS ON THE -24 TRAINS

IT SEEMS THAT MANY COPS HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE RESPECT AND COMPLIANCE OF NORMAL PEOPLE

) HOPE THIS IS ALSO A WAKE UP call for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to discipline its ranks. If an organization wants TO BE SEEN IN A GOOD LIGHT BY THE PUBLIC THEN IT SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF ITS MEN BAR NONE

follow its rules and regulations.

Re s p e c t i s e a r n e d , n o t DEMANDED *** 7HEN ) HEARD ABOUT THIS taho THROWING INCIDENT IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT OUR COUNTRY S HIS TORY 7HY WAS IT THAT DURING MY FATHER S TIME AS AN OFkCER OF THE DEFUNCT 0HILIPPINE #ONSTABULARY 0# THE CONSTABLE WAS RESPECT ED BY FOLK IN A BARRIO where he was assigned? ! CONSTABLE WAS THE LOWEST RANKING MEMBER OF THE 0# THE forerunner of the Philippine National Police, or PNP. 4HE #ONSTABULARY DURING MY FATHER S TIME WAS A DISCIPLINED ORGANIZATION AS IT WAS A BRANCH OF SERVICE OF THE !RMED &ORCES OF the Philippines (AFP). )TS MEMBERS WERE SUBJECT TO MILITARY DISCIPLINE AND CARRIED MILITARY RANK 4HE 0# WAS MERGED WITH THE Integrated National Police, or INP, in 1991. It was then turned into the PNP to please President #ORY !QUINO WHOSE HUSBAND

3EN .INOY !QUINO WAS ARRESTED BY 0# SOLDIERS WHEN &ERDINAND -ARCOS DECLARED MARTIAL LAW 4HE 0# WAS REMOVED FROM THE

Ministry of National Defense AND BECAME PART OF THE $EPART MENT OF THE )NTERIOR AND ,OCAL 'OVERNMENT )T BECAME A CIVILIAN organization, and new people WERE HIRED TO RElECT THAT 7HAT MADE THE 0.0 AN UN disciplined organization is its civilian character.

5NLIKE A 0# TROOPER BEFORE A POLICEMAN NOW HAS LITTLE OR NO respect for his superior since he CONSIDERS HIMSELF AN EQUAL BE cause of his college degree. !LL 0.0 MEMBERS FROM THE LOWEST 0/ ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD A BACHELOR S DEGREE (OWEVER MANY OF THEM ACT like they’ve not gone to school BECAUSE OF THEIR BOORISH BEHAV ior. Many cops either forget or don’t even know that the chain OF COMMAND MUST BE FOLLOWED The police violate laws and RULES THEMSELVES THE VERY THINGS that they are supposed to up hold. Many cops are involved I N C R I M I N A L A C T I V I T I E S A N D this is not lost on our country’s citizens.

If our own citizens see that the police violate the laws, then they, too, will ignore the law AND COMMIT CRIMES 4HAT IS WHY POLICEMEN SHOULD BE THE BEST EXAMPLES OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS 'OOD CHARACTER MUST BE EITHER NATURAL IN THE PERSON S UPBRING ING OR IT MUST BE INSTILLED BY training. A college degree is no GUARANTEE THAT A COP WILL BE A

good one. *** 4HE 0HILIPPINE #ONSTABULARY SHOULD BE REESTABLISHED Originally, the PNP was created

BY UNIFYING THE ).0 AND THE 0# The INP oversaw enforcing the LAWS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PEACE AND order, and the protection of lives and property. They were usually UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MAYORS OR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 4HE 0# HANDLED MORE SERIOUS CRIMES NATIONAL LEVEL LAW EN FORCEMENT AND CASES THAT INVOLVE MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS 4HEY ALSO supervised and trained the local police forces and acted as a na tionwide organization.

4HE 0# ALSO HELPED NONMILI TARY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHEN NEEDED ,ASTLY THE 0# WAS THE HOME DEFENSE FORCE IN SOME AREAS AND COULD BE ASSIGNED OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BY THE #HIEF OF 3TAFF OF THE !&0 )T IS A GOOD IDEA FOR COPS TO LEARN PROPER MANNERS THROUGH TRAINING BASED ON MILITARY strictness. It is also a good idea to MAKE SURE THAT A NATIONWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE IN PLACE ASIDE FROM POLICE FORCES WORKING UNDER THE COM MAND OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS Control of the local police SHOULD GO BACK TO THE MAYORS 4HE 0HILIPPINE #ONSTABULARY ON the other hand, should do what it used to do, which is handle law ENFORCEMENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS at the national level.

Rappler’s attack on press freedom

,

)&% WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLER HAD -ARIA 2ESSA NOT LIED ABOUT the registration papers of Rappler, had she fully and correctly paid HER TAXES AND PRACTICED THE DUE DILIGENCE EXPECTED OF A JOURNALIST TO ALWAYS WRITE BALANCED AND NOT AT TACK PIECES (AD 2APPLER REMAINED true to the code of ethics for jour NALISTS WHICH LISTS AMONG ITS TENETS THE OBLIGATION TO SEEK AND PUBLISH BOTH SIDES OF ANY STORY AND TO BE skeptical of every narrative and to PRESUME ANY ACCUSED AS INNOCENT

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO STAND

BY ITS SIDE AND kGHT FOR THE FREEDOM of the press.

4HE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS A MUCH VALUED ELEMENT OF ANY DEMOCRACY "UT BECAUSE IT IS HELD UP HIGH MUCH IS ALSO EXPECTED OF those who appeal to its force. An adversarial press is a given, for it is a necessary check on the power of the elites and the state. However, in order to ensure that the press BECOMES A CREDIBLE BEARER OF THE TRUTH ITS OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO FOCUS on facts and not for it to peddle its OWN PARTISAN POLITICAL BIASES )F THERE SHOULD BE ANY MASTER WHICH MEDIA ENTITIES MUST SERVE

IT MUST BE TRUTH ITSELF NOT THE GOVERNMENT AND CERTAINLY ALSO NOT THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION ! MEDIA ENTITY SHOULD NEVER BE LABELED AS AN OPPOSITION NEWSPAPER OR A PRO GOVERNMENT TELEVISION NETWORK )T WOULD BE TECHNICALLY A DIMINUTION OF THE CREDIBILITY OF A MEDIA ENTITY FOR IT TO BE DESCRIBED AS A CRITIC OF GOVERNMENT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE DUTY OF MEDIA IS TO PROPAGATE THE nonpartisan truth, and not to serve

ON THE CONTRARY ANTONIO CONTRERAS the political opposition, or to act LIKE IT )T IS SUPPOSED TO EXPOSE THE LIES NOT ONLY OF GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO OF ITS CRITICS )T IS EXPECTED TO FACT CHECK NOT ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE POLITICAL DIVIDE BUT ALL SIDES 3HOULD MEDIA FAIL TO LIVE UP TO THESE EXPECTATIONS THEN THEY STOP BEING GENUINE MEDIA ENTITIES BUT INSTEAD BECOME SIMPLY INlUENCERS and propagandists. They turn their ENTIRE PLATFORM INTO ONE BIG OPIN ion page, or show. )T IS UNFORTUNATE THAT MEDIA ENTI TIES NOT ONLY HERE BUT ABROAD HAVE TAKEN UP A MORE BIASED OUTLOOK "UT IN OTHER COUNTRIES MEDIA S BIAS TENDS TO BE LESS PARTISAN BUT MORE IDEOLOGICAL WITH SOME NETWORKS TAKING UP MORE LIBERAL VIEWS WHILE OTHERS PROJECTING THEMSELVES AS MORE CONSERVATIVE )N THE 53 FOR EXAMPLE -3."# IS CONSIDERED LIBERAL &OX .EWS PROJECTS ITSELF AS conservative, while CNN struggles TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE In the Philippines, where po LITICAL IDEOLOGIES ARE AMORPHOUS

UNARTICULATED AND EVEN NONEXISTENT FOR MANY POLITICIANS MEDIA BIAS IS denied its ideological rationaliza TION AND IS NOW SIMPLY REDUCED TO plain partisanship. This is not to say that there are no individual journal ISTS WHOSE BIASES ARE FOUNDED ON THEIR IDEOLOGICAL BELIEFS AS SEEN FOR EXAMPLE IN NEWS REPORTERS WHO STILL

CARRY THEIR LEFT WING ANTI -ARCOS SENTIMENTS WHICH THEY NURTURED DURING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVISM DAYS The danger in having a deeply HELD BIAS BE IT IDEOLOGICAL OR SIM PLY PARTISAN IS THAT THIS BECOMES AN IMPEDIMENT TO PERFORMING THE task of looking for facts, interpret ing events and telling the truth as IT IS UNCLOUDED BY ANY PERSONAL BLINDERS )T COMPROMISES THE WORK WHICH IS EXPECTED OF A JOURNALIST )T IS NO LONGER JUST MANIFESTED IN THE spin given to news, the choice of words used to deliver the story, and the way headlines are crafted. It is ALSO NOW MANIFESTED IN THE BODY LANGUAGE FACIAL EXPRESSION AND voice intonation of a reporter doing AN ON CAM REPORT OR OF A STUDIO ANCHOR 4HIS IS NOW AGGRAVATED BY THE BLURRING OF THE DIVIDE BETWEEN news and opinion, one that is often COMMITTED BY RADIO HOSTS WHO MIX UP THEIR COMMENTARIES WITH THE news they deliver, leading to the APPROPRIATION OF NEWS AND MERELY appending this to the articulation of partisan opinions. )T WOULD BE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT FROM AMONG ALL THE MEDIA ENTITIES IN THE COUNTRY IT WOULD BE 2APPLER that has acted, often with audacity, AND IN SOME INSTANCES WITH IMPU NITY LIKE A PARTISAN PIT BULL !ND ITS YELLOW PARTISAN COLOR IS SIMPLY TOO PALPABLE TO EVEN HIDE BY ANY pretension to journalistic integrity.

Much as Rappler tries to occasion ally produce narratives that appear SOMEWHAT OUT OF ITS PARTISAN LINE

THERE IS SIMPLY AN OVERWHELMING AR ray of pieces that it tries to project as NEWS BUT ARE NOTHING BUT ONE SIDED

Q CHING FROM A4

How will Japan balance )N *ANUARY THERE WAS A NOTABLE DEVELOPMENT *APAN CHANGED THE NAME OF ITS REPRE SENTATIVE OFkCE IN 4AIPEI FROM THE vague Interchange Association to THE *APAN 4AIWAN %XCHANGE !SSO ciation. Months later, Taiwan fol LOWED SUIT BY CHANGING THE NAME OF ITS UNOFkCIAL EMBASSY IN *APAN FROM THE UNWIELDY !SSOCIATION OF %AST !SIAN 2ELATIONS TO THE 4AIWAN Japan Relations Association.

4HE OLD NAMES WERE ADOPTED IN WHEN *APAN ESTABLISHED RELA TIONS WITH #HINA PRECISELY BECAUSE they did not contain the word “Taiwan� to please Beijing. The NEW NAMES ACKNOWLEDGE 4AIWAN S EXISTENCE AND SUGGEST EQUALITY BE tween it and Japan. China issued a protest. )N SPRING *IRO !KAMA

SENIOR VICE MINISTER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS lEW TO 4AIWAN TO PROMOTE TOURISM While the activity was innocuous, !KAMA WAS THE HIGHEST OFkCIAL TO VISIT 4AIWAN SINCE 4HIS PRE cipitated another Chinese protest. &ROM 4OKYO S STANDPOINT THE evolving partnership with Taiwan IS ONE OF MANY BEING FORGED TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGES POSED BY #HINA and include such countries as Aus tralia, India, the Philippines and 6IETNAM 4AIWAN TOO IS RESPOND ing to Chinese pressure and is PUSHING BACK BY STRENGTHENING TIES WITH MANY OF THE SAME COUNTRIES 4HE ADVANCES IN *APAN 4AIWAN RELATIONS TOOK PLACE AT A TIME WHEN #HINA *APAN RELATIONS WERE IN THE DEEP FREEZE BECAUSE OF A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE OVER UNINHABITED ROCKS

)N !BE PROPOSED A THAW IN *APAN #HINA RELATIONS BY HOLDING REGULAR SUMMIT MEETINGS (E ALSO announced that Japan would join China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

4HAT .OVEMBER !BE MET 8I on the sidelines of the Asia 0ACIkC %CONOMIC #OOPERATION !0%# MEETING IN 6IETNAM 8I TOLD !BE THAT HISTORY AND 4AIWAN WERE gMAJOR ISSUES OF PRINCIPLE u Previously, China gave priority to history. Now, clearly, Taiwan BOTHERED #HINA !BE S PLAN IS WORKING 0REMIER ,I +EQIANG VISITED *APAN LAST -AY AND !BE PAID AN OFkCIAL VISIT TO #HINA IN /CTOBER )N "EIJING !BE SAID THAT THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WAS SHIFTING gFROM COMPETITION TO cooperation.� China and Japan agreed that each should see the

DEMOLITION JOBS $URING THE TERM OF FORMER 0RESI DENT .OYNOY !QUINO 2APPLER ACTED LIKE A GOVERNMENT ATTACK DOG DURING THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE LATE #HIEF *USTICE 2ENATO #ORONA )TS PAGES SIM PLY DID NOT ACCORD THE BELEAGUERED #HIEF *USTICE A FAIR TREATMENT !ND THIS IS NOWHERE MOST PRONOUNCED THAN IN THE NOW ASSAILED STORY WRITTEN BY 2EYNALDO 3ANTOS *R #ONSUMED WITH THE GOAL OF IMPUGNING THE INTEGRITY OF Corona, Ressa did not do her due dili gence and failed to uphold the ethical REQUIREMENT OF ACTIVELY SEEKING THE SIDE OF THOSE WHOM 2APPLER ADVERSELY WRITES ABOUT LIKE PRIVATE BUSINESS MAN 7ILFREDO +ENG WHOM THE ARTICLE PAINTED AS A SHADY BUSINESSMAN INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES !ND NOW THAT 2APPLER HAS BEEN taken to court, Ressa’s defenders paint HER AS A VICTIM OF POLITICAL HARASS MENT 4HEY PAINT HER AS IF SHE IS NOW THE *OAN OF !RC OF PRESS FREEDOM )T SHOULD NOT BE SAID THAT THIS COL UMN DOES NOT DEFEND THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS )T WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL OF ME TO JOIN THE LYNCHING OF 2ESSA

BY ABANDONING MY FREEDOM TO EXPRESS CONSIDERING THAT THE VERY SOUL THAT INHABITS MY NARRATIVES IS THE FORCE THAT FREEDOM OF EXPRES SION ENABLES 2ESSA CRIES THAT THE LIBEL CASE kLED AGAINST HER 3ANTOS AND 2APPLER IS AN ATTACK ON PRESS FREEDOM On the contrary, it was Rappler, 3ANTOS AND 2ESSA WHO LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON PRESS FREEDOM 4HEY allowed their gross partisanship to violate the code ethics for jour NALISTS WHEN THEY IRRESPONSIBLY PUBLISHED AN OVERTLY BIASED PIECE other as a partner, not a threat.

However, all the old issues REMAIN UNRESOLVED )T WILL TAKE POLITICAL WILL ON BOTH SIDES TO SET differences aside and face the fu TURE TOGETHER 4HE QUESTION IS HOW WILL *APAN S IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP WITH #HINA IMPACT ITS DEVELOPING BONDS WITH 4AIWAN /NLY TIME WILL TELL *APAN CAN not ignore the reality of China, WITH ITS RAPIDLY RISING MILITARY AND ITS HUGE ECONOMY "UT *APAN WILL ALSO NEED TO KEEP THIS NEIGHBOR in check. One straw in the wind is the way Japan has responded TO 4AIWAN S REQUEST TO JOIN THE NEW #OMPREHENSIVE AND 0ROGRES SIVE !GREEMENT FOR 4RANS 0ACIkC Partnership. Despite its political sensitivity, Japan told Taiwan this MONTH THAT IT WELCOMED 4AIWAN S BID TO JOIN THE TRADING BLOC

&RANK CHING GMAIL COM 4WITTER &RANK#HING

ICE isn’t just staple food FOR MOST &ILIPINOS )T IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL C O M M O D I T Y S U C H T H A T T H E s u p p l y o f r i c e a t l ow a n d STABLE PRICES HAS BEEN THE PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVE OF EVERY ADMINISTRATION SINCE THE #OM MONWEALTH ERA 7ITH RICE COMPRISING A SIG nificant chunk of a Filipino HOUSEHOLD S BUDGET ‡ ESPE CIALLY IN LOW INCOME GROUPS which depend on it for as MUCH AS PERCENT OF THEIR daily calorie intake — as well as providing a source of in COME TO MORE THAN MILLION FARMERS THOUSANDS OF TRADERS

MILLERS RETAILERS AND EMPLOY ees in the rice industry, fluc tuations in the price of this STAPLE IMPACT THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF MOST &ILIPINOS 7HICH MAKES THE RECENT ENACTMENT OF the rice tariffication law all the MORE SIGNIFICANT In another display of deci sive political will, and not withstanding the potential decline of his political capital, President Rodrigo Duterte SIGNED THE BILL REMOVING ALL IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON RICE

despite the opposition (and MASSIVE 02 CAMPAIGN OF RICE TRADERS MILLERS AND SO CALLED FARMERS GROUPS In one fell swoop, the Presi dent not only crippled the rice cartels that have lorded over rice supply and prices in the 0HILIPPINES BUT ALSO REMOVED THE REGULATORY AND IMPORTA TION MONOPOLY OF THE .ATIONAL Food Authority (NFA), which HAS BEEN MIRED IN SEVERAL COR RUPTION SCANDALS AND HAS TIME AND AGAIN MISERABLY FAILED TO PROVIDE TIMELY ACCURATE AND effective intervention in the COUNTRY S RICE MARKET !S EXPECTED SOME CONSUMER GROUPS COMPLAINED THAT RICE tariffication will lead to the FLOODING OF IMPORTED RICE

MAKING MONITORING OF RICE IMPORTS DIFFICULT WHILE AGRI culture advocates say opening THE COUNTRY TO IMPORTS COULD lead to higher prices as foreign EXPORTERS COULD MANIPULATE SUPPLY TO BRING PRICES UP (OWEVER THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER RICE IMPORTING COUNTRIES LIKE *APAN DEBUNKS THE SCARE TACTICS OF ANTI RICE TARIFF FAC TIONS WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY KEEN ON MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO ‡ AND THEIR IMMENSE PROFITS Despite its politicians vocif erously opposing any trade concessions, Japan nonethe less adopted the rice tariffica TION SCHEME IN AND HAS SINCE BEEN ABLE TO BRING DOWN RICE PRICES BY AROUND PER cent on the average.

Even Malaysia, which is one OF THE BIGGEST RICE IMPORTERS IN the region, is looking to end THE RICE IMPORTATION MONOP OLY OF ITS 0ADIBERAS .ASIONAL "ERHAD BETTER KNOWN AS "ER nas) — the Malaysian coun terpart of NFA — due to cor RUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT allegations.

As it is, rice tariffication is long overdue. The country has BEEN ENJOYING THE PROTECTION OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTION 12 on rice since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. In fact, rice is the only REMAINING COMMODITY WITH A 12 AS THE 0HILIPPINES HAD CONVERTED THE IMPORT QUOTAS on other agricultural products into tariffs when Congress PASSED 2EPUBLIC !CT OR the “Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996.�

3O FOR MORE THAN TWO DE cades now, the Philippines was ALLOWED TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF RICE IMPORTS THROUGH THE IMPOSITION OF IMPORT QUOTAS AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS 4HE 12 ON RICE WAS SUPPOSED TO EXPIRE IN BUT THE GOVERN MENT CITING THE NEED TO PROTECT ITS DOMESTIC RICE INDUSTRY AND PREPARE THE RICE SECTOR FOR COM PETITION FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

SOUGHT AN EXTENSION IN

ATTY. DODO DULAY AND ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT UNTIL *UNE LAST YEAR 9ET IN spite of the cap placed on rice IMPORTS OUR palay FARMERS ARE STILL NO BETTER OFF TODAY than they were 22 years ago.

0ADDY TILLERS REMAIN AMONG the poorest sectors in our country, with a poverty rate OF PERCENT 4HAT S BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS PLAGUING THE SEC TOR FOR MANY YEARS ‡ LACK OF IRRIGATION INABILITY TO SECURE THE NECESSARY FARM EQUIPMENT

lack of access to cheap credit for their production capital ‡ HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED since the country joined THE 74/ DURING THE 2AMOS ADMINISTRATION Moreover, with a popula TION OF OVER MILLION IN 2018, rising at an average rate OF MORE THAN PERCENT PER YEAR DOMESTIC RICE PRODUCTION continues to fall short of the REQUIREMENTS OF &ILIPINOS !L THOUGH EVERY ADMINISTRATION ) CAN REMEMBER PROMISED RICE SELF SUFFICIENCY THE DEFICIT IN RICE OUTPUT RUNS INTO THE MIL LIONS OF METRIC TONS ANNUALLY It was only President Duterte who called a spade, a spade. g)F YOU ASK ME IN THE NEXT HOW MANY YEARS WE WILL JUST HAVE TO IMPORT RICE ) DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE CAN BE RICE SUFFICIENT u said the President.

It appears the President is on the right side of history.

5NKNOWN TO MANY THE COUN TRY HAS IMPORTED RICE EVERY YEAR SINCE THE SAME YEAR THE 3UEZ #ANAL OPENED SHORT ENING THE TRAVEL TIME FROM THE Philippines to Europe). And it’s unlikely we’ll stop rice IMPORTATIONS SOON For one, the country has FEWER CULTIVATABLE LANDS COM PARED TO OUR RICE EXPORTING !SEAN NEIGHBORS WHICH HAVE vast river deltas conducive to rice production. Thailand, FOR INSTANCE HAS FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT OF ARABLE LAND per person as the Philippines. !SIDE FROM THE LACK OF DELTAS

THE COUNTRY SUFFERS FROM NU MEROUS TYPHOONS EACH YEAR

MAKING RICE PRODUCTION DIF ficult and risky.

Given the sorry state of our rice industry, I find it un fair to deny our citizens access TO CHEAPER AND BETTER QUALITY IMPORTED RICE IN THE GUISE OF ATTAINING RICE SELF SUFFICIENCY or food security. #ONSIDER THIS 6IETNAM AT PRESENT SELLS PERCENT BRO ken white rice (the kind usual LY PURCHASED BY .&! AND OTHER LOCAL IMPORTERS AT PER METRIC TON IN THE WORLD MAR KET #ONVERTED INTO KILOGRAMS and Philippine currency, that TRANSLATES TO AROUND 0 per kg. %VEN WITH A PERCENT TARIFF OR IMPORT TAX UNDER the rice tariffication law, the COST OF IMPORTED 6IETNAM RICE WOULD ONLY BE 0 PER KG !DD ON THE EXPENSES FOR COST

freight and insurance, plus a REASONABLE PROFIT MARGIN THE COST OF IMPORTED 6IETNAMESE RICE WOULD BE AROUND 0 A kilo, over P10 cheaper than current prices for local grain, AND ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS NFA rice, that is, if you can find any.

If we are to uplift the lives of OUR RICE FARMERS THE GOVERN MENT MUST EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE THE INITIAL 0 BILLION 2ICE #OMPETITIVENESS %NHANCE MENT &UND TO MAKE OUR RICE SECTOR MORE PRODUCTIVE AND COMPETITIVE THROUGH FARM MECHANIZATION FARM INPUTS

AND CHEAP CREDIT 5NTIL THEN

the country has to swallow the BITTER PILL OF RICE TARIFFICATION

as President Duterte says, “for the greater good.�

A6

Opinion

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

Ressa’s political theater

,

!34 WEEK 2APPLER S #%/ -ARIA 2ESSA FULLY UTILIZED HER &ULBRIGHT fellowship for political theater.

3HE TURNED THE SERVING OF HER WAR rant of arrest into a political spectacle THAT COULD RIVAL THE DAY !UNG 3AN 3UU +YI WAS PLACED ON HOUSE ARREST BY "URMA S MILITARY JUNTA "UT WHILE 3UU Kyi was detained for political reasons, 2ESSA WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE A JUDGE FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE TO INDICT HER IN A CASE OF CYBERLIBEL kLED BY 7ILFREDO Keng, a private citizen.

Ressa’s international network HAS BEEN PUT TO GOOD USE &ORMER 53 3ECRETARY OF 3TATE -ADELEINE !LBRIGHT CALLED THE ARREST gOUTRA GEOUS u THEN URGED gALL DEMOCRATIC NATIONSu TO CONDEMN IT #.. S BIG WIG #HRISTIANE !MANPOUR SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS gDESPERATE u 4HEIR CONDEMNATION WAS PREMISED ON THE BELIEF THAT 2ESSA WAS ARRESTED FOR speaking truth to power. A narrative the Associated Press (AP) tweeted to ITS MILLION FOLLOWERS ON &EBRU ARY 2ESSA WAS ARRESTED gFOR CRITI cizing Philippine President Duterte.� .ETIZENS CALLED OUT !LBRIGHT

!MANPOUR AND !0 S FAKE NEWS The following day, AP tweeted THAT IT DELETED THAT TWEET BECAUSE it was “incorrect.� Ressa said these NETIZENS WERE RECEIVING gMARCHING orders.� Yes, she is this delusional: 3HE THINKS THAT SHE S SUCH A BELOVED figure that people only hate her BECAUSE THEY WERE ORDERED TO And she’s that dense to realize that this condescending attitude she and the rest of her Rappler staff display is fuel to the hostility they receive. I

FOR THE MOTHERLAND

SASS ROGANDO SASOT DON T EXPECT 2ESSA TO UNDERSTAND THE &ILIPINO MENTALITY THAT ADORES gastig� kERCENESS AND VEHEMENTLY DETESTS “angas� (arrogance). After all, she has BEEN AN !MERICAN CITIZEN FOR MOST OF her life, and regained Filipino citizen SHIP ONLY IN Ressa lacks the awareness that journalists like her don’t only speak TO POWER THEY CAN ALSO BE THE POWER others could and should speak to. &REEDOM IS POWER !ND A PRIVATE citizen is holding the line at the ABUSE OF POWER 2APPLER WIELDED AGAINST HIM HEARTLESSLY

BY AN INSTITUTION INTOXICATED WITH POWER LEFT UNCHECKED FOR QUITE A LONG TIME 3HE SPEAKS ABOUT LAW BEING WEAP onized against Rappler. But weapons CAN EITHER BE FOR DEFENSIVE OR OFFENSIVE PURPOSES ,AW IS USED AS A DEFENSIVE WEAPON AGAINST 2APPLER BY A PRIVATE CITIZEN WHO WAS A VICTIM OF THEIR OFFEN SIVE WEAPONIZATION OF THE ALMOST AB SOLUTE NATURE OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS )N *UNE #HAY (OkLEÄA THE head of Rappler’s investigative desk, COMMENTED ON THE LIBEL CASE 3EN !NTONIO 4RILLANES TH kLED AGAINST 2* .IETO THE BLOGGER BEHIND 4HINK ING 0INOY (OkLEÄA SAID g&REEDOM OF SPEECH YOU SAY 4HERE ARE LIMITS WHEN THERE IS MALICE AND WHEN YOU DELIBERATELY CAUSE OTHERS UNDUE HARM u 4HAT LIMIT (OkLEÄA TALKS

ABOUT ALSO APPLIES TO THEM !ND WHO ENFORCES THAT LIMIT )T S THE 3TATE THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT

AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW 4HAT S WHY ) don’t understand why Ressa and her NETWORK THINKS IT S SHAMEFUL THAT A GOVERNMENT ARRESTS HER BY THE VIRTUE OF A VALID WARRANT OF ARREST STEM MING FROM A CASE MEANT TO ENFORCE THE LIMIT THAT (OkLEÄA TALKED ABOUT If Rappler only gave Keng a CHANCE TO DEFEND HIMSELF EITHER BY GETTING HIS SIDE OR BY GIVING HIM the right of reply, then perhaps, THEY WOULDN T BE EXPERIENCING THIS CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS 3O WHAT EX ACTLY WAS 2APPLER S MOTIVATION IN not getting Keng’s side? What was 2APPLER S MOTIVATION IN NOT GIVING HIM SPACE TO DEFEND HIMSELF 7HY can’t Rappler allow the person whose reputation they callously destroyed a chance to clean his NAME THROUGH THE SAME PLATFORM Rappler used to soil it?

In 2016, in their #NoPlaceforHate ARTICLE 2APPLER WENT ON TO DEkNE THE LIMITS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH IT S NOT gLICENSE TO SMEAR REPUTATION AND RUIN CREDIBILITY .OR DOES IT MEAN THE FREEDOM TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE AND TO DEFAME u 9ET HOW MANY REPUTATIONS AND CREDIBILITIES 2APPLER RUINED WITH THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH ) WAS ONE OF THEM )N *ULY

DURING A SUMMIT OF THE 'LOBAL Editors Network (GEN) in Austria, 2ESSA SLANDERED ME SAYING ) WAS part of a “fake news network,� an accusation that GEN reproduced on its Tweeter account.

I wrote GEN to avail of the right

Q AQUINO FROM A1 of reply as stipulated in their Code of Ethics which gives “any per son...portrayed in a negative light�

IN '%. S PUBLICATIONS THE RIGHT OF REPLY 4HIS RIGHT OF REPLY EXTENDS TO gSOCIAL NETWORK POSTINGS BY '%.

PUBLICATIONS STAFF u %MILY +ODJO '%. S COMMUNICA TION DIRECTOR WROTE BACK TO INFORM ME THAT THEY WOULDN T BE ABLE TO GRANT ME THE RIGHT OF REPLY /N THE BASIS OF THIS PROVISION ON THEIR CODE of ethics: “Coverage of people or COMPANIES IN '%. PUBLICATIONS SHOULD BE WRITTEN AS NEWS NOT PROMOTION 4HEY SHOULD COVER THE CHALLENGES PEOPLE AND COMPANIES face as well as their successes.�

How did this provision nullify their right of reply? No idea. “Maria Ressa’s intervention at THE '%. SUMMIT DURING A PANEL session was done in good faith,� +ODJO REPLIED gABIDING BY OUR #ODE OF %THICS TO DESCRIBE THE CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED BY HER PUBLICATION u "UT HOW COULD IT BE DONE IN “good faith� when the accusation HAS NO FACTUAL BASIS 2ESSA DIDN T present any evidence at all of any fake news I wrote. +ODJO SHOULD HAVE JUST BEEN HONEST 2ESSA IS ONE OF '%. S BOARD MEMBERS Then and now, Ressa’s political THEATER HAS ONE MESSAGE 4HOSE she slanders should suffer in SILENCE AND MUST BE PORTRAYED AS VIOLATORS OF HER FREEDOM WHENEVER they speak truth to her power.

% MAIL SRSASOT GMAIL COM

Movies, murders and empty political promises: Tondo’s tragic history

“I

6% BEEN ASKED MANY TIMES

why did I choose Tondo? What MAKES 4ONDO SO DIFFERENT u )T S RE ally anyone’s guess whether Grace Poe, who was in Tondo last week TO LAUNCH HER REELECTION BID FOR THE 3ENATE WAS ACTUALLY ASKED THESE QUESTIONS AS SHE CLAIMED )T S A SCRIPTED OVERUSED BUT NONETHELESS clever rhetorical hook.

In front of cheering crowds chant ING HER NAME AS IF SHE WERE A SEMI DEITY 3ENATOR 0OE WHO IS RUNNING as an independent candidate and IS PROUD OF HER PRO POOR ESPECIALLY PRO POOR CHILD LEANINGS GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS 3HE LISTED THE GREAT 4ONDO MOVIES OF HER ADOPTIVE FATHER THE MOVIE SUPERSTAR ACTION HERO TURNED politician and thwarted presidential candidate, Fernando Poe Jr. “Those WERE THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT MY dad, FPJ, was asked. Why did you MAKE SO MANY MOVIES IN 4ONDO $O YOU KNOW THE MOVIES HE MADE ‘Tatak ng Tondo,’ ‘Iyo ang Tondo akin ang Cavite,’ ‘Agila ng Maynila,’ @"ATANG 1UIAPO @)SLA 0UTING "ATO

AND SO MANY OTHERS 3O MY ANSWER NOW IS THE SAME AS MY DAD S "ECAUSE in Tondo you can see the truth. You CAN SEE THE MIRROR OF LIFE u 4HE CROWD CHEERED HER ON CUE BUT ONE CANNOT BE ENTIRELY SURE THEY LIKED BEING REFERRED TO AS gLIFE S MIRROR u Grace Poe, tellingly, still hitches her political star to FPJ, who lost THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and never conceded defeat until his DEATH IN $ECEMBER THAT YEAR ENDED HIS ELECTION PROTEST BID 'RACE 0OE S own run for the presidency in 2016

I

N a graduate class in the National Defense College of the Philip PINES A STUDENT ASKED ME A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION 7HY HAVE THE endorsed candidates of presidential INCUMBENTS NEVER WON AND SUCCEED ed the endorsing president? After 0##! CAME 0&62 BUT SHE ENDORSED 2AMON -ITRA IN -ITRA WAS THE ERSTWHILE 3PEAKER OF THE (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES !FTER 0&62 CAME 0*%% BUT 0&62 ENDORSED 3PEAKER *OE de Venecia in 1998. Then there was the change in 2001 that led to PGMA HOLDING ON TO POWER FOR YEARS FROM AND 0'-!

