Manila Standard - 2016 August 27 - Saturday

Drug war: 22 top cops fall

VOL. XXX • NO. 196 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Palace to De Lima: It’s just a foretaste

By John Paolo Bencito

Duterte, Senator De Lima has been having nightmares. So my birthday wish AN ADMINISTRATION official on Fri- for the good senator is I hope she sleeps day said his birthday wish for Senator Leila soundly tonight and thereafter,” said Salvador Panelo, chief legal counsel of de Lima was “a good night’s sleep.”

“According to President [Rodrigo] President Duterte.

Panelo added that Duterte’s tirade against the former Justice secretary was just the beginning.

“Stop? But the President has not even begun. That was just a foretaste,” he said, smiling.

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TWENTY-TWO chief of police in Cagayan Valley Region have been relieved for their alleged failure to implement the administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

Cagayan Valley acting regional director Chief Supt. Gilbert Sosa said the action against the chiefs of police is part of the reorganization to strengthen Region 2’s all-out war against illegal drugs in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s program.

Duterte has vowed to eradicate illegal drugs in the country within six months.

“We will put the best performing PNP officers on post so that we will meet our target and attain our mission to make Cagayan Valley a drug-free region,” Sosa said.

He earlier challenged his men to double their efforts in the campaign against illegal drugs to meet the target and warned that they will be relieved from their respective posts if they fail to perform well.

Those relieved from Isabela province were: Supt. Manuel Bringas of Ilagan City Police Station; Supt. Engelbert Soriano of Cauayan City Police Station, Senior Insp. Prospero Agonoy of Quirino Police Station; Senior Insp. Ben Bumanglag of Delfin Albano Police Station; Senior Insp. Jonathan Binayug of Palanan Police Station; Senior Insp. Aladin Revocal of San Pablo Police Station, Senior Insp.

Ignacio Layugan of Dinapigue Police Next page

Ceasefire prolonged

Govt, Reds agree to iron out amnesty for rebels, 5 other issues

O

OSLO DEAL. Philippines’ Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza (left) and NDF chairman Luis Jalandoni shake hands in front of Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Boerge Brende after the signing of a joint declaration in which both parties agree to an indefinite ceasefire on Aug. 26, 2016 in Oslo. AFP

SLO—The Philippine government and communist guerrillas have agreed to an indefinite ceasefire to facilitate talks on a peace deal, Norway, which is playing the role of intermediary, announced Friday.

Troopers zero in on ASG lair; 6 killed

“Representatives of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front Communist movement will sign on Friday Aug. 26, at 11:00 a.m. (0900 GMT), a joint declaration in which the two sides commit to unilateral ceasefires without a limitation in time,” the Norwegian foreign ministry said.

Norway is playing the role of go-between in the talks, which aim at ending one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies.

The Communist Party of the Philippines launched a rebellion in 1968 that has so far claimed the lives of 30,000 people, according to official estimates.

Its armed faction, the New People’s Army, is now believed to have fewer than 4,000 gunmen, down from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s, when a bloodless revolt ended the 20-year dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos.

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A SUB-LEADER of the Abu Sayyaf was among six terrorists killed in an encounter with government troops Friday morning in Sulu, an official said.

The military had poured thousands of troops in Sulu after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered it to eliminate the terrorists.

Western Mindanao Command chief Mayoralgo dela Cruz said his troops were continuing to chase the fleeing terrorists.

“Our troops are extremely motivated,” he said.

“Seventeen of them were wounded but 10 of them were only slightly wounded. The mission is clear: Seek and deNext page stroy the ASG.”

Espino: I will face anyone, anytime

By Maricel V. Cruz PANGASINAN Rep. Amado Espino Jr. on Friday said he is open to any investigation on the illegal drug trade matrix released by President Rodrigo Duterte to clear his name.

Espino said he has nothing to hide and could prove his innocence.

“Anytime, anywhere. I will face anyone,” Espino said in Filipino in a TV interview with GMA-7.

Espino, accused of conspiring with former Justice secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima of run-

ning the illegal drug operations inside the New Bilibid Prison, said he has asked Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez help him gain an audience with President Duterte so that he can clear his name.

Espino earlier denied his involvement in any drug operations and his alleged influence over the New Bilibid Prisons.

In fact, Espino said, he was an anti-drug advocate and one of the co-authors of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

He said it was the first time he has

been accused of being involved with illegal drugs. During elections, he said, he was used to being accused of graft, illegal mining, plunder, economic sabotage and murder.

Espino also denied claims that he was the richest congressman in Northern Luzon, saying this has never been proven.

He said he only met former Justice secretary and Senator Leila de Lima and her supposed former driver-lover Ronnie Dayan once at a wedding where he and De Lima were principal sponsors. Next page

HPG chief Metro’s new traffic czar TRANSPORT Secretary Arthur Tugade has designated Highway Patrol Group Acting Director Antonio Gardiola as Metro Manila’s new traffic czar.

The inter-agency council on traffic management composed of the PNP Highway Patrol Group, the Metro Manila Development Authority, the Land Transportation Office, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board welcomed Gardiola’s appointment.

“We have to get the vehicles moving to lessen travel time,” Gardiola told reporters.

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GUARDING THE SEAS. Members of the Coastguard’s operations group hold training on search- and-rescue

activities at the Parola Compound in Tondo on Aug. 26, 2016 following a call made by President Rodrigo Duterte on China to allow Filipino fishermen enter the fishing grounds in the disputed West Philippine Sea. Danny Pata

‘Leila hopes for fairness’ SENATOR Lilia de Lima said Friday she could only hope for fairness when the Senate ethics committee and privileges investigates the complaint filed against her by a lawyer over her alleged links to the illegal drug trade.

She expressed hope that the committee, led by Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, would be objective in handling her case.

“Everything that is happening is absolutely unfair to me,” De Lima said.

She has repeatedly denied the allegation.

She made her statement even as no key officials of the Metro Manila Development Authority had said they knew Warren Cristobal, the former MMDA Next page

Days of protocol plate ‘8’ numbered HPG ACTING DIRECTOR ANTONIO GARDIOLA twitter.com/ MlaStandard

A LAWMAKER on Friday urged Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to stop the use of the lawmakers’ number 8 protocol license plate, which is sometimes abused by some officials to circumvent traffic rules. facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco renewed his appeal to the House leadership after Alvarez issued a memo ordering his colleagues to return the protocol plates issued during the 16th Congress and

thestandard.com.ph

in previous Congresses, and in light of “reports that certain vehicles with Protocol Plate Number 8 have been spotted in indecent places or figured in crime-related activities.”

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WEATHER

‘Dindo’ enhances monsoon TYPHOON “Dindo” [international name “Lionrock”] will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bring rain to several parts of the country including Metro Manila, the state weather agency said Friday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said “Dindo” was located 1,025 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes at 4 p.m. Friday and was Next page

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

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News

25 indicted for ‘Boracay drugs’ K

ALIBO, Aklan―Eighteen Taiwanese and seven Chinese nationals recently arrested in Boracay have been indicted on drug charges even as a senator expressed hope that increasing cooperation between Manila and Beijing will stem the activities of Chinese drug syndicates in the country.

The recommendation to file the charges was penned by state prosecutors Dearly Yerro and Cayo Venturanza and approved

by Provincial Prosecutor Maya Bien Tolentino.

Operatives of the Aklan Provincial Police Office filed illegal drugs charges against the suspects Tuesday night with copies of the resolutions being made available to journalists here Thursday.

Twenty-fourt of the 25 suspects, however, were allowed to post bail worth P400,000 each. One of the suspects identified as Lin Szu Wei could not post bail since he was arrested in a buy bust operation.

Wei was also tested positive for drugs.

Charged of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Acts of 2002 for visiting a drug den were 32-year-old Lin Szu Wei; Shau Wei Hu, 30; Tian You Jhou, 26;

Shao Wei Zeng, 25; Guo Siou Hong, 25; Chia Hui Sun, 25; Yu Ting Lien, 34; Wei Chieh Weng, 29; Jhih Hong Chen, 26; Hsiao Chun Huang, 27; Yu Lung Fan, 29; Ching Ching Chang, 25; His Ao Chu, 23; and Shuang Chuan, 22 from Taiwan.

Police also arrested four Taiwanese women identified as Yung Chun Wang, 23; Pei Yu Wu, 23; Yuan Shun Chou, 27; and Li Yin Lo, 23.

Chinese nationals charged by the police were Honghua Zhou, 25; Zonglong He, 29; Feng Shuang Han, 32; Chun Gong, 29; Hui Zeng, 29 and two Chinese women―Juan Wang, 28 and Yuling Zhong, 23.

State prosecutors said they are anticipating the arrival of lawyers coming from both the Taiwanese and Chinese embassies

to defend them in court.

Aside from the drug case, police are also awaiting results from the police cyber crime group wherein the foreigners are suspected to be engaged in internet fraud.

Meanwhile, Senator Richard J. Gordon expressed hope that increasing cooperation between the Philippines and China will help resolve the pervasive problem of illegal drugs in the country.

He cited the disclosure made by law enforcement authorities who said the bulk of illegal drugs in the country and raw materials for manufacturing such drugs come from China.

Gordon welcomed the Department of Foreign Affairs’ move to prepare a note verbale to be sent to China and summon China’s ambassador to the Philippines to

discuss the drug crisis.

He said the Philippines’ drug problem has risen to very serious proportions as it has adversely affected around 3.7-million Filipinos who have become either drug users or pushers, of which one million are young persons who are either in or out of school.

He pointed out that China recognizes the problem of illegal drugs which is shown by its resolute efforts to address the problem on its own soil.

He said China recognizes the problem of illegal drugs as shown by its assiduous efforts― through its draconian security network―in arresting Filipinos and nationals of other countries who are arrested upon arrival as drug mules and now face the death penalty.

“We should tell China, in your

HPG...

Espino...

“We have to observe how the motorists respond to the interagency traffic management.”

Gardiola said the council plans to train traffic enforcers and teach them to have more patience while doing their jobs.

The council has asked the UP National Center for Transportation Studies to assess what reforms are needed in the country’s traffic laws and infrastructure as more and more vehicles are hitting the road each year.

Gardiola said they would also be talking to local government units to resolve the conflicting implementation of local and national laws that hamper the flow of traffic.

“As long as the agencies cooperate, doing the job would be easier,” he said. PNA

Similarly, Espino said he only met former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Bucayu once, while Raul Sison was a board member in their province.

Espino also denied having per-

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Palace...

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De Lima, Aquino’s former Justice secretary, is the highest ranking government official in the matrix released

by President Rodrigo Duterte showing the personalities allegedly involved in the drug operations inside the national penitentiary.

On Thursday, De Lima said that she had two wishes for her birthday: a love life and for the President to leave her alone.

De Lima, whose marriage had been annulled, said her desire to have a love life was not a joke, making a commitment, however, to herself and her two children that she would not remarry.

“I’m bearing with all of this on my own because, as much as possible, I don’t want to involve my family who are hurting and sad,” De Lima said.

“This is really unimaginable, phenomenal and unprecedented,” she added.

Despite wanting to have a love life, De Lima said, she had no intention to remarry.

She also denied the President’s claim that her new boyfriend was a certain “Warren,” an employee of the MMDA who served as her motorcycle escort.

“Now I have no love life.

I’m thinking that with all the things that I’m going through, maybe I need a partner. Please help me. That’s my feeling,” De Lima said.

The Palace on Friday said the President had wiretapped evidence that could implicate De Lima, her driver Ronnie Dayan, and former Pangasinan governor and now Rep. Amado Espino Jr. in the narcotics web in the New Bilibid Prison.

“The President said that he has an intercept of the conversation between that drug lord and the driver. So, it’s included in the evidence that will be released,” Panelo said.

While he acknowledged that the wiretapped conversation might not be admissible in court, it “does not alter the fact that there was a taped conversation and there’s truth to what you hear in that conversation.”

He said Duterte had access to all the intelligence reports to prove his accusations against De Lima. PNA

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6 BODY BAGS. Soldiers arrange bags containing the bodies of members of Abu Sayyaf after their armed encounter at the village of Bongkaong, Patikul town, Sulu in Mindanao on Aug. 26, 2016. Security forces killed six members of Abu Sayyaf including one involved in the kidnapping of two Canadians who were beheaded in the troubled south, the military said. AFP

Troopers...

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Major Felimon Tan Jr. said the Abu Sayyaf also suffered dozens of wounded after the encounter around 6:12 a.m. in Patikul town.

“Among those killed was Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Mo-

Ceasefire...

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President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office on June 30, has made resumption of the talks a top priority.

His government said Monday it hoped to reach a peace accord within a year.

The two sides hope to breathe new life into the process by discussing simultaneously the outstanding issues of social and economic reforms, political and constitutional changes, and an end to hostilities.

Previous peace talks have addressed one issue at a time.

The NPA on Friday released three more police officers, the last of what it calls prisoners of war.

The officers were identified as PO1 Richard Yu of Carmen, Surigao del Sur, PO1 Michael Grande of Banaybanay Municipal Police Station in Davao Ori-

‘Dindo’...

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expected to be outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday morning.

But the typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up

‘Leila...

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employee identified by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte as De Lima’s new lover.

“I don’t know him and besides, I am no longer functioning in traffic. I am now in the Metro Manila Council,” said lawyer Crisanto Saruca, former

hammad Said who has five warrants of arrest for murder,” Tan said.

“He was involved in the abduction of the Samal kidnap victims of whom two Canadians were beheaded.”

The terrorists beheaded Robert Hall and John Ridsdel after their families failed to deliver a 300-million-pe-

so ransom for each of them for their safe release. Hall’s Filipino girlfriend, Maritess Flor, was released unharmed while Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian, is still being held captive.

The four were seized by the Abu Sayyaf at a resort in Samal last year and brought to Sulu.

Florante S. Solmerin

ental and Sr. Insp. Arnold Ongachen of Governor Generoso, Municipal Police Station, Davao Oriental.

Yu was released in Tandag, Surigao del Sur while Grande and Ongachen were turned over to Senator Manny Pacquiao at Calapagan, Lupon, Davao Oriental.

The commander of the 10th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, welcomed the release of the police officers.

He said when the government declared a ceasefire with the communist rebels, his troops were immediately advised to withdraw all offensive military operations.

He said the military also welcomed the declaration of an indefinite ceasefire starting Thursday.

The government and the rebels agreed Thursday to work on six major points, with talks expected to resume during the second week of October as part

of the accelerated timetable to complete work on the substantive agendas.

The six issues, which will be tackled by different working committees, are: 1) the reaffirmation of previously signed agreements; (2) reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) list; 3) acceleration of the formal talks in the peace negotiations; 4) release of political prisoners; 5) amnesty proclamation by President Rodrigo Duterte and 6) mode of interim ceasefire.

Malacañang on Friday welcomed the decision of both negotiating panels to accelerate the discussion on socio-economic reforms.

“We are happy that the ongoing peace process in Oslo where both parties agreed to work on the [socio-economic reforms] with six months,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

John Paolo Bencito, AFP

to 195 kph, will continue to boost the prevailing southwest monsoon and bring rain to Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas and Palawan.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country, Pagasa

said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from southwest will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the south to southwest with slight to moderate seas.

head of the MMDA’s Traffic Discipline Office that supervises all traffic constables and enforcers.

De Lima said she would base her actions on the decision of the ethics body. After all, she said, she had yet to receive a copy of the complaint.

“Let’s wait for that. I’d rather that the ethics committee tackled that first and then find out and

what action they would take,” De Lima said.

“I leave it up to them. I don’t want to create discomfort within the institution. What’s happening now is already distracting [the Senate] because this is the biggest issue always, every day.

Other more important things are being set aside.”

Sotto promised to be fair.

“I will be impartial,” Sotto said.

Station; Senior Insp. Richard Limbo of Divilacan Police Station; Senior Insp. Ruby Capinpin of Roxas Police Station; Chief Insp. Edgardo Esteban of Maconacon Police Station; Chief Insp. Pilarito Malillin of San Mateo Police Station; and Chief Insp. Mario Fajardo of Luna Police Station.

The six chiefs of police from Cagayan province sacked were: Chief Insp. Alvin Mabazza of Alcala Police Station; Senior Insp. Antonio Palattao of Allacapan Police Station; Senior Insp. Eugenio Catubag of Rizal Police Station; Senior Insp.

Ronald Balod of Sta. Praxedes Police Station; Senior Insp.

Mario Maraggun of Calayan Police Station; and Senior Insp.

Christopher Danao of Buguey Police Station.

Also relieved from their posts in Nueva Vizcaya province were: Chief Insp. Larry Pinkihan of Kasibu Police Station; Chief Insp. Joeffrey Bulong of Ambaguio Police Station; and Senior Insp. Rudil Bassit of Kayapa Police Station.

In Quirino province, only Senior Insp Alex Orbillo was relieved from his post.

Sosa said the effectivity of the relief of Bringas and Soriano were on Aug. 23 while all others were relieved effective Aug. 24, 2016.

Since Tuesday, 34 police chiefs in Bicol have also been relieved.

Chief Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe, director of Police Regional Office-Region 5, said the police chiefs were relieved “for unsatisfactory performance in carrying out Oplan Double Barrel.”

“The relief order took effect on Tuesday after national police evaluators found out that these police officers failed to meet their performance targets in the implementation of Oplan Double Barrel,” he said.

Affected by the revamp were the police chiefs in four towns and two cities in Albay, two cities and five towns in Camarines

country―if a Filipino entered your country, you arrest them... a hundred are being jailed in China, they are being executed while you allow your people to go out of your country and sell drugs, manufacture drugs there in China, and do their thing even in jail,” Gordon said.

Given China’s robust security system, he said its own government could easily interdict the drugs and personnel coming out of China.

He also noted that a joint task force could be created to identify patterns of passengers and gather collective intelligence; initiate capacity building initiatives against transnational trafficking of drugs; and have the Chinese nationals involved in drug trade to be arrested in China, among others. PNA, Macon Ramos-Araneta sonally known Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan, except for the fact that the latter is the brother of Raffy Baraan, who served as provincial administrator when he was governor.

Vouching for his former staff’s integrity, Espino said Raffy was innocent and had nothing to do with illegal drugs.

Sur, six towns in Camarines Norte and five towns each in the provinces of Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

The Bicol police have begun purging their ranks of those who were proven to be users of illegal drugs, obstructing police operations and coddling drug peddlers.

Since the start of the campaign on July 1, some 23 policemen have been placed under investigation.

Also on Friday, PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa apologized for calling on drug users to kill traffickers and to burn their homes.

Dela Rosa said his emotions got the best of him after meeting victims of drug use in Bacolod.

On Thursday night, speaking to several drug users who had surrendered, Dela Rosa said: “Why don’t you give them a visit, pour gasoline on their homes and set these on fire to register your anger.”

“They’re all enjoying your money, money that destroyed your brain. You know who the drug lords are. Would you like to kill them? Go ahead. Killing them is allowed because you are the victim.”

When asked if Duterte supported Dela Rosa’s call to murder and commit arson, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella denied that was the police chief’s intent.

“There is no such call. It’s a passionate statement,” Abella told reporters on Friday, without elaborating.

Dela Rosa’s comments followed Duterte’s own controversial directives that have sparked criticism from the United Nations and human rights groups.

Duterte, 71, won May elections in a landslide on a promise to kill tens of thousands of suspected criminals in an unprecedented blitz that would eliminate illegal drugs in six months.

When he took office on June 30, Duterte told a crowd in Manila: “If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful.”

Days after his election win, Duterte also offered security officials bounties for the bodies of drug dealers. PNA, AFP

Tiangco said Alvarez’s memo should also cover today’s 17th Congress. His House Bill 413 would make the issuance and use of the number 8 license plate illegal.

That bill would impose a fine of P25,000 for using the number 8 or imprisonment of one day to six months.

“We do not need the protocol plate to effectively serve our people,” Tiangco said as he challenged Alvarez’s leadership to pass his bill. Maricel V. Cruz

He said the hearing might start next week.

Lawyer Abelardo De Jesus had filed the complaint against De Lima over her alleged links to drugs.

Duterte has accused De Lima of being the highest government official linked to the illegal drug trade.

De Jesus earlier said the ethics committee was the best

venue for De Lima to defend herself from Duterte’s allegations.

“The Senate ethics committee is the proper forum to investigate all the allegations against De Lima,” De Jesus said.

“I have no personal knowledge of the allegation. I am just relying on the statement of the President.” Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Recto: Easy on the taxes

By Macon Araneta SENATE Minority Leader Ralph Recto said the farming and fishing sectors “must be spared the full brunt” of the proposed P10 tax per liter of gasoline “as such increase would impact on the price of food on the table.”

Recto urged the administration to “temper, trim its tax proposals and, in fact, throw away a few” and warned that a higher tax on fuel if not handled well, would have the effect of pouring gas into fire.

“Malacañang should be aware of how fuel costs affect prices of fish and other marine products, with gasoline accounting for up to 80 percent of the landed cost of some fish species.”

The senator cited a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources study that the share of gas and oil in the total fishing expense of a coastal or municipal fisherman ranges “from 31 percent for those who use shrimp gill nets, to a high 80 percent of a ‘drift hook and line’ fisherman.”

Fishermen who use the traditional beach seine, in which a net is pulled to the shore, spend 40 percent of their income to buy gas, Recto added.

As fishing grounds get depleted, fishermen now use more fuel to venture out further for longer periods but for less catch, Recto said.

With the spread of mechanized farming, fuel has also become a major farm input, as, in the case of rice, machines now perform all phases of growing, from plowing by tractors to harvesting by modern combines, Recto said, citing the government’s three horsepower per hectare mechanization target by the end of the year.

“In the case of palay, for every P1 gross, about 64 centavos is spent for production,” he said.

“On the average P80,000 gross per hectare, about P49,000 is the cost of production. If we will increase the price of gasoline of tractors, thresher and water pump, the income of farmers will be reduced,” Recto said.

“That’s just for production,” Recto stressed, “This does not include transportation, which is made costlier by the heavy traffic on our roads.”

Recto said any plan to raise the tax on fuel should be studied for “its impact on the foodproducing poor and the foodconsuming poor.”

SAME OLD STORY. Heavy traffic builds up along the southbound lanes of Roxas Blvd. on Thursday. Lino Santos

Duterte preparing for 1st China visit

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is preparing to visit China before the end of 2016, five months after the Philippines won a case against Beijing over territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said Friday.

In a television interview, Yasay said the visit will allow Duterte to take up the the peaceful settlement of the country’s maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea. “I know that there are plans for him to visit, but there are certain things that have to be threshed out before the visit can

CA upholds delay in license releases

By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has junked the plea of the government to stop the Regional Trial Court of Manila City from implementing the writ of preliminary injunction it issued last year stopping the Land Transportation Office from pushing through with its P336-million license card supply deal.

In a six page-resolution, CA’s Fourteenth Division through Associate Justice Renato Francisco ruled that petitioners Department of Transportation

and Communications and LTO failed to show the urgency of a temporary restraining order against the Manila RTC order issued on Oct. 1, 2015.

“This Court denies the prayer for writ of preliminary injunction as petitioners have not clearly demonstrated their clear legal right that would be protected by the issuance thereof,” the appellate court ruled.

“Suffice it to state that the exercise of its powers in awarding a contract to a winning bidder is highly regulated and an exercise of a duty rather than a right,” it said.

actually take place,” Yasay said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

“We would like to make sure that the visit would be one that is meaningful and fruitful… settlement of our dispute,” he added.

Yasay said one of the things that need to be threshed out is

that there are no conditions to Duterte’s visit.

“We’d like to make sure that for instance that the trip of the President, talking with the highest officials of China, will not be subject to any conditions. You don’t want to start off with certain conditions to be met. That’s something that we would like to discuss more thoroughly and clarify with China,” Yasay explained.

Duterte’s first official visit to the Southeast Asian countries will kick off in September starting with Brunei.

