Manila Standard - 2016 October 22 - Saturday

VOL. XXX • NO. 252 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SINEWY COOPERATION. President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Thursday, on the same day Duterte and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping pledge to enhance bilateral trust and cooperation as the former seeks to rebalance his country’s diplomacy away from Manila’s long-time ally Washington. AFP

Russia tempts Du30 Moscow envoy urges Manila to formulate ‘wish list’

Duterte men quick to explain ‘break-up’

By Gabrielle Marie Consuelo H. Binaday and Macon Araneta THE economic team of the new administration once again defended President Rodrigo Duterte after he announced the cutting of ties with the United States during his state visit in China.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Duterte is “not cutting ties with the US,” contrary to the President’s earlier announcement in China.

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the declared shift in foreign policy casting aside a long time reliable ally to hastily embrace an aggressive neighbor that vehemently rejects international law is both unwise and incomprehensible.

“We must be with responsible nations with whom we share our core values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. To stand otherwise, is not what Filipinos are; it is not what we do; it is not what is right,” he said in a statement.

“What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy which does not need to happen. It is our earnest hope that this most unfortunate declaration will be corrected.

“In fact, he’s committed to honor all contracts, foreign or domestic, all he means what he Next page

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

S PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte flew home from a historic trip to China, Russia declared its readiness to assist the Philippines, saying Manila just has to formulate its “wish list” to jumpstart discussions, Moscow’s envoy in Manila said Friday.

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“Please formulate your wish list. What kind of assistance do you expect from Russia and we will be ready to sit down with you and discuss what can and should be done,” Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev said in an interview with the GMA News television network.

“A true Russia is much, Russian much different from what is President being portrayed by HollyVladimir wood movies. [The PhilipPutin

pines and Russia] deserve to know each other much, much better. It’s time to discover,” the envoy said after Duterte declared that he will “separate” Manila from its long-time relationship with Washington.

It was the most encouraging pronouncement from Moscow after Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta pursued talks with Moscow early October over possible agreements under Russia’s Federal Service for MilitaryTechnical Cooperation (FSMTC).

A foreign office insider said the Philippines is studying the acquisition of two or four of MI17 or MI24 helicopter gunships to improve the country’s capability against possible internal and external threats.

Khovaev, one of the first foreign ambassadors to meet Duterte in Davao City days after the May 9 elections, said Russia is open to any kind of cooperation with the Philippines.

Khovaev said he was impressed

by Duterte during a “very productive” meeting where they discussed how to jump-start Philippine-Russian Next page

China visit yields $24-b loans, trade PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte arrived Friday night via the Davao International Airport from his state visit to People’s Republic of China, bringing with him positive results of the bilateral talks with Chinese leader President Xi Jinping.

The Philippines is poised to reap $24 billion of investments and credit facilities from the fourday state visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to China, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Friday.

“The new number that we have, in terms of investments and credit facilities opened, is $24 billion–$15 billion of that are invest-

Clarify split from US, Japan asks Rody

US not suing for divorce, sticks to PH, says envoy DESPITE President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement that he wants to separate from the US both in military and economic aspects, the US wants to continue its friendship with the Philippines and is “committed to this relationship.”

“From our point of view we are not suing for divorce,” outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg on Friday said in a chance interview.

“We want to continue this relationship, we’re committed to this relationship, and we’re committed

to the alliance between the two countries, that’s what we want,” he pointed out.

However, he said his government is asking for clarification on the recent statement made

by President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his visit to China that he wants “economic separation” from the US. “Well, I think we need clarifications about what the President [Duterte] has said while he was in China, quite frankly, I don’t know Next page

Ilocos placed under state of calamity ILOCOS Norte officials on Friday declared the province under a state of calamity after the strong winds and heavy rain accompanying Typhoon “Lawin” destroyed more than P673.49 million worth of crops, roads, bridges and dikes.

The provincial council of Cagayan was also set to declare the province under a state of calamity once the board is convened.

Disaster officials in Ilocos Norte said infrastructure, agriLAWIN’S SAVAGERY. Police remove Friday a roof, blown off its building culture and livestock bore the brunt of the damage.

by Super Typhoon ‘Lawin’ along a road in the tourist town of Peñablanca Officials said seven people in Cagayan, among the provinces devastated by the monstrous weather were confirmed dead while five disturbance which has killed at least a dozen people in northern Next page

Philippines and destroyed infrastructure and agricultural products. AFP

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ments and $9 billion will be in the form of credit facilities,” he told reporters in a chance interview in this city.

“The private-to-private [deals] is $15 billion. And about $4 billion are MOUs [memoranda of understanding] to be signed later today,” he said Friday.

The investments and credit facilities cover a number of sectors including agriculture, energy, renewable, tourism, food, manufacturing, telecommunications, and infrastructure, Lopez noted.

These would translate to an estimate two million jobs over five years, he said.

MISS INTERNATIONAL PAGEANT. Miss Philippines Kylie Verzosa,

a Baguio City-born teacher and an advocate for depression and suicide awareness, makes her Japanese traditional flower arrangement Friday at the Ikenobo headquarters in Tokyo. She will compete with 69 other women on Oct. 27 to succeed the current title holder Edymar Martinez of Venezuela. AFP

10 Sayyaf suspects hijack Korean ship off Tawi-Tawi TEN armed men believed to be members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf hijacked a South Korean ship on Thursday and seized its captain and a Filipino crew member off Bongao in Tai-Tawi, an official said Friday.

thestandard.com.ph

Major Felimon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said the military was sealing off all escape routes to Sulu and Basilan to catch the terrorists who were on board a speedboat.

Next page

JAPAN will likely take up President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration that he will be “separating” the Philippines from the United States and aligning with China and Russia, a Japanese diplomat said Friday.

“We will discuss. We like to listen to what President Duterte has to say, explain to our leaders about the foreign policy of his administration,” Tokyo’s deputy chief of mission in Manila Atsushi Ueno told reporters.

He said the matter would likely be taken up during Duterte’s state visit to Japan on Oct. 25 to 27, when he is expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral issues and regional issues and through these conversations, we would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation,” Ueno said.

He said the two leaders were expected to talk about cooperation in maritime security and defense.

Duterte is also expected to address Japanese business leaders and the Filipino community in Japan.

Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs is also expected to be discussed, but Ueno said he had no details yet about it. Next page

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Clarify...

From A1 He said Duterte was also scheduled to visit Japan Marine United Corporation, maker of Coast Guard vessels some of which had been provided to the Philippine Coast Guard, in Yokohama City. ”Actually, we have delivered the first one and had a turnover ceremony very recently, but we are going to deliver the remaining nine vessels,” Ueno said.

Duterte will also call on Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace at 5 p.m. on Oct. 27.

Ueno said Duterte had visited Japan “several times before” when he was mayor of Davao City, according to Ueno.

Duterte was set to arrive Friday night at the Davao International Airport from his four-day state visit to China.

His visit to Japan next week will reaffirm the six decades of strategic partnership between Tokyo and Manila, Ueno said.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

News

Drug users’ ranks swelling T

HE number of surrendering users of illegal drugs is expected to reach 1.6 million by the end of the year from 730,000 now, Interior Assistant Secretary John Castriciones said Friday.

He also cited a statement of President Rodrigo Duterte that there were 3.7 million drug dependents as 34 percent of the total number of villages nationwide were affected by illegal drugs compared with 92 percent in Metro Manila.

But the existing rehabilitation centers could only accommodate 10,000 drug dependents, and the government would need P240,000 to rehabilitate each drug user, Castriciones said.

As a result, he said, the government needed the help of the

private sector to attend to the needs of drug dependents.

He praised the training program for drug surrenderees launched on Friday by Senator Cynthia Villar, which intends to make them productive citizens.

Villar, in partnership with various government agencies led by the Philippine National Police, welcomed drug surrenderees from Las Piñas City to the Villar SIPAG farm school during the launching of Sagip Bukas: A Drug Rehabilitation Training Program for a Better Life.’

10 Sayyaf...

From A1 Tan said the terrorists seized the MV Dong Bang Giant 2 heavy loader carrier at 2:45 p.m. while it was heading for South Korea from Australia.

“Captain Park Chul Hong and crew member Glenn Alindajao from Cebu were seized by the 10 armed men suspected to be members of the Abu Sayyaf under Jul Hassan,” Tan said.

He said the men were followers of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Idang Susukan based in Sulu.

“The Joint Task Force TawiTawi has alerted all units and dispatched military assets for counteraction,” Tan said.

“Validation and intelligence monitoring are currently being conducted by the military in coordination with local chief executives to rescue the victims.”

Florante S. Solmerin

Ilocos...

From A1 others were being validated, adding all the casualties were from the Cordillera Administrative Region.

At least 2,450 families or 8, 757 individuals who evacuated to safer ground before Typhoon “Lawin” made landfall in Cagayan province are now back to their homes.

Some 8,940 families or 40,644 individuals in 195 villages in 28 towns in Cagayan were affected by the typhoon.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri called for the sustained release of food and farm inputs to the victims of Typhoons “Karen” and “Lawin.”

He also called on the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. and the Science and Agriculture Departments to adopt weather-triggered insurance.

“The victims need food and nonfood aid,” he said.

“Many farmers can only plant when the weather is right.”

Weathermen on Friday forecast fair weather in Northern Luzon and the rest of the country this weekend until Tuesday. PNA, with Florante S. Solmerin and Macon RamosAraneta

US...

From A1 what he means by separation, I don’t know what he means by economic separation either, our two economies, like the world economy are very much linked,” he said.

“I don’t know what the process is, I don’t know what the goal and objective is, all I know is what I hear and not what I see, because what I see is that we’re still working very much, with our Philippine colleagues and in fact have very good relationship,” he added.

The chief US envoy to the Philippines noted that they are “going through a period of uncertainty” that they need to figure out.

President Duterte announced his “separation” from the United States both in military and economic aspects before Chinese and government officials.

US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel will be visitng Manila to seek an explanation from the government what Duterte meant by his separation from the country’s top trading partner and long-time ally, the State Department said.

In a press briefing in Wash-

AFTERMATH. Residents wait for their turn to cross a river after a bridge was destroyed by super typhoon

Haima in a village in Penablanca town, Cagayan on October 21, 2016. Haima, one of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit the Philippines, killed at least seven people on October 20 as ferocious gales and landslides destroyed tens of thousands of homes. AFP

China...

From A1 The Bank of China is also expected to provide $3 billion in loans for businesses including micro, small, medium enterprises.

The President visited China capital Beijing at the invitation of Mr. Xi from October 18 to 21.

The leaders had a fruitful meeting, with in-depth exchanges on bilateral relations, and international and regional issues of shared interest.

Mr. Duterte also met with Chinese leaders during the opening ceremony of Philippines-China Economic and Investment Forum.

In a 45-point joint statement released to the members of the media, Mr. Duterte and Mr. Xi highlighted the importance of bilateral relations between the Philippines and China anchored on the centuries-old bonds of friendship of the two peoples.

The two leaders also committed to further enrich Philippines-China bilateral relations, founded on mutual respect, sincerity, equality and mutual benefit, which is conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Among the highlights of the joint statement between Duterte and Xi are the reaffirmation of the principles contained in the Philippines-China Joint Communiqué of 1975 and other documents that

include the principle of the peaceful settlement of all disputes and the Philippines’ adherence to the One-China Policy and affirmed their partnership and their common aspiration to achieve sustainable development and inclusive growth that will benefit the peoples of both countries.

The visit of Duterte was seen as a milestone that will infuse new energy to bring tangible benefits to the peoples of the Philippines and China with a commitment that they will work together to pursue the sound and stable development of the strategic and cooperative relationship for peace and development.

They also agreed to maintain high-level exchanges in promoting the all-around development of bilateral relations; finalize agreements and memorandum of understanding in areas of education finance, customs and sports; affirm the importance of existing Philippines-China bilateral dialogue mechanisms in enhancing understanding, broadening cooperation and striving for a stronger relationship.

They also agreed to resume the foreign ministry consultations, consular consultations, joint commission on economic and trade cooperation, annual defense security talks, joint committee on agriculture, joint committee on science and technology, and other bilateral dialogue mechanisms; and encourage visits of high-

ranking governmental delegations and leaders.

Duterte also welcomed the proposal of China to open a consulate-general of the People’s Republic of China in Davao committing to proper arrangements for the diplomatic premises in both countries will be made in the spirit of the 1975 Joint Communiqué, on the basis of international practice and reciprocity, with priority for the most immediate concerns.

There were also commitments of cooperation in the areas of combating transnational crimes, telecommunications fraud, online fraud, cybercrimes, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, wildlife trafficking, opposing violent extremism and terrorism in all forms and illicit drugs.

Both leaders also vowed to enhance cooperation between their respective Coast Guards, to address maritime emergency incidents, as well as humanitarian and environmental concerns in the South China Sea, such as safety of lives and property at sea and the protection and preservation of the marine environment, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law including the 1982 Unclos; implement the Philippines-China MOU on Defense Cooperation, through exchanges and cooperation in areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster alleviation and peacekeeping operations.

PNA

ington D.C., State Department spokesman John Kirby also admitted that they were surprised at Duterte’s announcement when he was in Beijing.

“We are going to be seeking an explanation of exactly what the President meant when he talked about separation from the US. It’s not clear to us exactly what that means in all its ramifications, so we’re going to be seeking a clarification on that,” Kirby said.

“Did we know that was coming? No, we didn’t know that was coming,” Kirby admitted.

He also said that the American government is puzzled by Duterte’s announcement.

“But this is yet another string in some pretty strong rhetoric that we think, we believe, is at odds with the kind of relationship that we have had and continue to have with the Filipino people,” Kirby said.

Kirby said Russel’s official visit has been a long-scheduled to visit the Philippines “to try to get better explanation of what was meant by “separation” and where that is going.

Kirby said, Russel may arrive this Sunday and leave on Monday.

“It isn’t just the United States

that is baffled by this rhetoric,” Kirby admitted.

“We have heard from many of our friends and partners in the region who are likewise confused about where this is going,” he added.

The US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said in another television interview over GMA-7 that Duterte’s earlier’s announcement caused “uncertainty.”

“We’re going through a period of uncertainty that we need to figure out,” Goldberg said.

While admitting that Duterte’s fresh rhetoric iS “troubling,” US Embassy press attaché Molly Koscina said they have yet to receive any official notice from the Philippines.

“We’ve seen a lot of this sort of troubling rhetoric recently which is inexplicably at odds with the warm relationship that exists between the Filipino and American people and the record of important cooperation between our two governments,” she said.

“We have yet to hear from the Philippine government what Duterte’s remarks on “separation” might mean but it is creating unnecessary uncertainty,” she added.

Koscina further explained that

Russel will be sitting down with his Philippine counterparts to discuss the broad scope of both countries’ relationship.

The three officials, Kirby, Goldberg and Koscina said that the United States will remain committed to the 70-year-old relationship with the Philippines.

“For our part, we will honor our alliance commitments and treaty obligations. And of course, we expect the Philippines to do the same,” Koscina said.

The US-Philippines alliance is built on a 70-year history, rich people-to-people ties, including a vibrant Filipino-American diaspora, and a long list of shared security concerns, Koscina said.

“We have full confidence in the strong ties that connect our peoples and countries, including record levels of trade, investment, and remittances,” Koscina said.

She added that the US will continue to focus on its broad relationship with the Philippines.

“And will work together in the many areas of mutual interest to improve the livelihoods of the Philippine people and uphold our shared democratic values,” she said. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, PNA

Sagip Bukas is a 12-week drug rehabilitation training program that will provide free training on farming, health and wellness and lectures on the legal aspects of substance abuse.

Program participants will likewise do coastal cleanups and mangrove planting with environment advocates like Villar and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

They will likewise do physical training.

“Everyone deserves a better, more productive tomorrow,”

Villar said.

“We must never get tired of helping our fellowmen in becoming more useful citizens. I will always be supportive of all undertakings that will help our less privileged countrymen.

“We must help these drug surrenderees in their desire to live normal lives again. Let us help them find alternative sources of livelihood like agrifarming so that their stigma of being illegal drug users is disabused.” Macon RamosAraneta

Russia...

From A1

to help them acquire helicopters, drones and other military equipment to improve defense capabilities against inside and outside threats, but it had been turned down.

The source said the Americans were “afraid that the government would use these against civilians.”

While refusing the Philippines, the US is giving China and Pakistan helicopters and drones, the source said.

“The ships they provided us were gutted already. And we had to buy back the equipment.

The C130 are also headed to the boneyard,” the administration source said.

The source added that this angered Duterte shortly after he took office.

The Philippine ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta has already announced a plan to acquire military equipment and technology from Russia.

He said in an earlier statement that officials of FSMTC briefed them on the different modes of financing on acquiring military equipment or technology.

An insider confirmed that the Philippines is set to acquire either two or four of MI17 or MI24 to improve the country’s capability against possible internal and external threats.

relations which officially started only in 1976.

Even after their meeting in May, Khovaev had already said that it was “time for Russians to discover the Philippines, and it is time for the Philippines to discover Russia,” adding that strengthened trade cooperation could begin before the end of this year.

The Russian envoy said there is much potential in the two country’s bilateral ties because “there were no disputes and no contradictions” and only develop “cooperation in practical terms.”

Duterte initiated talks with Russia and China amid an apparent frustration at the United States which had repeatedly rejected Philippines requests for military equipment even during the previous administration.

An administration source said Duterte’s dislike for the Americans stemmed from the United States’ repeated rejection for the Philippines to acquire helicopters and nightvisioned-drones.

The source said, during the previous administration, President Benigno Aquino III has requested from the United States

Duterte...

From A1

says [is] he’s opening up the Philippines to all countries that want to invest in the country, old and new.”

Before members of the business community in China, Duterte had announced that he would cut off ties with the United States, not only in the military aspect but also in economic activities.

“America, they just lost me. I realign myself in your ideological flow and maybe, I will go to Putin and there are three of us against the world--Russia, China and the Philippines,” Duterte said in a speech during his third day state visit.

“I announce my separation with the United States. Both in the military and in economic [aspects] also,” Duterte added.

Two more members of the economic team, Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Finance sectary Carlos Dominguez III, also clarified the statement of the President saying the Manila will still continue its strong ties with the West.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his Cabinet will move strongly and swiftly towards regional economic rebalancing for closer integration in Asia,” Pernia and Dominguez said in a join statement.

The Philippines, as one of Asean’s founding members, has committed to join the Asean Economic Community (AEC), an economic bloc designed to create a single market and production base in the region.

Asean groups the Philippines with Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The AEC will allow for the free movement of goods, services, skilled labor, and investment among the 10 Asean member-nations and to facilitate the freer flow of capital.

Unlike the European Union, the AEC aims for economic integration without a monetary union or political integration.

Dominguez and Pernia said the regional integration envisioned by the Duterte administration “is similar to what has been done in the EU, Nafta (North American Free Trade Agreement) in North America and Mercosur (Mercado Común del Sur) in South America.”

“The Philippines is integrating with Asean, China, Japan and South Korea,” said Dominguez and Pernia.

They pointed out that Asian eco-

nomic integration is “long overdue” compared to the other regional trade blocs earlier forged by other economies across the globe.

Meanwhile, BMI research, the research arm of the global debt watcher Fitch, said Duterte’s foreign relations pivoting to China a “dramatic” move and may create numerous economic opportunities for the country.

“President Duterte’s visit to China on October 18 to 21 marks a dramatic reversal in the Philippine’ foreign policy stance from one that is US-centric, to one that is pivoted towards China,” BMI said in its latest Daily Macro Alert on Asia Markets.

“We highlight that this will not only undermine Washington’s geopolitical influence in the region but will also create numerous opportunities on the economic, investment, and trade fronts between China and the Philippines,” they added.

The think tank also noted that Japan and Russia will likely see few changes in their bilateral engagement with the Philippines for now.

It said while the outcome of this meeting could provide a short-term boost to the Philippines economy, the longer-term benefits would largely depend on the progress of government reforms to improve the business environment and efforts to reassure investors with a lower risk tolerance.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III threw his support behind Duterte’s foreign policy.

“It’s very good that for the first time, we have a President who is now emphasizing that concept in our Constitution, that we must pursue an independent foreign policy,” Pimentel said.

He said the President’s pronouncement on his foreign policy “is the first step into having an independent foreign policy” and Filipinos “should realize that there are other powers, other points of view than the American point of view, which we should open ourselves too.”

“If we do not accept or realize that, we could never have an independent foreign policy because we will always toe the American line,” said Pimentel, a party mate of Duterte in PDP-Laban.

Amid the President’s fierce criticism of some Western nations, the Senate leader said for too long, the Philippines’ policies had been tied too closely to the Americans.

“It’s time to step back, but we are not picking a fight,” he said.

News 2 female savants’ research lauded

By Macon Araneta TWO women scientists received awards from international science research communities for their novel research works which gave prominence to endemic plants: pandan and corn.

Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology, headed by current Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, named Dr. Maribel G. Nonato and Dr. Rizalina L. De Leon recipients of this year’s Gregorio Y. Zara Awards for Basic and Applied Research.

Nonato was conferred the Gregorio Y. Zara Award for Basic Research for her pioneering works on the Phytochemistry and biological activities of Philippine genus Pandanus (family Pandanaceae) or better known as pandan plants.

On the other hand, De Leon was given the Gregorio Y. Zara Award for Applied Research for her bioethanol production using local varieties of fungi as alternative sources of ethanol additives replacing food-based crops such as corn.

Nonato, currently the ViceRector for Research and Innovation at the University of Santo Tomas, has spent years in doing groundbreaking research on pandan.

Prior to her research, there was little known information about pandan.

Locally, 20 out of the 450 species of this monocot plant grow abundantly in the country. Ordinarily, pandan leaves are used by locals in preparing sweet delicacies and beverages due to their sweet aromatic scent.

There are times pandan leaves are found inside steamed rice pots.

In contrast, the closest the pandan has been considered as a herbal medicine was when the plant was included in pito-pito, a popular traditional herbal medicine concoction of seven endemic plants in the country used to relieve common illnesses.

In 1991, Nonato started her research focusing on the plant.

She said, she chose pandan because little is known about it.

“If you are starting on your research,” said Nonato, “look for subjects that have little information so you can contribute to the development of new knowledge.”

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SPREADING THE LIGHT. Miss Earth

2015 Angelia Ong and Pepsi official Herbert Biazon help assemble a nonelectrical eco-friendly light installation to be distributed to needly communities across the country.

Manny Palmero

Where were telcos during storm—Poe

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATOR Grace Poe wants to find out why disaster agencies and telecommunication companies failed to send mobile disaster alerts to effectively warn residents of the impacts of Super Typhoon ‘‘Lawin’’ (international name: ‘‘Haima’’) that pummelled provinces in northern Luzon Wednesday Poe filed Senate Resolution No. 211 seeking explanation from implementing agencies and telcos on possible lapses even though Republic Act No. 10639 or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) are already in place.

“Such failure goes against the objective of the law to en-

sure the immediate dissemination of useful, timely, and relevant information to help our people prepare for natural disasters,” Poe said.

Poe said she received information from residents in the areas affected by the super typhoon that they were not able to receive alerts on their mobile phones before ‘‘Lawin’’ struck.

Under the law’s IRR, in the event of impending calamities, mobile phone service providers are mandated to send out emergency alerts at regular intervals, but such did not happen during the onslaught of ‘‘Lawin.’’

The law was signed on June 20, 2014 and its IRR issued last July 21, 2015.

“Our countrymen deserve to know who should be accountable for lapses in the release of mobile alerts on Typhoon ‘‘Lawin,’’ which could leave residents unprepared for the onslaught of the disaster,” stressed Poe Poe said concerned individuals may report violations of the law to the National Telecommunications Commission.

The senator cited stringent penalties under Sec. 6 of the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, which stipulates that any

person who gives false or misleading data or information or willfully or through gross negligence, conceals or falsifies a material fact, in any investigation, inquiry, study, or other proceeding pursuant to the Act face imprisonment of two months to six months and a fine ranging from P1,000 to P10,000.

If the offender is a corporation, the penalties may range from a fine of P1 million to P10 million and/or face suspension or revocation of its legislative franchise and other permits and licenses issued by the NTC. The super typhoon, which had a massive 800-kilometer diameter, wrought havoc in northern Luzon provinces, uprooting or whacking down trees and electric posts, damaging houses and establishments and inundating streets and ricefields.