ENDORSED $EFENSE 3ECRETARY 'ILBERT Teodoro Jr. and PNoy won. In 2016, 0.OY ENDORSED )NTERIOR 3ECRETARY -AR 2OXAS AND A COME FROM BEHIND

NEVER PLANNED FOR THE RUN MAYOR OF Davao City won.

7HAT IS THE MAIN TAKEAWAY FROM THESE ELECTIONS 4HAT THE INCUMBENT

THE LONG VIEW RACHEL A.G. REYES clung, in large part, to the FPJ aura SHE CONJURED UP WITH HER MOTHER

THE ACTRESS 3USAN 2OCES !LTHOUGH certain irritating issues, such as once BEING A 53 CITIZEN WRECKED HER AT TEMPT 0OE S ELECTION TIME 4ONDO rallies tend to serve her well. Her fellow senatorial reelectionists are only too happy to share the Tondo STAGE WITH HER 3EN +OKO 0IMENTEL TRIED TO BOOST HIS lAGGING POPULARITY

BY INJECTING SOME ROMANCE INTO HIS CAMPAIGN (E BROUGHT HIS NEW LOVE and (horrors), sang to her. FPJ’s coat tails are proving generously long. &LORIN @0ILO (ILBAY HOPES HIS 4ONDO CONNECTION CAN GET HIM TO THE 3ENATE "ANKING ON HIS NICELY CRAFTED RAGS TO ACADEME VIA HARD GRAFT STORY

(ILBAY IS A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSI tion slate “Otso Diretso.�

(E PUSHES THE VIRTUES OF MODESTY

studiousness and clean living, over STRONGMAN CHARISMA g) WAS BORN IN 4ONDO u HE RECALLS gMY MOTHER WAS an Ilocana, a KASAMBAHAY, or house HELP 3HE kNISHED ELEMENTARY GRADE 3HE DIDN T WANT TO BECOME A FARMER AND TRIED HER LUCK IN -ANILA 3HE FELL IN LOVE WITH MY FATHER A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE A SHOESHINE BOY WHO SOLD CLOTHES IN $IVISORIA u (ILBAY GLOSSES OVER HIS GLORIOUSLY IMPROBABLE RISE AND RISE FROM 4ONDO TO A LAW DEGREE AT THE 5NIVERSITY OF 0HILIPPINES TO 9ALE AND TO HIS APPOINTMENT AS SOLICI

tor general. “Doors were opened,� he says vaguely.

(ILBAY S 4ONDO CAMPAIGN KICKOFF WAS GOING WELL (E WAS TALKING ABOUT REAL ISSUES UNTIL FOR SOME MYSTERIOUS REASON HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE AN AMAZING IDEA TO FALL IN LOVE DURING THE CAMPAIGN (IS ROMANCE WITH the actress Agot Isidro, one of the FEW CELEBRITIES BELOVED BY THE OP position, turned up and got down ON HER BEAUTIFUL KNEE AND PROFESSED SOME SWEET STICKY FEELING FOR HIM It thrilled the Tondo audience, who PROMPTLY FORGOT WHY THEY WERE LISTEN ING TO (ILBAY IN THE kRST PLACE It was Joseph Estrada who forged THE TEMPLATE FOR SUCCESSFUL 4ONDO POLITICKING )N THE 4ONDO BORN HARD DRINKING GUN WIELDING

GOLD HEARTED PHILANDERER OF THE SIL ver screen won the presidency with PERCENT OF THE VOTE 4HE STAR OF “Tondo Boy “ and over a hundred MOVIES %STRADA MOVED INTO -ALACA Ăąang with a colorful presidential ENTOURAGE OF MISTRESSES CRIME BOSSES

killers, kidnappers, corrupt police, AND CONkDENCE MEN WRYLY NOTES THE !MERICAN HISTORIAN !LFRED 7 -C#OY Estrada was convicted and jailed FOR PLUNDER IN (IS SUCCESSOR

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, pardoned HIM (E HAD SERVED ONLY SIX YEARS OF HIS YEAR SENTENCE Estrada was properly grateful to his indigent Tondo supporters and RETURNED TO THEM AFTER HIS RELEASE g) LOVE YOU SO MUCH u HE CRIED AS HE DISTRIBUTED MEDICAL SUPPLIES g3O long as Erap lives, he can never pay HIS DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THE POOR u (IS RAGGED CONSTITUENTS WERE TOUCHED BY

HIS WORDS 4HEY MADE THE DISGRACED FORMER PRESIDENT THE FRESH NEW MAYOR OF -ANILA &ORMER $AVAO #ITY MAYOR AND INCUMBENT 0RESIDENT $UTERTE PRO vides the great twist to Tondo’s recent illustrious political history. He is no 4ONDO MAN BUT HE CAMPAIGNS LIKE one. In 2016 he vowed to end drugs AND CRIMINALITY BETWEEN THREE TO SIX MONTHS AND PROMISED TO RESTORE LAW AND ORDER (IS kRST RALLY IN 4ONDO WAS PACKED WITH BOY BANDS CONFETTI AND TOADYING POLITICIANS g) PROMISE YOU SOMETHING u $UTERTE SAID DARKLY g!ND IF YOU KNOW ME ) WILL REALLY DO IT %VEN IF ) LOSE MY LIFE MY HONOR and even the presidency I will do it.�

7ITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF $UTERTE S CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUGS

MURDEROUS VIGILANTE SQUADS WERE RE PORTED TO BE OPERATING IN 4ONDO 4HEY ALLEGEDLY RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM the police to “clean out Tondo� and INSTILL FEAR AND PANIC AMONG PEOPLE Tondo is Manila’s sprawling, fetid SLUM )TS WARRENS OF DEPRIVATION AND DISEASE HAVE BEEN GROWING AND FESTER ING FOR GENERATIONS *UST HOW MANY PEOPLE JUST HOW MANY POTENTIAL voters live there is uncertain — over HALF A MILLION PEOPLE ACCORDING TO A 2015 census. The poverty is desperate, EXTREME AND LEGENDARY )T S A SPLENDID place for grasping, political con artists AND ESPECIALLY HOSPITABLE TO THE SWAGGER ING STRONG WILLED TOUGH GUY POPULIST 3EDUCED DECEIVED SHORT CHANGED BETRAYED AND ABAN DONED 4ONDO SUBSISTS ON LIES

EMPTY PROMISES AND FALSE HOPE

RACHELAGREYES GMAIL COM

The right to a good name In Oneself As Another, Ricoeur SUMS UP THE ETHICAL IDEAL gLIV ing a good life with others in JUST INSTITUTIONS u %ARLY EXIS tentialist philosophers already underscored what they called gINTERSUBJECTIVITYu THE HUMAN CONDITION THAT MAKES INTERPER sonal relations not only a con TINGENT FACT BUT A CONDITION OF THE SUBJECTIVITY OF EVERY HUMAN PERSON !ND WHETHER MY LIFE WITH OTHER PERSONS IS FULkLLING or frustrating, joyful or painful, DEPENDS TO A CONSIDERABLE DE gree on the idea or concept they HAVE OF ME 4HIS IS WHAT MADE FAMOUS THE LINE ATTRIBUTED TO 3ARTRE THAT gTHE OTHER S STARE SO LIDIkES ME u 4HE FORMER #ARDINAL 4HEODORE -C#ARRICK BECAUSE OF the worldwide attention given THE SENTENCE IMPOSED ON HIM

BY A 6ATICAN DICASTERY HAS BEEN gSOLIDIFIEDu IN THE IMAGE THE PRESS HAS PROJECTED OF HIM ‡ A PEDOPHILE A CHILD ABUSER A SEXUAL PERVERT 7HATEVER IT IS THAT MAY BE IN HIS MIND OR HEART ‡ repentance, regret, a readiness TO MAKE UP FOR HIS MISDEEDS ‡ AND WHATEVER GOOD HE MAY HAVE DONE OR IS STILL CAPABLE OF DOING ‡ NONE OF THIS CAN ALTER THE IM age of a prowling wolf in cleric’s APPAREL ALMOST THE WHOLE WORLD EXCEPT PROBABLY THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM WHO KNOW HIM BEST HAS FORMED OF HIM (E MAY OR MAY NOT DESERVE IT BUT THE POINT IS THAT NEGATIVE PUBLICITY HAS negative, destructive, deleterious effects on “living with others.�

4HE HUMAN PERSON HAS THE UNIQUE CAPACITY OF ATTRIBUTING AGENCY TO HIMSELF g) DID THIS u And together with such ascrip TION ALSO COMES THE CAPACITY FOR MORAL QUALIFICATION g)T WAS A BAD THING ) DID ) AM BAD u #ON COMITANT WITH THIS CAPACITY FOR SELF ATTRIBUTION IS THE CAPACITY TO ATTRIBUTE ACTIONS AND CHARACTERIS tics to others, and to characterize THEM AS WELL AS gGOODu OR gBAD u The power of the uttered or PRINTED WORD ‡ AND MORE SO OF SOCIAL MEDIA ‡ IS THAT IT PROVIDES A COMMON LENS THROUGH WHICH society sees things. A few hardy souls, a handful of thoughtful persons who refuse to take up THE COMMUNAL REFRAIN MAY REJECT THE gPREFABRICATEDu PERSPECTIVE OFFERED BY REPORTERS COLUMNISTS

BLOGGERS WAGS "UT MOST WILL take it up and see as they are IMPORTUNED TO SEE "Y A LANDMARK DECISION IN a case titled 'OOGLE 3PAIN VS Agencia EspaĂąola de Proteccion de Datos THE %UROPEAN #OURT OF *USTICE AFFIRMED THE gRIGHT TO BE FORGOTTENu AND THE OBLIGATION OF SEARCH ENGINES TO delete links to posts or reports that, even if true, no longer MEET THE STANDARDS THAT THE court identifies. g)T FOLLOWS FROM THOSE RE QUIREMENTS LAID DOWN IN !R ticle 6(1)(c) to (e) of Directive

THAT EVEN INITIALLY LAW ful processing of accurate data MAY IN THE COURSE OF TIME

BECOME INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE directive where those data are no longer necessary in the light of the purposes for which they

were collected or processed.

That is so in particular where THEY APPEAR TO BE INADEQUATE

irrelevant or no longer relevant, OR EXCESSIVE IN RELATION TO THOSE purposes and in the light of the TIME THAT HAS ELAPSED u )T SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT THE MATTER ABOUT WHICH THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINANT A 3PANISH NATIONAL HAD BROUGHT THE ACTION

had to do with a legal notice of FORECLOSE AND REPOSSESSION ‡ BY all accounts, accurate and legally REQUIRED "UT SINCE THE MATTER HAD LONG BEEN RESOLVED ITS CON TINUED AVAILABILITY ON THE WEB CAUSED CONTINUING EMBARRASS MENT AND HUMILIATION 4HERE IS A RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN AND IT IS

WITHOUT MUCH ARGUMENT CLEARLY part of the right of a person to A GOOD NAME 4HAT SOMETHING is true is not the point. If one USES THE TRUTH ABOUT ANOTHER to denigrate and insult, that IS ABUSE IN ANY LANGUAGE AND MUST BE DEALT WITH BY THE LAW AS SUCH 7HAT IS SO TELLING ABOUT THIS JUDGMENT OF THE %UROPEAN Court of Justice is that it goes so FAR AS TO EXCLUDE AS A VIOLATION of a person’s right the continued AVAILABILITY OF NEGATIVE INFOR MATION ABOUT HIM DESPITE THE resolution of the issue. For one WHOSE BUSINESS OR PROFESSION OR EXERCISE OF HIGH OFkCE RESTS ON HIS GOOD NAME FAME OR REPUTA tion, derogatory utterances and PUBLICATIONS THREATEN LIVELIHOOD

enterprise and professional FULFILLMENT BESIDES ANGUISH AND EMBARRASSMENT ) THINK THAT THE MOST DELETE RIOUS EFFECT OF NEGATIVE PUBLIC ITY ‡ ITS HIGHEST EXACTION ON A person — is the fact that rather than a person writing his own narrative, which is the funda MENTAL RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON IT IS WRITTEN FOR HIM BY MALICIOUS

INSIDIOUS LIBELOUS POSTS AND articles. Of course, one can continue living one’s life and DOING THE BEST THAT ONE CAN BUT the reality of what Heidegger calls “idle talkâ€? (people repeat ING WHAT HAS BEEN TOLD THEM NOT BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT TO BE TRUE BUT BECAUSE IT IS WHAT IS POPULARLY SAIDĂœ AND THE WELL OBSERVED PHENOMENON OF HERD ING ‡ WITH ENTIRE COMMUNITIES

if not a nation grazing in the acrid pastures of slanted report ing and purposively destructive COMMENTARY ONE S OWN NARRA TIVE WILL SO EASILY BE TAKEN OVER

BY THAT WHICH HAS BEEN SPUN

BY ONE S FOES 4HE FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES OF A PERSON TO WHICH THE ELEMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE ENTITLE HIM 2AWLS AR GUES ARE THOSE THAT ALLOW HIM TO SECURE FOR HIMSELF THE BASES OF SELF RESPECT ) DO NOT THINK THAT THERE WILL BE SERIOUS ISSUE THAT A REPUTATION FREE OF MALI cious aspersions and unsavory IMPUTATIONS IS AMONG THESE Precious as the right to free EXPRESSION MIGHT BE AS PRECIOUS IS THE RIGHT TO A GOOD NAMEĂœ

RANNIE?AQUINO CSU EDU PH RANNIE?AQUINO SANBEDA edu.ph RANNIE?AQUINO OUTLOOK COM

And the 2022 train heats up ZILCH MA. LOURDES TIQUIA PRESIDENT COULDN T MAKE HIS ENDORSED candidate win the presidency since 4HE ONE NOT ANOINTED MAKES IT DESPITE MACHINERY AND MONEY The person who prepares early gets ROBBED OF A DREAM FROM -ITRA DE 6ENECIA AND 4EODORO "EING 3PEAKER OR A CABINET SECRETARY IS NOT A PLUS "EING INCUMBENT VICE PRESIDENT IS NOT an assurance like Vice President Jojo Binay. The only vice president to get THE TOP PLUM IN AN EXTRAJUDICIAL MAN ner was then Vice President GMA. Why is picking successor leaders IMPORTANT &OR CONTINUITY OF POLICY

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES 7E CANNOT JUST BE DOING A SIX YEAR WALTZ AND

THEN JUMP TO DO A ZUMBA FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS !ND THAT IS WHY PARTY BECOMES MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY ONE WHERE PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENT CAN BE shepherded for 12 years. If we want TO CONTINUE OUR MARCH WE WILL NEED CONTINUITY FROM THE PREVIOUS TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION 4HE ECONOMY HAS BEEN DECOUPLED DURING THE TIME OF 0'-! AND IT IS MOVING ACCORD INGLY BUT THE POLITICS REMAINS VERY EXTRACTIVE EVEN UNDER 022$ !ND AS WE WELCOME THE kRST WEEK OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE MIDTERM ON THE FIFTH DAY FLOATS WERE MADE FOR FORMER 3PEAKER -ANNY 6ILLAR 022$ CONFIRMED THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT 6ILLAR BUT at the kickoff of HNP, a regional party, there was a huge tarpaulin WITH 022$ S DAUGHTER -AYOR 3ARA Duterte’s photo larger than all the 3ENATE CANDIDATES )MAGINE A CITY

MAYOR GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY ENDORSING 3ENATE CANDIDATESĂœ !ND that is already a signal to all that IS NOT GOING TO BE LIKE THE TYPICAL MOLD OF PREVIOUS MIDTERM ELECTIONS IS A DRY RUN FOR !WARENESS WILL BE CURED AND TRUST WILL SLOWLY BE BUILT WITH ALL POTENTIAL COMPETITORS CO OPTED NOW There is no coalition. There is A REGIONAL PARTY AFkLIATED WITH ALL MAJOR NATIONAL PARTIES AS WELL AS regional and local parties. Different NETWORKS AND DIFFERENT ADMINISTRA TION SLATES 4HE (.0 SLATE HAS when everyone is supposed to pick only 12. Then there is the PDP kickoff that saw its slate growing FROM TO WITH 022$ HIMSELF RAISING THE HANDS OF THE 3O NOW THE SO CALLED TWO LINE UPS ORIGINAL OF 022$ AND OF 0$0 HAVE BEEN MERGED TO ONE UNDER 0$0 3OME NAMES HAVE BEEN DROPPED IN THE

0$0 KICK OFF BUT REMAINED IN (.0 7HAT APPEARS TO BE CLEAR IS THAT VOTERS WILL HAVE MORE CHOICES AND the real candidates of PRRD appear TO BE THREE 3!0 "ONG 'O FORMER PNP chief Bato de la Rosa and po litical adviser Francis Tolentino. Go HAS MADE THE CLIMB "ATO IS lOATING

WHILE 4OL LAGS BEHIND There are things that do not add UP TODAY NOT BECAUSE OF NEW THINGS 2ATHER THERE ARE THINGS BEING TESTED

CALIBRATED OR TRIED WITHOUT ANY PREC edent in the past. First, there is no president who has three sets of can DIDATES 3ECOND IT USED TO BE MAJOR parties doing coalition. Third, no -INDANAO CITY MAYOR HAS LED THE OF fensive nationally. This early, PRRD is lOATING NAMES WITH AN EYE TO )F 0OE MAINTAINS HER .O RANK

HER NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT POOL )F 3EN #YNTHIA 6ILLAR MOVES TO .O EXPECT A CONSOLIDATION IMME

diately, especially if the Nacionalista BECOMES THE PREDOMINANT MAJORITY PARTY FOR THE MIDTERM /THER NAMES interested are helping out in the MIDTERM BUT REMAIN QUIET WITH THEIR PLANS NOT WANTING TO BE OPERATED UPON BY SOME ENTERPRISING POLITI CIANS WANTING TO THROW MUD EARLY TO CURRY FAVOR WITH THE INCUMBENT 4HEN THERE IS THE kGHT OVER THE SPEAKERSHIP FOR THE TH #ONGRESS .AMES BEING MENTIONED ARE !LAN 0ETER #AYETANO

-ARTIN 2OMUALDEZ ,ORD 6ELASCO

Butch Pichay and Jojo Binay. But MUCH OF THE ALIGNMENT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE PARTY LIST WINNERS ARE MADE considering the revolving door is said TO BE MOVING FAST 4HERE IS NOT MUCH BUZZ IN THE MIDTERM BUT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE TRAIN AND MOVING ACCORDINGLY TO QUIETLY DO THE PRE paratory ground work. Indeed, in POLITICS TIMING IS KEY

Regions Floating cocaine a ‘decoy’ – PDEA P ˜ The Manila Times

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

BYÂ DEMPSEY REYES

HILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino on Monday said he believes that the spate of BRICKS OF COCAINE FOUND lOATING ON THE SHORELINES of coastline villages is a “diversionary tactic� for drug groups to be able to slip into the country.

Aquino’s statement came as another brick of suspected cocaine was recovered by the police in Mauban, Quezon on Monday morning, apart from the previously found floating in some coastal areas in the country.

In an interview over dzMM radio, Aquino said he was looking at two angles as to why bricks of COCAINE WERE FOUND lOATING ALONG

Dinagat Island and in Paracale, Camarines Norte.

One of this, he said, was that the Philippines was being used as a “transhipment point,� that after the cocaine manages to enter the country, the illegal drug substance would then be repacked and delivered somewhere.

Among the countries he cited where the cocaine was to be

shipped were Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, which are very near the Philippines.

Another angle was, the cocaine FOUND lOATING WITHIN 0HILIPPINE waters could have been a “diversionary tactic� by drug groups for them to slip larger amounts of illegal drugs into the country. “They are slipping smaller [amounts of] drugs, they will let that be seized [by authorities], but they are just doing to bring in bigger drugs. If you can see, cocaine has no market here, it’s just within about two percent,�

Aquino explained. “Once a floating cocaine [is found], all law enforcers would be focused on the retrieval and search operations, so the tendency would be a continuous

vacuum or gap in the security of some of our vast coastlines so that drugs can enter here. It is a decoy or as something to SACRIkCE AND EVENTUALLY TO BE ABLE to slip larger volumes of drugs,� he added.

Aquino said there had been INCIDENTS OF lOATING COCAINE recorded since 2018, which made HIM SUSPECT WHY THE lOATING DRUGS were not completely retrieved.

Meanwhile, a village watchman discovered a brick of suspected cocaine at the coastal waters of Barangay San Jose at about 9 a.m. on Monday, Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, director of the Quezon provincial police, reported.

The package was brought to the Quezon Police Crime Laboratory

for further examination as de Guzman directed all municipal police stations within the province’s coastal areas to verify the possibility of other packages within the shorelines.

Threat remains

The threat brought by illegal drugs remained present in the country, despite the recent survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showing majority of Filipinos saw a decline in the number of drug addicts in their communities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday.

Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, said the operations tracking down illegal drugs in the country would continue, citing

A7

the reduction in the demand and supply of drugs. “We cannot remove the fact that the drugs indeed disappeared already in our respective communities. The threat is still there, [but] we will show that there is a marked improvement on our focus in strengthening our antiillegal drugs awareness to our fellow Filipinos,� he told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The SWS survey released over the weekend showed 66 percent of Filipinos believed the number of drug users in their areas had already dropped, while 14 percent believe it increased.

Banac said that out of the 42,044 barangay (villages), 11,000 have already been cleared.

Troops kill insurgent P25-M evacuation facility in Vizcaya completed in Misamis Oriental ZAMBOANGA CITY: A communist New People’s Army (NPA) insurgent WAS KILLED IN A kREkGHT ON -ONday with government troops in Aloran, Misamis Occidental, OFkCIALS SAID Capt. Clint Antipala, spokesman for the 1st Infantry DiviSION SAID THE kGHTING ERUPTED IN Barangay San Pedro after soldiers on patrol duty caught up with a band of NPA rebels.

He said villagers secretly provided information to the military on the presence of rebels in the area, saying the gunmen were reportedly recruiting in the village.

Antipala, quoting a report by Lt. Col. John Andrada, commander of the 10th Infantry Battalion, said soldiers also recovered one AK-47 ASSAULT RIlE IN THE SITE WHERE THE kGHTING TOOK PLACE “The encounter was the result of the information our troops received from a concerned civilian who reported the presence of the armed group in their community while we were conducting com-

munity security operations,�

Andrada said in his report to Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, the division commander. “The troops scoured the scene of encounter and recovered one !+ RIlE THREE MAGAZINES AND subversive documents with high intelligence value. Blood stains were seen along the withdrawal routes believed to be those of wounded NPA members,� Andrada added. “Listen to the call of the people, lay down your arms, return to the fold of the law and avail of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. It is very tragic that he had taken arms against the people of Misamis Occidental when only through peace can development and social justice be achieved,� Ancan said, referring to the slain rebel.

AL JACINTO

FIREFIGHT A military photo released to The Manila Times shows the recovered AK-47 assault rifle, following a firefight between troops and New People’s Army rebels in Aloran, Misamis Occidental on Monday where one gunman was killed. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Caraga declares NPAs persona non grata BUTUAN CITY: The local Peace and Development Zone (PDZ) in Barangay Camam-onan, one OF THE CONlICT AFFECTED AREAS IN Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, recently professed its full support to the government and declared the New People’s Army (NPA) as persona non grata.

In a statement over the weekend, the PDZ, led by barangay (village) chairman Inday Flor Bangga, said the declaration came after 28 members of Militia ng Bayan of the NPAs and 267 members of the Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) surrendered to 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) on February 15.

Lt. Col. Allen Raymund Tomas, commander of 30IB and Gigaquit Mayor Elvira Egay presided over the mass surrender of former NPA members and supporters. g7E HAVE OFkCIALLY WITHDRAWN our support to the communist movement and pledged our oath of allegiance to the government,� the PDZ statement said.

Camam-onan was among the villages declared as peace and development zone on Aug. 28, 2018.

The PDZ program is a joint

peace-building initiative of the Regional Peace and Order Council and the Regional Development Council in the Caraga Region.

PDZ is a joint effort to promote and establish lasting peace by addressing the root causes of CONlICTS THROUGH RECONCILIATION

peace constituency building, social, and political and economic transformation.

In a statement on Sunday, Major Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, expressed appreciation for the decision of the Camamonan PDZ and welcomed the former NPA members back to the government.

Santos said the success of the PDZ program greatly relied on the collaboration and cooperation of its stakeholders. “Way to go, we can achieve the peace that we are longing for and cut the cycle of insurgency if we put our acts together and resolve issues and concern being used by the NPAs as propaganda subject,� Santos said.

ALEXANDER LOPEZ

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: A P25-million provincial evacuation center built within the provincial capitol here was completed and is ready for operation once calamities hit the province.

Robert Corpuz, provincial disaster risk reduction management 0$22- OFkCER SAID THE EVACUation center is an eight-room, two-story building with 67 beds IN ITS INkRMARY SECTION Corpuz said the center included a pharmacy, laundry, drying area, cooking area, storage area, water tank, two comfort rooms, assemBLY AND PARKING AREA AND OFkCES for the PDRRM. The project, which was constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), sits on a 3,000-squaremeter vacant lot close to the provincial legislative building.

Corpuz said the DPWH had already inspected the facility and declared the project as completed and would soon be turned over to the provincial government.

Q The newly built P25-million evacuation center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

PHOTO BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO The provincial government is also set to inspect the national government-funded project for the ISSUANCE OF CERTIkCATION BASED ON its program of works.

It was the provincial government which proposed the construction

of the evacuation center to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. “The center is meant to address the need for an evacuation center in the province and in support of the nationwide disaster risk reduction

management program,� Corpuz said.

He said the center was a boost in the disaster risk reduction efforts of the provincial government since the province was often hit

BY STRONG TYPHOONS AND lOODING LEANDER C. DOMINGO

A8

News

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

Oil companies hike pump prices anew

BY JORDEENE B. LAGARE

O

IL companies again adjusted pump prices on Tuesday, raising the cost of diesel and gasoline up by 70 centavos per liter each, and kerosene by 35 centavos per liter. #ALTEX WAS THE kRST TO IMplement the price increase at 12:01 a.m., followed by Eastern Petroleum, Flying

V, Petro Gazz, Phoenix Petroleum, Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, Seaoil and Total at 6 a.m.

The price hike brings the common price of diesel to P41.99 per liter, gasoline to P49.24-P53.24 per liter, and kerosene by P47.61 per liter.

Industry players hiked pump prices as global oil prices touched their highest levels since November. Reuters reported on Monday that Brent Crude Futures reached a high

of $66.78 a barrel before easing to $66.65 a barrel, 0.6 percent, while the US West Texas Intermediate hit $56.13 per barrel before edging back to $56.03 per barrel, up 0.8 percent.

Last week, oil firms raised the cost of diesel by 55 centavos per liter, gasoline by 90 centavos per liter, and kerosene by 85 centavos per liter.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Bong Go vows better services for OFWs PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s former top aide Christopher Lawrence “Bong� Go assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong that should he win a senate seat in May, he would help the Philippine government create the Department of OFWs to provide them with better and faster services Go promised this anew in his message before a crowd of about 2,500 attendees, comprised of OFWs, Philippine officials in Hong Kong, and other Filipinos residing in the area during his visit in the region’s Deep Water Bay Public Beach and Central District. “Alam niyo po, mahal na mahal namin ni Pangulong Duterte ang mga kapatid nating OFWs. Unang-una, isusulong ko po ‘yung Department of OFWs para po may [ahensya ng gobyerno na] nakatutok sa kanila, (President Duterte and I truly love OFWs. First, I will push for the creation of the Department of OFWs, so there would be an government agency dedicated to their needs),� Go said The senatorial aspirant said putting up an OFW department was one way to fast-track transactions of overseas workers.

Go also spoke about his intention of helping returning OFWs, who plan to work in the Philippines for good.

 “Di po nababayaran ang lungkot na mahiwalay sa pamilya. Mas nanaisin po nilang manirahan at magtrabaho sa ating bansa. Kaya’t pagbubutihin natin ang mga reintegration programs para sa mga ayaw nang magtrabaho sa labas ng bansa (The loneliness from being separated from family cannot be measured.

They would rather live and work in the country. Thus, we need to improve our reintegration programs for those who no longer wish to work abroad),� he said.

Go assured Filipinos in Hong Kong that the families they left behind would get the support they need through the Malasakit Center.

The Malasakit Center, a program of the Duterte administration, is a one-stop shop wherein several government agencies, including the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. are under one roof to ease the process for patients in need of fast medical and financial assistance. “Mayroon na po tayong 23 Malasakit Centers sa buong bansa at dadagdagan pa po natin ‘yan sa pagdaan ng panahon (We have 23 Malasakit Centers nationwide, and we will add more),� Go said.

PH needs independent Senate - Bam Aquino SEN. Paolo Benigno “Bam� Aquino 4th has called for an independent Senate that will protect the welfare of Filipinos as he urged voters to choose candidates who are committed to amend Republic Act 10963 or the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion� (Train) Law, or. “Ang kailangan po ng ating bayan ay isang Senado na independent, hindi po sunud-sunuran sa mga taong nakaupo at bagkus, kinakampihan ay ang tao po mismo� (What the country needs is an independent Senate not beholden to those in power, and pro-people), said Aquino during the ABS-CBN senatorial debate. “Kailangan natin ng isang senadong magsisigurado na ang pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino ay matutugan — edukasyon, kalusugan, pagbaba ng mga presyo ng bilihin at hustisya,� (We need a Senate that will ensure that the needs of Filipinos are answered — education, health, lower prices of commodities and justice) he added.

Aquino said an independent and pro-people 3ENATE WOULD kGHT THE PASSAGE OF ANY MEASURE that will burden the public.

Aquino, one of four senators who voted against

THE RATIkCATION OF THE 4RAIN ,AW URGED &ILIPINOS TO choose candidates who will work for the amendment of the law to help lift the burden of high prices of food and other goods. “Iboto natin ang mga senador na willing magcommit na amyendahan ang Train Law� (Let’s vote for senators who are willing to commit to amend the Train Law),� he said .

Aquino, who sponsored the the landmark free college law, admitted that more work needs to be done to ensure that graduates would have jobs. “Kung papalarin (If elected), we will build on reforms on education. Naipasa natin bilang principal sponsor ang libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa. Ngayong mas madali nang mag-graduate ang ating kabataan, siguraduhin natin na ang bawat graduate ay may magandang trabahong naghihintay sa kanila� (the free college education bill was passed, now it is easier for students to graduate. However, we should ensure that a job await every graduate),� the senator said.

Aquino also committed to work on other education reforms, such as improvement of facilities AND BENEkTS FOR TEACHERS JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

Deed of donation Dear PAO, My grandmother (deceased) donated to me a certain lot when she was still alive.

However, after her death, my uncles claimed that my grandmother did not execute the said document on the date appearing on the deed because they were with her all the time. They also alleged that they had already talked to the notary public, who is now a septuagenarian, and the latter cannot recall the document or circumstances on how the document was notarized and some of his statements were not reliable. They are now claiming that the donation is not valid because of the information obtained from the notary public. Are they correct?

Joblens Dear Joblens, A donation is deemed valid as long as it complies with the requirement provided by law. Donation is an act of liberality whereby a person disposes gratuitously of a thing or right in favor of another, who accepts it (Article 725, New Civil Code of the Philippines). Relative thereto, Article 749 of the same code states: “In order that the donation of an immovable may be valid, it must be made in a public document, specifying therein the property donated and the value of the charges which the donee must satisfy.

The acceptance may be made in the same deed of donation or in a separate public document, but it shall not take effect unless it is done during the lifetime of the donor. xxx xxxx�.

If the donation was made in accordance with the abovementioned law then, your uncles have no legal basis to claim that the donation is

DEAR PAO PERSIDA ACOSTA void. Please be guided by the decision of the court in the case of Gliceria CarandangCollantes and Luz Carandang vs. Capuno, et al. (GR L-55373, July 25, 1983), where the Supreme Court through Chief Justice Felix Makasiar stated: “We reject the conclusions of the trial court and the appellate court that “in truth and in fact Josefa Capuno did not execute the donation inter vivos in favor of defendants-appellants.� We rule that the supposed contradictions and incoherence and inexplicable lapse of memory in the declarations of Atty. Gertrudo B. Flores, the notary public who notarized the deed of donation, merely refer to trivial, immaterial and minute details which, to Our view, do not affect the essential and vital facts showing the due execution and authenticity of the deed, admittedly a public instrument. “The positions of the donor, whether in her bed lying, or raised by the two girls, or seated in a chair during the execution and notarization of the deed are immaterial for what is important is the genuineness of the thumbmark of the donor which the notary public positively affirmed to be that of the donor as he helped her affix her thumbmark on the document on the left hand margin and on the printed name on the second page. It is likewise unimportant and of NO SIGNIkCANCE WHAT WRITING instrument or instruments were used, the order of the

persons who signed the deed, whether there were medical contrivances or apparatus attached to the donor’s body and what portions were read by him to the donee. These are minor points that do not affect the integrity of the document as a public instrument. The lapses of memory imputed to the notary public may be understood, considering that the notarization took place some three years ago and that during his commission, he must have notarized hundreds of various and assorted documents. The rule is contradictions of a witness on minor details do not destroy the effectiveness of his testimony because they are generally due to an innocent mistake and not to a deliberate falsehood. Persons are easily liable to commit errors in the observation and recollection of minute details of an important occurrence.

(Moran, “Comments on the Rules of Court,� Vol. VI, 1980 ed., pp. 141, 142).�

Applying the above quoted decision in your situation, the fact that the notary public cannot recall the deed of donation which he notarized does not affect the integrity or authenticity of the deed. The court considers these matters as immaterial and these will not affect the validity of the deed.

This opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Thus, the opinion may vary when the facts are changed or further elaborated. We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net

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Rice tariffication to start March 3 – NFA Council

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

T

HE NEWLY SIGNED 2ICE 4ARIFkCATION !CT WILL TAKE EFFECT -ARCH THE &INANCE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED ON -ONDAY WITH DUTIES REPLACING QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAD LIMITED IMPORTS OF THE STAPLE The National Food Authority (NFA) Council earlier in the day approved the IMPLEMENTATION OF A TARIFkED REGIME to further slash rice prices and bring down living costs, the department said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed 2EPUBLIC !CT LAST &RIDAY THE LAST possible day he could do so or veto the measure before it lapsed into law amid concerns raised by farmers and even the Agriculture department. “Our objective in liberalizing rice im-

ports is to bring down the costs of the STAPLE /UR PRICE IS PERCENT HIGHER than the others, including Singapore, which does not produce rice,� Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd was quoted as having said during the NFA Council meeting. g7ILL IT TAKE US DAYS TO EFFECT A reduction in the cost of living our the people?,� he added.

A 35-percent tariff will be implemented for rice bought from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Ase-

an) neighbors regardless of quantity, Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio *OSELITO ,AMBINO ND EXPLAINED ! HIGHER PERCENT TARIFF MEANwhile, will be slapped on rice imports within the minimum access volume -!6 OF METRIC TONS -4 AND GO UP TO PERCENT FOR OUT QUOTA shipments sourced from non-Asean countries.

The NFA Council also approved the transfer of the grains agency’s functions to the Department of Agriculture (DA), as provided under the law, beginning March 3.

The NFA was told to submit a restrucTURING PLAN WITHIN DAYS INSTEAD OF ITS INITIAL PROPOSAL OF DAYS AND Dominguez also said that the transfer of the Food Development Center to the Agriculture department could also

be done much shorter than the NFAPROPOSED DAYS He also recommended that the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) determine what funds can be freed up as a result of the NFA restructuring to ensure that farmers receive the support they need while the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mandated by the law is still being set up.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez supPORTED THE IMMEDIATE SHIFT TO A TARIFkED regime and also said that this would be facilitated via the NFA reorganization being done separately, the Finance department said.

It noted that Dominguez presided over the NFA Council meeting as endorsed by Agriculture Secretary

ÂłCouncil B4

Former MB member, trade exec passes away FORMER Monetary Board member, Trade Undersecretary and Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) President Melito Salazar Jr. passed away on Saturday at the age of 69.

The cause of death was not disclosed. “With heavy hearts, the shareholders, board OF DIRECTORS OFkCERS AND STAFF OF /MNI0AY announce the passing of our beloved Chairman of the Board, Melito Salazar Jr., this MORNING &EBRUARY u PAYMENTS SERVICES kRM /MNI0AY WHERE 3ALAzar was chairman of the board, announced in a Facebook post.

His remains lie at the Arlington Memorial Chapels & Crematory at Aeternum, Heritage Park, Bonifacio Global City and are open for Q Melito S. Salazar, Jr. PHOTO VIEWING UNTIL &EBRUARY FROM THE CENTRO ESCOLAR “Please join us in condoling UNIVERSITY WEBSITE

ÂłTrade B2

TWEAKED

Local Governments Secretary Eduardo AĂąo and Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat are seen during the launching of the refreshed #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines slogan at National Musuem in Manila on 18 February 2019. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA

Think tank raises PH growth forecast Mislatel Crypto still feebly grasping for a use case rollout hit by lack of B ROUGH ANKING giant JPMorgan Chase created a momentary blip last week with the announcement that it had developed a proTOTYPE CRYPTOCURRENCY THE kRST among major banks. The move was hailed by crypto evangelists as a major step toward legitimizing the concept of imaginary electric fairy tokens as money, particularly since JPMorgan chief executive officer Jamie Dimon has been one of cryptocurrency’s most vocal critics. Dimon famously dismissed cryptocurrency as “a fraud� just as the Bitcoin bubble was beginning its rapid INlATION IN LATE “Every major bank in the world is assessing the situation and developing a crypto/blockchain strategy. Either the banks disrupt themselves or they let others disrupt them,� venture capitalist and self-described “crypto oracle� Lou Kerner gushed in an interview with AFP. “The crypto genie is out of the bottle.�

About two days before the JPM announcement, however, there was another piece of news that suggested that perhaps the bottle is just being washed out to be used for something else.

A terse statement from Ripple announced that its chief market strategist Cory Johnson had left the company, apparently not under his own power. “Cory’s last year at Ripple was a success in representing the company to investors, press and regulators. Cory helped

TRADE BEN KRITZ

Ripple with strategy internally and overall industry education,�

Ripple’s statement said. “But due to changes in market conditions, we’ve chosen to eliminate the role of Chief Market Strategist.�

This development is substantially more revealing than the forced enthusiasm of experts like Lou Kerner, because among the “major� cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Ripple), Ripple has actively tried to position itself as a cryptocurrency/blockchain system for the banking industry. Whether or not the development at JPM had anything to do with Ripple’s decision is unknown, but it has apparently reached the conclusion that its target market does not have enough potential to even bother with having a strategy for it.

Reading between the lines of the news of the launch of the “JPM Coin� tends to support the impression that cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is quite a bit less disruptive than it is hoped it would be. The JPM Coin, which the bank was careful to stress is still considered a prototype, will be made available to JPMorgan’s institutional customers to make business-to-business

ÂłKritz B4

AN Asean + 3 think tank has raised its GROWTH FORECAST FOR THE 0HILIPpines, citing an expected recovery in private consumption and the continuation of a massive government infrastructure program. )N ITS !NNUAL #ONSULTAtion Report on the Philippines, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research /FkCE !-2/ SAID IT NOW EXPECTED to country to grow by 6.4 percent this year, slightly higher than the previous estimate of 6.3 percent. “The government’s ‘Build Build Build’ infrastructure program will continue to provide impetus to the economy,� it said. “Private consumption is also exPECTED TO RECOVER AS INlATION PRESSURE eases and consumer confidence is restored. Nonetheless, exports will

remain tepid,� it added.

Consumer price growth, which weighed on the economy last year, is EXPECTED TO EASE IN DUE TO LOWER oil prices and the implementation of THE RICE TARIFkCATION LAW Risks to the outlook, AMRO said, are mostly “short-term�.

The major external risks involve rising trade tensions and a sharp tightENING OF kNANCIAL CONDITIONS WHILE domestically, “higher-than-expected inflation and pockets of financial vulnerabilities are the key concerns.� “While domestic risks have started showing signs of easing, external risks have remained heightened.

Policymakers need to remain vigilant on the development of short-term risks and get ready to recalibrate their policy mix to sustain macroeconomic

stability,� it said.

AMRO said the government should calibrate fiscal policy to contain INlATION PRESSURES AND SUPPORT THE external position by reprioritizing expenditures.

It urged the government to “streamline current expenditures and continue to improve implementation CAPACITY AND SPENDING EFkCIENCY OF infrastructure projects, and adjust the pace of implementation so that it is in line with the absorptive capacity of the economy.� “Tax reforms should proceed with careful design and implementation to minimize potential negative impacts on investment and employment during the transition period,� it added.

added. !PPROVAL OF 2EPUBLIC !CT

or the Act Allowing the Full Entry of Foreign Banks in the PhilipPINES IN *ULY PAVED THE WAY for the entry of new players.

The law lifted the prevailing eqUITY LIMIT OF PERCENT FOR FOREIGN

THE Mislatel consortium’s rollout of commercial services could be delayed as both houses of Congress — currently on a break for the mid-term elections — still have to reconcile their versions of the third telco’s franchise. “They could not start [operating] because basically we could not give them the frequencies and THE #0#. CERTIkCATE OF PUBLIC convenience and necessity) ‌ their permit to operate as a telco until we get the approval of [the] bicam (bicameral conference committee),â€? acting Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. told reporters on Monday.

Mislatel, which is composed of Dennis Uy-led Udenna Corp. and Chelsea Logistics, Chinese partner China Telecommunications Corp. and Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. (whose franchise is supposed to be transferred to the consor-

ÂłOffice B4

ÂłFranchise B4

ÂłGrowth B4

Foreign bank keen on opening PH office A EUROPE-BASED bank has indicated interest in setting up shop in the Philippines, a senior Bangko 3ENTRAL NG 0ILIPINAS "30 OFkCIAL said on Monday. “Someone [from the bank] has approached me and said they are interested to apply for a license,� central bank Deputy Governor

Chuchi Fonacier told reporters in an interview.

Fonacier did not identify the bank but stressed that it was based in Europe. g4HE PERSON DID NOT SPECIkCALLY said whether they want to put up a branch or subsidiary but they expressed interest to apply,� she

franchise

Stock market recovers on trade talks optimism THE stock market recovered some ground on Monday as investor sentiment was boosted by renewed hopes over US-China trade talks.

The bellwether Philippine Stock %XCHANGE INDEX TOUCHED THE

level during intra-day trading but

LOST SOME STRENGTH TO kNISH THE DAY UP PERCENT OR POINTS AT 4HE WIDER !LL 3HARES ROSE PERCENT OR POINTS TO END AT

AAA Southeast Equities Inc. President Matthew Cabangon

said market players went bargain-hunting as they cheered US President Donald Trump’s announcement that US-China trade talks in Beijing last week were productive.

Negotiations will resume this

week in Washington and Trump has also indicated that he could extend the deadline for a deal BEYOND -ARCH In a separate comment, Regina Capital Development Corp. head

ÂłOptimism B4

Business Times

B2

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

WB: High interest rates to weigh on PH growth

BY ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

K

EEPING HIGHER INTEREST RATES WILL AFFECT THE COUNTRY S LONG TERM GROWTH A 7ORLD "ANK 7" ECONOMIST SAID ON -ONDAY

“A higher interest rate would mean a lower growth in the long term,� WB senior economist for the Philippines Dr. Rong Qian said at a Management Association of the Philippines’ (MAP) economic BRIEkNG AND GENERAL MEMBERSHIP meeting.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last year increased

POLICY RATES BY BASIS POINTS TO COUNTER RISING INlATION 1IAN SAID INlATION SETTLING WITHIN OR BELOW government’s target would allow the BSP to cut policy rates. “What would be the BSP’s stance, I don’t know, but I would think that as a policymaker, when THE INlATION IS COMING DOWN AND THEIR ONLY GOAL IS TO MANAGE INlA-

tion and not growth, then when INlATION GOES DOWN TO BELOW THE target, they are more likely to reduce the interest rate to give them the policy room to react on higher INlATION u SHE SAID )NlATION EASED TO PERCENT in January, allowing the BSP to keep policy rates unchanged. “In the long term, if they maintain high interest rates, it would have an impact on growth, and it would be prudent to reduce it, IF THEY WANT TO )F THE INlATION goes down as projected, they are likely to [cut] down to have the policy room to react to higher in-

lATION WHICH IS THEIR MANDATE u Qian said.

4HE "30 EARLIER CUT ITS INlATION FORECAST TO PERCENT THIS YEAR FROM PERCENT EARLIER .EXT year’s projection was also cut to PERCENT FROM THE EARLIER percent. g!S THE INlATION GOES DOWN IF the BSP reacts to reduce the real interest rate, that would boost growth,� said Qian.

The Philippine economy grew

BY PERCENT LAST YEAR )N IT EXPANDED BY PERCENT &OR THIS year, the government is targeting a PERCENT GROWTH

MOA for OFWs’ financial literacy signed A FINANCIAL literacy program meant to teach overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families how to manage their hard-earned money was forged on Monday.

The memorandum of agreement on “Pinansyal na Talino at Kaalaman or PiTaKa� was signed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and BDO Foundation in a ceremony held at the BSP Complex in Manila.

The program aims to equip OFWs with the ability to better manage their remittances, get out

of debt, set aside savings or make prudent investments, in preparation for a better life when they return home to the Philippines.

The program also targets OFW families to sensitize them of the temporary nature of overseas employment, and encourage them to support their loved-ones by spending wisely, saving regularly and looking for ways to augment their family income.

The program includes three entertaining videos with embedDED kNANCIAL LITERACY LESSONS AND messages, which will be used as TOOLS IN THE kNANCIAL literacy sessions to be incorporated in pre-departure orientation seminars (PDOS) and postarrival orientation seminars (PAOS) that all OFWs are required to attend.

It will also be used during general orientation for OFW families.

Session guides/training kits will be developed, and a training of trainers will be conducted for OWWA trainers and OWWA-accredited PDOS/PAOS providers to ensure sustained and effective delivery of kNANCIAL LITERACY LESSONS BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., in a speech read by BSP deputy governor Chuchi Fonacier, said some OFWs continued to face kNANCIAL STRUGGLES DESPITE BEING hailed as the country’s modern-day heroes because of their remittances THAT ACCOUNT FOR PERCENT OF THE Philippine gross domestic product.

Espenilla added that the latest consumer expectations survey showed that only 35.5 percent of /&7 HOUSEHOLDS POLLED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF USED remittances for savings. MeanWHILE ONLY PERCENT OF THESE households allotted part of their

remittances for investments. The SURVEY ALSO REVEALED THAT percent of the OFW households used the remittances received to purchase food and other needs.

For his part, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the “PiTaKa� campaign would complement the EXISTING AND CURRENT kNANCIAL LITERACY initiatives, both of the government and private sector, by reinforcing a more “reachable,� “likeable� and “shareable� campaign.

On the other hand, BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito said the foundation is expanding THE SCOPE OF ITS kNANCIAL INCLUSION advocacy through a corporate CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE THAT BENEkTS millions of migrant workers and their families in the Philippines.

Last year, money sent home by /&7S HIT A RECORD HIGH BILLION UP PERCENT FROM S BILLION MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

From sandwich to bagel management

W

HEN you look at the world it probably does not look like a sandwich, it looks more like a burger. In our business schools, however, we portray our world much like a triangular American-style Bologna sandwich, standing on its side sloping upwards. In my teaching I bring this triangular shaped sandwich along as a metaphor of our current dominant mindset in business. It represents the idea that all we want is growth, unlimited growth.

This story goes deep and is culturally embedded globally. It goes something like this: We are born as individuals out to maximize our OWN BENEkT 4HE MOST IMPORTANT AMBITION FOR US IS TO GROW INDEkNITELY THE RICHES AND PROkTABILITY OF OURSELVES AND OUR ORGANIZAtions. The measures of success and failure are HOW MUCH WE INCREASE OUR INCOME PROkT AND GDP. Business and political leaders fall and rise with these success measures.

We know this is intuitively wrong. Our pop songs remind us. We do have limits and the most important things in life are free. Still, our imagination, especially in business education is rather limited. We know that we all need TO FULkLL A BASIC MINIMUM TO lOURISH 7E also have physical limits that exist whether we want it or not and so does the planet that supports us.

Kate Raworth has proposed to change the imagery of our economic system to resemble a donut. The core of the donut- the munchkin- represents what I call the dignity core, the BASIC NEEDS ALL HUMANS NEED TO FULkL TO LIVE as humans. The outer boundary of the donut represents the planetary boundaries that humanity is violating, at our peril.

When I bring donuts to my students, inevitably half of them do not want to eat them because they are unhealthy. So much so that Dunkin Donuts, one of the largest chains in

the United States decided to drop the name “Donuts� because millennials and othdo not like it. I have since MICHAEL ers resorted to bringing along PIRSON wholesome bagels.

I agree with Kate Raworth that metaphors shape the way we think, see, and act in the world. I am suggesting that bagel management is a better idea for how we should understand the task of managers.

Using the bagel as a metaphor suited to my millennial students, I now argue that the MOST IMPORTANT TASK OF MANAGERS IS TO MOVE humanity above the dignity threshold (the inNER CORE AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF HUMAN activity on the planetary boundaries to 3) enABLE lOURISHING OF ALL LIFE ON EARTH Raworth suggests we call the zone we need to be moving to the ‘safe and just operating zone for humanity.’ I call it the process to get there humanistic management: the protection of dignity and the promotion of well-being.

Once you see the world less like a triangular sandwich that makes the managerial task about growth at all costs, you can see different possibilities. Once you see management as a healing task to get humanity back towards flourishing, it is fundamentally different.

My students are living a life of quiet and not so quiet desperation. Once you shift the metaphor, life can creep in, enliven them, and energize me along with them.

I invite you to try a bagel and the perspective that comes with it.

Onward fellow humans‌.

MANAGING FOR SOCIETY

Dr. Michael Pirson is an Associate Professor of Management, Global Sustainability, and Social Entrepreneurship at Fordham University. He co-founded the International Humanistic Management Association of which De La Salle University is a part. Email: pirson@ fordham.edu

Why you’re always beaten by business problems “A BEYOND

PROBLEM is a chance for you to do your best,� said American composer, pianist, and jazz orchestra leader Edward Kennedy “Duke� Ellington

WHO AT THE TIME of his death was reportedly to HAVE LOGGED IN MORE THAN

performances worldwide.

But how many of us will react positively to a problem, even if we call it an opportunity? Indeed, it’s a complex issue. Therefore, a rational approach is to analyze what makes it challenging for people and organizations to solve their problems at work. In other words, what are the problems in problem-solving?

Unless you know that approach, it would be troublesome for you to overcome even half of the problem. First and foremost, start calculating the amount of losses. What are the disadvantages, and its potential losses in peso or dollar if the issue is not corrected? The bigger the losses, the bigger your motivation to put up countermeasures.

If the cost is indirect or unQUANTIkABLE THEN WHAT MAKES the issue drive out customers, if not create conflict between employees and their management? Even a simple situation that forces customers to wait while on queue is enough for us to understand there’s a problem somewhere, somehow. If you understand the adverse effects of a business problem, that alone should prompt you to move, unless you’re a devil-may-care person.

But that’s unthinkable. All of us are rational beings who care about our respective business (as an owner) or job security (as an employee). Regardless of where you’re seated, a simple logic can help us understand the problem, if not change our paradigm on problem-solving. I have many ideas on how to solve business problems, but I can list down here three easy, practical and effective techniques: $ISCOVER AND ISOLATE THE ISSUE OUT OF MANY RESOURCES There are six common resources in business collectively known as 6Ms: manpower, material, method, measurement, (employee) morale and mother nature (environment). You only have to agree with your team on what and where to focus your attention. Using the ‘fishbone diagram’, your team can agree on the most probable cause or causes why such problem is happening. Choose one likely cause.

And without trying to preempt YOUR kNDINGS MOST LIKELY YOU LL discover that it has something to do with your standard systems and procedures. Does it contain multiple approvals that makes people wait? How about extra steps intended to control the workers, but ultimately add wasteful steps in the work process?

Remember, a bad system can beat a good person all the time.

You’ve to improve the process to get the best possible results. !NALYZE THE QUESTION VERY WELL Do the ‘why-why analysis’.

Also known as Five Whys, it helps dissect and validate the root cause or causes of a problem.

9OU CAN ASK AS MANY AS

EVEN WHYS AS LONG AS YOU RE not happy with the answer. Of course, to avoid bias, do this exercise with the help of colleagues. You’ll be surprised that at times, the answer could pop up right away.

This alone should help you discover the right question and answer. If you’ll ask the wrong

Q TRADE FROM B1

Former MB member, trade exec with his family and uplift them in your prayers,� OmniPay said in its post Salazar was part of the Monetary "OARD FROM AND SERVED AS 4RADE 5NDERSECRETARY FROM

(E WAS -!0 PRESIDENT IN AND ALSO HELD VARIOUS POSITIONS IN kRMS such as Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Concepcion Industrial Corp., InterAsia Development Bank, Quick-

minds Corp., Philippines First Insurance Co., Inc., Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Phil. Equity Fund, Inc., and Frontier Oil Corp.

Salazar served as dean of the School

BUZZWORDS

REY ELBO question, you’ll surely get the wrong answer. Take the case of Takeru Kobayashi, a Japanese competitive eater of hotdogs, meatballs, pizza, etc. with many world records, including at least eight Guinness record. What is Kobayashi’s famous secret?

As told by Freakonomics duo Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, Kobayashi, rather than tackling the obvious question (How do I eat more hot dogs?), the Japanese wonder man answered another question – “how do I make hot dogs easier to eat?�

Copying Kobayashi, then how do we formulate the right question so we can get the right answer?

Many people don’t have the time, intellectual capacity or even the inclination to think very hard about their problems. Most of the time, we pay attention to what other people say and if they are in harmony with our thinking, we agree easily with them. Also, we focus on the particular issue that annoys our comfort zones.

If not, then we simply let go of it until it becomes a bigger issue THAT S DIFkCULT TO CORRECT So, when we talk about the country’s poor economic development, should we be talking against nothing-good politicians or the misinformed electorate who keeps on voting them? #OLLECT AND ANALYZE ALL MINOR ISSUES Beware of small expenses. Remember the famous adage: “Small leaks can sink a great ship.� The small leaks can be found in many places, including lighted and air-conditioned rooms that are not being used, unutilized talent of people, difkCULT WORKING CONDITION OR EVEN a whiteboard with a broken wheel inside a training room THAT MAKES IT DIFkCULT FOR ANYONE to move it.

Recently, I was talking to a training coordinator who assisted me in putting up a Kaizen Blitz program for their management team. The training room was long and narrow that a moveable whiteboard should stay sideways to allow an unobstructed view of my presentation. However, I needed the white board from time-to-time to illustrate some points. The trouble was that the white board has one defective WHEEL THAT MADE IT DIFkCULT FOR US to constantly move it so that all participants would see my notes.

After the workshop, I suggested to the training coordinator that she requests for its repair which I suppose would not amount TO 0 (ER REPLY WAS g)T S OK, Sir. The training room is SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR IN THE kRST QUARTER OF u ) WAS DUMfounded. She missed the lesson of solving problems without spending much money – a key component of my Kaizen Blitz program which she also attended for one day.

Perhaps she misunderstood the nature of my suggestion, which is to do minor repair of the white board’s broken wheel that CONTRIBUTES TO THE USER S DIFkCULT condition of moving it around.

Really, kaizen excellence is paying attention to details.

Rey Elbo is a business consultant specializing in human resources and total quality management as a fused interest. Send feedback to elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.consulting

of Accountancy and Management at Central Escolar University and regent of the Philippine Normal University System.

He graduated from the University of THE 0HILIPPINES IN WITH A DEGREE in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with major in Accounting, and also earned his MBA at the same school.

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

Corporate News DM Wenceslao to spend P4B this year ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

BY ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

D

M Wenceslao and Associates Inc. is allocating P4 billion this year to expand its recurring portfolio as it reported a 23-percent increase in its net income to P1.9 billion in 2018.

50 percent to 60 percent of core revenues in 2019 after contributing 88 percent last year.

4HIS kGURE WOULD TAPER OFF TO percent once the company books

!T A NEWS BRIEkNG IN -AKATI #ITY on Monday, DM Wenceslao PresiDENT $ELkN 7ENCESLAO SAID THE property developer aimed for its recurring portfolio to contribute

sales from its residential projects, he added.

Among the projects DM Wenceslao would launch this year are the 45,378-square meter Parqal and the 69,980-sqm 8912 Aseana Ave. building, both in Aseana City in ParaĂąaque City; and the Jupiter mixed-use building in Makati City.

The company also targets a 10- to 20-percent jump in its net income this year, banking on the strong demand for properties in the Manila Bay area.

/VER THE NEXT kVE YEARS 7ENCESLAO SAID THE kRM AIMS TO DELIVER SQM OF GROSS lOOR AREA /F THIS kGURE PERCENT would be contributed by recurring portfolio, and the rest by one-off gains, and land and condominium sales.

DM Wenceslao will sell up to 2,000 sqm of land with a targeted value of P1 billion, he added.

Also on Monday, the company told the Philippine Stock Exchange that its net income margin rose to PERCENT FROM PERCENT RElECT-

ING CONTINUED GROWTH IN ITS OFkCE and residential segments.

2EVENUES REACHED 0 BILLION

of which 88 percent or P1.9 billion was contributed by rental earnings.

Leasing of land grew by 5 percent to P965.2 million, while rentals of buildings and other revenues related to leasing rose by 77 percent and 90 percent to P762.1 million and P173.8 MILLION RESPECTIVELY 2ESIDENTIAL sales surged by 153 percent to P119.4 million.

Other income connected to

B3

the settlement of the company’s joint venture agreements hit P1.2 billion. “The rising economic activity and employment opportunities in the Manila Bay area make the residential segment highly promising,� Wenceslao said. “We have expanded our footprint in this fast-growing market, which we expect to rise further in 2019,� he added.

Shares of DM Wenceslao lost 26 centavos or 2.5 percent to close at P10.14 each on Monday.

Concepcion Industrial 2018 profit down P1.4B PSBank advances CONCEPCION Industrial Corp.’s (CIC) net income dipped to P1.4 billion in 2018 after higher material costs, lower foreign-exchange rates and unfavorable weather weighed its revenues down.

In a disclosure on Monday, CIC said the figure was a 6.7-percent decrease from P1.5 BILLION IN AND PROkT AFTER tax after minority interest slid by 7.5 percent to P913 million from P987 million.

In contrast, revenues grew by 2.9 percent to P14.2 billion in January to December from

P13.8 billion.

CIC Chairman and Chief %XECUTIVE /FkCER 2AUL *OSEPH Concepcion said his company WAS gCONkDENT THAT OUR CORE business will be back on a growth trajectory this year amid more favortable market conditions� after weathering “short-term external challenges� last year, the last three months of which “showed signs of a less volatile 2019.�

(E ALSO SAID THE kRM WOULD continue to expand its products and services through subsidiary Cortex Technolo-

gies Corp.

L a s t D e c e m b e r, C o r t e x launched its Internet of Things device “Buddee,� a smart plug that the company positioned as its entry into the homemanagement system segment, with residential air-conditioning as a starting point.

Last November, CIC acquired through Cortex a controlling stake in year-old tech startup Teko Solutions Asia Inc. to apply web, mobile and cloud technology to the local appliance service and repair business.

Cost of the acquisition and target closing of the deal were not disclosed. “This acquisition reinforces Cortex’s commitment to explore emerging technology AND kND WAYS TO LEVERAGE IT across the CIC’s group of companies, as well as CIC’s focus on building better lives and business,� Cortex President Sean Byrne said in a December disclosure.

CIC shares ended down by P2.50 or 5.75 percent to P41 apiece on Monday.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Hyundai distributor’s sales down 5% in January 4(% OFkCIAL DISTRIBUTOR OF (YUNdai vehicles in the Philippines said on Monday it sold 2,758 units in January, a 5-percent and PERCENT DECREASE FROM kGURES posted a year ago and in December 2018, respectively.

In a statement, Hyundai Asia 2ESOURCES )NC SAID SALES OF PASsenger cars plunged by 29.1 percent to 1,443 units last month from year-ago’s 2,036. Much of the units sold are of the South

Korea-based automaker’s New Accent model.

Sales of light commercial vehicles, it added, grew by 51.7 percent to 1,315 units in January from 867, thanks to increased demand for the H-100 model and the launch of Kona.

4HE LATEST kGURES CONTINUED THE downward sales trend shown by Hyundai Asia, which reported last month that auto sales dipped by 6 percent to 35,401 units last

year from 37,678 in 2017, and by 2.5 percent to 10,227 in the fourth quarter from 10,489 in the same period in 2017.

Despite this, the distributor continued to be upbeat about 2019. “The outlook for the Philippine automotive industry remains optimistic as macroeconomic headwinds begin to ease,� Hyundai Asia President and Chief ExecuTIVE /FkCER -A &E 0EREZ !GUDO said in the statement.

HOLDING FIRMS

Index

Value

Chg

%Chg

PSEi

7,971.33

62.44

Ÿ

All Shares

4,841.60

18.28

Ÿ

Financials

1,787.84

1.45

Ÿ

Industrial

11,427.11

-30.18

Ĺş

Holding Firms

7,939.78

37.85

Ÿ

Services

1,578.94

10.4

Ÿ

Mining and Oil

8,458.31

-34.6

Ĺş

Property

4,005.73

-30.97

Ĺş

SERVICES

Stock indices as of February 19, 2019

PSEi

ALL SHARES

MINING AND OIL

“Hyundai stands resolute as it brings in new and market-leading products to take advantage of the opportunities laid out in 2019,� she added. “Overall, Hyundai remains positive that the [country’s] positive economic outlook, paired with the timing of new model releases, will be enough to boost the demand for Hyundai vehicles in the country.�

TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD

redemption of notes LISTED Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank) plans to redeem ahead of their maturity date P3 billion worth of unsecured subordinated debt notes qualifying as Tier-2 capital.

In a disclosure on Monday, the Ty-led thrift lender said its board approved last Friday to exercise the call option on these notes, which has a term of 10 years and three months.

The option is subject to the approval of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The notes were issued in May 2014 at a coupon rate of 5.5 percent a year. Although these will mature in August, 2024, PSBank can opt to redeem them as early as August this year.

The bank said upon issuing the notes that proceeds from them would

be used to strengthen its capital base and allow it to expand its banking operations.

Phi li ppi ne R ati ngs Co rp. (Phi lrati ngs) had given the notes a n “PR S Aa a� rati ng, whi ch i s the hi ghe st i t ca n a ssi gn to a n o bli gator. Notes rated as su ch a re o f the hi ghe st q u a li t y wi th m i ni m a l c re d i t r i s k , a ccord i n g to Philratings.

The Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. subsdiary previously reported that its net income increased by 8.1 percent to P2.03 billion in the first nine months of 2018 from P1.88 billion in the same period in 2017 on the back of sustained loan growth and higher feebased revenues.

Shares of PSBank closed flat at P59 each on Monday.

EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ

TOP ACTIVE STOCKS No. Security Name 1 JG Summit Holdings, Inc. 2 Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc.

Last Price Chg 67.1 4.85 8 0

%Chg 7.79% 0%

Ÿ

Volume 8,239,880.00 65,504,400.00

Value(P) 543,967,208.50 504,708,041.00

3 4 5 6

San Miguel Corporation BDO Unibank, Inc. Ayala Land, Inc. International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

174.5 133.5 44.65 118

11.5 -0.1 0.15 3

7.06% -0.07% 0.34% 2.61%

Ÿ ź Ÿ Ÿ

2,406,420.00 3,002,730.00 8,435,200.00 3,165,020.00

416,643,683.00 401,286,788.00 376,413,400.00 376,034,958.00

7 8

Bloomberry Resorts Corporation Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company

12.92 80.4

-0.08 -0.62% 0.4 0.50%

ź Ÿ

25,049,800.00 3,559,260.00

320,811,118.00 286,224,216.00

9 10 11 12

Bank of the Philippine Islands SM Investments Corporation Ayala Corporation San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc.

89.2 970 945 99.85

0% 0% -1.66% 8.59%

ź Ÿ

2,985,820.00 242,880.00 248,170.00 1,821,320.00

268,619,175.00 236,419,415.00 234,788,965.00 178,097,365.50

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Petron Corporation SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Globe Telecom, Inc. PLDT Inc. Greenergy Holdings Incorporated GT Capital Holdings, Inc. Robinsons Retail Holdings, inc.

Wilcon Depot, Inc.

0 0% -1.15 -2.92% -10 -0.53% -2 -0.18% 0.04 1.26% 10 1.01% 2 2.35% 0.86 6.13%

ź ź ź Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

26,819,700.00 4,504,200 80,920 127,245 38,348,000 124,820 1,397,910 7,437,900

177,022,691.00 174,125,390.00 153,461,305.00 142,713,380.00 127,078,940.00 123,817,805.00 121,670,983.50 109,453,204.00

6.6 38.25 1,880.00 1,110.00 3.22 1,000.00 87 14.9

0 0 -16 7.9

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP GAINERS

FINANCIALS

INDUSTRIAL

PROPERTY

INDEX HISTORY Date Feb 18, 2019 Feb 15, 2019 Feb 14, 2019 Feb 13, 2019 Feb 12, 2019 Feb 11, 2019 Feb 08, 2019 Feb 07, 2019 Feb 06, 2019 Feb 04, 2019 Feb 01, 2019 Jan 31, 2019 Jan 30, 2019 Jan 29, 2019 Jan 28, 2019 Jan 25, 2019 Jan 24, 2019 Jan 23, 2019 Jan 22, 2019 Jan 21, 2019 Jan 18, 2019 Jan 17, 2019 Jan 16, 2019 Jan 15, 2019 Jan 14, 2019 Jan 11, 2019 Jan 10, 2019 Jan 09, 2019 Jan 08, 2019 Jan 07, 2019

Open 7,985 7,965 7,960 8,040 8,077 8,088 8,092 8,093 8,091 8,132 8,039 7,999 8,039 8,087 8,071 8,076 8,001 7,941 8,024 8,055 7,932 7,866 7,983 8,009 7,886 7,965 7,932 7,775 7,820 7,801

High 8,025 8,000 7,996 8,040 8,084 8,106 8,096 8,127 8,214 8,149 8,166 8,099 8,047 8,087 8,144 8,116 8,068 7,990 8,030 8,067 8,058 7,938 7,991 8,028 8,024 7,965 7,992 7,920 7,826 7,901

Low 7,971 7,909 7,921 7,889 7,984 8,062 8,036 8,088 8,058 8,069 8,039 7,999 7,912 8,015 8,042 8,039 8,001 7,902 7,979 7,964 7,920 7,865 7,849 7,976 7,819 7,856 7,899 7,766 7,702 7,788

Close 7,971 7,909 7,991 7,920 8,010 8,062 8,071 8,100 8,058 8,069 8,144 8,007 7,980 8,051 8,054 8,053 8,065 7,990 8,009 8,007 8,047 7,927 7,865 8,013 8,024 7,904 7,985 7,920 7,702 7,788

CLOSE

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name Benguet Corporation “Bâ€? )RUXP 3DFLÂżF ,QF Republic Glass Holdings Corporation San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. The Philodrill Corporation Centro Escolar University Manulife Financial Corporation JG Summit Holdings, Inc. San Miguel Corporation Grand Plaza Hotel Corporation Berjaya Philippines, Inc. United Paragon Mining Corporation Wilcon Depot, Inc. Jackstones, Inc. Victorias Milling Company, Inc. Starmalls, Inc. Manila Mining Corporation “Aâ€?