“I would anticipate that maybe some date later would be more realistic,” Yasay said of the China trip.

When asked if it will be at the end of the year, the Foreign chief said: “Yes, yes. This is something that we would like to push

through.”

China has been claiming 90-percent of the whole Island and waters of the South China Sea citing the nine-dash line map of its so called ancient Chinese map.

China has also an overlapping dispute with other Southeast Asian countries, like Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam.

There has not been a Philippine ambassador in China since former ambassador Erlinda Basilio, who fell ill while at her post.

Basilio replaced Sonia Brady who also fell ill while at Beijing in 2012.

Yasay said that he has already submitted his shortlist of possible candidates to serve as ambassador to China. Two of the candidates are career officials while the third is a political appointee.

Probe of Zambales diggings pushed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson is seeking a Senate inquiry into reported destructive mining operations and excavations in Zambales province, including the alleged smuggling of soil and rocks to build Chinese islands in the West Philippine Sea. Lacson filed Senate Resolution No. 92 to investigate the alleged exploitative activities that harm the environment and pose serious threats to national security to the prejudice of Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity. “[The investigation has] the end in view of

adopting remedial measures to strengthen our environmental protection and conservation laws and address the possible breach of our national security,” he said.

He cited reports of mining activities practically flattening the mountains and damaging a large area of forested highlands in Santa Cruz town.

Worse, he said some reports had quoted Zambales Governor Amor Deloso as saying soil and rocks taken from these areas were “shipped, dumped and used to reclaim almost 3,500 hectares of the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea, which caused massive, unspeakable damage to the marine environment therein.”

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines called on all Catholic priests to pray the “prayer for healing” during Mass and urged Catholic schools to also pray it before the start of classes to help stop the rising number of deaths under President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight against illegal drugs.

“The spate of killings and other challenges is hounding the country, and we are calling all

the faithful for prayer to heal the wounds and divisions afflicting the country.

“Our first armor is prayer.

So let us pray even more,” said CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas of LingayenDagupan.

The archbishop has also issued a “prayer for healing of the nation”, which asks for unity, solution to crimes and corruption, and compassion for those who died “in the present purge.”

Extra powers to help ease traffic mess SENATOR Alan Cayetano warned his colleagues in the Senate that the longer it takes Congress to grant emergency powers to the President, the longer it will take to resolve the country’s perennial traffic and congestion problem.

“For every one month that emergency powers is not given, it would mean additional three to six months in the implementation of infrastructure projects,” he said.

Cayetano also appealed to members of the House of Representatives to fast-track the passage of a counterpart bill in the Lower House. He filed Senate Bill No. 999 or the “Freedom from Traffic and Congestion Act of 2016.”

Macon R. Araneta

New DDB head named PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has named a new head of the Dangerous Drugs Board in the name of its former assistant secretary and deputy executive director for operations, Benjamin Reyes, replacing outgoing DBB Secretary, Felipe Rojas.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and work with the people of the DDB,” said Rojas whose stint at the agency helped develop guidelines on handling surrendering drug personalities, partnership with the Public Attorney’s Office on processing of petitions for confinement to treatment and rehabilitation, and presentation of proposed amendments to RA 9165.

The DDB Secretariat received the appointment papers of Reyes as chairman of the DDB, vice Felipe L. Rojas Jr., dated 24 August 2016.

John Paolo Bencito

FOI request on Abaya deals sought

CBCP issues prayer vs increased killings

By Vito Barcelo

IN BRIEF

TRULY INDONESIAN. Indonesian Ambassador Johny Lumintang rides big barong mask during the Reog Dance Festival at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Friday. The barong is a mythical lion-like creature that is the king of good spirits in Indonesian mythology.

A MILITANT group filed a Freedom of Information request before the DoTC to look into the status of the alleged onerous deals entered by the former Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. “[The group] filed a Freedom of Information request with the DoTr regarding the status of the LRT 1 privatization and Cavite extension project. The group wants to study the actions taken by the DoTC under then Secretary Jun Abaya, in relation to certain contract provisions critics have described as onerous,” said Renato Reyes, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. John Paolo Bencito

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Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

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EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Hero worship

N

EXT week the country will celebrate National Heroes’ Day, acknowledging the contributions of the great men and women whose lives—and deaths—shaped our nation’s history.

Last year, upon the showing of the film Heneral Luna, older Filipinos were aghast that some younger ones were clueless about why Apolinario Mabini, called the sublime paralytic, remained seated throughout the movie.

Thus followed a stinging criticism of how superficially we are educating our young, or how we are allowing them to be distracted by other things while losing sight of what is important.

As it is, this year’s commemoration of heroes is almost nothing but a calendar event, with children being grateful for another day of not having to go to school.

But perhaps our misdirected appreciation of our national heroes stems from the

erroneous notion that heroes are born among us to deliver us from evil and other tales of great courage and conviction. It’s a dangerous thing to pass on to the next generation, indeed.

It’s erroneous because this desperation for superheroes —saviors if you will—has often brought us untold misery over the years. It is at best silly and at worst dangerous to believe that any one person can solve the ills of this nation and bring light upon

this benighted land.

No single person is the epitome of good, evil, justice or courage. There are no absolutes; just a constant weighing of one quality against another.

This refusal to make sweeping judgments just because it is easy would be a worthy habit to pass on to the younger set who are often accused of laziness and entitlement, curiously because of the conditions we have created for them.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

The usual anniversary propaganda

Outrageous solutions POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO THINGS happen at dizzying speed these days. Good and bad things. With less than 100 days into the presidency, Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has been quite busy. Whatever one may say about this president and his people, no one can accuse them of laziness at this point. It seems to me that Digong is racing against time.

A number of good things have happened, indeed. The Freedom of Information (FOI) Executive Order is out. Hotlines 109 for emergencies and 8888 for corruption-related complaints are in place. Peace talks with the communists have resumed. The federalism train is starting to roll. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has ordered the distribution of over 358 hectares of Hacienda Luisita land.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is hard at work on controversial mining issues. The Senate is currently discussing the President’s desire for emergency powers so he can deal with the Metro Manila traffic crisis, to name some.

The possibility of real change is there, especially if these initial steps are carried out to fruition.

However, President Duterte is met with severe criticism because of the way he has been carrying out his war against drugs and corruption. These are the two biggest, and perhaps the most difficult issues that his administration faces. I still find unbelievable his methods of addressing these.

A little less than 2,000 suspected drug pushers have been so far mercilessly killed in the course of fulfilling his campaign promise to deal with the drug menace. I wonder how many were victims of mistaken identity. How many died as collateral damage to this war? Seven hundred fifty-six of those were

killed by the police. Any which way one looks at this, the numbers are staggering. No wonder the President and the police force are under fire especially from human rights advocates and the international community, including the United Nations.

More than 600,000 drug users (surely there are also pushers among them) are said to have surrendered, and more than

I take it back. I was just joking.

10,100 drug dealers have been arrested. Thus, we see pictures of our jails packed with prisoners. Mahihiya ang sardinas sa kanila.

But, what is the plan for those who surrendered? Are they in jail or were they set free? How many

of them are in rehabilitation centers? We know of one who admitted to killing a nurse AFTER he surrendered and set free again.

Digong said that the government would build more rehab centers. That is good but we presently have a big problem with those who came forward as drug users.

On the matter of corruption, the President has significantly connected this with the drug problem. Outside of this, he ordered the voluntary resignation of all presidential appointees except those that he put in positions.

Duterte made public names of politicians, military and police officers who he accused of being involved in illegal drugs. He has released two sets of names, the more recent including Senator Leila de Lima. The names of those in the lists needless to say, are now blemished despite the fact that no evidence has been presented against them, and thus, no cases filed yet.

Many find this highly irregular because, like in the cases of

those killed, due process should have been observed first. Let me categorically say that I do not have any attachment with anyone on the Duterte lists. They should all go to jail if warranted.

However, government is supposed to be first in respecting human rights, observing due process, and following the law.

And these, we do not see.

These, to me are outrageous ways of pursuing solutions to very serious problems. Since outrageous solutions seem to be the practice, let me suggest a thing or two.

On the drug problem, why don’t we put all those who surrendered and the drug peddlers in an uninhabited, isolated island?

If the administration thinks that they should not mingle with people, it might be an idea to exile them where they will not be able to do harm to others. Have them build their “houses”, plant their food, produce what they need with their bare hands so they are always busy. They survive Turn to A5

AUGUST 21, 2016 marked the 33rd anniversary of the assassination of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. at the tarmac of the national airport that now bears his name. That event triggered a complete overhaul of the existing political order three years later when his widow Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino seized the presidency in the guise of a revolutionary government.

As expected, the cable television channels featured documentaries on the so-called 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution which installed Mrs. Aquino to power, and about Ninoy and his wife. A number of newspapers and magazines also featured materials about the dreadful event at the airport, and recollections from people close to the couple. The recollections consisted of personal opinions about the assassination and praises for the Aquino couple, completely ignoring facts which put the Aquino widow in a bad light.

At the end of the day, it was the same old story. Almost stupefyingly, these anniversary materials all portrayed President Ferdinand Marcos as the villain, the dictator, the crook, the hated leader who was forced to flee the country when the crowds at Edsa swelled.

The surge in anti-Marcos propaganda takes place not only every August 21, but also during each anniversary of the Edsa revolt, the death of Mrs. Aquino, the death of President Marcos, and the day Marcos placed the Philippines under Martial Law. Details of the assassination story are available in many books and periodicals. Repeating them in this essay will only be surplusage. Instead, other, more important concerns must be raised.

President Marcos created a commission headed by then Supreme Court Chief Justice Enrique Fernando to investigate the assassination. Even before the Fernando Commission officially convened, Mrs. Aquino did not hide her distrust in the panel. With Mrs. Aquino’s blessings, her friends in the anti-Marcos camp like ex-Senator Lorenzo Tañada filed a petition in the Supreme Court questioning the authority of Fernando as the head of the commission. Soon thereTurn to A5

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Today Colombia, tomorrow the Philippines

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Frustrations in Philippine-US relations THE expletivesof President pressured us to sign Edca.

Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte are Moreover, US officials conmeant to drive home the point sider the blunt statements of the that our current relations with President as an expression of the US remain fragile as ever. personal sentiment that could Despite the long years of alli- be set aside to favor the overance, even preceding those that riding factor of national interthe US has entered into with its est. They try to hide the truth war-time enemies, Philippine- those incidents that gave rise to US relations remain so shaky the occasion for President Duthat a slight tremor could cause terte to speak out as an expresit to collapse and expose the sion of our national interest. hollowness upon which that The foreign policy statement so-called “special relations” is of the President has never been built. the venue for him to express his Such is the unique charac- personal sentiment. terization of Philippine-US reMany forgot that the May 16, lations; that it remains unstable 2002 incident where an Amerifor the fact that it is not a rela- can named Michael Terrence tionship grounded on the basis Meiring accidentally blasted of sovereignty of two independ- himself with a bomb which he ent states, but built to allow one kept or was tinkering inside his to serve as proxy to advance the hotel room at the Evergreen Hointerest of the other. President tel in Davao City was the turnDuterte’s harsh words, often ing point in Duterte attitude toloaded with insults, is not just wards the US. He saw how the telling of the general frustra- condescending behavior of the tion of the Filipino people who FBI in their treatment of local always get a raw deal in keep- officials when they spirited out ing that “special relations” with Meiring from the Davao City the US. hospital without the courtesy Many political analysts try of informing them. to downplay the impact of what What caught Duterte’s ire the President said like his ad- was his suspicion that Meiring mission of being annoyed at was involved in false flag opUS Ambassador Philip Gold- erations to destabilize the govberg for his comment about the ernment. His suspicion was Australian missionary who was heightened in April 2003 when raped and murdered in a prison two deadly blasts occurred at riot in Davao and the UN for the Davao International Aircriticizing his administration port where 21 people were of the extrajudicial killings of killed, 148 wounded, and was drug pushers. However, they closely followed by the bombfailed to analyze that Duterte ing of Sasa Wharf, killing 17 simply reacted to the ambas- and wounding 56. Somehow sador’s comment as meddling Duterte continued to nurture in our elections. The President the suspicion that the US was was also irritated, for instead involved in the covert operaof a rapporteur sent to discuss tions to boost the bargaining with him their concern, the UN leverage of the MILF for seceslashed out at his policy, which sion. While there was no clear to him was uncalled for, much evidence linking the US to the that it amounted to a public spate of bombings, it was obviindictment of ous that the US his administrawas exerting tion for human pressure on the rights violanational govThey remain tion. He said, ernment to sign if the UN can fragile as ever. the proposed give him one Bangsamoro bad point, he law. can cite 10 bad D ut e r t e points against could not hide the international body like its his displeasure to the conduct inability to stop the senseless of the US that the Sangguniang killings now happening in Syr- Panglungsod of Davao supia and Iraq. ported by the majority of the As observed, the recalibra- Barangay Captains passed a tion of the country’s foreign resolution banning the holding policy is telling that soon after of any US Balikatan Exercise Noynoy Aquino was elected in Davao City or to allow its President, it saw the gradual territory to station US drones. erosion of the country’s sov- In other words, the US already ereignty in favor of realigning had a forewarning of what to it to the US orbit. We have expect from the Duterte adpractically been marshalled to ministration; that he would be the new US call of containing different from his predecessor China. Instead of defining the who exhibited the most menial country’s relations with other form of docility by making the countries along the traditional Philippines as the one fighting mode of pursuing our national for the US interest, and not the interest through alignment, the US fighting for our interest as Noynoy Aquino administration an ally. virtually substituted our forIn fact, when Washington eign policy with that of the US, felt threatened that Philipequating it as integral to our pine-US relations might just national interest. be derailed by the seemingly This one could easily dis- uncontrollable mouth of Presicern as that when the Aquino dent Duterte who called Amadministration signed the En- bassador Goldberg “bakla,” hanced Defense Cooperation it hastily sent State Secretary Agreement (Edca) allowing John Kerry to prevent further the return of the US military deterioration that could jeopbases; insisted on a multilateral ardize the bilateral relations approach in resolving our dis- that were strengthened in their pute with China over the South favor by the Noynoy Aquino China Sea; and by bringing our administration. However, the case to the Permanent Court fence-mending visit of Secreof Arbitration (PCA) to decide tary Kerry did not stop Presion our claim despite the con- dent Duterte from giving more sequence that a decision could of his nasty remarks. After uneffectively narrow down our expectedly receiving a check option to reach an agreement worth $32 million to help the with China. The docile Noynoy country’s law enforcement, he Aquino administration’s pri- jokingly told Defense Secremordial concern was to give tary Delfin Lorenzana, “basjustification to the US pres- tusin pa natin itong buang ence in this part of the globe. na ito para magbigay pa.”

In fact, the return of the US Unfortunately, the remnants bases is now used as leverage of the hypocritical yellow adto ensure the freedom of navi- ministration failed to get the gation in the South China Sea cue that the check was an en“enforced” by its regular navy, dorsement by the US of Dudifferent from the reason why it terte’s relentless drive against

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA IT SEEMED impossible.

After four years of grinding negotiations, the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) agreed to put an end to the longestrunning insurgency in Latin America. It was a vicious 52 years of guerilla insurgency with almost a quarter of a million killed and another 7 million displaced. Under the terms of the peace accord, FARC will demobilize its 7,000 fighters and move to UN camps where they will be given 180 days to disarm.

This low-intensity guerrilla war is remarkable because of extensive participation by minors or child guerillas in the insurgency. According to human rights groups around 20 percent to 30 percent of FARC recruits are minors, most of whom are forced to join the guerillas. In prosecuting its war, FARC has been accused of massive human rights violations including hostage taking, assassinations, bombings, involvement in the drug trade which is the main source of their funding and other criminal activities.

The cocaine trade is largely responsible for making the FARC an economic powerhouse. Some say that the FARC is little more than a terrorist organization devoid of any ideological pretensions.

Its present state is a far cry when it first emerged in the 60s as a communist-inspired army emerged in the mid1960 defending the rights of peasants in rural Colombia.

The administrations of President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010) and President Juan Manuel

The usual...

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after, Fernando resigned from the commission, and the case became moot.

Finally, when then Assemblyman Arturo Tolentino, an acknowledged constitutionalist and a staunch Marcos ally in the Batasang Pambansa, revealed that the creation of the Fernando Commission was legally infirm, the commission was dissolved.

Surprisingly, the Aquino camp claimed authorship of the demise of the Fernando Commission.

The second panel to investigate the assassination was the Agrava Board, headed by then retired appellate court magistrate Corazon JulianoAgrava. Even if it’s creation had no legal infirmity, and its panel members were not identified with the administration, Mrs. Aquino still refused to recognize the impartiality of the board.

In time, four of the five members of the Agrava Board came out with a report implicating several officials in the highest echelons of the military establishment, including General

Outrageous...

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based on what they produce.

Who knows? These people might be able to realize things, and eventually, develop a productive community.

This idea is not new. We know that there are places that a long time ago were used as “jails” for the dregs of society. Eventually, illegal drugs for which they are harping now of human rights violations.

The US should have anticipated that the incoming Duterte administration would be seeking to redefine our relations to one

Santos (2010-to date) carried out numerous military offensives which considerably reduced the number of FARC to its current level of 7,000 combatants. These offensives also effectively diminished the territory under the control of the guerillas and pushed them back to remote and sparsely populated mountain redoubts.

In 2012, the Santos government announced that it was engaging in exploratory talks with the FARC. It was reported by the media that the initiative began after Santos met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and asked him to mediate. But former President Uribe was and remains against the holding of peace talks with the FARC “at any cost.” He called for a signature-collecting campaign of “civil resistance” to the peace initiatives of President Juan Manuel Santos.

But with the peace deal signed, President Santos wants that it be subject to a referendum for approval by the people. He is confident that the Colombians will overwhelmingly endorse the peace agreement in the coming plebiscite which will be held in the coming months.

The plebiscite is seen as a final confrontation between two towering figures in Colombia—President Santos and former President Uribe.

While President Santos has the backing of the United Nations and the United States, he seems to be struggling with a low popularity ratings among the people who matter—the Colombians. On the other hand, former President Urbize, who during his presidency significantly weakened FARC’s fighting force, remains an influential figure in Colombian politics. To end the longest insurgency in the Western hemisphere is no small feat.

The peace deal is certainly a historic moment for Colombia.

Disarmament, opposition by

Urbize and his supporters, the grant of amnesty to its leaders perceived to have committed human rights violations will prove to be daunting obstacles.

But it cannot be denied that with the signing of the peace deal, peace in Colombia is a distinct reality.

In this part of the world, the Philippines has the distinction of having the longest-running Communist rebellion in the world. Jose Maria Sison founded the Communist Party of the Philippines in 1968 while its armed wing the New People’s Army was formed by Bernabe Buscayno in 1968. Since then the State has been in constant war with this revolutionary group. Over the years, the Philippine government has made use of three-pronged approach to end the war, the military option, low intensity warfare and peace negotiations. Of the three, peace negotiation remains the most viable tool of ending the conflict. In the past, peace negotiations broke down because both the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (which includes the CPP and NPA) suffered from a trust deficit. The government had been accused of violating its ceasefire agreements while the Communists were in turn accused of using the peace process to achieve their tactical objectives.

Peace process and agreements initiated by various governments since the time of Corazon Aquino have been largely intermittent and inconclusive. The most significant progress that the peace negotiations reached was in 1998 in The Hague when the parties produced the Comprehensive Agreement to Respect Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. With the ascent of President Duterte, peace process has gained a new impetus. Peace negotiations recently resumed

in Oslo, Norway. Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who is concurrent GPH chairman, led the fivemember government panel that met with NDF leaders—some of whom flew directly from the Philippines immediately after being released on bail.

Despite early setbacks because of a heated exchange between the feisty president and the CPP founding chairman, never before has the environment been so conducive to arriving at a peace accord. The President himself has a long history of dealing with Communists as a mayor of Davao for more than 20 years where he succssfully made that city a peace haven where both military and revolutionary forces did not attack each other.

The goodwill and optimism between the two parties are palpable. As of the deadline of this column, the government and the NDF has reached agreement on the issues in their agenda, including the acceleration of the peace process. I will write about these in my next column.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in his classic novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, condemned the town of the book’s protagonist to dissapear forever from history because it will not be given a second opportunity in earth. Sometimes, I feel like the Philippines is like that and we too are condemned to a hundred years of solitude without another opportunity to be given us as we repeat our violent history.

Fortunately, Colombia, the Philippines may be in the cusp of a historic moment, that is, the end of a long-standing conflict with a formidable revolutionary movement. And the country will be better for it.

Fabian Ver, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Almost overnight, Mrs. Aquino and her allies praised the board’s majority report.

Even Mrs. Aquino’s own brother-in-law, Agapito “Butz” Aquino, offered to raise funds, through his August TwentyOne Movement, for the construction of a prison to house the military personnel implicated by the board.

From the way Mrs. Aquino comported herself, however, it was certain that if the Agrava Board submitted a report exculpating the military from any involvement in the assassination, Mrs. Aquino would have denounced the group. That is to be expected, of course, but then the record indicates that Mrs. Aquino distrusted the Agrava Board from Day 1.

What is the point here? By refusing to recognize the impartiality of the Agrava Board from the start, Mrs. Aquino assured herself of an excuse to denounce the board if its ultimate report would not have been to her liking. To paraphrase a local saying, Mrs. Aquino was paddling her canoe simultaneously on two rivers.

For reasons undisclosed, the foregoing was not reported in

those pro-Aquino anniversary documentaries and feature reports.

The president is the head of the executive department of the government, as well as the commander-in-chief of the AFP. That means the president has control over all the intelligence establishments of the state, including the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, and the investigation units of the AFP. When Mrs. Aquino held the presidency from February 1986 to July 1992, she did bother to exercise her power and prerogatives as president to unearth what the Agrava Board was unable to disclose—the mastermind of her husband’s assassination.

Mrs. Aquino’s sycophants and historians may suggest that she was too above-board to abuse the powers and prerogatives of her office, especially when she had to demonstrate to the public that she was the opposite of her predecessor, whom she identified as abusive.

That’s a lame excuse. It erroneously assumes that as the widow of the slain senator, Mrs. Aquino has the option not to ressurect a sad chapter in her life.

To state the obvious, unmasking the mastermind of the Aquino assassination is important not only to Mrs. Aquino and the Aquino family, but also to all Filipinos. The fact that the top political opposition leader of the Philippines was gunned down in broad daylight, at a public airport, while under military escort, and in the presence of local and international media, is enough to vest in the public the right to know who planned Ninoy Aquino’s assassination.

For many, Mrs. Aquino’s inaction when she was president is very disturbing.

Like his mother before him, President Benigno “P’Noy” Aquino III never bothered to ascertain, during his incumbency, who organized his father’s assassination. P’Noy’s inaction and disinterest are both surprising and unnatural. Under ordinarily circumstances, the only son of a murdered father is almost certain to do everything in his power to find out who was responsible for the murder, and to keep on searching for the truth until he is successful, or until he himself is dead.

This, too, was not reported in those anniversary documentaries and feature reports.

some developed even better than our country has.

On corruption, to ensure that no one will violate our corruption laws, we need those in government to sign a contract. The contract will say that in the event that a case of graft or corruption is filed against them, the government will have the power to confiscate half of their assets and properties for safekeeping. If they get acquitted, the same will

be returned to them. But if they get convicted, the government will be empowered to confiscate the rest of their properties. These assets will then be redistributed to the poorest of the poor.

By doing this, we will be addressing corruption and abject poverty at the same time. Isn’t it beautiful?

But then, who will dare enter public service? Only those with noble hearts, or those with

nothing to lose, will.

Outrageous you say? Isn’t what we are having now also outrageous?

By the way, I am writing this while I am tired, hungry, and disappointed.

Oh, I take it back. I was just joking. Can’t you take a joke?

