Manila Standard - 2016 October 24 - Monday

Pirates free 26 hostages

VOL. XXX • NO. 254 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

NAIROBI, Kenya—Somali pirates have freed 26 Asian hostages, including Filipinos, held for nearly five years after the hijacking of their fishing vessel, the last commercial ship seized at the height of the country’s piracy scourge, negotiators said Saturday.

The crew of the Naham 3, the second longest held hostage by Somali pirates, were taken captive when their Omani-

flagged vessel was seized in March 2012 south of the Seychelles.

“We are very pleased to announce the release of the Naham 3 crew early this morning,” said John Steed, coordinator of the Hostage Support Partners who helped negotiate their release.

Steed, a retired British army colonel who has made it his mission to save Next page

‘Scarborough is ours’ Du30 insists, but unsure if China would fulfill vow

By Sandy Araneta and Christine F. Herrera

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he made it clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping that Scarborough Shoal belongs to the Philippines, amid earlier reports that the issue was put on the backburner during his state visit.

“China said this is theirs, but I said this is ours,” Duterte said in Filipino, during a visit to calamity-stricken Tuguegarao City in Cagayan. (Related story on B1) Duterte said China has agreed to allow Filipino fishermen to enter the disputed territory even as both sides insist on ownership of

the shoal.

“From what I understand, Xi has ordered the Chinese fishermen to leave so that no one will be seen there,” Duterte said in Filipino.

He said he was unsure if the Chinese would fulfill that Next page promise.

Rody sets Japan visit; sea row main agenda

HELP. President Rodrigo Duterte and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol turn over certificates for corn seedlings in Cagayan to help its residents recover from the devastation brought by Super Typhoon ‘Lawin.’ Malacañang Photo Bureau

House minority junks panel report on Leila

By Christine F. Herrera OPPOSITION lawmakers will submit their “minority report” to the plenary to counter the justice committee report that failed to recommend charges against Senator Leila de Lima for her alleged role in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary.

The minority report would carry findings that would prompt the House to recommend the filing of criminal charges against De Lima for her alleged involvement in the

illegal drug trade at New Bilibid Prison, when she was Justice secretary, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said.

“There is no such thing as justice committee report as it did not have the signature of the minority leader. We call it a majority report. The majority report is neither here nor there,” said House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Lito Atienza.

The minority bloc protested the findings of the House committee Next page

TOKYO—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is looking to offer 5 billion yen ($48.2 million) in loans when he meets with President Rodrigo Duterte this week, diplomatic sources said over the weekend.

The financial support is aimed at helping facilitate agricultural development in Mindanao, according to the sources.

Duterte, who will make his first

Cagayan under state of calamity

Next page

THE Agriculture department said Sunday the losses in the farm and fisheries sector caused

by Super Typhoon “Lawin” had reached more than P10 billion, with the rice, corn and vegetable sectors suffering the greatest losses.

The department made its statement even as Malacañang said more than half a million people or 120,500 families were affected by “Lawin.”

Next page

PRICES UP. Prices of vegetables at the Commonwealth Market

in Quezon City have increased slightly as a result of the devastation brought by Super Typhoon ‘Lawin.’ Manny Palmero

Extra powers, traffic czar rejected

MAINTENANCE. Meralco linemen temporarily turned off the electricity to check out the power lines in the Ermita district on Sunday. Ey Acasio

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

THE House committee on transportation has rejected Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade’s proposed blanket emergency powers after the panel concluded there was no traffic crisis on the air and at sea and that the problem was limited to land traffic.

After 10 marathon hearings, the panel led by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento also dumped Tugade’s proposal to be designated “traffic crisis

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

Next page

Farm losses hit P10b; 120,000 displaced

By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday visited typhoon victims and led the distribution of relief in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province, one of the areas hardest hit by Super Typhoon “Lawin.”

Duterte arrived in the city at past 1 p.m. along with top officials of the government, including Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

From Tuguegarao City, Duterte was scheduled to proceed to Ilagan town in Isabela province.

Duterte was on a state visit to China when the super typhoon

visit to Japan on Tuesday, was a longtime mayor of Davao on the island.

The deal will come after Duterte’s four-day visit to China last week underlined the Philippines’ diplomatic shift to move closer to Beijing and away from Washington.

Duterte said he would bring up the longstanding territorial

manager” for three years and left it to President Rodrigo Duterte to name the traffic czar.

The panel also dropped the word “emergency” and approved the consolidated bills titled “Transportation Traffic Act.” Sarmiento said the panel found that Tugade’s proposal to acquire emergency powers to address land, sea and air traffic had no basis.

He said Tugade and other offi-

thestandard.com.ph

cials of the Department of Transportation had failed to convince the panel to approve their proposed emergency powers package that was nationwide in scope and covered all modes of transportation.

Based on its findings, Sarmiento said, the panel found that the traffic crisis was limited to land transportation and that the problem was concentrated in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao City. Next page

‘Clinton can paper over PH-US gap’ FORMER president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could help the Philippines communicate more easily with the United States if Hillary Clinton wins the presidential election there in November, a political analyst said Sunday.

“There is someone who can help bridge the communication [gap],” said Ramon Casiple, Next page

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News

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Comelec defying SC ruling, says Marcos FORMER Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to stop the Commission on Elections from releasing the Vote-Counting Machines to Smartmatic.

He said the tribunal had the sole authority to decide on the release of 1,356 VCMs to Smartmatic, adding the Comelec would be violating the Precautionary Protective Order issued by the tribunal if it did.

Marcos had filed an election protest seeking to nullify the proclamation of his rival Leni Robredo as the elected vice president in the May 2016 elections.

He appealed to the tribunal to stop the Comelec from releasing the supposedly unused VCMs to Smartmatic on the ground it would violate the PPO it earlier issued to preserve all the election materials and equipment used in the May elections.

“As can be inferred from its letter dated 27 September 2016, the Comelec made a unilateral determination that the subject VCMs are

not within the scope of the PPO, Marcos said in his appeal to the tribunal.

He also raised doubt on the assurances given by the Comelec that through a mere examination of the VCMs and the SD cards, they would be able to determine if those had been used since there was always the possibility of switching. ‘‘Indeed, the possibility of the switching of the VCMs and SD cards cannot be ruled out, Marcos said.

He said any technical evaluation on the VCMs should be made under the direct supervision of the High Tribunal.

“For purposes of determining the inclusion or exclusion of the subject VCMs from the PPO, protestant Marcos implores the High Tribunal to direct the technical examination of the subject VCMs, their SD cards and the system logs containing the deployment and use of the VCMs during the 9 May 2016 Elections,” Marcos said. Rey E. Requejo

‘Scarborough...

From A1

During his meeting with Chinese officials, Duterte proposed that both countries keep off the shoal’s inner lagoon, the spawning ground of the shoal that also serves as a safe haven for fishermen from tropical cyclones.

“I said if we are able to return to Scarborough, as owners of the territory, even if they say they own it, I would tell them not to fish there in the inner lagoon,” he said.

In a speech before the residents of typhoon-affected areas, Duterte said China would grant the Philippines up to $24 billion in soft loans.

Duterte said he will use the fund to improve the country’s agriculture and put up small “sari-sari” stores that will serve as financing centers for the poor communities.

During his visit to Typhoon “Lawin” victims in Cagayan, Duterte told local fishermen to “just wait for a few more days” and maybe they can go back to Scarborough Shoal.

Duterte also said he did not discuss war or weapons with Chinese

Rody...

From A1

dispute with China over the South China Sea during his official visit.

During his arrival ceremony, Duterte said he will be discussing with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mostly “economic cooperation and shared interests.”

“The most important thing there is the shared interests. The shared interest is really about the South China Sea,” Duterte told the reporters, who arrived from his official visit to Brunei, on Saturday.

Both the Philippines and Japan have ongoing territorial disputes with China separately in West Philippine Sea and East China Sea, respectively.

The President said that he will brief Abe about what he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to resolve the ongoing dispute peacefully without any “violent incident” over the sea.

“That will be the meat of what I will tell Japan’s prime minister: that we can only agree to talk peacefully, resolve the dispute, and maybe come up with something that is good for everybody,” he said, stressing that he is not willing to surrender any territory owned by

‘Clinton...

From A1

executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform in the Philippines.

“We can get something good out of that. The message will be clear on both sides.”

Casiple made the statement even as Malacañang reiterated that the Philippines would not be severing its ties with the United States, and that President Rodrigo Duterte only meant separation in terms of policies.

“The President’s pronouncement is clear―that we are separating from the US in terms of the socalled colonial mentality when it comes to foreign policies, military policies, economic policies because we are anchored on the policies of the Americans,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar told state-run dzRB radio.

“This does not mean severing ties. That’s not what the President meant. What he meant was that we are separating in terms of policies.”

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

Smart asks House for tax exemption T

ELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Smart Communications Inc. wants the House of Representatives to exempt it from paying local taxes, the same incentive that it granted to Bell Communications, the 25-year franchise owned by businessman Ramon Ang and San Miguel Corp.

proved as Republic Act 10900.

House Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu said the anomaly was discovered when Smart, which is in the process of renewing its franchise this year, asked for tax incentives similar to those granted Bell Tel during last week’s deliberations before the Cua committee.

“There was a lapse in the approval of the franchise of Bell Tel. It appears that it was approved without the knowledge of the members of the ways and means panel,” Abu said.

“The approval of this franchise is highly irregular.”

It was not clear if Globe Telecoms, owned by the Ayalas, would also demand fair treatment. Christine F. Herrera

But the members of the House committee on ways and means led by Rep. Miro Quimbo in the previous Congress said they were not aware how Bell was granted a franchise without going through the Quimbo panel.

Ray Espinosa, head of the regulatory affairs of PLDT, Smart’s

mother company, along with fellow Smart executive Enrico Español, made the revelation before the House committee on ways and means now led by Rep. Dakila Karlo Cua. Smart and PLDT are owned by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

“Smart invoked that they should

be given the same tax privileges as those contained in Bell Tel’s franchise,” Quimbo said.

“The members, including myself, were surprised to find out that the franchise had been approved without passing through my committee,” said Quimbo, now House Deputy Speaker.

“It’s a requirement that all measures that contain tax provisions should pass through the [committee] on ways and means before it goes to the Senate. And this did not, and that effectively makes this tax privilege dubious and with deep legal infirmity. It violated the basic procedures of our rules.”

Bell Tel’s legislative franchise is valid until mid-2040, and it was ap-

leader Xi Jinping during his state visit to China.

“I went there and we did not discuss firearms. We did not discuss war. We talked about how we can help each other,” the President said.

Since both the Philippines and China claim ownership over Scarborough Shoal, Duterte asked local fishermen not to fish in lagoons that serve as breeding grounds for fish to avoid an imbalance in supply.

“The cheapest thing that we can buy today are marine products. So it’s really a gamble to destroy the spawning ground,” he said.