Port firm bullish Teo pushes for investments on Duterte visit THE Brunei International Container Terminal Services Inc. is confident President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit would enhance bilateral economic relations.

ICTSI, which operates the sultanate’s leading trading gateway, the Muara Container Terminal, looks forward to improved investment opportunities between the two Asean countries.

“We are hopeful this state visit will open up more opportunities for the two countries to further develop the Brunei-Indo-

nesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area. ICTSI is fully committed to be an active partner in both countries’ drive to promote economic growth, especially through sound investments in port management and development,” Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI senior vice president and head of Asia-Pacific, said in a press statement.

Around 85 percent of employees of the New Muara Container Terminal Services, recently honored as one of Asia’s top employers, are Bruneians.

TOURISM Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, in Beijing with President Rodrigo Duterte during a four-day visit which ended Friday night, has made a big bounce to attract Chinese investments in the Philippines Teo made the push during a meeting with Chinese stakeholders on the eve of the Filipino delegation’s departure for home.

Besides looking to attract two million Chinese tourists per year, Teo also said she aimed to promote investment opportunities in hospitality, infrastructure, and aviation.

Teo emphasized this was the most favorable time to invest as the Philippines was enjoying

the highest growth rate in international arrivals in Southeast Asia.

“We encourage you to invest in the Philippines now, as our country and China strengthen our bilateral trade and business relations,” she said.

Teo pointed out the Philippines would need over 100,000 rooms most especially in the 4- and 5-star categories as DoT aims to increase tourist arrivals to 12 million.

Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority chief operating officer, lawyer Guiller Asido discussed incentives with tourism zone investors. Sandy Araneta

Palace lauds Rody’s high approval rating MALACAÑANG welcomed on Friday a Pulse Asia survey showing President Rodrigo Duterte continues to enjoy a high approval rating at 86 percent.

“If it’s positive, we would be so flattered and we are so thankful to our countrymen,” Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary for Operations and Special Concerns Marie Banaag said in a press briefing Friday.

According to the Pulse Asia survey conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, President Duterte received the highest performance and trust

ratings among the top five national officials in government.

Out of 1,200 respondents, the President garnered an 86-percent approval rating with 11-percent undecided and three percent in disapproval. He also got 86-percent ‘big trust’ rating.

Vice President Leni Robredo placed second with 66-percent approval rating and 65-percent ‘big trust’ followed by President Duterte’s partymate Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III with 61-percent approval and 55 -percent trust rating.

IN BRIEF SSS pushes overdue loan condonation OVER 265,000 borrowers of the Social Security System’s shortterm loans have benefited from affordable payment terms and conditional condonation of loan penalties under its loan restructuring program within just five months of launch in April.

Assistant vice president for Member Loans Department Boobie Angela Ocay said the loan restructuring program has already helped 265,705 memberborrowers settle their overdue loan obligations of P4.28 billion.

The program opened its one-year availment period on April 28.

It is offering delinquent borrowers the “rare” opportunity to settle their overdue loans by only paying their loan principal and interest, and incur significant savings from the conditional condonation of loan penalties once their obligation has been paid in full. The program ends on April 27, 2017. Rio N. Araja

House eyes sign language TV captions THE committee on public information of the House of Representatives passed two proposals to require the use of Filipino sign language insets for local television news programs to benefit persons with disabilities, especially the hearing-impaired.

The committee, chaired by ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, approved House Bill 2588 filed by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. and HB 3027 by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate amending Section 22 of Republic Act 7277 as amended, or the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities.”

Under the amendment, all free-to-air television stations are required to provide FSL insets, and where possible, closed captions or subtitles in at least two newscast programs a day and special programs covering events of national significance.

Rio N. Araja

Don’t fall for solicitors, DILG warns

SAFE HALLOWEEN. Ecowaste Coalition’s volunteers draw consumer attention to chemical choking, fire and laceration hazards lurking in some Halloween toys. The group urges the public to be cautious when buying toys for Halloween. Manny Palmero

DAVAO CITY—The City Government of Davao has warned the public against unscrupulous individuals claiming to be representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and asking money in exchange for projects.

Erwin Alparaque, the chief of Davao City Human Resource Management Office, transmitted an advisory from the DILG addressed to all local chief executives and government functionaries. F. Pearl A. Gajunera

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Opinion

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

A

A reminder from ‘Lawin’

MID this country’s woes on the domestic and international fronts, Typhoon “Lawin” ripped through Northern Luzon this week, leaving in its trail at least seven people dead, five missing, homes and livelihoods destroyed, and billions of pesos in damaged crops and infrastructure.

Even the offices of the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council were not spared, and disaster officials were forced to conduct meetings, in the aftermath of the typhoon, in a hotel.

The typhoon, which made landfall Wednesday evening, had winds of 225 kilometers per

Adelle Chua, Editor

hour and gusts of up to 315 kph. As a result, several provincial councils have declared a state of calamity in their respective areas.

“Lawin,” deemed a super typhoon, has been compared to Typhoon “Yolanda,” which ravaged the central Philippines nearly three years ago. Yolanda taught us

a few things at that time, and it would be good to ask ourselves whether we had indeed learned these lessons—or if we just fell back on the same patterns that have rendered us perpetually surprised and scrambling when disaster strikes.

Out of the experience of Yolanda and succeeding typhoons, we determined that the flow of information between and among government units, local and national, was crucial especially in the first few hours. Clear protocols must be established to know who makes the decisions during emergency situations. Scientific terms have to be communicated clearly to the people.

And politics should not get in the way.

We learned that a disaster near

Metro Manila is not more important than a disaster in a far-flung community that does not have cellular service or internet connection.

Given the present government context we are also reminded that some issues are not any more important than others just because they are talked about in controversial—nay, scandalous—fashion. For example, we have seen how the congressional investigation into the alleged links of Senator Leila de Lima to the drug trade in the National Bilibid Prison amounted to nothing despite the so-called witnesses’ explosive claims.

These days we tend to watch everything that comes out of President Rodrigo Duterte’s mouth.

Since the campaign, he has proven himself a fascinating charac-

ter, a rebel who seemed to have his heart in the right place. But it is now clear that the effort that went into decoding this maverick President’s words is counterproductive and time consuming.

Would it not be a relief to have a leader who says exactly what he means instead of making impulsive, populist statements which his subordinates later have to put “in the proper context?”

And would it not be good for the people to be assured that the President knows just what to do in ensuring the resilience of communities instead of always fretting about the next disruptive, embarrassing, or potentially damaging thing he might say?

“Lawin” reminded us that we still have a lot to learn in getting our priorities in order.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Gross mismanagement in Bistek Bautista’s QC

A national tragedy POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO WHERE is President Rodrigo Duterte taking the country in terms of foreign relations? This is the question asked by many considering the developments during his official visit to China.

To be fair, Duterte has, from the first days of his presidency, repeatedly said that he is breaking away from the United States of America. His disdain against America is public knowledge as he has criticized, even badmouthed the US from the get go.

It is also no secret that he is soft to China saying that he will pursue a better relationship with it, and until recently, Russia as well.

However, he also said that the Philippines will pursue an independent foreign policy, one that is not subservient to any other nation. Perhaps, this is what everybody has been hoping for. Independence, after all, is every patriotic Filipino heart’s desire.

So while people criticized Duterte’s crass words against the US and its last ambassador, and there were those who took the position that being independent does not necessarily mean turning one’s back to longtime allies, there has been no strong opposition to the concept of pursuing an independent foreign policy.

Also, whenever the president would threaten breaking away from the US, his men would rush to “clarify” to soften the blow of his statements. This pushand-pull game has left people confused. However, just before leaving for China, the President stopped the US-Philippines joint patrols in the disputed West Philippine Sea as if to a signal what would come in the following days.

We have seen the tough, rouge, combative Duterte turn respectful, almost dignified in front of Chinese officials. He can forego his usual roughness when he wants to, and we should remember this. Then he announces that he is breaking up with the US in both military and economic fields, and added that he will be

dependent on China, and even Russia for many years.

This is very DIFFERENT from the usual gangster talk he does during his midnight-to-morning press conferences within the Philippines. He made the public statement in China, the country that insistently claims parts

The President can forego his usual roughness when he wants to, and we should remember this. of OUR territory, in front of its highest officials, during an official visit. He was representing the Philippines. The pronouncement cannot be perceived as anything but official.

The news about this presiden-

tial statement exploded, particularly in social media. Not a few netizens expressed sadness, frustration, even outright anger and depression over what Duterte said. Even some senators expressed doubts about the wisdom of cutting ties with the US. Senator Richard Gordon said outright that the President is wrong on this.

As expected, the Duterte’s men, particularly Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and National Economic and Development Authority Director General Ernesto Pernia, quickly issued a statement in an attempt to “interpret” Duterte and minimize negative reactions. They emphasized that the Philippines is not cutting trade relations with the US, and that Duterte’s words were meant to strengthen Asean integration.

The only problem here is, the President’s words were clear and he did NOT say these.

There are many important questions needing answers on the implications of Duterte’s statement.

What will happen to the West Philippine Sea issue? How is the Philippine government going to

protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity against China now? The Chinese already said that they MAY allow our fisherfolk to use the contested waters.

Why do Filipinos need permission from China to be in our territory? Has the President forgotten the groundbreaking Hague ruling saying that China is wrong in its claims? This gave us the means to negotiate from a position of strength.

Government proudly announced that China is providing us $9 billion in soft loans. How can one negotiate as an equal if one owes the other party? What is the collateral? What are the conditions to these loans? Besides, the money will be paid for by the Filipino people. It is our right to know the fine prints in this deal.

Remember that China has NEVER been a strong partner of the Philippines.

What about trade and employment? Cannot we trade with both US and China? Why choose one at the expense of the other? What will happen to the estimated 1.2 million workers in the BPO industry that heavily serve US marTurn to A5

BEFORE Herbert “Bistek” Bautista became Quezon City mayor, a large public parking lot beside the Quezon City Hall main building near East Avenue was built to address the parking problem posed by the growing number of people who had business to transact with city hall, or the city’s trial courts. No fees were charged for the use of the public parking lot.

All that changed a few days ago under the Bautista administration, one of the worst regimes to ever manage Quezon City.

Last Monday, October 17, the area surrounding Quezon City Hall became a traffic nightmare for many motorists who worked or had business to transact in that vicinity. Traffic ground to a halt at the Elliptical Road for several hours.

The cause of the mess was another improvident and selfserving decision of Quezon City officials led by Mayor Bautista. The public parking lot at city hall had been segregated for the exclusive use of city hall employees. As a consequence, the taxpayers who had used the public parking lot each time they went to city hall, had to look elsewhere for parking space. Meanwhile, top city officials remained snug and comfortable because they had assured, exclusive parking spaces at the northern sector of the Quezon City Hall compound.

Because not all city hall employees owned automobiles, only a few vehicles ended up using the public parking lot. This left plenty of parking space for non-city hall employees.

Motorists who desperately needed to go to Quezon City Hall or the nearby Hall of Justice pleaded with parking lot personnel that they be allowed to park in the remaining available spaces. Their pleas fell on deaf ears.

One motorist identified himself as a taxpayer, but he was curtly told to go elsewhere.

Quezon City Hall officials and employees are supposed to be servants of the taxpayers. The fact that Quezon City’s officials and employees enjoy a preferred status over taxpayers in the use of a parking lot constructed using public funds violates the constitutional mandate that sovereignty resides in the people.

Perhaps Mayor Bautista, who used to be a comedian on the big screen, thinks that Turn to A5

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Opinion

of essential goods and services while ignoring the fact that all MANY policymakers believe is the result of production carthat mere legislation to abolish ried out by workers, which price labor-only contracting would be is indelibly affected by the cost enough to eradicate the slave- of labor.

Since legislated wage is charlike practice of selling labor to the end-users known as em- acterized as inflexible, usually ployer-beneficiaries. This stems based on the inflation index and from the belief that legislation other factors that warranted the increasing the minimum wage increase, once the factors that would ease the perennial short- necessitated the hike subsides, age of income received by our the added wage could no longer workers. Rather, this has be- be rolled back, not to say that it come the worst joke for all of us. would amount to a political suiIt has resulted in the rapid in- cide. It is impractical, much that crease in the hiring of workers the prices of other goods and supplied by labor-only contrac- services would not automaticaltors who systematically violate ly follow to justify the rollback the minimum wage law, fail to in minimum wage.

Employers then began to find remit their withholding tax and SSS/Philhealth contributions, ways to avoid the regularization and short-circuited their con- of their workers. This is necesstitutional rights to security of sitated by the ups and downs tenure and to form labor unions in the demand for labor that into collectively bargain for their variably affect the cost of wage. common welfare. The contrac- Contracting out labor effectivetualization of labor virtually ly gave employers their need for eliminated the system of direct manpower that is adjustable as hiring which capitalists contin- required.

As a result, employers are no ue to bluff as their partners in longer burdened by the constiprogress.

Our suggested approach to tutional guarantee of security solve the problem of contractu- of tenure that effectively led alization is to adopt a win-win to the withering of labor unsolution by deregulating wage, ions. That then finally got rid except for the accumulated and of adjusting wages and other incremental benefits such as the benefits through collective barmandatory joint contribution to gaining negotiations. This exthe SSS and to Pag-IBIG Home plains why the country is one of the highFund, Philest in miniHealth, emmum wage ployees’ comin Southeast pensation, etc.

Asia, yet exbut imposing This is a winperiencing the stricter penalhighest in unty to employ- win solution. employ ment ers who resort rate.

Worst, to the hiring we cannot exof contractedplain why we our workers to prevent their regularization continue to suffer low produceven after six months of service. tivity per man-hour compared The habit of increasing wage to the workforce of our neighthrough legislation may initially bors in Southeast Asia. The satisfy those who are able to re- best indicator to this is we rank tain their employment, but defi- the lowest in investment destinitely not to those who will suf- nation in the region.

Maybe wage deregulation is fer the consequence of the high cost of labor. Some workers will not acceptable to both the embe retrenched just as some busi- ployers and employees, but this ness will eventually close shop is the only way we could resolve due to financial constraints. the impasse in the upward inThose fortunate to retain their crease in wage and a spirally employment will nonetheless descending economy. Wage desuffer from a diminished pur- regulation is a win-win solution chasing power due to inflation for while it may result in the emthat ensues in every wage in- ployee’s diminution of income, crease. The new minimum wage there is, more or less, an assuris often violated than observed. ance they will not lose his emAs this column has long been ployment by the circumvention advocating, we cannot have of the law.

It is a win-win solution for the a car with a capitalist engine while using socialist spare parts employers because they will be to make it run. When we opted given a leeway to adjust the cost to deregulate the cost of es- of wage according to their finansential goods and services, we cial capacity, and the required should have equally deregulated workforce to meet production the cost of wage by allowing the quota. In other words, the illemarket to dictate its value. Rath- gal termination done through a er, we stick to the socialist sys- system of two-tier contracting tem of controlling wage through will become a thing of the past. legislation, ignoring that labor This formula may not be the is the only commodity which ideal, but it is the nearest thing the workers could sell as their we could do to put our economy back on track. means for survival.

(This columnist is the author As a result, we created a monstrously wide gap in income of the bestselling book on between the wage earners and the subject titled, “Laborthose making profit in business. Only Contracting in a ‘Cabo’ We practically amended the Economy.”) economic law of supply and derpkapunan@gmail.com mand by deregulating the prices Part I

Gross...

From A4

sovereignty resides in him. Since he is now on his last term as city mayor, Bautista probably no longer considers voters important.

Undoubtedly, Quezon City has deteriorated immensely ever since Bautista became its mayor.

Several city councilors allied with Bautista are now facing graft raps in the Sandiganbayan for hiring ghost employees. If that was not bad enough, a city spokesman had the temerity to deny the existence of the anomalies. That spokesman may be courting graft raps for misleading the public.

Two years ago, a proposed ordinance sought to prohibit con-

cert organizers whose concerts are held in Quezon City from indicating the phrase “LIVE IN MANILA” in their posters and promotional materials. The idiotic proposal was abandoned after it was exposed as an unconstitutional restraint on free speech.

One infamous proposed ordinance sought to restrict the number of pets a city resident can own in the privacy of his home. Another proposal tried to seize the sidewalks and hand them over to bicycle riders. An ordinance which imposed an onerous garbage collection fee on city residents was recently voided by a court of law.

During his incumbency, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. marked almost every public infrastructure project in

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More’s Utopia and Duterte’s Philippines

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Ending the contractualization of labor

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA FIVE hundred years ago, Thomas More wrote a book entitled Utopia. In a lecture I delivered at the Ateneo de Manila last month, I used that book to reflect on contemporary events in our country.

Superficially speaking, Duterte’s Philippines, at least in its treatment of human rights and the role of law, is not very far from Thomas More’s Utopia. In More’s world, lawyers are actually prohibited and citizens are assumed to know exactly what the law is, what right and wrong is, and are expected to comply with all the rules laid down by the state. In More’s Utopia, punishment is a certainty for those who transgress the law. In More’s imaginary world, the justice system is always fair and so human rights is not an issue. Its respect is assumed.

Unfortunately, both the assumptions of an educated citizenry and an excellent justice system do not hold for our country.

Written 500 years ago, More’s work has left a lasting impact on subsequent political thought and literature. It may be half a millennium old, but utopia’s contemporaneity cannot be denied. Tyrants, reformers, radicals, revolutionists often take their bearings on the utopian philosophy.

There are, for example, similarities between More’s Utopia and the classless society promised by Karl Marx. Indeed, the Utopians “wear the same sort of

clothes without any other distinction, except what is necessary to distinguish the two sexes, and the married and unmarried.” They share their material possessions and work for the common good, it is more akin to the structure subsisting in a monastic life rather than the society designed by Marx which stems from a highly stratified economic environment.

More’s Utopia, while similar to Marx’s dictum: “To everyone according to his needs—from everyone according to his abilities,” however departs from the Marxian concept insofar as concerns the driving forces behind the two ideas. More fantasized of a people untainted by malice; where people are selflessly devoted to preserving well-structured and orderly institutions. On the other hand, the Marxian communism is premised on an inherently dysfunctional society where two opposing forces, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, who are in perpetual contradiction against the other. As Friedrich Engels clarified: “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” And order is not possible unless the working class prevails over the capitalists or the bourgeoisie.

Fr. James Schall, in an essay entitled “The Right to Happiness,” argues: “So we do not have a right to be happy. The assumption that we do lies behind the utopian turmoil of our times. The attempt to guarantee our right to be happy invariably leads to economic bankruptcy and societal coercion.

By misunderstanding happiness and its gift-response condition, we impose on the political order

a mission it cannot fulfill. We undermine that limited temporal happiness we might achieve if we are virtuous, prudent, and sensible in this finite world.”

What was frightening for me during the Marcos, Aquino and now in the Duterte eras is that there are people, true believers who actually believe that people should be hunted down, diminished, mocked, and in the case of Marcos and Duterte killed for the greater cause. What is sad is behind the veneer of wonderful or passionate slogans like “new society,” “daang matuwid” and “I hate drugs” is politics in the most ugly sense of the word. In similar ways, the attacks against Vice President Binay and Senator Grace Poe, arguably pursued with mixed motivations of national interest and support for a specific candidate, fall under this category of no-holds-barred, scorchedearth politics is also because of this. Never mind to the damage caused to the persons and their families, and in the case of Poe, never mind the collateral damage to foundlings and global Filipinos.

How do we respond to Duterte’s Philippines? Unfortunately, the book Utopia does not give us good answers to this question. Sadly, utopian literature frequently justifies human rights violations in the name of achieving a better, more perfect society. Therein lies the danger and the tragedy that is unfolding in Duterte’s Philippines. It is not a perfect world; government makes mistakes, including terrible ones. A disregard for human rights, substantive and procedural, makes those mistakes permanent, irreversible through extrajudicial

killings and the imposition of the death penalty. In the real, not utopian, world of Thomas More, this danger and tragedy also unfolded in the fate that befell him.

Thomas More was not a perfect man; both his personal and public life were stained with personal flaws, including pride. He was and too harsh on and too judgmental of others. But at the most important moment of his life, More stood steadfast in his principles and conscience. That is why Robert Bolt honors the saint with his play “A Man for All Season.

In one of the most memorable scenes from the movie adaptation of Bolt’s play, More tells his daughter: “When a man takes an oath, he’s holding his own self in his own hands like water, and if he opens his fingers then, he needn’t hope to find himself again.”

We do not honor Thomas More as the patron saint of lawyers and public servants because of his authorship of Utopia. We look up to More because he defied what is wrong and did what is right, even to the point of death. We must do the same today, hopefully without dying, of course. In real life, More lived the life of his fictional characters when he defied the king by refusing to sign the Oath of Supremacy, which gave the king more power than the pope. And for this he paid with his life and was declared a saint by the Catholic Church. By his defiance to do what he perceived as an evil act, he was rewarded his utopia to be raised in the altar and be with his Father in heaven for all eternity.

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US polls, Duterte’s China visit engage PH’s analysts’ radars WITH the US presidential elections less than three weeks away, political analysts from Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, are having their radar screens on the highstrung polls.

Decidedly, whoever wins the presidency—Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton—will have an impact on the lives of some four million US-based Filipinos—from Hawaii and Alaska on the west side to New York and Massachusetts on the Atlantic side.

The results will also have implications on Philippine-US relations built on diplomatic ties forged 70 years ago after the second world war.

The elections follow the state visit to China of President Rodrigo Duterte who has not concealed his displeasure at how he is being treated as leader of a sovereign nation by Washington.

Outgoing President Barack Obama had raised his administration’s concern about perceived human rights violations in Duterte’s tenacious anti-illegal drugs drive since taking over on June 30.

Duterte even declared as a patellar reflex his resultant declaration he was going to terminate joint patrols with the Americans in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The 71-year-old former Davao City mayor and prosecutor had, in

EVERYMAN

the same breath, declared he was pivoting towards China and Russia—with which the Philippines established diplomatic ties in the 1970s—as a clump against the US Duterte said had no respect for him as leader of a sovereign nation.

While Duterte raised his clenched fist on what he called lack of Washington’s respect for him, China was reported building additional infrastructures in areas the International Arbitral Court ruled was Philippine territory.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, meanwhile, warned President Duterte that China may ask the Philippines to concede rights in the South China Sea before agreeing to any deals or joint explorations projects.

Carpio said it has always been China’s position that the Philippines, or any other claimant nation, must concede the disputed area is Chinese then share the bounty, 5050, in any joint exploration.

“So if the President [Duterte] comes back and say we have signed all these agreements we want to know what were the terms,” he said, stressing conceding sovereignty over Panatag could be grounds for impeachment.

To reporters’ questions, Carpio said: “...if the president concedes now our sovereignty over Scarbor-

ough Shoal—yes, we can impeach him, but we cannot recover that Scarborough Shoal anymore from China.”

The UN arbitral ruling declared Scarborough a traditional common fishing ground and affirmed the area as part of the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile EEZ. Duterte has assured his countrymen he will not concede the Philippines’ claim on the contested territories in the South China Sea, adding that it is not his to give up.

Speaking to newsmen Sunday, Duterte said he is aware that giving up the country’s claims in the South China Sea is an impeachable offense...I do not fight with that statement. It’s all correct, it’s all legal, and so I agree with him,” he said, referring to Carpio’s warning.

“I said we cannot barter which is not ours. It belongs to the Filipino people. I cannot be the sole authorized agent for that is not allowed under the constitution,” he added.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner underlined that the United States supported Duterte’s pivot to boost ties with China, seen by some political observers as among countries where shabu or methamphetamine drugs are being ordered by some highprofile inmates at the National Bilibid Prison.

Toner had said Washington was focused on maintaining close ties

and cooperation with the Philippines in several areas including counter-narcotics and security.

But he pointed out that such bond was not directed alone at the Philippines, which stood side by side with the United States against Japan during the second world war.

In Manila, US Embassy press attaché Molly Koscina has told a group of editors that Washington is pursuing its programs and projects despite sardonic pronouncements from Duterte.

She pointed out that bilateral relations have spanned 11 US presidents, the 12th being outgoing President Obama, adding the strong bilateral bonds have survived presidents, stopping short of saying Duterte will be there only for six years.

Duterte’s volleys despite, Koscina said “We haven’t changed anything on our side. We are still here.