Aquino administration that was a clear signal the country would be abandoning the decision of the PCA and in lieu would seek a bilateral approach to reach some kind of win-win settlement of our dispute with China. Some

say, that decision has turned table for China to make concessions if only to prevent President Duterte from entertaining doubts to the delight of the US.

that would fine tune our national interest, instead of being retooled as proxy to US interest in the region. Specifically, when President Duterte sent a special envoy to China to deal with the problem left by the Noynoy

Facebook: Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

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Solons back plan to summon Ledac

By Maricel V. Cruz

LAWMAKERS rallied behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s positive response to the holding of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council sometime in September and October to harmonize the administration’s legislative agenda.

In separate interviews, Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte and Lipa City Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto said the convening of Ledac would speed up the implementation of infrastructure projects and guarantee the passage of key laws needed by the Duterte administration.

“This is a welcome development to further strengthen the Executive and Legislative partnerships in implementing public infrastructure projects and development programs for fair distribution of the benefits of economic growth,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez, wife of former House Independent Bloc Leader and exLeyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, said Ledac will help lawmakers “formu-

IN BRIEF MIAA head formally appointed THE board of directors of the Manila International Airport Authority has formally appointed general manager Eddie Villanueva Monreal to assume his duties and responsibilities effective August 25.

Since assuming office, Monreal had already instituted reforms and improvements to better serve the passengers and airports users of the four terminals of the Naia.

He laid the groundwork’s for the reactivation of the airport security center, a central desk connecting all agencies designed to provide immediate response to passenger complaints and concerns. In terms of decongestion, Monreal representing MIAA, the Civil Aviation Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, had introduce restrictions on general aviation and aerial works traffic at Naia that in turn will increase the numbers of commercial flights per hour to minimize flight delays. Eric Apolonio

late a game plan to ensure the passage of President Duterte’s legislative agenda and avoid the vetoing of laws in the future as an offshoot of the possible lack of coordination.”

Villafuerte stressed the need for Malacañang to convene the Ledac ahead of schedule to tackle urgent measures in Congress, including the proposal to postpone the holding of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections due this October 31.

“We laud the Duterte administration’s resolve to promote a much better working relationship between the executive and legislative departments by revitalizing this once dormant advisory council,” said Villafuerte, author of House Bill 1290 which aims to postpone the barangay and SK polls from October 31, 2016 to February 27, 2017.

Villafuerte said convening the Ledac sooner than originally scheduled has now become even more urgent following the recent separate pronouncements made by President Duterte himself and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez supporting calls to postpone the village and SK polls in October.

GOVERNMENT REACHING THE POOR.

Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (center) helps 68-year-old stroke victim Honorio Mora of Babatngon, Leyte try out the wheelchair the congresswoman acquired from the Department of Health. Babatngon Mayor Marife Rondina (left) was also at the turnover.

Ver Noveno

Comelec ready for polls but still hopes for delay

By Vito Barcelo

P

REPARATIONS are right on track for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October, but the Commission on Elections is still hoping the polls would be postponed, the Commission on Elections said Friday.

“Right now, the law says we must have an election on October 31. As long as there is no law that postpones it, we don’t have a choice but to implement the law,” said Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista.

During the Senate committee hearing on the proposed postponement of the polls, Bautista said they are neutral on the issue but also appealed to postpone the polls only until 2017 so as not to

coincide with their preparations for the 2019 mid-term elections.

“Elections should be spaced from each other,” Bautista added.

Bautista said they are hoping that before September 1, Congress will already have a decision on whether to postpone the elections.

Meanwhile, the Comelec said that printing of the 85 million barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan ballots for the October

31 elections is now in progress and the target output for Barangay and SK ballots is 1.9 million to 200 million from September 1 to October 21.

The Project of Precincts (POP) contains the polling precincts in every barangay, number of registered voters for every precinct, and number of established precincts for every clustered precinct.

The Commission started the printing of ballots last May 21 at the National Printing Office in Quezon City.

Fifty-seven million of the total 85 million ballots will be for the barangay polls, while the remaining 28 million is allotted for SK. Around 200,000 ballots per day will be printed until August 31.

Drug agent killed in op A DRUG suspect was killed in buy-bust operation in Quezon City Friday morning.

Sr. Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District acting director, said a poseur-buyer from the district’s Station 10 in Barangay Kamuning was shot and wounded while grappling for the suspect’s firearm during an operation in Barangay Pinyahan.

Supt. Pedro Sanchez, Station 10 commander, said their antiillegal drug operatives conducted a buy-bust operation along NIA Road at about 1:30 a.m. after receiving information from those who surrendered about the suspect’s illicit drug activity.

The poseur-buyer arranged to buy shabu from the suspect, identified only as Gary, but the suspect apparently sensed that he was dealing with a policeman and drew his gun. Rio Araja

postponed following overwhelming support for its deferment from Congress and other sectors.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he supports a joint resolution filed in Congress seeking the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections initially scheduled in October.

Alvarez said holding off the elections would be practical.

“I think it’s just practical to postpone the elections because as we know, when there is an election, we cannot appoint or remove people from their posts,” he told reporters.

Several resolutions had been filed in the Lower House calling for the postponement of the village and youth polls slated for October.

MMDA revamp looms, chief says

Gringo, Jinggoy under probe THE Office of the Ombudsman is now investigating former Agrarian Reform secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Senator Gregorio Honasan II and ex-senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada for their alleged involvement in a P220million scam in 2010 to 2011.

A field investigation showed in 2010 to 2011, DAR allocated P220 million for livelihood and training projects for farmers in the 27 towns of Isabela, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Quezon, Batangas and Pangasinan.

Despite several notices of disallowance from the Commission on Audit due to nonexistence of the projects, the P220-million fund remained unliquidated. Rio Araja

A total of 1,614,695 new voters aged 15-18 registered for the SK elections.

Even President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday agreed it would be good to postpone the barangay and SK elections for at least a year because of budget constraints.

“You know, it’s too expensive.

You know, the budget preparation is a one year’s work. I only entered in mid-stream, only halfway. I have many problems [to solve],” Duterte said. “I don’t have money. I would be saving millions, as these officials would win anyway.”

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who heads the Senate committee on local government, said the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will likely be

By Joel E. Zurbano

AQUACULTURE TRAINING. Senator Cynthia A. Villar and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of-

ficials Josephine dela Vega and Aurelio Carandang release fingerlings at a demonstration farm that will train fishermen in farming. Lino Santos

THE Metro Manila Development Authority will soon undergo a major reorganization as part of the agency’s reform program and improve the quality of work of its personnel.

This was announced by MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos, six days after President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him as concurrent officer-in-charge of the agency, replacing lawyer Emerson Carlos.

“Yes, we will be having a reshuffle within the week until next week,” said Orbos, the younger brother of former Transportation secretary Oscar Orbos.

“We will not removing people.

We will do this [reshuffle] because traffic management is no longer with us, so therefore I have to realign the resources with me to focus on the rest that I will have

to work on,” he added.

The planned reshuffle came after the government created an inter-agency task group that will now handle traffic management in the National Capital Region.

On Thursday, Orbos and other government officials led by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade signed an agreement to formalize the creation of an Inter-Agency Traffic Management Team in a bid to promote cooperation in the fields of traffic congestion, commuters’ safety, anti-colorum operations, and enforcement of traffic rules.

The Inter-Agency Traffic Management Team is composed of the Department of Transportation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, Police Highway Patrol Group and MMDA.

2 cops claim motorist tried to snatch firearms

Prove sincerity, QC dad told

By Rey E. Requejo

IF QUEZON City councilor Hero Clarence Bautista is sincere in his desire to change after confessing to drug use, he should also disclose the source of the illegal drugs he used, QC police chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said on Friday.

Eleazar made the appeal as the anti-crime watchdog Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption filed charges against the councilor and his brother QC Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Eleazar said he expects Bautista to give him the information of his supplier of drugs “in his own time” because it was his duty as a public official.

“He has surrendered and subjected himself to voluntary rehabilitation. I am inviting him to give information,” he told the Manila Standard. “I am ready to wait for

THE two policemen accused of murdering a motorist inside a squad car en route to the police station denied the accusations against them and insisted victim John dela Riarte resisted arrest and tried to snatch their sidearms.

In separate counter-affidavits, Police Officer 3 Jeremiah de Villa and PO2 Jonjie Manon-og claimed Dela Riarte twice attempted to snatch their firearms, first, when De Villa approached him when he was allegedly kicking and smashing a car using his crash helmet and second, when he was inside the patrol vehicle while on their way to Camp Crame.

De Villa and Manon-og, who both showed up during the preliminary investigation before the

Department of Justice, claimed Dela Riarte tried to snatch their firearms.

De Villa narrated that MMDA constables Bayani B. Batac III and Jeslie M. Manlangit tried to subdue Dela Riarte, but he was tall and strong, prompting him to punch the motorcyclist in the stomach and the side.

De Villa said he told Dela Riarte to stop and then he was handcuffed.

The victim, however, continued cursing and spewing invectives at them.

He said they decided to take Dela Riarte to Camp Crame. Manon-og rode with Dela Riarte at the backseat while he drove the patrol car.

Manon-og, in his counter-affidavit, claimed that while on their way to Camp Crame, Dela Riarte head butted him and tried to grab his service firearm.

By Rio N. Araja

him to share the information.”

“He knows what his duty is as a councilor. We are just waiting for him,” Eleazar said.

But the VACC, represented by its founding chairman Dante Jimenez, slapped charges against the councilor for violation of the Adminsitrative Code for dishonesty, neglect of duty, misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service as public official.

The group also filed charges of dishonesty and neglect of duty against Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista before the Ombudsman for the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city.

Jimenez said Bautista as the chief local executive failed to advise or even sanction his brother over his drug use.

The councilor should have resigned from his post, instead of

taking a leave of absence so he could undergo a six-month rehabilitation, he added.

“Unfortunately for the people of Quezon City, your mayor has reduced the Office of the local chief executive as a mere bystander [“miron”] in the government’s fight against illegal drugs,” the group’s statement read.

The Bautista brothers supposedly violated Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and committed dereliction of duty under the Revised Penal Code, Jimenez said.

In addition, the two local officials allegedly violated Ordinance Adopting the Anti-Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation Program and Ordinance Implementing The Drug-Free Workplace as well as the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, he further said.

Sports Reed, Laird grab early golf lead at Barclays NEW YORK—Patrick Reed and Martin Laird fired fiveunder-par 66s to open up a oneshot lead after the first round of The Barclays Championship on Thursday.

World number 14 Reed rattled off 10 consecutive pars over the opening 10 holes before hitting three birdies and an eagle over the final eight holes at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale.

Reed’s impressive opening round left him sitting pretty alongside Scotland’s Laird after a first round that saw Sweden’s Henrik Stenson limp out injured.

Reed, who teed off on the back nine, grabbed the first of his three birdies on the second, before eagling the par-five fourth hole with a 16-foot putt.

Further birdies on six and seven completed a flawless display for the 26-year-old from San Antonio, who is chasing a fifth PGA Tour victory.

“My goal today was to stay patient, stay in it,” Reed said.

“I felt like I was hitting the ball well. I wasn’t being that patient when I made 10 straight pars but I was able to get myself on a hot streak and get going. And anytime you shoot bogey-free you’re going to get a low one.”

Laird meanwhile also produced a blemish-free round, carding a 66 after sinking five birdies and no bogeys.

Laird and Reed finished ahead of a group of four players on four under, which included Rickie Fowler.

Fowler’s round included three birdies and an eagle and would have been good enough for a share of the lead had it not been for a bogey on the par-four ninth, when his second shot landed in the front bunker.

“It was a good solid start,” said Fowler, who believes accuracy off the tee will be key heading into the remaining three rounds. AFP

A7

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

US swimmer Lochte charged over false Rio robbery claim R

IO DE JANEIRO—The Brazilian authorities have charged US swimming star Ryan Lochte with making a false statement about being robbed at gunpoint during the Olympics, police said Thursday.

The 32-year-old gold medalwinner risks a jail sentence, Brazilian media quoted a police official as saying, although the judicial authorities had yet to confirm that.

“Ryan Lochte was charged with the crime of falsely reporting a crime,” police said in a statement, adding that the case had been referred to the courts.

The police statement said they had recommended the

courts issue a summons for Lochte to be questioned.

“Once he is summoned, whether he turns up or not, the penalty is the same: one to six months’ prison,” the news website G1 Rio quoted police official Clemente Braune as saying.

“If he is summoned and does not turn up to the hearing, the trial will go ahead in the accused’s absence until the final sentence is given.”

Vandalized bathroom Lochte apologized last week for saying that he and three teammates had been mugged on their way back from an all-night party by robbers pretending to be police.

Rio police chief Fernando Veloso later told a news conference that the swimmers were not robbed but detained when they tried to flee after vandalizing a gas station bathroom.

The tale humiliated first the Brazilian hosts of the Games and later Lochte’s own Team USA after police contested his story.

Top sponsors such as Speedo and Ralph Lauren abandoned Lochte this week.

“I’m taking full responsibility for it,” Lochte said in an interview

broadcast late Saturday.

“I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Drunken urination Lochte had earlier issued a written apology that was widely ridiculed online as half-hearted.

In the later NBC interview, he also admitted he was still intoxicated when he gave his initial account of the incident, adding: “I let my team down.”

Following the incident, Lochte flew back to the United States, while the other three swimmers— Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen—stayed in Brazil.

Police last week released closed-circuit TV footage and other evidence about the events at

Smart Bro backs UFC

Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas and BJ “The Prodigy Penn” show their fighting stance before Kenneth Berger, UFC Executive Vice President and General Manager, Asia.

The two fighters headline the UFC Fight Night Manila at SM MOA Arena on Oct.15. With Smart Bro as the official mobile carrier partner of UFC in the Philippines, subscribers can look forward to exclusive perks and experiences in the much anticipated event.

Edwards confident of beating IBF flyweight champ Casimero

By Ronnie Nathanielsz Go Fit, Go Box Gym.

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMP. The Standard Insurance Duathlon Team, led by its reigning top athlete Joey de los Reyes (center), defended its championship title in the Philippine Duathlon Series, Leg 4, at The Villages, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, recently. De los Reyes swept the individual championship in all of the three men’s elite events, while John Tapia (left) and Bohol’s Emmanuel Comendador took home titles in their respective events.

BRITISH boxer Charlie Edwards, who only has eight fights to his name is confident of beating IBF flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero when they clash at the O2 Arena in London on Sept. 10.

After two, three-minute rounds on the punch-mitts with Danny Vaughan, the trainer said Edwards was “absolutely on.”

The confident, young British boxer followed his punch-mitts routine by going straight into his strength and conditioning session at the

Reports from the Gym said Edwards was ripped and ready, even predicting “Britain will have another world champion, mark my word.”

Meantime, veteran trainer Jhun Agrabio has warned Casimero not to take challenger Edwards for granted.

Agrabio told the Filipino world champion, who won the title by a fourth-round knockout over Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng: “You can’t afford to take him lightly because if you do, you’ll be in deep trouble.

They won’t be bringing us over there to see their fighter lose.

They must have seen something in Casimero that they believe their fighter can exploit.”

The 26-year-old Casimero, who holds a record of 22-3, with 14 KOs, is in the final stages of his training in Caloocan City and is slated to fly to England on Sept. 4.

Agrabio noted that the 23-year-old Edwards is the type of fighter not to be messed with.

Edwards himself told Sky Sports in London: “Many people think this is too early but believe me when I say this--the IBF world title is coming home with me.”

Something stinks

WHILE there were some classic fights and displays of amazing skill and courage in the just-concluded Rio Olympic Games’ boxing tournament, there were instances of terrible judging and serious questions about whether the decision to remove headgear for the male boxers made sense.

One of the most passionate men in boxing, World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman, who certainly knows whereof he speaks, maintained that the absence of headgear supported his contention that it would result in unnecessary cuts and unfortunate decisions for a couple of fighters, who had to withdraw from their gold-medal bouts precisely because of bad cuts.

The most prominent case was that of Russian bantamweight Vladimir Nikitin, who withdrew from his semifinal clash with Shakur Stevenson of the United States after he suffered several cuts in his hugely controversial victory over Ireland’s Michael Conlan.

By widespread acclaim, Conlan seemingly had won handily only to lose on the scorecards of the judges, who favored the Russian fighter.

Conlan went berserk after his

the gas station.

The athletes, who appeared intoxicated, stopped in a taxi at the gas station to use the bathroom during the early hours of the morning.

Lochte and the others then vandalized the area near the bathroom and, according to the manager, urinated on the walls.

Confronted by a security guard, they tried to leave. When the confrontation escalated, the security guard took out his pistol and made them sit on the ground.

After paying around $50 in compensation for the damage, they left unharmed and returned to the athletes’ village.

“There was no robbery of the kind reported by the athletes,” Veloso said. AFP

defeat. He lambasted AIBA for being “corrupt” in an expletivelaced outburst, claiming he was robbed of a rightful win and vowing never to compete again in any AIBA-organized tournament since the international organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee had “robbed him of his Olympic dream.”

To many who watched the fight, the decision in favor of the Russian boxer was a travesty, which gave basis to the ire of Conlan, who ranted that the Russians “obviously cannot dope this time and so they are obviously paying the judges a lot more.”

He alleged that “corruption runs deep,” and made it clear he would never fight in any AIBA competition in the future after he lost, 2928, to the Russian on the scorecards of all three judges and that the Russian was “completely surprised to win” and roared as though he had won the gold medal, which he didn’t, having to pull out with several cuts on his face.

The Irish Times naturally reacted strongly since Conlan was an Irish Olympian. It said Olympic boxing’s governing body, AIBA, has taken further action in the wake of “the judging controversy which has rocked the Rio games.”

AIBA confirmed that its executive director, the Algerian Karim Bouzidi, had been “re-assigned with immediate effect” to a new role in the organization. This fol-

lowed the expulsion of a number of judges – believed to total six, which included a Sri Lanka judge, who was involved in the Conlan bout– from the games in light of a series of officiating issues, chiefly involving defeats for Kazakhstan heavyweight Vassiliy Levit and Conlan.

One of those officials believed to have been sent home is another Algerian, Kheira Sidi Yakoub, who both refereed the Conlan fight and scored the heavyweight final in favor of the Russian’s Evgeny Tishchenko.

The British newspaper, Daily Mail, referred to AIBA president Dr. Wu as “the shadowy president of the governing body of world amateur boxing who sounds like a villain in a Bond movie –and his acolytes struggled to control the fall-out from some hotly disputed decisions.”

But Dr. Wu, in a defiant stand, vowed to make Conlan pay for his outburst at the games and says he won’t allow him to get away with those statements. “(Tishchenko) never said anything. (Levit) never said anything.

They all accept (sic) the result. But he (Conlan) immediately showed his finger to the referee-judges.

The IOC says this is totally unacceptable. You cannot humiliate people. They are officials. He put himself in a difficult position, I can tell you. A lot of disciplinary action will follow. You should show proper behavior. If you are

not happy about the result, you cannot humiliate in public,” Dr. Wu said.

The head of the World Boxing Council called on Monday for amateur boxing to reinstitute head guards after they were absent during the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Sulaiman, taking issue with a decision by the International Boxing Association to remove headgear for male boxers during the Olympics, said the number of facial cuts that occurred in the competition underline his concern.

“Having the headgear removed was a very dangerous and risky decision, and I was proven [correct] that it was a terrible situation, with the number of cuts,” Sulaiman told Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times in a telephone conversation from his Mexico City office.

Nikitin last week withdrew from his Olympic semifinal fight against Shakur Stevenson of the US after sustaining multiple facial cuts in his controversial quarterfinal victory.

Sulaiman said he has gathered photos of other fighters, who were cut in the competition, and he took issue with the implication of an Aug. 6 New York Times article headlined “Making Olympic Boxing Safer by Eliminating Head Guards.”

In the article, opinions that head guards provide fighters a false sense of security while creating a target for punching were presented, along with the results of a study

commissioned by the AIBA that found acute brain injuries declined when head guards were not used. “[AIBA didn’t] report cuts went up [significantly]. Head guards have been a protection [since 1984],” Sulaiman said. “Kids need to fight with headgear.”

Female fighters did. There’s so much inconsistency, everything’s so confusing. They just came out and made decisions without doing the thorough research that merits these decisions.

“With multiple fights in a short period of time [during the Olympics], cuts can cause the fighters to be out of the competition.”

There was immediate reaction to Dr. Wu’s statement on Conlan.

Hugh McBride said the IOC talks of Conlan humiliating the referee and judges, but there was no word of the humiliation that they had laid out on Conlan, who had beaten his opponent so badly that he had to pull out of his next fight.

Besides, why should Conlan be punished for reacting to an obviously ridiculous decision? Conlan out-boxed the Russian clearly and if anybody should be punished it should be the officials.

Indeed, by removing some judges, referees and the executive director, Dr. Wu effectively admitted there was wrong-doing. We do not dare speculate whether it was incompetence, bribery or some other form of corruption but clearly something stinks in AIBA.

SMART Bro subscribers all over the country are in for the ultimate UFC experience as the country’s leading mobile broadband brand is backing the much anticipated UFC Fight Night Manila headlined by BJ “The Prodigy” Penn vs Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas on Oct. 15 at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Smart Bro recently unveiled the best deal ever in the market—the iPad mini 2 at only P599 a month. Now, the number 1 mobile broadband provider unleashes yet another exclusive and amps the broadband experience as the official mobile broadband partner of UFC in the Philippines.

Under its multi-year partnership with the world’s premier MMA organization, Smart Bro has also sent lucky subscribers to watch the recent UFC 200 live at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and has been hosting UFC live viewing parties with special perks for Smart Bro subscribers.

“We expect the return of the UFC Fight Night in Manila to be more explosive than ever, and our subscribers can watch out for an unrivaled UFC experiences that only Smart Bro can deliver,” said Gary Dujali Vice President and Consumer Broadband Marketing Head.

“Beyond offering the country’s fastest, widest and most reliable mobile broadband connection, Smart Bro is big in enriching the passions of our subscribers with unparalleled experiences. By getting a Smart Bro Pocket WiFi or our iPad mini 2 for as low as P599 a month now, Filipino UFC fans have the chance to unlock exclusive Smart Bro UFC experiences.”

Smart Bro gives Filipinos the best way to own the iPad Mini 2 for only P599 a month, by simply adding P300 on top of their Smart Bro Plan 299 monthly and pay P2,500 cash-out. Powered by Smart Bro’s fast and reliable connection, subscribers can seamlessly enjoy the UFC Fight Pass, a digital platform providing fans with exclusive UFC content and access to the world’s largest library of fight content.

Olympian sells medal to save cancer patient WARSAW—Polish discus thrower Piotr Malachowski, who took silver at the Rio Olympics, said that he auctioned off his medal this week to fund treatment for a three-year-old boy struck with cancer.

The 33-year-old world champion wrote on his Facebook page that he was moved to auction his prize after receiving a letter from the mother of a boy called Olek who said he had been battling eye cancer for two years and that treatment in New York was his only hope.

“I fought for gold in Rio. Today I’m calling on everyone to fight for something even more precious,” Malachowski wrote on Friday to announce the auction.

“If you help me, my silver medal may turn out to be more precious than gold for Olek,” he said, adding that he would use the entire sum raised to pay for treatment.

“Success,” he later wrote, saying the medal had found takers. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Sports

A masked LA Revilla of Mahindra is confronted by TNT’s Jayson Castro in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the Enforcers, 107-104.

Mahindra slays giant TNT

By Jeric Lopez

U

LTIMATE giant killers.

That’s what Mahindra is as it slayed its biggest victim so far, taking down erstwhile unbeaten TNT KaTropa, 107-104, to gain solo second place in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

James White, one of the league’s top imports, continued to impress, producing his usual numbers with team-high 24 points, on 53 percent shooting from the field and on a perfect 10-of-10 sniping from the

foul line, plus 10 rebounds.