Chinese coast guard vessels have denied Filipino fishermen access to the disputed shoal.

In July, The Hague arbitration tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines on the disputed South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal.

According to the decision, Scarborough Shoal is a common fishing ground of Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese fishermen.

Malacañang on Sunday reiterated that the government will not dismiss the recent Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in its talks with China.

Presidential Communications

Secretary Martin Andanar also denied that the government has given up its claims, in reaction to a statement by Senator Risa Hontiveros that the administration has shelved the tribunal’s decision.

“President Duterte’s attempt to make a deal with China in grave disregard of The Hague ruling is wrong,” Hontiveros said.

She also branded as “absurd” Duterte’s asking for China’s approval to allow Filipino fishermen to gain access to the Scarborough Shoal, locally called Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

“This renders our hard-fought victory hollow and our sovereignty severely compromised,” the senator added.

Earlier, Duterte said he was not calling for a severance of ties with the United States, but a “separation of foreign policy.”

Addressing a press conference in Davao City after his return from a state visit to China, Duterte said, “It is not severance of ties. You say severance of ties, you cut the diplomatic relations. I cannot do that. Why? It is in the best interest of my country that we maintain that relationship…

because there are many Filipinos in the United States,” he said.

Duterte’s statement in China that he would cut both economic and military ties with the United States had alarmed many.

“America has lost now. I’ve realigned myself in your ideological flow,” Duterte told business leaders Thursday in Beijing.

“And maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way.”

In a statement Friday, Malacañang said the Philippines had no intention to renege on treaties or agreements with allies.

The President’s comments were “an assertion that we are an independent and sovereign nation, now finding common ground with friendly neighbors with shared aspirations in the spirit of mutual respect, support and cooperation,” the statement said.

Trade Minister Ramon Lopez said that the Philippines “would not stop trade and investment with the US.” “[Duterte] has decided to strengthen further and rekindle the ties with

China and the Asean region,” Lopez said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In the House, the chairman of the special committee on the West Philippine Sea said Duterte’s pivot to China was the right tact to take to lure much-needed foreign direct investments.

Former House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., chairman of the special panel, said the Philippines would benefit from the deals clinched by Duterte in his recent visit to China and that joint ventures in the contested islands would bring more good than harm to the Philippines.

“I fully support President Duterte’s independent foreign policy. New investments from China would greatly benefit the country,” Belmonte said.

Lawmakers belonging to the minority bloc also supported the President’s preference for China investments.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez and House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Lito Atienza said all investments coming from China would be a big help to the country’s economy.

They added that luring foreign

direct investments was part of the President’s promise to raise funds that could help alleviate poverty.

Belmonte also allayed fears that engaging in joint ventures with China over disputed islands would mean surrendering claims made by the Philippines.

“It should not be seen as surrendering our claims. We still assert our claim. Meantime, it would benefit us if we engage in joint venture in exploring the wealth of the disputed islands. We need huge capital to do some exploration, particularly on oil offshore,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte, however, cautioned Duterte against antagonizing other allies such as the United States, European Union and Japan in his bid to gain the friendship of China.

“We can make friends with the rest of the world but not at the expense of other countries,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte said his panel was already in the process of consulting experts that could provide information on how to best resolve the dispute with China. He said the panel was ready to hold public hearings when Congress resumes its sessions on Nov. 7.

the Philippines.

Duterte also added that there will be possible talks on the South China Sea dispute and that would be either “bilateral or multilateral.”

The President said if the talks are multilateral, he would make sure Japan is included in the talks.

Duterte is set to make his first official visit to Japan as President from Oct. 25 to 27.

The Presidential secretary for operations and special concerns Marie Banaag said Duterte’s visit will build upon the government’s policy thrust of enhancing relations with the country’s neighbors in the region.

Aside from his meeting with Abe, Duterte is also set to make a call on His Majesty Emperor Akihito.

“Prime Minister Abe, in his congratulatory letter’s sent immediately after the President’s election, extended an invitation to visit Japan, which the President graciously accepted when the two leaders met at the sidelines of the Asean Summit Vientiane, Laos last September,” she said.

Banaag said the official visit is expected to bolster the strong strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, PNA

Pirates...

least 11 dead and over 50,000 displaced this month, the UN humanitarian agency said last week.

Once extracted, the crew, from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, will be returned to their home countries and families.

“They have spent over four and a half years in deplorable conditions away from their families,” said Steed.

He said the crew was malnourished and one of the hostages had a bullet wound in his foot, another had had a stroke and another was suffering from diabetes.

Pirates initially took 29 crew hostage, but one person died during

the hijacking, and two more “succumbed to illness” during their captivity, said a statement from Oceans Beyond Piracy.

Steed said negotiations—which took 18 months—involved mediation with community, tribal and religious leaders.

He declined to comment on the exact details but said the road to the hostages being freed was filled with peril and “heroism.”

The Naham 3 was originally tethered to another hijacked vessel, the m/v Albedo, which was seized in November 2010 and released by the HSP in 2014.

When the m/v Albedo began to sink “these guys jumped into the

waters and rescued the drowning crew,” Steed said.

He said when the Naham 3 sank, a year after its capture, “these guys were then taken ashore where they have been ever since with pirates making increasingly irrational demands.”

“The release of the Naham 3 crew represents the end of captivity for the last remaining seafarers taken hostage during the height of Somali piracy,” he said.

Only a crew of Thai fishermen, released in February last year after nearly five years in captivity, were held longer by Somali pirates.

Many of the hostages left languishing in the hands of pirates are poor fishermen. AFP

as the panel’s intention for the probe was “in aid of legislation.”

“We weigh the importance of fulfilling our mandate as public servants against the insistence on the separation of powers. Faced with the information revealed, are we, as public officials, to just allow nature take its course without even voicing what we feel is the right thing to do? What we propose is a mere recommendation. A recommendation that the Executive can accept, or reject,” Suarez read the joint statement during a recent

press conference.

Suarez said the minority bloc would bring up the case to the plenary and convince the House members to recommend the filing of criminal charges against those who violated the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and those who committed acts of bribery and corruption.

De Lima was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as part of the narco-matrix that operated in the NBP. The witnesses in the four hearings of the justice committee pointed to

De Lima as having received drug money from syndicates to bankroll her senatorial campaign.

Suarez argued that during the previous administration, investigations in aid of legislation routinely resulted in the recommendation of filing of proper charges contained in their respective committee reports.

The minority leader cited as example the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s recommendation to file charges against those involved in the pork barrel scam.

said the Philippines’ trade and investment relations with the United States would continue but it would seek economic independence from the world superpower.

Casiple said Arroyo’s personal and professional relationship with Clinton’s husband, former US President Bill Clinton, could help much to improve the Philippines’ relations with the US. He said both former presidents were classmates at the Georgetown University in the 1960s. “[Arroyo’s relations with the Clintons] could help [and] it is good. The key to a relationship is anchored on confidence,” Casiple said.

“There is trust and confidence among the policy-makers from both sides. It is important [in a relationship] that both of you came from the same school, that you know each other. That there is trust,” Casiple said.

Duterte has called President Barack Obama a “son of a bitch.

He has also announced the Philippines’ separation from the United States during his four-day visit to China. Rio N. Araja, Sandy Araneta

Cagayan...

because of landslides that buried the houses of the victims at the height of the typhoon.

Disaster officials added that the CAR death toll could go higher, pending the confirmation of 16 more deaths.

On Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 158,825 people were affected by the super typhoon in Cagayan Valley.

Of the number, a total of 82,948 people were affected in 28 municipalities in Cagayan province, which has been placed under a state of calamity.

The hardest hit town in the province, based on the number of persons

displaced, was Enrile with 42,182 people displaced.

A total of 15,602 people in Isabela were also displaced by ‘‘Lawin.’’

Three heavily devastated provinces in the Cordillera were placed under state of calamity by their respective provincial boards after suffering from heavy damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

Apayao and Kalinga, which were under Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 5, were placed by their respective provincial boards under a state of calamity Friday, while Mountain Province was also placed under the state of calamity Saturday. With Dexter A. See, PNA

Emmanuel Piñol.

The department said the production losses to the rice sector amounted P 7.8 billion. The affected areas reached 404,752 hectares of which 12,118 hectares had no chance of recovery.

The typhoon also affected 28,741 hectares of corn with a total value of more than P600 million.

The damage to vegetables reached P 1.7 billion, to cassava to P2.3 billion, to livestock at P6.6 million and

to fisheries 85.8 million.

Piñol said he had ordered his officials to provide food assistance to the affected farmers and fishermen.

“I have also instructed the concerned DA agencies, particularly the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, to swiftly process crop insurance payments to enable the farmers and fishers to cope with their loss,” Piñol said. Anna Leah E. Gonzales and Sandy Araneta

From A1

“forgotten hostages” said the mission to return the crew to their families still held one obstacle: extracting them from the city of Galkayo, where fighting was raging between forces from the rival regional states of Puntland and Galmudug.

“There is fighting in Galkayo so it is very dangerous at the moment, they are exchanging artillery tonight. We will go in early tomorrow morning if the fighting stops and bring them back to Nairobi for medicals and a cleanup.”

Clashes in Galkayo have left at

House...

From A1

on justice, chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, as the report did not recommend any charges to be filed against De Lima and other former officials.

Suarez contradicted Umali’s position that it was the job of the Executive to file appropriate charges against the personalities involved in the proliferation of the drug trade at the maximum security compound

From A1

slammed into Cagayan and Isabela provinces last week, and arrived Friday, a day after “Lawin” exited the country.

Based on the latest consolidated report from the Office of Civil Defence in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the region recorded 14 deaths, four injured and one missing due to the occurrence of landslides and strong water currents in the various river systems. Benguet and Kalinga accounted for six deaths each while Ifugao reported two deaths all

Farm...

From A1

The department said the typhoon affected 69,947 farmers and 467,068 hectares of farmland in Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5.

“This does not yet fully reflect the destruction brought by Super Typhoon “Lawin” in these regions as we are still in the process of assessing all sectors,” said Agriculture Secretary

Extra...

From A1

“There is no maritime or aviation crisis to speak of. The crisis is not in our ports and airports but on the roads supporting such ports and airports,” Sarmiento said.

“We also found out that the traffic crisis is not all over the Philippines or in some unknown areas. The traffic crisis is in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and perhaps Davao City. That should have been the first step―defining the scope of the crisis.

“The Department of Transportation is confused on the specific powers it needs. Most of the powers that you want are either included in your mandate or are already addressed by existing laws.”

Sarmiento said the Transport department failed to present concrete plans and offered instead “palliative measures” under the vast powers it was seeking from Congress.

He said his committee had been the department’s “enabler, even to the point of spoon-feeding” it.

Christine F. Herrera

News

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

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PH, China firm up tourism pact

By Sandy Araneta

T

OURISM Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo has concluded her three-day visit to Beijing, wrappping up partnerships between Filipino and Chinese investors and tourism leaders to increase cooperation in the Philippine tourism industry.