Jolliville Holdings Corporation Manila Mining Corporation “B�

Bright Kindle Resources & Investments Inc.

Volume 2,000.00 7,250,000.00 220,000.00 1,821,320.00 186,500,000.00 700.00 20.00 8,239,880.00 2,406,420.00 200.00 673,000.00 7,000,000.00 7,437,900.00 40,000.00 1,208,000.00 602,900.00 35,000,000.00 11,300.00 61,000,000.00 130,000.00

Value 2,780.00 1,952,160.00 636,970.00 178,097,365.50 2,409,300.00 5,866.00 16,400.00 543,967,208.50 416,643,683.00 2,370.00 1,998,680.00 56,900.00 109,453,204.00 128,240.00 3,894,960.00 3,855,825.00 338,000.00 65,591.00 576,300.00 185,680.00

Last Price 1.39 0.265 2.82 99.85 0.013 8.38 820 67.1 174.5 11.8 3.04 0.0085 14.9 3.34 3 6.4 0.0095 5.75 0.0097 1.48

Chg 0.16 0.03 0.24 7.9 0.001 0.62 60 4.85 11.5 0.74 0.19 0.0005 0.86 0.19 0.16 0.3 0.0004 0.24 0.0004 0.06

%Chg 13.01% 12.77% 9.30% 8.59% 8.33% 7.99% 7.89% 7.79% 7.06% 6.69% 6.67% 6.25% 6.13% 6.03% 5.63% 4.92% 4.40% 4.36% 4.30% 4.23%

*amounts in peso, except for volume, %chg

TOP LOSERS

HIGH

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Security Name Volume Value Last Price Chg %Chg Philippine Racing Club, Inc. 3,500.00 26,145.00 7.47 -1.98 -20.95% Swift Foods, Inc. - Convertible Preferred 704,000.00 1,268,350.00 1.8 -0.3 -14.29% Zeus Holdings, Inc. 34,290,000.00 12,170,800.00 0.34 -0.04 -10.53% TKC Metals Corporation 3,398,000.00 3,888,130.00 1.11 -0.12 -9.76% Macay Holdings, Inc. 159,200.00 2,064,538.00 12.8 -1.2 -8.57% Omico Corporation 1,523,000.00 1,093,570.00 0.7 -0.06 -7.89% Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. 26,380,000.00 43,371,660.00 1.53 -0.13 -7.83% Anglo Philippine Holdings Corporation 2,229,000.00 1,882,700.00 0.83 -0.07 -7.78% Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corporation “A�

115,400,000.00 1,404,700.00 0.012 -0.001 -7.69% Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation 13,110,000.00 9,656,120.00 0.73 -0.06 -7.59% PAL Holdings, Inc. 298,200.00 3,432,734.00 11.32 -0.88 -7.21% National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines 1,112,000.00 1,321,170.00 1.16 -0.09 -7.20% Roxas Holdings, Inc. 63,000.00 182,680.00 2.82 -0.2 -6.62% Concepcion Industrial Corporation 89,200.00 3,659,050.00 41 -2.5 -5.75% First Abacus Financial Holdings Corp.

127,000.00 79,380.00 0.66 -0.04 -5.71% Da Vinci Capital Holdings, Inc. 1,500.00 9,520.00 6.1 -0.35 -5.43% Empire East Land Holdings, Inc. 2,693,000.00 1,476,600.00 0.54 -0.03 -5.26% Swift Foods, Inc. 610,000.00 80,520.00 0.132 -0.007 -5.04% ISM Communications Corporation 12,248,600.00 73,785,035.00 5.9 -0.3 -4.84% SOCResources, Inc. 126,000.00 99,840.00 0.79 -0.04 -4.82%

*amounts in peso except for volume, %chg

B4

Business Times

˜ The Manila Times

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

PH, Italy extend debt swap

PCC capacity building okayed by ICC-CabCom

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

T

HE GOVERNMENTS OF 0HILIPPINES AND )TALY HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND BY TWO YEARS A DEBT SWAP PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND POVERTY REDUCTION PROJECTS In a statement on Monday, the Department of Finance (DoF) said Italian Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmin and DoF Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven facilitated the two-year extension of the Philippines-Italy Debt for Development Program through an exchange of letters.

The Philippines was identified as one of the beneficiaries of the debt conversion program by Italy under its 0ROGRAMMING 'UIDELINES AND

Directions, the statement said.

A debt for development swap agreement between the Philippines and Italy WAS SIGNED ON -AY THROUGH THE DoF and the Italian Embassy in Manila, allowing the conversion of the Philippines’ debt obligation amounting to

EURO ABOUT MILLION OR 0 MILLION IT ADDED The debt swap program aims to support projects on environmental protection and

poverty reduction implemented by Philippine/Italian non-government organizations, national government agencies, and local governments, the DoF said. “The two-year extension of the program is expected to yield additional ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD FOR ABOUT

BENEkCIARIES INCLUDING FARMERS AND kSHerfolks through forest conservation and reforestation activities, sustainable and integrated agricultural practices, better coastal resource management, and more eco-tourism opportunities,� it explained.

Projects supported by the program, the DoF said, have been implemented in provinces/districts in the Philippines with the highest poverty rates and have been carried out in a context of effective participation of the local communities.

BSP taking into consideration strategic relationships and reciprocity rights in accepting applications.

A separate assessment by regulators in the banks’ respective countries of origin is also a requirement.

It said the program has supported nine PROJECTS‡TWO SMALL MAXIMUM OF 0 MILLION EACH kVE MEDIUM MAXIMUM OF 0 MILLION EACH AND TWO LARGE MAXImum of P35 million each).

To date, two out of the nine projects have ALREADY kNISHED IMPLEMENTATION‡4ABUK Eco-Spirituality Center Project in Kalinga, and the Sustainable Eco-Tourism Project in the Puerto Princesa Underground River Area. The remaining seven are being considered to receive continued support with the two-year extension of the program. “Both the Government of Italy and the Government of the Philippines are greatly SATISkED WITH THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND kND THESE AS MOTIVATION FOR sustaining and enhancing development cooperation,� the DoF said.

The BSP’s policymaking Monetary Board has to date approved THE LOCAL OPERATIONS OF FOREIGN banks, five of which are from Taiwan: Chang Hwa Bank Commercial Bank Ltd., Cathay United

THE Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICCCabCom) has approved the Philippine Competition Commission’s (PCC) “Capacity Building to Foster Competion Project.�

In a statement on Monday, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the P1.32 billion project was approved last Thursday. Of the total amount, P1.21 billion will be funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank.  The NEDA said the project aimed to institutionalize the capacity of the government to enforce the Philippine Competition Act and promote free and fair competition through trainings, scholarships and establishment of academic centers in the country. The project is set to be implemented from the third quarter of 2019 to January 2025. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, who co-chairs the ICCCabCom with Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez 3rd, said the project was expected to contribute to the enhancement of market competition. “With an improved manpower of PCC and other government agencies, through exposure to different fields, including competition economics, competition policy, and data science, we can expect market competition in the economy to be enhanced,� Pernia said. ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

Bank, Yuanta Commercial Bank, First Commercial Bank and Hua Nan Commercial Bank Ltd. The others are South Korea’s Woori Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea and Shinhan Bank; Singapore’s

United Overseas Bank Ltd.; Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.; Malaysia’s CIMB Bank Berhad; and China’s Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

SOMETIME IN .OVEMBER )T PLEDGED TO COVER PERCENT of the national population, deliver AN AVERAGE BROADBAND SPEED OF megabits per second, and prioriof Representatives and Senate TIZE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

resolutions approving the fran- including parts of Central Luzon, chise transfer were differently Calabarzon and the Ilocos region, worded, requiring the need for DURING THE kRST YEAR OF THE ROLLOUT reconciliation by a bicameral Mislatel spokesperson Adel committee.

4AMANO SAID THE kRM REMAINED Mislatel in January told the Sen- confident of implementing the ATE THAT IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS rollout plan despite the delayed from receipt of the CPCN for the franchise approval. rollout of commercial operations “With the prospect of the gov-

ernment’s common tower policy, we do not foresee a delay in our roll-out,� he said in a text message to The Manila Times.

Also affected by the delay is the DAY REQUIREMENT WHICH LAPSED on Sunday, for Mislatel to submit post-qualification requirements SUCH AS A BUSINESS PLAN AND A kNAL rollout blueprint.

Rio said Congress had opted to disregard the deadline as matters were now beyond the consortium’s control.

JORDEENE B. LAGARE CLOSE AT 0 EACH Sectoral results were mixed with the property and mining and oil indices the only losers.

-ORE THAN BILLION SHARES VALUED AT 0 BILLION WERE traded ,OSERS LED WINNERS TO

while 39 issues were unchanged.

ANGELICA BALLESTEROS

Foreign bank keen

PARTNERS AND ALLOWED PERCENT ownership of the voting shares in an existing domestic bank.

Foreign banks can operate in the Philippines as a branch or a wholly-owned subsidiary, with the

Q COUNCIL FROM B1

Q FRANCHISE FROM B1

Rice

Mislatel rollout hit by lack of

Emmanuel Piùol, who is the policymaking body’s chairman.

PiĂąol, who had warned of the “death of the rice industryâ€? if the law was implemented without support measures for farmers in place, was said to be unavailable for the meeting.

In attendance were Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon, Monetary Board member Bruce Tolentino, and representatives from the NFA, NEDA, Land Bank of the Philippines, DA, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

TIUM HAS TARGETED A LATE rollout premised on the award of a CPCN next month.

Congress, however, is currently on recess and legislators will only RETURN TO WORK ON -AY BEFORE wrapping up the third regular sesSION DURING THE kRST WEEK OF *UNE “Well, mag-uumpisa yung kanilang operations once na

ibigay namin yung CPCN at yung frequencies. Doon maguumpisa yung one year na commitment nila (Their operations will commence once we award the CPCN and the frequencies.

That will mark the beginning of their one-year commitment),�

Rio said.

He explained that the House

Q OPTIMISM FROM B1

RICE TARRIkCATION LAW SMC, through subsidiary San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. (SMFB), last year said that it was planning to enter rice importation Regional markets rallied on Cabangon said that share price business.

-ONDAY ‡ 4OKYO CLIMBED BY gains for San Miguel Corp. (SMC) 3-# SHARES ENDED UP BY PERCENT 3HANGHAI JUMPED BY also helped boost the index as the PERCENT OR 0 TO 0 percent and Hong Kong added COMPANY WAS EXPECTED TO BENEkT apiece on Monday while SMFB PERCENT from the implementation of the GREW BY PERCENT OR 0 TO

Q OFFICE FROM B1

Stock market recovers on trade of sales Luis Limlingan said continued talks “added fresh hopes that a resolution was near, even if the two countries appeared far apart on key points.�

Q GROWTH FROM B1

Think tank Monetary authorities, meanwhile, should hold off from adjusting policy until consumer

price growth remains “firmly� within the target band, the think tank said.

AMRO was created to advise the MEMBER !SSOCIATION OF 3OUTHeast Asian Nations and China, Japan and South Korea.

ANNA LEAH E. GONZALES

Nonetheless, the intentions behind JPM’s blockchain payments experiment seem valid enough.

Having thrown a bunch of money into “doing something� with payments to other bank clients. cryptocurrency at the height of It is hard to describe the new pay- THE CRAZE IN THE LATTER HALF OF ment system as innovative, despite to avoid getting caught behind a its being based on a distributed technological curve, the banking ledger. Instead of making payments giant is largely trying to avoid wast(in real money) from their JPM ac- ing the attention and resources counts to the JPM accounts of other devoted to it so far. And even clients, the institutional customers though blockchain is turning out can now make payments (in JPM to be a whole lot less revolutionary Coin) from a digital wallet directly than everyone thought it might be, to the digital wallet of another cli- it is still too soon to dismiss its ent – who can then exchange the potential utility entirely. A smallJPM coins for US dollars through SCALE LIVE TEST LIMITED TO A SPECIkC the bank, or keep them in the digital application – much the same apWALLET FOR OTHER " " TRANSACTIONS proach as is being taken in trade Unless JPM’s conventional pay- transactions – is a realistic way to ment systems process transactions assess the technology. at a fantastically slow rate, the speed If that is the case, then JPM advantage offered by the blockchain appears to be on the right side system is modest. At best, the new of the axiom coined by Stanford system simply eliminates one step PROFESSOR 2OY !MARA IN THE S in the conventional process; if the and known as Amara’s Law, bepayee needs to convert the digital cause in economics one’s ability token to real money, however, even to state the obvious is considered THIS BENEkT IS CANCELED OUT a gift. Amara’s Law states that the Nothing the new blockchain impact of any great technological system does is anything that can- change is overestimated in the not be done by much simpler au- short run, and underestimated tomated systems using the bank’s over the longer term. By continuexisting technological framework. ing to study and test blockchain These systems are AI-driven pro- technology in a limited, manageGRAMS BEING APPLIED TO kNANCIAL able fashion now, the bank is likely processes such as payments, loan avoiding missing out or being underwriting, and even insurance caught behind the curve later on underwriting, and represent a le- m PERHAPS THREE TO kVE YEARS FROM GITIMATE DISRUPTION IN THE kNANCIAL now – when it will matter more. world: Technology that represents And if it turns out that blockchain a revolutionary step forward, but is hopelessly impractical for largenot so revolutionary that it does scale use – which is entirely posnot have a conceivable use case. sible – and nothing else of value Blockchain and cryptocurrency, can be derived from the technolBY CONTRAST HAS NEVER kRMLY ES- ogy, then the bank will have lost tablished a use case other than just comparatively little in exploring it. being different than what existed ben.kritz@manilatimes.net before.

Q KRITZ FROM B1

Crypto

Foreign Business Markets boosted by trade deal hopes H ˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

/.' +/.' !SIAN MARKETS RALLIED WITH OIL AND HIGH YIELDING CURRENCIES -ONDAY AS INVESTORS GROW INCREASINGLY CONkDENT THAT #HINA AND THE 5NITED 3TATES WILL EVENTUALLY HAMMER OUT A DEAL TO END THEIR LONG RUNNING TRADE WAR

While talks ended Friday in Beijing with no deal, negotiators shift to Washington this week with Donald Trump saying discussions were going “extremely well� and suggesting he could extend A -ARCH TRUCE DEADLINE FOR AN agreement to be reached.

The high-level discussions between the economic superpowers are expected to yield a memorandum of understanding ahead of a meeting between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to kNALISE A PACT The upbeat mood in Asia fol-

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

lows a strong lead from Wall Street, while a bipartisan deal to avert another US government shutdown and the Federal Reserve’s recent dovish tone on interest rates have also provided support.

The positive news comes at a crucial time as China’s economy stutters and the global outlook looks less certain, with the US also showing signs of slowing. “With a weakening US economy, the motivation for both sides to get something agreed in the short term is quite high as they still debate the more structural issues that lurk in the background,� Sunny Bangia,

more than one percent apiece, THOUGH -UMBAI EASED PERCENT In early trade, London dipped PERCENT 0ARIS ROSE PERCENT Dollar eases AND &RANKFURT WAS UP PERCENT The prospect of an end to the 4OKYO ENDED PERCENT HIGHER near year-long US-China trade row WHILE (ONG +ONG ADDED PER- has also provided a lift to regional CENT AND 3HANGHAI SURGED currencies against the dollar with percent after data showed a tripling investors moving into higherof new Chinese loans, indicating risk units. Dealers will be closely moves to kickstart growth. watching the release later in the 3YDNEY PUT ON PERCENT 3IN- week of minutes from the Fed’s gapore and Taipei each gained one latest policy meeting, hoping for PERCENT WHILE 3INGAPORE WAS a better idea of its rate plans. percent higher.

Indonesia’s rupiah, the South Manila and Jakarta piled on Korean won and the Australian

a global equities fund manager at Antipodes Partners, told Bloomberg TV.

Trade war boogeyman hangs over US toy show NEW YORK: The US-China trade war has dealt a glancing blow to American toys, hitting putty and arts and crafts items, while sparing superhero action figures, toy cars and most best-selling offerings.

Yet uncertainty about the trading relationship between Beijing and Washington hangs over this weekend’s Toy Fair, dampening the festive mood amidst giant balloon cartoon figures and karaoke cars as some 30,000 industry representatives survey the latest and greatest in play.

China manufactures around 85 percent of the toys and games sold in the United States and is also home to a growing consumer market estimated to overtake the US play market in 2022.

Aaron Muderick, founder of “Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld,� a Pennsylvania company, has seen profits hit by US tariffs on raw materials to make his colorful putty and on steel cans, which bear the made in the USA mark.

But Muderick is most worried about losing momentum in the booming Chinese market where he has worked to establish distribution channels and build brand identity. “We’ve invested a lot of time and dollars,� he told AFP. “If it creates a market where the product is not welcome, where there are retaliatory tariffs that make it impossible for me to reach that consumer, then I lose.�

About 40 Chinese booths are displaying with China Toy & Juvenile Products Association, including companies selling stuffed bears, trampolines, magnetic building blocks and flashing beads. “Some members feel uncertain, but the business is so far going okay,� said the group’s president, May Liang in an interview.

Company representatives have reported no drop in interest among their US buyers, said May, who expressed skepticism that the US would impose broad tariffs on toys. “We believe toys are really consumerfocused especially at holiday season, so we think toys should not be on the tariff list because it will harm consumers. “But we feel we should closely watch it,� she added.

Bigger tariffs ahead?

A trip to a US toy store shows the nearubiquity of “Made in China� on any number of gadgets, games and super hero dolls, but the country’s playworld dominance sometimes surfaces in unexpected ways.

For example, youth-oriented books on display by the Quarto Group at Toy Fair about black role models like Nelson Mandela and gay and lesbian icons such as Freddie Mercury were printed in China — another testament to the country’s competitiveness.

The toy industry dodged a bullet last September, when finished toys were left off the list of expanded US tariffs.

Toy Association Chief Executive Steve Pasierb said such broad tariffs look unlikely at this point US President Donald Trump has spoken more optimistically of a trade deal with Beijing.

But “this is a tweet-driven scenario we’re in here... so you could see that come back,� added Pasierb, whose association, the hosts of Toy Fair, has aggressively lobbied on trade.

Toy industry consultant Richard Gottlieb considers US tariffs on finished toys�highly unlikely� and doesn’t expect the current trade conflict to fundamentally change China’s position in US toys. “People think we make it in China to make more money,� he said. “The reason is because if we made it America, it would be five times more expensive and people wouldn’t buy it.�

But the US industry is still worried about Trump administration plans to lift tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on raw materials. That increase was scheduled to take effect March 1, but Trump on Friday reiterated that he could delay the increase if a deal is close.

Companies have mostly eaten the hit from a 10 percent hike, but a 25 percent tariff would be much more painful.

Putty maker Muderick, for example, saw 2018 profits hit by the tariff on steel but suffered no real hit last year from tariffs on rubber silicone because he bought supply ahead in anticipation of the levy.

But he expects more of a profit hit in 2019.

Some toymakers may be in long-term contracts with retailers that lock in price. “If it goes to 25 percent, companies will go out of business, or they will cut back jobs,� said Neil Helfand, an attorney specializing in trade whose clients include toy companies.

US toymaker rebirth?

The trade conflict has given impetus to major toy companies to shift more manufacturing to other markets, a trend that was already underway due to rising costs in China.

By 2020, Hasbro plans to source 60 percent of its toys from China, compared with 69 percent in 2018 and 86 percent in 2012, with the company shifting more production to the US, Mexico, Vietnam and India, Hasbro executives said Friday.

Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam have all enjoyed double-digit annual toy manufacturing growth between 2012 and 2017, according to data from Euromonitor International, a market research provider.

Still, those three countries plus Thailand accounted for just nine percent of China’s toy output as of 2017, said Euromonitor senior industry analyst Justinas Lasinskas.

Significant additional production is “unlikely� in the United States, “where production would be still more expensive even with the introduced tariffs,� Lasinskas added in an email.

AFP

Q Two children interact with a giant doll during the annual New York Toy Fair, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center onFebruary 16, 2019 in New York City. AFP PHOTO

B5

dollar were among the biggest gainers.

Oil extended last week’s sharp gains on signs that OPEC members and other major producers led by Russia are cutting output.

Both main contracts were higher Monday, with Brent having surged PERCENT LAST WEEK AND 74) SOARing 5.4 percent.

Positive signs from the USChina trade negotiations “gave oil a double boost as it also softened the US dollar as it reduced its appeal as a safe haven�, said Alfonso Esparza, senior market analyst at OANDA. AFP

Qatar aims to build $20-B sports industry

CLOSING SHOP

Customers leave a Payless Shoes store in Los Angeles, California on February 17, 2019 after the company announced it will close all 2,100 of its locations in the United States and Puerto Rico by May. Payless now joins other brick and mortar stores Toys “R� Us, Brookstone and clothing store Charlotte Russe as the casualties of the growth of online shopping. AFP PHOTO

Iraqi youth plant start-up seeds BAGHDAD: Stuck between an endless waitlist for a government job and a frail private sector, Iraqi entrepreneurs are taking on staggering unemployment by establishing their own start-ups.

The first murmurs of this creative spirit were felt in 2013, but the Islamic State group’s sweep across a third of the country the following year put many projects on hold.

Now, with IS defeated, co-working spaces and incubators are flourishing in a country whose unemployment rate hovers around 10 percent but whose public sector is too bloated to hire.

Many self-starters begin their journey at an aptly named glass building in central Baghdad: The Station.

There, they sip on coffee, peruse floor-to-ceiling bookshelves for ideas and grab a seat at clusters of desks where other stylish Iraqis click away at their laptops. “We’re trying to create a new generation with a different state of mind,� said executive director Haidar Hamzoz. “We want to tell youth that they can start their own project, achieve their dreams and not just be happy in a government job they didn’t even want,� he told AFP. Youth make up around 60 percent of Iraq’s nearly 40 million people.

After graduating from university, many spend years waiting to be appointed to a job in the government, Iraq’s biggest employer.

Four out of five jobs created in Iraq in recent years are in the public sector, according to the World Bank.

And in its 2019 budget, the government proposed $52 billion in salaries, pensions, and social security for its workers — a 15 percent jump from 2018 and more than half the total budget.

But with graduates entering the workforce faster than jobs are created, many still

wait indefinitely for work.

Among youth, 17 percent of men and a whopping 27 percent of women are unemployed, the World Bank says.

After IS, innovation reigns When IS declared Mosul its seat of power in Iraq back in 2014, resident Saleh Mahmud was forced to shutter the city’s incubator for would-be entrepreneurs.

With Mosul now cautiously rebuilding after the jihadists were ousted in 2017, Mahmud is back in business. “Around 600-700 youth have already passed by Mosul Space� to attend a seminar or seek out resources as they start their own ventures, said the 23-year-old.

He was inspired after watching fellow Mosul University graduates hopelessly “try to hunt down a connection to get a job in the public sphere.� “A university education isn’t something that gets you a fulfilling job,� he said.

Another start-up, Dakkakena, is capitalising on Mosul’s rebuilding spirit, too.

The online shopping service delivers a lorry-full of home goods every day to at least a dozen families refurnishing after the war. “On the web, we can sell things for cheaper than stores because we have fewer costs, like no showrooms,� said founder Yussef al-Noaime, 27.

Noaime fled IS to the Netherlands, where he was introduced to e-commerce.

When he returned home, the computer engineer partnered with another local to found their venture.

A similar service, Miswag, was set-up in the capital Baghdad in 2014 and last year reported hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits.

Banks and big dreams On an autumn day, some

70 young Iraqi innovators converged for a three-day workshop in Baghdad on founding start-ups.

They flitted among round tables planning projects, their Arabic conversations sprinkled with English terms. “What we’re doing is showing youth what entrepreneurship is — not necessarily so they succeed, but so they at least try,� said organiser Ibrahim al-Zarari.

He said attendees should understand two things: first, that the public sector is saturated. And second, that oil isn’t the only resource on which Iraq -OPEC’s second-largest producer -- should capitalise.

More than 65 percent of Iraq’s GDP and nearly 90 percent of state revenues hail from the oil sector.

Many youth turn to it for work, but it only employs one percent of the workforce.

Widespread corruption and bureaucracy also weaken Iraq’s appeal for private investors. The World Bank ranks it 168th out of 190 for states with a good business environment.

Under current legislation, private sector employees are not offered the same labour protections or social benefits as those in the public sector.

And Iraq’s stuttering banking industry appears too cautious to dive in, said Tamara Raad, 26, who researches start-ups. “The banks have a role to play. They must make loans without interest and help young entrepreneurs,� she said.

Banks or no banks, Mahmud in Mosul is already planning how he’ll grow his business in 2019. “We will open a new, larger space for new gatherings,� he said excitedly, to bring together returning designers, developers and other inventors.

AFP

DOHA: Qatar wants to build a BILLION SPORTS INDUSTRY

BY AS IT SEEKS TO DEVELOP new markets amid regional political tensions, an economic official in the emirate said Sunday.

Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, chief executive of the Qatar Financial Centre, said he expected the target to be reached within three years — without specifying how the figure was reached or giving its current value.

Jaida said there would be “a major expansion of sports in terms of targets and in terms of focus�.

Although well-known for hosting sporting events — and Qatar is likely to bid again to host the Olympics — Jaida said the new approach would go further.

The development of the industry would focus not only on hosting, but increased use of Qatari sporting medical and training facilities considered among the best in the world.

One of the ways, he added, would be to cash in on the growing international reputation of the country’s expensive sports’ training centre, the Aspire Academy, who had officials present at the launch Sunday.

Aspire is used by an increasing number of teams — i n c l u d i n g B aye r n M u nich and Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain — and is a hothouse for many of the local players who recently helped Qatar win the Asian Cup. “We’re doing this in coordination with Aspire and if you look at the infrastructure that they put together it’s massive, it’s world class and I think we can build upon their success,� said Jaida.

The QFC is a governmentbacked business body that aims to attract domestic and i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n ve s t m e n t into Qatar.

Jaida admitted that the new approach had been driven because of political tensions in the Gulf. “The strategy came about because of the geo-political situation,� he said.

3INCE *UNE 1ATAR HAS found itself isolated from neighbouring former allies in a bitter political dispute.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain accuse Qatar of supporting and funding “terrorism� and of working with Riyadh’s regional foe Iran.

Doha denies the charges and accuses its rivals of seeking regime change in Qatar.

AFP

World North Korea at a historic turning point – state media S B6

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

EOUL: North Korea was facing a gSIGNIkCANT HISTORIC TURNING POINT u STATE MEDIA SAID ON -ONDAY AHEAD OF A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SECOND SUMMIT BETWEEN $ONALD 4RUMP AND +IM *ONG 5N The meeting between the two leaders — which will be the second time the pair have come together following their Singapore summit in June — is scheduled for Hanoi, Vietnam on February 27 to 28.

Attention has been focused on whether the US team will offer to lift some economic sanctions on North Korea, in return for

Pyongyang taking concrete steps toward denuclearization. “It is time for us to tighten our shoe strings and run fast, looking for a higher goal as we face this decisive moment,� the Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in an editorial. “Our country is facing a significant, historic turning point,� it added, without explicitly referenc-

ing the summit.

Earlier this month, US President Trump tweeted that North Korea would become a “great Economic Powerhouse� under Kim. “He may surprise some but he won’t surprise me, because I have gotten to know him & fully understand how capable he is,� said Trump.

The Rodong Sinmun commentary called on North Koreans to make greater efforts to boost the country’s economy.

North Korea was rising as a “strong, socialist nation,� and one’s true act of patriotism begins at one’s workplace, the commentary added.

“Each and every product should be made to make our country shine.�

North Korea, which holds most of the peninsula’s mineral resources, was once wealthier than the South, but decades of mismanagement and the demise of its former paymaster, the Soviet Union, have left it deeply impoverished.

In 2017 the UN Security Council banned the North’s main exports — coal and other mineral resources, kSHERIES AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS ‡ TO cut off its access to hard currency in response to Pyongyang’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

AFP

˜ The Manila Times

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5 places on the moon get Chinese names FIVE more geographical entities on the moon had been given Chinese names, based on discoveries from China’s latest Chang’e 4 mission, according to a news conference recently.

The China National Space Administration, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) held a joint news conference Friday to ANNOUNCE THE kVE NAMES APPROVED by the IAU on February 4.

The landing site of the Chang’e 4 probe is named Statio Tianhe, and three annular pits around the landing site are called Zhinyu, Hegu and Tianjin. The central peak in the Von Karman Crater is referred to as Mons Tai. 4HE kVE PLACES ARE CLEARLY SHOWN on high-resolution images based on data from the Chang’e 2 and Chang’e 4 missions.

China’s Chang’e 4 probe, launched on December 8, landed on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on January 3.

Tianhe, another name for the

galaxy in ancient China, implies that the Chang’e 4 probe served as a pioneer in the history of human lunar exploration.

According to the IAU naming rules, the landing site name has the PREkX OF 3TATIO IN ,ATIN !ND SO FAR ONLY TWO PLACES HAVE SUCH A PREkX

THE kRST BEING THE LANDING SITE OF Apollo 11, Statio Tranquillitatis.

Zhinyu, Hegu and Tianjin are the names of stars in China’s ancient star chart, as the three pits in the lunar crater formed a shape similar to these three celestial bodies.

-OUNT 4AI IS ONE OF THE kVE MOST famous mountains in China in East China’s Shandong Province and stands 1,545 meters tall above sea level. The central peak, Mons Tai, in the lunar crater measures 1,565 meters in height from its base.

In August 2010 and October 2015, China had applied to name the landing sites of Chang’e 1 and Chang’e 3, and gained approval, and in January this year, China applied TO THE )!5 FOR THE kVE NEW NAMES PEOPLE’S DAILY ONLINE

Swine flu virus found in Chinese dumplings

MORE BABIES NEEDED

Nurses take care of newborn infants in a hospital in Shexian in northern China’s Hebei Province.

Facing a demographic crisis and an aging society, China’s leaders are desperate to encourage higher fertility rates, but local officials don’t always cooperate. AP PHOTO

SHANGHAI:Â A major Chinese food producer said Monday that traces of the African swine fever virus had been found in its frozen dumplings.

China, the world’s biggest consumer and producer of pork, has struggled to contain an outbreak of THE VIRUS SINCE THE kRST CASES WERE detected last August.

Officials have said hundreds of thousands of pigs were culled in a bid to stop its spread — an effort that had also seen restrictions placed on moving pigs from affected areas.

Sanquan Food, based in central Henan Province, issued a public STATEMENT CONkRMING MEDIA REports published in recent days that contaminated pork dumplings were detected in two provinces that do not share a border.

The company said suspect batches of dumplings had reached

grocery stores, but that it was sealing affected products and cooperating with authorities.

The statement did not mention a broader recall.

Unconfirmed Chinese media reports have said that products manufactured by several other companies also contained traces of the virus.

African swine fever is not harmful to humans, but can be fatal to pigs, raising fears for the country’s giant pork industry.

But the media reports prompted anger online from Chinese consumers who vented over the latest in a recurring series of product scandals, despite repeated government promises to ensure safety.

Sanquan Food’s share price dropped as much as 2.25 percent in Monday morning trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. AFP

Saudi Arabia to invest $20 billion in Pakistan Worldinbriefs ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a raft of investment deals Sunday worth up to $20 billion for the cash-strapped south Asian country, as Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman launched his Asia tour seeking to emerge from the Khashoggi affair.

Pakistan is facing a serious balance of payments crisis and hopes the deals — seven separate agreements and Memorandums of Understanding — will provide welcome relief to its teetering economy.

The crown prince, widely known as “MBS,� is staging the high-prokLE THREE COUNTRY VISIT kVE MONTHS after he came under intense pressure, following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He

got a warm welcome in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked longtime ally Saudi Arabia for its support, adding: “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are now taking this relationship to a level which (they) never had before.�

Khan has already visited Saudi Arabia twice since coming to power last summer.

Earlier Sunday, MBS was greeted with a booming 21-gun salute and was warmly embraced by Khan and powerful army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa as he stepped onto a red CARPET lANKED BY AN HONOUR GUARD at a military airbase near Islamabad.

The two-day visit to Pakistan comes amid high tensions in the region: India and Saudi Arabia’s

Q Chinese tourists to the Antarctic make a hiking excursion while their ship waits.

GLOBAL TIMES

arch-rival Iran — both bordering Pakistan — have accused Islamabad of backing militant groups which have carried out bloody suicide attacks on their soil in recent days.

Hours ahead of the crown prince’s arrival, Pakistan dismissed Delhi’s accusations as “well-rehearsed tactics from [the] Indian playbook after such incidents in the past.�

MBS will travel to India after his Pakistan visit, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

(E IS EXPECTED TO kNISH THE TRIP with a visit to China on Thursday and Friday.

The Asia trip comes after the MURDER OF +HASHOGGI A kERCE CRITIC

of MBS, ignited a diplomatic crisis.

Riyadh initially denied the murDER THEN GAVE SEVERAL CONlICTING accounts of Khashoggi’s death, and now claims he was killed in an unauthorised operation.

Turkey said Friday it had not yet revealed all the information it had uncovered in the case, which launched a global wave of revulsion and profoundly tarnished the crown prince’s reputation.