The Enforcers got ample production from their locals as four players off the bench scored in twin-digits, led by Paolo Taha with 15, Nino Canaleta with 13,

LA Revilla, 12 and Michael DiGregorio, 11.

The impressive Enforcers are now back in solo second place with an enhanced 6-2 record following this second straight victory.

On the other hand, the Tropang Texters suffered their first lost as they slipped to 6-1, but remained at the top. These two teams are now separated by only half-a-game.

“It was a nerve-wrecking game.

I told the players that it will take no less than a championship effort for us to win,” said thrilled Mahindra deputy coach Chris Gavina. “This is definitely a new ground for us and we’re happy. We

Game Today (Legazpi City) 5 p.m. - Rain or Shine vs. GlobalPort

made franchise history by reaching six wins.”

As the two teams have six wins already, they both just need an additional win to formally enter the quarterfinals.

The systematic Enforcers started dictating the tempo and controlling the game by the end of the first half.

Behind White’s brilliance on both ends, Mahindra blasted TNT KaTropa with a swift 10-0 run to give itself a double-digit lead, 5141, in the closing seconds of the second period, but Ryan Reyes hit

a buzzer-beating triple to end the first half to make the count 51-44 at intermission.

Jayson Castro led all scorers with a game-high 33 points for TNT in a losing cause.

After exploding for his PBA career-high of 30 points the last time out, TNT Asian import Michael Madanly was limited by Mahindra to only two points.

Meanwhile, action continues today as the league goes out of town for the second straight week, this time in Legazpi City.

Rain or Shine (3-3) and GlobalPort (2-4), which is currently on a two-game winning streak, figure in a pivotal showdown at 5 p.m.

Race to V-League Final 4 heats up EXPECT a slam-bang pair of matches as four teams gun for crucial victories and boost for their respective semifinal bids in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan Saturday.

Far Eastern U and San Sebastian, tied for second at 2-1, collide at 4 p.m. while Ateneo and UP, in joint third with 1-1 slates, face off in the 6 p.m. match of an explosive twin-bill both expected to go down-to-the-wire.

Games will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action

Channel 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com., according to the organizing Sports Vision.

Led by National U (3-1), the five teams are vying for the top four berths with three playdates left in the short quarterfinal phase of the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.

The No. 1 team will then play the No. 4 squad while the Nos. 2 and 3 will clash in a pair of best-of-three series for berths in the championship round.

The Lady Stags ousted the UST Tigresses in four

Games today

(The Arena, San Juan) 10 a.m. – SBC vs NCBA (S Turf) 12 noon – Perpetual vs NU (S Turf) 4 p.m. – FEU vs San Sebastian (V League) 6 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP (V League)

last Wednesday while the Lady Bulldogs dealt the Lady Tams their first loss with a thrilling five-set win to wrest the lead.

Meanwhile, National U and Perpetual Help dispute the first semifinal berth in Group A as they clash in a top match in the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference.

The Bulldogs and the Altas, toting identical 3-1 cards, face off at 12 noon in a match which can be viewed live via streaming on www. sports.abs-cbn.com.

San Beda and NCBA, meanwhile, clash in the 10 a.m. opener.

Grethcel Soltones, who bucked a bout with flu to fire 23 hits against UST, is expected to lead the Recoletos-based squad’s bid with support from Joyce Sta. Rita, Katherine Villegas, Mariel Dalisay, Denice Lim and setter Vira Guillema.

Mondilla wrests lead with 7-under 65 LIPA City, Batangas—Clyde Mondilla recalled the fierce form that netted him back-to-back victories at Eastridge and Calatagan, putting in an eagle-spiked sevenunder 65 and bouncing back from five down to one-up in the third round of the ICTSI Classic here yesterday.

A crisp, solid drive that sailed through the 331-yard No. 7 of Mt. Lobo and rested just a club-length off the cup for eagle highlighted the 23-yearold Mondilla’s 32-33 card, giving him a 54-hole aggregate of 206 and a one-stroke lead over erstwhile leader Orlan Sumcad, who stayed on track for a breakthrough win despite dropping to second at 207 after a 71.

But Marvin Dumandan also remained within striking distance at 208 after a 70 and Jay Bayron kept his bid for a third straight championship despite a second straight 71 as he stood at solo fourth at 209 heading to the last 18 holes of the P2 million event sponsored by ICTSI. “I just felt I could go low today (yesterday) so I attacked the greens. I was just too confident of my shots,” said Mondilla, the rising Del Monte star out to atone for his playoff setback to Bayron last week at ICTSI Riviera Classic, putting the Davaoñeo shotmaker on course for a third straight win after ruling the Aboitiz Invitational at Wack Wack three weeks ago.

Sumcad, who took charge halfway through with a 66 Thursday, birdied the drivable No. 7 then added two birdies linking both nines to stay in the lead but failed to hang on at the finish, bogeying Nos. 16 and 18 to drop off the pace.

“Despite falling off the lead, I’m still confident of my chances.

But I’ll just play and try to enjoy the game tomorrow (today) and hope my putting clicks,” said Sumcad, a many-time contender but never a winner on the tour backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion.

Like the top two players, Dumandan, out to break out of a long title spell, also expressed confidence of his chances for the crown as he joins Mondilla and Sumcad in a group of power-hitters in today’s championship flight.

Stags nail 3rd win in a row

By Peter Atencio

Rupert ‘Dodo’ Zaragoza, one of the country’s Top Amateur Champion golfers, will be hitting the greens of Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club, together with 350 other golfing enthusiasts, on Oct. 3, 2016 when BRAFE 11 Golf tees off. Zaragoza (center) recently met with BRAFE Golf Core Group Head Albert M.G. Garcia (left) and Ben Jacinto to confirm his participation.

Multi-titled Rupert joins Brafe 11 Golf BRAFE GOLF is held annually for the benefit of The Foundation for Sharing A La Sallian Education and in memory of Br. Rafael “Brafe” S. Donato FSC who, with his high school classmates, established and actively promoted FSLE. The Foundation provides scholarship to intellectually qualified students who are not financially capable of obtaining proper education. It covers tuition and fees for a four-year college course at De La Salle University Lipa.

Now on its 11th year, BRAFE GOLF has gained a reputation of excellence with strict rules and competitive standards in place. It is one of the biggest non-club sponsored tournaments in the Philippines and has been gaining ground through the years.

With the increase in the number of participants, this year’s BRAFE 11GOLF finds a new home at Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite City. It will be played on three courses—Aoki, Faldo and Norman. Registration starts at 6 a.m., with the shotgun tee off set at 8 a.m. For more information, call the BRAFE 11 GOLF Secretariat at (02) 524-6549, 354-2207 to 09, or 0928 322 4217, look for Marites Santos. You may also visit www.brafegolf.com and the BRAFE GOLF facebook page.

THE San Sebastian Stags are on a roll, claiming their third straight win with another stunner Friday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

This time around, the Stags got away with a close 69-67 stopping of the Mapua Cardinals, a triumph which kept their flickering Final Four hopes alive.

It was their fourth win against nine losses, while the Cardinals dropped to third at 7-5.

The Stags, who charged back from an 18-point deficit early in the second quarter, finally overtook the Cards off Regille Ilagan’s three pointer with under a minute left, 66-64.

Then, Allyn Bulanadi hit a layup for the Stags afterwards, before Mapua’s Darell Menina’s triple kept the Cardinals to within one, 68-67.

Ryan Costelo scored a charity for the Stags to finalize the count in their favor a few seconds later.

Mapua had a chance to catch up, but a passing error by Allwell Oraeme to CJ Isit ended the Cardinals’ bid.

“The good thing about this is the character is building up.

Nag-pay off na lahat ng hard work ng mga players,” said Stags’ coach Egay Macaraya.

It was the Stags’ third straight win, with the other two coming off their victories of University Perpetual Help and and San Beda.

Davon Potts shot 23 points, while big man Benedict Adamson drilled in 18 and had nine rebounds to lead the San Beda Red Lions to an 83-71 subduing of the defending champion Letran Knights.

Ayala Land listing P3-b housing bonds B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

B1

Firms less optimistic in Q3, BSP poll shows

By Julito G. Rada

NEW BMW. Asian Carmakers Corp. president Maricar Parco presents the new BMW 7 Series during a launching held Thursday at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig City. Manny Palmero

PSe comPoSite index Closing August 26, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,845.49 9.05

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing AUGUST 26, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.360

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.280 LOW P46.400 AVERAGE P46.349 VOLUME 447.000M

P400-P640.00 LPG/11-kg tank P34.15-P41.20 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P24.35-P27.75 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, August 26, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.4890

Japan

Yen

0.009949

0.4625

UK

Pound

1.319300

61.3329

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128951

5.9948

Switzerland

Franc

1.033912

48.0655

Canada

Dollar

0.773994

35.9822

Singapore

Dollar

0.739153

34.3625

Australia

Dollar

0.761500

35.4014

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655408

123.4473

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266745

12.4007

Brunei

Dollar

0.736431

34.2359

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028933

1.3451

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.6584

Euro

Euro

1.128700

52.4721

Korea

Won

0.000897

0.0417

China

Yuan

0.150130

6.9794

India

Rupee

0.014924

0.6938

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.249377

11.5933

New Zealand

Dollar

0.729900

33.9323

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031585

1.4684 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF Yen-peso swap deal operational THE guidelines on the Japanese yen-Philippine peso swap facility between Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Bank of Japan took effect Friday.

The two central banks agreed in February 2015 to put up the facility to enhance the financial stability in the Philippines.

“The establishment of the facility allows banks operating in the Philippines, including Japanese banks, to access Philippine peso liquidity against their Japanese yen holdings during emergency situations,” the Bangko Sentral said in a statement Friday.

“This collaboration reinforces BoJ and BSP’s continued commitment to support the long-standing economic and financial relationship between Japan and the Philippines,” it said.

The Monetary Board, the policymaking body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, approved the guidelines earlier this month. Julito G. Rada

Pagcor eyes offshore online gaming market T HE state-owned gambling regulator is targeting the overseas online gaming market for more business after the agency’s crackdown at home threatens to shrink revenue.

Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corp., or Pagcor, will soon start issuing online gambling licenses restricted to foreigners, Andrea Domingo, head of the agency, said in an interview. It also plans to issue casino licenses outside the capital and sell the more than three dozen gambling dens it owns either in whole or in a partnership as the government “rationalizes” the industry and considers exiting the casino business, she said.

“It’s 100 percent money. This is going to augment our revenue without breaking any of the pronouncements of the president

not to have Filipinos get into the gaming habit,” Domingo, who assumed office in July, said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office at the end of June, vowed to “destroy” online gaming in a campaign that has sent shares of the Southeast Asian nation’s gambling companies from PhilWeb Corp. to Leisure & Resorts World Corp. reeling. He has since softened his stance this week, saying he may reconsider provided they pay the right taxes and follow the prescribed zoning rules.

An “offshore betting” platform could make up for the esti-

mated P10 billion ($216 million) in annual revenue Pagcor may lose amid the shakeup in the local industry, Domingo said. The agency, which also operates casinos, is targeting to double earnings in six years to P100 billion.

The global online gambling market is currently worth around $37 billion a year, according to the American Gaming Association.

Pagcor’s overseas push is an added blow for Leisure & Resorts, whose electronic casino cafes have been shut while its online bingo operations are facing non-renewal.

The company is engaged in overseas online gaming through a unit that issues and regulates licenses in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport.

Pagcor this month decided not to renew PhilWeb’s license to supply it with electronic games and rejected an offer by the com-

pany’s former chairman Roberto Ongpin to give 49 percent of PhilWeb to the state agency. Duterte singled out Ongpin in a campaign to end the influence of big businesses on the government.

Shares of PhilWeb rose 26 percent on Friday, poised for the steepest three-day gain since August 1999. The stock jumped 50 percent Thursday as the company said it will seek a new permit after Duterte indicated he’s open to resume online gaming.

“The government’s policy shift is to shield those who are economically vulnerable from the negative effects of gambling,” said Astro del Castillo, managing director at First Grade Finance Inc. “At the same time, it recognizes that if handled right, it can bring investments and help boost the government’s tourism push.”

Bloomberg

PH to generate P122-b revenue from carbon tax

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Finance Department said Friday the government will include carbon taxes in the reform package to be submitted to Congress to generate additional revenues of P122 billion.

Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran told Manila Standard the government would propose carbon taxes along with lower taxes, rationalization of the value added tax exemptions and sweet and oil taxes.

“Yes, one of the options,” Beltran said in a text message when asked if carbon pricing will be in-

cluded in the tax reform package.

“The tax is calculated by measuring the carbon content of different fossil fuels. Also, experts in carbon tax are in agreement that imposing higher tax rates would lead consumers to change behavior, while lower rates may not do much to change behavior but can provide funds for carbon mitigation programs,” the National Tax Research Center said in a study.

The tax research arm of the government said the state might gain as much as P121.9 billion from the proposed carbon tax

scheme.

The NTRC said for the purposes of estimating revenue from the proposed carbon tax, a rate of P100 to P1,000 per ton of carbon dioxide could be imposed to make it at par with other countries already implementing the tax.

The think tank also said that if the proposed carbon tax pushed through, it could be set at progressive rates to reflect the ability of taxpayers.

Based on the country’s CO2 emissions outlook from 20152030, the government may gen-

erate an annual average of P12.2 billion to P121.97 billion.

About P6.52 billion to P65.17 billion may be generated from the electricity generation sector, P2.81 billion to P28.1 billion from transportation, P2.08 billion to P20.79 billion from industries and P0.79 billion to P7.91 billion from the commercial, residential and agriculture areas.

By type of fuel, P6.99 billion to P69.88 billion may be generated from the use of coal, P4.04 billion to P40.44 billion from oil and P1.17 billion to P11.16 billion from natural gas.

MetroPac in talks to integrate roads THE tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is in talks with other toll road operators to integrate their system in a bid to reduce travel time of motorists.

“We are talking. It’s possible to come up an agreement this year, but I doubt the actual integration and interoperation would be completed this year because it’s complicated,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said in an interview.

MPTC is the parent firm of Manila North Tollways Corp. and Cavitex Infrastructure Holdings Inc. MNTC operates the North Luzon Expressway and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, while Cavitex Holdings operates the Manila Cavite Expressway.

San Miguel Corp., meanwhile, owns the Skyway, South Luzon Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan La Union-Expressway and Ayala Corp. operates the Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway. Darwin G. Amojelar

IBP INSURER. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the official organization of all Philippine lawyers, appoints Insular Life as provider of group term life insurance for its members nationwide. Shown during the signing of an agreement are (seated from left) governor for Eastern Visayas Mae Elaine Bathan, Vice Chairman, executive vice president and Governor for Western Visayas Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, IBP president Rosario Setias-Reyes, Insular Life president and chief operating officer Mona Lisa de la Cruz and governor for Southern Luzon Bienvenido Somera Jr.

BUSINESS optimism for the third quarter this year declined compared with a quarter ago due to expected lower demand in the period and interruption of business activities during the rainy season, according to a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Survey results showed the overall confidence index for the third quarter of 2016 declined to 45.4 percent from 48.7 percent in the second-quarter survey.

“This indicates that the number of optimists declined but continued to be greater than the number of pessimists during the quarter,” Bangko Sentral said.

Respondents attributed their less buoyant outlook to expectations of the impact of the rainy season to business activities, slack in demand during the planting and closed milling seasons, lower consumer demand as households prioritized enrolment expenses, and implementation of stricter new mining policies that put some mining concessions on hold.

Other reasons for the lower optimism were the closed fishing season in Davao Gulf from July to September, stiff competition and concerns over the weak global economy.

However, for the fourth quarter, business optimism outlook turned more upbeat as the next quarter index rose to 56.8 percent from 45.3 percent in the previous quarter’s survey results.

Health BPO firm expands

By Othel V. Campos SHEARWATER Health, one of the largest clinical process outsourcing companies in the US and possibly the largest CPO in the Philippines, is expanding local operations to the Visayas to add as much as 900 more seats to the company’s wokforce.

Country manager for the Philippines Abshum Sinha said the company was expecting more business from US clients in the healthcare sector in the next three years.

“We are looking for a site in Central Visayas, could be in Iloilo or Bacolod. Davao is also a possible expansion site in Mindanao,” he said at the launch and rebranding ceremonies of the new Shearwater headquarters in the Philippines.

The company will decide on the new site within three months. The expansion is set to take place by the first quarter of 2017.

Formerly HCCA International and HCCA Health Connections, Shearwater recently announced a company rebranding after consolidating both businesses in the Philippines under the Shearwater Health name.

HCCA International has been recruiting and deploying highly experienced nurses and other medical professionals from the Philippines to hospitals and healthcare organizations in the US since 2002.

HCCA International has placed over 1,000 nurses in over 1,000 US hospitals.

B2

Business

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks down; ICTSI advances S

TOCKS closed lower Friday as investors waited on a speech later in the day by Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 9.05 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,845.49 on a value turnover of P9.5 billion.

Gainers, however, beat losers, 114 to 72, with 50 issues unchanged.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy lost 1.5 percent to P29, while Ayala Land Inc. dropped 1.5 percent to P38.70.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-largest telecommunications company, declined 2.3 percent to P2,080.

International Container Ter-

minal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, advanced 4.3 percent to P84.50 on rising imports. The Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday merchandise imports grew 15 percent to $6.85 billion in June this year from a year ago as strong domestic consumption and investment supported inbound shipments.

Meanwhile, with few catalysts to drive business this week, Yellen’s talk at the annual Jackson Hole symposium of global central bankers has hung over exchanges as traders hope for

clues about the US economy and guidance on monetary policy.

Speculation has grown that the bank could lift interest rates as early as next month, although most experts say that is unlikely and that December or February would be safer bets.

“As is the case with most Fed speaking engagements, it will mainly involve deciphering verbal gymnastics while looking for a smoking gun,” Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA, said in a note.

“Traders will look for Dr. Yellen’s views on shifting global and domestic economic landscapes as well as the all-important cost benefit of maintaining the status quo.”

With an interest rate hike unlikely in the immediate future,

the dollar is struggling to gain traction. In early trade the greenback was at 100.45 yen compared with 100.55 yen in New York late Thursday, while the euro edged up to $1.1298 from $1.1281.

The dollar also fell against most other higher-yielding currencies such as the Australian dollar, South Korean won, Indonesian rupiah and Malaysian ringgit.

Equity traders were on edge, with Japan’s Nikkei falling 1.2 percent, after another below-par inflation reading added to pressure on authorities to act on the economy as years of stimulus fail to have any serious effect on growth.

Sydney lost 0.5 percent and Seoul finished 0.3 percent off, while Wellington and Manila each shed 0.5 percent. With AFP

Ayala Land listing P3-b housing bonds

By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Land Inc. plans to list its Homestarter Bonds worth P3 billion with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The listing will be the first for Ayala Land’s pioneering financial instrument that aims to givehome buyers the opportunity to purchase real estate products.

Ayala Land said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission the P3-billion Homestarter Bonds would have a tenor of three years and a fixed interest rate of 3 percent a year.

THE STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 4 17 30.45 10.4 0.92 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 8.7 12.02 19.6 6.12 0.74 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 59 2.65

AG Finance 3.58 Asia United Bank 47.6 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 113.00 Bank of PI 104.90 China Bank 38.5 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 3.70 Bright Kindle Resources 1.50 Citystate Savings 9.12 COL Financial 16.3 Eastwest Bank 21 Filipino Fund Inc. 6.85 First Abacus 0.7 I-Remit Inc. 1.93 MEDCO Holdings 0.650 Metrobank 87.75 Natl. Reinsurance Corp. 0.89 PB Bank 14.74 Phil. National Bank 59.20 Phil. Savings Bank 100.3 PSE Inc. 279 RCBC `A’ 32.3 Security Bank 219.6 Union Bank 73.80 Vantage Equities 1.5

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92

20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 79 3.95 4 74 33.9 90 13.26 293 0.62 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 1450 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.24 5.34 0.395 173 34.1 2.3 1.63 33 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 0.335 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 801 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

Aboitiz Power Corp.

45.8 Agrinurture Inc. 3.2 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.84 Alsons Cons.

1.77 Asiabest Group 14.92 Cemex Holdings 12.3 Century Food 16.7 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 149 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 24.85 Concepcion 57 Crown Asia 2.22 Da Vinci Capital 5.85 Del Monte 12.18 DNL Industries Inc. 11.060 Emperador 7.95 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.85 EEI 8.26 First Gen Corp.

25.65 First Holdings ‘A’ 72.35 Holcim Philippines Inc. 16.50 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.39 Ionics Inc 2.290 Jollibee Foods Corp.

251.00 Liberty Flour 49.00 LMG Chemicals 2.16 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.05 Macay Holdings 28.90 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.8 Maxs Group 32.5 Megawide 13.9 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 312.80 MG Holdings 0.280 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 5.00 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.15 Petron Corporation 10.98 Phinma Corporation 11.62 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 6.10 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.62 Pryce Corp. `A’ 3.55 RFM Corporation 4.20 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 215 Splash Corporation 3.04 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.152 TKC Steel Corp.

1.82 Trans-Asia Oil 2.27 Universal Robina 179.5 Victorias Milling 4.71 Vitarich Corp.

2.6 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.24

0.59 59.2 30.05 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5 76 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 1.61 84.9 3.5 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510

0.44 48.1 20.85 6.62 0.225 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3 49.55 3 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 0.030 0.550 59.3 1.5 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.400 75.50 16.20 6.29 0.375 0.375 899 8.8 11.90 6.49 7.08 0.209 1543 6.40 79.25 6.14 7.88 0.78 16.6 7.3 0.0340 1.900 84.00 2.3 689.00 1.35 1.03 209.200 0.3100 0.2020 0.280

10.5 26.95 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6 5.59 1.44 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54

6.74 12 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36 4.96 0.79 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

7.900 6.70 1.32 3.120 0.270 39.300 3.11 5.1 0.570 1.06 1.000 0.161 0.620 59.55 0.790 0.146 1.06 1.93 1.17 4.86 0.121 0.2800 0.420 38.00 3.29

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.7 3.5 47.65 47.1 114.20 112.60 105.50 104.00 39 38.25 3.99 3.99 1.50 1.42 9.04 9 16.64 16.2 21.5 20.7 6.86 6.85 0.68 0.68 1.87 1.86 0.670 0.640 88 87.35 0.9 0.87 14.7 14.66 60.00 59.20 100.3 100.3 280 278 32.45 32.2 220.8 218.4 74.00 73.00 1.53 1.5 INDUSTRIAL 46 45.6 3.23 3.12 0.84 0.82 1.79 1.75 15.2 14 12.4 12.16 16.74 16.7 149 135 25 24.4 57.9 57 2.23 2.13 5.99 5.8 12.3 12 11.080 10.940 7.96 7.83 5.85 5.67 8.35 8.22 25.65 24.6 73 72.3 16.76 16.50 6.73 6.3 2.290 2.270 253.00 251.00 48.90 40.05 2.18 2.16 4.2 4.04 29.00 29.00 27.05 26.5 33 31.75 14.2 13.84 313.00 312.00 0.265 0.265 5.00 4.99 3.24 3.1 10.98 10.80 11.66 11.66 6.15 6.04 1.61 1.60 3.72 3.51 4.21 4.18 217 215 3.06 3.04 0.153 0.152 1.95 1.80 2.29 2.22 181 179.5 4.71 4.36 2.89 2.62 1.25 1.24 HOLDING FIRMS 0.400 0.385 75.50 74.25 16.82 16.36 6.20 6.20 0.375 0.370 0.395 0.375 899 891 8.8 8.74 12.04 11.90 6.1 6.1 7.10 6.90 0.210 0.208 1545 1540 6.32 6.32 79.25 77.35 5.89 5.75 7.88 7.75 0.82 0.78 16.88 16.42 7.27 7.15 0.0360 0.0340 1.920 1.890 84.00 83.00 2.30 2.30 690.00 675.00 1.31 1.29 1.09 0.98 211.000 208.400 0.3150 0.3050 0.2080 0.1990 0.290 0.275 PROPERTY 7.900 7.800 6.70 6.60 1.34 1.30 3.340 3.130 0.275 0.270 39.100 38.550 3.12 3.04 5.15 5.1 0.59 0.560 1.06 1.01 1.020 1.000 0.161 0.157 0.620 0.610 60 58.5 0.790 0.780 0.158 0.158 1.08 1.06 1.93 1.90 1.18 1.18 4.94 4.85 0.126 0.114 0.2900 0.2600 0.420 0.415 38.00 38.00 3.32 3.28

Close 3.7 47.65 113.80 105.10 38.5 3.99 1.48 9 16.3 21 6.85 0.68 1.87 0.660 87.8 0.88 14.68 59.20 100.3 278 32.45 218.4 73.75 1.53

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.35 0.11 0.71 0.19 0.00 7.84 -1.33 -1.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.86 -3.11 1.54 0.06 -1.12 -0.41 0.00 0.00 -0.36 0.46 -0.55 -0.07 2.00

455,000 11,600 1,380,060 1,710,030 18,100 1,000 161,000 1,700 139,500 459,600 900 5,000 69,000 3,095,000 3,922,160 91,000 99,500 55,060 40 9,110 206,600 812,380 131,460 3,000

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 1.62 8.59

22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 0.83 5.73

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 28.5 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 18.2 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95

70.5 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 12.5 0.017

17.02 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 8.72 0.011

0.8200 2.2800 5.93

0.041 1.200 2.34

12.28 3.32 2.53 3.2 95.5 15.2

6.5 1.91 1.01 1.95 3.1 6

1.040 22.8 6.41 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.37 14.54 3 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

14,217,995.00

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 115.9 3.67 0.0100

-72,987,715.50

70

33

760,712.00

120 515 8.21 12.28

101.5 480 5.88 6.5

1047 78.95 84.8

1011 74.5 75

6.98

0.8900

15

3.5

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6

509,320.00 21,510,695 -18,518,498.00

-1,832,622.00 465,975.00

-87,535,298.50 -902,820.00 -977,208.50 -2,326,580.00 4,173,305 -27,084,562.00 1,285,480.00

Close

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

High 31.70 1.7 3.28 29.45 0.96 1.030 6.000

Low

32.00 30.90 1.72 1.68 3.32 3.32 29.45 28.75 0.97 0.95 1.040 1.010 6.000 5.960 SERVICES 2GO Group’ 7.25 7.3 7.25 ABS-CBN 50 50.6 50 Acesite Hotel 1.26 1.26 1.26 APC Group, Inc. 0.600 0.600 0.590 Berjaya Phils. Inc. 5.8 5.8 5.5 Bloomberry 5.40 5.80 5.42 Boulevard Holdings 0.0930 0.1020 0.0920 Calata Corp.