Highlighting Teo’s visit was the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Agreement on Tourism Cooperation between Philippines and China which will give DoT a better opportunity to market the Philippines to potential Chi-

nese travelers and investors.

Besides bringing in more tourists to the Philippines, China National Tourism Administration Chairman Li Jinzao pledged to help in attracting more investors to the country and share best practices through

the exchange of experts.

During a meeting with Jinzao, Teo emphasized the need to simplify visa application procedure for Chinese tourists by offering visa-on-arrival or e-visa.

“I am coordinating with Department of Foreign Affairs [DFA] and Bureau of Immigration to implement this,” said Teo. Teo also wants to break the language barrier in the tourism industry by embarking on a language training program for tour guides.

“We will train them to speak Mandarin under DoT-accredited training centers,” she said.

Teo also clinched a bid to

attract investors with one of the richest businessmen in China vowing to develop a town in Iloilo.

“He will build a township that has seaports, airports, malls, theme parks, and hotels,” she added.

In the aviation sector, other than the chartered flights from Guangzhou to Laoag in November, there will be chartered flights from Guangzhou to Clark and vice versa that will be inaugurated in December, she disclosed.

Teo met with a key player in the entertainment and casino industry, Clarence Chung, the Chairman and President

of Melco Philippines (City of Dreams Manila) who is looking for more investments in the Philippines.

“I am positive that more and more tourist will go to the Philippines, with the infrastructure being built and development in tourism zones, we are looking at new investments.

Meanwhile, to promote Philippine tourism to potential Chinese travelers Teo signed an agreement with SM Prime Holdings Inc. at the Hyatt Hotel in Beijing, China Under the agreement signed

by Teo and SMPH’s President Jeffrey Lim, SM will provide exhibit areas and ad space lo-

cations across SM China Malls to support DoT’s thrust in creating awareness of the Filipino culture and tourist destinations to Chinese market.

“We hope to increase tourist arrivals with the help of SM, we are planning to do road shows by next year and we will be inviting tour operators to promote Philippine tourists destinations,” said Teo. According to Lim, about 100-million Chinese shoppers pass through SM malls yearly.

“China is a huge market for the Philippines if we could just get five to 10 percent of that, we can double the tourist arrivals,” she added.

267k families still in the ‘dark age’

By Christine F. Herrera CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte on Sunday said some 267,000 households remain without power and urged the government to intensify its electrification program in impoverished faraway communities to accelerate economic growth and effectively implement President Rodrigo Duterte’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda.

Villafuerte said the primary goal of Duterte’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda, which is to make the benefits of economic growth felt by majority of Filipinos, could only be attained if poor families in remote barrios have electricity in their homes.

Villafuerte issued the statement as the Department of Energy reported last month that it had already provided electricity to more than 5,000 households of poor families and informal settlers in Bulacan, Laguna, parts of Rizal, and Tondo, Manila.

For next year, Villafuerte said the National Electrification Administration will be getting P1.8 billion for electrification projects that will benefit 72,300 households.

The National Power Corp. will also get P2.8 billion next year to install substations and transmission lines in off-grid or remote areas, he said.

The DoE has P1 billion earmarked for electrification of 190,600 households in grid and off-grid areas, Villafuerte said.

“Having access to an affordable, reliable supply of electricity is a key factor in attacking poverty, which is why the government should further step up its electrification programs, especially in the countryside,” Villafuerte said.

“Hence, the government should all the more intensify

SENATE PROS.

Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III (center) poses with the new set of Public Relations Officer of the Senators (PROS) Officers. (From right to left) Michael ‘Mike’ Caber of the Office of Senator Sotto, President; Rex Hirang of the Office of Senator Binay, Vice President; Ferdie Maglalang of the Office of Senator De Lima, Secretary; Ahna Khristina Mejia of the Office of Senator Gatchalian, Treasurer; and Perla Leoncio of the Office of Senator Zubiri, Auditor. PRIB

its efforts to bring electricity to as many far-flung barangays as possible.”

Villafuerte explained energy is a facilitator of economic growth.

“We can invigorate the economy in the countryside and provide a suitable means of livelihood for poor communities only if these remote barangays have power supply,” said Villafuerte, former CamSur governor who had served for three consecutive terms.

Citing reports, Villafuerte said the DoE has set a goal of 100 percent household electrification, covering the marginalized and informal settlers.

At the same time, Villafuerte stressed another key factor in ensuring that economic growth reaches the countryside is to shift to a federal system of government.

“The concentration of national wealth remains in Imperial Manila with 35 percent of the national budget going to the National Capital Region even if it represents only 14 percent of the Philippine population,” said Villafuerte citing a 2015 government data.

Villafuerte, former chairman of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, said a genuine devolution of powers under a federal government would make local government units self-reliant and in control of their respective development agenda.

The devolution, he said, would spur healthy competition among LGUs in wooing investments, generating jobs and implementing programs to improve the quality of life of their constituents.

Under a federal system, LGUs would be able to retain a huge chunk of their respective incomes and turn over only a portion to the state government under a federal system, he noted.

CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle, Manila archbishop, sprinkles holy water on drug surrenderees with their police escorts during the Caritas Manila ‘Sanlakbay’ launching Mass held at the Manila Cathedral on Sunday. Manny Palmero

Victims need food, aid ASAP—senator

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Juan Miguel F. Zubiri on Sunday called for the release of food aid, farm inputs like seeds, farm tools and machines as well as financial grants to victims of Typhoon “Karen” and “Lawin.”

He also called on the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., the Department of Science and Technology and Department of Agriculture to adopt weathertriggered insurance.

“Victims need food and nonfood aid. Food aid must be for a long enough time to tide them over this cropping cycle and up to the next. Many farmers can only plant when the weather is right for their land preparation, repair of irrigation canals, replacement of farm

equipments and farm animals and many more important tasks.”

Zubiri warned that “food aid cannot stop abruptly. Too little food aid will mean we leave them to hang or drown in hunger. Late and incomplete delivery also mean hunger for hundreds of thousands of families including children and the elderly. “ He noted that farms, homes and infrastructure “were flattened with a ferocity unknown to many areas as “Lawin” reached Signal No. 5”.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Department of Agriculture estimated that Typhooon Karen caused P3 Billion in damages on 260,000 hectares of farms of 86,261 farmers in Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon

and Bicol. Estimates of the cost of destruction from Lawin have not yet been released but CAR, Regions I, II, and III have suffered heavy damage. Affected communities cover 404 towns with 2,083,856 families or 9,550,856 million persons of which 612,160 families or 3,097,593 persons had to be evacuated.

“Farmers, livestock growers, micro- and small entrepreneurs would pile up debts, as they try to replant, rebuild and at the same time feed their families. I am pushing for timely, sufficient and sustainable food aid long after the disasters are gone from the headlines. We can’t view this as a dole out. Instead, let’s view this as provisioning for fellow countrymen most of whom produce our food.”

Zubiri called for the “adoption of weather-triggered insurance

scheme. In this scheme, farmers and fisherfolk will be spared the difficulty of filing for claims with the PCIC. “We have seen that after a typhoon, communication and transportation systems are down, making it hard if not impossible to file a crop insurance claim. In the weather-triggered insurance scheme, the insurance office will actually inform the farmer and fishermen in advance before the bad weather event.”

Even before the typhoon or drought comes, the PCIC will tell farmers and fisherfolks that they are qualified for insurance payments. The weather triggers will be wind speed, precipitation, temperature and other applicable indicators or triggers of bad weather events or cycle.”

5-day work week for solons pushed

By Rio N. Araja CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte renewed his call for a five-day work week in Congress to enable lawmakers the speed up deliberations on the proposed shift to federalism.

Instead of a four-day week at the House of Representatives from Monday to Thursday, he said more time is needed to discuss the measure in the midst of the approval of a motion by the committee on constitutional amendment for Congress to constitute itself into a Constituent Assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution as well as Congress’ passage of the 2017 budget ahead of time.

Villafuerte is the vice chairperson of the committee on appropriations and vice chairman on local government.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez have agreed to discuss

and approve the proposed 2017 GAA as early as possible to give the august body enough time to discuss amendments to the Constitution in January 2017.

Congress passed on third and final reading by a 243-5-1 vote President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2017 national budget of P3.35 trillion.

The committee on constitutional amendments also passed the resolution calling on the Congress to convene into a Con-Ass as a mode of Charter Change.

Both chambers adjourned last Oct. 20 for the All Soul’s Day break and will resume session on Nov. 6.

“Holding sessions from Mondays to Fridays would give us enough time and make us work faster in performing our lawmaking duties along with the extra workload of amending the Constitution via the Con-Ass route,” Villafuerte said.

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Opinion

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Day of reckoning

W

HILE President Duterte basked in the glow of his pivot to China last week, a bothersome development reminded us that making nice with Beijing will not push our other problems away.

Even as the President was winding up his four-day state visit, reports reaching Manila said suspected Abu Sayyaf pirates had abducted a South Korean captain and a Filipino crewman from a South Korean cargo ship on Thursday.

About 10 gunmen boarded the m/v Dongbang

Adelle Chua, Editor

Giant using ropes from a speedboat and abducted skipper Chul Hong and Filipino crewman Glenn Alindajao off Bongao town in Tawi-Tawi province. The ship was on its way to South Korea from Australia, a military spokesman said.

Other crewmen were not

seized and one managed to call his family, which reported the abduction to authorities, Tan said.

It was not the first of such attacks by the brutal bandit group that has made kidnapping foreigners and locals in exchange for huge ransoms a thriving backyard industry, and that has instilled fear by beheading hostages whose families do not pay.

Naval patrols off TawiTawi and nearby Sulu, where Abu Sayyaf bandits take most of their kidnapping victims, have been strengthened in recent months due to a spate

of abductions at sea that have ensnared crew members from Malaysia and Indonesia, but the expanse of water that must be patrolled is vast.

Back in August, the President said he wanted the Abu Sayyaf neutralized swiftly as part of his campaign to prioritize peace and order. He also said that if he unleashed the firepower of the Armed Forces and really went after them, they could finish the Abu Sayyaf in one week, down to the last man.

A massive military operation launched in the

same month in Sulu and Basilan, where the Abu Sayyaf thrives, has taken its toll on both sides, including the one-day loss of 15 soldiers on Aug. 29, in Patikul, Sulu.

In September, in what appeared to be a retaliatory attack, terrorists bombed a busy night market in the President’s own hometown of Davao City, killing 14 people and wounding more than 60 others.

Promising a day of reckoning, Duterte sent 7,000 troops to Sulu to battle the bandits.

In hindsight, a month and a

half after the boast was made, the President’s suggestion that the bandits could be wiped out in a week, down to the last man, has proved to be a bit too optimistic.