“We are still continuing all of our programs, we haven’t made any adjustments and our sincere hope is that the relationship will exist and continue as it is.”

Political analysts are one in suggesting much will be said, and probably with a wallop, after Duterte’s visit to China and the result of the US elections.

All this, as the election fever in the United States makes a vault with Trump and Clinton racing to the homestretch of the political crusade.

A national... kets? What will happen to the almost 6 million Filipinos presently in the US? Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) indicate that the US is our third biggest trading partner. As of mid-2016, trading between the two countries reached almost $16.5 billion favoring the Philippines. Are we losing this in favor of China?

Perhaps the biggest question on the issue is, did Filipinos who voted for Duterte sign up for the split with the US? Do the people

support the President on this? It should be noted that breaking of US ties was not a big part of Duterte’s campaign spiel. He started talking about this more when he was already elected into office.

It is also interesting that even his Cabinet officials are often caught unaware by his controversial statements. There have been times when spokespersons and secretaries issued explanations that were in conflict with their boss’ pronouncements. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s statement that Duterte does not consult his Cabinet before saying things sheds some light into how the latter works. Therefore, one

wonders how much Cabinet support Duterte has on the cutting of ties with the US. Social media reaction is mostly critical of Duterte. More than the netizens however, the results of the September 2016 Social Weather Stations survey is quite instructive. The US got the best rating among seven countries in terms of public trust, +66, while China received the worst rating of -33. It is unquestionable that Filipinos trust the US much, much better than we do China.

This despite Duterte’s repeated anti-US and pro-China pitch.

Is the split with the US a decision that Duterte alone took

without considering his Cabinet’s expert opinions, and more importantly, what Filipinos want?

Even the usually quiet but respected former DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario has spoken about this. He said, “What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy.” These are very strong words from a man like Del Rosario, and this is alarming.

Now, how do we address this tragedy?

the city with vanity signs bearing his initials—SB. He also allowed several city-owned buildings near the Batasang Pambansa to be named after his relatives.

Almost immediately after he succeeded Belmonte, Bautista came out with his own vanity signages. Ceramic tiles paid for by taxpayer money and bearing the letters HB—Bautista’s initials— were affixed on many city infrastructure projects. Many of them can still be seen in the center island of Visayas Avenue today.

The late Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who was a senator at that time, branded Bautista’s vanity tiles as “e-pal” propaganda and a waste of public funds.

In August 2014, Mayor Bautista beat up a Chinese national arrested

at the Philcoa area for the latter’s alleged involvement in the drug trade. The assault was broadcast live on national television. The city spokesman claimed Bautista just got carried away.

Then Justice secretary Leila de Lima, who now claims to be a vanguard against human rights abuses, did not file any criminal charges against Bautista. Maybe de Lima was already eyeing her inclusion in the 2016 senatorial slate of Bautista’s Liberal Party.

Weeks ago, Quezon City Council Hero Bautista, a younger brother of the mayor, publicly admitted being a drug addict.

Instead of getting beaten up by his brother, like what happened to the Chinese national in 2014, Councilor Bautista got special

treatment from the Quezon City government. He was allowed to take a leave from his work in the city council (he heads the very powerful infrastructure committee), and to return after he shall have been rehabilitated from his drug habit.

In other words, the people of Quezon City must wait until their drug-addicted public official shall be ready to return to his public duties.

Mayor Bautista should have ordered his brother to resign in the name of delicadeza, but he did not do so. Instead of leading by example, the Bautista brothers kept mum on this drug scandal, and simply relied on their political dynasty’s hold on Quezon City politics.

The lack of decency on the part of the Bautista brothers so infuriated the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption that this civil group filed criminal and administrative charges against the brothers before the Ombudsman.

Mayor Bautista is a member of the government panel which went to Norway to restart the peace talks with Philippine communist rebels. Why Bautista was chosen is a mystery. Since Bautista’s role in the peace talks is unclear, chances are, he wasted taxpayer money on a statesponsored foreign junket, like his predecessor, Speaker Belmonte, did in Holland.

Instead of wasting public money in Norway, Bautista should be working home in Quezon City.

By Honor Blanco Cabie

From A4

bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

News

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CA ready to resolve telco deal

By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has submitted for decision the petition seeking to stop the Philippine Competition Commission from investigating the joint acquisition

by Globe Telecom and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. of the telecommunication assets of San Miguel Corp.

In a resolution, the CA’s Special 12th Division Associate Justice Ramon Bato Jr. has directed the PCC, the PLDT, Globe and SMC to file their respective memoranda, after which the case is deemed submitted for resolution.

The submission of the memoranda shall be the last pleading to be filed by the parties before the court resolves the case involving the Globe and PLDT’s petitions against the PCC’s review and investigation of the P70-billion 5050 buyout of Vega Telecom Inc., a subsidiary of SMC. “All parties are directed to submit simultaneous memoranda within a non-extendible period of 15 days from notice. Thereafter, with or without their respective memorandum, the instant cases are submitted for decision,” the October 19 resolution stated.

The appellate court’s Special 12th Division will resolve both cases of PLDT and Globe after the CA 6th Division has ordered the consolidation of the cases with the former since it is holding a lower docket number and as a rule in the CA, the lower docket number can handle all cases of same facts, issues and parties.

Last August 26, CA 12th Division has issued a Writ of Preliminary Injunction against PCC and its agents from conducting any investigation which would impair the rights of PLDT, Globe and SMC. The injunction was issued in order not to affect the rights of the consumers and to protect the move to improve the internet speed and connection nationwide.

PCC, in its letters dated June 7 and June 17, 2016, ordered the pre-acquisition review and investigation of the acquisition made by PLDT and Globe of all the issuing and outstanding shares and assets of Vega Telecom.

Bello: Workplaces must also be free of drug users L

ABOR and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III reminded establishments to comply with DoLE’s Department Order No. 53-03 to help ensure drug-free workplaces.

“This Department Order, which calls for random drug testing of employees, applies to all establishments in the private sector, including their contractors and concessionaires,” Bello said.

“As required under the D.O., a random drug test must be conducted by the employers to their employees and officials, and its schedule must be unannounced, with each employee having an equal chance of being selected for

MAYOR Joseph “Erap” Estrada has distributed 4,000 tablet computers to public school teachers to boost their teaching methods.

During a recent turnover ceremony at San Andres Sports Complex, Estrada said it is only fitting that the city’s teachers are given the proper tools to help shape the future of the school children.

“With the use of these gadgets, you will have the ability to create more interactive and enriching learning experience for the young Manileños. Malaki ang magagawa ng edukasyon para patuloy na makaahon ang ating lungsod at maitaguyod ang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan,” Estrada told the public school teachers from 33 secondary schools in Manila.

Each tablet is already installed with useful Microsoft applications and softwares related to classroom instruction, according to Wilfredo Cabral, the Manila schools division superintendent.

Only last April, Estrada dis-

influence of drugs.

‘Post-accident testing,’ on the other hand, is allowed in two situations: the ‘near-miss’ and the ‘work-accident’ circumstance.

‘Near miss’ refers to an incident arising from or in the course of work that could have led to injuries or fatalities of the workers and/or considerable damage to the employer had it not been curtailed.

‘Work-accident’ circumstance, on the other hand, refers to unplanned or unexpected occurrence which may or may not result in personal injury, property damage, work stoppage or interference, or any combination thereof, which arises out of and in the course of employment.

All drug tests shall employ

the screening and confirmatory tests. When the confirmatory test turns positive, the company’s Assessment Team shall evaluate the results and determine the level of care and administrative interventions that can be extended to the concerned employee.

Under the rules, should the officer/employee turn out positive during drug test, it does not mean that the officer or employee shall be dismissed right away from work.

The DoLE Drug-Free Workplace Policy and Program states that an officer/employee who, for the first time, is found positive of drug use, shall be referred for treatment and/ or rehabilitation in a Department of Health-accredited center.

IN BRIEF Parañaque cash status questioned

THANK YOU, AMERICA. United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg congratulates Muslim leaders who completed a two-year Health

Leadership and Governance Program conducted by the US Agency for International Development in cooperation with the Department of Health.

Erap gives away tablets to teachers

By Sandy Araneta

testing,” Bello said.

The DoLE’s Bureau of Working Conditions reported that out of the 36,002 establishments assessed under the Labor Laws Compliance System, 29,607 or 82.24 percent of the establishments were found to have drug-free workplace policies in place.

Bello said the establishments that have yet to comply with the policy can request for assistance from the DoLE Regional Offices

and their respective Labor Laws Compliance Officers in crafting the program guidelines as mandated by DO 53-03.

DoLE also urged establishments with less than 10 workers to formulate and adopt drug-free policies and programs.

Under the DoLE Drug-Free Workplace Policy and Program, there are two circumstances wherein employers can subject their employees to a mandatory drug test.

These are the ‘for cause testing’ and the ‘post-accident testing.’

‘For cause testing’ takes place when the company may ask an officer/employee to submit to a drug test at any time it feels that the employee may be under the

tributed tablets with installed instructional materials to some 11,000 public elementary school teachers of Manila to enable them to further improve their classroom instructions.

Estrada also shouldered the expenses for the teachers’ recent leadership training seminars and conventions which amounted to P1.14 million, unlike during the previous city administration when teachers had to spend their own money to attend such seminars.

The city government, under Estrada, also has allocated almost P2 billion to its Special Educational Fund (SEF) for the construction and renovation of school infrastructures and procurement of educational equipment and supplies.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Ang ating mga guro ay talagang binubuhos nila ang kanilang pagtuturo sa kanilang estudyante. And I would say that if you can help the children, we can help bring back Manila to its old glory,” Estrada concluded.

Comelec releases machines

By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections said it has informed the Supreme Court that it has agreed to release the 1,356 unused vote counting machines units to SmartmaticTIM despite the election protest filed former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“Please be advised that the Commission has approved the request of Smartmatic-TIM 2016, Inc. [SMIT] for the release of 1,356 units of vote counting machines [VCMs] which were delivered to the Commission on Elections for contingency purposes during the last 09 May 2016 National, Local and ARMM elections,” according to a two-page letter dated September 29 addressed to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The Comelec informed the en banc through the Chief Justice of its decision approving the request of Smartmatic-TIM for the release of the VCMs which were delivered to the Comelec for contingency purposes during the May 9, 2016

national and local elections.

“The 1, 356 VCMs were not actually deployed and/or used during said elections, and as such, the Commission considers the same as not with the scope of the Precautionary Protection Order issued by the Honorable Tribunal,” the letter stated.

The SC sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal earlier issued the PPO, which covers all the ballot boxes and their contents, including the ballots, voter’s receipts and election returns, the lists of voters, particularly the Election Day Computerized Voter’s List (EDCVL), and voters registration records (VRRs), and the books of voters and the audit logs, transmission logs, and all log files.

PET has earlier issued a precautionary order to preserve the integrity and safety of all the ballots, ballot boxes, voters’ receipts, election returns, computerized voters’ list, audit logs, transmission results, log files and other documents and paraphernalia used in the May 2016 elections due to Marcos’ election protest.

Also covered by the PPO

were all other documents or paraphernalia used in the elections, including the automated election equipment and records such as the VCMs, CCS units, Secure Digital (SD) cards (main and backup), and the other data storage devices containing electronic data and ballot images, evidencing the conduct and the results of the elections in all of 92,509 clustered precincts that functioned in the last elections.

However, Marcos lawyer Jose Amor Amorado said VCMs and all other election-related paraphernalia, including the automated election equipment and records, in all 92,509 clustered precincts used in the May 9 elections are covered by the PPO because they were the contingency machines that were deployed during the elections.

“These contingency machines were used during the last elections as contingency VCMs. Some of them were deployed admittedly during the earlier meetings in different areas. Some of them were left here in [Comelec warehouse] Sta. Rosa [Laguna],” Amorado said.

THE Commission on Audit has questioned the Parañaque City government for its huge cash shortfall in 2015 with its cash balance at P1.282 billion as of Dec. 1, 2015 against its current liabilities of P2.045 billion.

CoA said the locality’s financial statements in general fund, special education fund and trust fund showed the cash deficit or overdraft incurred in 2014 decreased only by P112.024 million.

“The cash available as of Dec. 31, 2015 of P1,282,112,838.33 is still insufficient to cover the current liabilities amounting to P2,044,839,260.71, which includes cash withheld for remittances to Bureau of Internal Revenue, Government Service and Insurance System, Philippine Health Insurance, Pag-IBIG Home Mutual Development Fund and other agencies of the government,” the report read.

“Further analysis disclosed cash deficit under the Trust Fund which indicates that portion of the fund was expended for purposes other than those for which it was created.”

A huge cash deficit for any of the locality’s funds would indicate the city government “may not be able to meet its short-term obligations and to timely implement its important projects, programs and activities in the ensuing year.” Rio N. Araja

Japanese fugitive arrested A JAPANESE fugitive wanted in Tokyo, Japan for multi-million dollar electronic fraud scam was nabbed by Immigration agents in Binangonan, Rizal.

Keiji Yuasa ‘s passport was already canceled by the Japanese government in November last year and was declared undesirable for being a risk to public safety and security, Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

“A team of Japanese policemen will be in Manila to fetch and escort Yuasa to Tokyo where he will stand trial for his crimes,” Morente said, adding that the alien was included in the BI blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the Philippines.

According to Atty. Jose Carlitos Licas, BI-FSU head, a Japanese court has issued an arrest warrant against Yuasa for allegedly embezzling 400 million yen or more than US$3.8 million in an electronic scam which he committed while working for a Japanese bank. Vito Barcelo

PNP urged to prevent rally violence HUMAN Rights Watch on Friday urged Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa to take measures in order to prevent another violent dispersal similar to the Wednesday incident at the United States Embassy in Manila.

“He can take meaningful measures to help prevent unlawful injuries or deaths by police by initiating thorough and impartial investigations of all such incidents and ensuring that officers implicated in such abuses face prosecution,” said Human Rights Watch representative Carlos Conde.

“Failure to do so will only guarantee that the culture of impunity for unlawful police violence continues,” said Conde.

Conde said the PNP has suspended nine officers involved in

the violent dispersal of protesters—some of whom were bearing batons and throwing stones— demonstrating in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “independent foreign policy” in front of the United States Embassy.

They include the driver of a police vehicle who, based on video and still images, drove through the center of the crowd, injuring at least 10 protesters, including women and elderly people.

Dela Rosa pledged to “swiftly and decisively” investigate the conduct of those officers. During the ensuing melee, pushing, shoving, and rock throwing by angry protesters injured at least 30 police officers.

“The images from outside the US Embassy on Wednesday were pain-

ful reminders of past police brutality, including the Mendiola Massacre in 1987, and the deadly dispersal of protesters in Kidapawan City in April 2016,” Conde said.

A Human Rights Watch investigation in Kidapawan found that police used unnecessary lethal force when they fired into a crowd of protesters, killing two and injuring dozens of others.

The national police have long been responsible for serious human rights violations with officers frequently implicated in the excessive use of force and torture of criminal suspects.

The police are spearheading Duterte’s homicidal “war on drugs,” killing an estimated 1,645 suspected drug users and dealers between July 1 and October 15.

ALL ABOARD. Japanese Embassy officials Minister Hiroyuki Uchida, Japan Information and Culture Center Director Tatsuo Kitagawa, JICC Researcher/Adviser Simon Kubota, NYC Chief Operating Officer Nielex Tupas, National Leader Kahlil Lamigo brief delegates to the 43rd Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program before their departure on Oct. 25.

Sports

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Green Archers end UST poomsae reign DE LA SALLE ended the University of Santo Tomas’ reign by winning its first-ever poomsae championship as the UAAP Season 79 taekwondo tournament kicked off yesterday at the Blue Eagle Gym. The Green Archers finally claimed what eluded them in the first three editions by hauling two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal.

“Well, in the very beginning, we always have the problem with the number of players. We are fortunate that this season, we are able to get quality players,” said De La Salle coach JP Sabido.

Also winning two golds, the Tigers could only settle for second place, as the España-based poomsae squad could only muster two bronzes to fall short on their bid for a third title.

Rinna Babanto opened La Salle’s onslaught by winning the gold in the women’s individual with a score of 8.43 by defeating Far Eastern University’s Charisse Jasmin (8.06) and University of

France’s Gael Monfils leaps high into the air as he returns the ball to Portugal’s Gastao Elias during the ATP Stockholm Open tennis tournament in Stockholm on October 20. AFP

Morales trey lifts Air Force past FEU PHILIPPINE Air Force pulled off a shocking upset in the 2016 MBL Open, blasting erstwhile unbeaten FEU-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, 84-82, on a buzzer-beating three-pointer

by Rama Krishna Morales at the Aquinas gym.

Morales’ game-winner provided a fitting ending to a seesaw battle that saw Air Force and FEU-NRMF exchange one big shot after another in the tenselyfought fourth quarter.

Air Force took a 78-72 lead on a triple by Paulino Rebollos with two minutes left, but FEU-NRMF came charging back to wrest the advantage, 82-81 on a 10-3 run highlighted by a long three-pointer by Fil-Canadian sensation Clay Crellin and a three-point play by Dexter Zamora with five seconds left.

With no timeout left, Air Force rushed to bring the ball to the other end of the court and watched Morales hit a three-pointer from the right corner for the win in the tournament supported by Smart Sports, Ironcon Builders, Star Bread, Dickies Underwear and Gerry’s Grill.

The win was the first in two games for Air Force, which is being handled by PAF Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Col. Elpidio Talja and LTC Nestor Etis and coaches Alvin Zuniga and Jimmy Andaya.

The Jet Force dropped a close 70-74 decision to NCAA member Emilio Aguinaldo College last Saturday.

Morales, who also played for Wang’s Ballclub in the PBA DLeague in 2014 and STI Colleges in the NAASCU from 2010-13, topscored for Air Force with 24 points.

Rebollos, who saw action for San Sebastian College, added 21 points, while Darwin Cordero, who played for Southern City Colleges-Zamboanga, contributed 13.

Reyes wants one player from each PBA team

By Jeric Lopez

O

NE player per Philippine Basketball Association team.

That’s the plan of returning Smart Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes as he laid out his program for the National Team moving forward.

Reyes, who has been reappointed by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas as the National coach last Tuesday, said the Gilas program is set to tap one player from each of the 12

PBA teams that will join the original set of cadet players in the National pool.

“The PBA is set to allow one player from each of the 12 teams to be a part of this Gilas pool that

we’re building,” said Reyes right after being named as the National coach again.

Second, Reyes also wants all the 12 selected Gilas cadets, who are expected to be led by amateur standouts: Mac Belo, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright, Kevin Ferrer, Von Pessumal, Arnold Van Opstal, Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Russell Escoto and Ed Daquioag, among others, to all join the upcoming PBA Draft on October 30 and be part of the pro-league to further enhance their skills.

“If you play in the PBA,

you’re going to get in game shape. You’re going to get a lot of training and most importantly, you’ll be able to adapt to different teammates, coaches, systems and situations,” said Reyes.

“The selected cadets will all be part of Gilas but they will all be part of the PBA Draft also.

My commitment to the PBA is that every player who puts on the Gilas jersey is going to be part of the PBA Draft.”

The PBA and the SBP already agreed to the set-up and to a special draft, also on Oct. 30, for the

Manila Nomads beat Clark Jets in round 5 THE Manila Nomads recorded their first win of the JML 7s League 2016, edging out the Clark Jets 10-5 in the final game of the day, last weekend at Southern Plains.

Clark Jets, renowned for their speed and agility, were overpowered by the force of Manila Nomads. Philippine Under 20s Volcano, Jonel Madrona, scored and converted an early try from a quick tap penalty on the Clark Jets 22 meter line. Nomads team captain, James Salter-Duke, replied a few minutes later with a try of his own, also from a quick tap penalty.

After extending their lead to 10-5, the Manila Nomads were then able to hold off any threat that came from the Clark Jets and finished the day with a win. The Nomads and Jets are now level on points in the league table, however, Jets still place higher than Nomads, with a better points difference.

ìLiving Legendî of the PBA, whose aura still lingers among the Ginebra faithful, watched from the stands after giving the Ginebra players a morale boost in the dugout at halftime when they were down by double digits and had played poorly both in offense and defense in the first half with one or two exceptions.

Jaworski preached the need for composure, for belief in themselves and to play aggressively at both ends of the court.

He inspired the players to fight back which is exactly what they did.

Down by one point heading into the final quarter, Ginebra and Meralco traded baskets in a remarkable display of first class basketball before the dagger three by Brownlee, with no time left on the clock, gave Ginebra its first championship title in eight years.

That the Bolts had a foul to give but didn’t exercise that option simply proved that it

Earlier in the round the Quezon City Polytechnic University Ladies shone brightly as they beat Miriam College 20-0. Annaliza Esteban Galvizo played exceptionally, scoring a hat-trick of tries for the QCPU Ladies. The University side then gave the Alabang Lady Eagles a hard time and was narrowly beaten by a single try; 5-0 to the Lady Eagles.

The strong Alabang teams have byes this week and the rest of the clubs will be looking to capitalize on this in the last round of the JML 7s League before the finals at the end of the month. Both Eagles and Lady Eagles are too far ahead of the next best teams and will not change position in their respective league tables. However, CBRE Mavericks set their sights at topping the plate division and pushing the Alabang Ibons to second place. The Subic Sharks are like-

was not to be for Meralco.

It was a six-game series that swung one way then the other with two classy gentlemancoaches, Tim Cone and Norman Black, proving they are indeed worthy successors to the legendary Baby Dalupan and hardcourt warrior and playing-coach Robert Jaworski.

Every time Jaworski’s face was flashed on the screen the Ginebra faithful who remembered his hardcourt heroics let out a roar of appreciation which in turn inspired the Ginebra players to lift their game to new heights of competitive excellence.

It would never have been the classic series it turned out to be without a remarkable performance by the Bolts who often electrified their fans to the chagrin of the Ginebra horde with some spectacular maneuvers both in offense and defense.

With the stars of the Gilas Cadet team to be released

Gilas cadets last Wednesday.

Reyes envisions a Gilas pool that will consist of the 12 cadets and 12 PBA players, one from each team as stated earlier.

“The plan is very clear. We’re going to put together the best group of players not in the PBA plus the best from the PBA and form a pool. That’s where the future Gilas teams are going to come from,” he said.

“We want to be ready to have the best representation for the 2019 World Championships and also prepare for the 2020 Olympics.”

Melecio ignites La Salle charge

By Peter Atencio

Philippine U20 Volcano, Jonel Madrona, scores for the Clark Jets during their game against the Manila Nomads. Mark Cristino

wise looking to chop down the Alabang Loros from second position in the bowl division.

The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the official governing body of Rugby in the Philippines. Over the

last decade, the PRFU have continued to teach, grow and develop the sport of Rugby and its values throughout the country. The national side is more commonly known as the Philippine Volcanoes.

Barangay Ginebra victory caps PBA banner year

THE Philippine Basketball Association, long regarded as Asia’s premier professional basketball league and recognized as such even by the world’s leading professional basketball organization ìThe National Basketball Associationî is on a roll.

The Governors Cup Finals concluded a fantastic series with an even more spectacular ending when Ginebra San Miguel import Justin Brownlee buried a triple from a yard outside the three-point arc with no time left on the clock. It was the kind of shot that wins championships and amply demonstrated the never-saydie spirit of the Gin Kings.

It was indeed fitting that the

the Philippines’ Patricia Jubelag (7.96).

The Archers’ other gold came from the mixed pair of Raphael Mella and Angelica Gaw with a score of 8.66, beating the Fighting Maroons’ Dustin Mella and Janna Oliva (8.59) and the Growling Tigers’ Jerel Dalida and Jocel Ninobla (8.53) in the process.

Babanto, Gaw and Hernandez captured the silver medal for De La Salle in the women’s team event with a score of 8.54, while Mella, Mcavyngr Alob and Benjamin Sembrano also bagged the silver in the men’s team category with a score of 8.41.

Alob gave the Archers the lone the bronze in the men’s individual with a score of 8.27.

UST emerged victorious in the men’s individual courtesy of Rodolfo Reyes (8.58) and the men’s team of Reyes, Dalida and Adrian Ang (8.64), while the women’s team of Ninobla, Jhoana Razon and Cyrinne Abenir (8.44) secured the school’s other bronze medal.

to the October 30 Annual Draft, the PBA will surely lift its games to another level both in terms of competitive skill and also in its attraction with young, superbly talented players entering the pro ranks.