But for analysts, the Asia tour — the largest outing on the international scene for the Saudi royal since his participation in the G20 summit in Argentina last December — was a timely demonstration to the West that he still has friends in rising Asia.

AFP

YEMEN TROOPS, HUTHI REBELS AGREE TO TROOP PULLOUT UNITED NATIONS, United States: Yemen’s government and Huthi rebels have agreed on the first phase of a pullback of forces from the key city of Hodeida, in a deal the United Nations described Sunday (Monday In Manila) as important progress. The redeployment from Hodeida is a critical part of a ceasefire deal reached in December in Sweden that calls on the government and Huthis to move forces away from ports and parts of city. The fragile truce deal marks the first step toward ending a devastating war that has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. Following two days of talks in Hodeida city, the government and Huthis finalized a deal on the first phase of the pullback and also agreed in principle on the second phase, a UN statement said. The talks were led by Danish General Michael Lollesgaard as chair of a redeployment coordination committee that includes the government and the Huthis.

AFP

ABE MUM ON TRUMP NOBEL NOMINATION TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his chief spokesman have declined to say if Abe nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Abe noted while speaking in Parliament on Monday that the Nobel committee did not disclose the parties behind nominations for a half-century. He said, “I thus decline comment.� The government’s top spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, told reporters that Japan highly valued Trump’s efforts on North Korea’s nuclear disarmament, but he echoed Abe in refusing other comment. Trump said Friday that Abe had nominated him, sending him a “beautiful copy� of a letter sent to the committee.

That claim could not be immediately verified. The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported on Sunday, citing unnamed government sources, that Abe nominated Trump’s at the president’s request.

AP

FIRING OF FBI EXEC BY TRUMP MAY HAVE BEEN A ‘CRIME’ WASHINGTON, D.C.: Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said Sunday (Monday in Manila) that a “crime may have been committed� when President Donald Trump fired the head of the FBI and tried to publicly undermine an investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia. McCabe also said the FBI had good reason to open a counterintelligence investigation into whether Trump was in league with Russia, and therefore a possible national security threat, following the May 2017 firing of then-FBI Director James Comey. “And the idea is, if the president committed obstruction of justice, fired the director of the of the FBI to negatively impact or to shut down our investigation of Russia’s malign activity and possibly in support of his campaign, as a counterintelligence investigator you have to ask yourself, “Why would a president of the United States do that?� McCabe said.

AP

CHINA LEADERS WANT MORE BABIES BUT LOCAL EXECS RESIST BEIJING: Facing a future demographic crisis and aging society, China’s leaders are desperately seeking to persuade couples to have more children. But bureaucrats don’t seem to have gotten the message, fining a couple in a recent widely publicized case for having a third child against the strict letter of the law. The move has sparked public outrage as people vent their anger at population control officials who are hungry for revenue and have long persecuted couples for violating the now-scrapped “one-child policy.� “The country is doing all it can to encourage childbirth but the local governments need money, so we end with this sort of madness,� a columnist and political commentator who writes under the name Lianpeng said on China’s Weibo microblogging service.

AP

˜ The Manila Times

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Remaining IS using civilians as shields — US BAGHOUZ, Syria: From a self-proclaimed caliphate that once spread across much of Syria and Iraq, the Islamic State (IS) group has been knocked back to a speck of land on the countries’ shared border. In that tiny patch on the banks of the Euphrates River, hundreds of militants are hiding among civilians under the shadow of a small hill encircled by forces waiting to declare the territorial defeat of the extremist group.

A spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) kGHTING THE MILITANTS SAID 3UNDAY that the group was preventing civilians from leaving the area, closing a corridor from which nearly 40,000 residents had managed to escape since December. “They are taking their last BREATH u SAID $INO AN 3$& kGHTER deployed at a base near the front line in the village of Baghouz, about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the militants’ last spot.

An Associated Press team visited the base Sunday, escorted by the SDF, driving past mostly one-story rural houses that were destroyed, a reminder of the cost of the battle.

Occasional airstrikes and artillery rounds by the US-led coalition supporting the SDF, meant to clear land mines for the advance, could be seen in the distance.

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

World

B7

Trump to veto emergency block W %34 0!,- "%!#( &LORIDA 0RESIDENT $ONALD 4RUMP WAS PREPARED TO ISSUE THE kRST VETO OF HIS TERM IF #ONGRESS VOTED TO DISAPPROVE HIS DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY ALONG THE 53 -EXICO BORDER A TOP 7HITE (OUSE ADVISER SAID ON 3UNDAY

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller told “Fox News Sunday� that “the President is going to protect his national emergency declaration.� Asked if that meant Trump was ready to veto a resolution of disapproval, Miller added, “He’s going to protect his national emergency declaration, guaranteed.�

The West Wing is digging in for kGHTS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS AS THE 0RESident’s effort to go around Congress

to fund his long-promised border wall faces bipartisan criticism and multiple legal challenges. After lawmakers in both parties blocked his requests for billions of dollars to fulfill his signature campaign pledge, Trump’s declared national emergency Friday shifts billions of federal dollars earmarked for military construction to the border.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra told ABC’s “This Week�

that his state would sue “imminently� to block the order, after THE !MERICAN #IVIL ,IBERTIES 5NION AND THE NONPROkT WATCHDOG GROUP Public Citizen announced Friday they were taking legal action.

Democrats are planning to introduce a resolution disapproving of the declaration once Congress returns to session and it is likely to pass both chambers. Several Republican senators are already indicating they would vote against Trump — though there do not yet appear to be enough votes to override a veto by the President.

The White House’s Miller insisted that Congress granted the President wide berth under the National Emergencies Act to take action. But Trump’s declaration goes beyond

previous emergencies in shifting money after Congress blocked his funding request for the wall, which will likely factor in legal challenges.

Trump aides acknowledge that Trump could not meet his pledge to build the wall by the time voters decided whether to grant him another term next year, but insist his base would remain by his side as long as he was not perceived to have given UP THE kGHT ON THE BARRIER Democratic Sen. of Delaware Chris Coons, told CBS’s “Face the Nation� that he believes Congress needed to act to “defend� its powers of the purse. “I do think that we should not set the terrible precedent of letting a president declare a national emergency simply as a way of getting around the congressional

appropriations process,� he said.

Republican Rep. from Texas Will Hurd, a critic of Trump’s border policies, said he would support legislation to review Trump’s emergency declaration, saying, “It sets a dangerous precedent.� “My concern is our government wasn’t designed to operate by national emergency,� he told CBS. Trump ally Republican Rep. from Ohio Jim Jordan, told ABC that he believes there were enough GOP votes to prevent the supermajorities required to override a veto. “I think there are plenty of votes in the House to make sure that there’s no override of the president’s veto,� he said. “So it’s going to be settled in court, we’ll have to wait and see.�

AP

IS uprooted The road to the base passes through a number of villages and towns from which IS were uprooted in recent weeks.

In Hajin, a major center for the militants that fell to the SDF in December, some residents have begun to return but the town REMAINS BATTERED BY THE kGHTING and airstrikes. Small shops selling tools and construction material have sprung up.

For weeks, the militants fought desperately for their shrinking territory. Once in control of about a third of Syria and Iraq, they now ARE DOWN TO WHAT 3$& OFkCIALS DEscribe as a small tented village atop a network of tunnels and caves. But they are holding on to hundreds of civilians some of them possibly hostages taking cover among them at the edge of Baghouz, the village in eastern Deir el-Zour Province. “Regrettably, Daesh have closed all the roads,� preventing civilians from leaving, said Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led SDF, referring to IS by its Arabic acronym.

The extremists might include high-level commanders, and the presence of possible captives COULD EXPLAINS THE SLOW kNAL PUSH

they added.

The end nears As civilians trickled out of the enclave in recent weeks, the SDF and coalition OFkCIALS SCREENED THEM 7OMEN AND children were transferred to camps miles away; men suspected of links to the militant group were taken into custody at other facilities.

As the end nears for the IS enclave in Syria and the fate of jihadists’ family members becomes a pressing issue, Russia can be seen as a pioneer in systematically returning CHILDREN OF )SLAMIST kGHTERS HOME A potential homecoming of the many foreign women who have gone to live in the IS caliphate and their children, many of whom were born there, has been a subject of debate in Russia, with some security chiefs seeing them as potential threats.

Earlier this month, 27 children, FROM FOUR TO YEARS OLD WERE lOWN from Iraq to the Moscow Region.

Clutching stuffed toys and bundled in winter jackets, the children were carried off the cargo plane to face the Russian winter after years in the desert.

After health exams, they will be given into the care of their uncles, aunts, and grandparents in the Russian North Caucasus, the majority-Muslim territory in the south of Russia that is home to most of the Russians that had joined the Islamic State group.

AP WITH AFP

LUNAR NEW YEAR

A member of a dragon dance group carries the head of the dragon during the Chinese Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown in New York City, US on Sunday (Monday in Manila). AP PHOTO

Maduro government expels 5 European lawmakers CARACAS: Venezuela on Sunday -ONDAY IN -ANILA EXPELLED kVE visiting European lawmakers, an act which opposition leader Juan Guaido branded “irrational� as his showdown with President Nicolas Maduro over the arrival of internaTIONAL AID INTENSIkES The members of the European Parliament were being tossed out with no explanation, said Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons, who led the group. “We are being expelled from Venezuela. Our passports have been seized. They have not informed us of the reason for the expulsion,� Pons said.

The incident is the latest point of tension between the international community and Maduro, who is

in the grip of a power struggle with Guaido, the head of the National Assembly who proclaimed himself interim president last month.

Guaido has the backing of more than 50 countries, including 30 in Europe.

Pons’ compatriots Jose Ignacio Salafranca and Gabriel Mato !DROVER AS WELL AS %STHER DE ,ANGE of the Netherlands and Paulo Rangel of Portugal, were also expelled.

All are members of the conservative European People’s Party (PPE).

Writing on Twitter, Guaido said the MEPs were being “deported by an isolated and increasingly irrational regime.�

Earlier Sunday Guaido set a goal of enlisting a million volunteers within a week to confront a gov-

ernment blockade that has kept tons of humanitarian aid, most of it from the United States, from flowing into the country where residents can’t get enough food and say they are dying because of a shortage of medicines.

Guaido has given next Saturday — one month to the day after he proclaimed himself acting president — as the date for a showdown with Maduro over the aid.

Food supplies, hygiene kits and nutritional supplements have been stockpiled near the Venezuelan border in Cucuta, Colombia.

Additional storage centers are supposed to open this week in Brazil and Curacao, a Dutch island off Venezuela’s northern Caribbean coast. “Our principal task is to reach

a million volunteers by February 23,� Guaido said in a message to the 600,000 supporters, who have signed up so far for the push to bring aid in.

He said the volunteers would gather at designated points, or participate on social media.

Caravans of buses are being planned to carry volunteers to border entry points to meet and transport arriving cargo. Guaido has kept to himself how he plans to overcome the border barriers put up by the Venezuelan military, on Maduro’s orders.

Volunteer groups have begun meeting in “humanitarian camps� in several Venezuelan states to organize and prepare for the aid arrival. Sometimes working under

awnings or tents, doctors, nurses, dentists and pediatricians have attended to local residents in need.

An imploding economy has driven an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans to migrate from the oil-rich country. Those who remain HAVE BEEN PUNISHED BY HYPERINlAtion that has put scarce food and medicine out of reach for many.

Maduro, who denies the existence of a humanitarian crisis, dismisses the opposition moves as a “political show� and a cover for a US invasion. “Venezuela is preparing for the humanitarian avalanche,� Guaido told about 4,000 supporters clad in white T-shirts and green scarves, who gathered Saturday to sign up as volunteers.

AFP

‘State actor’hacks Australian parliament, political parties CARNIVAL

A masked reveller poses in Venice’s Riva degli Schiavoni on the opening day of the Venice Carnival on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

The carnival in Venice takes place until March 5, 2019. AFP PHOTO

Compensation of Nazi victims resolved — Polish premier WARSAW: Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki insisted Sunday that the question of Polish compensation for Jewish assets stolen by the Nazi was “definitively resolved,� rebuffing a US call for further action.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who visited Poland last week, called on Warsaw to move forward with legislation to help “those who lost property during the Holocaust era,�

But Morawiecki told the PAP news agency Sunday: “The

question of restitution of assets to US citizens of Jewish origin has been definitively resolved,� he said. “A law of compensation, signed with the United States settles the question, and frees Poland from these responsibilities,� Pompeo added. The compensation law to which he was referring to was passed in 1960. “I want to underline that: This subject does not exist,� he added.

AFP

SYDNEY: Australia on Monday said a “sophisticated state actor� had hacked the country’s main political parties and parliament, just weeks before a closely fought election.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told lawmakers that investigators looking into a hack of parliament computer systems revealed two weeks ago “also became aware that the networks of some political parties� had been breached. “Our cyber experts believe that a sophisticated state actor is responsible for this malicious activity,� he said.

Australian security agencies said they did not know who was behind the attack or their motives.

It is not yet clear what, if any, material was stolen during the hacks, how long the perpetrators went undetected, or whether it COULD MAKE SOME POLITICAL kGURES vulnerable to blackmail.

Earlier this month, Australia reported a “security incident on the parliamentary computing network.�

That forced users – including

the prime minister and the cabinet – to change passwords and take other security measures.

Experts warn that attribution is TIME CONSUMING AND DIFkCULT g) THINK IT S DEkNITELY TOO EARLY to say,� said Fergus Hanson, a cybersecurity expert at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

He added, however, that there were only “one or two actors� capable of carrying out such an attack.

Hanson said he would put China “at the top� of the list of possible suspects, but “wouldn’t rule out� Russia’s involvement.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said such speculation about Beijing was “irresponsible� and an attempt to “smear� the country. “When investigating network breaches, there should be sufficient evidence, unreasonable guesses can’t be made,� Geng said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

AFP

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Sports

TUESDAY C1

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

www.manilatimes.net

Durant wins MVP, sparks Team LeBron comeback in All-Star Game L Alab Pilipinas routs Zhuhai OS ANGELES: Kevin Durant scored 31 points and picked up the MVP award as Team ,E"RON RALLIED FROM A POINT DEkCIT to outgun Team Giannis 178-164 in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

anew in ABL SAN Miguel Alab Pilipinas protected its pristine record at home as it pulverized the lowly Zhuhai Wolf Warriors anew, 108-81, in Season 9 Asean Basketball League (ABL) on Sunday night at the Sta. Rosa Multi-purpose Complex in Laguna. The defending Filipino champion team bucked the absence of Puerto Rican giant PJ Ramos to stay unscathed in 11 home games and post its fourth win in as many encounters against the cellar-dwelling Chinese club.  Alab Pilipinas, which already secured a playoff berth, further pulled away from the rest of the 10-team league as it improved to 15-3. Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year Renaldo Balkman fired a team-best 20 points on top of nine assists, six rebounds, three blocks and a steal while two-time Local MVP Ray Parks Jr. poured in 17 markers, five boards and five dimes. Brandon Rosser chipped in 16 points, Caelan Tiongson contributed 14 markers and Lawrence Domingo added 12 for the Jimmy Alapag-mentored squad. With its balanced attack, Alab ably filled the void left by the 7-foot-4 center Ramos, who was suspended for incurring his fifth technical foul in their 105-79 beating of Zhuhai last Friday at the Doumen Gymnasium in China.  Alab zoomed to a massive 56-32 lead as Tiongson buried his fourth triple late in the first half. The home side sustained its fiery shooting and even posted its biggest buffer at 35 points, 102-67, on Pao Javelona’s trey with only 4:38 remaining in the game. Cai Chen led the visiting Zhuhai with a game-high 32 points, six rebounds and two assists while Cory Bradford had 23 markers and fellow import Mike Bell had 11. The Wolf Warriors suffered their third straight setback and fell to a dismal 2-17 card.

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA Â

Q Kevin Durant (No. 35) of the Golden State Warriors and Team LeBron shoots a jump shot against Team Giannis in the first quarter during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA AllStar Weekend at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. AFP PHOTO

Q San Miguel Beer’s Danny Ildefonso drives to the basket against Alaska’s Bong Hawkins during an exhibition game at the Araneta Coliseum. PBA BUREAU PHOTO

THE DAY THE LEGENDS RETURN  THEE PPBA TH BA LLegends egen eg endss rreturned ends e ur et urnned to pplay laay on Sunday,y, tthrilled hrilleed th the he crccrowd row owd that filled the Araneta Coliseum to the rafter and proved, once again, why basketball is still the game closest to their countrymen’s hearts.

The single day benefit show, organized by the PBA Legends Foundation, Inc. headed by Atoy Co of the Crispa fame, in cooperation with the PBA and UNTV, and involving San Miguel Beer, sister teams Barangay Ginebra and Purefoods (now Magnolia Hotshots) and Alaska, likewise, showed how fans from the richest at ringside and lower box sections, to the poorest at the bleacher, would respond to call for noble cause of raising funds for former players in need.

The project, generated an initial P3 million for its intended beneficiaries from the sponsors, which along with plain fans shouted their hearts out cheering for their favorite teams and players, who relived the kind of plays that endeared them to this basketball-crazy nation.

Sweet-shooting Allan Caidic showed, too, why he’s called “The Triggerman� by converting 7-of-18 shooting from field, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc on the way to an evening-high 26 points and powering he Beermen past the Aces, 96-83, in the day’s openng tussle of a doubleheader called “The Return of the Rivals.�   Then newly-retired JayJay Helterbrand came up with a Russell Westbrook-alike triple-double performance in the Gin Kings’ 97-89 demolition of the former Hotdogs in the nightcap.

The now 55-yar-old Caidic, actually started his game listlessly, missing his first four shots in the first quarter turned unstoppable as soon as he hit his stride, making seven of his next 18.   The leftie’s pair of three-pointers in a personal 16-point fourth-quarter run enabled the Beermen to pull away for good that brought back memories of the PBA’s glory days.

Helterbrand, who hang his playing uniforms only last season at 42, had 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in the contest that  was still tied at halftime before the Kings stepped in the remaining periods to claim he victory.

Vince joined Vinc Vi ncee Hi HHizon z n jo zo join ined ed HHelterbrand elte terb rbbra rand nd iinn th tthe he Ki Kings’ scoring melee contributing 16 of his 19 points in the third quarter where the Gin Kings pulled away after outscoring the Hotdogs, 39-28.

Caidic confessed to a few newsmen after the game he was using a pair of brand new shoes at the start that he wasn’t used to that he had to change for his old pair to find his footing. “Bago ang sapatos ko sa simula at saka man-to-man ang depensang ginamit nila (Alaska). We were not used to that kind of defense. Tapos 12 minutes pa per quarter. Buti naman nakarecover kami,� he admitted.

He, too, admitted he was repeatedly urged by San Miguel coach Pilo Pumaren and assistant coaches Jong Uichico, and Art dela Cruz to keep on shooting until he finds his rhythm.

Denok Miranda added 17 points while Danny Ildefonso contributed a double-double 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Beermen, who trailed at halftime, 40-32, but outscored the Milkmen, 64-43, in the second half.

San Miguel Beer won P100,000 for winning, while Caidic got richer by  P25,000 for having been chosen the Best Player of he Game.

Willie Miller had 20 points while Johnny Abarrientos had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Joel Banal coached Milkmen, who opened a 34-24 lead in the second quarter before losing their touch in the final stretch.

More than the win, Caidic said he was heartened by the unity shown by hs fellow PBA greats for a worthy cause.

The Gin Kings, coached by living legend Robert Jaworski assed by assisted by Philip Cezar and the Big J’s son Dudot,  likewise, won the P100,000 prize for the victory, while Helterbrand and Hizon shared the P25,000 reward for sharing  the Players of the Game honors.

Four-time PBA MVP Ramon Fernandez, a teammate of Jaworski in he legendary Toyota team in the early years of the country’s first pro-league, called the shots for Purefoods.Â

EDDIE G. ALINEA

Durant, who also won the MVP award in 2012, got his team untracked in the second half in a game that at one stage threatened to turn into an overblown threepoint shooting contest.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the two captains along with LeBron James, led all scorers with 38 points as his hand-picked squad scored a record-equaling 53 points in THE kRST QUARTER AND LED AT HALFTIME g0REVIOUSLY MY kRST AND SECOND ALL STAR ) THINK ) WAS kind of nervous,� said Antetokounmpo, who has led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA’s best record and is an MVP frontrunner this season. g4HIS ONE ) WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE RELAXED ) had my name on that MVP until the third quarter, and they got hot and took it away from me.�

Defense went out the window especially in the first half, but when it was time to get competitive in the fourth quarter the all-stars buckled down in front of a soldOUT CROWD OF

at the Spectrum

Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Team LeBron wouldn’t be denied, coming back from a 20-point third quarter deficit with the help of 20 points from Klay ThompSON AND FROM +AWHI ,EONARD Team LeBron also set a record with a total of THREE POINT ATTEMPTS 4HE TEAMS COMBINED FOR THREE POINT ATTEMPTS IN THE kRST HALF ALONE “They were scoring too easy,� said Team LeBRON PLAYER $AMIAN ,ILLARD WHO kNISHED WITH POINTS g) KNOW IT IS THE !LL 3TAR 'AME BUT we had to make them work a bit more. g)N THIS KIND OF GAME YOU CAN ERASE THOSE LEADS QUICK u Paul George and Khris Middleton each scored 20 POINTS FOR 4EAM 'IANNIS WHICH GOT APIECE FROM Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook in the loss.

Durant said he was honored to be part of the festivities. g4O BE OUT HERE AMONGST SO MUCH GREATNESS ) really appreciate it,� Durant said.

Charlotte Hornets’ Kemba Walker got one of THE LOUDEST CHEERS OF THE EVENING AND kNISHED with four points for Team Giannis.

James Harden of the Houston Rockets, the NBA scoring leader and last year’s league MVP, had 12 points for Team LeBron.

Disgrunted Anthony Davis, who has asked the New Orleans Pelicans to trade him, played just FOUR MINUTES AND HAD kVE POINTS FOR 4EAM ,E"RON Honorary all-stars Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade played a combined 13 minutes and scored nine and seven points respectively.

The pair was invited to the game by Commissioner Adam Silver to commemorate their brilliant NBA careers.

Wade, an American playing for the Miami Heat, is retiring after 16 seasons and Germany’s Nowitzki has played 21 seasons, all with the Dallas Mavericks.

Nowitzki was a perfect three-for-three from beyond the arc in his minuscule three minutes of playing time. “Thank you to the commissioner and to the NBA for allowing us to be on this stage once again,� Nowitzki said during a mid-court cerEMONY BEFORE THE START OF THE kNAL QUARTER AFP

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Sports

Q Mark Nonoy (No. 77) of UST drives past Patrick Boffa and Marvin Taywan of Batangas-EAC during the 2019 PBA D-League on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila. PBA MEDIA

BUREAU PHOTOÂ

The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

Growling Tigers claw Generals for rousing D-League start

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ Â

U

NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) came through with a rousing debut as it decimated BatangasEmilio Aguinaldo College (EAC), 94-70, in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League (PBA D-League) on Monday at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The heavily revamped Growling Tigers dictated the tempo right from the get-go en route to scoring their kRST WIN IN THE !SPIRANTS 'ROUP AND GIFTING HEAD coach Aldin Ayo a victory in his D-League debut. “I’m very happy that they (rookies) have already played well and adjusted,� said Ayo. “They were able to bring out their game.�

Beninese big man Soulemane Chabi Yo, a recruit from Colegio de San Lorenzo, pumped in a doubledouble of 19 points and 11 rebounds while fellow TRANSFEREE 2HENZ !BANDO FROM 0ANGASINAN kNISHED with 17 markers on top of nine boards.

Mark Nonoy, the youngest player in D-League’s nine-year history at 18 years old, shone with his 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal in almost 22 minutes of action.

“Right away, we want him (Nonoy) to adjust in college play. On his first game, I think he played well,� said Ayo of the former UST High School star.

Veteran guard Renzo Subido chipped in 11 markers, five dimes and four rebounds even as the six other Tigers deployed

by Ayo contributed at least two points and two boards.

UST dominated Batangas-EAC in rebounds (83-41) and assists (27-14) but turned the ball over 29 times.

4HE 4IGERS JUMPED OFF TO A kERY 10-0 start and went on to post a commanding 24-5 advantage on Nonoy’s free throws late in the opening quarter.

UST unloaded a 30-point explosion in the third frame to enjoy its largest lead at 33 points, 75-42, and never looked behind from then on.

Seasoned guard Earvin Mendoza topscored with 14 points for the Oliver Bunyi-coached Generals while Allan Martin was the only other double-digit scorer with 10 markers.

Meanwhile, Chadao-Far Eastern University and SMDC-National University are still battling for a season-opening win at press time.

Yap cops PBAPC weekly honors

Resolve leadership dispute in swimming – Coseteng FORMER Senator Nikki Coseteng pressed the panic button in swimming with the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila only nine months away.

Coseteng urged both the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to finally put an end to the longrunning controversy in the sport and give all talented Filipino swimmers an equal opportunity to represent the country in the SEAG. “Time is fast running out. We have to get our best swimmers together to represent the country in the SEA Games,� said Coseteng dur-

ing the 10th ‘Usapang Sports� by the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) at the National Press Club in Intramuros.

But Coseteng said bringing the best swimmers and best coaches together is not possible unless the leadership dispute is resolved at the soonest possible time. “It is really getting tiring and frustrating. But we cannot let politics rear its ugly head in sports time and again.

It is unfair,� explained Coseteng, also the honorary chairperson of the Philippine Swimming League (PSL).

A well-known human rights

Q Nikki Coseteng CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

activist during her younger days,  Coseteng also questioned the tryouts for the national team called by the Philippine Swimming Institure zmand supported by POC president Ricky Vargas. “Kung yun illegal president, tatawag ng tryouts, legal ba yun?,� added the former lawmaker from Quezon City. “Unang-una,  lahat ng may ginawang katiwalian,  dapat kasuhan. Kung mapatunayag may katiwalaan,  dapat makulong. King gusto natin magkaroon ng pagkaka-isa, dapat may katarungan.�

Coseteng recalled an incident in the past when a young swimmer won the gold medal in actual competition only to be told by the organizers that the gold was reserved for a swimmer from another swimming body.

She also lamented the alleged unfair practice of collecting payment from parents so that the children can be included in the national team. “Our top swimmer, Jasmine Modjeh, won six to seven golds in her last tournament. Siya ang No. 1 swimmer natin pero bakit hindi sya kasali sa age-group ng swimming ng SEAG.â€? Â

JAMES YAP continues to defy Father Time by dishing out spectacular plays leading to his first PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the 2019 Philippine Cup. Despite a tight schedule that saw Rain or Shine play three games in ÂżYH GD\V WKH IRRW <DS ZHQW RQ WR DYHUDJH SRLQWV UHERXQGV DQG DVVLVWV WR KHOS WKH (ODVWR 3DLQWHUV VWUHWFK WKHLU ZLQQLQJ VWUHDN WR ÂżYH KHDGLQJ WR WKH WZR ZHHN EUHDN 7KH EUHDN LV SDUW RI 3%$ÂśV FRPPLWPHQW WR VXSSRUW *LODVÂś FDPSDLJQ LQ WKH VL[WK DQG ÂżQDO ZLQGRZ RI WKH ),%$ :RUOG &XS $VLDQ TXDOLÂżHUV <DS ZKR WXUQHG D GD\ DIWHU 9DOHQWLQHÂśV 'D\ VFDWWHUHG SRLQWV EHKLQG KLV RI FOLS IURP WKUHH SRLQW ]RQH OHDGLQJ 5DLQ RU 6KLQHÂśV ÂżJKWEDFN IURP D GRXEOH GLJLW GHÂżFLW WR WXUQ EDFN 1RUWK3RUW RQ )HEUXDU\ 7KH WZR WLPH 3%$ 0RVW 9DOX DEOH 3OD\HUÂśV VWHSEDFN WKUHH RYHU 3DROR 7DKD ZLWK OHVV WKDQ WKUHH PLQXWHV OHIW SXW 5DLQ RU 6KLQH DKHDG IRU JRRG DW

<DS KDG D TXLHW WZR SRLQW RXWSXW WZR GD\V ODWHU EXW FRQWULEXWHG IRXU ERDUGV LQ PLQXWHV RII WKH EHQFK DV 5DLQ RU 6KLQH VTXHDNHG SDVW 3KRHQL[ 526Âś YLFWRU\ KDQGHG 3KRHQL[ LWV ÂżUVW ORVV IROORZ LQJ D VWDUW IRU WKH VHDVRQ %LJ *DPHV -DPHVÂś VKRRWLQJ VWUXJ JOH GLGQÂśW ODVW ORQJ UHGLVFRYHULQJ KLV WRXFK RQ )HEUXDU\ LQ D NH\ PDWFKXS DJDLQVW KLV IRUPHU WHDP 0DJQROLD DW WKH 0DOO RI $VLD $UHQD <DS ILUHG SRLQWV LQFOXGLQJ WKH JDPH ZLQQLQJ WKUHH SRLQW SOD\ RII D IRXO E\ 5RPH GHOD 5RVD WR OLIW 5DLQ RU 6KLQH WR D WULXPSK DJDLQVW 0DJQROLD Rain or Shine currently leads the WRXUQDPHQW ZLWK D UHFRUG LQFK LQJ FORVHU WR RQH RI WKH WZR WZLFH WR EHDW LQFHQWLYHV XS IRU JUDEV LQ WKH $OO )LOLSLQR FRQIHUHQFH <DS EHDW WHDPPDWH %HDX %HOJD 6DQ 0LJXHOÂśV -XQH 0DU )DMDUGR 7HUUHQFH 5RPHR DQG $UZLQG 6DQWRV DV ZHOO DV $ODVND JXDUG &KULV %DQFKHUR &DUO %U\DQ &UX] DQG 3LQJ ([LPLQLDQR IRU WKH ZHHNO\ FLWDWLRQ IRU WKH SHULRG RI )HEUXDU\

Q University of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Isa Molde drops the ball over Far Eastern University blockers during a Premier Volleyball League game. FILE PHOTO

UPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Molde bags UAAP POW plum THERE was no better scorer in the UAAP Season 81 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volleyball tournament opening weekend the University of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Isa Molde.

The fourth year open hitter powered in 23 points, leading the Lady Maroons past the gritty University of the East Lady Warriors and earning her the UAAP Press Corps. Player of the Week honors.

UP needed every bit of Moldeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 23-point outing to survive the grueling kVE SETTER AGAINST ONE OF THE LEAGUE S BEST defensive teams. The Season 78 Rookie of the Year was also a presence in the back row, providing 10 excellent receptions from 22 attempts.

Billed as contenders after winning

the PSL Collegiate Grand Slam and PVL Collegiate Conference, the Lady Maroons came into opening day with a lot of pressure. Molde insists that the pressure is helping her and UP focus on their goals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Siyempre, may pressure talaga. Pero, nandoon naman â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung pressure kasi nakita ng mga tao, ng UP community na kaya namin. Nakakatulong din siya para SA CONkDENCE MO u SAID THE #EBUANA UP head coach Godfrey Okumu expressed the need for a balanced performance from his roster to succeed in the UAAP. But, having players like Molde to rely on in clutch situations is a luxury he enjoys. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a lot of great players, but someone like Isa helps us get out of tough

spots,â&#x20AC;? said the Kenyan mentor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we have to go out-of-system, Isa can be relied on to get us points. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll DEkNITELY NEED MORE OF THAT TYPE OF PLAY TO get good results moving forward.â&#x20AC;?

The Lady Maroons will face Far Eastern University on Wednesday in a rematch of the PVL Collegiate Conference Finals.

Molde knows that every will be a challenge and earning a win over FEU will be a tall task, given their past meetings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mahirap talaga kalaban â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung FEU kasi marami din sa kanilang veterans and ready mag-contribute sa team. Kailangan namin talaga maging composed against them and bawasan â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga errors namin,â&#x20AC;? Molde closed.