In his first few months in office, President Duterte has shown that he is not afraid of taking on a superpower like the United States, or even established institutions such as the Catholic Church and the United Nations. It is ironic then that in his own backyard, a band of sadistic bandits continues to mock him with impunity.

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

Balance

PENSEES

The conduct of foreign affairs

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO IN APPORTIONING the tremendous powers of government, the Constitution has assigned to the Executive the conduct of foreign affairs. And so it is that executive privilege covers communication and exchanges with foreign governments and their representatives. But in administering our relations with states, the President does not enjoy a carte blanche. In negotiating treaties, he is subject to the requirement of Senate’s concurrence. And he cannot bypass this requirement by recourse to executive agreements—that need no Senate vote—because there are some things that cannot be done by such a device.

More fundamentally, there are provisions of the Fundamental Law that limit the agreements he may enter into. It would, for example, be unconstitutional for him to agree with a foreign state for the installation of nuclear weapons, defensive or otherwise, in the country.

Neither would it be permissible for him to agree with another country on a derogation of any of the provisions of the Bill of Rights, or of any provision really of the Constitution.

To say of the Philippines that in “severing ties” with the United States, it is crafting an “independent foreign policy” is to enunciate a self-evident proposition in respect to every state.

The Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Responsibilities of States makes “capacity for foreign relations” one of the constitutive requisites of statehood, and this means the competence to craft an independent foreign policy. It is then not like we started on the way to an independent foreign policy only when President Digong surprised all—including, apparently, some members of his Cabinet, when he bade America a not-too-sad farewell and declaring to all the world that, henceforth, it would be “China, Russia and the Philippines”

International relations are not about states ultimately, but about those who head and lead them. against the world. Rather we had opted for a new alliance.

My crystal ball does not allow me a look into what a future with China might look like. This is all so new, and really, daring. Foreign relations after all arise from history, from shared values, from an intertwining of cultures. Have Western values and worldviews influenced us?

For sure. But is that not exactly

the dynamic of the cultures of modernity—the fusion of horizons and plurality of perceptual frames? There have been comparisons of late, usually to the detriment of the US. But there have been serious issues with China as well. The great powers of the world are great, sadly because they are expansionist and both the US and China have been expansionist in various ways. It is true that America has seized every opportunity to export its brand of democracy. But the aggressiveness of China in the South China Sea, punctuated by its audacious claim to a nine-dash line, is far too recent to be inconsequential.

Whether politically or economically, ours is an interdependent world and alliances are inevitable. In fact, President Digong’s very announcement of his decision to cease cohabitation with the US was also his first step towards what he hopes will be greater inti-

macies and not just flirtations with China. If by “independent” one means ridding ourselves of alliances, we really have taken no significant step in that direction.

We are strategically important to the US. That is true.

But it would be foolhardy to ignore the all too evident fact that we too have benefited from our shared history and our meandering journeys together after a rather stormy start, the Philippine-American war. One clear lesson that we should have all been taught is that international relations are not about states ultimately, but about those who head and lead them. It has very much to do with temper, oddity, bias and prejudice (and yes, even folly) than it has to do with supposedly transcendental forces propelling human history! rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

TOMORROW, the President goes to Tokyo to honor the invitation extended by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the last Asean Summit held in Vientiane. After a hectic schedule over the next two days, he will be seeing the Emperor of Japan at the Imperial Palace on Thursday the 27th before returning to Manila.

The fact that the trip to staunch US ally Japan immediately follows his state visit to China, after having visited Indonesia, Laos and Brunei, all member-states of Asean, indicates President Duterte’s desire to balance our relations with all countries.

Balance is the key word.

Now a lot of observers will dispute this, and point to the “undiplomatic” language our President has used when describing the United States, the EU, even the United Nations in the manner by which they have “interfered” in his crusade against drug abuse.

They have excoriated him for swinging from right to left, calling this “wild swing” a “national tragedy.” They talk of “old gold” referring to America, being exchanged for the instant glitter of Chinese silver, and prospectively they think, of Russian dross.

Brash though his tactics may be, and rash though his language is, this president, our President, is pursuing balance.

For the longest time, and more so in the last six years of the Aquino presidency, our foreign policy was one of predictable unbalance. It almost always hewed to wherever the powerful US of A leaned.

In many eyes, particularly among the developing nations, the Philippines was regarded unkindly as a “vassal” state of its former colonizer.

To a nationalist like Duterte, son of the first quarter storm, who read and idolized Recto, Diokno and Constantino, he is just “swinging the pendulum” from extreme right towards a central desideratum.

Of course, others would say it is swinging wildly from right to left, but then again, how do you bring something to center if you do not swing to its left?

There is method in his “madness.”

Sure, many find this discombobulating. I myself sometimes wince at the language. Never before had they witnessed a Filipino leader spewing such language Turn to A5

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Opinion A train-wreck foreign policy AS MUCH as I would like to get out of the way of a careening train wreck of a Philippine foreign policy, it’s difficult to do so. I have been part of our foreign service for 16 years. With postings in New York, London, Belgium as press attache and as ambassador to Hungary and Poland, I can feel the embarrassment that career diplomats must be feeling about our present flip-flopping foreign policy.

Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario has described the Duterte administration’s foreign policy as offtrack. Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos has compared the Philippines to a listing ship of state with its skipper, President Rodrigo Duterte, going headlong unaware of the danger signs. Now, these are two men not known to be effusive with their public opinions. Something must have ticked off Del Rosario and Ramos to sound off with stinging rebuke of the President even after marking his first 100 days in office.

The US is confused and State Department spokesman John Kirby wants an explanation from the Philippines on what President Duterte means when he said his government is “separating from the United States.” Duterte’s new friends

in the Chinese the Philippines BACK leadership headin foreign poliCHANNEL ed by President cy and military Xi Jinping are strategy. Comof course quiet ALEJANDRO m u n i c a t i o n s and not saying DEL ROSARIO Secretary Maranything. Back tin Andanar, on in Beijing, though, they must the other hand, put it simplistibe snickering and trying to cally as “a son leaving his parsuppress their laughter. They ents’ home because he is getting bundled off their four-day state married and starting his own visitor with lavish gifts of loans family.” and trade deals after wining and More astute foreign observers dining him. do not see Digong getting marThe Philippines looked a far ried but a case of sleeping with cry from the country that won the enemy while ditching a longits case in The Hague arbitration time ally, America. The more court against Beijing’s sweep- than half a million Filipinoing claim in the South China Americans in the United States Sea. In announcing his “sepa- are also disturbed that Duterte is ration from the United States,” veering away from Uncle Sam. Duterte’s Chinese hosts must be They find it disquieting that pleased as punch when the visi- Digong has badmouthed the US tor issued the statement in Bei- and President Barack Obama jing near the end of his four-day while kowtowing to the Chinese state visit. who have seized Philippine terIs playing the China card ritorial waters through gunboat against America a method in diplomacy. The word “kowtow” madness or a madness in meth- is defined as a noun or verb that od? means to put one’s head to the Playing his role in their ven- ground while kneeling as a sign triloquist-and-dummy act, For- of obeisance. It’s Chinese in eign Secretary Perfecto Yasay origin when China’s emperors Jr. is hard put at explaining the ruled like gods with the power President’s Beijing statement of of life and death over their subseparation from the US. He said jects. that what the President meant The US which considers itwas a breakaway from the US self as a Pacific power has made influence and domination of known it’s now ready to face up

to a rising China. The guided missile destroyer USS Decatur sailed closely to China’s manmade islands in the Paracels in a move to assert freedom of navigation in the vital South China Sea lanes. The Decatur’s defiant sail-by is sure to escalate tension between the US and China.

The Philippines can learn from Vietnam, which has won over the US against former ally China in its territorial dispute over the Paracels. Without getting too vocal about China’s territorial grab, Hanoi played it cool to its advantage to have the US protect Vietnam without incurring China’s wrath.

How will the Philippines’ pivot to China be seen by the US? This is an unfriendly act and we could become casualties in the event a shooting war breaks out between these two world powers. Will Duterte side with new friend China, Russia and North Korea?

Duterte must be reminded we are bound as treaty allies of the US because of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement and lately the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement validated by the Supreme Court. He cannot just cast these treaties aside without being liable under Philippine laws.

The Philippines just blew up Obama’s Asia pivot

By Eli Lake DOES anyone remember President Barack Obama’s pivot to Asia? The plan was to focus diplomatic and military assets in East Asia to contain a rising China. It was one of the reasons Obama said he was shrinking the American footprint in the Middle East.

Well, the pivot is failing. On Thursday, the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, announced to an audience at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing a “separation” with the US “America has lost now,” he said. “And maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way.”

Two things should be said here.

First: Duterte is a crude vulgarian. He has called Obama a “son of a whore,” and picked a fight with the pope.

As a politician he is often compared to Donald Trump.

As a president, he has acted like an authoritarian, waging a paramilitary war against his nation’s drug users and drug dealers.

Second: Duterte’s own government appears to have been kept out of the loop about this new alliance. On Friday, Duterte himself said he did not mean to imply that he would cut diplomatic ties with the US, but he has not backed away from his pledge to end military cooperation with the US, though others in his government have suggested he will back down.

Regardless, this is a big story. The Philippines has been an important US ally since the beginning of the cold war. What’s more, the Obama administration has invested in the country as part of its pivot to Asia. In 2014 the two countries signed an enhanced defense cooperation agreement. When the Philippines brought a case against China at the Hague over China’s artificial islands in its territorial waters, the US supported the Philippines diplomatically.

In July, the Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines. This would have been an opportunity for the US to turn the screws on China.

But instead the Obama White House encouraged China and

Balance From A4 on the international stage, such as declaring in Beijing that he was separating from America, or before that, calling the holies of the United Nations a bunch of idiots.

Or to many Fil-Ams, the unthinkable— exclaiming p…i at POTUS, mismo!

There was a time when Philippine presidents genuflected before American proconsuls. A long-dead president spoke glowingly of an “independent” Philippines under the “wise and benevolent guidance of the great United States.” One other sitting president was rumored to have been “summoned” in the early morning to the embassy upon Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas) by its ambassador. Another allowed the resident CIA to run his campaign, and having won, kept this propagandist as one of his closest advisers.

Well, not Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Not this Filipino, the first president from Mindanao.

Many an aspiring Filipino leader would never contemplate snubbing an invitation from the ambassador of the US of A. Except Duterte.

In the run-up to the formal campaign, when noise was being created by the Davao City mayor, the pro-consuls in Roxas Boulevard dismissed the guy as just a “flash in the pan.” They did not take him seriously at all.

They invited the other contenders to have long chats with their ambassador, while they had informal talks with these aspirants’ confidantes. To their surprise

the Philippines to resolve the matter themselves after the ruling of the international tribunal.

At the end of August, Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters that the US was not interested in “fanning the flames of conflict but rather trying to encourage the parties to resolve their disputes and claims through the legal process and through diplomacy.”

Duterte has now taken Kerry’s advice.