3.16 3.46 3.19 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 123 124 120.4 Centro Esc. Univ.

9.8 9.9 9.6 Discovery World 2.25 2.2 2.2 DFNN Inc. 5.20 5.51 5.20 FEUI 942 950 940 Globe Telecom 2128 2128 2076 GMA Network Inc. 6.32 6.35 6.30 Golden Haven 15.70 15.70 15.30 Grand Plaza Hotel 20.40 20.40 20.40 Harbor Star 1.59 1.75 1.59 I.C.T.S.I. 81 84.5 81.5 Imperial Res. `A’ 23.75 25.50 22.50 Imperial Res. `B’ 160 156.1 156.1 IPeople Inc. `A’ 11.78 11.8 11.12 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.0090 0.0094 0.0089 IPM Holdings 9.30 9.30 9.20 Island Info 0.295 0.300 0.290 ISM Communications 1.4900 1.5100 1.4400 Jackstones 3.78 3.9 3.65 LBC Express 12.2 12.9 11.9 Leisure & Resorts 5.17 5.79 4.84 Liberty Telecom 2.17 2.20 2.15 Lorenzo Shipping 1.03 1.03 1.03 Macroasia Corp.

2.20 2.40 2.20 Manila Broadcasting 21.00 21.50 20.15 Melco Crown 3.68 3.87 3.66 Metro Retail 5.39 5.40 5.24 NOW Corp.

3.700 3.730 3.620 Pacific Online Sys. Corp. 11.3 11.34 11.3 PAL Holdings Inc. 5.90 6.00 5.80 Phil. Seven Corp.

134.50 137.50 137.50 Philweb.Com Inc. 8.10 11.40 9.10 PLDT Common 1831.00 1850.00 1809.00 PremiereHorizon 0.430 0.440 0.430 Premium Leisure 0.880 0.900 0.850 Puregold 45.10 45.00 44.80 Robinsons RTL 81.80 83.40 82.00 SBS Phil. Corp.

6.33 6.35 6.26 SSI Group 3.23 3.26 3.21 STI Holdings 0.620 0.620 0.600 Transpacific Broadcast 1.85 1.85 1.85 Travellers 3.48 3.53 3.48 Waterfront Phils.

0.335 0.340 0.340 Yehey 6.420 6.420 6.070 MINING & OIL Abra Mining 0.0040 0.0040 0.0039 Apex `A’ 2.93 3.09 2.90 Atlas Cons. `A’ 3.86 3.88 3.85 Basic Energy Corp.

0.212 0.219 0.212 Benguet Corp `A’ 2.3000 2.42 2.3 Benguet Corp `B’ 2.5000 2.5400 2.5000 Century Peak Metals Hldgs0.57 0.57 0.55 Coal Asia 0.415 0.420 0.400 Dizon 8.33 8.80 8.12 Ferronickel 0.830 0.850 0.830 Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. 0.280 0.285 0.280 Lepanto `A’ 0.200 0.225 0.200 Lepanto `B’ 0.210 0.230 0.213 Manila Mining `A’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 Manila Mining `B’ 0.0110 0.0130 0.0120 Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. 1.62 1.69 1.61 Nickelasia 6.38 6.49 6.26 Nihao Mineral Resources 2.83 2.94 2.79 Omico 0.5800 0.5800 0.5300 Oriental Peninsula Res. 1.0000 1.0000 0.9500 Oriental Pet. `A’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 Oriental Pet. `B’ 0.0110 0.0120 0.0110 Petroenergy Res. Corp. 4.10 4.10 4.00 Philex `A’ 8.50 8.65 8.28 PhilexPetroleum 3.62 3.66 3.60 Semirara Corp.

112.40 112.40 111.00 TA Petroleum 3.55 3.65 3.43 United Paragon 0.0091 0.0110 0.0092 PREFERRED ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. 50 50.4 49.9 DD Pref 103.5 104 103.4 First Gen G 120 118 116 GLOBE PREF P 525 530 530 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.09 6.09 6.06 Leisure and Resort 1.01 1.02 1.01 PCOR-Preferred B 1050 1119 1070 PF Pref 2 1030 1030 1030 SMC Preferred B 78.3 78.85 78.85 SMC Preferred C 81.05 81.5 81.05 SMC Preferred E 77.2 78.8 78.8 SMC Preferred F 79.2 79.5 79.2 SMC Preferred H 77.8 78.05 77.8 SMC Preferred I 78 79 78.2 WARRANTS & BONDS LR Warrant 3.500 3.600 2.740 SME Alterra Capital 4.1 4.64 4.11 Makati Fin. Corp.

4.05 3.9 3.72 Italpinas 5.1 5.1 4.88 Xurpas 15.96 16.18 15.9 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS First Metro ETF 129.4 129.4 128.8

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

32.00 1.7 3.32 29.00 0.96 1.040 5.980

0.95 0.00 1.22 -1.53 0.00 0.97 -0.33

1,325,500 118,000 2,000 19,386,900 1,046,000 349,000 4,922,500

6,889,360.00

7.3 50.05 1.26 0.590 5.8 5.80 0.1000 3.36 122 9.9 2.2 5.40 950 2080 6.32 15.70 20.40 1.75 84.5 23.00 156.1 11.8 0.0094 9.29 0.295 1.4800 3.82 12.9 4.92 2.18 1.03 2.39 21.50 3.84 5.39 3.690 11.34 5.80 137.50 9.48 1845.00 0.430 0.870 44.90 82.75 6.33 3.26 0.620 1.85 3.49 0.340 6.410

0.69 0.10 0.00 -1.67 0.00 7.41 7.53 6.33 -0.81 1.02 -2.22 3.85 0.85 -2.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.06 4.32 -3.16 -2.44 0.17 4.44 -0.11 0.00 -0.67 1.06 5.74 -4.84 0.46 0.00 8.64 2.38 4.35 0.00 -0.27 0.35 -1.69 2.23 17.04 0.76 0.00 -1.14 -0.44 1.16 0.00 0.93 0.00 0.00 0.29 1.49 -0.16

128,100 7,510 5,000 348,000 19,400 18,975,800 231,910,000 10,015,000 635,610 400 4,000 895,700 1,300 80,745 272,900 45,200 204,400 4,994,000 2,656,040 345,200 100 48,000 80,000,000 3,475,500 7,930,000 957,000 516,000 9,900 20,649,700 906,000 13,000 35,000 1,300 8,860,000 4,497,100 2,018,000 17,900 124,600 3,090 15,592,000 73,035 3,420,000 41,176,000 11,673,600 181,510 304,800 1,060,000 635,000 11,000 6,844,000 20,000 34,100

-171,550.00

0.0039 3.09 3.86 0.219 2.3100 2.5000 0.57 0.420 8.50 0.850 0.280 0.217 0.220 0.0120 0.0130 1.64 6.4 2.9 0.5300 1.0000 0.0120 0.0120 4.01 8.60 3.64 111.80 3.49 0.0110

-2.50 5.46 0.00 3.30 0.43 0.00 0.00 1.20 2.04 2.41 0.00 8.50 4.76 9.09 18.18 1.23 0.31 2.47 -8.62 0.00 9.09 9.09 -2.20 1.18 0.55 -0.53 -1.69 20.88

84,000,000 1,069,000 739,000 120,000 544,000 34,000 83,000 420,000 13,500 6,082,000 50,000 106,290,000 3,400,000 292,100,000 1,900,000 736,000 11,248,500 1,183,000 3,000 238,000 6,100,000 1,600,000 38,000 1,717,700 1,284,000 350,490 51,000 43,000,000

7,800.00 18,280.00 -1,076,760.00

50.4 104 118 530 6.09 1.02 1119 1030 78.85 81.05 78.8 79.5 78.05 78.2

0.80 0.48 -1.67 0.95 0.00 0.99 6.57 0.00 0.70 0.00 2.07 0.38 0.32 0.26

364,600 39,080 1,010,000 10 148,000 1,052,000 1,505 2,095 4,000 307,300 1,500 74,500 768,570 35,500

1,071,707.00

2.960

-15.43

18,860,000 -956,050.00

4.58 3.9 5.01 15.98

11.71 -3.70 -1.76 0.13

3,954,000 11,000 1,821,400 348,900

129.3

-0.08

13,560

144,848,400.00 -258,090.00 3,353,815.00

10,001,428.00 -7,000.00 -39,320.00 13,507,552.00 3,013,167.00 470,000.00 -113,269,150.00

-6,400.00 42,080,681.00

MS 45.65 3.18 0.84 1.77 15.2 12.2 16.72 149 25 57 2.16 5.95 12.2 11.000 7.96 5.73 8.30 25.35 72.55 16.68 6.53 2.270 253.00 45.00 2.18 4.262 29.00 26.75 33 14.08 313.00 0.265 5.00 3.1 10.98 11.66 6.11 1.61 3.65 4.21 215 3.06 0.153 1.88 2.26 180.1 4.71 2.89 1.24

-0.33 -0.63 0.00 0.00 1.88 -0.81 0.12 0.00 0.60 0.00 -2.70 1.71 0.16 -0.54 0.13 -2.05 0.48 -1.17 0.28 1.09 2.19 -0.87 0.80 -8.16 0.93 5.23 0.35 -0.19 1.54 1.29 0.06 -5.36 0.00 -1.59 0.00 0.34 0.16 -0.39 2.82 0.24 0.00 0.66 0.66 3.30 -0.44 0.33 0.00 11.15 0.00

6,129,900 556,000 203,000 591,000 138,200 6,981,700 1,054,500 110 18,359,000 9,550 2,672,000 578,400 113,400 2,957,800 857,400 21,537,000 587,500 4,527,300 149,630 1,358,100 2,264,600 640,000 306,170 1,400 45,000 251,950 2,600 1,357,000 505,500 1,961,600 88,040 10,000 2,000 854,000 3,120,400 2,800 807,400 369,000 636,000 17,384,000 8,910 15,000 2,760,000 817,000 995,000 5,612,970 3,000 68,113,000 227,000

0.390 75.30 16.40 6.20 0.375 0.375 894.5 8.75 12.00 6.1 6.96 0.210 1543 6.32 78.00 5.75 7.87 0.81 16.88 7.24 0.0350 1.900 84.00 2.3 690.00 1.29 1.01 211.000 0.3150 0.2080 0.285

-2.50 -0.26 1.23 -1.43 0.00 0.00 -0.50 -0.57 0.84 -6.01 -1.69 0.48 0.00 -1.25 -1.58 -6.35 -0.13 3.85 1.69 -0.82 2.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 -4.44 -1.94 0.86 1.61 2.97 1.79

120,000 4,571,240 7,452,800 8,000 3,320,000 630,000 240,900 1,313,100 20,641,600 33,200 142,000 200,000 105,515 4,400 1,584,040 1,500 957,000 243,000 10,731,000 33,652,500 21,500,000 612,000 130,810 48,000 354,950 773,000 637,000 17,560 1,020,000 80,000 830,000

7.850 6.60 1.31 3.340 0.275 38.700 3.12 5.1 0.590 1.01 1.000 0.161 0.620 60 0.780 0.158 1.06 1.91 1.18 4.94 0.117 0.2900 0.420 38.00 3.28

-0.63 -1.49 -0.76 7.05 1.85 -1.53 0.32 0.00 3.51 -4.72 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.76 -1.27 8.22 0.00 -1.04 0.85 1.65 -3.31 3.57 0.00 0.00 -0.30

27,600 2,300 168,200 6,880,000 420,000 13,760,200 229,000 7,200 8,329,000 11,000 183,000 26,560,000 4,202,000 372,010 881,000 10,000 1,097,000 8,639,000 33,000 46,679,000 25,540,000 180,000 360,000 100 1,108,000

1,507,190.00

-3,613,338.00 -9,755,422.00 -122,750.00

219,500.00 147,261.00

-2,934,758.00 -1,608,387.00 -32,926,064.00 -2,753,892.00 68,870,210.00 5,860,321.00 346,944.00 -1,599,021.00

-3,806,426.00

10,575,895.00 -5,207,630.00 -17,429,376.00 -8,182,866.00 -602,440.00 -6,460,932.00

-1,289,191.00 8,050.00 -243,660.00 -46,130.00 -187,050.00

49,830.00 -182,151,056

-8,767,160.00

-25,846,097.00 13,054,918.00 41,750.00 -91,201,500 265,596.00 6,085,038.00

-4,260.00

-10,398,126.00 -104,629,457.00 963,762.50

-56,924,450.00 68,120.00 -6,100.00

250.00 22,928.00 -800,300.00 -81,000.00 -169,463,230.00 401,150.00 648,140.00

2,000.00 4,361,938.50 -237,000.00 -235,400.00 -10,438,800.00 -11,800.00 -5,379,500.00 240,000.00

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

13,766,555

INDUSTRIAL

179,359,383

HOLDING FIRMS

114,497,641

PROPERTY

176,797,198

SERVICES

502,895,731

MINING & OIL

565,033,014

GRAND TOTAL

1,558,505,490

17,800.00

-26,747,737 23,000.00 -15,345,940.00 11,472,477.00 -29,160.00

33,000.00 3,805,465.00 19,864,860.00 -25,860,920.00 21,702,760.00 -10,009,226.50 -125,600.00 510,650.00 15,500.00 -19,277,370.00

400.00

898,410.00 121,050.00

6,661,780.00 -28,300.00

-11,000.00

-3,173,054.00 79,920.00 2,713,387.00 6,920.00

-879,981.00

84,070.00 -155,296.00 -2,839,312.00

VALUE 1,832.38 (up) 2.75 987,225,274.39 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,884.30 (up) 6.56 2,820,040,592.96 HOLDING FIRMS 7,777.83 (down) 18.34 2,034,578,294.82 PROPERTY 3,530.98 (down) 33.09 1,596.47 (up) 17.20 1,579,372,382.60 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,713.89 (up) 126.56 1,851,256,608.30 PSEI 7,845.49 (down) 9.05 175,663,005.108 All Shares Index 4,661.61 (down) 2.18 9,482,275,383.26 Gainers: 114; Losers: 72; Unchanged: 50; Total: 236

BPI Capital is the lead underwriter of the offering, while China Banking Corp. and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. are the joint underwriters of the transaction.

Ayala Land has issued seven tranches of Homestarter Bonds since they were first launched in 2006.

The bond has served an effective savings instrument for many bondholders. It is an interest-earning financial instrument that targets retail investors, who wants to earmark funds that may be used as full or partial downpayment in the purchase of an Ayala Land property.

The bonds are the first of such to issued from Ayala Land’s P50-billion debt securities program earlier approved by the SEC. Ayala Land has increased the maximum subscription to P10 million per eligible bondholder from P5 million under the previously issued Homestarter Bonds.

Bondholders at the end of the three-year period will have the option to apply the principal amount, including interests, as partial or full payment for the purchase of a house and lot or condominium being developed by various units of Ayala Land.

Ayala Land earlier said net income rose 16 percent in the first half of the year to P9.74 billion from P8.39 billion year-on-year, after aggressively launching real estate projects to boost the residential and recurring income businesses.

Meralco rolls out advanced system

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the biggest electricity retailer, is set to implement next month an advanced distribution management system, or ADMS, a key building block toward a smarter and more automatic distribution network.

“This system will provide a great level of visibility of our network and will allow us, among other things, to minimize the impact of outages through re-routing power,” Meralco president Oscar Reyes said during a summit.

Reyes said Meralco was investing heavily in building new platforms for its nearly six million customers to interact digitally with the company and provide an enhanced level of customer service and experience.

Meralco is using technology to revolutionize the way it runs its business.

“Our Smart Grid journey will not be easy. It will require a new technology infrastructure to be built and millions of devices to be installed in the field. At the same time, we must meet the challenges of providing safe, reliable and the lowest possible cost power, and new services, to our ever-growing customer base which now counts nearly six million customer accounts,” Reyes said.

He said Meralco would work closely with stakeholders, regulators and policy makers and technology partners to upgrade the network “and ensure we are able to meet future demand and support the growth of the Philippines.”

“The evolution of our Smart Grid is a necessity to maintain a highly reliable network and respond to the coming challenges that distributed generation such as wind, solar or battery storage will have on our grid operations,” he said.

Business

B3

Manila

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Standard

TODAY

Asia’s elderly to cost $20t by 2030—study PANAWAGAN

MILK BLOCKADE. French farmers sleep in the straw as they block the access to the Lactalis group headquarters with a caravan of tractors in Change, northwestern France, on August 25, 2016 during night negotiations between farmers and the Lactalis group in Paris. The issue of the price of milk is at the heart of negotiations between producer organizations and Lactalis in Paris on August 25, under the watchful eyes of protesters who seem determined to continue the blockade of the factory of the dairy giant near Laval, if they do not receive fair pricing. Since August 22, hundreds of farmers took turns to block a roundabout close to the factory. AFP

EU plots future less Britain in summit PRAGUE―EU leaders will tackle security and migration policy as well as economic growth at a key September summit in Slovakia to plot the bloc’s future without Britain, Angela Merkel said Thursday.

“The Bratislava summit will accent ways that we can improve economic power, create more job for young people and now to boost internal and border security,” Germany’s chancellor said at a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka in Prague.

The informal meeting on September 16 will go ahead without Britain after its voters chose to leave the bloc in a June referendum.

Talks among the bloc’s 27 remaining members are likely to be challenging as Berlin’s preferred vision of a centralized, federal Europe clashes with proposals for a confederation of nation states popular among leaders of eastern EU members.

Migration policy is another highly controversial issue on the agenda, with eastern members the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia refusing to take in refugees under an EU-wide quota system championed by Berlin.

Several hundred protesters, including members of antiIslam groups, rallied in central Prague Thursday against Merkel and her decision to open the EU’s doors to refugees and migrants last summer.

A leader of Germany’s antiIslamic, anti-immigrant Pegida movement, Tatiana Festerling, was also present for the demonstration.

“There are diverging views on how to distribute migrants across the EU, but on many other issues opinions converge,” Merkel said, pointing to an EU agreement with Turkey to stem the flow of mostly Syrian refugees to Europe.

“Bratislava is not a decisionmaking summit, more an agenda-setting summit,” Merkel said Wednesday in Estonia on the first leg of her three-nation whistlestop tour that also takes her to Poland on Friday.

“It’s good to listen to as many single countries in the EU ahead of the summit, also in smaller groups.

“Brexit means that we will miss an important partner, so we have to build the work of the 27 very carefully and thoroughly.”

Czech police said they arrested a man Thursday for attempting to drive his black Mercedes into Merkel’s motorcade in Prague as she traveled from the airport to government headquarters. AFP

SINGAPORE―Asia’s population is ageing faster than anywhere in the world, a study said Thursday, warning the swelling of the Kami po ay ranks nanawagan sa elderly will lahat na kung sino man po cost the region $20 trillion in ang makakakita kina Gaira Sumaoang, 40 yrs. old at Ivy healthcare by 2030.8 Kimberly Kate Sumaoang, yrsHealth old, pakitawagan lang po systems, businesses ang number na ito. and families across Asia-Pacifi c Juvy#0917-6680330 will come under huge pressure as email:josh09@yahoo.com some 200 million people pass the age of 65 by then, according to the Singapore-based Asia Pacific Risk Center.

Yearly spending on caring for the elderly is expected to reach $2.5 billion―five times the cost in 2015―the study said.

“The Asia-Pacific region is ageing at a faster rate than any other region in the world,” said APRC executive director Wolfram Hedrich.

Surging growth in Asia over the past few decades prompted a baby boom in many AsiaPacific countries, creating a large and cheap labor force that in turn boosted productivity and incomes.

But that trend is now reversing as the baby-boomers age, leaving the young to look after them― either by staying at home or

paying for their care.

“Many Asia-Pacific countries are transiting from a period when they reaped a ‘demographic dividend’ to one where they face the prospect of paying a ‘demographic tax,’” the study said.

By 2030, there will be 511 million elderly people in the region, out of 3.8 billion, according to the study.

Japan will become the first “ultra-aged” country, with elderly people accounting for 28 percent of its population, while a fifth of people in Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan will be 65.

The APRC warned governments would need to invest heavily to care for their ageing populations, warning current levels are “unsustainable” as medical costs are growing faster than the economy in many countries.

Asia’s ageing rate is “an unprecedented challenge,” said the study, which covered 14 Asia-Pacific markets.

“The problem is big, it’s very urgent,” said Hedrich, adding that finding solutions will be complex. AFP

Japan inflation extends drop T OKYO―Japanese inflation continued to disappoint in July, according to data released on Friday, with consumer prices dropping for a fifth straight month in the latest blow to Tokyo’s faltering war on deflation.

The 0.5 percent decline in July was worse than the 0.4 percent average fall expected by economists.

Friday’s data come ahead of household spending numbers next week, which are also expected to be disappointing, and after

Japan’s July exports suffered their sharpest monthly fall in seven years.

Japanese officials are under intense pressure to deliver, as many economists increasingly write off Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s faltering bid to fire up the world’s number three economy, dubbed Abenomics.

Last week, official figures showed the economy registered zero growth on-quarter, falling below economists’ expectations for a modest 0.2 percent expansion, as weak exports and a fall in business spending dented activity.