To some extent the give-andtake on the side of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas headed by the esteemed businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan and the PBA board of governors under chairman Robert Non of the San Miguel Corporation helped reach an agreement fashioned out by the likeable Meralco governor Al Panlilio whose negotiating skills are anchored around a calm and cool disposition and a logical thought process. His proposal eventually boiled down to a win-win situation for the PBA and the Gilas national team.

The reappointment of Chot Reyes as Gilas Pilipinas head coach effectively set the seal

on a mutual appreciation of what needed to be done.

Chot set the tone when he told us, he would simply tell the Gilas Cadets, ìif you don’t want to play in the PBA, you won’t play for Gilas.î It was as pointed as he could get.

PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa who runs a tight ship while ensuring respect for the various stakeholders and with a premium on integrity, has done well since he settled down into his position which augurs well for the future of the PBA which was once referred to as ìThe Big Little League.î Narvasa welcomed the appointment of Chot Reyes as coach which we ourselves believe was the right decision and lauded the steps Chot was initiating.

Narvasa told us ìthis is very good and will boost the draft and the program. It will lift the PBA to a higher level.î Perhaps higher than ever before.

LA SALLE Green Archers needed a spark.

And rookie Aljun Melecio provided what they needed as he ignited a big run in the second half that carried the Green Archers to a 113-88 demolition of the National University Bulldogs last Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan.

Melecio said coach Aldin Ayo just let him play his game, and he did, and he added 18 points to Ben Mbala’s 29-point output. ìThey just let us play. Our coaches just allowed us to play our game,î said the 5’7î rookie guard from La Salle Zobel.

So far, the Green Archers have posted their 10th straight win in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

And at this point, Ayo said his bench is now getting better. ìThere are players that I did not use in the first half. I used them in the second half, and they still delivered,î said Ayo. Melecio struck with 10 points in the second canto and La Salle went on to move away by seven, 56-49, at halftime.

Mbala took over underneath the goal in the third period, shooting 12 points to give La Salle 10-point edge when the quarter was over, 85-75.

The Green Archers haven’t officially taken the top seeding in the Final Four.

But they are almost there.

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

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

Sports

Tamaraws battle Fighting Maroons

Games Today

(at the Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. FEU vs UP 4 p.m. UE vs Adamson

Bangkok Glass import Ashley Fraiser hammers the volleyball off the blocking hands of Vakifbank defenders Gozde Kirdar (2) and Ozge Nur Yurtdagulen (12). Vakifbank prevailed to advance to the semifinals of the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship. Roman Prospero

Rio veteran powers Vakifbank to victory

By Peter Atencio

R

IO Olympics veteran Lonekke Sloetjes made her presence felt in a tough second set struggle to lead VakifBank Istanbul to a 25-19, 25-23, 25-18, victory over Bangkok Glass yesterday to formally barge into the semifinals of the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 26-year-old Sloetjes, an opposite hitter for the Dutch national squad that reached the 2016 Rio Olympics semifinals, hit a crosscourt kill that decided the fate of the Vakifbank in their 71-minute long encounter.

Scoring a game-high 17 points

throughout the match, the 6’3” Sloetjes, who was adjudged Best Opposite Hitter of the Rio Games, sent the match into a 23-all deadlock and brought VakifBank closer to match point.

An error by Thai spiker Wilavan Ayinapong and teammate

Kimberly Hill’s drop shot then handed Vakifbank the match point and a 2-0 led in the match which they eventually won 3-0.

It was team skipper Kirdar Gozde’s turn to shine in the third set as the 5’10” wing spiker hit four of her 11 points to help push Vakifbank out of a 16-all deadlock with a 7-0 run off her crosscourt spikes.

An ace from Melis Durul then handed Vakifbank a 23-16 spread.

VakifBank coach Giovanni Guidetti commended the Thais for putting up a good fight.

“Everytime I play a team from Thailand, I know it’s very fascinating how they play volleyball at this level without enough centimeters (height) compared to others. They played incredible vol-

leyball,” said Guidetti.

Vakifbank finished Pool B with two wins and one loss and entered the semifinals with Volero Zurich.

Earlier, Rykliuk Olesia led the way with 30 points as Volero Zurich survived a five-set match with VakifBank Istanbul, 2522, 27-25, 16-25, 12-15, 16-14, to sweep their three-game assignment in Pool B. Defending champion Eczasibasi VitrA Istanbul fought off a hard-fighting Rexona Sesc Rio de Janeiro to post a 25-27, 25-19, 2225, 25-18, 15-11, victory and set a semis clash with VakifBank.

Pomi Casalmaggiore scored their second victory and formally made the next round with

their 25-19, 25-15, 25-21 win over hosts PSL-F2 Logistics Manila, and moved to a semis showdown with Volero Zurich.

Pomi’s defense allowed them to move ahead 14-4 lead in the first set before PSL-F2 Logistics’ American reinforcement Lindsay Stalzer came into the picture on the defensive end.

PSL-F2 still winless after two games in Pool A, was playing Eczasibasi VitrA Istanbul as of press time last night. They will then battle Hisamitsu Springs Kobe in the fight for fifth to eighth places.

“Whatever the result of this tournament would be, this is good for Philippine volleyball,” said PSL-F2 coach Moro Branislav.

Barredo rolls into semifinals TOP seed Sarah Joy Barredo continued to dish out her best form and dismantled Jochelle Alvarez, 21-13, 21-14, to arrange a semifinal showdown with fellow PBA Smash Pilipinas bet Angelique Ramos in the Open women’s singles of the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the CW Home Depot Ortigas in Pasig, yesterday.

Barredo unloaded smashes and complemented her solid attacking game with superb defense to ease out Alvarez in 30 minutes and move two wins from retaining the crown she won over Nicole Albo in last year’s staging of the annual topranking tournament sponsored

by Bingo Bonanza.

But she expects a tougher challenge from Ramos, who dominated fourth seed Charmane Salvador, 21-9, 21-7, in the Last 16 then held off Mika Aquino, 21-16, 21-15, to seal a

duel with Barredo.

But focus will be on the other two semifinalists in the lower half of the draw as UP’s Malvinne Alcala and Bianca Carlos of Ateneo sustained their hot charge to force an interesting duel for the other finals slot in the P1.5 million championship backed by official equipment Victor PCOME and SM Megamall, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Alcala, who used to dominate local badminton in her junior years, booted out second seed Mariya Sevilla, 21-11, 19-21, 216, in the Last 16 late Thursday then routed Jellene De Vera, 2110, 21-12, to set up a Final Four duel with Carlos.

Not to be outdone, Carlos, a former national champion, also upended third seed Albo, 21-16, 21-10, in the second round then toppled Golden Shuttle Foundation’s Mikaela Joy de Guzman,

21-19, 21-10, in the quarters.

That should make today’s matches worth watching as action shifts to SM Megamall for the semis and the finals tomorrow, which also features top notch matches in the men’s singles, the men’s and women’s doubles and the mixed doubles.

Rod Pedrosa of PBA Smash survived a fierce challenge from Alem Palmares, rebounding from an opening set loss and wearing down his tough National U rival to eke out a 17-21, 21-18, 21-19, to clinch the first semis seat in the men’s singles of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by president Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Others disputing the three other Final Four seats are top seed Kevin Cudiamat against Clarence Filart, Orlan Ticala against Solomon Padiz Jr., and R-Jay Ormilla versus Freel Gabuelo.

Vargas may run for POC president BOXING chief Ricky Vargas is still deciding whether to run for president of the Philippine Olympic Committee or not.

The president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is consulting the different heads of national sports associations and discussing the coming POC polls on Nov. 25.

Vargas emerged as a top candidate after Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta changed his mind about his bid to challenge equestrian chief Jose “Peping” Cojuangco who will bid to retain the presidency of the

POC for a fourth term.

Araneta told Manila Standard that he wants to give way to Vargas.

He will only come into the picture if Vargas is not running, and if no one else will.

According to the Vargas camp, the ABAP head will finalize his decision by Monday, the deadline for the filing of candidacy.

This will be done in consultation with a number of NSA heads who are involved in a movement for change.

Vargas will back out, according to people involved with ABAP, if NSA chiefs want the status quo to remain. Peter Atencio

Rod Pedrosa reaches out for a return shot to Alem Palmares en route to completing a come-from-behind three-set win for a berth in the men’s singles semis.

Transformers eye SVL semis playoff CUSTOMS and Pocari Sweat clash today in a duel of fancied bets with the Transformers seeking at least a playoff for the last semifinal berth and the Lady Warriors out to step up their own Final Four drive in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The match set at 6 p.m. will be Alyssa Valdez’s first against Michelle Gumabao and company since the Lady Warriors eased out the former’s BaliPure squad in the semifinals of the Open Conference.

Pocari Sweat won the crown on its very first try with the Lady Warriors all primed for a crack at another championship in the seasonending conference of the league

Games today

12:30 p.m. – Army vs Champion (S Turf) 4 p.m. – UP vs Bali Pure (V-League) 6 p.m. – Pocari vs Customs (V-League)

sponsored by Shakey’s.

But they’ll be taking on a firedup Valdez and her new team Customs, guaranteeing a fierce, noholds-barred encounter between two squads, which also boast of a talented pair of reinforcements.

The match will be aired live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 or 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com and via streaming on www.v-league,ph.

Valdez, the league’s leading scorer with 92 hits in four games, has the

Thai tandem of Kanjana Kuthaisong and setter Natthanicha Jaisaen to lean on and a solid local crew led by Rose Marie Vargas, Lilet Mabbayad, Rizza Mandapat and Pau Soriano.

The Transformers ended the UST Tigresses’ four-game run with a 2517, 26-24, 25-21 romp last week for a 3-1 card and a win away from assuring themselves of a playoff for the last semis seat.

Pocari Sweat, on the other hand, totes a 2-1 and in joint third with another title contender BaliPure. The Lady Warriors are also hoping to ride the momentum of their back-to-back wins over the Coast Guard and UP after dropping their opening game to the Air Force Jet Spikers.

THE defending champion Far Eastern University Tamaraws face a big challenge within the team when they meet the University of the Philippine Fighting Maroons at 2 p.m. today in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Complacency is now the Tams’ biggest concern after they beat the University of Santo Tomas Growlng Tigers, 59-48.

And battling the team’s inner demons will be an issue which the Tams will also face when they seek their eighth win in 10 games.

“My question for them during halftime was, ‘What is your objective for today’s game? Do you just want to be ahead of the team or do you want to be your best today?” said Tams coach Nash Racela.

The Maroons are coming off a 72-78 loss to the La Salle Green Archers, who are ahead of the Tams with 10 straight wins.

UP is looking for a fourth victory in 11 matches, and a chance to move into contention for the Final Four semifinals.

Later, the Adamson Falcons (4-5) take on University of the East at 2 p.m.

Against UST, Joe Trinidad led FEU with 16 points.

On the other hand, the Falcons are out to bounce back from a 66-70 loss to the Maroons. Peter Atencio

Piccio targets LPGA MIA Piccio closed out with three birdies in the last six holes at the front to fire a two-under 70 at the Bobcat course for joint 25th at the start of the LPGA and Symetra Tour Qualifying School-Stage II at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida, Thursday.

Piccio looked headed for a tough day when she fumbled with three straight birdies from No. 13, negating her six-foot birdie on No. 11. But the Symetra Tour campaigner birdied the 18th, stumbled with a bogey on the first but fought back with birdies on Nos. 4, 6 and 9 to get back into the thick of things.

The ICTSI-backed bet stood just three strokes off Americans Kathleen Ekey and Beth Allen and Australian Hannah Green, who all shot 67s, in the 72-hole eliminations held at two venues where the top 80 players from a field of 193 will advance to the Final Stage set Nov. 28-Dec. 4.

Princess Superal, who placed joint second in Stage I in California, also sputtered at the back of the Panther layout that saw her bogey Nos. 13, 17 and 18 after birdying the 12th. But the former US Girls’ Junior champion and F Siblings and PB Farms-backed pro rebounded with birdies on Nos. 1 and 4, reeled back with back-toback bogeys from No. 6 but holed out with a birdie on the par-5 ninth to save a 35-38 and a 73.

She fell to joint 58th with 23 others, including Filipina amateur Regan de Guzman, who eagled the ninth of Panther course to salvage a 36-37, which featured three birdies against six bogeys.

Dottie Ardina, who made a strong finish at the close of the Symetra Tour season, and Cyna Rodriguez, who had a so-so debut in the LPGA Tour, have clinched spots in 90-hole Stage III slated at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, also in Florida.

Over in Malaysia, Miguel Tabuena rallied with a 69 from an opening 73 but still lay 12 shots behind Justin Thomas of the US halfway through the CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur.

Chinese steel firm to invest $700m

B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

B1

Economy to survive anti-US rhetorics

By Julito G. Rada

WORLD FOOD DAY. Officials of the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations renew their commitment to join the fight against hunger during the closing program for the World Food Day 2016 celebration held on October 14, 2016 at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. The annual celebration, which started in 1945, calls for the unified struggle of mankind against hunger and malnutrition. It is observed every 16th of October, coinciding with the founding anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing OCTOBER 21, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,650.22 63.10

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing OCTOBER 21, 2016 43.00 44.00 45.00

P48.330

46.00

CLOSE

48.00

HIGH P48.170 LOW P48.340 AVERAGE P48.284 VOLUME 779.350M

P427-P632.00 LPG/11-kg tank P34.95-P44.65 Unleaded Gasoline

OPRICES IL TODAY

P26.80-P30.15 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, October 21, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0410

Japan

Yen

0.009621

0.4622

UK

Pound

1.225400

58.8694

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128899

6.1924

Switzerland

Franc

1.007760

48.4138

Canada

Dollar

0.755972

36.3177

Singapore

Dollar

0.718494

34.5172

Australia

Dollar

0.762400

36.6265

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655055

127.5515

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266716

12.8133

Brunei

Dollar

0.715922

34.3936

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028596

1.3738

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.0809

Euro

Euro

1.093200

52.5184

Korea

Won

0.000885

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.148243

7.1217

India

Rupee

0.014966

0.7190

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239177

11.4903

New Zealand

Dollar

0.718800

34.5319

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031663

1.5211 Source: PDS Bridge

PH, China sign $24b worth of agreements

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Philippines signed $24 billion worth of agreements as President Rodrigo Duterte concluded his three-day state visit to China.

“Proposed investments went up to $15 billion and $9 billion worth of credit facilities opened. New joint projects that are of private... nature are added,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a report.

He noted the Philippines delegation attended several official meetings with Chinese leaders and participated in investment forumss.

“In meeting the top leaders and business community in China, what I see is a positive move towards re-strengthening ties with Asian neighbors which historically have been our economic and trading partners for centuries. The highly successful meetings

with top leaders of China have led to greater confidence in the future economic relationship of our two countries,” he said.

He said the President had established good rapport with Asian leaders in Laos, Indonesia, Brunei and China and that the chief executive would visit other Asian countries as well.

Lopez said the Philippines had regained friendships and opened deeper commitments to enhance economic, trade and investment ties, and reaffirmed the vision of regional economic integration.

The Philippines announced $13.5 billion worth of investments and agreements with China, which could translate into about 2 million jobs.

The investments will be in manufacturing, agribusiness, trade finance, hotels, telecommunications, tourism, transportation, economic zones, industrial parks and infrastructure.

Chinese investments to the Philippines stood at $32 million in 2015 compared with

$130 billion in total global investments.

Latest data show that China is the Philippines’ second major trading partner with $17 billion in total trade.

Philippine exports to China reach $6 billion in 2015.

The trade ministries of both countries are set to meet on January 2017 to work on the details of the program. China suspended bilateral meetings with the Philippines five years ago.

China also announced that President Xi Jinping ordered the lifting of suspension on 20 banana and six mango exporters to China.

“The President’s visit was seen as a symbol of renewing old friendship and breaking the sea of barrier. It is moving to a sea of peace and friendship. Because of this, we see more opportunities for the Philippines,” Lopez said.

The Philippines and China also signed agreements on financing development projects and funding the Philippines’ “war on drugs.” With Gabrielle H. Binaday

ERC may move deadline for open access scheme

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Department may extend the deadline for the mandatory implementation of retail competition and open access scheduled in December following the recent favorable ruling of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in a resolution dated October 10, ruled in favor of the regulator enjoining Manila Electric Co. and the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City Branch 157 from continuing proceedings on the injunction granted by the lower court to the power distributor.

“We confirm the recent issuance by the Supreme Court of a temporary restraining order stopping the Regional Trial Court of Pasig from enforcing an injunction order the latter issued against the implementation of the retail competition and open access system,” ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar told reporters.

Meralco, meanwhile, disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange it received the copy of the order, but said “the TRO is not expected to have any effect on the distribution business of Meralco as its distribution charg-

es are not in issue in this case.”

Meralco earlier obtained a TRO from the Pasig RTC in June, enjoining the DoE from implementing and enforcing the retail competition and open access directive.

Meralco has said it is not required to obtain a retail electricity suppliers license from the ERC as it is already included in the franchise.

ERC and DOE, however, elevated the case to the Supreme Court.

“For its retail electricity supply business segment, Meralco is now required to obtain a li-

cense from the ERC to operate as a DU (distribution utility) affiliated RES (retail electricity supplier) since the assailed DOE (Department of Energy) and ERC issuances prohibits DUs from engaging in the supply business as local RES,” Meralco said.

Salazar said the issuance of the TRO by the Supreme Court was a welcome development and “clears the way for the full implementation by the ERC of its recently-promulgated rules on RCOA, especially those that pertain to mandatory contestabilty

by December 2016.

TransCo seeks to extend feed-in tariff application STATE-OWNED National Transmission Corp. has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to extend its 2017 feed-in tariff allowance filing with the Energy Regulatory Commission.

ERC spokesman Rexie Digal said TransCo made a second request for extension to file the FIT-Allowance, the uniform charge in the power bills used to pay renewable energy developers.

Digal said TransCo was supposed to file every July and sought an extension to October 31. It asked for another onemonth extension.

“The second request is for one-month extension from October 31 which the ERC has not replied to,” Digal said.

TransCo plans to include P4 billion worth of under-recovery from consumers as part of its feed-in tariff allowance application for 2017.

Dina Dizon, who heads TransCo’s feed-in tariff team earlier said the P4 billion will be used to pay renewable energy developers that were granted by ERC feed-in tariff, an incentive that guarantees a fixed rate to renewable energy technologies over a 20-year period.

TransCo manages the feed-in tariff allowance fund (Fit-All) that is used to pay qualified renewable energy developers.

The official conceded that TransCo had been delayed in its payment to developers by about five to six months.

Alena Mae S. Flores

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo expressed optimism the Philippines economy will continue to grow even if the Philippines indeed severs economic and military ties with long-time ally the United States.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday told the Filipino community in Beijing during his four-day visit that it was time “to say goodbye, my friend”—referring to Washington, Manila’s ally of 70 years.

“The US and the Philippines have a long history of economic and military ties. We’ll have to wait until the government is able to provide us with greater details on how this will be translated into policies,” Guinigundo said.

“I think it is also important to note that one, our macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong and our sources of economic growth have diversified.

Not only external trade but also domestic demand especially in the last few years—consumption, public spending, investments,” he said.

Guinigundo said the Philippines’ trade had diversified, adding intra-Asean trade also expanded in recent years, with more non-traditional markets tapped and free trade agreements signed. “... So that is where we are coming from. [But] it is too premature to comment on the implications of the statements of the President,” he said.

The economy grew 6.9 percent in the first half, which is near the upper bound of the government’s official target range of 6 percent to 7 percent this year, driven mainly by election-related spending, higher public expenditures and robust domestic demand.

IN BRIEF PH Air Asia adds Singapore flight

THE Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’ largest budget carrier has expanded its Cebu hub with direct flights to Singapore.

“The addition of the CebuSingapore route enables us to strengthen our Cebu hub and further connect Cebuanos to our Asean neighbors,” Philippines Air Asia chief executive Dexter Comendador, said.

PAA is the local unit of Malaysia’s Air Asia.

“Cebu is emerging as the fastest growing air hub outside Metro Manila and we are here to connect Cebu to Singapore, Taipei, Korea, Malaysia and onto to AirAsia Group’s massive network of over 120 destinations across Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East and Africa while providing only the best quality service and products,” Comendador said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Old banknotes dwindling—BSP

BPI GLOBE ASSISTANCE. BPI Globe BanKO will provide technical and financial assistance to micro, small and medium enterprise-clients of Negosyo Centers, including financial wellness seminars, access to financial services, and present the benefits of taking up a business loan to expand businesses. Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (second from left) shakes hands with Ma. Josephine Velasco (second from right), assistant vice president for BPI Globe BanKO, after the signing of an agreement. With them are Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development director Jerry Clavesillas of the Trade Department (left) and Ronald Inciong, senior manager of BPI Globe BanKO.

THE number of old banknotes circulating in the financial system as of September this year declined more than 50 percent compared to the start of 2015 due to the ongoing demonetization

by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

At the start of 2015, 711.7 million pieces of New Design Series notes valued at P184.3 billion were in circulation. But latest Bangko Sentral data showed that 305.4 million pieces of the old banknotes valued at P26.1 billion remained in the system as of endSeptember 2016.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a briefing Wednesday the number would further decline before the year ended.

“By end of December 2016, we would be able to reduce the number of old banknotes [circulating in the financial system],” Guinigundo said. Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market falls; Bloomberry up S tocks fell for a second day, bucking the gains in other Asian markets, as investors assess the impact of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of “separation from the US.”

“I announce my separation from the US,” Duterte said to a packed room of business leaders in Beijing after meeting with President Xi Jinping. He said the separation from the US would be both military and economic, without elaborating.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, dropped 63 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 7,650.22 Friday. Despite the loss, it was still up 10 percent this year.

The heavier index, repre-

senting all shares, also fell 18 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,518.11, on a value turnover of P7 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 85, while 46 issues were unchanged.

All six sectors ended in the red, while nine of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which climbed 7.6 percent to P5.81 and Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. which advanced 6.1 percent to P1.22.

Meanwhile, other Asian markets traded higher Friday as

investors broadly welcomed the European Central Bank’s announcement that it would maintain the size and scope of its bond-buying program.

Players were closely watching to see if ECB chief Mario Draghi would hint at an extension—or a winding down—of the drip feed stimulus, with growth and inflation still lackluster.

But Draghi said Thursday the ECB probably won’t stop its asset buying in the near term, at least not, abruptly.

European markets took some heart from the lack of an immediate policy change, with Frankfurt and Paris closing up 0.52 percent and 0.44 percent respectively.

London meanwhile finished the day little different, up a mere 0.07 percent.

Tokyo rose Friday morning, building on the six-month high it reached the day before.

The Nikkei was up 0.29 percent at the break, lifted by a weakening yen, a plus for shares of Japan’s exporters as it boosts their profitability.

Shanghai was up 0.35 percent but Sydney was down 0.09 percent.

Asia’s positive start to the day stood in contrast to the US, where retreating oil prices and some disappointing company earnings hit sentiment.

Investors are still focused on what the US central bank will do with its interest rate later this year.

“There’s no shortage of things that will generate volatility,” Mark Lister, head of private

wealth research at Craigs Investment Partners in Wellington, told Bloomberg.

“But unless something comes out of left field, the Fed will hike in December and that means the economy is on a solid footing and that’s positive.”

Topix-listed Nintendo plunged Friday as investors gave the thumbs down to its long-awaited new console.

The game maker’s shares dived 5.3 percent to 25,520 yen as markets reacted to a preview trailer for a console seen as key to its business, as it competes with Sony’s hugely popular PlayStation 4.