After announcing his country’s new alignment with China, Duterte signed a series of trade agreements worth $13.5 billion, along with a promise to continue bilateral negotiations over the South China Sea. Dan Blumenthal, the director of Asia studies at the American Enterprise Institute, told me Friday that the Obama administration had fumbled.

“After the tribunal decision, our response was to tell Duterte to tamp down tensions and talk bilaterally with China, and there was no evidence of follow-up by us in terms of our own military exercises or diplomatic initiatives to enforce the findings of the

and perhaps chagrin, the “flash in the pan” emerged as a serious contender after much public hemming and hawing.

By late January of 2016, they started to touch base with the guy’s friends and advisers. And sometime in March, they wanted him and their chief pro-consul to meet.

Problem was, their chief pro-consul wanted him to come visit his Forbes Park residence, an exclusive gated village of the supra-elite named appropriately in memory of an American governor-general. But the provinciano from the banana and durian farms of Mindanao refused.

It was not because of the Meiring incident, when an American blasted himself inside his hotel room in Davao while tinkering with his home-made bombs. It did rankle the Davao City mayor that days after, operatives of the US of A shanghaied Meiring from his city without any by-yourleave. But that was long ago, and Duterte knows when it is time to let bygones be bygones. In his own Bisaya terms, “dili ako mag-dumot” (I don’t hold grudges forever”). Boy Nograles and his scions are good examples.

The advisers wanted a neutral place as venue. They knew their principal would never countenance setting foot upon “foreign soil”, which is what under international diplomatic praxis, the embassy or the ambassador’s residence are.

What kind of presidential aspirant would refuse an invitation to enter the McKinley mansion of the personal representative of POTUS? I have advised some in the past who unwaveringly graced such invitation.

And I know of at least two candidates for

tribunal,” he said. “There has been next to nothing on this.

We still haven’t had a Freedom of Navigation mission that actually challenges the Chinese artificial islands.”

Is it any wonder then that Duterte concluded Obama wasn’t serious about defending the rule of law in the South China Sea? Close watchers of the Filipino leader could have predicted this kind of thing.

Before his campaign for the presidency in August 2015, he told supporters, “If America cared it would have sent aircraft carriers and missile frigates the moment China started reclaiming land in contested territory.”

Of course America didn’t do that. It didn’t even send the Navy into Filipino territorial waters claimed by China in the South China Sea after an international tribunal ruled that those waters were Filipino. Instead, the Obama administration acted as if international law would implement itself. But it never works that way. The rulebased system Obama endorses requires a great power to defend it.

Bloomberg

president in 2016 who did come a-visiting McKinley upon Forbes.

The pro-consuls explained that the choice of venue was dictated by “security” reasons, nothing physical, but rather, the possibility of detection and media attention when entering “neutral” places. By April though, still no meeting. Later it was communicated that a “neutral” venue could be arranged. But by then, the by-now leading candidate was extremely busy traipsing the campaign trail, hoping to approximate even half of what the competition had already visited. Schedules were very tight.

And then the “lapsus verbo,” the unintended consequences of an early-morning rally narration of how an Australian lady was brutally victimized in a hostage-taking incident in the early days of the Davao City mayor.

The American ambassador weighed-in.

That was pure political intervention.

The candidate, later to be president, gave tit for tat. His political adversaries thought it was time for the kill, and whether consciously or not, the ambassador played along.

But this is not a narrative about “hugot,” which is today’s patois for “where is he coming from?”

Truth is, if you find yourself stuck in a certain position, no matter how “right,” you extricate yourself by going “left.” And then finding what ought to be center, which is the true right.

Balance is what Duterte wants to achieve. It’s not about “getting even” with someone who’s packing his bags. Nothing personal, just the national interest as a truly nationalist president sees it.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

OUT OF THE BOX RITA LINDA V. JIMENO

The social and economic divide IN A forum on federalism I attended last week, some 50 experts on autonomy, governance and federalism came together for the first time to exchange experiences and perspectives. The idea was to present an opportunity for Filipinos and other nationalities, especially the policy makers dealing with various societal and political problems, to learn from each other. What crossed my mind in this forum and another conference I attended subsequently on market economy was that a change in the political and economic structure of our government is urgently needed. The clock is ticking fast and unless progress and growth become inclusive in a bottom-up process, there might be a violent collapse of the Philippine economy.

According to economic experts, in the Philippines, only 40 families out of 120-million people control 97 percent of the country’s wealth. While the country’s gross domestic product grew in the past two years, adding about $16.6 billion or some P816 billion to the Philippine GDP in 2014 alone, 51 percent of this growth went to only the 40 richest families in the country. One of the speakers in the social market economy conference said that based on latest statistics, these 40 wealthy families have a net worth of trillions of pesos, equal to, or even bigger, than the Philippines’ national budget. It was even worse in the previous years. The combined income of the 40 richest, according to former Economic Development chief, Cielito Habito, accounted for 76.5 percent of the country’s growth We need in 2012. a system of In contrast, data from the Philippine government that Statistics Authorwill allow real ity shows that more than 25-million peodecentralization ple or 26 percent of of powers and the Philippine population live on one a bottomdollar or P48 pesos up economic per day. The poorprogress. est—the fisherfolk and the farmers— generally survive on just one meal a day.

In the whole of Asia, the Philippines has earned the notoriety of being the only country which failed to cut in half the poverty level in the last 25 years.

The Philippines holds the infamy of having the worst rich-poor divide in Asia.

To address the extreme disparity in wealth, there have been moves in Congress to amend the Philippine tax laws to make those earning so much more pay higher taxes, Until now, however, no law has been passed. As it has always been, the rich easily get richer and the poor, poorer.

Under the present tax system, a person earning more than P500,000 annually pays income tax of 32 percent. Those earning in millions and billions pay the same percentage of income tax. The result is, the middle class gets smaller and the poor sector gets bigger.

History tells us that it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to make the politicians who belong to the oligarchic or wealthy classes to pass laws that will reform the economy to one that is inclusive. We have been witnesses to their outright refusal, too, to pass a law that will prohibit political dynasties despite the mandate of the Philippine Constitution that an Anti-Political Dynasty Law must be passed by Congress.

The only solution that appears viable now is a change in our present overly-centralized system of government to one that will allow real decentralization of powers and a bottom-up economic progress. The Germans have successfully put in place what they call a social market economy where no one is left behind because each citizen is given the chance to obtain education, get a job, enjoy health services—all that are needed to live a life of dignity.

The President of the Republic has oft repeated that he wants the Philippines to be a federal republic. His vision is for the poorest Filipino to rise from poverty. Although the process of federalization will take long, as it is never easy to make an upstream swim, it is worth working for.

Under our present system—passed on to us by our Spanish and American colonizers—the center controls all the power and the wealth. If we discard the unitary centralized system for a wider participation in governance and nation building and to allow a large portion of taxes collected in regions to be retained by them, hope will come.

The clock is ticking fast. Our enemies are the growing poverty and disparity in resources which breed insurgency, terrorism, discontent, and crimes. Those tasked in Congress to propose revisions to the Constitution must be ever mindful of the general good, not those of the elites who have, for far too long, taken advantage of our dysfunctional system.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News Erap: Ban on private tow firms still holds

By Sandy Araneta

HIGH-END. The multi-million columbarium and apartment type crypt at the Manila North Cemetery in Sta. Cruz Manila will be inagurated today by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Norman Cruz

House to pass report on SSS pension hike

By Rio N. Araja

WITH or without the presence of Social Security System officials on Nov. 15, the House of Representatives’ committee on government enterprises and privatization will pass its report on all 16 bills seeking a P2,000across-the-board increase in the monthly benefit of its two-million pensioners.

North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan, committee chairman, assured the public that the report will be passed so that the measure can already be tackled in the plenary.

The committee approved

the 16 bills last Sept. 7, after which the panel referred them to the committee on appropriations chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles for the fund provision of the proposals.

But the absence of invited SSS officials during the hearing last Oct. 18 delayed the panel approval of the committee report.

“The proposals then were given back to us after the appropriations committee acted on them. We are done with the committee report and it is only a matter of approving it on Nov. 15,” Sacdalan said.

Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, author of House Bill No. 2277, said there was no justifiable reason to further delay the approval of the com-

mittee report, especially since the proposed pension hike was already approved by both the Senate and the House during the 16th Congress, only to be vetoed by then President Benigno Aquino III. “The bill has priority status this 17th Congress. This was thoroughly studied by both the Senate and the House during the 16th Congress. So whether or not the SSS officials will show up on Nov. 15, we need to discuss and vote on the committee report of the pension hike bills so it can already proceed thereaf-

ter to the plenary,” Tambunting said.

Tambunting said the authors want to prove to SSS officials that the pension hike can be funded.

“First of all, the collection rate of the SSS has not improved, it has remained at 40 percent. The lack of SSS funds is due to the unimproved collection rate of the agency,” he said.

Tambunting said the SSS has many idle assets which, when disposed, can boost the coffers of the state pension fund. With PNA

Duterte MTRCB to approve rules for TV subtitles appoints By Macon Ramos-Araneta lawyer as SBMA OIC admin PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed lawyer Randy Escolango as officer-in-charge administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Escolango was the SBMA Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs prior to his appointment as OIC. He replaced Roberto Garcia who served as chairman and administrator of SBMA for the last five years.

“In tandem with Chairman Martin Diño, we will build on what SBMA has accomplished under Chairman Bobby Garcia whose leadership has turned the agency in tip-top shape as records and statistics will show,” Escolango said.

Escolango holds a doctoral degree in public administration, a master’s degree in public management, a law degree from the Far Eastern University, and a bachelor’s degree from the New Era University.

Jake Escalona, an SBMA locator, welcomed the appointment of Escolango.

“Local businessmen and traders who are confused as to who is the designated administrator, have been somewhat appeased with the designation of an OIC administrator,” Escalona said. PNA

SENATOR Grace Poe said she looks forward to the timely and meaningful implementation of a law that provides the deaf and hard of hearing equal access to information on television, with the finalization of its implementing rules and regulations within the year.

Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairperson

Eugenio Villareal reported to the public information and mass media committee chaired by Poe that the IRR will be approved next month.

Republic Act No. 10905, or the Closed Caption Law which Poe championed in the 16th Congress, makes it mandatory for television operators to include closed captions in presenting their programs to benefit the deaf and hard-of-hearing sector.

“It is the right of every citizen to have equal opportunity toward the inclusive growth of the country,” she said.

It is our shared responsibility to ensure that all Filipinos have equal access to opportunities,” Poe added.

The law is consistent with the Philippines’ commitment to provide equal opportunities to the deaf and hard-of-hearing when it ratified the Convention on

the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008.

Exemptions will be given to franchise holders or operators of TV stations and program producers on public service announcements that are shorter than 10 minutes; programs shown from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.; programs that are primarily textual in nature; and when compliance would be economically burdensome to TV operators.