The weak inflation figures will heap more pressure on Japan’s central bank for another round of stimulus.

The Bank of Japan disappointed markets at its late July meeting when it

opted to leave its 80 trillion yen ($796 billion) annual bond-buying program―a cornerstone of Abenomics―unchanged.

The BoJ holds its next meeting in late September.

Tokyo recently announced a whopping 28-trillion-yen package aimed at kick-starting growth, after Britain’s June vote to quit the European Union sent financial markets into a tailspin and sparked a yen rally.

Japan’s major exporters have seen their bottom line dented by the sharp rise in the currency, which makes them less competitive overseas and shrinks the value of repatriated profits.

The problem was highlighted as many of the county’s best-known firms, including Sony and Toyota, reported lower profits in the three months to June.

Wild volatility on global financial markets since the start of the year and Britain’s shock decision to leave the EU have stoked demand for Japan’s currency, which is seen as a safe investment in times of turmoil.

Abe’s plan―a mix of massive In memory of a loving monetary easing, mother/wife Beatriz Garcia government Castro, spending and redborn on tape slashing― July 7, 1951 at initially brought the yen down Asingan,Pangasinan died on from record highs, October 25, 2015 setting off a stock at Milan, Italy after a heart attack. She market rally and is survived by her boosting corporate husband with 8 profits. AFP children.

(MS-AUG. 20,27 & SEPT. 3, 2016)

US producers shun fatter chickens

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REGION IV-A CALABARZON Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal INVITATION TO BID The Department of Education, Region IV-A, through the 2016 General Appropriation Act intends to apply the sum of Four Million Nine Hundred Twenty Four Thousand Eight Hundred Pesos (Php4,924,800.00) only being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to eligible payments under the contract for the provision of venue for the Board & Lodging of the participants to the School Heads Development Program Foundational Course. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Quezon Provo Cluster --------216 pax x 1,200 x 19 days =Php4,924,800.00 The Department of Education Region IV-A, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), now invites bids for the herein-mentioned Goods. Bidders must have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, i.e., in Section II, Instructions to Bidders. Bids received that exceed the ABC shall be rejected at bid opening.

Contract duration------------September 25,2016 to November 12, 2016 Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

By Shruti Date Singh WHEN it comes to chickens, 2017 could mean juicier―but maybe not plumper.

Sanderson Farms Inc., the third-largest US processor of the birds, says bird weight-gains could start slowing. After decades of fattening up their chickens, some producers are now starting to reduce weights to avoid breast meat that has a “woody” texture, said Joe Sanderson Jr., the chief executive officer of Laurel, Mississippi-based Sanderson.

The problematic texture is a result of genetics, but the issue appears to be worse in heavier birds, he said.

“In 2017, you will not see increases in live weights you’ve seen the last couple of years,” Sanderson said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “The increase is going to slow.”

Smaller birds would mark a stark reversal from years of plumper poultry. US chickens raised for meat weighed 6.24 pounds (2.83 kilograms) on average in 2015, almost doubling from 1955 and more than tripling from 1925, according to the National Chicken Council

website. Heavier animals had been favored as a way to boost production and revenue.

Tough texture But the bigger birds meant that so-called woody breast, which describes the hard texture and not the taste or quality of the meat, was being found more frequently, Sanderson said, while declining to identify the companies that are cutting weights. Sanderson is holding its weights steady.

The tougher texture was found in as much as 5 percent of the boneless breast-meat at the company’s big bird deboning plants, Sanderson said. The plants account for about 28 percent of Sanderson’s total live-weight. Woody breast isn’t a health or food-safety concern, and the exact cause is unknown, according to the National Chicken Council.

Sanderson hasn’t found the woody meat at its so-called tray-pack plants that prepare chicken for retailers. Birds slaughtered at the company’s big-bird deboning plants are about 9 pounds, while chickens weigh about 6.5 pounds at the tray-pack plants.

Supplies identified as woody after screening are sold at a discount and used in products such as chicken nuggets, because the meat is too tough for dishes requiring tender meat, such as salads. The problem started a couple of years ago when breeders selected certain birds for growth rates and breast-meat yield, Sanderson said. Breeders will take two to three years to fix the issue as they eliminate birds that produce the trait, he said.

Some chicken buyers “are considering requiring their suppliers to move to a smaller chicken, because they’re having problems with woody breast in their restaurants,” Sanderson said on a conference call Thursday to discuss fiscal thirdquarter results with analysts.

While chicken processors are trying to avoid the woody meat, another reason to slow gains in animal weight is that making birds bigger will “not satisfy customer needs,” Sanderson said. Customers who buy wings from the company sell the product by piece not weight and need the appropriate weight for the right count, he said.

Bloomberg

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be inspected or purchased at DepED IV-A BAC Secretariat, located at Supply Office, Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal upon accomplishing a bidder’s information sheet and payment in cash of a non-refundable fee by interested bidders in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,OOO.00) to the DepED IV-A Cashier. Only bidders who purchased the _Bidding Documents will be allowed to submit bids.

It may be viewed or downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhiIGEPS), www.philgeps.net. and the website of the Procuring Entity, www.depedca/abarzon.gov, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. The schedule and venue of the procuring activities are as follows: Activity

Date and Time

Venue

Issuance of Bidding Documents

From August 30, 2016 to September 15, 2016 8:00am to 5:00pm (Mon. -Fri.)

DepED IV-A Director’s Conference Room

Pre-Bid Conference

September 2,2016 -10:00 a.m.

-same-

September 15, 2016 -10:00 a.m.

-same

Submission and Opening of Bids

Prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to order or download the electronic copy of the Bidding Documents from the PhilGEPS website: www.philgeps.net. for them to be included in the Document Request List of the project. The pre-bid conference is open-to-all interested parties who may have or have not bought the bidding documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address and on the date and time stated herein. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the ITB Clause 18. A valid Bid Securing Declaration must accompany the bid(s) in lieu of a bid security.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders ‘ representatives who choose to attend the opening of bids at the addres=” date and time stated herein. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DepED Region IV-A reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding , not award the contract(s) , or annul the bidding process without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: Ann Geralyn T. Pelias BAC Chairman Virginia 0 Bagacay BAC Secretariat DepED IV-A Gate 2 Karangalan Drive, Cainta, Rizal 6458406 (SGD) ANN GERALYN T. PELIAS BAC Chairman M S - A U G . 2 7, 2 016)

Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Gadgets / Games

A trade visitor wears virtual reality goggles while playing the computer game Batman of Sony at the game fair Gamescom in Cologne, western Germany. The fair ran from Aug. 17 to 21. AFP

Don’t call me

TECHIE

By Peter Paul Duran

Boosting small business productivity DELL introduced the new Vostro laptops designed to meet the specific needs and demands of small businesses in the Philippines-Vostro 14 5000 and Vostro 14 3000.

Developed to enhance productivity, provide exceptional affordability, outstanding support and security, these next generation Vostro laptops deliver the features small businesses demand and expect from the Vostro product line.

“Small business owners want affordable solutions that help their employees be more productive,” said Christopher Papa, country manager, Dell Philippines. “Our Vostro line continues to deliver and receive tremendous feedback from our small business professionals as the go-to devices to efficiently run and perform critical, everyday tasks. With these six new devices, we’re delivering affordability, design and support to enable the next level of productivity.”

The new Vostro 5000 Series 14-inch laptops provide sleek design with easy portability —with only 18.5mm thin and having a starting weight of only 1.59kg[1]. This Vostro 14 5000 features a premium look and feel with a smooth metal cover that comes in Era Gray and Jingle Gold colors.

The next generation of the Vostro 3000 Series 14-inch laptops (3468) provide security options and reliable business productivity features for budget-conscious small businesses.

The laptops offer a lightweight and thin build, with Midnight

Dell recently introduced the new Vostro designed to meet the specific needs and demands of small businesses in the Philippines. Shown displaying the Vostro 14 5000 and Vostro 14 3000 are (from left) Alice Opeña–DTI Bureau of MSME (BSMED) Division Chair; Louise Crisostomo–Business Development Manager for Services, Dell Philippines; Rebecca Lee–Brand Manager, EUC, Dell South Asia; Christopher Papa – Country Manager, Dell Philippines; Frank Rich–Senior Marketing Communications Manager, Microsoft Philippines; and Lloyd Luna–Entrepreneur (President and CEO of Lloyd Luna Company).

Blue, Black and Sparkling White color options. With up to Intel® 7th Generation Core™ i5 processors, up to 1TB HDD or 128GB SSD and up to 8GB DDR4 memory, these new laptops provide the right productivity tools for small organizations.

Dell understands that many small businesses don’t have their own IT department.

That’s why the new Vostro laptops and all-in-one are backed

by Dell’s award-winning sup-

port service, ProSupport Plus.

With Dell’s innovative SupportAssist technology, ProSupport Plus is the only complete support service combining 24x7 priority access to expert support, accidental damage repair, and proactive, predictive monitoring for automatic issue prevention and resolution. With the top quality support, small businesses are equipped with a true partner in managing their end-to-end IT infrastructure.

Customers can contact Dell Philippines at +63 2 663 2000 or toll free at 1800 1601 0061 for 24x7 direct access to Dell technicians.

The Vostro 14 5000 laptops will be available starting end of September 2016 in the Philippines with starting price of P45,000.

The Vostro 14 3000 (3468) laptops will be available starting end of September 2016 in the Philippines with starting price of P35,000.

Fast, reliable internet for PH homes CONVERGE ICT—a world-class provider of ICT products and personalized services—now offers a more reliable and high-speed internet solutions for homes with its FiberX plans.

Despite the presence of several internet service providers, the struggle to access information needed for daily living still remains challenging.

The Philippines is one of the countries in the world that is notorious for its slow and unreliable internet connection. In the recent ranking among Asia Pacific countries, it emerged as second slowest with an average speed of 3.64 megabits per second (Mbps), a disturbing mile behind more than 100 Mbps of Hong Kong and Singapore which are on top of the list.

According to Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge ICT president and CEO, FiberX uses pure fiber optics that allows symmetric connectivity. It enables the users to experience superior internet connection and reliability since it neither congests nor degrades data as it passes through, allowing for a speedy

downloading and uploading process.

“Fiber technology offers many benefits to both households and businesses because it provides higher bandwidth.

What this means is that, people can now enjoy faster internet and that translates to better productivity,” Uy said.

Converge ICT’s FiberX technology provides 100 percent end-to-end fiber technology from its node to the subscriber. This makes for fast browsing, video-streaming, and seamless gaming, among others.

Furthermore, Converge ICT’s pure fiber

technology offers better security because unlike copper wire, which is the conventional material used by other providers, fiber is dielectric. This means that it does not transmit energy so conversations on LAN are fully secured.

FiberX comes in different packages that are tailor-made depending on the needs of the consumers. They may avail of Converge ICT’s FiberX with a 20 Mbps, 50 Mbps or 100 Mbps bandwidth, respectively.

Converge ICT has already connected its fiber-powered capabilities to cities like San Juan, Las Pinas, Manila, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Makati, Pasig, Taguig, CAMANAVA Area, Pasay, and Muntinlupa, Angeles in Pampanga and Tarlac City and Subic.

Converge ICT is licensed to operate nationwide. More than 6,700 km. of fiber optics cables (FOC) were rolled out nationwide with the use of the latest microtrenching technology.

For more details, please visit the website at http://www.convergeict.com/about.php.

T

echie (noun) \ˈte-kē\.

YOU’VE probably considered yourself as one from the magic moment you first discovered basic keyboard shortcuts. But apart from being the go-to guy in your tiny circle of so-called friends on gadgetry and electronics, here are 10 signs that you’re certainly a bona fide techie.

1. You Don’t Want to Be Called a ‘Techie’ Okay, you want to be known as one, but most definitely you don’t want to be called as such.

Well, apparently for the lack of appeal. Of course, you want to go by the names “Gadget Guru” or “Electro Wiz” instead. And technical workers have abandoned the label as well, considering it rude, they prefer “coders” or “hackers” rather than just plain “techie.” Do I really need to elaborate here?

2. You’ve Gone ala Tony Stark with your Computer or Gadgets If you’ve never built a computer from scratch or tried your hand at rooting a smartphone apart from yours, look away now. But if you’re a power tripper that can easily assemble a monster PCU from ‘chopsuey’ parts, then boy, you’ve got some talent. You strip a phone naked without worrying about tweaking something in its hardware, heck, you don’t even mind the warranty you’ve just wasted.

3. The Samsung vs Iphone Debate are for False Prophets Speaking of smartphones, what you see about the issue is not what company outsells the other or how many people have these gadgets or what’s their demographic. You just see specs, and I mean a lot. You’ve probably pored countless hours on the Web differentiating the two, but when it comes to the choice, you’re probably going to choose what gives you more access and freedom. Androids do, and I guess that’s the end of that.

4. You’ve Got To Choose a Side to that Star Trek vs Star Wars Thingy Speaking of debates, if you’re a techie (I mean, a coder), you’ve probably entered that not-so friendly discussions about whether Scotty did a better job beaming up people or Luke using the force.

There’s no middle ground for this, and once you choose a side, there’s no turning back. But wow, that Episode 7 was something else (wink).

5. You’ve accidentally spent an entire day at an electronics store or Cyberzone Yeah, “accidently.”

One day, a day when you probably got an unfathomable amount of free time, you decide to go to the mall. For whatever reason, I don’t know, but most probably you went by yourself, or if I’m wrong you went with somebody you’ve just got to mentor on the different electronic gadgets, well, because you’re a jerk and it took

you a couple of hours just to show how much of an omniscient tool you are.

6. You are comforted by the fact that all your gadgets lie beside you Okay two phones, two alarm clocks. We get that reason, but I don’t reckon you also use your laptop for a snooze button. You get that sense of security whenever your electronics surround you in your self-indulgence of just how much of a techie you are, err, sorry hacker. It’s a surprise your earphones haven’t tangled around your neck in your sleep all this time.

7. You’re not sentimental, you just don’t want to throw away gadgets that easily Once you get the new one, you still have keep the old, you know, just in case. You’ve still got that prized PS2 among other almost obsolete things from time memorial in your collection. It’s not an advanced case of psychological hoarding disorder, but just to be safe, give them away already.

8. You’ve just got to be the first among your friends to know the latest Among the two or three friends you have, you’re probably the first one to talk about the new stuff on the gadgetry market, or the newest software available. You know the latest updates and you always want to rub it in the faces of your plebeian comrades. Yes, Jon Snow, they know nothing.

9. You just might be a Dude There’s that statistically slighter chance of techies being guys, I mean just search the term “techie person” on google images and poof!, almost 90 percent of the pictures popping-up are dudes with a bonus inclusion every time

by Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon.

But just in case you’re not a dude, then welcome to the club.

10. You don’t even look like a Techie A pair of greased-up eye glasses would be a dead give-away, but most techies don’t actually look like Mandark from Dexter’s Laboratory. In truth, many TV shows and cult tech geeky movies sway away most of the time from depicting techies as fat guys pounding on a keyboard with a half-eaten sandwhich on the side, otherwise the proper term for them are nerds (no offense). Most of screen roles for tech guys are portrayed by hunk actors, there is no staple “techie look.” So just do your coding you sexy beast.

Tac Padilla nephew denies drug use

LGUs

By Jun David

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

A NEPHEW of national shooting champion Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, chairman of barangay San Agustin, Malabon City, voluntarily submitted himself to Northern Police District director Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo to clear his name of alleged involvement in illegal drugs Wednesday afternoon.

Harold Wilford “Chime” Padilla, currently the chief administrative officer of barangay San Agustin, was accompanied by his uncle to the office of Senior Supt. Fajardo after his name was allegedly included in the hit list of leftist group Partisano.

Chime admitted to Fajardo that he once used illegal drugs but he stopped in 2013 and has reformed. He said he is willing to take drug tests to prove that he is no longer using drugs.

“I am also prepared to help the police versus illegal drugs. That’s what we are doing in our barangay,” Chime told Fajardo.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

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BREAKFAST. A boy gaily shows off his morning catch in Ticao Island, Masbate. Teddy Pelaez

3-year Yellow Card eyed

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

AYOR Abigail Binay on Thursday urged members of the Makati City Council to pass a resolution extending the validity of the Yellow Card, known in the city as Health Plus Program, from one year to three years.

The Yellow Card provides government-subsidized health care for Makati residents, city government workers and other qualified beneficiaries.

“For the convenience of our residents and other qualified beneficiaries of the city health program, we will extend the validity of their cards to three years from the current yearly renewal,” Binay said.

Under the Yellow Card program,

beneficiaries are entitled to free medicines, free outpatient consultations and subsidized hospitalization for emergency and in-patient care at the city-run Ospital ng Makati. Primary health services ranging from maternal and child care to elderly care are also provided for free at the city’s 26 barangay health centers and three lying-in clinics.

Binay also pushed for the provision of supplemental health insur-

ance coverage to city government workers through a qualified private health insurance company.

“Through this added incentive, they could seek medical care in accredited private institutions,” she said.

The mayor, in a recent talk with members of the Makati City Development Council (MCDC), said the city government also wants to establish a unified card system

that will consolidate all health and social benefits being provided by the city government for residents, city hall employees and other qualified beneficiaries.

She said all services under the Yellow Card, BLU Card, PWD Card, Solo Parent Card, the citysponsored universal health insurance package of PhilHealth, among others, will be consolidated into a single card system.

Estrada wages war on waste

FOR KIDS. San Jose Del Monte Mayor Arthur Robes (far right) leads the ground-breaking ceremony for the new four-classroom building sponsored

by SM City San Jose Del Monte and SM Foundation in Tungkong Mangga Elementary School. Jun David

Drug lords’ alleged ‘hitman’ shot dead

By Jun David A SUSPECTED “gun for hire” believed to be the hit man of alleged drug lords jailed in the New Bilibid Prison was shot dead in Caloocan City during an anti-drug operation Thursday morning.

Insp. Ali Jose Duterte, chief of the NPD Special Operation Unit said the slain Adonis dela Rosa resisted arrest by operatives so he was shot when the police authorities raided his boarding house at Dagat-Dagatan Village in the city.

Duterte said Dela Rosa was

rushed to the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon but was declared dead on arrival by a physician.

The suspect allegedly killed drug distributors who failed to remit money to convicted drug lords inside the Bilibid, Duterte said.

Dela Rosa has also been

Sandigan indicts Zambo execs

By A. Perez Rimando CAMP HAMAC—The Sandiganbayan’s 7th Division recently ordered the arrest of a Zamboanga del Norte municipal mayor, three town councilors and three other former local government officials for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, a court order received recently by the police here said.

A Sandiganbayan court order received here by Senior Supt. Edwin C. Wagan, police provincial director,

identified the accused incumbent LGU officials as Sibuco Town Mayor Nurbederie Edding; Councilors Norbryan Edding, Nasser Mahamod, and Absar Caril; former Sangguniang Bayan members Malik Tutuan and Jaapal Dodong, and former Liga ng mga Barangay president Abbas Samson who served as an ex-officio councilor.

Wagan directed a tracker team of policemen from Sibuco Municipal Police Station led by Inspector Joel Adajar to serve the Sandiganbayan arrest order against all the accused

at Edding’s residence at Barangay Santa Maria in Zamboanga City where they were reportedly taking refuge.

The police reported that the case against Sibuco, incumbent and former local government officials “stemmed from the complaint submitted to the Sandiganbayan by another elected Sibuco town official whose identity was not disclosed.

Wagan later announced that all the accused were “granted temporary liberty after each of them paid P30,000 bail bond before a Regional Trial Court in Zamboanga City.”

tagged in a series of fatal shootings in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela between 2015 and June this year.

The NPD official said the suspected killer frequently changed his residence making it hard for the operatives to track him.

MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday called on the 1.78-million Manileños to help keep the capital city clean as he revives the city government’s extensive cleanliness campaign and road clearing operations in the city continue.

Estrada also ordered all concerned city hall departments to start strictly enforcing the city’s 1994 anti-littering ordinance.

The mayor said residents can help by merely practicing proper waste disposal and garbage segregation.

With a population of 1.78 million, Manila produces 8,700 tons of garbage everyday, 30 percent or roughly 2,610 tons end up in the streets, drainage pipes and esteros, Estrada lamented.

Manila is one of the world’s most densely populated cities with 42,857 people per square kilometer, or 111,002 people per square mile.

Tondo is the most populous, accounting for 38 percent of the total population, followed

by Sampaloc (20.7 percent) and Santa Ana (10.7 percent).

“You can just imagine, with this burgeoning population, the amount of garbage the city produces every day,” Estrada said.

Of the six districts of Manila, District 3 remains the “dirti-

est” in terms of the volume of garbage being collected daily, according to Belle Borromeo, head of the Department of Public Services (DPS).

District 3 is composed 126 barangays in Binondo, Quiapo, San Nicolas and Sta. Cruz. With a land area of 6.24 square kilometers, it has a 2015 population of 221,780.

Borromeo said they collect 10 truckloads of garbage everyday from District 3 alone.

“That’s about 40 to 50 tons a day,” she said as she echoed Estrada’s call to city residents to observe discipline in waste disposal.

The DPS, Borromeo said, is closely working with the Metro Manila Development Authority in implementing anti-littering regulations in the city, including Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Estrada has initiated a relentless road clearing operation starting this June to bring back what Estrada described as Manila’s “beauty and old glory.”

The city government recently cleared Divisoria, Blumentritt Road, Sta. Cruz-Rizal Avenue area, Binondo, and Quiapo, driving away more than 3,000 illegal vendors and reducing traffic congestion in the major thoroughfares of the city.

OUTSTANDING.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (right) presents a plaque of commendation to Dr. Manuel Loquias (left) who was one of the 2016 Outstanding Young Scientists recognized by the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines. A local resolution was also passed commending the scientist’s feat.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

LGUs

DoE lights up 5,263 homes municipalities in Bulacan, Laguna and some parts of Rizal, in Happy Land Aroma, HE Department of Energy and the Manila and Baseco Compound, Isla PutElectric Co. has provided electricity to ing Bato and Parola in Tondo, Manila to date. more than 5,000 households of indigent The department said these families and informal settlers under its households had to meet all the electrification program. legal and financial requirements to get access to electricity.

“By helping indigent famiThe partnership has sup- households in Gaya-Gaya in plied power to a total of 5,263 San Jose del Monte and other lies secure legal electrical

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

connections, the DoE together with the help of distribution utilities can further reduce the risk of fire hazards, which may be caused by the illegal use of electricity,” the department said.

The department urged local officials and leaders to get more actively involved in ensuring safe legal power connections that will enable the

cities and municipalities to earn more revenues from delivering better services to the people.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Meralco discussed issues and concerns encountered by the utility, such as right-ofway, various ongoing construction works, peace and order, and other barriers to the immediate energization of target

communities.

After their initial meeting last July 7, some 2,082 households were connected under combined regular service and pre-paid electricity service schemes for the new household connections.

Cusi and Meralco president Oscar Reyes vowed to help provide people living below the poverty line access to electricity.

Bridge from Samal to Davao pushed

By Sandy Araneta DEPARTMENT of Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo revealed on Tuesday that their Mindanao team will push for the Samal-Davao City connecting bridge project to address the growing number of island visitors.

Teo’s revelation was made during her visit to Davao City for the recently concluded Kadayawan 2016 festivities, during which she also sought stakeholders’ support for a Mindanao tourism agenda.

She said latest data from DoT Region XI show Davao City recording 1.70 million visitor arrivals from January to December 2015. Of the total figure, 1.56 million domestic travelers and 128,333 were foreign visitors.

Teo said 14,699 overseas Filipinos visited the island. A total of 161,339 visitors were tallied in August of the same year alone, with 12,142 foreign arrivals and 147,207 local visitors.

The tourism chief added that the DoT intends to make the current international attention to Davao a major turning point for Mindanao tourism.

“The interest in Davao is really high these days, as people want to see how thenmayor now President Rodrigo Duterte has managed the city,” said DoT Mindanao officer-in-charge Eden Josephine David, in reference to increasing visitor arrivals in Davao City at the outset of the Duterte presidency.