Markets in Hong Kong were closed for the morning session as Typhoon Haima bore down on the city. With AFP, Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIAL 3.58 2,000 47.7 9,700 104.1 1,716,200 3.73 11,000 112 2,039,410 1.4 96,000 37.9 1,048,000 16.2 14,000 19.98 1,063,500 0.68 2,000 1.9 1,000 665 180 0.83 30,887,000 86.95 3,076,260 14.2 172,500 57.7 89,030 260 920 153 2,300 99.95 30 37 80,900 226 1,507,510 1,490 10 75.2 480 1.42 80,000

6,970 462,280 178,689,392 42,630 231,131,513 129,100 39,721,410 228,420 21,227,299 1,360 1,900 120,200 26,402,010 266,365,573.50 2,449,500 5,158,027.50 239,250 353,656 2,936.50 2,993,710 344,824,516 14,900 36,096 113,600

443,240 59,738,931 27,486,531 27,500 2,739,838 673,800 -27,639,256 2,449,500 1,580,619.50 1,439,275 -93,556,564 22,560 -

45.3 3.66 0.91 1.46 15.5 89.2 11.44 16.88 23.4 195 60.5 99.5 2.1 6.69 12.28 11.18 7.29 7.35 5.9 1.84 23.25 70.5 12.5 16.52 6.05 2.02 246 75 3.9 30.9 28.05 15.6 288 0.245 3.05 10.52 11.48 2.15 5.86 1.49 3.6 215.2 4.2 3.24 0.146 1.72 183.5 4.58 2.15 1.19

INDUSTRIAL 45.95 513,100 3.84 2,760,000 1.02 12,011,000 1.48 566,000 15.5 300 113.8 14,060 11.6 8,748,200 17 5,154,000 23.5 280,200 200 120 62 38,740 100 890 2.14 109,000 6.69 952,700 12.36 22,200 11.5 5,153,300 7.6 1,046,300 7.35 1,495,200 5.93 6,302,400 1.87 45,000 23.25 2,822,300 70.6 550,850 12.5 1,600 16.6 351,900 6.1 5,594,100 2.05 785,000 247 179,150 87.8 5,360 4.02 52,000 30.9 10,794,300 28.5 120,800 15.94 4,925,900 291.2 244,130 0.25 500,000 3.08 90,000 10.74 2,396,400 11.5 3,700 2.16 734,000 5.88 1,964,000 1.54 152,000 3.62 145,000 222 480 4.21 2,439,000 3.24 20,000 0.148 620,000 1.76 625,000 184 848,470 4.58 30,000 2.18 4,237,000 1.19 27,000

23,531,020 10,352,370 11,947,600 833,650 4,678 1,397,414 100,866,062 87,671,740 6,574,895 23,450 2,356,322.50 88,900 230,360 6,617,953 273,172 59,066,520 7,823,942 10,990,163 37,382,992 84,350 65,749,440 38,864,271.50 20,000 5,831,288 34,112,799 1,595,050 44,359,872 445,693.50 205,800 334,573,160 3,436,535 79,247,910 70,829,258 123,100 277,050 25,563,546 42,526 1,591,700 11,525,672 230,360 525,340 105,520 10,243,910 64,800 90,990 1,093,030 156,181,090 137,400 9,172,300 32,130

4,085,190 -36,090 -22,634,282 3,317,510 405,646.50 -481,285 33,592,500 -1,649,368 -9,991,864 -20,116,315 -31,351,040 -35,552,658 5,287,262 2,637,495 30,943,552 26,358 22,899,215 -2,062,690 -3,144,370 -36,067,070 144,550 16,018,966 -98,100 -8,575,676 22,600 206,520 0 2,960 5,112,104 -160,130 -

0.385 79.25 15.48 1.29 6.11 0.34 859.5 8.48 13.6 8.19 0.211 1,440 79.75 0.82 8.2 15.5 7.25 0.037 1.95 2.53 80.5 2.26 699.5 0.93 1.21 234.8 0.305 0.2 0.27

0.365 77 15.26 1.19 5.99 0.33 855 8.4 13.12 8 0.209 1,391 78.2 0.79 8.07 15.02 7.15 0.037 1.92 2.52 80.2 2.25 695 0.87 1.19 234 0.305 0.193 0.265

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 1,010,000 78.1 1,224,390 15.28 2,561,900 1.28 54,000 5.99 58,100 0.34 290,000 858 88,180 8.45 1,182,200 13.34 6,637,900 8.13 1,076,800 0.211 20,000 1,420 35,105 78.9 2,700,910 0.8 87,000 8.2 1,774,100 15.5 1,958,300 7.18 10,995,600 0.037 4,100,000 1.93 55,000 2.53 22,000 80.3 127,090 2.25 10,000 697 380,080 0.93 58,000 1.21 30,000 234.8 12,630 0.305 550,000 0.2 130,000 0.265 60,000

381,600 95,612,366 39,295,110 67,050 348,306 95,850 75,548,305 9,983,203 89,038,412 8,761,779 4,200 49,948,150 213,123,676 70,390 14,527,273 30,060,114 79,096,696 151,700 106,720 55,640 10,206,625 22,510 264,928,810 52,160 36,010 2,961,968 167,750 25,180 16,100

-9,074,315 7,440,400 -15,425,345 -4,878,499 -10,846,726 -35,640 26,413,160 37,214,611 2,608,272 -6,565,940 10,804,783 -5,117,355.50 112,541,010 -

7.28 1.17 6.7 2.41 0.28 38.1 2.96 5.15 0.61 1.15 0.154 0.68 55.95 0.74 1.82 0.99 1.11 4.34 0.176 0.27 0.415 3.48 36.35 31.4 1.6 3.3 28.7 1.04

7.21 1.11 6.7 2.38 0.27 37.65 2.89 5.12 0.59 1.12 0.151 0.66 54.5 0.74 1.76 0.98 1.07 4.26 0.166 0.255 0.415 3.38 36.35 30.4 1.58 3.3 28.2 1.02

580,359 2,506,380 3,350 754,230 500,700 257,841,910 28,673,590 32,774 2,176,000 202,940 362,160 8,554,370 8,303,618 222,000 18,714,230 1,728,180 1,702,100 137,659,730 5,061,390 18,300 12,450 1,218,660 25,445 47,409,070 73,460 56,100 190,387,120 1,395,570

252,029 5,517,635 -543,040 -316,800 896,112.50 2,964,610 -327,010 69,714,040 -68,800 -34,800 -2,771,830 16,000 39,783,720 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

3.39 47.6 104.5 3.89 115.1 1.26 37.95 16.18 19.66 0.68 1.9 670 0.82 86.8 14.2 57.9 260 151.2 96.85 37 230 1,490 75.2 1.42

3.58 47.7 104.5 3.89 115.1 1.41 38 16.5 20.05 0.68 1.9 670 0.9 87 14.2 58.9 265 154 99.95 37.05 236 1,490 75.2 1.42

3.39 47.6 103.5 3.73 112 1.26 37.9 16.16 19.66 0.68 1.9 665 0.81 86 14.2 56.7 260 151.2 96.85 36.9 226 1,490 75.2 1.42

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

46.15 3.79 0.91 1.5 15.5 100.2 11.7 16.98 23.4 195 60.5 100 2.1 7.01 12.28 11.4 7.29 7.36 5.96 1.84 23.75 70.95 12.5 16.54 6.12 2.04 248.2 80 4.05 31 28.4 15.84 290.6 0.245 3.05 10.56 11.48 2.2 5.86 1.49 3.68 215.2 4.2 3.24 0.148 1.72 186 4.58 2.21 1.19

46.6 3.85 1.04 1.51 15.78 114 11.7 17.14 23.5 200 62 100 2.14 7.2 12.36 11.56 7.74 7.38 5.96 1.89 23.75 70.95 12.5 16.62 6.13 2.05 252 93.5 4.05 31.2 28.5 16.4 291.2 0.25 3.1 10.74 11.5 2.2 5.88 1.54 3.7 222 4.21 3.24 0.148 1.78 186 4.58 2.21 1.19

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

0.375 79.2 15.48 1.29 6.11 0.33 858 8.43 13.56 8 0.209 1,440 79.75 0.79 8.07 15.34 7.21 0.037 1.92 2.52 80.5 2.26 697.5 0.89 1.2 234 0.305 0.194 0.27

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND

7.21 1.16 6.7 2.41 0.27 38.1 2.91 5.12 0.61 1.15 0.153 0.68 55.95 0.74 1.79 0.99 1.1 4.32 0.172 0.255 0.415 3.48 36.35 30.4 1.58 3.3 28.65 1.03

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.98 5.13

0.99 5.3

0.98 5.11

0.98 5.3

103,000 6,794,800

101,160 35,643,627

9,900 4,952,464

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LIBERTY TELECOM MANILA JOCKEY MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.65 48 1.36 0.51 0.061 5.3 5.41 0.085 3.18 107.1 10 6.65 2.97 956 1,930 6.24 13.56 2.07 16.32 77.3 0.0092 11 9.2 0.219 1.45 3.32 13.3 5.2 2.03 2 4.13 5.01 23.7 3.18 11.42 5.4 2.53 137.5 8.86 1,666 1.08 0.4 43.1 78.8 5.75 2.88 0.79 3.26 0.34

7.7 48.3 1.41 0.52 0.065 5.3 5.92 0.086 3.19 109 10.1 6.77 2.97 956 1,955 6.25 13.86 2.07 17.28 78.2 0.0092 11.8 9.2 0.22 1.5 3.45 13.3 5.29 2.15 2 4.48 5.01 25.6 3.18 11.5 5.5 2.53 149.5 9.07 1,666 1.15 0.405 43.4 81 5.91 2.92 0.8 3.45 0.355

7.64 48 1.28 0.51 0.054 5.3 5.41 0.084 3.09 107.1 10 6.6 2.85 956 1,873 6.18 13.5 1.99 16.32 76 0.0092 11 9.15 0.21 1.45 3.32 13.3 5.15 2.01 2 4.13 4.91 22.5 3.08 11.4 5.3 2.53 137.5 8.74 1,638 1.07 0.4 43 78.8 5.67 2.87 0.76 3.26 0.32

SERVICES 7.65 48 1.35 0.52 0.054 5.3 5.79 0.084 3.1 108 10 6.7 2.85 956 1,892 6.18 13.5 2.03 16.52 76.1 0.0092 11.8 9.2 0.213 1.48 3.44 13.3 5.25 2.09 2 4.38 4.96 23.35 3.08 11.4 5.3 2.53 149.5 9 1,645 1.14 0.4 43.1 81 5.7 2.88 0.78 3.4 0.355

229,200 7,900 33,000 218,000 681,730,000 3,200 68,220,300 38,490,000 1,993,000 1,045,300 1,400 1,567,000 4,000 250 230,005 151,200 106,500 4,380,000 9,600 741,560 3,000,000 3,300 498,000 23,550,000 1,161,000 82,000 100 584,600 487,000 10,000 27,184,000 10,983,900 5,800 1,784,000 28,300 11,600 3,000 770 986,100 143,965 71,056,000 470,000 1,680,700 1,236,990 1,017,100 1,259,000 19,562,000 3,281,000 450,000

1,755,328 379,490 45,690 113,180 39,986,030 16,960 391,805,457 3,250,200 6,201,940 112,934,838 14,010 10,493,218 11,540 239,000 437,903,435 937,273 1,443,484 8,891,630 159,916 57,502,106 27,600 36,540 4,580,600 5,034,100 1,715,080 277,190 1,330 3,052,599 1,026,130 20,000 118,482,880 54,235,796 139,780 5,543,870 323,816 63,040 7,590 109,439 8,827,741 237,298,360 79,908,430 189,000 72,518,805 99,800,926.50 5,812,678 3,632,980 15,256,640 11,080,210 147,750

53,600 927,000 119,784,452 84,000 149,560 28,731,962 -16,124,810 -122,008 -28,215,911.50 624,310 -4,366,660 4,299,945 -261,800 23,000 2,602 -105,911 -24,520,365 1,336,940 -18,065,060 50,635,749 454,790 7,076,270 -1,153,650 -

NICKEL ASIA FERRONICKEL SEMIRARA MINING PX MINING ATLAS MINING BASIC ENERGY MARCVENTURES GEOGRACE LEPANTO B PXP ENERGY ATOK APEX MINING ABRA MINING BENGUET A BENGUET B COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES LEPANTO A MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA UNITED PARAGON ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL TA PETROLEUM

7.4 1.2 126.4 8.14 4.22 0.203 1.66 0.265 0.205 4.05 10.5 3 0.0036 2.15 2.08 0.39 0.58 8.03 0.198 0.011 0.011 2.86 0.88 0.0091 0.011 0.011 0.012 3.31

7.42 1.28 126.8 8.26 4.26 0.203 1.75 0.28 0.205 4.15 10.5 3 0.0036 2.15 2.08 0.4 0.58 8.28 0.201 0.011 0.012 2.86 0.93 0.0095 0.011 0.011 0.013 3.31

6.87 1.19 125 8.14 4.04 0.203 1.57 0.26 0.198 3.87 10.5 2.9 0.0035 2.15 2.08 0.39 0.57 8 0.197 0.011 0.011 2.79 0.88 0.009 0.011 0.011 0.012 3.31

MINING & OIL 6.87 52,513,200 1.21 262,399,000 125.5 482,310 8.14 810,700 4.16 1,049,000 0.203 340,000 1.6 1,601,000 0.275 130,000 0.205 1,010,000 3.88 11,614,000 10.5 200 2.9 138,000 0.0035 336,000,000 2.15 1,000 2.08 69,000 0.4 450,000 0.57 296,000 8.2 36,100 0.197 6,710,000 0.011 1,200,000 0.012 276,900,000 2.85 59,000 0.92 152,000 0.0095 21,000,000 0.011 17,300,000 0.011 200,000 0.013 13,900,000 3.31 41,000

363,170,101 322,167,210 60,693,830 6,638,793 4,442,630 69,020 2,642,490 34,650 205,890 45,882,720 2,100 409,180 1,180,000 2,150 143,520 178,150 169,900 289,138 1,325,650 13,200 3,187,700 167,580 139,450 191,500 190,300 2,200 167,700 135,710

-52,228,673 -11,766,490 -5,785,207 -728,203 -110,100 -69,020 -16,900 -2,800 2,050 1,634,870 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

48 529 535 103.4 103.8 116 521 6.01 109 1,091 1,021 112 77 81 76.3 77.5 79 79 78

48 529 535 103.5 103.8 116 521 6.01 109 1,091 1,021 112 77 82 76.3 77.5 79 79 78

47.95 529 525 103.3 103.8 116 521 6 109 1,091 1,020 112 77 81 76.1 77.5 79 79 78

PREFERRED 48 170,000 529 4,000 535 7,520 103.5 172,580 103.8 390 116 11,660 521 100 6 160,000 109 600 1,091 1,440 1,020 155 112 20,000 77 5,000 82 26,620 76.1 20,000 77.5 2,000 79 1,000 79 12,500 78 30

8,159,375 2,116,000 3,983,200 17,861,911 40,482 1,352,560 52,100 960,195 65,400 1,571,040 158,175 2,240,000 385,000 2,157,720 1,523,175 155,000 79,000 987,500 2,340

-8,154,575 -2,116,000 -3,170,000 79,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.39

2.51

2.38

WARRANTS 2.45 974,000

2,387,860

-

234,310 27,810 24,155,916

8,240 3,876,364

1,078,618

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.24 1.15 6.7 2.4 0.28 37.75 2.92 5.15 0.59 1.12 0.151 0.66 55.75 0.74 1.82 0.99 1.08 4.28 0.17 0.27 0.415 3.39 36.35 31 1.6 3.3 28.35 1.03

80,300 2,211,000 500 315,000 1,810,000 6,830,800 9,759,000 6,400 3,643,000 181,000 2,390,000 12,872,000 150,110 300,000 10,392,000 1,746,000 1,565,000 31,992,000 29,920,000 70,000 30,000 356,000 700 1,534,900 46,000 17,000 6,683,500 1,360,000

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

4.25 3.08 12.36

4.25 3.1 12.5

4.12 3.08 12.18

FIRST METRO ETF

126.3

126.8

126.1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

43,580,242

INDUSTRIAL

87,664,466

HOLDING FIRMS

37,379,435

PROPERTY

133,347,010

SERVICES

971,001,577

MINING & OIL

1,007,207,544

GRAND TOTAL

2,282,209,904

4.12 3.09 12.3

SME

56,000 9,000 1,956,100

EXCHANGE TRADE FUNDS 126.8 8,530

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission slapped Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc. with a fine of P346,000 for failing to disclose the reassignment of its frequencies.

SEC’s market securities regulations department officerin-charge Emma Valencia said in a letter to Liberty Telecoms the company failed to timely disclose the reassignment of the 723-738/778-793 megahertz and 2555-2595 MHz from Tori Spectrum Telecom to Bell Telecommunications Inc., which was approved by the National Telecommunications Commission on March 17, 2015.

Liberty Telecoms’ explanation that the reassignment of frequencies was never disclosed because it considered it a “soft information” was without merit, according to SEC. SEC said there was already an approval from the NTC regarding the plan which could affect investors’ decision in relation to Liberty Telecoms’ securities.

Liberty Telecoms, now owned by PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom after they acquired parent firm Vega Telecom from San Miguel Corp., said the board had no personal knowledge of the matter because the new board was formed on Aug. 18, 2016.

“After carefully evaluating the company’s response, MSRD finds the company’s explanation without merit due to the fact that this is a corporate liability and on the basis that the company should be made liable for all its corporate acts, notwithstanding that there was a change in management in accordance with the principle of business continuity and succession,” SEC said.

DD allots P6.6b for new hotels

VALUE 1,833.27 -1.02 1,314,102,119.37 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,835.5 -0.35 1,305,669,611.808 HOLDING FIRMS 7,725.59 -0.46 996,107,905.46 PROPERTY 3,397.46 -1.09 1,474.9 -0.05 769,819,085.265 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,425.51 -0.79 1,814,836,951.13 PSEI 7,650.22 -0.82 813,876,972.1574 All Shares Index 4,518.11 -0.41 7,039,909,299.19 Gainers: 85 Losers: 103; Unchanged: 46; Total: 234

Liberty penalized P346,000

-18.82 -41.92 -35.7 -37.46 -0.79 -90.53 -63.1 -18.79

DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. said it will spend P6.6 billion to accelerate the expansion of JinJiang Inn across the Philippines.

DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange unit Hotel of Asia Inc. planned to build 2,000 JinJiang Inn hotel rooms by 2020, from initial target of 1,000 rooms.

The property firm said this accelerated expansion goal was in line with the expected surge in Chinese business activities and tourists in the Philippines.

“JinJiang Inn is one of the largest hotel chains in China, and we are excited to further grow the brand to support the expected influx of the Chinese guests and tourists to the Philippines,” said DoubleDragon chairman Edgar “Injap” Sia II. The company is looking at expanding in 20 key areas such as Quezon City, Manila, Boracay, Cavite, Baguio City, Tagaytay City, Subic, Roxas City, Clark, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Bacolod City, Dumaguete City, Bohol, Palawan, Cagayan De Oro City, Davao City and Zamboanga City.

“We believe that the hospitality industry will continue to be one of the fastest growing segments in the county and it is an ideal way for us to increase our leasable portfolio in line with our focus of creating recurring revenue backed by appreciating assets,” Sia said.

HOA is the exclusive master franchisee of JinJiang Inn in the Philippines. It was only this month that DoubleDragon completed the majority acquisition of HOA. HOA will serve as DoubleDragon’s hospitality arm.

Aside from Jinjiang Inn, Hotel of Asia also operates Hotel 101 in the Bay Area near Mall of Asia in Pasay City and Injap Tower Hotel in Iloilo City.

It will soon add another 608 rooms to its portfolio with the development of Hotel 101Fort in Bonifacio Global City.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

B3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Chinese steel firm to invest $700m

C

HINA’S Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co. agreed to consider setting up a stainless steel plant in the Philippines that could cost as much as $700 million, as part of a wider push to boost trade and economic ties between the two countries.

BEST THRIFT BANK. RCBC Savings Bank, the retail banking arm of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., is declared the Best Paying Thrift Bank in

this year’s Balikat ng Bayan Awards. The Social Security System’s Balikat ng Bayan Awards honors individuals, corporations, and institutions that contribute to the SSS’s pursuit of a viable social security system that protects its members. Receiving the award for RCBC Savings Bank during the ceremony are RSB president Rommel Latinazo and RSB first vice president for product sales and support, Guilberto Benedicto. They are joined by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, SSS chairman Juan Santos and SSS president and CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr.

Salceda cites benefits of pivot to China THE Philippines’ current pivot to China concerns trade and not aids, with $18 billion in export deals, $6 billion in foreign direct investments, some $10 billion in ODA loans for railways and the prospect of about 3 million tourists, and modern technology for renewable energy.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda aired this perspective, saying President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to China, at the invitation

by Chinese President Xi Jinping, was hailed by many as a game changing pivot in trade and investment.

A noted economist, Salceda said in a recent TV interview China was officially listed as third largest trading partner of the Philippines with about $17-billion investment in the

country, next to Asean with $18 billion and Japan as the largest with $21 billion. Contrary to common perceptions, he said the US came only as the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner, with $16 billion in investments despite long alliances.

If informal trading is considered, China emerges as the Philippine’s largest partner, with about $32 billion, and such massive trade relations do not benefit from protection nor promotion, Salceda said.

He added that trading between the Philippines and China concerned mostly undeclared and under-valued commodities, resulting in trade imbalance of $5 billion annually ($11 billion import and $6 billion export) that should be rectified, between

the $17-billion official and the $12-billion informal trades.

Salceda said a stronger bilateral relations with China, more like the existing Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, could easily yield an additional P72 billion in import VAT from “smuggled goods,” the undeclared and under declared commodities.

The Philippines, he added, could further benefit under stronger economic ties, since trade restructuring would require China investments in the Philippines, amid resident investments amounting to $6 billion in China.

“The Philippines needs China’s capacity for infrastructure, especially in the transport and power sectors for railways development and renewable ener-

gy, respectively, and its advance technology for agriculture and manufacturing. The railways loan could be secured through the official development assistance,” he Salceda said.

Tourism is another industry that the two countries could exploit, through bilateral agreements, with China’s 500 million tourists, only some 432,000 of which came to the Philippines in 2015, he said.

Citing experiences when he was Albay governor and when he opened the Xiamen—Albay international flight, Salceda said Chinese tourists trooped in droves to his province at a rate of some 30,000 persons a month, with so much purchasing power, buying local items by the dozen.

The state-owned firm will look at various resources projects in the Southeast Asian nation under a memorandum of understanding signed with Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc., the Philippine producer said in a stock exchange filing on Friday. Under the deal, signed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to China, Baiyin may also provide trade financing to Global Ferronickel’s Ipilan mine in Palawan province, it said.

“We recognize the importance of promoting close cooperation with China to spur economic growth in the country,” Global Ferronickel chairman Joseph Sy said in a separate statement.

“We see Baiyin as a strong partner who will play a vital role with us in creating greater value added in the nickel value chain.”

Global Ferronickel jumped as much as 8.7 percent on the Philippine Stock Exchange after a one-hour trading halt. Other miners including Marcventures Holdings Inc. have expressed

interest in expanding their operations to nickel processing with Chinese partners, as Duterte looks to forge closer ties and replace the longstanding alliance with the US. The stainless steel plant would cost $500 million to $700 million, with an annual capacity of 1 million metric tons using ore from the Philippines, according to Global Ferronickel, the nation’s second-biggest producer. The potential investment comes amid an environmental audit instigated by Duterte that threatens to shutter some nickel mines, which are the biggest suppliers of ore to China’s stainless steel industry.

The two companies are seeking to “promote closer industrial and commercial cooperation” given China’s large and growing demand for the ore used in stainless steel, coins, rechargeable batteries and special alloys, according to the statement. China is the world’s largest nickel user, accounting for about half of total consumption. Bloomberg

SPC meets 10% float

SPC Power Corp. has asked the Philippine Stock Exchange to lift the suspension of trading of its shares after complying with the minimum 10 percent public ownership rule.

SPC disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange its mini-

mum public ownership float is now at 11.74 percent, up from 9.74 percent in end-September.

SPC said the sale of shares of Intrepid Holdings Inc., a principal shareholder of listed SPC Power, had materialized.

Alena Mae S. Flores

BAT bids El Niño suspected as world wine production declines $47b for control of Reynolds LONDON―British American Tobacco said Friday it had launched a $47-billion bid for control of rival Reynolds American, eyeing rapid expansion into US and emerging markets and e-cigarettes.

The deal, worth the equivalent of 43 billion euros, would create the world’s largest listed tobacco company by net turnover and operating profit, BAT said in a statement.

BAT said the move would give it “a leading position in the US tobacco market” and “a significant presence in high growth emerging markets across South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, together with the most attractive developed markets”.