READY FOR THE HOLIDAY RUSH. Skyway O&M Corporation and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group sign a

memorandum of agreement to jointly implement measures that will provide motorists with safe and efficient road networks during the heavy traffic ‘ber’ months for the South Metro Manila Skyway system. The agreement provides, among others, the implementation of the Amorsolo traffic management scheme in the Makati Central Business District as well as measures to address road incidents within Somco’s tollway facilities. PNP-HPG traffic officers will also be deployed along traffic chokepoints such as Buendia, Amorsolo, Bicutan and Sucat. Signing the MoA are Somco president Manuel Bonoan (seated, left) and PNP-HPG director Antonio Gardiola Jr.

MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Sunday reminded motorists that private towing companies remain barred from operating in the city.

Estrada said his order last year to suspend indefinitely the operations of private towing firms in the city still stands, and that only those that belong to the city’s Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) are authorized to do so.

“Since March last year, we have stopped all towing activities within Manila. So if a towing truck without MTPB markings would try to get your vehicle, that is illegal. Call the police,” Estrada said.

After receiving numerous complaints from the public, the city government stopped the operations of privately owned firms RWM and PMA Towing Services Inc. in March last year.

Estrada said he has not authorized any new towing operators to resume operations in the city.

“We have our own tow trucks and personnel and they are under strict orders to assist the motorists in emergencies,” he said.

Recently, the Manila Police District has arrested a PMA tow truck driver after forcibly towing at least two trucks in Pandacan, according to MPD director Joel Coronel.

The MPD chief advised motorists to call MPD at 52383-87 or Patrol 117 if they encounter such private towing trucks within the city.

School marks 58th anniversary THE past pupils of Holy Trinity Academy (Girls’ Department) in Balic-balic, Sampaloc, Manila under the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco in celebration of its 58th anniversary will be having a grand reunion dubbed as ‘58@’58 BalicTanawBalicSaya Ver.2.0 on November 26, 2016 at Don Bosco School in Sta. Mesa. All past pupils from 1958 to 1993 are invited to join the celebration. Attendees will be joined by former faculty members and school staff as well as previous school chaplains.

On-site registration starts at 3:00 p.m. followed by a mass at 4:00 p.m. Registration for the event is P200 inclusive of dinner. For advance and on-line registration and other details, please contact Vilma Velasquez-Magali at (0917)657 1564 or email htagirls.58@gmail. com or log on to Facebook and join group page: ‘58@’58 HTA Girls’ Dept. Grand Reunion.

Pope receives Filipino artwork A FILIPINO liturgical artist personally handed Pope Francis a framed artwork during a visit to the Vatican last week.

Brother Jaazeal Dineros Jakosalem of the Order of Augustinian Recollects gave the Holy Father the art piece “Embracing Mercy” at the Sala Clementina after a special papal audience granted to the Augustinian Recollects on Oct. 20.

“Beautiful. I like it. Please pray for me, young man,” said the Pontiff upon receiving the artwork.

The canvass shows Pope Francis embracing the Christchild, fashioned after the likeness of Alan Kurdi, the threeyear-old Syrian refugee who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea and was washed ashore along with his deceased mother and brother. PNA

Sports

A7

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 , 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Carl Edwards Jr. of the Chicago Cubs celebrates after his team defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-0, in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series to advance to the World Series against the Cleveland Indians at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. AFP

Cursed Cubs back in World Series C HICAGO—The Chicago Cubs are returning to the World Series for the first time in 71 years, a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers giving them a chance to end the longest title drought in North American sports.

The hard-luck Cubs haven’t won the world Series since 1908, and last played in Major League Baseball’s championship showcase in 1945.

But with the victory before 42,386 ecstatic fans at Wrigley Field, the Cubs wrapped up the National League Cham-

pionship Series four games to two and will face the Cleveland Indians in the 112th World Series starting on Tuesday in Cleveland.

The Indians haven’t won a World Series title since 1948.

“I thought we played one of our best

games we played all year tonight, under these circumstances,” manager Joe Maddon said. “The defense, the pitching, the hitting. That was a complete game of baseball.”

The Cubs pounced quickly on Dodgers pitching ace Clayton Kershaw, scoring two runs in the first inning to stake Chicago starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks to an early lead.

After giving up a first-pitch single, Hendricks dominated, facing the minimum number of Dodgers hitters through 7 1/3 shut-out innings.

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras and

Anthony Rizzo both homered off Kershaw as the Dodgers were denied their first trip to the World Series since 1988.

A Cubs team that won a major league-leading 103 regular-season games chased Kershaw after five innings. Kershaw, who pitched seven scoreless innings in a game-two win over the Cubs at Wrigley a week earlier, gave up five runs, four of them earned, on seven hits.

“The Cubs’ hitters, they had a great game plan tonight,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “There was traffic all night for Clayton. And he gave it ev-

erything he had, but when he did make a mistake, they made him pay.”

When the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig grounded into a double play to end the game, Wrigley Field erupted as Cubs players stormed the mound to celebrate.

“This is unbelievable right now,” Hendricks said. “Today, that might have been the best game I pitched all year. I had my fastball command, changeup, curveball, I had everything going.”

Chicago second baseman Javier Baez delivered more heads-up defensive play, tagging Andrew Toles out to spark a double play in the first inning. AFP

Sea Lions eye 3rd win in a row

Pocari takes on Laoag, targets 2nd semis berth

Games Today (Olivarez Sports Center, Paranaque City) 12 noon- CDSL vs TIP 2 p.m. - Univ of Batangas vs Olivarez College

Games today 12:30 p.m. – Cignal vs Army 4 p.m. – Laoag vs Pocari 6 p.m. – Air Force vs UP

OLIVAREZ College shoots for its third straight win when it collides with still winless University of Batangas in the 1st Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranaque City.

The Sea Lions are hoping to stay focused and hot despite the cancellation of their game with the Technological Institute of the Philippines Engineers last Thursday due to typhoon Lawin.

Prior to that postponement, the Sea Lions posted their second straight win by downing Diliman College, 72-64, to tie the TIP Engineers for second to third places with similar 2-1 records.

The TIP Engineers also target their third win when they collide with the Colegio de San Lorenzo at 12 noon.

The Centro Escolar University Scorpions remain as the only unbeaten squad in the tournament organized by UCAL and sponsored by Euro-Med and Lamoiyan Corp. with a 4-0 card.

Proponents of the ABL joining forces with ABS-CBN are shown here. They are (from left) Charlie Dy, CEO, Virtual Playground, Dondon Monteverde, President, Virtual Playground, Dino Laurena, Head of Integrated Sports, ABS-CBN, Jericho Ilagan, COO, ABL

Virtual Playground, ABS-CBN join forces PREMIER sports management agency Virtual Playground has chosen ABSCBN S+A Channel 23 as its official media partner and exclusive broadcaster for the ASEAN Basketball League’s coming 7th season. Months in the making, the deal was led by seasoned sports agent Charlie Dy and Dondon Monteverde, who serve as CEO and President of Virtual Playground, respectively.

Pacquiao mobbed by media, fans in LA

By Ronnie Nathanielsz PHILIPPINE senator and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao was mobbed by the media and fight fans when he arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila.

Pacquiao arrived with his wife Jinkee and members of his entourage, including Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and longtime adviser Michael Koncz.

Strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, who left for LA last Monday, told Manila Standard he expects Pacquiao to have at least three more sparring sessions before his showdown with Jessie Vargas for Vargas’ WBO welterweight title at the Thomas & Mack Center on Nov. 6 (Manila time).

The fight card, which will also include five-division super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire in a title defense against unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno, will be telecast by Solar Sports and GMA 7 as well as on pay-per-view over

Sky Cable and Cignal TV. Pacquiao has had some ferocious sparring sessions with the 5’10” Jose Ramirez, who approximates the style of Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs).

After six rounds of sparring last Saturday, Ramirez said: “While it’s been a tough camp for Manny, he is going to be more than ready when he faces Vargas.”

On Monday, Pacquiao will begin phase two of his training camp, at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.

While Pacquiao will be looking to become a three-time WBO welterweight champion as well as the first senator to win a world title, Vargas will be resolute in enforcing a term limit on the future Hall of Famer’s boxing career.

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with the Manila Standard, Vargas said he is “much stronger today” than when he scored an impressive 9th round KO over Sadam Ali to win the title last March 5 and wants to “go above and beyond that performance and out on a better performance when he faces the

The announcement was confirmed this week over a contract signing attended by Dy and Monteverde; Jericho Ilagan, Chief Operating Officer of ABL; and Dino Laurena, Head of Integrated Sports at ABSCBN. The ASEAN Basketball League was inaugurated in Metro Manila back in 2009.

The 2016-2017 season will consist of 71 games, beginning with the first match on Nov. 27.

All Philippine home games

will be aired lived on ABSCBN S+A Ch. 23 and live streamed through sports.abscbn.com. Additional selected matches will be aired on the same channel. “When Virtual Playground first approached us for this project, we were very excited. We believe we can take basketball in this country and raise the game to a whole new level through our participation in the ABL,” said Laurena.

Charlie Dy, who will

also be heading the Philippine team recruitment through his company, Virtual Playground, is similarly eager about the opportunities presented. “We Filipinos consider basketball our national sport,” said Dy. “This is a chance for us to give Filipino athletes a platform to showcase our talents and abilities on an international level.” At the same time, Laurena sees the sporting event as a way to promote nation-building.

POCARI Sweat hopes to ride the crest of its impressive three-set romp over title contender Customs as it shoots for the second semifinal berth against Team Laoag Monday in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Lady Warriors displayed grace under pressure in the first two sets then impose its will in the third to complete a 25-22, 25-22, 25-14 victory over Alyssa Valdez and the Transformers over the weekend, moving them closer to another semis stint and on track for a second straight championship after debuting with a title romp in the Open Conference early this year.

It was Pocari’s third straight win since stumbling with a five-set setback to Air Force last Oct. 5 although the Lady Warriors remain wary of the Power Smashers in their 4 p.m. encounter, citing the latter’s back-to-wall stance in the wild race for the three other seats in the Final Four with just four playdates left in the in the season-ending conference of the league where it all started.

Only UST, with a 5-1 mark, is assured of a spot in the semis in the tournament sponsored

by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter. Pocari and BaliPure are tied at 3-1 while Customs slid to fourth at 3-2.

With a 2-3 slate, Laoag is in a must-win situation although the Power Smashers are reeling from back-to-back setbacks to the UP Lady Maroons and the Tigresses.

Let’s get it on FANTASY FANATIC JIMBO GULLE I MUST have jinxed myself talking about injured NBA players, because for the last two weeks I’ve been on the injured list myself with an assortment of ailments. It ain’t easy gettin’ old, so apologies my friends for leaving you hanging in this corner.