The Manila Times

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

w w w.manilatimes.net

Sports

C3

Holmes rallies to edge Thomas in Genesis Open endurance test L

OS ANGELES: J.B. Holmes erased a FOUR SHOT DEkCIT TO EMERGE FROM AN ENDURANCE TEST AT 2IVIERA #OUNTRY #LUB ON 3UNDAY -ONDAY IN -ANILA WITH A ONE STROKE VICTORY OVER *USTIN 4HOMAS IN THE 'ENESIS /PEN On a day that saw the leaders play 33-plus holes in the weatherDISRUPTED EVENT (OLMES kRED A ONE UNDER PAR IN THE kNAL ROUND FOR A UNDER TOTAL OF AND HIS kFTH 53 0'! 4OUR TITLE HIS kRST SINCE THE (OUSTON /PEN â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge win,â&#x20AC;? said Holmes, WHO HAD JUST ONE TOP kNISH IN THE SEASON UNTIL THIS WEEK Holmes and Thomas had traded the LEAD TWICE BEFORE (OLMES WENT AHEAD FOR GOOD AT THE TH HOLE DRAINING A FOOT PAR PUTT WHILE 4HOMAS NEEDED FOUR PUTTS TO CLOSE OUT A DOUBLE BOGEY g4WO THREE PUTTS AND A FOUR PUTT ON MY BACK NINE u 4HOMAS SAID AFTER

SIGNING FOR A FOUR OVER FOR g4HE THIRD PUTT ON ) COULD FEEL THE WIND COMING AND ) GOT SCARED SO I tried to hit it harder -- and I did hit IT HARDER AND THAT S WHY ) MISSED IT u Holmes was still one ahead when HE DRAINED AN FOOTER TO SAVE PAR AFTER kNDING A BUNKER AT PART OF HIS MARCH HOME WITH SEVEN STRAIGHT PARS g(E PLAYED GREAT u 4HOMAS SAID g"UT IT S ALWAYS A BUMMER TO HAND HIM A TOURNAMENT ) FEEL LIKE ) SHOULD HAVE WON THAT THING u 4HOMAS CERTAINLY SEEMED TO HAVE THINGS WELL IN HAND WHEN HE kNISHED A THIRD ROUND AFTER RETURNING TO THE COURSE WITH THE REST OF THE kELD TO

RESUME THE ROUND AT AM (OLMES SAID THE CHAOTIC SCHEDULE THAT FOLLOWED 4HURSDAY S SEVEN HOUR RAIN DELAY MADE FOR A DIFkCULT WEEK OF AM WAKE UP CALLS AND MARATHON SPELLS ON THE COURSE 4HEN CAME 3UNDAY AFTERNOON S BITING WINDS CONDITIONS THAT (OLMES SAID MORE THAN JUSTIkED HIS DELIBERATE PACE OF PLAY g9OU PLAY IN MILE AN HOUR GUSTY WINDS AND SEE HOW FAST YOU PLAY u HE SAID g9OU CAN T JUST GET UP THERE AND WHACK IT WHEN IT S BLOWING THAT HARD u !DAM 3COTT WHO STARTED THE kNAL round tied with Holmes, saw his CHALLENGE EVAPORATE IN THE TESTING CONDITIONS AS HE CARDED A kVE OVER 3OUTH +OREAN +IM 3I WOO CLOSED WITH A FIVE UNDER PAR FOR THIRD PLACE ON ONE STROKE IN FRONT OF !USTRALIAN -ARC ,EISHMAN AND .ORTHERN )RELAND S 2ORY -C)LROY

Putter costs Woods Tournament host Tiger Woods, who

MADE THE CUT WITH ONE SHOT TO SPARE

VAULTED INTO THE TOP WITH A THIRD ROUND THAT INCLUDED TWO EAGLES -- one on Saturday night and one ON 3UNDAY (E WAS ROLLING WITH THREE BIRDIES IN HIS kRST SEVEN HOLES OF THE kNAL ROUND INCLUDING HOLING OUT FROM A BUNKER AT THE PAR THREE TH BEFORE FADING DOWN THE STRETCH AS THE CHANGEABLE WEATHER BROUGHT A BRIEF BURST OF RAIN AND THEN COLD

GUSTY WINDS g) GOT TIRED ) DON T KNOW IF ) M THE ONLY ONE BUT ) DEkNITELY FELT IT TODAY WIND COLD u ADMITTED 7OODS WHO HAD FOUR BOGEYS IN A SIX HOLE STRETCH that ended with a three-putt at the kFTH WHERE HE MISSED FROM INSIDE THREE FEET (E CLOSED WITH A ONE OVER THAT LEFT HIM ON SIX UNDER AND SAID HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO NOTHING MORE THAN A DAY OFF BEFORE HE THINKS ABOUT PREPARING FOR NEXT WEEK S 7'# -EXICO #HAMPIONSHIP AFP

Q J.B. Holmes hits a putt on the 14th hole green during the final round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

AFP PHOTO

Focus on Saso as PH Ladies Open unfolds YUKA SASO gets the chance to showcase her wares against a crack international field in pursuit of a second straight crown in the Champion Philippine Ladies Amateur Open which unwraps today at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Forbes Park.

Premium will be on shotmaking and putting with Saso tipped to lead the assault on the wellkept layout making its return as host of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier championship which drew a cast of 94 players, including 31 from Taiwan, six each from Singapore and the US, four from Korea, three each from Australia and Thailand and two from Japan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The greens are tough and I think it will all boil down to putting,â&#x20AC;? said Saso, who spent the rest of yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practice day polishing her stroke in a bid to contend again.

The 17-year-old Saso spearheads the bid of the big 39-player local side out to extend its win run to four after Princess Superal broke Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three-

year reign with a victory at Tagaytay Midlands in 2016. Bianca Pagdanganan topped the 2017 edition at Wack Wack before Saso rallied to beat Mikha Fortuna by two at the Orchard last year.

That victory somehow portended the coming of a big year for Saso, who went on to snare the gold medal while powering the Philippines to the team championship in the Asian Games in Jakarta.

That makes her the player to beat in the 54hole championship presented by Champion and sponsored by Hana Shampoo, EVA Air, San Miguel Corp. and Diamond Motor Corp. although the Fil-Japanese remains wary of the field, which teems with enormous talents, including the troika of young Thais in Yosita Khawnuna and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Chanettee Wannasaen, The Taiwanese are also all geared up for a crack at the crown with Sung You-Chuan, Chiang Su-Er and Lee Shu Fen hoping for a strong start and a

stronger finish in the tournament backed by Cherrylume, Inquirer, Elmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kapihan Group, Atty. Gilberto Duavit, G&W Club Shares, Inc., Pascual Laboratories, Metro Pacific Corp., Ayala Land Premiere, Venice Godio, Taishan Insurance Brokers Phils.

Koreans Park Eun Suk and Lim Mi Jin also seek to crowd the favorites and duplicate compatriot Lee Jeong Hwaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title feat in 2012 while Japanese Airi Mitsuhashi and Ikuko Kito also expect to figure in the title chase along with locals Nicole Abelar, Sunshine Baraquiel, Laia Barro, Sophia Blanco, Annyka Cayabyab, Laurea Duque, Sophia Legaspi, Pamela Mariano, Kayla Nocum, Rafaela Singson, Eagle Ace Superal and Rianne Malixi.

Q Petronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stephanie Niemer attacks on Cignalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Janine Marciano and Mylene Paat during a Philippine Superliga Grand Prix game at The Arena in San Juan City.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SEAG Duathlon qualifying race unfolds March 31Â THE INAUGURAL 42) &ACTOR !SIAN 3ERIES 2UN "IKE 2UN DUATHLON EVENT WILL LAUNCH IN #LARK

0AMPANGA ON -ARCH )N THIS QUALIFYING RACE FOR THE 3OUTHEAST !SIAN 'AMES 3%!' CO PRESENTED BY #LARK $EVELOPMENT #ORPORATION "ASE S # O N VE R S I O N A N D $ E VE L O P M E N T !U T H O R I T Y P A R T I C I P A N T S W I L L T E S T T H E I R R A C I N G S K I L L S THROUGH COURSES OF 3TANDARD $ISTANCE KILOMETER RUNm KM BIKEm KM RUN 3PRINT $ISTANCE KM RUNm KM BIKEm KM RUN AND 3UPER 3PRINT $ISTANCE KM RUNm KM BIKEm KM RUN 4HE RUN SEGMENTS WILL BE HELD AT #LARK PARADE GROUNDS WHILE THE CYCLING WILL TAKE PLACE ALONG #LARK 3PEEDWAY g7E ARE HAPPY FOR THE STRONG RECEPTION WE GOT FROM THE LOCAL SWIM BIKE AND RUN COMMUNITIES OF ATHLETES WHO SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR INAUGURAL

EVENT 4HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE 42!0 4RIATHLON !SSOCIATION OF THE 0HILIPPINES WILL CREATE INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES IN BUILDING TRIATHLON SPORTS IN THE COUNTRY AS WE EXCHANGE THE BEST PRACTICES IN TRIATHLON ACROSS THE REGION 7E THANK OUR PARTNERS 42!0 THE MEDIA THE TRIP COMMUNITY AND OTHER CONTRIBUTORS WHO HELPED US ESTABLISH 42) &ACTOR S PRESENCE here in the Philippines,â&#x20AC;? said One OF A +IND -ARKETING #// AND 42) &ACTOR 0HILIPPINES COUNTRY DIRECTOR !LLAN -AJADILLAS g7E ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME THE ALLIANCE WITH 42) &ACTOR AS WE WORK together to grow and improve our EXCITING SPORTS OF TRIATHLON AND DUATHLON 4HIS PARTNERSHIP WILL SURELY WIDEN THE BASE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS WITH THE TREMENDOUS FOLLOWING OF triathlon all over Asia,â&#x20AC;? TRAP presiDENT 4OM #ARRASCO STATED For details, visit www.trifactor. ph TODAY OR CALL CALL

Japan upgrades downpour forecasts before Tokyo 2020 TOKYO:Â 7ITH AN EYE ON THE 4OKYO TIONS 4ECHNOLOGY .)#4

F2, PETRON KICK OFF SUPERLIGA GRAND PRIX CAMPAIGNS TODAY & ,OGISTICS OPENS ITS TITLE HUNT WHEN IT COLLIDES WITH #IGNAL IN THE 0HILIPPINE 3UPERLIGA 'RAND 0RIX TODAY AT THE &ILOIL &LYING 6 #ENTRE 2EIGNING CHAMPION 0ETRON TIPS THINGS OFF WHEN IT CLASHES WITH 0,$4 AT P M WHILE 5NITED 6# TACKLE 3TA ,UCIA IN THE P M BATTLE OF THIS PRESTIGIOUS WOMEN S VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY THAT HAS %30. AND 0LUS AS BROADCAST PARTNERS 4HEN IT S GOING TO BE THE #ARGO Moversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; turn as they tangle with the ($ 3PIKERS IN THE P M FEATURED ENCOUNTER OF THIS LEAGUE THAT IS BACKED BY !SICS -IKASA -UELLER 3ENOH

4EAM 2EBEL 3PORTS "IZOOKU 5#0" 'EN (OTEL 3OGO AND $ATA 0ROJECT &OTON AND THE 3TA ,UCIA BARGED ON TOP OF THE TEAM STANDINGS AFTER EMERGING VICTORIOUS IN THE OPENING SALVO !FTER BOWING TO 0ETRON IN A THRILLING FINALE LAST YEAR & ,OGISTICS TAPPED VETERAN REINFORCEMENT ,INDSAY 3TALZER AND PROLIFIC )TALIAN !MERICAN JOURNEYWOMAN "ECKY 0ERRY TO JOIN THE SOLID CORE OF !BY -ARANO !RA 'ALANG +IANNA $Y

$AWN -ACANDILI -AJOY "ARON AND +IM &AJARDO IN ITS TITLE QUEST 3TALZER A THREE TIME CHAMPION AND FORMER -OST 6ALUABLE 0LAYER STEERED

THE "LAZE 3PIKERS TO THE TITLE LAST YEAR and her addition will provide the #ARGO -OVERS THE EXPERIENCE AND STABILITY ON THE lOOR 5NFORTUNATELY FOR THE #ARGO -OVERS THE COMELY !MERICAN WILL NOT JOIN THEM UNTIL NEXT WEEK AS SHE S STILL IN THE THICK OF HER CAMPAIGN WITH *AKARTA ".) 4APLUS WHICH IS STILL COMPETING IN THE kNALS OF THE )NDONESIAN 0ROLIGA 7ITH 3TALZER OUT IT S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL CLIMB FOR & ,OGISTICS AS IT IS STACKED AGAINST AN EXPLOSIVE #IGNAL SQUAD THAT IS POWERED BY FORMER United States junior national team

MEMBER %RICA 7ILSON AND !ZERBAIjani Anastasia Artemeva together WITH VETERANS 2ACHEL !NNE $AQUIS

-YLENE 0AAT *ANINE .AVARRO AND !CY -ASANGKAY Also set to draw attention is the BATTLE BETWEEN 0ETRON AND 0,$4 0ETRON WILL BE PARADING TWO OF THE BEST IMPORTS THE LEAGUES EVER SAW IN Katherine Bell and Stephanie Niemer TOGETHER WITH NEW RECRUIT $ENDEN ,AZARO WHILE 0,$4 WILL BE BANNERED BY !MERICANS 'RACE ,AZARD AND +ENDRA $AHLKE TOGETHER WITH *ASMINE .ABOR !IKO 5RDAS AND THE RETURNING ,OUANN ,ATIGAY

/LYMPICS *APANESE RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING A NEW SYSTEM TO ACCURATELY FORECAST TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS Â&#x2021;KNOWN in Japan as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;guerilla rainstormsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Â&#x2021; MINUTES BEFORE THEY STRIKE 3CIENTISTS HAVE CREATED A HIGH TECH RADAR CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A THREE DIMENSIONAL MAP OF A RAIN CLOUD IN TO SECONDS 4HEY SAY THIS IS A SIGNIkCANT IMPROVEMENT ON EXISTING SYSTEMS THAT MEASURE ONLY PARTS OF A CLOUD IN UP TO kVE MINUTES Along with the radar, installed last year at Saitama 5NIVERSITY JUST NORTH OF 4OKYO

the team is also using radio waves to estimate the amount OF WATER VAPOR IN THE AIR TO IMPROVE THEIR FORECASTS The waves slow down dePENDING ON THE VOLUME OF VAPOR IN THE AIR MAKING FOR A MORE ACCURATE FORECAST SAID +ATSUHIRO .AKAGAWA DIRECTOR OF THE 2EMOTE 3ENSING ,ABORATORY AT THE .ATIONAL )NSTITUTE OF )NFORMATION AND #OMMUNICA-

*APAN IS ONE OF THE MOST SEISMICALLY ACTIVE REGIONS IN THE WORLD AND ROUTINELY EXPERIENCES SEVERE NATURAL DISASTERS

INCLUDING EARTHQUAKES lOODS AND LANDSLIDES THAT KILL DOZENS OF PEOPLE EVERY YEAR "ECAUSE OF THAT THE NATION HAS CREATED SOPHISTICATED EARLY WARNING TECHNOLOGY AND disaster mitigation systems, AND REGULARLY HOLDS EMERGENCY DRILLS IN SCHOOLS 3UDDEN LOCALIZED TORRENTIAL RAINS CAN CAUSE KILLER lASH lOODS

SUBMERGE ROADS IN LOW LYING AREAS OR OVERlOW DRAINAGE SYSTEMS / R G A N I Z E R S O F T H E 4O K YO /LYMPICS AND THE 2UGBY 7O R L D # U P T H I S YE A R H AVE VOICED CONCERN THAT EXTREME WEATHER PHENOMENA SUCH AS A TYPHOON OR HEATWAVE COULD THROW EVENTS INTO CHAOS g4HE SUMMER /LYMPIC 0ARALYMPIC 'AMES ARE COMING UP 0ARTICULARLY DURING SUMMER WE SEE LOTS OF GUERILLA DOWNPOURS u SAID .AKAGAWA AFP

C4

Football Bayern carries German Champions League hopes vs Liverpool

The Manila Times

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

Q Bayern Munichâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defender Niklas Suele (left) and Augsburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Venezuelan midfielder Sergio Cordova vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga match in Augsburg, Germany.

AFP PHOTO

w w w. m a n i l a t i m e s. n e t

B

ERLIN: Bayern Munich head to Liverpool for Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crunch Champions League tie at Anfield demanding improvements and shouldering 'ERMANY S lAGGING HOPES OF HAVING A CLUB IN THE QUARTERkNALS

ing against quick counter-attacks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything must be better, but we had Liverpool at the backs of our minds,â&#x20AC;? admitted Bayern coach Niko Kovac. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to perform differently, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be at international level and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very different focus -- I Since the 2005-06 season, at to go through, if it goes well.â&#x20AC;? assume that it will be a completely least one German side has always 9ET CONkDENCE IN "AYERN S CHANC- different performance from us.â&#x20AC;? made it to the last eight. es at Anfield dipped on Friday After Borussia Dortmundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-0 maulThat proud run will be under when they twice needed to come ing at Tottenham Hotspur last week, threat if Bayern suffer a heavy from behind for a 3-2 win at and with Schalke facing English chamDEFEAT IN THE LAST kRST LEG AHEAD Bundesliga strugglers Augsburg, pions Manchester City on Wednesof the return game on March 13.

WHERE 2ODRIGUEZ WAS SUBSTITUTED day, Bayern hold Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best hope â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make mistakes in these after an ineffective 56 minutes.

OF QUARTERkNAL REPRESENTATION games, but I think we can cause LivDespite sitting just above the Dortmund tops the Bundesliga erpool problems,â&#x20AC;? said Bayern mid- relegation places, Augsburg were ahead of Bayern, but in Europe it kELDER *AMES 2ODRIGUEZ the latest Bundesliga team to ex- is the Bavarians who have made a â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a team thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good enough pose Bayernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weaknesses defend- habit of reaching the latter stages MADRID:Â Lionel Messi scored a penalty and missed another as La Liga leaders Barcelona ground out an unconvincING WIN OVER 2EAL 6ALLADOLID

while Antoine Griezmann surpassed Fernando Torres with his 130th goal for Atletico Madrid.

Messiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fitness was again in the spotlight on Saturday after a niggling thigh strain in recent weeks, but he completed the full 90 minutes at the Camp Nou and hit the 30-goal mark at Barcelona for the 11th straight season.

The Argentine coolly dispatched a spot-kick just before half-time, drilling BEYOND THE REACH OF *ORDI -ASIP AFTER Gerard Pique was bundled to the ground BY 6ALLADOLID MIDkELDER -ICHEL Masip brilliantly tipped over a Messi volley soon after the interval and Luis Suarez wasted a huge opportunity to double the lead shortly after replacing Kevin-Prince Boateng with an hour gone.

Messi found himself booked for dissent after an apparent foul on him went unpunished, and he then blew THE CHANCE TO KILL OFF 6ALLADOLID WHEN Masip kept out his second penalty of the nightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;awarded following a trip on Philippe Coutinho.

The excellent Masip alertly gathered Messiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s follow-up header and

again denied Suarez late on as Barca pulled seven points clear of Atletico ahead of their trip to Lyon in the Champions League last 16. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t played well. The truth is it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a good match today. The only good thing is the victory,â&#x20AC;? Pique, who made his 300th appearance in La Liga told Movistar. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Getting back on track with three points is important after two draws in THE LEAGUE "UT WE DEkNITELY HAVE TO improve. We have to be better on Tuesday otherwise weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a tough time.â&#x20AC;?

Griezmann scored a second-half winner in Atleticoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1-0 victory at NEIGHBORS 2AYO 6ALLECANO TO PROVIDE a timely boost going into next weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SHOWDOWN WITH #RISTIANO 2ONALDO AND *UVENTUS The French forward surpassed Torresâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;now playing for Sagan Tosu IN *APANÂ&#x2021;FOR FIFTH ALL TIME ON THE Atletico goalscoring charts as they shook off two successive defeats, including last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-1 loss at HOME TO 2EAL -ADRID Griezmann struck for the tenth

of the Champions League. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dortmund have kept the Bundesliga exciting this year, but at this level you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make three individual mistakes like that (against Spurs),â&#x20AC;? said former Dortmund coach Matthias Sammer, now a Eurosport pundit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I believe Bayern are the leaders in this regard and are carrying the flag in the normal picture, which is now emerging.â&#x20AC;?

Any Liverpool fan that watched Bayern struggle at Augsburg would have cause for optimism as the Bavariansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defense creaked in dramatic fashion.

Leaking defense Augsburg winger Philipp Max twice found space early on down the left

lANK WHICH YIELDED AN OWN GOAL

by Bayernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leon Goretzka after just 13 seconds before South Korea midkELDER *I $ONG WON DRILLED HOME the hostsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; second.

Kingsley Coman, who should BE kT DESPITE AN ANKLE INJURY SCARE

RESCUED "AYERN WITH TWO kRST HALF goals before setting up David Alabaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner.

Yet Sammer expects a different STORY FROM "AYERN AT !NkELD â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compare Augsburg and Liverpool, they (Bayern) will be up for Liverpool,â&#x20AC;? said Sammer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nevertheless, both (Augsburg) goals came from the wings and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let balls like that through. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If they make those mistakes against Liverpool, it will be hard.â&#x20AC;? AFP

Messi penalty lifts Barca as Griezmann eclipses Torres time in his last 11 outings, forcing home from six yards on 74 minutes after Alvaro Morata laid off a high, looping ball inside the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Griezmann is an extraordinary player, he always adapts to what the team needs. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very important for us,â&#x20AC;?

Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. AFP

Q Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Argentinean forward Lionel Messi jumps for the ball during the Spanish League football match between Barcelona and Real Valladolid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.

AFP PHOTO

PH bows to Vietnam in AFF U22 THE Phili Philippine i menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UUnder-22 d national football team fell short against powerhouse Vietnam, 1-2, in the 2019 Asean Football Federation (AFF) U-22 Championship on Sunday at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The junior Azkals netted the opening goal but failed to protect their lead against the young Golden Dragonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; relentless attack. With the narrow defeat, the Andres Gonzales-coached Philippines skidded to the third spot in the four-nation Group A that also has Thailand and Timor Leste. Only the top two teams from the two groups will advance to the knockout round. After San Beda University goalkeeper Michael Asongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superb saves kept a scoreless deadlock at the half, Ceres Negros midfielder

Dylan a foul D l De D Bruycker B k drew d f l from f Vietnamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense for a free kick just inches outside the box.  University of the Philippines midfielder Jeremiah Borlongan took the free kick and delivered a sharp curler over the Vietnamese keeper for the lead in the 51st minute. The Golden Dragons, however, equalized as Danh Tran Trung fired a low shot past Asong in the 74th. Le Minh Binh scored off a corner set piece to hand Vietnam the advantage just four minutes later. With the time winding down, the young Azkals had a last chance to equalize but the opposing goalie caught their final corner kick. The Philippines looks to bounce back against another Southeast Asian heavyweight in Thailand today (Tuesday) at 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. in Manila).

JEREMIAH M. SEVILLAÂ

Tams blast Warriors for early lead in UAAP FAR Eastern University (FEU) grabbed the early lead after routing University of the East (UE), 4-1, in the opening match day of Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football tournament on Sunday at the FEU-Diliman Football Field in Quezon City. The Tamaraw Booters unleashed a second half barrage to bag maximum points and a superior goal difference for the solo lead in the eightteam field. Jermi Darapan scored the opener in the 30th minute before former juniors MVP Chester Gio Pabualan doubled the cushion with a strike shortly after the restart. Champ Marin pulled one back for UE in the 52nd but Dominique Canonigo and Alex Rayos Jr. found the back of the net in the 61st and 68th, respectively, to punctuate FEUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy victory. Meanwhile, last seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runner-up University of Sto. Tomas (UST) also tallied a breakthrough win after demolishing De La Salle University, 3-1. The Golden Booters overcame an early deficit and netted three straight goals for a triumphant first outing. La Salle drew first blood courtesy of John Ray Laguraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 13th minute strike but UST quickly tied the game as Conrado Dimacali scored four minutes later. Juan Villanueva struck in the 36th and Glenn Ramos netted the final goal in the 69th for the EspaĂąa-based footballers. In the other game, Adamson University salvaged a point after forcing a 1-1 draw with National University. Jackson Lee Ramos notched the equalizer for the Soaring Falcons in the 87th to nullify Mike Danieve Arbelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 80th minute goal for the Bulldogs.

JEREMIAH M. SE-

Neymarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father denies any contact with Barca over return PARIS:Â Neymarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father reiterated on Sunday (Monday in Manila) that there has been no attempt to contact Barcelona over a possible return to Spain for the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most expensive player.

Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain for a world record fee of 222 million euros ($251 million) in August 2017 but has repeatedly been linked with a move back to Barcelona.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Barca are a huge club, we were very happy over there,â&#x20AC;? Neymar Sr told TF1 on Sunday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to leave a player like him out of these (transfer market) rumours.

But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lie, there hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been a call with Barca.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are two people who speak for Neymar: himself and me. Neither of us has spoken about this intention to return to Barcelona,â&#x20AC;? he added.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;These rumors amuse us a lot.

These journalists are funny. The future is in Paris, the present is in Paris.â&#x20AC;?

Neymar Sr took to social media last month to brand a report in Spain, which claimed he had begged Barca to re-sign his son from PSG as â&#x20AC;&#x153;fake newsâ&#x20AC;?.

The Brazilian forward is currently on the sidelines after he was ruled out for 10 weeks with a metatarsal injury

suffered in a French Cup win over Strasbourg on January 23.

PSG hope the 27-year-old, who suffered a fracture to the same right foot at the end of February last year, will be back in time for a potential Champions League quarter-final.

The French club hold a 2-0 lead over Manchester United ahead of the return leg at the Parc des Princes in their last-16 tie.

AFP

TTUESDAY U E S DAY FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Entertainment

D1 Q As Unicef National Goodwill Ambassador, the actress not only promotes the welfare of children but raises her voice for their rights.

www.manilatimes.net

Anne Curtis fulfills dream for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welfare T

BY CHRISTINA ALPAD

HEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S no doubt that children have a special place in Anne Curtisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; heart.

Using her celebrity status, not to mention her widely-followed social media platforms, the actress has long been vocal about the welfare and issues involving children.

She has been a major donor to the United Nations International Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emergency Fund (Unicef) since 2009 until her closer involvement with the agency that led her to being appointed a celebrity advocate in 2014.

As a celebrity advocate, the 34-year-old has led special projects with the foundation including the Heroes for Children runs to support childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First 1,000 Days,

fundraising through international marathons, and a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book that encourages reading and inSTILLING CONkDENCE IN ONE S SELF She was also among the celebrities who devoted time to visit survivors of devastating typhoons in the country: Leyte province after Typhoon Haiyan in 2015 and Samar province after Typhoon Urduja in 2017.

Outside the foundation, Curtis

Q Curtis with fellow National Goodwill Ambassador Daphne Paez (leftmost) and Unicef Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander.

GUESS

WHO Unrequited generosity This popular gay comedian (PGC) will always have a soft spot in the hearts of a few good men once linked to him.

So loving and generous is PGC that he gifted his popular cager-boyfriend (PCB) a luxury car at the peak of their rumored liaison.

Too bad that PCB had denied the real score many times over. It came to a point that his relationship with PGC caught the ire of his dad who swore his son wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the type whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d get romantically involved with gay men.

PCB, trying to please his seemingly homophobic dad, had no choice but to find another partner, this time a girl. In no time a deeper relationship blossomed between the PCB and the girl, prompting the former to break up with PGC. Por delicadeza, PCB had to return the luxury car but PGC refused to take it back.

NNN A deep penetration source (DPS) swears that his sexy actress-godchild (SAG) indeed became the girlfriend of a petite young comedian (PYC) known for being a chronic â&#x20AC;&#x153;chick boy.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Madaling araw na kung umalis yung PYC sa bahay ng inaanak ko.

Kulang na lang, dun na siya tumira!â&#x20AC;?

DPS informed.

SAG and PYC managed to keep their romance under the rug, blame it on their common home network whose bosses strongly disapproved of it as it was gearing up for bigger career plans for SAG. PYC hesitantly obliged, limiting his visits to SAG.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ang siste, sa ibang bahay na pala nagbababad si PYC. Yes, my SAG dis-

covered that the PC was cheating on her!â&#x20AC;? DPS added.

RC3

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who has shown that she is not only an inspiration in fashion and beauty â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has founded her own platform, Dream Machine, to help children and other Filipinos realize their dreams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always been a dreamer.

In my 20 years in showbiz, I have worked hard to reach for my dreams. Now that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been blessed to have achieved most of my dreams, it is my turn to be a blessing to others through the Dream Machine platform,â&#x20AC;? Curtis told The Manila Times in 2017 at the launch of her project.

they are still very much children.

They still have a chance to change their ways if they happen to cause or get into any trouble instead of being sent to jail and sentenced as an adult,â&#x20AC;? she tweeted via @annecurtissmith the day after House approved the bill.

The tweet has since gone viral and garnered more than 6,000 retweets, 23,000 likes and more importantly, opened a discussion among her followers, most of whom are millennials and Gen Z-ers, about the House Bill.

Upon reaching the Senate, however, pending bills by Senators of

Advocating childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights Helping out children through charitable endeavors was not the only means for Curtis to show her advocacy.

In fact, she stunned many when she became vocal about the hot issue of lowering the age of criminal liability.

Before January ended, the House of Representative Committee on Justice approved the bill that would lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to nine years old.

In the existing Republic Act (RA) 10630, the minimum age of criminal liability is at 15 but children as young as 12 can be detained in youth care facilities or Bahay Pag-asa for serious crimes such as rape, murder, and homicide, among others.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nakakalungkot isipan na ibababa nila ang criminal responsibi-

lity to the age of nine. At that age,

Q 'Now that I've been blessed to have achieved most of my dreams, it is my turn to be a blessing to others' â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Anne Curtis. lowering criminal liability to 12 have resurfaced, making it appear more pro-children.

But Curtis, stood firm on her ground.

During her launch as a Unicef National Goodwill Ambassadors, Curtis reiterated that children below 15 should not be held lawfully liable.

When The Manila Times asked

the age Curtis thinks children should be held lawfully liable, she answered, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I agree with what the current law is before the amendment because based from what I learned from Unicef, the age of discernment is from 15 to 16 years old. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the time when they are actually aware of what they are doing and their brain is developed enough [to process judgment].

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I think of myself at 12, my way of thinking is far from how I was at 15 so thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how I personally feel about it. I know that not everyone would agree with me and I know some do but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my stand on the issue and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m raising my voice to give awareness about it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reading the current law, it just needs to be fully implemented.â&#x20AC;?

Finally Curtis vowed that her strong stand on advocating for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights will not end in the issue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll use every chance I can get and use these platforms to raise awareness. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gotten me into trouble before. Sometimes people just have different opinions from yourself but if you know that you stand up for something that you believe in, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s looking out, in my opinion, for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights then I will use those platforms,â&#x20AC;? she ended.

Dennis Trillo gears for more action after â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cain at Abelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; D

ENNIS Trilloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wish came true, at least as far as the concluding part of GMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cain at Abelâ&#x20AC;? was concerned.

7EEKS BEFORE ITS kNALE $ENNIS AS %LIAS WHO PLAYED THE BADDIE HAD WANTED A HAPPY ENDING

reconciling his differences with his brother Daniel (played by Dingdong Dantes). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wanna be a spoiler even if based on the plot, Cain and Abel are warring brothers who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t share the same principles in life. In the end, Daniel and Elias lived happily ever after,â&#x20AC;? the Kapuso actor said.

If it was any consolation, Dennis took an active part in the action-drama seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; creative aspect (so did Dingdong). In fact, both actors never missed brainstorming sessions with the creative team led by director Don Michael Perez where they pitched in their welcome suggestions.

Not only that, Dennis and Dingdong shared their ideas with the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s action director Toto Natividad AND COLLABORATED WITH kGHT INSTRUCTORS 6AL )GLESIAS and Boy Roque. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I must say that of all the shows Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done on GMA, Cain at Abel gave me the chance to prove that

I could also do action aside from serious acting,â&#x20AC;?

Dennis grinned.

Now that the action-packed teleserye is over, this allows the Kapuso actor to conCENTRATE THIS TIME ON DOING kLMS

one of which is the remake of Erik Mattiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;On The Job 2.â&#x20AC;?

There are four movie scripts which Dennis has to go over and choose from as to which one he should beGIN kLMING ANYTIME THIS YEAR Come August, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a temporary break from work for Dennis as heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accompanying real-life girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado to the 2019 Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo, Japan.

Asked if wedding bells would ring for him and Jennylyn this 2019, Dennis confessed to talking about it: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The thing is, I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t proposed to her.â&#x20AC;?

Dennis is honored as Film Actor of the Year for g/NE 'REAT ,OVEu AT THE TH "OX /FkCE %NTERTAINment Awards given by the Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation. Hopefully, the Kapuso actor will be at the awards ceremonies on March 24 at the Star Theatre to personally accept his ttrophy.

Meanwhile, replacing Cain at Abel on GMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primetime block is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kara Miaâ&#x20AC;? starring Barbie Forteza and Mika de la Cruz which piloted yesterday.

VIGNETTES RONNIE CARRASCO 3RD

Q Israeli director Nadav Lapid AP PHOTO

Q Dennis Trillo will accompany real-life girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado (inset) to the 2019 Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo, Japan.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Synonymsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wins top prize at Berlin Film Fest BER BERLIN: Israeli director Nadav Lapidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Synonyms,â&#x20AC;? a movie about a young Israeli man who uproots himself to France and is determined to you put his homeland behind him, won the Berlin International Film Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top Golden Bear award on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

A jury headed by French actress Juliette Binoche chose the movie from a field of 16 Bino competing at the first of the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major com European film festivals. Set in Paris, it stars Euro Tom Mercier in the role of Yoav, who refuses to speak Hebrew and is accompanied by an ever-present French dictionary as he tries to put down com roots and create a new identity for himself. root LLapid said as he accepted the award that some in Israel might be â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x153;scandalizedâ&#x20AC;? by the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;but for me, the film is also a big celebration â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a celebration, I hope, also of cinema.â&#x20AC;? cel â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope that people will understand that fury and rage and hostility and hate ... are only the twin brothers and sisters of strong ho attachment and powerful emotions,â&#x20AC;? he said. at The festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best actor and best actress awards went to Wang JiJingchun and Yong Mei, respectively, for their roles as a couple who lose their son in director Wang Xiaoshuaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Long, My Son.â&#x20AC;? The lo

three-hour Chinese family saga spans three decades of history from the 1980s to the present, portraying a society in constant change.

The best director honors went to Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Angela Schanelec for her family drama â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Was at Home, But.â&#x20AC;?

The festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jury grand prize award was won

by French director Francois Ozonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the Grace of God,â&#x20AC;? a movie about the long-term effects of sexual abuse in the Catholic church.

Italian anti-Mafia journalist Roberto Saviano, along with Maurizio Braucci and Claudio Giovannesi, took the best script award for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Piranhas,â&#x20AC;? a film following teenagers growing up in a dangerous world of crime in Naples. Saviano said writing the screenplay was meant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;show resistance,â&#x20AC;? and added that â&#x20AC;&#x153;speaking the truth in our country has become very complex.â&#x20AC;?