The blockbuster proposal would bring together BAT brands Dunhill, Kent and Lucky Strike cigarettes with Reynolds American’s Camel and Newport.

The combined group would have a “world class pipeline” of so-called next generation products, like e-cigarettes, in a fastgrowing part of the market.

Most global tobacco firms are looking to emerging markets to offset sliding demand in Western Europe, where high taxes, public smoking bans and health concerns have persuaded many people to give up.

At the same time, in recent years there has been rapid growth in e-cigarettes, which are battery powered devices that heat a nicotine liquid.

The cash-and-shares offer would see BAT purchase the 57.8-percent of Reynolds American that it does not already own. AFP

PARIS―Global wine production in 2016 is expected to be among the lowest in 20 years, an industry body said Thursday, suggesting climatic events such as El Niño could be to blame.

The International Organization of Vine and Wine estimated this year’s output at 259 million hectoliters (Mhl; there are 100 liters in a hectoliter), a year-onyear drop of five percent.

This worldwide annual total, released at a news conference in Paris, is among the three lowest since 2000.

OIV said weather was partly to blame. “The El Niño climate phenomenon seems to be back in Latin America, where production was affected by fairly exceptional weather, with lots of rain,” said IOV’s CEO, JeanMarie Aurand.

The El Niño weather phenomenon, which occurs every four to five years, affects rainfall patterns and causes both drought and flooding.

As it recedes the Pacific cooling trend known as La Niña typically begins, often causing increased rainfall, storms and snow across the globe.

Most of the fall in wine output

occurred in the southern hemisphere: Argentina’s production fell by 35 percent to 8.8 Mhl, leading its world ranking to drop from fifth to ninth place.

In Chile it fell by 21 percent, to 10.1 Mhl, and in Brazil it halved, to 1.4 Mhl. A prolonged drought in South Africa pushed production there below 10 Mhl for the first time since 2011, to 9.1 Mhl, a drop of 19 percent.

Aurand noted that grapevines are able to adapt to extreme conditions, pointing out they are found on the volcanic rocks of Lanzarote in Spain as well as cold areas such as northern China.

China climbed the global output ranks to sixth place without actually increasing its production (11.5 Mhl) thanks to the drops in Latin America, said Aurand, adding that China planned to boost output to 16 Mhl by 2020 by developing vineyards near the Gobi desert.

In Europe, Italy confirmed its place as the leading world producer with 48.8 Mhl, having knocked France off the top spot in 2015.

France came in second with 41.9 Mhl, following a sharp fall

This file photo taken on March 15, 2008 shows grapes of Merlot at Caliterra vineyard in Santa Cruz, epicenter of the Colchagua valley, some 160 km south from Santiago. The world’s overall wine production is forecast to hit 259 million hectoliters for the 2016 harvest, declining by 5 percent compared to 2015, mainly due to weather challenges. AFP

of 12 percent attributed to frost, floods and drought.

Of the top three producing nations, the OIV expects only Spain to show growth in 2016, with a one-percent year-on-year

rise to 37.8 Mhl. The United States is fourth with 22.5 Mhl, a rise of two percent, and Australia is the world’s fifthlargest producer after seeing five percent growth to 12.5 Mhl.

The OIV estimated that between eight and 12 percent of wine was produced organically in 2016 and that the trend was catching on “almost everywhere.” AFP

ECB keeps rates at record low; markets seek stimulus clues FRANKFURT, Germany―The European Central Bank kept its key interest rates at record lows at its policy meeting on Thursday, as calls grew for president Mario Draghi to shed light on his future stimulus plans.

The ECB’s governing council voted, as expected, to keep the benchmark “refi” refinancing rate at an all-time low of zero percent, a spokesman said.

It also held the rate on its marginal lending facility unchanged at 0.25 percent and the rate on the deposit facility steady at minus 0.40 percent―meaning banks have to pay to park their excess cash with the ECB. “The governing council continues to expect the key ECB interest rates to remain at present or lower levels for an extended period of time,” the ECB said in a state-

ment.

Policymakers also made no changes to the ECB’s massive 80-billion-euro a month bondbuying scheme designed to encourage spending and investment.

“The governing council confirms that the monthly asset purchases of 80 billion euros are intended to run until the end of March 2017, or beyond, if necessary,” it said.

Attention now turns to Draghi’s press conference, where investors will be looking for clues about the bank’s next stimulus moves following speculation that it may wind down the so-called “quantitative easing” bond-buying scheme.

The ECB strongly denied the “tapering” report but markets were spooked nonetheless.

Faced with sluggish growth and

stubbornly low inflation, most analysts actually expect the ECB to extend its bond-buying scheme beyond its March deadline rather than end it.

“The bank remains under pressure to assure markets of its ability to do more,” analyst Jennifer McKeown of Capital Economics said. “Mr Draghi will at least want to allay fears of early tapering of asset purchases,” she added. AFP

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

Property Protect your home HARSH WEATHER FRIENDS. Juice up your abode before monsoon’s wrath hits. Use reputable house protection products like Hardieflex (e.g. eaves, planks and senepa) in areas where leaks start to become noticeable.

Interior lightweight and asbestos-free products can be used as flooring, ceiling and walls. These products should be resistant to moisture damage.

PAMPANGA GEM. Gateway Development Corporation (GGDC)

during the rainy season

P

REP your house—especially the exteriors—to withstand the challenges of the rainy season.

Check out these few steps that could make a difference:

Inspect, prepare the roof

Before the heavy rains come, the roof should be inspected at least twice a year. Repair, or replace cracked shingles and roof ridges, and look for rust and holes. If no one in the household can perform this biannual inspection, contact a professional.

Clean gutters regularly to ensure that the rainwater drains properly. Trim tree branches that hang over the roof to avoid leaves filling the gutters, and to prevent big branches falling on and severely damaging the house. Other unstable structures should also be cleared in the case of strong winds. Damaged eaves can also cause water to seep into the walls. If the eaves show yellow or brown spots, or are showing signs of sagging, it is time to replace them.

recently topped off two office buildings in Global Gateway Logistics City, adding 47,000 square meters of office space and 9,000 sqm of retail space in Pampanga”s Clark Freeport Zone. GGDC CEO Mark Williams said One West and Two West AeroPark buildings represent the first phase of the AeroPark Office Campus in the 177-hectare Global Gateway Logistics City (GGLC). The two buildings are LEED pre-certified gold, with a target to become platinum, as they were constructed to international green standards. LEED refers to the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) international green building rating system. “These 177 hectares of land will grow to create over 300,000 jobs, and will impact over 1.5 million Filipino lives,” said Williams. GGDC was founded by The Port Fund, a private equity fund managed by Kuwait firm KGL Investment Company (KGLI) whose investors largely consist of the shareholders of government entities of Kuwait, and other GCC countries.

Invest in exterior walls

The house’s exterior walls are constantly exposed to the elements. Hence, the need for topnotch protection.

Resist damage caused by moisture, fire, and termites by using fiber cement siding boards. These boards require less maintenance compared to wood siding.

Weatherproof interiors

Do a simple inspection of the ceilings, walls, and floors. Discolored walls and ceilings, paint bubbles, and dark spots mean that water is already entering the house. Moisture not only ruins the appearance of the house’s interiors, but can also affect appliances, furniture, other household items, and even the health of the residents.

Take precautions against floods

Living in a flood-prone area? Help keep floodwaters at bay by piling sandbags around the house. Move appliances, furniture, computers, documents, and other such items to a higher, or drier part of the house.

BRAKES ON AGGIE LAND CONVERSION SOUGHT. The Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines, Inc. (OSHDP) recently called on government to reconsider the proposed moratorium on agricultural land conversion, and set aside an draft Executive Order that will implement it. OSHDP said that food security can be best boosted through agricultural land productivity. It likewise noted that there is no reason for the drastic policy proposal: various data show that the total area of converted agricultural lands for the past 28 years (from 1988 to 2015) is a mere 1.22% of total agricultural lands in the country. Vice President Leni Robredo, who is also chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), met last week with officials of the OSHDP (See photo), to discuss the proposed moratorium; assess the impact of the proposed policy on the affected sectors; and consider alternatives, such as the strengthening of institutional mechanisms and procedures for land use conversion, prioritizing the passage of a national land use act, and increasing productivity of the country’s agricultural lands.

SPRUCING UP CALATAGAN. N.E.W. CHECKS OUT HOME DESIGNS. The Network for Enterprising Women (N.E.W.) recently organized a lecture about the best home/office design ideas. The event was part of the monthly get together of the NEW members. Carmela Dela Cruz of the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID) shared ideas on designing one’s own workspace at home with a dash of style and function. She likewise gave tips on how to choose designs for their home office, from choosing the right color palette and furniture. The event was held at the Songdream furniture store and showroom located at #275 Connecticut St. Greenhills, San Juan Metro Manila. Songdream furniture are modern, European inspired products, with simple and classical designs. To get updates from the latest events and gathering of the Network for Enterprising Women visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/newphils.

Landco Pacific Corporation recently signed an agreement with French hotel operator AccorHotels Group under the Novotel brand, to operate the former’s latest development, Novotel Calatagan beach resort, in Calatagan, Batangas. The beach resort will be the first international hotel chain in Batangas. It will be a 9-storey hotel building with 342 guest rooms featuring a nautical-inspired architectural concept designed by Pomeroy Studio, a Singapore-based firm. AccorHotels is a travel and lifestyle group offering unique experiences in more than 4,000 hotels, resorts and residences in 95 countries, as well as in over 2,500 of the finest private homes around the globe. At the signing (from left to right) were: Maurel Luzano, Landco business development manager; Maria Cristina Zuluaga, Landco EVP and COO; Erickson Manzano, Landco CEO; Venessa Koo, VP of development for AccorHotels; Elaine Liang, AccorHotels development analyst; and Adam Laker, AccorHotels general manager Philippines.

CENTER OF IT ALL. Eton Centris recently broke ground for the expansion of Centris Walk, its modern retail

courtyard, as well as its fifth office building in the development at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. Eton Centris, a 12-hectare complex, is at the heart of one of Quezon City’s premier convergence areas, integrating offices, retail complexes, restaurants, and an events venue.. To date, the development has a total of 4 buildings, providing 24/7 office solutions to BPO and IT companies, a lifestyle and commercial strip, and a twolevel transit-oriented mall. “The expansion of Centris Walk will enhance the existing promenade of dining choices, specialty shops, fitness studios, and fun family activities to offer more lifestyle options for everyone,” said Josefino Lucas, Eton Properties deputy COO.

LGUs

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

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MAMMALS. Local tourists shoot pictures while dolphin-watching in Bais, Negros Oriental. Teddy Pelaez

Colonial meets contemporary “P

OLOY,” the icon for the tourism program of the province of Antique, re-lives and remembers history and culture and proudly shares them with young locals and tourists.

“Poloy” invites our readers to join him in revisiting the historical towns of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique’s premiere and capital town and its neighboring municipality of Hamtic.

His first stop is the EBJ Freedom Park in the heart of San Jose de Buenavista where former governor and local hero Evelio Javier was shot down by six hooded men on Feb. 11, 1986. Thus the park

was named after him.

On that fateful day, Javier was waiting for the results of the canvass of votes during the Snap Presidential Election that pitted former strongman Ferdinand Marcos and former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.’s widow, Corazon, when six armed men, alighting from a jeep, opened fire at him.

He ran towards the stairs of the new capitol but, fearing that others may get hurt, he crisscrossed the plaza and fell into a pond, the

killers still in pursuit. He crossed the street and went inside a bathroom, were one of the men cornered him and finished him off.

Javier’s tragic death was mourned, not only by his beloved Antiqueños but by all Filipinos as well. It also awakened the minds and hearts of the Filipino people and in one big way led into the bloodless Edsa people power revolution that unseated Marcos and swore in Aquino. His bronze statue at the park, sculpted by

Ban aerial spraying Duterte urged

The Museo Antiqueño-EBJ Gallery is a room on the ground floor of the Old Capitol and showcases the “very life” of the Antiqueños, some of their artifacts, native gowns and other valuable things that any native may treasure. The EBJ Gallery preserves Evelio’s memorabilia—his letters, pictures, favorite shirts, favorite boots and other mementoes.

The nearby St. Joseph Cathedral was one of the two churches Turn to C2

Quezon City cuts mall sales to 2 days

By Rio N. Araja

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The city government is planning to ask President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order directing the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority to ban aerial spraying in Davao City.

The city has filed a motion for reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s en banc decision on the anti-aerial spraying ordinance of city on October 18, 15 days after the legal office received the en banc decision.

Attorney IV Enrique Bonocan said that since the SC held that the Sangguniang Panlungsod had no authority to ban aerial spraying as that power solely belongs to the FPA, which is under the Department of Agriculture, the President can issue an executive order banning it.

The anti-aerial spraying ordinance was created under the term of Duterte when he was still the mayor of Davao City.

Duterte was the leading oppositor to aerial spraying in the city.

The Supreme Court ruled the ordinance as ultra vires, which is defined as “beyond one’s legal power or authority.”

On August 16, the SC en banc struck down the city’s anti-aerial spraying ordinance as invalid and unconstitutional.

When asked by the media here to give comment on the SC’s decision, Duterte said he does not suggest the filing of a motion for recommendation.

A report of the city legal office through Bonocan said that Article 9 of the Watershed Code of Davao City prohibits aerial spraying only “in those identified by the ordinance as environmentally critical areas.”

National Artist Napoleon Abueva, seems to welcome visitors and Antiqueños into the heart of San Jose de Buenavista; Just across the Park is the Old Capitol, which was built during the American period. It now shelters the offices of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the vice governor, the provincial assessor, the Bureau of Deeds and the Museo AntiqueñoEBJ Gallery. The Antique Hall of Justice used this as its offices and chambers way back in the 1980s.

VALOR. Hundreds of Boys Scouts in Leyte joined the reenactment of the 72nd Signal day celebration at the seaside monument of Scout Valeriano Abello in Barangay Telegrapo, Tolosa, Leyte. Seventy two years ago, Abello’s bravery saved the town from being bombed and softened the Japanese position. Mel Caspe

THERE will be no more threeday midnight sales in big malls in Quezon City during the Christmas season.

Elmo San Diego, Department of Public Order and Safety head, said the Yuletide sales in big shopping malls will be strictly monitored, particularly in the issuance of permits.

City hall officials have agreed to the new rules that only two days shall be given to malls and department stores for the conduct of their Christmas bargain sales.

Mall owners and management must comply with the requirements of the city government for various permits, including a traffic plan before a mall sale can be allowed, San Diego said.

No two adjacent malls, such

as like SM-North and Ayala Land’s Tri-Noma can have the same mall sales schedule because it would create monstrous traffic in a two-day period.

Normally, malls conduct a three-day sale beyond their regular mall hours to accommodate more Christmas shoppers.

“We will strictly impose the issuance of permit for mall sales. Traffic would be a very big problem if malls would simultaneously conduct three-day sale,” San Diego said.

He called on mall owners and operators to field more security guards, particularly those who could help man traffic, during the period of sale and the rest of the holiday season for the smooth flow of traffic in mall premises and adjacent major thoroughfares.

‘Standard’ columnist heads Manila Observatory

ATENEO DE MANILA president Fr. Jose Villarin, chaiman of Manila Observatory board of trustees, has appointed Manila Standard columnist Antonio La Viña as its new head.

La Viña served as former senior fellow of the MO and dean of the Ateneo School of Government for 10 years. He also served as undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1996. After completing his law studies at the University of the Philippines, La Viña took up Masters of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science degrees at Yale University.

A co-founder the Legal Rights and Natural Resources CenterKasama sa Kalikasan, he replaced Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, who “steered the MO to become a leading global, Asian and national scientific institution for climate change and disaster science,” a media statement on his appointment said.

“We aim to help our local and national leaders make programs and policies that are science-based and evidence-based,” La Viña said. He said the MO can be a major role-player in the international scientific and policy governance effort on climate change, espe-

cially in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Science and policy must go hand-in-hand, especially since the Philippines has been identified as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the MO chief added.

The institution’s “sciencebased approach to sustainable development and poverty reduction” will also be translated to learning platforms that are more accessible to LGUs, educators and the public. “We want everyone to understand what the science is telling us,” La Viña said.

The MO, the first weather bureau of the Philippines, celebrated its 150th year of operation this year.

The observatory is a Jesuit scientific research institution with research work in the fields of atmospheric and earth science in the Philippines and the Southeast Asian region. It advocates a science-based approach to sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Inspired by Ignatian spirituality, MO is committed to a scientific culture in its regional and global context through research excellence in environmental and predisaster science particularly in the

La Viña

areas of atmospheric studies, solid earth dynamics, instrumentation, and applied geomatics.

Farmers, microfinanciers insured vs crop damage FARMERS will better hedge against crop damage by pests or natural disasters under the Binhi Crop Insurance Program launched by non-life insurer, CARD Pioneer Microinsurance Inc. The International Finance Corp. and the insurer conceived

the program to help farmers and micro finance institutions maintain crop insurance. Since the risks of the farmers are better protected, financial institutions can more confidently lend to them.

Geric Laude, CEO and presi-

dent of CPMI said “farmers will be able to pay back their loan even if their crops are damaged by typhoons or flood. We assist the crop insurance sector by fast and efficient claims settlement.”

Initially, the crop insurance will be offered to members of

CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions, and then it will reach out to as many as 200,000 farmers by end of 2018. After its pilot run, the program will be made available to other farmers and partners across the country.

Laude added that “the launch of Binhi Crop Insurance Program is consistent with our company’s mission to lend support to the country’s marginalized sector. In effect, by supporting their livelihood, we help farmers improve the quality of their lives.”

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

LGUs

Expand dengue vaccination–PFV T

HE Philippine Foundation for Vaccination recommended the continuation and expansion of the dengue vaccination program initiated by the Department of Health in April for public schools students nine years and older in the National Capital Region, Region III and Region IV-A.

The Philippines is the first vaccination program after more country to introduce a dengue than a decade of studies involv-

ing more than 30,000 children in 10 endemic countries proved the vaccine’s efficacy and safety.

In a statement, the foundation said their review of the program found that 67 percent of the targeted children were vaccinated. The adverse effects of the first dose were within the expected range and no safety concerns were noted, it said.

“Expansion of dengue vaccination to more areas in the Phil-

ippines will provide protection against dengue in children nine years and older who have been found to be most affected by dengue. There is a need for continuous surveillance of dengue as well as adverse events related to vaccination,” foundation president Cecilia Montalban said.

Dengue is a vector-borne infection symptomized by mild dengue fever to severe dengue

PH disaster Binay: Be responsible pet owners survivors By Joel E. Zurbano aid Haiti victims FILIPINO survivors of natural disasters in Tacloban and Cabanatuan cities have pooled their meager resources to help victims of Hurricane Matthew in southern Haiti, the Tzu Chi Foundation announced.

Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm, struck Haiti on October 4, wiping towns and villages off the map. It killed 1,000 people and left 1.4 million others in need of aid. The people of Haiti are faced with the daunting task of rebuilding as they bury their dead and confront a cholera outbreak.

On October 14-15, Tzu Chi volunteers sold for P100 sets of eight pieces of vegetarian dumplings “filled with love for the disaster victims as the ingredients—from the vegetables to the dumpling wrappers— came from the donations of kind-hearted individuals.”

Survivors of the 2013 earthquake in Bohol, Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in Tacloban City, and Typhoons “Lando” and “Nona” in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija all willingly gave what monetary contribution they could to help. Being disaster survivors themselves, they are well aware of the struggles that the hurricane victims in Haiti suffer.

All the proceeds of the sales will go to Tzu Chi’s relief fund for the hurricane survivors in Haiti.

“With a disaster this big, we need many people to contribute. Although Haiti is far away and we could not go there, we can still extend help in this way,” said Tzu Chi volunteer Lu Lee Ching, who led the project.

Across the country, Tzu Chi volunteers conducted donation drives.

Colonial...

From C1 (the other one is in Hamtic) the Augustinian friars built in 1766 after the one in Maybato was destroyed and burned by the Moro pirates. Modern-day parishioners have retouched this cathedral but one can still see remnants of the stones used in the old walls and the stairway going up to the convent. Bones of the departed “hermanas” and “hermanos” during the old days when Spain ruled the province are buried at the altar, alongside with those of the first bishop of the diocese of Antique, His Excellency Cornelius de Witt.

The latest addition to the beautiful cathedral is the Garden of Saints, where statues of some of the famous saints are erected.

Poloy’s next stop is the Javiers’ Old Residence at La Granja Hills.

Built in the early 1970s, this semiconcrete two-story house was Evelio’s home during his term as governor. Knowing him to be a “beyond-office-hours” governor, he would accommodate visitors and capitol employees in the wide terrace of this house even after 5 p.m. Here, they used to serve “mackerel parties.”

The house is set amidst fruit trees and ornamental plants which the late governor planted himself.

After his last term and before he and his family (wife Precious and two sons, Giddy and David) left for America (where he studied at Harvard) he transferred his Kabraw Library, which was first housed at the new capitol, to the house. His collection of books and

MAKATI Mayor Abby Binay today warned city residents to be responsible pet owners and keep their pet animals off the streets.

The mayor has directed the City Veterinary Services Office (MVSO) to step up its enforcement of City Ordinance 2009-009 or the Makati City Animal Regulation and Control Code, following several complaints from residents about stray animals causing unsafe and unsanitary conditions in their neighborhood.

“Let me remind pet owners that it is their responsibility to care for their pets and provide them proper shelter. If you allow your pet animals to roam the streets freely, you are not only putting them at risk, but are also endangering residents and the general public,” Binay said.

According to MVSO chief Dr. Ma. Katherina Mangahas, intensified operations to round up stray animals are being conducted by her office in the different barangays in District 1 and District 2.

From September 21 to Octo-

ber 12, MVSO personnel had caught eight stray dogs in Pio del Pilar, 16 in Poblacion, six in Rizal, eight in Pembo, 16 in Olympia, eight in South Cembo, five in Carmona, three in Kasilawan, one in Valenzuela, and one in San Antonio.

Aside from MVSO, the Makati Public Safety Department and the barangays are mandated to strictly implement the ordinance. They are deputized to confiscate animals under the provisions of said ordinance.

The Makati Police Department is also directed to assist said officials in the confiscation of stray animals.

Meanwhile, Mangahas reminded residents of the penalties imposed by the said ordinance on violators.

Section 3 of the ordinance requires all pet dogs, cats and other animals to be licensed and registered with the City and Barangay Animal Registries. It also sets the maximum number of pets—two adult dogs and three adult cats per household, unless a conditional permit will be granted by the City Animal Registrar. Its other provisions include minimum size

guidelines for kennels and cages, both individual and shared.

First-time violators of Section 3 will be fined P1,000 and required to register the animal, or submit it for neutering and pay 50 percent of the registration fee.

For the second offense, P1,500 fine and registration of the animal; third offense, P2,000 fine and confiscation of the animal.

Under Section 4, pet owners are obliged to have their pets inoculated by a licensed veterinarian. Vaccination shall be valid for one year from the date of inoculation. Violators of this provision will be fined P1,000 and required to submit their pet for vaccination on the first offense. The second offense and third offenses still carry the latter penalty, but the fine will be raised to P1,500 and P2,000, respectively.

Violators of Sections 6 (wild and endangered animals) and 12 (quarantine of rabid animals) will be fined P500 and their pets confiscated on the first offense, P1,000 fine and confiscation of the animal on the second offense, and P2,000 fine and confiscation of the animal on the third offense.

hemorrhagic shock that could potentially lead to death. The illness imposes a heavy financial burden on the health sector and the public, particularly during outbreaks.

Combined with environmental sanitation, vector control and public health education, the vaccine against dengue has been found to be safe and efficacious.

Lulu Bravo, the foundation’s

executive director, called for intensive information, education and communication on the importance of dengue vaccination and other preventive measures.

The statement said the foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization to protect and advocate the promotion of vaccination as essential to disease prevention, especially among infants and children.

BILLBOARD

HERO. Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and Army Infantry Lt. Col Allan Jose Taguba lead the 72nd Signal Day celebration at the seaside monument of Scout Valeriano Abello in Barangay Telegrapo, Tolosa, Leyte. Abello’s bravery saved the town from bombing and softened the Japanese position. Mel Caspe

PEARL ANNIVERSARY. The New San Jose Builders, known for

the Philippine Arena and the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar seaside resort, marked its 30th year at Victoria Sports on October 15, led by its chairman and founder, Jose Acuzar (second from left).