But now we’re at the cusp of the new NBA season, and Cleveland seems to be the consensus pick of the experts to repeat as champion over the loaded but flawed Golden State five (If you want to know what I mean, search ESPN for its recent excellent piece on Draymond Green). I don’t agree with them, partly because I’m a (bandwagon) Warriors’ fan, but the Cavaliers faithful have every reason to believe they can repeat as champions for as long as LeBron James can walk without a cane.

For us fantasy basketball fanatics however, our lives begin again on Oct. 25 when the NBA regular season tips off. All the preseason prognostication about our favorite players in forming our fantasy teams will be tested in the games that matter, and over the next 24 weeks - the length of a typical fantasy hoops season with or without playoffs - we get to see if our instincts were right in forming our virtual squads, or if the advice of numerous fantasy experts (myself not included, haha) were right.

The recent slate of preseason games provided a great glimpse into the values of players you could be targeting ahead of drafts, and we hope you managed to pluck the likes of Denver center Jusuf Nurkic, whose stock has soared after strong showings against the Nuggets’ practice partners. The preseason also helps solidify rotations and depth charts and reveals the tendencies of players you may be on the fence about.

As an example, after watching several Portland games, you will never see me draft Evan Turner,

even though he could play four positions for the Trail Blazers. To me, he doesn’t pass the eye test and he’s just not that good - therefore he won’t provide meaningful stats, which are the lifeblood of all fantasy teams.

Speaking of teams, over three days recently I joined my sportswriting brethren in drafting for our three annual competitive leagues - two headto-head and one rotisserie - with modest prizes at stake. All three are 20-deep leagues, and playing with a bunch of basketball scribes as knowledgeable as yours truly is definitely a challenge.

Here are my lineups for each league that I joined.

I was generally happy with how I drafted, but will nitpick for the sake of exposing the thinking behind these teams: 20-team H2H, 9-category, 4 divisions, division winners advance to playoffs 1. (8) Kawhi Leonard (SA - SG,SF); 2. (33) Jonas Valanciunas (Tor - C); 3. (48) Jae Crowder (Bos SF,PF); 4. (73) Marcin Gortat (Was - C); 5. (88) Otto Porter (Was - SF); 6. (113) Jrue Holiday (NO - PG); 7. (128) Dario Saric (Phi - PF); 8. (153) Andrew Bogut (Dal - C); 9. (168) Seth Curry (Dal - PG); 10.

(193) Allen Crabbe (Por - PG,SG); 11. (208) Cody Zeller (Cha - PF,C); 12. (233) Randy Foye (Bkn PG,SG); 13. (248) Corey Brewer (Hou - SG,SF) Picking eighth, I would have expected Giannis Antetokounmpo to fall on my lap, but in a draft where Karl-Anthony Towns went No. 1 and Paul George at No. 5, I was more than happy to snag the Spurs’ allaround star. I also experimented with a punt-assists build – thus I totally whiffed on a decent point guard – but I wished I could have snagged Goran Dragic or Jeff Teague in the middle rounds.

20-team H2H, 9-category, no divisions, top 8 advance to playoffs 1. (4) Kevin Durant (GS - SF,PF); 2. (37) Isaiah Thomas (Bos - PG); 3. (44) Myles Turner (Ind - PF,C); 4. (77) Avery Bradley (Bos - PG,SG); 5. (84) Robin Lopez (Chi - C); 6. (117) Patrick Beverley (Hou PG,SG); 7. (124) Justise Winslow (Mia - SF,PF); 8.

(157) Andrew Bogut (Dal - C); 9. (164) Seth Curry (Dal - PG); 10. (197) Kyle Anderson (SA - SF) I autodrafted KD -- I wanted to pick Towns or

whomever was left among Steph Curry, Harden or Westbrook – then tried to go for balance and some upside with Myles Turner. But I stumbled in the middle rounds (in particular Beverly, whose injury forced me to drop him early) and staggered to the finish in this 10-man-roster league.

20-team Rotisserie, 9-category, no divisions 1. (14) Paul Millsap (Atl - PF,C); 2. (27) Victor Oladipo (OKC - PG,SG); 3. (54) Nicolas Batum (Cha - SG,SF); 4. (67) Aaron Gordon (Orl - SF,PF); 5. (94) Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Bkn - SG,SF); 6. (107) Robert Covington (Phi - SF,PF); 7. (134) Trey Lyles (Uta - PF); 8. (147) Solomon Hill (NO - SG,SF); 9. (174) Ed Davis (Por - PF,C); 10. (187) Matt Barnes (Sac - SG,SF); 11. (214) Jerryd Bayless (Phi - PG,SG); 12. (227) Chris McCullough (Bkn - PF); 13. (254) Thabo Sefolosha (Atl - SG,SF); 14.

(267) Jon Leuer (Det - PF,C) I haven’t won a Roto league since the first year I played fantasy – in Filipino, tsamba – but I finished sixth in this league last year, and I hope the top 7 guys I drafted live up to their upside and snag me a podium finish. This center-deficient lineup still needs work though, and I’ll have to scour the wires for some big man help.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

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

A8

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

Sports

Thidarat Phengvechai of Bangkok Glass is foiled by PSL-F2 Manila’s Lindsay Stalzer and Jaja Santiago. Roman Prospero

Rio stars power Vakifbank T HREE of the best spikers of the 2016 Rio Olympics joined hands to lead Vakifbank Istanbul to a bronze-medal finish Sunday the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena.

La Salle reaches Final 4

By Peter Atencio Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. La Salle vs UE 4 p.m. UP vs NU

THE La Salle Green Archers are in the Final Four.

Ben Mbala and Jeron Teng led the way for La Salle, which secured the first twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four semifinals after they smothered the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 99-56, Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Mbala struck with 21 points, and had 15 rebounds, while Teng added 16 points for the Green Archers, who also earned a twice-to-beat incentive in posting their 11th straight win in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Mbala’s performance was also his 11th double-double in a row for the season.

With three games to go in the elimination round, La Salle can earn an automatic berth in the finals with a sweep of all its three remaining games.

Louie Vigil tallied 18 points and had seven rebounds for the Growling Tigers, who have lost six of their last seven matches.

The Growling Tigers took a five-point lead from the start before La Salle caught up with them.

La Salle’s 34-11 blast put them way out ahead, 45-23, at the half.

Julian Sargent’s layup later increased their advantage to as high as 46, 93-47, with 2:10 to go.

Prior to that moment, Sargent was flanked on the floor

by Mbala, Mark Dyke, Jason Perkins, and Abu Tratter – meaning they had no pointman.

First, they got past the defensive plays of Brazilian commercial model-spiker Mariana Costa, Natalya Mammadova and Irina Malkova in the second set, before Vakifbank’s own floor defense carried them to a 25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11 smashing of Volero Zurich.

The win sent Vakifbank to their best finish in three years after winning the crown in 2013.

Rio Games’ best opposite hitter Lonneke Sloetjes struck with 16 points, including a spike off Costa’s block that sent Vakifbank

close to match points in the third set, 24-22.

Akman Kubra then gave the matchpoint to Vakifbank with her block of Costa.

Rasic Milena, the best middle block of the 2016 Olympics, had 15 points. Her shining moment came in the fourth set as she and Sloetjes came up with blocks that put Vakifbank in front, 11-4.

Chinese spiker Zhu Ting, the MVP of the Rio Games, tallied 13 points, including a kill in the third set that gave Vakifbank a 22-19

lead.

“I’m proud of my players. They wanted to proceed with the win.

They put up quite a good performance,” said Vakifbank coach Giovani Guidetti, who coached The Netherlands to fourth place in the Rio Games.

Meanwhile, Australian spiker Ashley Frazier tallied 12 points for Bangkok Glass, which settled for seventh spot in their consolation match with Manila PSL-F2 Logistics, 25-16, 25-23, 25-20.

Frazier scored three crucial

points during a crucial part of the third set, including an ace which handed the Thai spikers a decisive 10-7 lead.

Teammates Thidarat Phengvechai and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa added 11 points each for the Thais, with Thidarat hitting a spike and coming off with a block in the second set to help shatter a 23-all tie.

“We are very happy with our game on the last day. The players played good,” said Thai coach Kittipong Porncha. Peter Atencio

PhilCycling holds polls on Dec. 3 THE Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, or PhilCycing, will hold its elections on Dec. 3 at the Golden Bay Restaurant along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

The exercise, held once every Olympic cycle, will start at 10 a.m.

PhilCycling President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Secretary General Atty. Avelino “Billy” Sumagui have called on affiliated clubs to attend the general assembly that will elect the 15 members of the PhilCycling board.

Please email your queries to philcycling@gmail.com or call or text 09175594767. Each regular or affiliated member will be entitled to one vote. The voting representative must at least be a vice president, or its equivalent, of his or her club.

A written authority from the club president is required. The clubs also need to secure a Certificate of Good Standing from the PhilCycling.

The deadline for clubs wishing to update their membership is on Nov. 3.

Meanwhile, boxing chief Ricky Vargas will not ignore clamors for change from within the ranks of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Vargas, who heads the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, will file his candidacy today.

“I know it is not going to be an easy task to go up against the entrenched powers that be, but the clamor is too intense for me to ignore,” said Vargas.

POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco is attempting to secure a fourth term when elections take place on Nov. 25.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and cycling chief Abraham Tolentino were supposed to run, but gave way for Vargas in a sign of unity.

Vargas’ bid was done following consultations with a number of NSA heads, who are involved in a movement for change.

“I accept to lead the call for change as asked of me by sports leaders,” added Vargas.

There are 43 voting members in the POC, including 40 NSAs. A candidate needs to get 22 votes to win the presidency. Peter Atencio

Romero: PBA must boost web-based platforms GLOBALPORT owner and party-list Rep. Mikee Romero (1Pacman) said the Philippine Basketball Association should not be contented with the success of the recent Governors’ Cup Finals as he called on league officials to strengthen the webbased platforms or electronic media in order to gain more following.

“PBA has to be a habit again,” the incoming league chairman said in his speech during the PBA Press Corps Awards Night

on Saturday night at Gloria Maris inside Gateway in Cubao.

Romero, 45, will assume the league chairmanship next month during the annual planning session of the Board of Governors in South Korea.

He will replace San Miguel Beer Governor Robert Non, who he said has done a great job.

“Mr. Non is a tough act to follow, so I hope I can also get the support of all team owners

and their representatives,” said Romero.

While he was elated with the huge turnout of fans during the classic title series between eventual champion Barangay Ginebra and Meralco, Romero said all platforms must be ready and available not only for basketball-crazy Filipinos in the country but also for 11 million Overseas Filipino Workers.

In Ginebra’s title-clinching win, a crowd of 22,528 filled every available

space at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We have to go high-tech, that’s the only way we can bring PBA back to the consciousness of every Filipino whether they are in the country or working abroad,” added Romero.

“PBA games should be available to everybody because that’s also one way of promoting our country,” said Romero, noting that PBA has also a big number of fans from Taiwan.