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competition originally comprised 17 films, but famed Chinese director Zhang Yimouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;One Second,â&#x20AC;? set amid the chaos and violence of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, was withdrawn after festival started.

A festival statement on Monday said it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possible to present it â&#x20AC;&#x153;due to technical difficulties encountered during post-production.â&#x20AC;?

AP

Âťglobalspotlight

Lifestyle Scarlet Snowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prayers D2

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Celebrity parents Hayden and Vicki share read-along prayers they teach their toddler

S

HE has conquered social media, television, print magazines and now, even the world of publishing.

Scarlet Snow Belo, the endearing three-year-old daughter of Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo, presents My First Prayer Book â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a fresh collection of stories and prayers from ABS-CBN Publishing for children embarking on their spiritual journey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scarlet Snowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s My First Prayer Book is simply a read-along guide to help parents start their kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; prayer lives. Allowing them to talk to God at an early age will help them develop a good rela-

tionship with Him,â&#x20AC;? said Hayden and Vicki in the bookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreword.

The collection has 10 easy-tofollow prayers, plus important life lessons that Scarletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents have instilled to the little social media sensation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daddy says when I thank God for His gifts, it also makes His heart happy,â&#x20AC;? shared Scarlet when she talked about the Prayer to Give Thanks.

It also has petitions for the BENEkT OF OTHER PEOPLE Â&#x2021; THE

Q The book is a simple read-along guide to help parents start their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prayer lives with short stories and examples (left photo).

Prayer for Somebody Mean to You and Prayer for Mom/Dad When Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Not Feeling Well.

The Prayer When You Did Something Naughty and Prayer When You Really, Really Want Something are also ideal pleas to teach children on how to say sorry and how to tell God their wishes.

My First Prayer Book HAS SPECIkC prayers for children when they wake

up, before eating a meal, before going to school, before going on a trip, and before going to sleep.

Aside from the read-aloud invocations, the book also has Scarletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adorable photos and illustrated adventures, with tidbits on her day-to-day experiences.

My First Prayer Book is now ava i l a b l e i n l e a d i n g b o o k stores nationwide.

Âťcheers!

Five girl power moments from a beloved cartoon

THEY might not look like it but The Powerpuff Girls have just turned 20.

Cartoon Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time favorite series that follows the lives of three super-cute, but super-fierce little girls made from sugar, spice, and everything nice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with a splash of Chemical X has been around for two decades.

Concurrently, The Powerpuff Girls have proven that the show can empower everyone and anyone, regardless of age.

Here are some of the best moments on the show where Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, and even their long-lost sis, Bliss, gave the ultimate girl power feels!

power is not all about strength; it can also be about seeing things in a positive light.

2. You are YOU-nique! Everyone has their own quirks, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what makes people unique. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also what can make a super mega awesome combination of powers that can defeat any villain.

Q The three-year-old daughter of Hayden Kho and Vicki Belo is now part of the publishing industry too.

Âťmomhacks

confidence is contagious!

Q With ingredients from Marketplace delivered by Honestbee, food stylist Chino Cruz whips up family recipes.

4. No shame owning up to a mistake.

Owning up to your mistakes does not mean youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve failed, it only shows that you are a brave girl, full of humility and courage, ready to learn from your mistakes and move forward.

More grocery options for the family the world,â&#x20AC;? said Marketing Vice President for The Marketplace, Ana Punongbayan.

CREATING a grand feast for the family is â&#x20AC;&#x153;With this new partnership with Honesteasily one of the most daunting tasks for bee, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re catering to a new generation of anyone in charge of the kitchen. Not only shoppers to bring the Marketplace experido they have to make sure thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a dish ence to your doorstep.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been in the business for almost for even the pickiest member, but they also have to battle the stressful factors in kVE DECADES 4HIS IS REALLY A MILESTONE FOR the brand to be available and offer the new groceries and supermarkets.

Thankfully, with the use of a digital kind of service which is online delivery,â&#x20AC;? application, the latter can be the least of the executive added.

7ITH THE TRAFkC DIFkCULT PARKING AND their worries.

In order to create a more diverse meal crazy lines to add to the stress of preparing and to continue helping more people save FOOD FOR THE FAMILY THE PARTNERSHIP kTS THE time, one of the pioneers for food and goal of Honestbee to help make the lives grocery deliveries, Honestbee has partnered of Filipinos easier. Now, people can opt for a more stress-free method when running with The Marketplace by Rustanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

To provide world-class, high quality, and their errands. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the things that we do â&#x20AC;&#x201D; espeFRESH PRODUCTS THE GROCERY S kRST ONLINE DElivery service will further allow easier access cially for the Philippines â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is we want to to fresh and luxurious products delivered give back your time so you can use it for things that matter like spending time with straight to the house. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Marketplace has always been about your family and loved ones,â&#x20AC;? Crystal Gonthe unique shopping experience with ex- zalez, managing director for Honestbee CLUSIVE AND QUALITY kNDS FROM ALL AROUND kNALLY NOTED

BY NIKA ROQUE

1. Bubbles and her silver linings. Before Miss Universe Catriona Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspiring answer on finding the silver lining in situations, there was already Bubbles who is the OG of silver linings. Full of optimism, she looks at each situation with positivity and hope, showing that girl

3. Sisters got your back. Self-doubt is one of the things that can stop anyone from doing what she wants. But when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got sisters like Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup, their

5. Fierce on facing your fears. If Buttercup can shrug off her fears, any girl can. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about being brave enough to face it head on.

As The Powerpuff Girls celebrate their 20th anniversary, expect more empowering episodes and activities this year.

Âťjustforkids â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We Bare Bearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to visit Asia

Voting now on to include PH in the biggest bear hug event of the year!

WE Bare Bears are embarking on their first ever tour of Asia, and they are excited to meet all of their friends in the Philippines.

Kids, be ready to form your own bear squad and hang out with Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear as they visit iconic places, SNAP SOME SELkES AND SPREAD PAW SITIVITY with plenty of bear hugs.

But hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the catch! To make that happen, everyone needs the help of all bear FANS TO lEX THOSE VOTING MUSCLES AND ROOT for the Philippines on www.webarebears.cartoonnetworkasia. com/hugstour. Voting period is only until February 24.

To help kids get wellacquainted with the lovable bears, here are some quick facts about them: Grizzly Bear Grizzly is the oldest of the brothers.

Although he is the charismatic, jovial, and a highly motivated leader, Grizzly is not the

brightest bear in the bunch.

What he lacks in common sense he makes up for with pure energy and excitement â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which leads the Bears into endless comedic complications.

Grizzly Bear loves video games, the great outdoors, chatting and eating.

Panda Bear Panda loves pop culture and his smartphone. As a middle child, he is sensitive and a hopeless romantic. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d really love a girlfriend, but most of his attempts have been utter failures. Luckily, his brothers are always there to lift him up.

Panda loves painting, all things anime and being glued to his phone.

Ice Bear The youngest in the family, Ice Bear is a bear of few words. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit odd

and outwardly eccentric â&#x20AC;&#x201D; after all, he refers to himself in the third person and sleeps in a refrigerator. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t underestimate him: skilled in a plethora of unknown talents, Ice Bear is a hidden savant and jack-of-all-trades.

Ice Bear loves being quiet, speaking different languages and cooking.

Keep the votes coming to catch the adorable bear-bros when they make a stop, hopefully, in Manila. For now, follow the bearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Be Thereâ&#x20AC;? journey via the Cartoon Network Asia ofkCIAL &ACEBOOK page, www. facebook. com/CartoonNetworkAsia.

Q Honestbee Deputy Managing Director Marco Quiray, Brand and Communications Director Catherine Avelino and Managing Director Crystal Gonzalez.

˜ The Manila Times

w w w.manilatimes.net

Funtimes

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

D3

Solution to Mega Maze

» CROSSWORD

BY EUGENE SHEFFER

»HOROSCOPE Today’s Birthday (02/19/19). Your career takes off this year.

Steady support for your community repays with fine dividends.

Expect surprising news. New love inspires you this summer, before a challenge with a friend. Your team wins next winter, leading to changes around family and passion. Do what you love.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Begin a new phase with your physical health and fitness. Review and revamp your skills and practices under this Full Moon. Take a step in another direction.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) -- Today is a 6 -- Change directions with a romance, passion or creative endeavor under this Virgo Full Moon. Express your heart, imagination and artistry. Shift perspectives.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Time for a change.

Renovate, remodel and tend your garden. Domestic changes require adaptation under the Full Moon. Begin a new home and family phase.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) -- Today is an 8 -- A new two-week phase in communications, connection and intellectual discovery dawns with this Virgo Full Moon. Shift the direction of your research.

Start another chapter.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Hunt for lucrative opportunities under the Full Moon. A turning point arises around income and finances. Shift perspective to generate positive cash flow.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- This Full Moon in your sign illuminates a new personal direction. Expand your boundaries. Turn toward a possibility that inspires you. Make a bold declaration.

» SUDOKU

BY NANCY BLACK LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) -- Today is a 5 -- One door closes as another opens. The Full Moon illuminates a transition. Ritual and symbolism provide comfort and support. Begin a peaceful, introspective phase.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- This Full Moon shines on social changes. Friends come and go with community and group projects. Share appreciations, goodbyes and greetings. Provide a helping hand.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Finish a project before beginning another professional phase. This Full Moon sparks a career shift. Focus toward current passions.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Begin a new exploratory phase. The Full Moon illuminates a shift in your educational direction. Experiment with concepts. Change directions.

Learn from a master.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- The stakes could seem high with this Full Moon. Shift directions with shared finances over the few weeks. Work out the next phase together.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Adjust to a change in plans. A partnership reaches a turning point with under the Full Moon. Compromise and collaborate for shared commitments.

(Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Black’s legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like today’s Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.)

NANCY BLACK. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BY ROGER SEVILLA

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9 with no repeats.

Solution from yesterday’s puzzle.

9

The Manila Times

THE POWER LUNCH ROSTER Read The Manila Times when you dine at these establishments.

7D]D 0LD &RȨHH 191 Tomas Morato Ave Quezon City

191 Tomas Morator Avenue, Quezon City Tel. No. 376-62-10 Fax No. 372-03-52 mariosqc@gmail.com Landline: (02) 403-9293 Globe: 0927-793-8817 | Smart: 0939-446-9455 Visit us at UGF Festival Mall Expansion, Civic Drive Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila

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Be part of our power lunch roster. For inquries call 310-5584 and trunk line: 524-5664 local 222 or email us @ circulation@manilatimes.net

E 1

TUESDA TUESDAY, DAY AYY, Fe FFebruary Febr ebbrrua uary rryy 19, 19, 9, 22019 00119 19

T H E M OTO R I N G S E C T I O N O F

The Lamborghini Urus is Robb Report Car of the Year for 2019

T

HE Lamborghini b h Urus has h been b named the 2019 Robb Report Car of the Year. The top American luxurylifestyle magazine touted this super SUV from Italy as a class-defying breed, stating that the power and strength of the Urus combined with a magical interior make it an exceptional vehicle.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Lamborghini Urus is a model thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s born out of Lamborghiniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision to continually defy boundaries and with it, the desire TO CREATE THE WORLD S kRST SUPER 356 7E ARE VERY PROUD TO BRING this groundbreaking car to the 0HILIPPINES u SAID ,AMBORGHINI Manila President Roberto Coyiuto 3rd during its grand debut in Manila last November.

The Urus is the fastest f SUV in the world, featuring a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine, deliverING HP AT RPM MAXIMUM RPM AND .M OF MAXIMUM TORQUE ALREADY AT

RPM 7ITH HP PER liter, the Urus claims one of the HIGHEST SPECIkC POWER OUTPUTS in its class and the best weightTO POWER RATIO AT KG PER HP

)T ACCELERATES FROM KPH IN F SECONDS KPH IN SECONDS AND BOASTS A TOP SPEED OF KPH The Urus has a cutting-edge, distinct and streamlined design WITH MULTIPLE SOULS SPORTY ELegant and off-road. Its muscular SURFACES MAKE IT APPEAR STRONG and highly athletic, while the MIXED TIRES ALLOW A LUXURY SUPER

SPORTS CAR LOOK !LL THE SURFACES F are designed with a clear attention to functionality. LamboRGHINI DETAILS AND ICONIC SHAPES can be immediately recognized AT kRST GLANCE SUCH AS THE g9u AND THE HEXAGON ELEMENTS THE FRONT BONNET WITH CENTER PEAK and the cross lines on rear door.

4HE EXTREME PROPORTIONS AND

³LamborghiniE3

E 2

TUESDAY, February 19, 2019

Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3-row segment gets larger with new SUVs

BY ROBERT DUFFER

F

IRST, it was the wagon. Then the minivan.

Now the three-row crossover is Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family hauler of choice. No news there.

But what is noteworthy is that this three-row segment, which also includes full-size SUVs such as the Lincoln Navigator and Chevy Suburban, accounted for nearly one in every four new vehicle purchases in 2018.

And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only getting larger for 2020. Take that, minivan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an expanding segment that is highly profitable,â&#x20AC;? said Jeremy Acevedo, manager of industry analysis at Edmunds.com. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten massive buy-ins from automakers.â&#x20AC;?

Hyundai, Kia, Lincoln, Cadillac and BMW all are rolling out new three-rows for 2020. Ford and Toyota are redesigning the Explorer and Highlander, respectively.

There are so many crossovers it almost feels as if automakers are throwing noodles at the wall to see what sticks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Except the whole wall is the target, and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss,â&#x20AC;? Acevedo said, half-joking.

When crossovers became the dominant choice for Americans in 2016, it was fueled by huge growth in small crossovers, which now claim 22.4 percent market share, up 2.0 percent from 2017, accord-

ing to data from Edmunds.com.

Family haulers haul in profits Yet it is the family haulers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; midsized crossovers and full-sized SUVs, accounting for 24.2 percent of the market â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that are hauling in big PROkTS FOR AUTOMAKERS 7E RE USING the term crossover interchangeably with SUV, even though crossover is more accurate, despite marketing to the contrary. Only truck-based vehicles are SUVs.) â&#x20AC;&#x153;SUVs come with a higher

price tag, and buyers arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as price-conscious as the compact crossover segment,â&#x20AC;? Acevedo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are priced well over industry average.â&#x20AC;?

The average transaction price for the segment is $43,131, which is over $7,000 more than the averAGE CAR PRICE

AND OVER $12,000 more than the average cost OF THE SMALL CROSSOVER

But it was the compact crossovers that kindled the craze in the first place, and that are driving buyers into the next model up.

Together, the crossover segment is EXPECTED TO COMPRISE PERCENT OF ALL NEW VEHICLE SALES IN â&#x20AC;&#x153;The same shoppers are growing in income or life stages to dictate that jump to the next size,â&#x20AC;? Acevedo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are also more compelling offerings as automakers cover all their bases for that loyalty play, like Subaru.â&#x20AC;?

Subaruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enviable growth has come on the back of its small crossovers Crosstrek, Outback and Forester.

Since the cramped Tribeca

was discontinued after 2014, Subaru didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a proper three-row to keep customers in love with the brand.

5NTIL THE LUXURY LEANING 3UBARU Ascent. Such was also the case with Volkswagen, which launched the EXCELLENT !TLAS "OTH MODELS BENEkTED FROM THE FAULTS OF THEIR PREdecessors and learned from the competition, earning best-of accolades from most outlets, including this one. More importantly, those models attracted shoppers from other brands.

This is a lesson Lincoln and Cadillac might be learning too late. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Domestic automakers got CAUGHT lAT FOOTED u !CEVEDO ADDed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Europeans have trotted out a ton of SUVs, and Lincoln and Caddy had been pioneers in the SEGMENT SO THEY RE kNALLY COMING into the game.â&#x20AC;?

The arrival of more models Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re introducing: 2020 Lincoln Aviator - Based on the Chicago-built Ford Explorer, this luxury liner with available 30-way power-adjust-

able seats and a new 12.3 inch touch screen will be powered by either a 400 horsepower turbocharged V-6 with 10-speed transmission or a HP PLUG IN HYBRID CAPABLE OF 600 pound-feet of torque. The real charm is on the inside. Lincoln is back as a maker of luxury vehicles, as RElECTED BY THE PRICE RANGE

TO

2020 Cadillac XT6 - The six- to seven-seat crossover with available all-wheel drive is powered by a familiar 310-hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine with newer nine-speed transmisSION SAME AS IN THE #HEVY Blazer. More dramatic upgrades are on the inside, with a rotary multimedia controller like the ones used in German luxury makes. Pricing closer to spring delivery date.

"-7 8 !VAILABLE IN SIX OR SEVEN SEAT CONkGURATIONS THE LARGEST "-7 ACTIVITY VEHICLE CROSSOVER IS POWERED BY EITHER A HP LITER TURBO INLINE SIX CYLINDER X$RIVE I OR A NEW HP LITER TWIN TURBO 6 ENGINE X$RIVE I GOOD ENOUGH TO HIT MPH IN SECONDS ACCORDing to BMW. Eight-speed automatic on both engines. All-wheel drive, air suspension, 21-inch wheels and giant KIDNEY GRILLE COME STANDARD

TO

ARRIVAL -ARCH 2020 Kia Telluride - The largest Kia ever outdoes the Sorento for threerow su-

premacy. While both offer eight-seat CONkGURATIONS 4ELLURIDE IS LONGER with more interior room. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powERED BY A HP LITER 6 ENGINE and eight-speed automatic with available all-wheel drive. Price announced closer to May delivery date.

2020 Hyundai Palisade - Palisade will replace the Santa Fe XL as the Korean brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three-row crossover, and since itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longer with a longer wheelbase, the interior should be able to compete with the more American-sized mid-sized crossovers. Eight passengers fit with a second-row bench seat standard, though captainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chairs are available. Powertrain is the same as Telluride, but Palisade is not as rugged-looking. Price announced closer to summer delivery.

2020 Ford Explorer redesign - Also advances into the future WITH THE HP %XPLORER (YBRID Ford says engine improvements and rear-wheel drive basis will improve towing capability from

POUNDS TO POUNDS IN the 300-hp 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 12 PERCENT INCREASE TO POUNDS IN THE HP TWIN TURBO 6 !

400-hp ST performance variant is OFFERED AS WELL 3TARTING AT

EXPECTED IN SUMMER 2020 Toyota Highlander redesign - Last redesigned for 2014, the three-row hauler is expected to be redesigned for 2020. All we have so far are internet spy shots with SOME RIDICULOUS CAMO lAPS

Q The 2020 Lincoln Aviator will be among the large three-row SUVs that will hit the US market in the next few years. The others are the 2020 Cadillac XT6, 2019 BMW X7, 2020 Kia Telluride, 2020 Hyundai Palisade, 2020 Ford Explorer redesign, and the 2020 Toyota Highlander redesign.

TNS PHOTO

Caltex Delo assures endurance for off-road vehicles CALTEX, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc., (CPI) gives Filipino motorists and drivers a whole new reason to enjoy driving, whether it be in the city or off road in the countryside. CPI recently released its new line of advanced engine oils specially formulated for maximizing engine life while maintaining high power and performance even under the most severe conditions.

The new heavy-duty engine oil (HDMO) Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 and the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 pack advanced technology formula to enhance the driving lifestyle of young and seasoned Filipino drivers. Gasoline and diesel vehicle owners will get the benefits of maximized engine life, full driving power and performance, wide temperature protection, and reduced emissions and oil consumption, which all translate to optimized fuel economy for more adventurous rides in and out of the city.

Formulated with ISOSYN Advanced Technology, the Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 is a super-premium quality â&#x20AC;&#x153;low SAPSâ&#x20AC;? (sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur) synthetic diesel engine oil that provides ultimate protection for sport utility and sport activity recreational vehicles, high-performance pick-ups, and 4x4 type vehicles, including those with the latest low emission diesel engines.

Off-roaders and SUVs endure rocky, muddy or low-traction surfaces along trails or forest roads to get to the best spots for sightseeing, camping or picnicking. These vehicles need large amounts of power to conquer rough terrain while carrying heavy loads. Delo ensures owners that their engine is protected while continuously producing high torque and power at low speeds. This means the whole family or barkada will get to see more sights, collect more memories, safely return home, and do it again, with Delo protecting their vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I started using Delo Sports, there was noticeably less engine noise and vibration, and I experienced improved acceleration. Over the past year, it feels like my car is back to its brand-new condition

and I can definitely take on whatever road and terrain I encounter with relative ease,â&#x20AC;? said Sander Pera, SUV enthusiast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am convinced that Delo Sports is a premium quality engine oil that allows me to test the limits of my ride and makes me experience its maximum performance.â&#x20AC;?

The line-up for gasoline engines For gasoline engines, the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 has what it takes to keep young drivers going. A resourceconserving, multigrade gasoline engine oil, it is specially engineered with Deposit Shield Technology, an advanced detergent formula unique to Havoline products that prevents deposit build up and caters to passenger cars and light commercial vehicles requiring low viscosity. The viscosity grade 10W-30 is designed for fuel efficiency and a popular grade recommended for Japan and American car models.

This Havoline formulation helps maintain engine power, improves oil stability and increases engine durability. With the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30, car engines reduce fuel and oil consumption, making the engine oil budget-friendly. It likewise delivers on deposit control and wear protection, ensuring durable protection throughout an oil change interval.

With more cars with lower engine displacements rolling off showrooms each year and more females and young drivers joining the new vehicle owner population, Havoline provides a significant investment for first-time car owners and a perfect protection for hard-earned money. The Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 is easy on the pocket but big on benefits: The stopand-go city driving on the way to work or the highway cruise to the next destination on the bucket list are now worry-free trips with Havoline under the emission system and turbocharger protection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being a native of the Ilocos region, it is

not uncommon for me to drive more than 1,000-kilometer non-stop every month. On top of that, I drive myself to work every day.

I need the right products for my vehicle to ensure that I never have to worry about my car later on in its life while keeping a strict budget. With Caltex Havoline, I am able to confidently drive hard, endure the challenges of my daily driving and rest well knowing my engine is in good hands,â&#x20AC;? said Theya Castillo, sedan owner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Caltex Havoline is the perfect alternative to my car manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engine oils. Not only that, using this product taught me so much about maintaining my own vehicle.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We at Caltex never stop creating innovations that meet the needs of riders.

We want to give all kinds of riders the drive, the empowerment, the maximized protection, and the fuel economy benefit to keep going,â&#x20AC;? said Hafiz Nasar, area business manager of Chevron Lubricants for Philippines.

The new engine oil additions have both

passed performance standards required in HDMOs. The Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 meets the API-C series required standards while the Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 qualifies for the API performance standards of ILSC GF-5 and SN-RC (resource conserving), ensuring safe driving. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By protecting your vehicle, we are also protecting your investment. For more than a century, motorists have relied on Caltexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full line of lubricants, transmission fluids and coolants to meet the intense demands of their vehicles. We never fail when it comes to fuel economy, performance and reliability,â&#x20AC;? said Manuel Valerio, technical manager at CPI. The Havoline Formula SAE 10W-30 and Delo Sports Advanced SAE 5W-40 are sold in the nearest Caltex stations, auto supply shops, leading hardware stores and online.

Get a free limited edition of Delo Sports tool set with every purchase of 6+1 liters of Delo Sports Advanced 5W-40 promo pack. Also save P150 when you buy a

6+1 liters of Delo Sports Synthetic Blend 10W-30 with Techron D Concentrate bottle promo pack. Find out more about Caltex at http://caltex.com/ph.

About Havoline Since 1904, as a part of the Chevron Corp. family of products, Havoline has continued to produce innovations, based on science and technology. In 1946, Havoline launched the â&#x20AC;&#x153;New and improved Havolineâ&#x20AC;? with additives as a feature. Year after year, Havoline delivers new innovations; the latest achievement is Deposit Shield, which can protect engines from harmful sediments improving vehicle performance and fuel economy.

About Delo Going further since 1935. Deloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long history of technology and formulation expertise has successfully provided lubrication protection customers have required over the years to keep their vehicles on the road and their business running efficiently. Delo products are specifically designed and created for onand off-road applications, ranging from truck and bus transportation to mining, power generation, construction and agriculture.

Across industries, Deloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family of products deliver unmatched protection, performance and maximum operational reliability across a diverse range of operating conditions.

About Caltex Philippines Caltex, the retail brand of CPI, offers highquality products and services. There are close to 600 service stations strategically scattered throughout the Philippine archipelago and employees working in several areas of business such as marketing, lubricants and terminal operations. The Chevron products that are available in the Philippines include Caltex with Techron fuel and Caltex Diesel with Techron D, Havoline, and Delo oils. More information on Chevron Philippines Inc. is available at www.caltex.com/ph.

TUESDAY, February 19, 2019

E 3

Mistubishi Xpander tops small MPV sales in 2018

Mitsubishi Motors PH also reports improved market share in 2018

M

ITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) sold a total of 13,502 Xpanders in 2018 making it the bestselling small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in the country. In less than 10 months of presence in the market, the Xpander outsold its competitors.

--0# INTRODUCED THE ALL NEW 8PANDER DURING THE kRST QUARTER OF AND IT INSTANTLY CAPTURED THE MARKET S INTEREST with thousands of reservations received. ,AST YEAR THE ALL NEW 8PANDER WAS ALSO acknowledged by several award -iving BODIES SUCH AS !UTO &OCUS 0EOPLE S #HOICE AND -EDIA S #HOICE !WARDS AND THE PRESTIGIOUS #Ã&#x153; !WARDS FOR BOTH ITS

DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE 4HE 8PANDER was also voted as the Best Design MPV IN THE !UTO &OCUS -EDIA S #HOICE !WARDS AND AS THE "EST #OMPACT #ARRIER FROM THE #Ã&#x153; !WARDS 7ITH MORE UNITS AVAILABLE NOW --0# IS OPTIMISTIC THE 8PANDER will further drive MMPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth for the current year.

M e a nw h i l e, M M P C r e c o r d e d a

MODEST IMPROVEMENT ON ITS MARKET SHARE IN COMPARED TO ITS market share. MMPC sold a total of

UNITS LAST YEAR ACCOUNTING FOR PERCENT MARKET SHARE !LTHOUGH

--0# EXPERIENCED A DROP ON ITS TOTAL SALES THE COMPANY WAS ABLE TO SLIGHTLY IMPROVE ITS MARKET SHARE AND REMAINED the number two best-selling automotive brand in the country. g!PART FROM THE 4AX 2EFORM FOR !CCELERATION AND )NCLUSION !CT THAT HAS AFFECTED THE WHOLE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY THE PHASING out of MMPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two best-selling models, THE !DVENTURE AND THE , ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE DECLINE IN THE COMPANY S SALES VOLUME LAST YEAR !LTHOUGH --0# SALES WENT DOWN SEVERAL MODELS POSTED

AN IMPROVEMENT ON ITS TOTAL ANNUAL SALES u MMPC said in a statement.

The locally manufactured Mirage G4 INCREASED TOTAL SALES BY PERCENT WITH

UNITS SOLD 4HE -IRAGE ' IS AMONG THE TOP CHOICES IN THE SMALL PASSENGER CAR SEGMENT FROM ITS BEING THE PRACTICAL CHOICE OF &ILIPINO MOTORITSS FOR ITS FEATURES and affordability. MMPC also recorded AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE TOTAL 3TRADA SOLD LAST YEAR AS COMPARED TO THE TOTAL SALES IN &OR --0# SOLD A TOTAL OF

DOUBLE CAB PICK UP COMPARED TO

UNITS SOLD IN 4HIS YEAR --0# IS HIGHLY OPTIMISTIC that it will recover and bring back its roBUST SALES PERFORMANCE g7ITH THE STRONG SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF

THE 8PANDER AND WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF the new Strada, we look forward to a more PROGRESSIVE YEARu --0# %XECUTIVE 6ICE President Taichi Nakajima said.

(E ADDED --0# IS OPTIMISTIC THE NEW Strada will bring back the market enthuSIASM ON THE PICK UP BRAND AND FURTHER IMPROVE THE MARKET PRESENCE AND MARKET SHARE UNDER THE SEGMENT !SIDE FROM THE new Strada, MMPC will further strengthen ITS LINE UP THROUGH INTRODUCTION OF MODEL UPGRADES DURING THE YEAR --0# IS AIMING TO ACHIEVE A BETTER PERFORMANCE IN !SIDE FROM ITS EXTENSIVE MODEL LINE UP AND AGGRESSIVE PROMOTIONS

MMPC is also working hard to enhance ITS AFTER SALES AND PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH TOP CLASS SERVICE

Q LAMBORGHINI FROM E1

The Lamborghini Urus the single silhouette line make Urus a real Lamborghini. Furthermore, its PROPORTIONS ARE UNIQUE SINCE IT IS THE lowest SUV in its class. Urus design TOOK INSPIRATION FROM THE HERITAGE OF THE ,- IN REGARD TO THE POWER DOME SHOWING THE POSITION OF THE ENGINE AND THE SIGNIkCANT DIAGONAL lines, while the frameless doors recall the iconic Marcello Gandini line. ,UXURIOUS )TALIAN CRAFTSMANSHIP meets state-of-the-art technology in the Lamborghini Urus interior. The aeronautic design and the driverORIENTED INSTRUMENT CONCEPT WITH three TFT screens (each one for the instruments, infotainment and comfort functions, including virtual keyboard feature with hand-writing recognition) PUT THE DRIVER S NEEDS AT THE FOREFRONT

AND MAKE THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE more comfortable and enjoyable.

The dashboard architecture follows THE g9u THEME INSPIRED BY ICONIC Lamborghini models. The interior can be customized to be more elegant or SPORTY THROUGH THE SELECTION OF DIFferent kinds of colors and materials, SUCH AS NATURAL LEATHER !LCANTARA

wood, aluminum or carbon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with THE OPTION FOR FURTHER SOPHISTICATION on select materials through contrast stitching or Q-citura. Urus features the LARGEST RANGE OF OPTIONS EVER PRESENTED ON A ,AMBORGHINI WITH MULTIPLE SOULS CONVERGING TO CREATE A UNIQUE VEHICLE Furthermore, Lamborghini Urus is the kRST kVE SEATER SUPER SPORTS CAR For more information, contact ,AMBORGHINI -ANILA AT

Q (Left to right) Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration McJill Bryant Fernandez, Malacañang Motorpool Director Edwin Sicat, Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration Rizalina Justol, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Michael P. Ong, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. President and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, MMPC Senior Vice President for Corporate Division Yasuki Maruyama, DENR Assistant Secretary for Administration Jesus Enrico Moises Salazar, MMPC Assistant Vice President for Legal and Government Affairs lawyer Imelda Brown, and MMPC Vice President for Corporate Public Relations Renato Lampano attend the turnover ceremony of one i-MiEV (pure electric vehicle) and one Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) to the Office of the President.

Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office gets Mitsubishi EVs THE $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENT AND Natural Resources (DENR) has turned OVER ONE I -I%6 PURE ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND ONE /UTLANDER 0(%6 PLUG IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE TO THE /FkCE OF THE President during the signing and turn over ceremony held at the Malacañang Palace, WITH -ITSUBISHI -OTORS 0HILIPPINES #ORP (MMPC) standing as witness. )N REMARKS $%.2 !SSISTANT 3ECRETARY *ESUS %NRICO -OISES 3ALAZAR THANKED MMPC for being at the forefront in elecTRIC VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND FOR BEING ONE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPANTS TO PROMOTE THE USE OF %6S AND HELP THE DEPARTMENT IN ITS VISION TO SUSTAIN A CLEAN and healthy environment.

0RAISING --0# S INITIATIVES IS !SSISTANT 3ECRETARY +ELVIN ,ESTER ,EE FROM THE /FkCE OF THE %XECUTIVE 3ECRETARY (E SAID THE vehicles will be a great addition to their MOTOR POOL AND WILL BE TAKEN CARED OF He also thanked DENR for making the CEREMONIAL TURN OVER POSSIBLE !LSO IN ATTENDANCE WAS %XECUTIVE 3ECRETARY 3ALVADOR -EDIALDEA WHO PERSONALLY ACCEPTED THE VEHICLES AND WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE CAPACITY OF THE UNITS --0# 0RESIDENT AND #HIEF %XECUTIVE /FFICER -UTSUHIRO /SHIKIRI SAID IN HIS SPEECH g!S AN %6 AND 0(%6 MANUFACTURER -ITSUBISHI -OTORS #ORP TOGETHER WITH -ITSUBISHI -OTORS 0HILIPPINES #ORP ARE EAGER TO WORK WITH THE

0HILIPPINE GOVERNMENT IN ITS EFFORTS OF PROMOTING EFkCIENT AND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY VEHICLES u g/UR PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES A COMMON DIRECTION AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH POLICY MAKERS IN COMING UP WITH A ROADMAP TOWARDS QUICK ADOPTION OF THESE NEXT GENERATION VEHICLES IN THE COUNTRY u HE ADDED MMPC is one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading automotive assemblers and distributors. It is the longest staying automotive COMPANY IN THE 0HILIPPINES /CCUPYING A HECTARE PLANT IN 3TA 2OSA ,AGUNA

--0# S MANUFACTURING PLANT HAS A MAXIMUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF UNITS MMPC locally manufactures the Mirage and Mirage G4.

E 4

TUESDAY, February 19, 2019

DLSU-HARI Foundation partnership launched H

ARI Foundation Inc. Chairman Richard Lee paid tribute to his Lasallian roots AND AFkRMED HIS PERSONAL ADVOCACY FOR innovation in the sciences with the launch of the Richard L. Lee Engineering and Technology Block at the De La Salle University (DLSU) campus in Laguna.