David added that the DoT is banking on the new administration’s plan to implement the Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network as part of its revitalized infrastructure spending, to help address the connectivity and infrastructure gap of the region.

Marco Polo Davao’s first Filipina general manager Dottie Viajar WurglerCronin, who had a brief meeting with Teo at the sidelines of Kadayawan 2016, said she was confident that “Davao and the entire Mindanao region would be given more attention now that we have a tourism secretary from the region.”

Cronin said she expects Teo will have a “better understanding of what we have and can offer from this region.”

FRUSTRATED. More than 50 farmers from Alangalang, Barugo, Carigara, San Miguel and Ormoc affiliated with the Kilusan para sa Repormang

Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan-Eastern Visayas network picketed the Department of Agrarian Reform regional office in Sto. Niño, Tacloban City because their confirmed scheduled dialogues with the DAR were thrice canceled. Mel Caspe

‘Penalize homes breeding dengue insects’

By Funny Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The City Health Office is urging the city council to penalize household owners whose house are found to be breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, CHO chief, Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, announced.

Villafuerte said they needed an ordinance to compel Dabawenyos to keep their backyards dry and dengue-free.

Eliminating the breeding grounds for the pest will dramatically reduce the cases of dengue fever in the city, she said.

Villafuerte said the people need to be threatened with penalties so that they will follow the laws, such as the anti-smoking ordinance of the city, which curtails the smoking habits of the Dabawenyos.

In 2004, an anti-dengue ordinance was sponsored by former city council committee on health chairman, councilor Bernard

Al-ag, but it did not pass the 3rd reading due to several questions on the provision and penalties.

“We will not be intruding on the privacy of the home owners, we will just see if the houses are properly cleaned and kept dry,” Villafuerte said.

Earlier, the city council declined to pass anti-dengue ordinance because they saw no reason to penalize the victims of the dengue virus, said city councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte.

The councilor said there was no need to create an anti-dengue ordinance because the 4 o’clock cleaning habit was the priority of the city council.

“The proposed ordinance is based on punishment, and I as a doctor I don’t want to punish people who are suffering from dengue. Right now, we would like to revisit the proposed ordinance and probably make it more like an incentive-based [legislation],” the councilor added.

CHARITY.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office vice chairman and general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II (third from left) turns over an ambulance to San Mateo Mayor Cristina Diaz (third from right) at the PCSO head office in Mandaluyong City.

IN BRIEF PRO4A submits confiscated weapons to Bato

Pagadian prisoners take skills training

CAMP VICENTE LIM—The Calabarzon regional police office confiscated assorted loose firearms in its anti-illegal drug campaign.

The PRO4A presented to PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa 536 confiscated, surrendered and recovered assorted loose firearms, 487 ammunitions, and two grenades between the start of June to August 22, 2016.

Some 303 persons were also arrested, 61 of which are civilians, three security guards and a police officer.

The police office reported that 38 suspects were killed in armed encounters and 110 cases have been filed. Roy Tumandao

TO MAKE them more productive and useful after serving their prison terms, close to 200 inmates of the Pagadian City jail started a onemonth skills training conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Pagadian City Jail facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, a jail officer said.

BJMP regional director Arnulfo Obias said the training focused on house electrical installation, cell phone repair, computer machine/laptop repair, radio and television maintenance, and refrigeration technology.

Obias said their experience “will provide the beneficiary-inmates easy access to local jobs or self-employment to start a new life after they will have completed their detention.” A. Perez Rimando

BPSU upgrades facilities THE Bataan Peninsula State University, the largest university in the province, is improving its facilities to achieve academic excellence.

BPSU president Dr. Greg Rodis said the new facilities include the E-Library on the Main Campus and an Education Technological and Animal Welfare Clinic in the Abucay Campus. The Animal Science Building was repaired and there is ongoing road concreting also on the Abucay Campus.

Gov. Albert Garcia attended the recent inauguration of the university facilities.

While still a congressman, the governor then initiated the law converting Bataan Polytechnic State College into BPSU. Butch Gunio

Sta. Rosa opens new rehab center CAMP VICENTE LIM—Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa led the inauguration of the Sta. Rosa City Rehabilitation Center on Arcillas Avenue, Brgy Tagapo, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna Wednesday.

Owing to its rigorous campaign against illegal drugs, the city saw 1,119 drug users surrender to the authorities.

The center was built by the local government of Sta. Rosa, the Philippine National Police and other stakeholders to reform victims of illegal drugs.

The highlights of the inauguration were the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the PNP and city government, and the symbolic painting of the rehabilitation center. Benjie Antioquia

World

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

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Bus plunges in river: 21 dead K

athmandu—A packed passenger bus plunged into a river early Friday in central Nepal, killing 21 people, a senior local official said.

Rescuers struggled to re- jured to safety after the bus cover bodies and help the in- plunged into the swelling Tri-

shuli river, off the highway at Chandi Bhanjyang village in Chitwan district.

“Twenty-one people have died in the accident and 16 have been rescued,” district chief Binod Prakash Singh told Agence France Presse,

adding that the injured have been taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Singh said that rescuers were searching the area where the bus was still partially submerged to ensure no passengers were stuck inside.

The bus was heading to the tourist town of Pokhara from the southern district of Rautahat.

Accidents are relatively common on Nepal’s highways because of poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving, and

death tolls running into double figures are frequent.

At least 25 people were killed last week when a crowded bus veered off a hilly road in Nepal’s Kavre district and fell some 500 meters down a slope. AFP

11 kids among 15 killed in Syria blast BEIRUT—Eleven children were killed on Thursday in a barrel bomb attack carried out by government forces on a rebel-held neighborhood of Syria’s Aleppo city, a monitor said.

“Fifteen civilians, among them 11 children, were killed in a barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nayrab neighborhood” in the south of Aleppo city, the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

The group also reported eight civilians, including two children, were killed on Thursday in rebel fire on the governmentheld west of the city.

An Agence France Presse journalist in Bab al-Nayrab saw rescue workers and civilians digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings.

One man carried out the lifeless body of a baby no bigger than his forearm. Its eyes were closed and its body was white with dust except for speckles and smears of blood.

Nearby, a civil defense worker protected the face of another dead child as his colleagues scraped away the rubble encasing the rest of the child’s body.

Syria’s regime has been accused of regularly using barrel bombs—crude, explosive devices—on rebel-held areas that are home to civilians, and other parties to the conflict are not known to have used the weapons.

President Bashar al-Assad and his government deny using barrel bombs.

Once Syria’s economic powerhouse, Aleppo city has been ravaged by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

The city has been roughly divided between rebel control in the east and government control in the west since mid2012, with each side bombarding the other and causing civilian casualties.

Fighting for Aleppo city has intensified since regime troops seized control of the last supply route into rebel-held areas in mid-July.

After a nearly three-week siege, rebels early this month linked up with opposition-held neighborhoods via a new road from the city’s south, in a major blow to fighters loyal to Assad. AFP

American university attack: 16 fatalities KABUL—Sixteen people were killed after militants stormed the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, officials said Thursday, in a nearly 10-hour raid that prompted anguished pleas for help from trapped students.

Explosions and gunfire rocked the campus after the attack began Wednesday evening, just weeks after two university professors— an American and an Australian— were kidnapped at gunpoint near the school.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the assault, but it occurred as the Taliban ramp up their nationwide summer offensive against the Western-backed government.

The presidential office said the attack was “orchestrated” from Pakistan, Afghanistan’s longtime regional nemesis often accused of harboring the Taliban.

“Sixteen people, including eight students, were killed and 53 others were wounded,” health ministry spokesman Waheed Majroh told Agence France Presse.

“Some of the wounded are in critical condition.”

The interior ministry said the fatalities included policemen, a university guard and a guard from the neighboring vocational school for the visually impaired.

Hundreds of trapped students were rescued during the overnight operation, many of whom tweeted desperate messages for help. Some used classroom furniture to barricade the doors while others made a mad scramble to escape through windows from high floors.

The attack began with a suicide car bombing at a university gate, which paved the way for two attackers to storm the compound at dusk, when the elite private university is usually packed with students.

“Students were pushing each other out of the classroom window,” Farzana, a young student who was grievously hurt while escaping, told AFP from her hospital bed. “I was reluctant to jump but a fellow student pushed me and I fell down. The rest I don’t remember.” AFP

DIPLOMATS. Peter Thomson (left), elected President of the 71st United Nations General Assembly session meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing on Friday. Thomson will be assuming the presidency of the UN General Assembly in September 2016. AFP

Iraqi lawmakers impeach defense minister BAGHDAD—Iraqi lawmakers on Thursday voted to impeach Defense Minister Khaled alObeidi over corruption allegations, MPs said.

Obeidi lost a no confidence vote by 142 to 102 in a secret ballot, while 18 abstained, two members of parliament told Agence France Presse.

The vote removes one of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s key Sunni allies from government and comes as Iraqi forces ramp up preparations for an offensive against Mosul, the Islamic State group’s last major stronghold in

the country.

The shock impeachment is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted this month between Obeidi and parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi, the highest-ranking Sunni politician in Iraq.

Obeidi was questioned in parliament over corruption allegations to which he answered with accusations of his own implicating Juburi and several MPs. Juburi moved quickly and agreed to have his immunity lifted so that he could be investigated, only for a special integrity

court to drop the case hours later.

Obeidi had said the accusations against him were trumped up and retaliation for his refusal to buy in to corrupt defense deals.

“I tried to fight corruption in every way but it appears that its lords are stronger and their voices louder,” he said in a statement after the vote.

He then made a thinly-veiled reference to Nuri al-Maliki, the powerful former prime minister who many observers suspect of manoeuvering behind the scenes to undermine every move Abadi

and his allies make.

“I spared no effort in building the army... whilst striving to fight the corruption and nepotism that led Iraq to lose 40 percent of its territory in 2014, displaced millions of people, threatened its shrines as well as its beloved capital Baghdad,” Obeidi said.

Maliki had been premier for eight years when the army, gangrened by nepotism and hollowed out by a system in which “ghost soldiers” enrolled but did not show up for duty, collapsed completely in the face of a vast June 2014 IS assault. AFP

Greenpeace: Suspend rubber plantation

FUMING. A man (bottom right) sits on the rock overlooking the city skyline blanketed with haze in Singapore on Friday. Smog and a strong acrid smell blanketed Singapore on Friday as smoke from forest fires in Indonesia blew into the city-state, sending the air quality index to unhealthy levels. AFP

YAO—Greenpeace has urged Cameroon to suspend a major rubber plantation project in the country’s south because of large-scale deforestation that threatens a nearby UNESCO World Heritage nature reserve.

The plantation extends to within a few hundred meters (yards) of the edge of the Dja Faunal Reserve, which is home to 14 species of primate, including lowland gorillas and chimpanzees.

Greenpeace called on Cameroon to suspend the Sud-Cameroun Hevea (Sudcam) lease deal until important steps had been taken to protect the environment, the environmental group said in a statement on its website.

Among the measures sought by Greenpeace are

a “due, transparent process to ensure free, prior and informed consent of the local communities.”

“Sudcam should immediately halt the conversion of forests inside its concessions and conduct a new environmental impact assessment,” it said.

A joint venture between a subsidiary of China’s state-owned Sinochem and a Cameroonian firm, SudCam is responsible “for the worst deforestation of recent times,” according to Greenpeace.

The environmental group said its surveys showed that SudCam had cleared 5,930 hectares of forest.

Greenpeace said other threats to the forest include the construction of a dam, a planned mining project and poaching. AFP

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Miners kill Bolivia deputy minister

World

JAMMING. (Left to right) Musicians Kelby Ray, Neil Mason and Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three perform during the Florida Georgia Line “Dig Your Roots” 2016 tour at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on Thursday in New York City.

LA PAZ—Bolivia’s Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes has been killed by miners who kidnapped him to demand labor law changes, the government said Thursday.

“All signs indicate that our deputy minister, Rodolfo Illanes, has been cowardly and brutally murdered,” Interior Minister Carlos Romero told a press conference.

Illanes had gone to the protesting miners’ blockade in the western highland town of Panduro before being kidnapped and then killed by his captors.

Illanes had earlier told local media by telephone that “I am in very good health... safeguarded by peers, so people do not hurt me.”

But reports later said the government official was dead, citing a radio station director who said he saw Illanes’s body.

“We saw the lifeless body of Deputy Minister Illanes,” Moises Flores, director of a mining radio station, told another local radio outlet.

In a separate statement, Defense Minister Reymi Ferreira said that about 100 to 120 arrests had been made and that the ringleaders who had “violently” killed Illanes had been identified.

“This act cannot go unpunished, and must be taken to court,” Ferreira said.

The miner demonstrations turned violent this week after a highway was blockaded, with protestors demanding mining concessions and the right to work for private or foreign companies. AFP

8 foreigners died in quake 28 Argentines get life for dictatorship crimes BUENOS AIRES—An Argentine court sentenced 28 people to life in prison Thursday for torturing and killing opponents of the country’s 1976-1983 military regime at a secret detention center.

Those convicted included former general Luciano Menendez, nicknamed “The Hyena” for laughing during torture sessions at the clandestine prison known as La Perla.

Menendez, 89, was already serving 11 life sentences for human rights abuses committed at the infamous facility in

the central province of Cordoba.

In the latest trial, he was convicted of 52 homicides, 260 kidnappings, 656 cases of torture and 82 disappearances of detainees who were never found.

In all, he and his co-accused were charged with kidnapping, torturing, killing or stealing the newborn babies of more than 700 victims, 279 of whom are still officially missing.

Ten other defendants were sentenced to between two and a half and 21 years.

Menendez showed no remorse during the trial, telling the court there was “never repression of any kind” at the detention center.

“These criminals accuse the armed forces and go to the courts saying they’re victims,” he said.

Some 600 people testified in the landmark case, which opened in 2012.

An estimated 30,000 regime opponents or suspected sympathizers were killed or “disappeared” during the dictatorship. AFP

L

ondon—At least eight foreigners were among the 250 people killed when a powerful earthquake struck central Italy this week, officials said, as rescuers continued the grim search for corpses Friday.

The bulk of the confirmed deaths—193 at the latest count—were in the small mountain town of Amatrice, which normally has a population of around 2,500 but was packed with visitors when the quake struck as people slept in the early hours of Wednesday.

Three British citizens were killed in the 6.06.2 magnitude quake, which had a shallow depth of four kilometers (2.5 miles) exacerbating its impact, an official from Amatrice told the BBC. The British foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the report, but Foreign Minister Boris Johnson has said a number of British nationals were affected.

“My deepest sympathies are with the Italian people and everyone affected by the terrible

earthquake,” said Johnson, who sent condolences to his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni.

Britain’s Daily Mirror reported that one of the victims was a 14-year-old boy from London, who was visiting Amatrice with his family. The boy’s parents were injured, while his sister survived and did not need hospital treatment, the newspaper said.

Two Romanians were among the dead, the country’s foreign ministry said Thursday, while four nationals were injured and eight more were still missing.

Spain’s foreign minister said one Spanish national had been killed, with Spanish media saying it was young woman who had lived in the village of Illica with her Italian husband, who survived.

Canada and El Salvador both said that one of their citizens had been killed in the earthquake.

“We share in the grief of the lives cut short by this terrible event,” said Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion in a statement.

El Salvador said the victim, Rosaura Valiente Oviedo, had been living in Italy since 2009. Her son, Roberto Valiente, survived with minor injuries. AFP

Mudslide deaths blamed on mayor

2 hospitals will not bill Pulse survivors MIAMI—Two hospitals that treated victims of this summer’s attack on the Orlando gay night club Pulse will not bill survivors for out-of-pocket medical expenses—more than $5 million— officials announced Thursday.

“The Pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families, and our entire community,” Orlando Health president and CEO David Strong said in a statement.

“During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals, and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward.”

The health network’s main hospital treated most of the 53 injured people who required immediate medical attention in the aftermath of the June 12 massacre, which left 49 dead.

Nine victims died after arriving at the hospital.

Orlando Health will not charge patients or their families directly, and will for other ways to shoulder costs instead, including federal funds, private insurance, disability insurance and the state’s crime victim compensation program. AFP

BANNED. US federal officials are seeking a ban on swimming with Hawaii’s spinner dolphins, saying the encounters popular with tourists are harming the nocturnal creatures’ sleeping habits. AFP

GUATEMALA City—A mayor of a Guatemalan village was arrested Thursday for allegedly ignoring warnings ahead of a mudslide that engulfed a community in 2015, killing 280 people.

Victor Gonzalo Alvarizaes Monterroso, mayor of the village of Santa Catarina Pinula, to the west of the capital Guatemala City, was arrested on a charge of negligent homicide, a spokeswoman for the state prosecutor’s office told reporters.

The mudslide occurred on October 1 last year. A section of earth detached and covered a district of the village called El Cambray II. The official toll was 280 killed and another 70 missing.

Investigators say Alvarizaes was informed of the risk of such a disaster happening, along with recommendations that El Cambray II be moved.

A former mayor of the community, Antonio Coro, was arrested in January on the same charge. AFP

Life

Monotomia’s henchmen, Mga Konduktor

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

YOUTH

M

OST recording artists mark special occasions by holding a concert or releasing a special edition of the album that started it all for them. But rockstar Yeng Constantino — whose career turns 10 this year—has never been, nor will she ever be, like most recording artists. She’s much more: a songwriter with a proven track record of penning chart-toppers.

Since Constantino emerged on the music scene in 2006 via Pinoy Dream Academy season one, she has relied on her songwriting ability to set herself apart. A unique artist like her deserves to mark a decade in the industry in a unique way. Ten years is ten years, after all. So it was that her visionary of a manager Erickson Raymundo partnered with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) to produce a musical built around Constantino’s discography.

Inspired by the success of PETA’s Rak of Aegis — Erickson came up with the idea for Ako Si Josephine - A Musical Featuring the Music of Yeng Constantino. Instead of another concert or album, this year Constantino will celebrate her showbiz anniversary by lending her compositions to the team behind Rak of Aegis.

Ako Si Josephine was written by Liza Magtoto. It will be directed by Maribel Legarda and the musical direction is by Myke Salomon. Theater aficionados will be treated to fresh takes on the singer-songwriter’s singles and other selections from her entire catalog, courtesy of Salomon. Insiders say that his arrangements alone are enough reason to watch the show again and again. He took pains to give all the songs featured in the show a whole new vibe while staying true to the spirit of the original.

Constantino is confident that her songs are in the right hands. In fact, she can hardly wait for people to watch the musical. “Fan din ako ng Aegis, so hopefully kung ano yung narating ng ‘Rak of Aegis’ ay marating din nitong ‘Ako Si Josephine.’ Sobrang funny at cute talaga ng story niya kaya excited na ako na maipalabas siya,” she says.

At first, she wasn’t sure about doing a musical because she didn’t think she deserved to be so honored with one. “Nung una, siyempre napaisip ako kung ganun na ba karami yung mga kantang nasulat ko para gamitin sila sa isang musical.

Napaisip din ako kung ganun na ba ako ka-influential na songwriter para bigyan ng ganitong honor.”

To banish those negative thoughts, she leaned on her family and friends. “Kung meron mga ganung tanong sa utak ko, may mga tao din na naniniwala at nagmamahal sa akin. ‘Pag meron kang ganun, nagiging mas madali to believe in yourself. So sinabi ko, ‘Kung yun po ang nakikita niyo na dapat gawin, at sa tingin niyong akma naman sa akin, sige, tatanggapin ko na po. Kasi biyaya naman yun, at

Barbie Star Light Adventure Gown doll

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‘AKO SI JOSEPHINE’

A unique celebration for a unique artist Ricci Chan as Monotomia

Jon Santos plays Monotomia

Maronne Cruz and Via Antonio will play Josephine in Ako si Josephine musical, while Chinito will be brought to life by Joaquin Valdez

ayoko namang i-dismiss lang nang basta basta. Ayokong i-shoo away yung binibigay ni God.” Constantino appreciates that the PETA team let her be involved in nearly

every aspect of Ako Si Josephine. But while she offered input from time to time, she left most of the real work to the theater pros.

Ako Si Josephine - A Musical Featur-

ing the Music of Yeng Constantino is set in a music empire where love songs are banned. But when top composer Josephine falls in love with her boss Chinito (and he with her), they can’t

keep from setting their feelings for each other to music. They want to release all the songs they wrote together, but the empire’s despotic ruler Monotomia only allows HYP or Happy, Youthful, Purposeful music to be broadcasted throughout the land.

Ako Si Josephine will follow Josephine’s journey towards fighting for her right to share the music of her heart with the people she loves. Josephine will be played by stage actress, YouTuber and newly minted Cornerstone artist Via Antonio, handpicked by Constantino at the auditions. Another talented personality in the theater scene, Maronne Cruz will be the alternate.

Joaquin Valdez has signed to play the charming and handsome Chinito.

Meanwhile, Jon Santos and Ricci Chan will bring Monotomia to life on different dates. “Magkaiba rin yung binibigay nilang dalawa kaya nakaka-excite sila pareho panoorin,” says an insider. As for whether Constantino will make a cameo onstage, that remains to be seen. Her fans will just have to watch the musical to find out.

Ako Si Josephine - A Musical Featuring the Music of Yeng Constantino is a production of PETA produced by Cornerstone Entertainment and ABSCBN Events. It will run from Sept. 8 to Oct. 9 at the PETA Theater Center in New Manila’s Sunnyside Drive.

Tickets are available at Ticketworld, call (02) 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Toy Kingdom’s Amazing Toy Expo 2016 Marvel Metals 4-inch die cast Thor figure

War Machine in 4-inch die cast figure

TOY Kingdom held the most amazing gathering of toys in the Philippines in its Toy Expo 2016 on the 2nd level of the SMX Convention Center.

The expo featured the newest and upcoming toys in the market. These came with special price offers and freebies—a perfect treat for an early Christmas shopping.

Fun booths of branded toys with life-size 3D character statues welcomed guests to the Toy Expo. Each booth had an exciting activity where kids explored and played with the toys they love.

They also had a sneak peek—and had the first pick—of the latest toys for the Holiday season. These included toys from Trolls, a 2016 American 3D computeranimated musical comedy film, which were initially available exclusively at the three-day Expo. There was also a Trolls Meet and Greet.

Other new toys included characters from Suicide Squad, the 2016 American super villain film based on the DC Comics antihero team; the epic Star Wars; classic Disney Junior; and the first Filipino Plush toys Plush and Play.

Girls, meanwhile, loved the new Barbie You Can be Anything doll collection, as well as My Little Pony.

There was a Betty Spaghetti Launch, as well as Meet and Greet sessions with favorite characters like Shopkins and the Cartoon Network’s Power Puff girls.

Boys, on the other hand, enjoyed the standout 4-inch Hero collectibles in Marvel Metals Die Cast, as well as the latest Lego Nexo Knights, and the iconic Transformers. They also had a thrilling ride at the Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt series, and able to Meet and Greet the famous squad of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

During the event, kids also met well loved characters from Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol, the Grossery Gang, and more.

Hot Wheels Versus playset features two exclusive Hot Wheels Versus vehicles with adjustable clamp, and it connects to other Track Builder System sets

Life

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Heckle and Wrestle:

PWR – The Philippine Wrestling Revolution

F

IRL (IN REAL LIFE) MENCHU AQUINO SARMIENTO

ILIPINO wrestling fans of generations past used to have to content themselves with watching WWE on TV. Note that the E stands for Entertainment, meaning don’t try this at home, kids. Since 2014, a homegrown Filipino wrestling league has sprung up so you can now witness first-hand the body slams and the mayhem of tag teams running wild into the audience, indiscriminately wielding folding chairs and even cafeteria trays.

PWR: Philippine Wrestling Revolution is made up of young Filipino males (no one over age 35) who grew up watching WWF as it was known before the World Wildlife Fund asked them to please change their acronym to avoid confusing saving endangered species with smack down in the public mind.