BLOWOUT. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Education Secretary John Magno (second from right)

and Gawad Kalinga New Initiatives head Mark Lawrence (right) hold up the memorandum of agreement implementing the central kitchen approach in delivering a school-based feeding program for 11,300 students in Bongao in Tawi-Tawi, Jolo in Sulu, Lamitan in Basilan, Taraka in Lanao del Sur and Upi and Parang in Maguindanao. Omar Mangorsi

best sellers is still intact in this old residence.

Turning a corner from Javier’s house, Poloy reaches the Binirayan Stadium/sports complex, one of Evelio’s dream projects which came into fruition with the help of government officials, students and private individuals. This was an example of where Dagyaw comes handy.

The Binirayan Sports Complex was carved out of a hill named La Granja.

Going back to the EBJ Freedom Park, there is an old street called Gobierno that symbolized the seat of government even during the Spanish times. Some of the interesting places on this street include The Façade; The Satertuate Residence (ruins); the Gella-Azurin Mansion; The Gabaldon Pillars and the Old Spanish Parola.

The façade is what remains of the governor’s mansion (behind the New Capitol) and displays early Spanish architecture particularly in its balconies that “spread out” into the street.

The Satertuate were the Americans who were among the passengers of the S/S Thomas and became teachers during the early days of the American occupation; The Gella-Azurin Mansion is the last “bahay-na-bato” still used as a residence. Estimated to be 200 years old, it was purchased by a Dr. Azurin, son-inlaw of then-governor Vicente Gella in 1936 when it was said to be 120 years old. This means it was built around 1825.

During the Japanese occupa-

tion, all the big stone houses in the area were bombed and only the Gella-Azurin Mansion was spared. It was used as an infirmary or a hospital during the war. The floor tiles are still intact and the blocks of stones used as its foundation still holds up the whole structure. The greatgrandson of the owner, Alex Azurin, tells stories of “remnants” of three periods that this “bahay-na-bato” lived through.

He and his brothers and sisters were born and grew up in this big stone house.

The old Gabaldon Pillars in Baybay Elementary School, or the old San Jose Central School, could still be seen in this oldest grade school in Antique built in 1901. Underneath it was the Japanese tunnel that went out into the sea, which was used as a hiding place during the Japanese occupation.

The Old Spanish Parola by the shore of Barangay 4 was used as “palngat” by the fishermen and sailors that passed by San Jose waters. After a tiresome day, one can relax and watch the sunset from this point.

Seven kilometers away from the San Jose Poblacion is the biggest barangay in the municipality—Barangay San Pedro. It is the site of the Lumang Simbahan, the ruins of the Church built by the Augustinian missionaries during the Spanish times.

Its roof was burned when the priest’s pet monkey played with matches and from then on, it has remained unfinished.

It was only in 1998 when Fr. Jose Glicerio Geremia was as-

signed to the parish of San Pedro. Geremia tried to restore the spiritual value of this historical landmark. Architect Harold Tating, a former tourism officer of Antique, and his sister Katherine Tating-Marsden led the beautifying the interior of the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

It was on Feb. 11, 2002, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day for the Sick when Antique Bishop Romulo dela Cruz said Mass and blessed the grotto inside the old church, now called Lumang Simbahan. A “sepulchre” for the Dead Christ used every Good Friday was added in the right wing of the Old Church and the Shrine of the Divine Mercy with statues of St. Faustina, Pope John Paul II and the Divine Mercy image of the Lord Jesus Christ was laid out in the west wing. Both are perfect venues for meditation and prayers and for garden weddings, too.

Going south from the poblacion of San Jose is the barangay known as “Tubigon” or swampy, but there was one part that hardened and was deemed ideal for the construction of a building.

This was the part where the Augustinian friars built the very first church in “Hantique.” It was a very big church made of blocks of stones called “sillera” which were mined in Mexico.

This was brought into the shore of nearby Malandog River by big galleons that used to trade with the natives. Because of this big stone church, “Tubigon” was known all over the “province” and even beyond it to Cagay-

URGENT. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman Jose Jorge

Corpuz (seventh from left) and general manager Alexander Balutan (fifth from left) turn over 29 ambulance units for Camarines Sur district and community hospitals to Gov. Migz Villafuerte (eighth from left) and other officials at the PCSO office in Mandaluyong City.

ancillo and Cuyo Islands and Palawan. They would refer to the place as “sa may bato nga simbahan” and in time it became known as “Maybato.”

Unluckily, the big stone church was attacked by Moro pirates who destroyed its walls and burned its roofs. The pirates carted away the big bronze bell.

But they had not sailed farther than 100 meters when the ship they were riding began to sink and witnesses related that even while the boat sank, they could hear the ringing of the bell.

Afraid that the pirates might come back, the people, led by the priests, “retreated” to a higher place north of Tubigon. They named this place “Buenavista” because of the beautiful scenery that can be viewed from that hill.

They consecrated the place to St. Joseph, the husband of Mother Mary, thus the name “San Jose de Buenavista” was conceived.

The Augustinians left the destroyed stone church and built two churches in San Jose—the present St. Joseph Cathedral and the one in Hamtic. Vines began to grow on the ruined stone walls of Maybato. It reminds visitors of the “abuy-abuy kang Kristyanismo sa Antique”—the Kiniray-a phrase for “cradle of Christianity in Antique.”

Poloy then crossed the big bridge from Barangay Maybato to Barangay Malandog, which is part of the town of Hamtic.

Malandog is the oldest barangay in the Philippines because this was where the 10 Bornean Datus established their first settlement sometime in 1212, after

discovering that this was a place of abundance of root crops and marine products.

This is the starting point for the Binirayan Festival, celebrated every December, where the Barter in Panay and the early Malay settlement is reenacted by local performers.

A few kilometers from Barangay Malandog is the town proper of Hamtic where the old Hamtic chapel used during the Spanish days stands. This was converted into a present-day cemetery.

Old folks tell that this was an old church actually, one of the two churches built by the Augustinians after the big stone church in Barangay Maybato was destroyed by Moro pirates but was retouched by the present-day parishioners for the commemoration of the 400 years of Christianity in Antique since 1581. The patron of this Church is Sta. Monica and her image is believed to be miraculous, particularly when novenas for erring husbands and ill-behaved sons are said.

Seen in the plaza or the square of the town of Hamtic is the statue of General Leandro Fullon, the commanding general of all Filipino forces in the Visayas during the revolution against Spain. Fullon was born in Hamtic on March 13, 1877.

Fullon triumphed against the Spaniards but surrendered to the American forces on March 22, 1901 and became the first appointed provincial governor of Antique.

He died at the young age of 27 and his remains lie in the Gen. Leandro Fullon National Shrine. PNA

Manila

World Police protests continue in Paris PARIS―Hundreds of police have taken to the streets of Paris for a third night of demonstrations calling for reinforcements and stiffer penalties following a string of attacks on officers.

Protests also took place in other French cities on Thursday night despite the government’s efforts to contain growing anger among police as the issue of safety of law enforcement officers enters the presidential race.

Around 500 officers, most dressed in civilian clothes and some with their faces partly covered, protested near the Eiffel Tower.

“Police officers need recognition,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls said earlier Thursday.

“They are loved by the French people, and not only since Charlie,” he added, referring to an outpouring of sympathy for police following the attack last year on the Charlie Hebdo magazine.

The execution-style killing of a police officer during the assault by two extremists became one of the emblematic images of the tragedy, the first in a string of Islamist-inspired attacks that have shocked France.

“I call for calm and peace and I say to the police officers of France that they can count on my support, my solidarity, my understanding and my commitment,” Valls said.

With security at its highest possible level, officers have been up in arms over attacks on police during patrols in tough suburbs and during street demonstrations.

On October 8, a 28-year-old officer suffered serious burns when he was attacked with a petrol bomb on the outskirts of the capital. He remains in a coma.

Police unions, which have already met with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, are demanding a meeting with President Francois Hollande and calling for fixed minimum sentences for attacks on the police. AFP

Standard

TODAY

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

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Trump booed as he, Clinton trade barbs N

EW YORK―Taking a break from the nastiest campaign in recent memory, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton came together Thursday for a New York white-tie soiree intended to bring some levity just weeks before the November 8 vote.

The candidates shared some laughs but several of Trump’s jokes turned sour and drew boos at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a fund-raiser for Catholic charities that is normally one of the more lighthearted events on the presidential campaign calendar.

Seated on either side of Cardinal Timothy Doland of New York at the swank Waldorf-Astoria hotel, the presidential hopefuls took turns making jests about themselves and each other, just one night after pummeling each other in a bruising final presidential debate.

Trump’s attempts at humor mostly lacked the self-deprecation. And on one of the few instances that he tried to get laughs

at his own expense, the brunt of the joke fell on his wife Melania.

“Michelle Obama gives a speech and everyone loves it. It’s fantastic,” he said.

“My wife Melania gives the exact same speech and people get on her case!”

The reference was to a speech Melania gave in which she appropriated inspirational words spoken by Michelle Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.

“She took a lot of abuse,” Trump said as his Slovenian ex-model wife stood for the crowd. “Oh, I’m in trouble when I go home tonight.”

As he hit his monologue’s home stretch Trump’s jokes grew darker, drawing cascading boos at a dinner intended to raise

money for needy children.

Trump traded punchlines for caustic barbs aimed at Clinton’s hacked emails, calling the Democratic candidate “corrupt.”

“Hillary believes it’s vital to deceive the people by having one public policy, and a totally different policy in private,” he said.

“Here she is in public, pretending not to hate Catholics,” he said.

“I don’t know who they’re angry at, Hillary, you or I,” Trump said in an attempt to brush off the ensuing flurry of boos from New York’s elite.

In a nod to tradition, Clinton began her speech with a light dig at herself.

“I took a break from my rigorous nap schedule to be here,” the Democrat said, alluding to the many times Trump has mocked her for supposedly lacking stamina.

“You’re lucky,” she told the audience, “usually I charge a lot for speeches like this,” referring to the astronomi-

cal speaking fees the Clintons charged after leaving office.

She then turned to her opponent: “Donald, if at any time you don’t like what I’m saying, feel free to stand up and shout, ‘wrong!’ while I’m talking.”

Clinton later slung a zinger at Trump’s penchant for judging women harshly based on their appearance, envisioning how Trump might rank the Statue of Liberty.

“People look at the Statue of Liberty and they see a proud symbol of our history as a nation of immigrants, a beacon of hope around the world,” she said.

“Donald looks at the Statue of Liberty and sees a four.”

In another dig, Clinton referenced Trump’s discomfort with teleprompters: “I’m sure it’s even harder when you’re translating from the original Russian.”

Some 1,500 well-heeled invitees each paid at least $3,000 to attend the gala, which raised approximately $6 million. AFP

‘HAIMA’S FURY. People are sprayed by water from a crashing wave as they stand next to a coastal barrier as Typhoon ‘Haima’ approaches Hong Kong on October 21, 2016, during a typhoon signal eight warning. AFP

Outdoor school for the poor in Islamabad ISLAMABAD―In the corner of a pristine park in an upmarket district of Islamabad, an open-air classroom run by an aging rescue worker offers a beacon of hope to the city’s poorest.

For the past 30 years, “Master” Muhammad Ayub, whose day job includes defusing bombs and putting out fires, has cycled from his office to the makeshift school to teach children from surrounding slums for free.

There are no walls, no roof and no chairs―and students dutifully rise to move en masse as the sun makes its way across the sky―it is their only source of lighting so they must follow it.

In a country where education is underfunded and 24 million children remain out of school, grey-haired Ayub, 58, is hailed as a hero for providing his charges with hope for a better future.

“I was rescued from the darkness of illiteracy by an angel in the shape of Master Ayub when I was nine and collecting firewood,” Farhat Abbas, now 20, said.

Abbas now assists Ayub with classes while he studies for a bachelors degree at a local university.

Such testimonies are common among the thousands of children who attended the school, many of whom have taken up jobs in the government and businesses that would have been otherwise been out of reach.

The story of Master Ayub’s school began in 1986 when he moved to the recently-built capital from the sleepy agricultural town of Mandi Bahauddin.

With its wide boulevards arranged in a grid, stunning views of the Margalla hills and impressive monuments, Islamabad was a world away from the young man’s hometown.

But, he recalls, “when I arrived, I was puzzled to see small children working in the streets, begging or cleaning cars or selling flowers and I wondered how come they have to do this in a posh capital city”.

One day he came across a boy washing cars in at the market place and asked him why he wasn’t in school.

“I asked him if wanted to study and he said ‘yes’. Right there I gave him a notebook, a book, a pencil and an eraser and started teaching him,” said Ayub, a high school graduate himself who left college before finishing his degree. AFP

Typhoon batters Hong Kong HONG KONG―The usually frenetic streets of Hong Kong were deserted Friday as the city was battered by Typhoon Haima after the storm left a trail of death and damage in the Philippines.

More than 700 flights in and out of Hong Kong were canceled or delayed, roads were clear of cars and sidewalks empty, with schools and offices shut as the storm passed east of the city and hit southern mainland China.

Trading on the city’s stock exchange was also canceled for the day.

As Haima swept past Hong Kong in the early afternoon, trees were felled by winds, and waves crashed over coastal roads.

At 2:00 pm (0600 GMT) Haima’s center was 110 kilometers to the northeast of Hong Kong as the storm made landfall near Shanwei in China’s southern Guangdong province, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.

The observatory issued a Number 8 storm signal Friday―the third-highest warning level.

“As the western part of Haima’s eye wall is rather close to Hong Kong, gales will affect the territory for some time,” the observatory said.

It warned the public to stay away from the shoreline due to rough seas, but many residents turned storm watchers.

In the western neighborhood of Kennedy Town people laughed and joked as they were soaked by waves.

“I’m from Nepal and I used to live by a lake.

I like playing with the water. I’m not afraid of the water,” said one resident who gave his name as Raju.

Others jogged, fished and practiced tai chi as the storm rolled in.

Rain poured down into the early afternoon and wind gusted up to 105 kilometers per hour.

Ferry services including the city’s famous cross-harbor Star Ferry were canceled.

Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific said it expected “significant disruptions” to its flights between 11:00 am and 10:00 pm (0300 GMT to 1400 GMT) Friday. AFP

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION National Ecology Center Compound, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Philippines Tel. Nos.: 373-3275 or 988-3367 loc. 3209 Website:www.denr.ncr.gov.ph

REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR SALE OF CUT LOGS/TRUNKS “AS-IS WHERE-IS BASIS” BID NUMBER

: DENR-NCR 2016-001

DESCRIPTION

: Assorted species of cut logs and trunks (Narra, Acacia, Mahogany, Sampaloc, Mango Etc.), with an estimated volume of Four Hundred Ten (410) cubic meters “Talaksan Method” at assessed price of PhP350.00 per cubic meter.

MINIMUM BID PRICE : One Hundred Sixty (PhP160,000.00) Pesos.

Thousand

BID OPENING DATE : October 25, 2016 BID OPENING TIME : 10:00 o’clock in the morning LOCATION

: DENR-NCR Production Nursery, North Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

The DENR-NCR is seeking bids to sell the confiscated assorted species of cut logs and trunks as describe above. The bids should be addressed to: DIR. SOFIO B. QUINTANA, Ph.D, CESO IV. Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services and Chairman, Regional Bids and Awards Committee Office of the Assistant Regional Director, Technical Services DENR-NCR Building, National Ecology Center Compound, East Avenue, Quezon City The envelope should be clearly marked “BID DOCUMENTS FOR LOGS”. Said bids will be opened in public in the 4th Floor, Conference Hall, DENR-NCR Building, National Ecology Center Compound, East Avenue, Quezon City at the time specified above.

Bids will not be accepted if received after the date and time noted above 10 October 2016.

WAR ZONE. An Iraqi man walks as smokes billows in the distance in the Qayyarah area, some 60 kilometres south of Mosul, on October 20, 2016, during a government forces operation to retake the last major Islamic State group stronghold in Iraq. AFP

DIR. SOFIO B. QUINTANA, Ph.D, CESO IV. Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services and Chairman, Regional Bids and Awards Committee (MS-OCT. 22, 2016)

C4

Reports: S. Africa to pull out of ICC

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

World CLASH. A man runs from riot police as human rights activists and indigenous peasants, demonstrating against the fatal shooting earlier this week of a rural leader championing peasants’ rights in a long-running violent struggle over land, clash with the security forces in the surroundings of the Public Ministry in Tegucigalpa.

JOHANNESBURG―South Africa will withdraw from the Hague-based International Criminal Court, media reports in Johannesburg said Friday, sparking rapid criticism from rights bodies.

A document confirming the withdrawal plan, signed by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, was published by public broadcaster SABC’s United Nations correspondent.

The “Instrument of Withdrawal” letter said South Africa “found that its obligations with respect to the peaceful resolution of conflicts at times are incompatible with the interpretation given by the International Criminal Court”.

The decision follows a dispute last year when South Africa allowed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to visit the country for an African Union summit, despite him facing an arrest warrant from the ICC. South Africa said he had immunity as the head of a member state.

The ICC wants Bashir arrested for alleged war crimes related to the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.

South Africa’s proposed withdrawal “shows startling disregard for justice from a country long seen as a global leader on accountability for victims of the gravest crimes,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement. AFP

Staying put in Aleppo A

LEPPO― The United Nations hopes to carry out the first medical evacuations from Aleppo on Friday, if a “humanitarian pause” in the Syrian army’s Russianbacked assault on the city holds.

Despite a drop in violence after the unilateral ceasefire took effect on Thursday, there was little sign civilians were heeding calls to leave opposition-held areas of the city, and Russia accused the rebels of intimidation.

The unilateral ceasefire was initially described as lasting just 11 hours, but Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced late Thursday that it would be extended “by 24 hours,” leaving it unclear exactly when it will end.

East Aleppo, which the rebels captured in 2012, has been under siege by the army since mid-July and has faced devastating bombardment by the government and its ally Russia since the launch of an offensive to retake the whole city on September 22.

Nearly 500 people have been killed, more than a quarter of them children, since the assault began. More than 2,000 civilians have been wounded.

The scale of the casualties has prompted outrage in the West, with Washington saying the bombardment amounted to a possible war crime.

Russia announced a halt to its air strikes from Tuesday and the unilateral ceasefire from Thursday.

The Syrian army has opened eight corridors across the front line for the more than 250,000 civilians in rebel-held areas to leave but so far almost none have taken up the offer.

“There has been no movement in the corridors in the eastern district. For the moment,

we haven’t seen any movement of residents or fighters,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

An AFP correspondent on the government-held side of one crossing in the Bustan al-Qasr district also reported no movement at all early on Friday.

He reported just eight people passing through it on Thursday.

There has been no air or artillery bombardment of east Aleppo since the ceasefire began but sporadic clashes have continued on the front line, some of them near the evacuation corridors.

The Observatory reported overnight skirmishes on the front line in the Old City and in al-Zahraa district.

UN humanitarian task force chief Jan Ege-

land said that Russia, the Syrian government, and rebels had given permission for medical evacuations to start on Friday, adding that the UN also hopes to deliver food to the besieged east.

No UN aid convoy has entered Aleppo since July 7 and food rations will run out by the end of October, UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned on Thursday.

The United Nations has been criticized by the Syrian opposition for focusing more on enabling people to leave than providing relief supplies to allow them to stay.

A joint statement from the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army said UN policy “is flawed, and instead of preventing forced displacement, it plays into the Assad regime’s plans to empty Aleppo.” AFP

In Italy, a passion for truffles ALBA, Italy―”It is not a job. It’s a passion, a real sickness!”

It is the early hours of the morning and Giovanni Sacchetto is explaining why chilly autumn nights find him trailing by moonlight through the woods around Alba in the Piedmont region of northern Italy.

Sacchetto, 64, and his beloved companion Dora, a sprightly Lagotto Romagnolo gundog, are on the hunt for white truffles, the hard-to-find fungi famed amongst foodies for their earthy scent, and their equally heady prices.

“I can go to bed at 11:00 pm and be up again at 3:00 am, ready to go out again,” Sacchetto says. “It is not for the money. It is a sickness you have inside.

“A truffle is a strange thing. And it’s lovely, because it’s so strange. You never know where you might find one. Never.”

Now nine, Dora has been Sacchetto’s constant companion since she was an eager young puppy learning how to use her sensitive nose to sniff out truffles buried beneath the forest floor.

“I’m not saying it is better than a wife, but for a truffle hunter his dog is something... indescribable,” Sacchetto says with a smile.

The Romagnolo breed is known for its acute sense of smell but individual dogs still have to be trained, starting with pieces of gorgonzola, the whiffy Italian blue cheese, buried under ground, before graduating to actual truffles.

Now when Dora locates a truffle, she wags her tail excitedly over the spot where a valuable tuber awaits―usually buried between 4-12 inches below the surface.

For her it is a game-her efforts rewarded with a treat in the form of a biscuit or a little piece of dry bread.

Sacchetto was 14 when he first went truffle hunting, with his grandfather. At the time, it was about putting food on the table, he recalls.

Now it is more of a hobby, but secret spots are still jealously guarded. “I’ve been doing this for 50 years, I know all the plants, all the paths.”

At one time, truffles were more plentiful but the cutting of some trees and the effects of pollution on others has reduced the autumnal bounty, he says.

Fears the delicate ecosystem that produces the white truffles could be at risk has triggered a crowdfunding initiative aimed at

raising 50,000 euros to ensure better management of the local woodlands.

Antonio Degiacomi, president of the National Center for the Study of Truffles, says wooded areas around Alba have been neglected, with faster growing species threatening to crowd out truffle-friendly trees like oaks and lime trees.

“There is not an imminent threat but we have to be pro-active,” he says.

Helpful measures include thinning denser woodland and planting new trees but coordinating action is complicated, notably because the hunters who know where truffles are produced often do not own the land on which they forage.

Tracking down edible fungi is an Italian obsession with some 200,000 active enthusiasts nationwide, of whom 4,000 are based in Piedmont.

The country is so proud of its truffle culture that it has asked for it be enshrined on a list of humanity’s intangible heritage maintained by the UN’s culture body, UNESCO. Alba is already well known in gastronomic circles as home to some of Italy’s most famous red wines and it has been hosting an annual white truffle fair since before World War II, drawing in thousands of gourmet pilgrims for nearly two months of tasting, buying and selling.

This year’s festivities conclude on November 27 and prices are averaging 3,0004,000 euros ($3,300-$4,400) per kilo.

For Swiss enthusiast Marie-Claude, it is a price worth paying.

“Just the scent is something unique,” she said. “Personally I like it best with something really simple, just on some pasta or a risotto.”

Matteo Baronetto, head chef at the Michelin-starred “Del Cambio” restaurant in nearby Turin, concurs.

“The thing that is very specific to the Alba truffle is the incomparable lightness of its aroma, and its elegance,” he says as he assembles a salad of seasonal vegetables speckled by ultra-fine shavings of the local delicacy.

“It is such a pure product of nature that us chefs have to be at the service of the truffle, and not the other way round.”

Harvested from September 21 until the end of January, truffles need both rain and cold to thrive, according to Sacchetto.

“The colder it is, the better the truffle,” he says, adding that no two are exactly alike. AFP

5 Ways

Life

to Love Mondays

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

WEEKEND LIVING

D1

The country’s authority on coffee and tea partners with today’s most inspiring individuals to make Mondays better

Know your purpose. Industrial designer and founder of design company Studio Magee Lilianna Manahan has gained international recognition for her imaginative art.

Achieving success in the creative industry requires long hours of disciplined work, as well as a constant search for artistic inspiration. Manahan meets this challenge every Monday by frequently returning to her purpose. “A fellow

designer told me he ‘renews his contract’ every year with God—his ultimate boss—so that he knows what he is doing is where God wants him. I do the same. Whether I’m on an early morning road trip to check on samples, or concentrating on drawing my home accessories and sipping on tea, work is such a delight and an adventure because I know this what He wants for me!”

Set goals that will be of help to others. Founder of MovEd and social entrepreneur Alex Eduque remains true to her purpose by doing work she knows will positively impact the lives of others. “I consider myself blessed to be able to do something for the benefit of the greater good, on a daily basis. I am truly grateful that I’m able to live my life in a meaningful manner, pursuing my passions and forging creative collaborations. No matter how tough the going gets, the fulfillment I gain in what I do is unparalleled.