The latest addition to the 50-hectare $,35 #AMPUS IN ,AGUNA IS SET TO REALIZE ITS DONOR S DESIRE TO BE A PREMIER INNOVATION HUB THAT BRIDGES SCIENTIkC RESEARCH with business, and a seedbed for leaders COMMITTED TO SPREAD AND NURTURE THE Lasallian values of Religio, Mores, Cultura (faith, good conduct, and love for COUNTRY IN THE ST CENTURY AND BEYOND %NVISIONED TO ENHANCE $,35 S REPUTAtion as a Commission on Higher EducaTION #ENTER OF %XCELLENCE THE TECHNOLOGY block will serve the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s network of La Salle schools and over 50 other Metro Manila colleges and universities that have access to La Salle as a CHED Zonal Research Center. $,35 WAS RECENTLY PROCLAIMED AS THE ONLY PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN THE 0HILIPPINES TO MAKE IT TO THE 4IMES (IGHER Education (THE) World University Rankings for outstanding research-intensive UNIVERSITIES 4HE RANKING PUTS $,35 IN THE TOP PERCENT OF MORE THAN HIGHER education institutions in the world.

During the inaugural ceremony, Lee, A PROUD gPRIMUSu OR kRST GRADUATE OF ,A 3ALLE 'REENHILLS EXPRESSED DELIGHT THAT his dream to give back to his alma mater IN A MEANINGFUL WAY BECAME A REALITY g)T IS AN HONOR TO PROVIDE A NEW INSTITUTION

of learning to De La Salle Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LaGUNA CAMPUS 4HIS IS A PLACE WHERE MINDS WILL BE SHARPENED CHALLENGED TO THINK CRITICALLY SOLVE PROBLEMS AND INNOVATE The Engineering and Technology Block now stands as a living commitment to PRODUCE GENERATIONS OF ,ASALLIANS RICH IN knowledge and skills, but even richer in HEART PUTTING THEIR ENERGY TALENTS AMBItions, and ideas to bring more greatness TO OUR NATION u &OR THIS PART $,35 0RESIDENT 2AYMUNDO 3UPLIDO &3# SAID g;&OUR YEARS AGO=

THERE WAS NOTHING HERE EXCEPT A DREAM TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WILL kND A HOMEÂ&#x2021;A VERY MODEST 3ILICONE 6ALLEY 7E NEEDED PATHkNDERS AND 2ICHARD ,EE WAS VERY EAGER TO BE A PATHkNDER 4HE ,AGUNA #AMPUS IS THE FUTURE OF $E ,A 3ALLE 5NIVERSITY WHERE NEW PROGRAMS WILL BE OFFERED AND RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE ST CENTURY In attendance at the inauguration WERE $,35 PARTNERS LUMINARIES FROM business, technology, education and the DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY The highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the symbolic turnover of the g)NNOVATION "ELLu BY ARTIST 0ETE *IMENEZ *R 4HE TURNOVER OF THE COMMISSIONED artwork signalled the establishment of a

Q Lasallians recently laid the groundwork for a future-ready Philippines with the inauguration of the Richard L. Lee Engineering and Technology Block. (From left) Amber Kinetics CEO and former DLSU board member Edgar Chua, DLSU Board Member Omar Cruz, Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. Vice Chairman Conrad Marty, HARI Foundation Inc. President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, HARI Chairman Edward S. Go, Ambassador Hye-Min Lee, Matthew Lee, HFI Chairman Richard Lee, DLSU President Raymundo Suplido, FSC, and De La Salle Philippines President Armin Luistro, FSC. tradition to honor the great minds that WILL BE PASSING THROUGH THE HALLS EXPLAINED ,EE g%VERY TIME A BRILLIANT IDEA

GREAT OR SMALL PROCEEDS FROM THESE WALLS

the entire academic body celebrates with THE RINGING OF THIS BELL u The Richard L. Lee Engineering and 4ECHNOLOGY "LOCK IS EXPECTED TO ENHANCE AND BROADEN THE APPLIED LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY )T WILL HOUSE ENGINEERING PROGRAMS IN ALL kELDS /NGOING PROGRAMS INCLUDE

RESEARCH IN COMPUTER SCIENCE ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

and renewable energy sources, and road HERITAGE AND CULTURE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TRAFkC MANAGEMENT THROUGH SPORTS THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN S and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights, and road safety.

About HARI Foundation &ULLY AWARE THAT POVERTY IS MORE THAN 3INCE OUR ESTABLISHMENT IN (!2) JUST THE LACK OF RESOURCES BUT OF OPTIONS &OUNDATION )NC THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RE- TO PURSUE A BETTER LIFE (&) HAS STREAMSPONSIBILITY #32 ARM OF (YUNDAI !SIA lined its CSR vision to a more focused, Resources Inc., has driven the advance- LONG TERM MULTI DISCIPLINARY AND MULTI MENT OF THE &ILIPINO THROUGH VARIOUS PHIL- stakeholder solution. Education is at the ANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CORE OF (&) S CONTRIBUTION TO THE 0HILIPin the areas of education, environment, PINE AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABILITY

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kuya Bennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shows why trust counts FOR 20 years, the Shell Captain Albert Aguilar (CAA) branch has been the go-to gasoline station in the South of Metro Manila. Its service has been fast and impeccable, and its workers are hard-working and reliable.

The success of the CAA branch may be attributed largely to the man who has been tasked to oversee its operationsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;someone fondly referred to by the stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s customers simply as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kuya Benny,â&#x20AC;? their very own Fix-it Felix in the flesh.

Kuya Benny, whose real name is Benigno Cruz, is the head mechanic for Shell Helix Oil Change Plus (SHOC+) center in the CAA branch. At 60, he is still spearheading the service center, wherein he was also entrusted to train their new employees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This industry will let you meet a lot of people, of different personalities, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I want to instill in our new generation of mechanics and employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; that they should know how to handle picky, prudish customers,â&#x20AC;? Aguilar said.

For his customers, Kuya Benny is someone trust-worthy and reliable. Whenever thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an emergency with their cars, he is

always just a phone call awayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;anytime, anywhere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time I have a problem with my car or during an emergency, even if he is not available he would still make an effort to extend a helping hand and assist me over the phone,â&#x20AC;?

Francisco Santiago, Air Asia Airline pilot, and a loyal customer of Shell CAA SHOC+ said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I like most about his attitude is that he will always give you options, depending on your budget,â&#x20AC;? Santiago added.

SHOC+ Don Bosco Training It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Aguilarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first choice to become a mechanic, but his parents pushed him to take that course which turned out for the best. With all his experience and knowledge, Kuya Benny was entrusted to train fresh graduates in dealing with customers.

He also believes that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big difference between sit-down trainings and the actual trainings. This is why Kuya Benny is thankful for the partnership between Shell and Don Bosco, in which trainees undergo actual Special Modern Engines and Lubrica-

tion Services training which will help them hone their craft and make sure they provide the best possible service to their customers.

Aguilar used to be a customer of SHOC+ himself. This was why he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just recommend SHOC+ service because he works for Shell but because of his personal experience with it. He attests to the fact that Shell uses the best-in-class lubrication technology which goes a long way in taking care of a vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At Shell, we recommend the best oil based on the vehicle and driving needs of each customer,â&#x20AC;? he said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shell values will bring you back to the basics of dealing with relationships,â&#x20AC;? Hernan â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Butchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Escober, Shell CAA branch owner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I talk about relationships, these are the ones that can go long term. As to what our loyal customers have said, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about honing the next generation of mechanics to satisfy the next generation of customers.â&#x20AC;?

F 1

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

THE MOTORING SECTION OF

Ford extends zero-percent deal for Everest F ORD Philippines is extending its special offer for the Ford Everest this month, where customers can get any variant of the Everest 2.2-liter Titanium at zero-interest interest rate for up to four years. With a minimum of 20 percent down payment, customers can get cash savings of up to P368,000 with this deal.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the extension of this great deal, we are allowing more customers to drive their own Ford Everest with additional cash savings to keep. We recognize that the demand for SUVs in the Philippines continues to grow, so this is a perfect offer for everyone to take advantage of,â&#x20AC;? said Bert Lessard, managing director, Ford Philippines.

On the other hand, customers who wish to get the Everest 2.2-liter Trend 4x2 AT can avail of an all-in low down payment of P58,000.

The Ford Everest has set the standard for mid-sized SUVs in the country with its best-in-segment 800-mm WATER WADING CAPABILITY AND OUTSTANDING FUEL EFkCIENCY

Special deals for the EcoSport and Explorer Ford is also extending its special offers for its other SUVs, the EcoSport and the Explorer, until February 28, 2019.

Those purchasing the new EcoSport 1.5-liter Ambiente MT can avail of an all-in low down payment of P58,000.

The new EcoSport features a new powertrain as well as exterior and interior enhancements and upgraded driverassist technologies (DAT), improving the overall driving

PERFORMANCE AND ENHANCING FUEL EFkCIENCY Customers getting the new Explorer can avail of P100,000 cash savings. The new Explorer comes in 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost Sport and 2.3-liter EcoBoost Limited variants with updated exteriors.

Visit www.ford.com.ph/shopping/hot-deals/2019/ new-year-new-ford/ or a Ford dealer nearest you for more information about the offers. The deals are available until February 28, 2019.

About Ford Motor Co. Ford Motor Co. is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, 356S ELECTRIkED VEHICLES AND ,INCOLN LUXURY VEHICLES

PROVIDES kNANCIAL SERVICES THROUGH &ORD -OTOR #REDIT Co. and is pursuing leadership positions in electrikCATION AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND MOBILITY SOLUtions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Co., visit www. corporate.ford.com.

F 2

TUESDAY Februar y 19, 2019

Q Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular crossover SUV gets upgraded.

Toyota bravely takes on competition with all-new RAV4

Q TMP officials during the open forum with the media.

T

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DINO RAY V. DIRECTO 3RD

OYOTA -OTORS 0HILIPPINES 4-0 DREW kRST BLOOD FROM ITS COMPETITORS WITH THE RECENT UNVEILING OF THE kFTH GENERATION RAV4. Regarded as the crossover SUV that took the automotive world by storm when it was introduced globally in 1994, the RAV4 earned its spurs when it endeared itself to the consumers from its increased loading capacity, higher visibility, and the option of four-wheel drive (4WD) that is usually found only in full-sized SUVs. It was a compact vehicle with the BENEkTS OF AN 356 PLUS THE MANEUVERABILITY AND FUEL ECONOMY OF A SEDAN )T WAS THE PERFECT RUNABOUT VEHICLE HENCE ITS NAME Recreational Activity Vehicle (RAV) with the four representing the 4WD capability of the RAV4.

With TMP President Satoru Suzuki leading the festivities, the company unveiled the all-new RAV4 at the BGC Amphitheater in Taguig City early last week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The all-new RAV4 is a vehicle that embodies Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s values-from its sporty design, powerful performance, and outstanding safety features. Built with the Toyota New Global Architecture [TNGA], we can expect this SUV to deliver only the best driving experience,â&#x20AC;? Suzuki told Fast Times.

Q The dash layout has sleek horizontal lines.

Updated engine and refined interiors Like its predecessors, the latest iteration of the RAV4 sits low to the ground, has a lower beltline, with repositioned door-mounted outer mirrors. Inspired by TNGA, the RAV4 comes equipped with a newly-developed front and rear suspension system that equates to a more supple ride and responsive handling.

Lurking under the hood is an updated 2.5-liter Dynamic Force Engine with Dual VVT-I with VVT-iE (Variable valve timing intelligent system by electric motor) matted to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Toyota engineers revealed the engine set-up provides better performance without compromising fuel economy.

Step inside the cockpit and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see a thinner, low-set instrument gauge clusters that has sleek hori-

ZONTAL LINES THAT lOWS INTO THE DOOR PANELS 4HE SEATING CONkGURATION CAN BE ARRANGED by the driver by way of eight adjustable modes with memory and lumbar support.

This is a plus feature for short-limbed and vertically-challenged individuals.

Being a recreational vehicle, the RAV4 comes with a list of safety features which includes seven strategically placed airbags, eight eye front and rear sensors, back-up camera, anti-lock braking system with

emergency brake signal, and vehicle stability control (VSC).

The current generation RAV4 comes in six color hues with three special colors namely: Super White, Attitude Black and Dark Blue Mica Metallic, which requires a three-month delivery waiting time.

Sticker price of this urban runabout starts at P1.638 million for the entry level LE model to as high as P2.188 million for the top-tier LTD version.

Q The new 2.5-liter A25A-FKS is powerful, yet fuel efficient.

Tuned

TUESDAY Februar y 19, 2019

F 3

Mazdaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

30th anniversary

edition MX-5 A

FTER 30 years and more than one million units sold, Mazda feels that the MX-5 has grown into more than simply Mazdaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creation. It now belongs to the enthusiasts around the world who have supported the development of the model and helped it become the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best-selling two-seater roadster. Launched as both a tribute to these MX-5 fans and as a MARK OF THE HIGH HOPES THE kRM HAS FOR THE FUTURE OF ITS SPORTS car, the 30th Anniversary Edition is exclusively offered in the newly-developed Racing Orange body paint, a strikingly vivid color that marks out this special MX-5.

In addition to Racing Orange, the MX-5 30th Anniversary Edition features forged aluminium Rays wheels developed exclusively for the MX-5 in cooperation with Rays Co Ltd., and a 30th anniversary badge displaying the modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s serial number. Other unique features include orange brake callipers, and for THE kRST TIME IN THE 5+ "REMBO FRONT BRAKES Inside, the bespoke feel continues with orange accents on the seats, door trim,

dashboard, steering wheel, air vents and gear lever, while Recaro seats and Alcantara trim on the door trim and instrument panel add a sense of exclusivity. The 30th Anniversary Edition also features Apple Carplay and Android Auto as standard.

Just 3,000 cars will be produced globALLY AND kTTINGLY FOR ONE OF THE WORLD S biggest MX-5 markets, the UK will receive 600â&#x20AC;&#x201C;400 units of the convertible and 200

units for the RF. Commenting on the launch of 30th Anniversary MX-5, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director Jeremy Thomson, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the three decades since the launch of the original model over 130,000 Mazda MX-5s have been sold in the UK. This is a sports car that has resonated with enthusiastic British drivers ever since its debut and four generations on itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as popular as ever.

Along the way, it has remained true to the original principle of being an affordable, lightweight and above all fun-to-drive roadster. Today it is the very essence of the Jinba Ittai driver-and-car-as-one philosophy that goes into every Mazda.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;And with its unique detailing, generous equipment levels, exclusivity and bold Racing Orange paint, the 30thAnniversary Edition is the perfect way to celebrate

three decades of this iconic sports car,â&#x20AC;? he added.

As with all 2.0-liter 2019 Mazda MX-5 models, the 30th Anniversary features the new 184-PS version of the Skyactiv-G engine, while across both body types this range-topping special edition comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, Bilstein dampers, strut-brace, and limited slip differential.

NEWSPRESSUK

Ĺ&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x152;ĹŹÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x161; Black Rhino teams up with Overland PH THE recently concluded Overland Xpo staged on February 2-4with over 100 4x4 vehicles was an overwhelming success. Organized by Overland PH, in coordination with Black Rhino PH, it was held at the heart of Zambales. The Black Rhino convoy drove 200 kilometers from Manila, where

vehicles and drivers experienced driving along the scenic west coast of the country before reaching the campsite. The event was held within the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo, allowing adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies to trek five kilometers to the volcanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crater.

The term â&#x20AC;&#x153;Overlandingâ&#x20AC;? originated from Australians when they move their livestock over long distances. Today, Overlanding means a selfreliant overland travel to remote destinations, where the journey is part of the experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be any electricity, water or a gas station nearby so we want to make sure we are prepared. Fortunately, there are so many products now available locally for Overlanding such as roof-mounted tents, collapsible tables and chairs, and even portable toilets,â&#x20AC;? said Joel Pedro of Adventure Kings Philippines.

The organizers said that stock 4x4 vehicles will be able to make it up to the campsite, but most of the participants will be using 4x4 rigs equipped with mud tires, lifted suspension and auxiliary driving lights. These upgrades ensure the safety of the passengers and vehicles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have proper wheels and tires for special drives such as this. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be going to a basketball game with leather dress shoes, right?,â&#x20AC;? said Justin Uy, marketing head of Black Rhino Wheels-Philippines.

Motul to stage 300V Superfast trackday MOTUL, a byword in engine performance and protection, is set to stage the Motul 300V Superfast event on March 10, at the Clark International Speedway in Clark, Pampanga. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This year, it is going to be a Quarter Mile and Touge Battle to find out whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the fastest and the quickest in the country,â&#x20AC;? said Carlos Gono, president of Motul PH and Autoplus.

Motul has been synonymous with motor sports in the global arena, as team sponsor of race teams and technical partner of racing divisions of car manufacturers such as Subaru, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, Suzuki, among others.

Now on its second year, the Motul 300V Superfast is a gathering of super cars, fast motorcycles, and JDM icons in one venue. It aims to promote camaderie and local motor sports, plus encourage racers to go legit and put an end to illegal street racing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you think your car is fast, join this event and find out,â&#x20AC;? Gono added.

The 300V Superfast is supported by Motul PH, Motor Image Subaru, Parts Pro PH, Manila GTR Owners Club, WRX

Sti Club PH, Autoholc, Pitworkz, Progressive Line, Superfast Club, Backstage Production, and Zestino tires. Media partners are The Manila Times, Philippine Star, Business Mirror, Autocar PH, Wheels PH, 2nd Opinion, Top Gear PH, C!, VISOR, CarGuide PH, JamesDeakin.ph, Auto Deal PH, 9tro, TSM, Time Attack, and Carmudi PH.

F 4

Heavy Duty

TUESDAY

February 19, 2019

G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY: Committed to extending â&#x20AC;&#x153;Total Supportâ&#x20AC;? to more Filipinos, Hino Motors Philippines (HMP), the exclusive distributor of Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines, strengthened its foothold in Southern Mindanao with the OPENING OF ITS kRST dealership for the year.

The new dealership, Hino General Santos, is strategically located in Barangay Apopong along the General Santos City national highway. As a â&#x20AC;&#x153;3Sâ&#x20AC;? dealership, it will offer service operations, sales and spare parts to help address the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs for logistics, transportation and other industries.

Hino General Santos is the second dealership managed by Motormall Davao Corp.

(MDC) after its dealership in Davao. Hinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing presence in highly urbanized areas in the country is a testament to its dedication to enhance the capabilities of different businesses by offering quality Hino trucks AND lEET MAINTENANCE SUPPORT â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been looking forward to this day since the ground-breaking ceremony. We are CONkDENT THAT (INO 'ENERAL 3ANTOS WILL BE another successful dealership under MDCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supervision. As we open more dealerships this year, we will continue to work hand in hand with our dealer partners to ensure that our operations stand by our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Total Supportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mantra,â&#x20AC;? said HMP President Hiroshi Aoki.

As a regional center for commerce and industry, General Santos is poised to become one of the fastest-growing cities in Soccsksargen (Region 12). Known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General 3ANTOS HAS SEEN AN INlUX OF INVESTMENTS in tourism and infrastructure because of its strategic location as a transhipment hub in the region. The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accessibility via air, land and water gives Hino the perfect opportunity to provide Filipinos with a reliable transport support system consisting of Hino vehicles.

Hino kicks off 2019 with new dealership opening â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is where Hino comes in the picture â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we help boost the growth of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy by ensuring smooth logistical and transport systems. Like what we say in our tagline â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Trucks and Buses that Do More,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hino will always go the extra mile to offer innovative transport solutions to all Filipinos as we continually aim for a more connected and sustainable community,â&#x20AC;? said HMP Chairman Vicente Mills, Jr. Known for providing safe, durable and reliable trucks, HMP has been assembling and exclusively distributing quality Hino trucks and buses in the Philippines for more than 40 years to meet the transport needs of businesses ranging from small and medium enterprises to big corporations.

T h e r i b b o n - c u t t i n g c e r e m o ny for Hino General Santos was led by Aoki, Mills and MDC executives Felipe Barroga (executive VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFkCER

Valentino Dionisio (assistant vice president and general manager), and Fred Velasquez (branch manager, Hino General Santos).

DAIMLER EYES FULL E-TRUCK PRODUCTION BY 2021 Q Daimler is keen on going full electric trucks sooner than you think.

DAIMLER Trucks North America has handed over keys for the first in a series of 30 battery-electric trucks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a mixture of eCascadias and eM2s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already focusing on plans to begin full production in 2021.

But there are plenty of lessons to learn about the underlying technologies and business cases along the way.

The first of the trucks are being referred to as an â&#x20AC;&#x153;innovation fleetâ&#x20AC;? that will be used to test equipment in real-world operating environments with the help of Penske and NFI National Freight, primarily on the US West Coast. And a new Freightliner Electric Vehicle Council was established in October to gain insights from 30 customers with strong use cases for electric trucks, exploring everything from deployment strategies to current legislation, charging infrastructure, and service support.

Central to any of Daimlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future electric vehicle rollouts will be a new eConsulting service, which will explore the electric trucks, assess routes, analyze economic feasibility, provide financing, deploy charging infrastructure, support maintenance and operations, manage the fleet, and deal with the vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end of life. Details on how customers would pay for that support has not yet been established. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only the truck itself,â&#x20AC;? said Andreas Jurtzka, senior e-mobility lead for Daimler Trucks North America. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very definitely close with the customer,

and then the utilities and the infrastructure.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nobody has a clue right now what the TCO [total cost of ownership] looks like,â&#x20AC;? he added, noting that funding for incentives are also a â&#x20AC;&#x153;big deal.â&#x20AC;?

Freightliner has produced a series of electric vehicles.

Medium-duty truck designs appear to offer some of the greatest promise.

But the choice of early truck models clearly reflects business segments that Daimler believes will be best served by electric trucks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The medium-duty area is probably more fruitful,â&#x20AC;? Jurtzka said, noting how range is still a concern for Class 8 trucks in particular. The 550 kWh needed to run an eCascadia, for example, equates to 32 of the 17.6 kWh systems that can power electric Smart cars.

The eCascadias draw on four electric motors overall, with hub motors at each end of two axles.

The eM2, meanwhile, includes a mid-mounted electric motor and conventional driveline, although the ultimate target is to have a motor included in its axle instead.

The eM2 and its 325-

kWh batteries offer a 370-kilometer range, generate a peak 270 kw, and can reach an 80-percent state of charge in about 60 minutes. The eCascadia has a 400-kilometer range but requires 550-kWh batteries, delivering a peak of 730 kW. The company believes such a range is currently â&#x20AC;&#x153;logical and realisticâ&#x20AC;? for an electric Class 8 truck.

The electrification clearly involves more than pulling out the engines, after-treatment systems, and fuel tanks. Belt-driven accessories like HVAC systems and compressors now require electric motors of their own. The accessories, batteries and axles also need cooling systems. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of piping that goes on, and cooling every different part of the truck differently,â&#x20AC;? Jurtzka said.

Other important issues Fit and finish becomes particularly important as well. The trucks run silently, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little vibration in the cab. But in the silence of the prototype vehicles on a test track, it was easy to become focused on sounds like the tick-tick of a fan, a steering pump, and a cabinet that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t properly latched. There was no running engine to help mask sounds like those.

And while electric trucks are expected to present fewer ongoing maintenance demands with the lack of combustion engines, they still present some unique maintenance needs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the driver who now goes into the engine to see if he can fix something,â&#x20AC;? Jurtzka said.

Even maintenance teams need extra training to protect themselves around the underlying high-voltage systems.

Charging challenges also extend beyond the limits of the batteries. Utility companies are telling Daimler that they would need about two years of advance notice to prepare the required charging infrastructure.

For that matter, there is

not yet any consensus on what the charging plugs will look like, or even where the connections will be made. Freightliner has put the plug on the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side of the eM2 for Penske. In the test vehicles, Freightliner has adopted the European Combined Charging System (CCS2) standard, and it continues to work with the CharIn initiative to develop common plugs and communications. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do we lease the batteries? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t we lease the batteries?,â&#x20AC;? Jurtzka asked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made our mind up yet.â&#x20AC;?

Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the question of what to do with the batteries once they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer enough range for trucking. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What happens after the truck is five years old?,â&#x20AC;? he asked. And there could eventually be opportunities to rethink the design of the trucks themselves, maybe lowering the hoods because there is less hardware to store underneath.

Granted, these are not the only electric vehicles Daimler has on the road. There are now about 100 Fuso e-Canters in the US, drawing on six MercedesBenz 360 V, 82.8-kWh lithium ion batteries. That vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maximum payload is set about 9,380 pounds.

The manufacturer believes it has an advantage over emerging electric truck producers as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody can build one or two trucks. Everybody can build 10,â&#x20AC;? Jurtzka said. The question is who can produce 1,000 units that are reliable for several years.

Special Feature

Ë&#x153; The Manila Times

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TUESDAY February 19, 2019

G1

P H I L H E A LT H Y E A R 24

Moving towards universal health care for every Filipino I

Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Love Month. But you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give love if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have it, right?

So give loveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; to yourself first. And first, love your body!

That must be the reason for the establishment of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on the season of Love, exactly on Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, February 14, 1995.

Established with the passage of Republic Act 7875, otherwise known as the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, PhilHealth marks its 24th anniversary this year.

In this celebration of hearts, the nation also observes the National Health Insurance Program Month. Declared by virtue of Proclamation 1400, s. 2007, the program aims to stimulate public awareness of social health insurance issues and encourage partners nationwide

to fulfill their roles for the success of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health care mission.

The agency centers the anniversary celebration on the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;PhilHealth @ 24: Tungo sa Kalusugan Para sa Lahatâ&#x20AC;? to drum up support for the passage of the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill.

Expected to be signed into l a w b y P r e s i d e n t Ro d r i g o Duterte any time now, the bill mandates automatic inclusion of every Filipino in the program to assure a uniform health care service for all.

PhilHealth has set a monthlong celebration of its 24th year, started last February 14 with a roadshow dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Phil-

Health Forwardâ&#x20AC;? in Pampanga, Laguna, Cebu, and General Santos City.

The program presented new services and benefits for PhilHealth members, recent innovations, best practices of PhilHealth offices, and new tie-ups with various stakeholders, among others.

In the second week of March, PhilHealth will hold a Health Care Financing Summit centering on the theme â&#x20AC;&#x153;Multiple Lenses, One Collective Action on Health Financing:: A Framework for Action. Thee summit will draw strategies att different levels and seek col-lective action for the effectivee C implementation of the UHC program. d The summit will also hold recognition rites to honor Phil-Healthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outstanding stakehold-ers and partners.

PhilHealth Acting Presidentt

Members talk

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lagi akong nakagagamit ng PhilHealth benefits, at lately nang maoperahan sa paa dahil hindi ako makalakad. Last two years, nag-undergo naman ako ng colonoscopy at malaki ang deduction ng aking PhilHealth benefits. Maliit lang ang cash out kaya masasabi ko na malaking kabawasan sa bayarin sa ospital kapag miyembro ng PhilHealth.â&#x20AC;?

HILDA ONG TV and Radio broadcaster Newspaper columnist

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was surprised and very delighted upon hearing that we no longer need to pay anything and we can now finally go home. Nakataas noo akong nakalabas ng ospital, and I am proud to say at sabihin sa lahat na wala kaming ginastos!â&#x20AC;?

ERLINDA GONZALES Mother of member Jena Vanessa CastaĂąas Point-of-Service and No Balance Billing recipient

and CEO Dr. Roy Ferrer, commended the contributions of the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s supporters.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;PhilHealth extremely values the contributions of key partners who have had a significant part on our laudable performance the previous year. It is but proper that we give them tribute for their contributions to the overall success of PhilHealth.â&#x20AC;?

The anniversary celebration also includes a musical talent contest

among PhilHealth employees in the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various regional OFkCES 4HE CHAMPIONSHIP STAGE show will be held in Manila in the second week of March.

As the most trusted social protection agency in the country, PhilHealth will also hold a corporate social responsibility initiative for the benefit of select charitable institutions at various sites in the country.

PhilHealth will also hold a special press event dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153; Kapihan with Mediaâ&#x20AC;? where

the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s officers will announce various developments in the state health insurance agency particularly in the run toward the implementation of the UHC law.

As Ferrer declared, â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we move to our 24th year, PhilHealthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spirit continues to soar high as we prepare ourselves to the coming of the UHC. Our commitment to the health of the Filipino remains strong which is the very essence of our existence.â&#x20AC;?

G2

Special Feature

TUESDAY February 19, 2019

˜ The Manila Times

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U N I V E R S A L H E A LT H C A R E

PhilHealth raring to implement reforms P

HILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Acting President and CEO Dr. Roy Ferrer assured the Filipino public that the staterun agency is prepared for the imminent enactment of the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill.

“Our strong performance last year clearly displayed our capability to run the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). In fact, our record-setting performance in 2018 is a perfect prelude to our transition to UHC,” said Ferrer, adding that, “We have categorically proved our ability to keep the [NHIP] fund robust, dynamic, and responsive to the medical needs of the Filipinos.”

Ferrer referred to the social health insurer’s successful financial turnaround last year that was highlighted by a staggering P11.6-billion in net income, or 4,400 percent higher compared to 2017 end.

Its premium income was recorded at P132.5-billion, which is 23 percent higher than that of 2017, stemming from enhanced collection measures. It also received a P6.8billion boost from investments and other income that further solidified its financial position.

On the other side of its balance sheet, PhilHealth paid a total amount of P121-billion in health care benefits, translating to payouts of an average of P3-billion a week starting the second half of 2018, proof that more than ever, more and more members and their families are utilizing their benefits for their hospitalization and treatment needs.

Meanwhile, its operating expenses remained controlled at P6.6-billion which

is one percent lower than last year’s P6.64billion, a strong indication of PhilHealth’s commitment to prudence and austerity without sacrificing its financial commitments to providers and quality of service as well.

PhilHealth’s current investment portfolio and reserve funds stand at P149-billion and P97-billion, respectively; indicating that the National Health Insurance Fund is intact, protected and always ready to meet the rising health demands of its beneficiaries.

In terms of benefit enhancements, PhilHealth extended the provision of Primary Care Benefits to the Formal Sector, Lifetime members, and Senior Citizens. In addition, PhilHealth launched its new Z Benefit packages for children with disabilities, and increased its coverage for Newborn Care. The enhancements in benefits clearly manifested its dedication to innovation and in keeping its relevance to its beneficiaries.

However, the PhilHealth Chief stressed that to continue ensuring their robust financial position; it is incumbent that they intensify their efforts at controlling fraudulent and abusive practices of a few accredited health care providers and even members.

“In response to the issues raised by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, we are in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the fraudulent acts of a health care professional and at

least three hospitals in the South. In fact, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) have also joined us in our crackdown on fraud,” Ferrer declared. The alliance was formed during the PhilHealth Forward event held as part of its anniversary celebration last February 14.

“This show of support could be a start of an effective anti-fraud cooperation that puts dishonest parties to justice. I am thankful of their [PMA and PHA] support and I hope that this continues in the future,” said Ferrer and warned that, “We will continue pursuing cases against entities committing fraud. We will not let their deceitful practices undermine the welfare of NHIP beneficiaries.”

To date, PhilHealth has filed a total of 298 cases against 71 hospitals, resulting in the suspension of accreditation of 31 hospitals.

Finally, NHIP coverage jumped to 98 percent of the Philippine population translating to a total of 104.3 million out of the 2018 projected population of 106.4 million.

PhilHealth reckoned the bill’s passage to be the deciding factor to finally cover the entire nation under the NHIP. “One decisive push,” said Ferrer. “That’s all we need and that’s what this law will provide.”

Upon its enactment, the UHC mandates the inclusion of all Filipinos in the NHIP, and that no Filipino will be denied access to health care whenever they need them.

PhilHealth even urged its members and stakeholders to involve themselves in discussions and activities that will ultimately help UHC achieve its purpose.

Members talk

“Hindi tayo sigurado na laging malakas at hindi magkakasakit. Dati-rati, gaya ng ibang OFWs, kinukwestiyon ko kung bakit kailangan pang magbayad ng kontribusyon sa PhilHealth. Pero dahil sa naexperience ko nang gamitin ang PhilHealth noong maospital ang anak ko, noong manganak ang asawa ko at maopera rin siya dahil sa cervical cancer, lubos na akong nagtiwala rito.”

EDGARDO LORA OFW Vice Chairman, Filipino Community, Sultanate of Oman

“Noong 2016 may tumulong sa akin na maging Sponsored member ng PhilHealth. Doon ko namaximize ang Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) Package. Yearly nagagawa ko ng magpa-viral load.

Thankful ako dahil nandiyan ang PhilHealth at masasabi kong malaking tulong ito sa akin.”

BILLY SANTO National HIV Ambassador Communications and Marketing Director The Project Red Ribbon Care Management Foundation, Inc.

“Kahit kapos po kami sa pera, hindi na kami nagdalawang-isip na ipaopera si Lea para madugtungan ang buhay niya. Sobrang natuwa po kami kasi wala kaming binayaran ni isang kusing.”

ELENA PELIGRO Mother of Lea Jane Ventricular Septal Defect benefit beneficiary

“Sa labing-isang taong pagda-dialysis ng kapatid ko, napakalaking tulong ng PhilHealth. Kung kaya’t sa lahat ng nakausap ko, tulad din ng ginawa sa akin, mag-PhilHealth kayo dahil iyan lamang ang masasandigan ninyo sa pagda-dialysis ng mga pasyente at maging sa confinement.”

EUFROCINA AURE Retired MAPEH Teacher, Rizal High School,Pasig City

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CASE NO. MNL-REV-2016-001-FS (Reference Case No. MNL-05-029; Amendment Nos. 1-4) Amendment No. 5

ORDER

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