Given our racial heritage, PWR wrestlers are approximately a head shorter than their American peers (see photo of Pinoy Ken Warren with the 6 ft. 8 in.

Gene Snitsky of WWE) and most weigh in at under 200 lbs. Those who are not

yet full-fledged wrestlers act as PWR’s production crew, stagehands, ushers, and even man the merchandise booths during matches.

PWR wrestlers are not just WWE mini-me’s. What they do still requires considerable strength and athletic prowess but it is primarily theater, like a contemporary moro-moro with scripted trash talk for dialogue. Unlike the WWE which targets youngsters (hence the toy plastic action figures), PWR matches started out as adult entertainment. For example, the

John Sebastian of the Ace in a Hole of the Royal Flush engages the audience as (inset) Rederick Mahaba goes after his opponent

Philippine Wrestling Revolution wrestler Ken Warren with Gene Snitsky of WWE

wrestler Kanto Terror is a siga from Kanto Tinio, both names obviously rude puns in Filipino. Crowd chants like “C*pal!” against the bad guys are best left not translated.

I took my 14-year old son to PWR SHAW DOWN in Mandaluyong: a four-hour extravaganza with 10 matches and a pre-show. You could count the number of children in the audience on one hand. The change in venue from the usual enclaves of Makati and southern Metro-Manila also marked the debut of several new talents, such as the Network team, an allusion to ubiquitous Multi-Level Marketers in search of more downlines, and Martivo, bemoustached and bearded but ostensibly gay. To make sure you knew what his gender identity was despite all that facial hair, Martivo flounced onto the ring trailing a rainbow cape. “PAK!” and “GANERN” were cheekily appliquéd on the back of his shorty shorts.

The Revo-Nation of PWR fans are mostly millennials and Generation Xers. Thus Joey Bax, not quite in his mid-30s but with a prematurely receding hairline, is cheered on with “Let’s go, Tito!” For Martivo the “Man Doll,”

As pretty as jewelry WEIGHING less than three pounds and being four-tenths of an inch thick, the HP Spectre is tagged as the “World’s thinnest laptop” and one of HP’s greatest inventions.

Tasteful design and premium engineering come together to create HP Spectre.

First, it boasts an ash gray aluminum top cover and luxe copper metal accents designed to look like jewelry—slightly different from HP’s other lines of laptop.

HP Philippines, Inc. Country Manager Albert Mateo Jr. acknowledged the fact that the laptop’s splendor is a different vibe from the brand’s usual market.

“HP is very popular for business. [It’s] very corporate. In fact, we are the leading manufacturer of PCs and printers for the business community,” he said during the unveiling of HP Spectre.

Inside, however, it still contains a full Intel Core power supply to ensure undisturbed connectivity and a USB-C, which secures data exchanges and provides stronger influx of power for various plugged-in devices.

“The growth area for us is to elevate the HP brand into the premium category,” he shared.

The country manager also disclosed that the premium laptop is targeted for millennials: the generation that searches for both functionality and innovation in technology.

Mateo said, “We’re actually looking around the market and we are targeting the Millennials and Generation Z people for this particular product. Because in their times, they want to make sure that they have access to all the social media platforms anywhere, anytime.”

On top of functionality and innovation, it has become an obvious trend that Millennials crave for great aesthetic. At the day and age of rehearsed

the chant shifts to a gender appropriate “Let’s go, Tita!” and also considerately, when he was getting clobbered: “Huwag sa mukha!” The fully bearded rookie Vlad Synnsyk was also cheered with “Another Tito!” although he’s just in his early 20’s. Some in the audience though thought his shiftiness and flailing hands hinted at substance abuse, and direly warned: Isumbong kay Duterte. Adik-adik iyan--nagkakalat! Nonetheless, he defeated his opponent Ralph Imabayashi, a Japinoy. Our country’s transnational heritage is an ever-present show element.

The Chinoy PWR manager Mr. Sy is irreverently catcalled as Hen Lin. This being theater, the delineations between good and evil are stark.

There are only perfunctory boos when John Sebastian, the Ace in the Hole of the Royal Flush viciously goes after PWR’s only female wrestler Crystal, with his Kendo stick. The audience knows that although she’s flat on the floor, Crystal is really unhurt. The reaction is more fevered when Rederick Mahaba the super-sized radio host of Mahabang Usapan, also known as the Intimate Warrior and the Afrodisiac for his frizzy coiffure, tells

her: “I’m not a good guy… I’m not a bad guy, but you and me, Crystal, we’re bagay.” In honor of his “jaccolades,” Rederick Mahaba’s acolytes wear T-shirts identifying them as the “Basted Club.” The iconic Bombay Suarez wasn’t wrestling that night but his followers were highly visible in “Kill this B*tch” shirts. Many fans are female like the masked Sandata’s Southern Tagalog groupies who had come from Quezon province waving his streamer.

The peculiarities of Filipino class distinctions are essential to the drama. The definitively conyo Ollores Twins are from Katips and enter the ring in the signature uniform of powder blue polo over khaki slacks before stripping down. The champion Jake De Leon of the fictional Hacienda De Leon is dubbed the Senyorito. His shirt proclaims: Minimum Wage, Maximum Rage. The feckless Kanto Terror is the other half of Beer Promdi. His partner is tellingly named Mark D. Manalo. As in real life, even in the wrestling ring, some things are pre-ordained and the decks are stacked against the have-not’s. It’s our history repeating. So it goes.

Indonesia’s Reyog Dance Performance AS PART of the commemoration of the 71st Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia on Aug. 17, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Manila, in collaboration with SM Mall of Asia and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, presented the Reyog Dance Performance: Wonderful Culture Of Indonesia. This event was aimed at promoting the Indonesian culture and tourism in the Philippines, as well as strengthening people-to-people contacts and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

It was held at the Atrium of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Aug. 25.

Reyog is an Indonesian traditional dance that became the main iden-

tity of the Ponorogo regency of East Java, Indonesia. It tells the story about the struggle of a prince who will propose to a beautiful princess.

Reyog Ponorogo is also about the mythical battle between the King of Ponorogo and the magical lion-like creature called Singa Barong.

The Reyog dance is a widely known cultural attraction in Indonesia and is popular even to foreign tourists. It is performed by about 25 to 40 dancers and musicians. It is interesting to note that the dancer of its main leading figure, who is Singa Barong, bears the mask weighing around 30 to 40 kilograms and is supported by the strength of his teeth.

HP Philippines Country Manager Albert Mateo, Jr. (left) introduces the new HP Spectre together with Kenneth Cobonpue and Tessa Prieto-Valdes

Snapchats and minimalist Instagram feeds, it’s safe to say that the style and design of a product has become just as important as its functionality.

According to Mateo, HP aims to reinvent the obsession with technology of the younger generation.

“It would no longer just be a technology that they use to connect to the Internet, to watch movies, Twitter, Facebook and all these social media platforms.

[We want] to make sure that they take pride in the product that they’re using; [which] will represent their wellbeing, their personality and their stature as a person,” he explained.

He also shared that part of HP’s goal is to make sure that their consumers and the younger generation would be proud to carry a laptop that displays the ingenuity of Filipino craftsmanship.

“And to make sure that whatever they do, whenever they’re showing off to their friends or in public, they can

take pride in the kind of product that they’re using.”

HP’s vision and goal of providing prime lifestyle companions pushed them to tap multi-awarded furniture designer and manufacturer Kenneth Cobonpue, who headlined the launch.

Cobonpue is famous for integrating locally sourced materials with innovative handmade production.

“Apart from the materials used, a product’s superior quality lies on the indigenous way it was constructed,” said Cobonpue.

He continued, “In creating a luxurious masterpiece, you integrate different elements to form a singular, innovative product. Then you polish it to make it more artisan than manufactured.”

Cobonpue’s eye for style and sophisticated taste truly reflects HP’s vision to find the perfect balance between tasteful elegance and maximum efficiency.

Natalia Alexa Sy

The Reyog Dance Performance promotes the Indonesian culture in the Philippines

Showbiz

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

A

FTER 10 years, lots of discovered young talents, and priceless cultural exchanges with their Chinese counterparts, the SM Little Stars competition recently held its 10th Grand Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage. And it was a shining moment for Marcus Rayden Cabais and Sheena Kirtsten Bentoy when they were named SM Little Stars 2016 during the much-awaited event.

The SM Little Stars 2016 grand winners Sheena Kirtsten Bentoy (left) of SM Center Molino and Marcus Rayden Cabais (right) of SM City Pampanga

SM’s Little Stars 2016

This year’s winners make an adorable singing duo as six-year-old Marcus, representing SM City Pampanga, wowed the audience with his rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’”; while 7-year-old Sheena of SM Center Molino, captured everyone’s hearts with her poignant performance of “Tomorrow,” from Annie.

Marcus and Sheena bested 21 other finalists in the nationwide search for cute, bright and promising kids aged 4-7 in this annual talent competition. As grand prize winners, they each received a Suzuki Ciaz brand new car; P500,000.00 worth of cash and SM gift certificates; and a five-day and fournight trip to China for two including round-trip tickets, hotel accommodations and tours. They are also each entitled to a 4-year college scholarship grant from National University and a one-year Talent Management Contract with TV5. Marcus and Sheena also received P15,000.00 worth of gift certificates from Toy Kingdom.

Other shining stars include

first runner-up Johan Jozef Yalong of SM City San Pablo who showcased his loveable acting and dancing skills; second runner-up Christal Grace Sanchez of SM City Clark and third runner-up Shamir Jarred Parungao of SM City Marikina who both rocked the stage with their cool dance moves. SM City Bacolod’s Brianna Nikola Ang received the Super Mom’s Choice Award presented by Elica.

Hosted by Jasmine Curtis Smith, the grand finals was also a memorable evening for the distinguished board of judge-mentors, who were tasked to select winners based on the following criteria: 40 percent for Star Quality, 20 percent for Personality and 40 percent for Talent.

Movie and TV director Mac Alejandre who was also a judge last year, was amazed by the amount of talent in this year’s batch, revealing that the scores were so close. Celebrity judge Ogie Alcasid meanwhile thanked the finalists’ parents for giving their full support during the kids’ Little Stars journey. Other celebrity

judges included Bianca King, Tuesday Vargas and Alwyn Uytingco.

In celebration of SM Little Star’s 10th year, past winners who have since become young celebrities had a happy reunion on stage. Chun Sa Jung, Nhikzy Calma, Lance Lucido, Rowena Grado, JC Gumacal, Nicoli Lista, Makee Dulalia, Marcus Trirogoff, Queenie Sulit, Vince Angeles, Aliah Franzin Navarro and Lei Andre Navarro performed a fun dance number; while Telesa De Torres, Patricia Medalla, Steven Ocampo, Kyle Jimenez, Annastacia Penny, and Johnny Regaña gave a heartwarming song rendition.

As a tradition during the past grand finals, SM Little Stars winners from the SM malls in China also showcased their talents. They were SM Zicuan’s Zhao Enjie and Gao Zimeng, SM Jinjiang’s Li Kaize and Chen Siyu, SM Xiamen’s Chen Yu and Li Jiamin, and SM Chengdu’s Zhao Menghan.

SM Little Stars is one of the many exciting events of the SM Supermalls.

PhilPop 2016 winners celebrate with MVP PHILPOP Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) welcomed the winners of PhilPop 2016 at his Meralco office in Pasig City on Aug 15.

The occasion also marked the celebration of the outstanding Filipino musical talent embodied through the winners of the premier music competition. The winners also received their respective cash prizes that afternoon.

Everyone in the room was grinning from ear to ear as MVP, assisted by PhilPop President, Ricky P. Vargas, PhilPop Vice President Patrick C. Gregorio, and PhilPop Board Member Roy Agustin K. Evalle, handed out to grand prize winners Jazz Nicolas and Wally

Alcolala the P1 million check for their song “Di Na Muli.” The winning song was interpreted by Nicolas’ band-Itchyworms, represented that afternoon by Kelvin Yu and Chino Singson.

MCA artist Jason Dy received the cash prize of P500,000.00 in behalf of songwriter Soc Villegas who was still in Australia for the first-runner up citation of their song “Lahat,” that also won as Maynilad’s People’s Choice and bagged another P100,000.00 cash prize for it.

The young twins Miguel and Paulo Guico accepted the check for P250,000.00 cash prize for their song “Tinatangi,” interpreted by

Bayang Barrios and Cooky Chua.

“Tinatangi” also bagged the PLDT-Smart Best Music Video award with the corresponding P100,000.00 cash prize and the director Rey Gibraltar was on hand to receive it as well.

Currently, 7 out of the Top 20 MTV Pilipinas Hits are from the PhilPop 2016 album.

“Dumadagundong,” written

by Mike Villegas and Brian Cua and interpreted by Yassi Pressman claimed the 5th spot; “Binibini sa MRT,” written by Johann Garcia and interpreted by The Juans got the 7th spot; “Di Na Muli,” by Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolala interpreted by Itchyworms landing the 8th spot; Soc Villllegas’ “Lahat,”

Manny V. Pangilinan (second from left, seated) flanked

by PhilPop 2016 officials and winners

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, August 27, 2016

ACROSS 1 Olympian ruler 5 Armload of papers 10 Cough syrup meas.

14 Foot part 15 Sponge 16 Two-piece cookie 17 Large lizard 18 Edible bulb 19 Calcium source 20 Legendary kingdom 22 Aerie builder 23 Popular hemline 24 Iced-tea garnish 26 Wakes up 28 Called a meeting 32 Excalibur’s holder 33 Cute 34 Social Register word 35 Zingy taste 36 Fishing floats 37 Pay attention 38 It may be abstract 39 Frames of mind 40 Feature film 41 Groucho, Harpo and Chico

43 Come around 44 Time beyond measure 45 “The Galloping Gourmet” 46 Kilns 49 First-string team 52 Parliament member 53 Horse — 55 Wire nail 57 Pinnacle 58 Jaunty lid 59 Moon 60 Adrenaline releaser 61 Harebrained 62 Peteman DOWN 1 Zig’s opposite 2 Stoltz or Idle 3 Pac-10 team 4 Faking it 5 Berates 6 Vietnam capital 7 Fix a draft 8 Way back when 9 Marshy tract 10 Kind of paste 11 Jail for a sailor 12 Deal in 13 Prod 21 Dublin’s land 22 Begrudge

24 25 26 27 28

Ridicules Pen fluids Bart or Edwin Scout’s rider Miss Muffet’s treat 29 Scoundrel 30 Unearthly 31 Hockey feint 32 Iffy attempt 33 Portals 36 “Fargo” director 37 In a ghastly way 39 Electrical units 40 Business VIPs 42 Gentle

43 Add oxygen 45 Isak’s real name 46 Patron saint of Norway 47 Sotto — 48 Ms. Bombeck 49 “Alice” waitress 50 Quiz answer 51 Yin complement 53 Kimono fastener 54 Coop 56 Mr. Hammarskjold

interpreted by Jason Dy in the 9th spot; Joan Da’s “Baliw sa Ex-Boyfriend Ko,” interpreted

by Sugar N’ Spice in the 10th spot; Aikee Aplacador’s “Pabili Po,” interpreted by Banda ni Kleggy and Aikee on the 13th spot and Keiko Necessario’s “Nobody But You,” interpreted by Monica Cuenco, landing on the 15th spot.

After the grand finals on July 23, the PhilPop MusicFest Foundation is mounting regional songwriting workshops from September to December. MVP was also delighted with the outcome and assured the winners that the MVP Group will continue to extend its support to local music industry.

From left: Smart Bro top guns Gary Dujali and Ren Ren Reyes with actorsinger Christian Bautista (center)

Smart Bro bares best deal for iPad Mini 2 SMART Bro, the country’s leading mobile broadband under Smart Communications, has unveiled the best and most exclusive deal for the iPad Mini 2.

It is giving its subscribers an offer hailed as the easiest and most affordable way to own an iPad mini powered by Smart’s fast and reliable LTE technology.

With this exclusive package, you get an iPad Mini 2 for only P599.00 per month, which comes with 1.7GB monthly data. This is just an additional P300.00 to the monthly service fee of Smart Bro Plan 299.00.

As a bonus, the offer comes with free 1.1GB of video streaming on YouTube, iFlix, Dailymotion and

Vimeo for the first three months.

Smart Bro’s best iPad Mini 2 deal is part of the brand’s ongoing Brokada road trip across the country with your favorite Smart Brokada celebrities including beauty queens Bb. PilipinasUniverse MJ Lastimosa and Miss International 2013 Bea Santiago; athletes Gretchen Ho, Michelle and Mark Gumabao and singers Michael Pangilinan and Christian Bautista.

The Brokada road trip has conquered Manila, Baguio, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Ilocos and is set to invade more major cities nationwide. This time, the Brokada road trip goes to Olongapo, Zamboanga, Bulacan and Iloilo.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

D4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

ISAH V. RED

R

EGINE VelasquezAlcasid will be ultra busy entertaining her guests today in Sarap Diva.

So who are these storming Songbird’s peaceful abode?

Well, there’s rapper Gloc-9 and so are Ate Gay and Valeen Montenegro.

Ate Gay, EJ, and Valeen will take advantage of their being in Velasquez-Alcasid’s home by asking the Songbird to mentor them. Are they up to Regine’s challenge?

For lunch, Songbird will prepare the classic adobo that every Filipino loves to have on the table on whatever occasion or even on just ordinary days.

That’s what makes Sarap Diva your best companion on Saturday morning on GMA Network. Keep in tune with the show. *** Lip Sync Battle Philippines concludes its second season with an exciting face-off between

THE worldwide phenomenon known as Blue Man Group is comprised of three bald and blue performers who bring comedy, theater, rock concert and dance party all rolled into one with their unique brand of techno color entertainment.

Blue Man Group 2016 World Tour has already made its stops in Singapore, Macau, and now, it is bringing the iconic show to Manila on Sept. 14 to 25 at The Theater at Solaire. In partnership with the Philippines’ no.1 mobile brand, Globe Telecom, its customers are in for special treats and deals to catch the iconic show.

“We are thrilled to finally have the Blue Man Group perform in Manila and we are equally delighted to collaborate with them as we provide our customers more wonderful experiences. The group’s shows is truly something to look forward to and we hope Filipinos will have a great time watching them bring to life their unrivalled talent,” says Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Dan Horan.

The Blue Man name was chosen to evoke the word Human and is all about the colourful celebration of life.

Phil Stanton, co-founder of Blue Man Group, recalls how it all started, “We were three very close friends interested in finding our own voice through performance while exploring our various interests such as

Showbiz

Songbird’s

visitors today

Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal versus Sef Cadayona and Louise delos Reyes as they vie for the championship belt tonight.

This is a battle to remember as the Kapuso stars showcase their surprising routines while hosts Michael V. and Iya Villania together with the show’s previous champions perform a special number.

Who will emerge as the Lip Sync Battle Philippines’ champion?

Watch the season ender of Lip Sync Battle Philippines right after Magpakailanman on GMA Network tonight. *** This Saturday’s episode of Wagas features award-winning actress Meryll Soriano as a woman burdened by the unusual size and weight of her breasts.

For most ladies, having big

breasts is a blessing, but not for Pilam (Meryll). She has been diagnosed with gigantomastia—a rare medical condition which causes an excessive growth of the breasts, making them abnormally large and heavy. Each of Pilma’s breast measures 63 inches and weighs more than the weight of an infant.

Pilma suffered from the taunting of most people. They had to spend their savings for her to be treated.

Amid all of Pilma’s sufferings, one man never left her—her first love and husband, Boy (Marc Abaya).

Wagas shows the inspiring love story of Pilma and Boy. It’s a story that began when the couple picked each other’s names during an exchange gift.

Their eldest child was five years old when a lump was first

discovered on Pilma’s left breast.

After a year, seven lumps were found on her other breast. Her condition is getting worse and her breasts continue to grow bigger.

Yet Pilma remains strong because of her husband’s love.

Watch this unforgettable performance of Meryll Soriano and Marc Abaya in Wagas, 7 p.m. tonight on GMA News TV. *** Wine Story brings you a unique wine and cheese experience in “La Petite Foire Du Fromage (A Mini Cheese Fair)” from 11 a.m, to 6 p.m. at Wine Story Serendra.

Indulge in cheese and hop from station to station to see and taste

and a dance party all in one fantastic show

The Blue Man Group, which has played to over 35 million people across more than 20 countries, is now in Manila

creativity through life; they need to continue to be curious; and that they need to feel part of a community.”

The performance that centered on the curious, innocent, Blue Man character turned out to be a groundbreaking performance that left audiences awed. To date, they’ve played to over 35 million people across more than 20 countries and even have permanent shows in Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, Boston, Chicago and Berlin.

Other interesting numbers to digest – during one week of performances the Blue Man relies on 32 pounds of Jell-O, 8 boxes of Cap’n Crunch cereal, 96 pieces of white chocolate Toblerone, 240 marshmallows and 40 boxes of Twinkie Lights (don’t worry — each Twinkie has just 130 calories!). Whether eaten or used in the show, that is for you to find out at the Blue Man Group 2016 World Tour now on in Manila until Sept. 25.

The tour also relies on 25 drum

the different and exciting presentations of cheese from fresh to aged, hot to cheese and yogurt dips. Learn how each type pairs perfectly with our fine wines that range from crisp white to dry bubbly, to tannic and sweet.

Elevate your sensory experience even more by knowing the story behind the world class, proudly Philippinemade cheese of La Latteria with their expert guidance and exhibits including a oneof-a-kind Burrata-making demonstration, as well as a collaborative class on cheese and wine pairing.

And don’t forget to take home this delightful experience at the wine and cheese market.

Award-winning actress Meryll Soriano, joined

by Marc Abaya in tonight’s episode of ‘Wagas,’ plays a character faced by an unusual medical condition

Comedy, theater, rock concert

music, comedy, performance and fine art, as well as pop culture.

That was 25 years ago.”

“We were living in a time of emerging digital technologies that had the potential to greatly bring people around the world closer, but also had the potential to alienate, and it seemed to beg the question: “What is essentially human?” Though we were not necessarily conscious of it at the time, we landed on three main areas: that people have the need to explore their own individual

THE DIVA AND FRIENDS.

Songbird Regine VelasquezAlcasid welcomes rapper Gloc-9, stand up comedian Ate Gay and actress Valeen Montenegro into her home for another delicious episode of ‘Sarap Diva’

heads, 14 cymbals, 24 drumsticks, 50 gallons of paint, 27 bald caps, and 9 cakes of proprietary ‘Blue Man Blue’ colored makeup specially made for the trio.

The creative collective has become part of the pop culture zeitgeist with a “Megastar World Tour”, a rock concert parody hitting 100 US cities and ten countries, and two million fans.

The group boasts five music albums, collaborations on film scores and performances with prestigious orchestras as well.

Despite the absence of spoken dialogue, the Blue Man Group keeps audiences mesmerized during its show with a fully immersive audiovisual experience complete with electrifying music, state-of-theart technology, an enthralling live band and its signature interactive, audience experiences.

When asked what he considers the group’s best show yet, Stanton says, “Our best show is the one audiences will see right here in Manila. We are continually honing our brand of stagecraft to finding the best expression of that original voice. The show they will see incorporates all we have learned, and represents our most up-to-date show in terms of the character’s unique fresh take on the way we all live today,” he enthuses.

Globe customers experience Wonderful as they get a 20 percent discount on tickets.

Simply access the Exclusive Perks section in the Globe Rewards app and present the Blue Man Group digital badge at any Ticket World outlet. Don’t have the app? The Globe Rewards App is available for download in the App Store and Google Play Store. Globe customers may also enter the promo code online to avail of the special discount.

Blue Man Group is brought to Manila by Blue Man Productions Ltd, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Ltd and Concertus Manila.

For sponsorship, corporate nights and bulk buy inquiries, please call (02) 403 8646 or (02) 403 8678.