I encourage everyone to find that spark of inspiration in the little things—like your favorite cup of tea to start your day with—that make up your daily grind.

This is what will turn your Monday blues around for the better, forever.”

Decide to love what you do. Renowned football player Aly Borromeo always looks forward to Mondays because he loves his grind.

“Football has always been my passion and I am lucky to be able to keep playing for this sport. I always make sure that I am physically and mentally at my best in all trainings and matches. That is why starting the week strong is a GOAL I always try to win. A cup of tea from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® doesn’t hurt either.” While excelling at any sport is no easy feat, the decision to love one’s work no matter what challenges arise spells the difference between a successful sportsman and a mediocre one.

<<

<<

W

HETHER you love them or you hate them, Mondays are inevitable.

They confirm the end of the weekend and mark the start of the work week for everyone. No one can escape them.

Constantly finding ways to pour happy for its customers, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has partnered with a few rare individuals who love Mondays to provide five surefire ways to see the first day of the work week in a new light.

Be positive. Internationally recognized comic artist Harvey Tolibao started his career drawing on paper napkins. He has come a long way since then, now working with the biggest names in the industry, Marvel and DC Comics. He attributes his success to meeting Mondays with positivity. “I feel privileged to be able work with the comic greats. I start my week with optimism and a delicious cup of tea to get my creative juices for fresh ideas. I always aspire to take my artistry to a higher level.

Many people don’t get excited for Mondays, but not me. As an illustrator, I look forward to Mondays because they signify a fresh start and an opportunity for me to fine-tune my work.”

Find beauty in the ordinary.

Multi-media artist, designer and sculptor Michelline Syjuco is constantly searching for beauty, no matter where she is or what she is doing. For her, creativity is a lot about perspective. “I was born into a family of artists, so creativity is in my blood. Making something beautiful out of seemingly ordinary and mundane things is my life’s passion.

That’s probably why Mondays always excite me. That, and a cup of tea!”

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As a brand that constantly seeks to inspire, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf invites customers to celebrate #MondaysMadeBetter. By encouraging them to learn from the stories and advice of these five extraordinary individuals, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shows that it is possible to start the work week on a high note and that loving Mondays can truly make a difference in one’s life.

For more information on Mondays Made Better, like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Philippines) on Facebook and follow @CBTLPH on Instagram.

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Local culture, fashion inspire hotel’s interiors HIRSCH Bedner Associates (HBA), the world’s leading hospitality interior design firm, designed the fashion-forward Shangri-La at Fort Bonifacio.

The Fort lives up to its highly-anticipated opening with its strong brand identity steeped in Filipino couture, while simultaneously being the nextgeneration in design and function.

“In designing the Shangri-La at the Fort, we aimed to appeal to the hotel’s younger guest, a target demographic, who needs a strong sense of arrival. We catered to their needs by creating a strong sense of arrival that welcomes guests with dramatic lighting and fixtures accompanied by plenty of community spaces that invite travelers to socialize,” said HBA Partner Sandra Cortner. “We drew inspiration from local Filipino fashion, jewelry and antique gold and used vast amounts of design talent straight from the Philippines in textiles, furniture and art. The finished product is described as elegant with Asian influences that are fresh, natural and warm.”

The fashionable grand lobby features a dramatic custom chandelier by Lasvit, inspired by an intricate vintage broach. Behind the custom-designed concierge and bellman’s desks is a se-

Shangri-La at the Fort’s lobby is a welcoming sight to guests with its luxurious high ceiling, custom artworks and inverted chandelier.

ries of textile art pieces by noted fashion designer Bea Valdes.

The floor is designed with Statuario select marble slabs, to achieve a dramatic, yet welcoming arrival. Adjoining to the lobby is the lobby lounge, a rich, luxurious venue with high ceilings, custom artwork and an “inverted” chandelier also by Lasvit with custom carpets designed in conjunction with

SEP designer Esther, custom leather panels by Townsend, and artwork by Jinggoy Buensuceso.

A grand curving staircase leads to the mezzanine level which houses specialty restaurants, ballrooms and other function spaces.

Rather than use traditional chandeliers in the ballroom, HBA used thousands of hanging crystals dripping

Hirsch Bedner Associates designed the hotel using fashion as theme, from the lobby to the rooms.

from above as lighting, reminiscent of intertwined crystal necklaces. Fashion forward carpets by SEP Designs made with LUREX metallic yarns and other luxury fibers were used, while walls were wrapped in intricate pleated fabrics with mother-of-pearl detailing inspired by men’s fashion to continue the fashion theme throughout.

Guest areas seamlessly carry the

fashion detailing throughout with custom-woven textile artwork with motifs from the distinctive Filipino Barong, a men’s embroidered formal shirt.

The soft palette continues into the guestrooms with paneled wood inlay details. Rather than implement large traditional case pieces, HBA designed custom boxes to create lighting details and house the in-room safe.

Life

D2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Must-haves on rainy days D

AISO JAPAN, the only authorized and exclusive retailer of Daiso Industries Ltd. Japan that sells useful and cute items priced from P88, is all geared up for the rainy season with a wide selection of products that will help you stay dry, warm and prepared for the unexpected.

The unpredictable weather comes with sudden drizzles and rain showers, so better be safe and dry than go home soaking wet. Add a bright streak to the gloomy skies with clear umbrellas with colorful designs available at Daiso Japan. For heavier downpour, opt for raincoats (for both adults and children), rain pants as well as arm covers to avoid getting drenched. There are also shoe covers to protect your footwear.

Keep your stuff dry especially things that easily absorb water such as books and documents by placing them in waterproof eco bags from Daiso Japan.

Made of lightweight material, you can bring as many of these reusable totes as you need because they can be folded and don’t take up a lot of space. Just take out one when the need arises.

Be sure to dry off your footwear as soon as you get home to prevent molds from forming. Buy a pack of dehumidifying sheets, which you can put inside your favorite pair and place them in a shoe rack stand overnight. Daiso Japan also sells dehumidifying mats to eliminate the musty smell of damp air. Leather wax, meanwhile, can provide a good level of water-resistance and keep your leather

shoes and bags from drying out or cracking.

Brownouts and sudden power outages are to be expected during a typhoon. For emergencies, keep an LED flashlight handy. For good measure keep extra batteries which can be bought at Daiso Japan in a pack of 20 for only P88.

Protect yourself from viruses that may lead to flu and colds by wearing a facemask. The ones available at Daiso Japan are made from non-woven fabric with nose wire and come with a three-layered filter to keep out dust and pollen.

For more useful items you can bring during the rainy days, visit Daiso Japan. There are 53 stores nationwide through Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., which holds the exclusive sub-license to sell authentic Daiso merchandise from Japan and operates the legitimate Daiso Japan store concept in the Philippines.

Follow them on Facebook at @DaisoJapanPH on Twitter and @daisophilippines on Instagram.

Shoe covers help protect footwear from getting drenched

Raincoats and rain pants are ideal during heavy downpour

Always bring a trusty umbrella during rainy season

Protect yourself from viruses by wearing a face mask

LED flashlights come in handy during power outages

Early Christmas with Mountain Hardwear OutDry Packs WHAT’S life without a little risk?

Life is not about being safe, it’s about adventure, and adventure is what you find when you step into the great outdoors!

There is no shortage of fascinating, adrenaline-pumping, Instagram-worthy exploits that you can do in your own backyard. The Philippines is rich with the most amazing beaches, mountains and trails that tourists fly thousands of miles to check out. It is also home to unforgiving weather at certain times of the year that keeps many people indoors—people that haven’t heard about the revolutionary OutDry technology used in Mountain Hardwear packs.

Outdry uses a one-piece patented construction process that creates a highly breathable, absolutely waterproof barrier that is perfect for total adventurists who have little regard for unpredictable weather. Unlike the traditional, multilayered waterproof backpack technologies of the past, this impenetrable layer is heat-bonded directly to the outer fabric, leaving no seams, no gaps, and no way for water to get in. This guarantees that the gear inside your pack stays safe and completely dry.

Mountain Hardwear Outdry packs are reliable, the favorite of even the most hard core of all thrill-seekers.

The Scrambler packs come in different sizes (30, 35, 40 L), depending on the specific need of the user. It’s built with versatility in mind, with top zippered pockets for essentials, loops for

gears, deep side pockets for bottles, and an easy access hydration sleeve with drainage under the top pocket.

It is the pack that maximizes space so that you can get the most out of your outdoor experience.

Now, when you’re moving fast and trying to keep things light, you can’t get any better than Mountain Hardwear’s Ozonic pack. It has optimally placed stretch and zipper pockets for easy access to your phone, keys and other important things, and strategic features that can store all your other gears efficiently. Like the Scrambler, its padded straps and ergonomic design prevents overheating and ensures even weight distribution, so that you can be comfortable even in extremely challenging terrains.

You can get the Scrambler and Ozonic packs at Mountain Hardwear Trinoma, Mountain Hardwear Megamall, R.O.X., and Columbia Stores nationwide. You can also follow Mountain Hardwear on their Facebook and Instagram page @ mountainhardwearph.

Why wait till Christmas to get yourself what you really want? Find yourself a Mountain Hardwear OutDry pack and gear up for even grander adventures up ahead!

To know more about Mountain Hardwear visit www.mountainhardwear.com and Mountain Hardwear PH on Facebook.

Mountain Hardwear is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by the Primer Group of Companies.

Outdry uses a one-piece patented construction process that creates a highly breathable and waterproof barrier

Keep your gear dry with the help of Outdry’s seamless and gap-less impenetrable layer

Brave the outdoors without worrying about the stuff that you’re carrying and having every essential thing that you need

Robinsons Supermarket celebrates World Bread Day ROBINSONS Supermarket kicked off its annual month-long celebration of World Bread Day at Robinsons Place Antipolo on Oct. 7.

Now, on its 6th year, the celebration highlights, “Great Deals at 5.” Deals include savings of P5.00, additional five Robinsons Rewards Card points and five percent discount on bread products for the whole month of October.

Customers can also purchase items ranging from eggs to milk for only P5.00 when they purchase P175.00 worth of any bread and/or cupcake.

The P5.00 collected from the purchase of these items will be donated to World Vision.

One of the annual activities during World Bread Day is the bake-off competition where Robinsons Supermarket concessionaires show-off their versatility and inventiveness on a selected theme.

This year, the theme is cream cheese-stuffed muffins. The creations were judged based on taste, theme relevance and creativity. Customers sampled these stuffed muffins at select Robinsons Supermarket bakeshops.

A 5,000-piece tower composed of bread, muffins and cupcakes was also a scene-stealer at the celebration. Customers were free to grab a piece for free, much to everyone’s delight. A giant dice game and bread-themed activities were set-up for customers to play and win more prizes.

Find out more about Robinsons Supermarket’s World Bread Day celebration. Like it on Facebook at www.facebook/RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial or visit its official website at www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph to stay updated on the offers and activities.

Robinsons Supermarkets offer deals that celebrate the special day of bread

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

Lifetime lights up screens with child cooking prodigies and new original movies

James reveals true feelings; JC comes out

LIFETIME is cooking up a month full of kitchen showdown premieres plus new original movies.

Man vs. Child: Chef Showdown features a team of child cooking prodigies who challenge prolific executive level chefs in the kitchen out to defend their culinary abilities. Newcomers Isiah (10), Olivia (11) and Zion (10) join the first season’s regulars Cloyce (14), Emmalee (13), Estie (8) and Holden (15).

The tables have turned and the chefs have learned that no child, no matter how small, should be underestimated. Witness this one of a kind culinary battle 9 p.m. every Thursday.

Out of 5,500 young cooks who auditioned only 50 amazing young chefs made it through for a chance to be part of the Top 12 in Junior MasterChef Australia Season 2. We see the

R

EVELATIONS keep on coming in the ABS-CBN primetime series Till I Met You as Ali (JC Santos) finally came out to his father Greggy (Robert Seña) and Basti (James Reid) confessed his plans of rekindling his romance with Iris (Nadine Lustre).

Two men, two different fates: Plot thickens in ‘Till I Met You’ as Ali (JC Santos, bottom photo) finally reveals his real identity, while Basti (James Reid, top photo) pursues his former flame, Iris (Nadine Lustre).

Trailer of game-to-movie ‘Assassin’s Creed’ out now THE latest brand new trailer of Assassin’s Creed starring Academy Award® nominee Michael Fassbender reveals a much more dangerous world as it puts the audience in the middle of an ancient war between two age old factions - the Assassins, who fight to protect free will among the populace, and the Templars, who aspire to impose a New World Order.

Throughout history, these two groups have been fighting for the fate of humanity. In the present, the Templars are close to realizing their dream of dominion by using ancient artifacts (created by an extremely evolved First Civilization) known collectively as Pieces of Eden. Among other things, these artifacts have the power to optimize the human mind.

Based on the highly-successful and popular Ubisoft video game series, Assassin’s Creed sees Fassbender plays dual roles as Callum Lynch, a Death Row convict spared execution by the Templars, as well as his 15th

It was an emotional night (Oct. 18) for viewers because Ali finally confronted his father and revealed to him his true identity after getting caught going on a date with a guy. Angered by his son’s confession, Greggy forced Ali out of their restaurant. But he was not alone in facing his biggest trial yet because Iris and Basti ran to his side and gave him the comfort that he needed.

While Ali is in conflict with his dad, everything in Basti’s life seems to be falling into place. He finally had the chance to meet Iris’ family, including her mother Cassandra (Carmina Villarroel). Showing his clear intentions, he confessed to Lolo Soc (Noel Trinidad) that he plans to pursue his granddaughter and will do what it takes to win her back.

What will Ali do to make his father accept who he truly is? Will fate continue to be at Iris and Basti’s side?

Don’t miss the scenes showing that real love wins in Till I Met You, weeknights after Magpahanggang Wakas on ABS-CBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

“WHO did Negan kill?” That has been the question plaguing the minds of The Walking Dead fans around the world following the cliffhanger ending to season six earlier this year.

Fans don’t have to wait much longer to find out with the highly anticipated Season 7 premiering on FOX on Monday at 11:35 a.m. and 8:55 p.m., on the same day as the US premiere.

To kick off this latest season, FOX launched “The Riding Dead,” an exclusive VR campaign that places fans in the world of a zombie outbreak.

“You’ve picked the wrong day to be stuck in a traffic jam,” says FOX as the premise of the stunt. Partnering with Samsung and GrabCar, FOX offers passengers an opportunity to experience their ride immersed amongst “walkers,” as zombies are commonly referred to in the series, using Virtual Reality technology, promising a ride they will never forget.

Charo Espedido, head of Marketing and Programming at FOX Networks Group Philippines, said the campaign aims to excite new and die-hard fans alike.

Century ancestor, Aguilar de Nehra, a Master Assassin who fought the Spanish Inquisition in his quest to keep a sacred artifact out of Templar hands.

Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.

Assassin’s Creed also stars Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson and is directed by Justin Kurzel.

It opens in Philippine cinemas nationwide on Jan. 8, 2017 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Trailer link: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Og_7PpV66E

Saturday, October 22, 2016

medium does 58 Europe-Asia range 59 Violinist — Stern 61 Hold tightly 62 Volcano goddess 63 Hair-raising 64 Gael republic 65 Talked into 66 Is giddy 67 Distort, as facts DOWN 1 Invitation ltrs.

2 Anatomical passage 3 Chevalier musical 4 Syntax 5 All — that’s going ...

6 NASA chimp 7 Info request encl.

8 Many times 9 Easy mark 10 He plays hardball 11 Polite cough 12 Uncivil 13 Electrical units 21 Fair offering 23 Eggs, to Augustus 25 Michener or

Clavell 26 Keats’ saint 27 Plain-spoken 28 Gorby’s missus 30 Below, in a text 31 Spreadsheet units 32 Give the slip 34 Night noises 35 Ooola’s Alley — 38 More weighty 42 History question 43 Vitamin C source 45 Caterwauled

CHILD PRODIGIES. ‘Man vs Child: Chef Showdown’ features young kitchen masters challenging executive level chefs

‘The Walking Dead Season 7’ premieres Monday

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Diana of “The Avengers” 5 Early moralist 10 Damage 14 Cook in a wok 15 Muddle 16 No way!

17 Bright star in Lyra 18 Throngs 19 Try again 20 Straitlaced flower?

22 Rathbone role 24 ISS predecessor 25 By —!

26 Chafe 29 Itching palm 33 Look daggers at 34 Back from work 36 Comstock Lode st.

37 Rapa — (Easter Island) 38 Dove or pigeon 39 Gator Bowl site 40 Coast Guard off.

41 Gym dances 42 Series opener?

44 Sit tight (2 wds.)

47 Expression 48 Scepter gowiths 49 Open meadow 50 Gauzy trap 53 What a

junior contestants cook for the title under the watchful eyes of judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, Matt Preston and newcomer Anna Gare. Witness their journey weeknights at 8 p.m. and see who becomes Australia’s next Junior MasterChef.

There’s definitely something to look forward to that will keep you glued to your screens this October as Lifetime presents new original movies at 9 p.m. every Wednesday.

Stealing Chanel premieres on Oct. 26 where a compulsive thief of designer clothing in Manhattan is forced into a brutal rehabilitation program with a frumpy heiress and a court appointed psychologist.

Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65 and Lifetime™ HD Ch 199; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44.

46 Before, in combos 47 Nearly wins 50 Tea holders 51 Sandwich cookie 52 Formal dance 53 Diligence 54 Grab a cab 55 Viking name 56 Onetime Trevi Fountain coins 57 Erupt 60 Get the picture

“This campaign was created specifically for fans in Southeast Asia with all the VR content shot in the region as well. We wanted to bring new fans into The Walking Dead world but also heighten the anticipation amongst the fans who have been following the series over the last six seasons, especially given the massive cliffhanger in last season’s finale episode. Fans will be mesmerized by the VR experience, and avid fans will also notice certain hints and references to the series storyline that we’ve purposely dropped in. Make sure to look for them!”

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead is an awardwinnning drama series and a global phenonmenon, following Rick Grimes and his group as they navigate life and dangers after a zombie apocalypse.

The Riding Dead campaign will run in Manila until Nov. 17. Fans can book a ride through GrabCar’s mobile app and keep a look out for the specially customized The Riding Dead GrabCars on the road.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

returns to ISAH V. RED

E

NCANTADIA continues to surprise viewers with new and exciting developments week after week.

COVER GIRL.

In Jun Lana’s latest film, Anne Curtis is Kylie, who ends dating gay men and being dumped by them in the end

Last Tuesday, the audience saw the return of Diana Zubiri to the telefantasya. She originally played the role of Sang’gre Danaya in 2005 and now she breathes life to the character of Lilasari, the woman behind the mask. This also serves as a reunion for her and Sunshine Dizon who originally played the role of Sang’gre Pirena and is now Adhara.

According to Zubiri, she worked hard and really prepared for this role. “‘Yung Yung preparation ko is more on sa physical.

Una siyempre kailangan ko magpapayat. Kailangan kong bumalik sa dati kong figure dahil lalabas na naman ako sa TV. At kailangan kong maging fit so nag-try din akong bumalik sa arnis and sword lessons.”

She is also excited to be part of the series once again after 11 years.

“Sobrang excited din ako. Siyempre gusto ko pa rin maging part nito, ayokong mawala kumbaga, kasi ang Encantadia parang magkakasama kaming apat (Sunshine, Iza Calzado, and Karylle Tatlonghari) before tapos biglang may bago siyempre ayaw mong mawala doon. Malaking part ng buhay ko before ang Encantadia.”

Lilasari or ang Sinukuan is a fairy whose beauty can turn anyone catatonic. She was taken by Cassiopea (Solenn Heussaff) when she was a baby to keep her safe from those who fear her power. Cassiopea created a special mask that hid her face--to keep the ones who care for the accursed fairy safe. But Lilasari grew up enamored with power and became o b s e s s e d with taking C a s s i o p e a ’s throne. Caught trying to kill the first queen of the fairies, Lilasari was taken to the Carcero where she cannot harm anyone else ever again, until she is released to become Adhara’s adversary and eventual ally.

Catch Lilasari and find out more about her alliance with Adhara in Encantadia weeknights on GMA Telebabad. *** Laugh trip from beginning to end. That’s how the crowd at the successful premiere screening of Viva Films’ beki movie, Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo, May Boyfriend?, at SM Megamall Cinema 9, as described by the film’s Dennis Trillo in a yet another director Jun Robles Lana. interesting role plays Diego, a The fans who trooped suspected gay man

Diana Zubiri, who played the character of Danaya in GMA Network’s 2005 original series, returns to ‘Encantadia’ as Lilasari, the woman behind the mask.

to watch Dennis Trillo, Anne Curtis, and Paolo Ballesteros in their first film together left the theater after a couple of hours of fun and laughter.

Lana’s film has no pretenses or any agenda whatsoever except to entertain.

The film revolves around the very simple story of a girl who always ends up dumped by her ex-boyfriends who are gay, a closet gay who has yet to muster enough guts to admit he is gay and a dashing, handsome groom-to-be who is himself suspected to be gay.

Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo, May Boyfriend?! is a refreshing take on gay-themed relationships with Lana infusing it with a millennial touch. Some scenes, particularly in the opening scene where Curtis speaks to the theater audience, is a take off a blockbuster Hollywood rom-com hit.

In the film, Curtis is Kylie, dubbed as the “cover girl” of closet gay boyfriends.

Model Will Devaughn and former StarStruck discovery Prince Stefan did cameos as two of Anne’s ex-gay BFs. Her third is Benj, ably and convincingly portrayed by Paolo. After their breakup, Kylie and Benj become the best of friends and business partners.

The two share a lot of crazy moments in the movie and were naturals on screen.

That scene where Anne was comforting the sobbing Paolo inside a parked car was a hit with the moviegoers, especially when they were accosted by a security guard who thought they were a normal couple making out right there and then.

Dennis, the audiences agreed, has never looked so handsome on screen as Diego, Benj’s high school and forever crush who returns from the US to wed his career girl fiancée here.

Benj, thus, hires Benj and Kylie’s services as wedding organizers.

Former sexy star Yam Concepcion plays Dennis’ fiancée, Fiona. Surprisingly, Yam delivers as well as the bitchy bride-to-be.

The film has a lot of highlights, but one scene moviegoers should watch out for is Dennis’ take on the swimming pool where he wears skimpy trunks for the first time on the big screen.

Fans must also watch out for Kylie and Benj’s scenes where they try to figure out

whether or not Diego is gay.

They went as far as devising the scheme to use a supposed macho gym instructor named Ramon Ramon to repeatedly seduce the unsuspecting Diego.

But more than this, moviegoers should better not blink for Paolo and Ramon Ramon’s bigger scene towards the end of the movie.

Fans, meanwhile, are sure to fall in love and laugh hard at the same time with Anne’s sudden “birit” scene while she and Dennis were slow dancing to the film’s love them, “May Minamahal.”

Like Paolo’s Benj, Anne’s Kylie slowly falls for Diego’s charms as well.

Aside from the excellent cinematography, colorful locations and topnotch actors as leads, also worth mentioning is the dual portrayal of seasoned actor Michael de Mesa as Diego’s strict military officerfather and his flamboyant aunt.

There’s definitely no dull moment watching the movie, which also acquaints audiences with beki terms from Kylie’s rich “beksyonaryo.”

In short, Viva’s newest offering is a runaway winner. Very light and feel-good from beginning to end.

Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo, May Boyfriend?! is now showing in theaters nationwide with several international screenings coming up soon. *** This Sunday AHA! features another “mini-movie” full of fright, fun, and information in “AHA: Horror Fest”.

Kapuso stars Jak Roberto and Arianne Bautista star in AHA!’s second Halloween Special, “Maria, Maria”.

In search of an extraordinary semestral break adventure, a group of friends goes to a cemetery. Here, the group accidentally unearths a chilling secret that they thought has been long been buried. Through a hair-raising bottle game, they will be able to talk to the lost soul of Maria who seems eager to answer all their questions.

But should they believe everything that they see? Or is science just playing tricks on them?

Watch out for “AHA: Horror Fest” this Sunday in AHA! with Drew Arellano, 8:15 a.m. on GMA-7.