Carlos, Pedrosa hit jackpots

Bianca Carlos and Ros Pedrosa flash top forms en route to claiming the singles crowns in the Bingo Bonanza National Open.

BIANCA Carlos and Ros Pedrosa turned their expected tight final-round matches into a pair of romps as they shared the Open singles’ honors in the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at SM Megamall Sunday.

Carlos kept the momentum of her string of straight-set victories, including a 21-15, 21-10 triumph over Malvinne Ann Alcala in the semifinals, dethroning last year’s champion and top seed Sarah Joy Barredo, 2113, 21-11, to bag the women’s singles diadem.

It was actually the top Ateneo bet’s second straight win over Barredo this year with the former also trouncing the latter in three in the FDG Cup finals last June.

Pedrosa, on the other hand, halted the unseeded Clarence Filart’s run of impressive victories as the third-ranked mainstay of PBA Smash Pilipinas came away with an emphatic 21-11, 2114 victory to claim the men’s singles crown in the annual top-ranking tournament sponsored by Bingo Bonanza.

Carlos and Pedrosa each received

P100,000.

Peter Magnaye and Indonesian Devi Permatasari also essayed a straightset 21-15, 21-19 win over fellow PBA Smash Pilipinas stalwarts Ronel Estanislao and Keshya Hanadia, also of Indonesia, to nail the Open mixed doubles crown in 32 minutes before a big Sunday crowd.

Bracing for a fierce challenge, Carlos seized control early with her vast repertoire of shots, keeping Barredo on the defensive majority of the way. The former National Open champion scored on smashes and dropped shots while pouncing on her rival’s miscues to complete the 35-minute victory.

Pedrosa proved more convincing, easing out Filart with his power game en route to posting a 20-minute demolition of the Ateneo bet who stunned top seed Kevin Cudiamat in the quarterfinals and No. 6 Solomon Padiz Jr. in the Final Four of the event organized by EventKing Corp. and backed by official equipment Victor, exclusively distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Ikeda steps up Order of Merit title drive at PH Golf Tour in Northwoods CHIHIRO Ikeda hopes to cash in on the absence of the other big guns as she firms up her bid for the Order of Merit title in the rich ICTSI Royal Northwoods Ladies Challenge which gets underway Tuesday at Royal Northwoods Golf Club in San Rafael, Bulacan.

The P1 million event is actually the richest thus far in the four-year-old circuit sponsored

by ICTSI with Ikeda upbeat of

her chances for the top P250,000 purse with the likes of Princess Superal and Mia Piccio still in the US vying in the LPGA QSchool.

Superal swept the last two legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., actually her first two events as a pro. But with the former US Girls’ Open champion out of this week’s roster, Ikeda looms as the player to beat in the 54-hole

tournament serving as the penultimate leg of the 10-stage tour.

With a breakthrough win at Orchard last June and a number of top five finishes, Ikeda has racked up earnings of P514,121, just P99,109 ahead of Piccio, who is also in the Florida chasing an LPGA Tour card.

Lovelyn Guioguio is in third in the OOM ranking with P317,246 in winnings with a victory this week, coupled with Ikeda’s poor

finish, could lift the Davaoeno shotmaker to the top of the heap heading to the final leg at Alabang Country Club in December.

The closing stage, however, set Dec. 19-23, will serve as a Taiwan LPGA Tour like in the first two legs at Splendido and Manila Southwoods, with a talent-laden international field seeing action.

Sarah Ababa, winner of the Sherwood leg last year, is in fourth with P308,630 while Jay-

vie Agojo, out to end a two-year title spell, has piled up P292,615 in earnings.

But Ikeda, Guioguio, Ababa and Agojo also brace for a challenging week with three Thais and one Indonesian joining the hunt for the crown in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Sharp, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Champion, TaylorMade, Ping, Yamaha and Pacsports.

Business

Calax project starts in 2017 B3 Meralco’s power sales grow 9.5%

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the country’s largest power retailer, said sales grew 9.5 percent in the first nine months on strong growth across all customer segments.

“Nine months [posted] 9.5 percent [sales growth],” Meralco senior vice president and head of customer retail services, corporate marketing and communications Al Panlilio said.

Panlilio said the residential sector posted the strongest growth of 14.2 percent in January to September.

“As we have shared in the past, it’s driven by residential growth of 14.2 percent although commercial [at] 9.2 percent and industrial at 5.2 percent showed strong growth too,” he said.

Meralco earlier reported a sales growth of 11.1 percent in the first half to 19,717 gigawatt-hours, with residential customers posting the highest growth of 16.7 percent.

Sales from residential customers went up on higher organic sales, new accounts, warmer temperature and low inflation.

Commercial sales grew 11 percent in the first half, driven by real estate, retail trade and hotels and restaurants, while industrial sales rose 6 percent amid higher demand from cement, manufacturing, food and beverage and plastic and packaging industries.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

B1

SEC reviewing PhilWeb sale

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission will review the appeal of PhilWeb Corp. to close the P2-billion block sale of founder Roberto Ongpin’s 53.76-percent stake in the company to businessman Gregorio Ma. Araneta III before conducting a mandatory tender offer.

“It is still being considered,” SEC chairperson Teresita J. Herbosa told reporters.

Herbosa said the SEC obtained the formal request from PhilWeb just last week.

Araneta, who is currently the chairman of PhilWeb, in a letter to Herbosa last week sought the approval of the block sale first before complying with the tender offer requirement.

“The tender offer requirement re-

quired to be accomplished prior to the block sale will only cause unnecessary expense on my part,” Araneta said, citing fairness opinion and newspaper publication, among other things.

“We at PhilWeb are also concerned about restarting our operations without delay since the network of e-Games cafe have been out of business over two months now,” he added.

PhilWeb said last week it submitted an application to renew the company’s

gaming license with state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Araneta committed to conduct a tender offering at the earliest possible time.

Share price of PhilWeb is currently trading at P9 apiece. Araneta, meanwhile, will conduct a tender offering to other shareholders of PhilWeb at P2.60 per share.

PhilWeb on Oct. 5 announced that Ongpin-led RVO Group of Companies and Araneta finalized a sale and purchase agreement.

Ongpin, under the agreement, will sell his entire 771,651,896 PhilWeb shares to Gregorio Araneta Inc. at P2.60 per share for a total value of P2 billion.

The first tranche of 653,151,896 shares will be completed through a special block sale in the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The second tranche will consist of 118,500,000 shares comprising of partially paid shares, which have been actu-

Duterte’s ‘China pivot’ puts economy at risk

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Philippines risks undermining economic relations with the US because of President Rodrigo Duterte’s sudden shift in foreign policy priorities, a London-based think tank warned over the weekend.

Capital Economics, in its Emerging Asia Economics Update, said the Philippines’ shift toward closer ties with China was unlikely to bring many economic benefits for the country.

The think-tank’s comment came after Duterte, in his third day state visit in China on Oct. 20, announced a separation of military and economic ties from

the United States.

“And by upsetting the US, there is a risk that President Duterte undermines a much more important bilateral relationship,” Capital Economics senior Asia economist Gareth Leather said.

The Philippines exports nearly 50 percent more to the US than it does to China, according to Capital Economics.

US companies are the main investors in the booming business process outsourcing sector, which now accounts for around 10 percent of GDP and employs more than 1 million Filipinos. Remittances from overseas Filipinos living in the US are equivalent to around 5 percent of the economy.

Duterte’s economic team, however, was quick to clarify the president’s rhetoric, saying Duterte had meant to say “rebalancing” the county’s ties across all nations.

“An influx of Chinese money as well as expertise could make a difference, but we are doubtful that it will lead to a huge improvement,”Capital Economics said.

Duterte witnessed the signing of $24 billion worth of agreements in his visit to China. These included $15 billion worth of proposed investments and $9 billion worth of credit facilities.

Capital economics said the most likely form of assistance China would offer the Philippines was low-interest loans.

ally fully paid but should to be registered for listing with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Under the Securities Regulation Code, an entity that acquires 35 percent stake of a listed company is required within a year to make a tender offer for all the outstanding voting shares.

B2

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks likely to trade sideways

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

TOCKS are expected to move sideways this week in the absence of significant local catalysts and as investors look overseas for guidance.

“We expect the PSEi [Philippine Stock Exchange index] to move together with the international markets due to the lack of significant local catalysts,” BPI Asset Management said in its weekly market outlook.

Analysts said the rising expectations for a US Federal Reserve interest rate hike in December, the upcoming US elections and the rising world crude prices were among the factors that could affect the market’s move-

ment over the short term.

Investors are also expected to start taking positions ahead of the release of third-quarter earnings of listed companies.

Among the companies scheduled to release quarterly earnings this week are Manila Electric Co., Aboitiz Group and Philex Mining Corp.

Analysts expect the PSEi, the 30-company bellwether, to trade between 7,570 and 7,720 points this week.

Investors are also looking forward to the Duterte administration’s 10-point economic agenda, following the $24-billion investment deals signed with China last week.

The PSEi jumped 3.5 percent over last week’s five-day market trading to close at 7,650.22 on Friday, ending three consecutive weeks of decline.

The broader all-share index gained 2.6 percent to end the week at 4,518.11.

All major sub-indices ended in the green,

led by holding firms which advanced 4.5 percent, property which climbed 4 percent and services which went up by 3.6 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers last week of P1.16 billion, as total foreign buying reached P23.55 billion while foreign selling amounted to P22.38 billion.

Average daily turnover also went up to P8.2 billion from previous week’s average of P7.3 billion.

Top gainers last week were JG Summit Holdings Inc. which climbed 10.8 percent to P78.90, Megawide Construction Corp. which rose 10.1 percent to P15.94 and GT Capital Holdings Inc. which gained 6.3 percent to P1,420.

Heavy losers were Liberty Telecoms Holdings Inc. which dropped 4.5 percent to P2.09, Nickel Asia Corp. which dipped 2 percent to P2.90 and PXP Energy Corp. which declined 1.7 percent to P3.88.

Globe, China firms sign $750-m deals

By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said it signed several agreements with Huawei Technologies, Nokia and Wuhan Fiberhome International Technologies worth $750 million over five years to accelerate the use of new long-term evolution technologies to enhance data services and improve customer experience.

“Globe is deeply committed in giving a wonderful experience to our customers by continuing to

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

OCTOBER 17-21, 2016 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

Maybank ATR KE MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.58 47.7 112.00 104.10 37.9 3.73 1.40 9 16.2 19.98 6.85 0.68 1.9 665.00 0.86 0.830 86.95 0.89 14.2 22.00 57.70 99.95 153 260 37 226 1490.00 75.20 1.42

123,000 308,300 17,419,700 7,132,090 2,950,200 185,000 1,280,000 100 214,700 2,156,300 1,300 440,000 13,000 250 19,923,000 205,790,000 19,975,990 11,121,000 706,200 900 225,520 160 123,860 4,990 2,059,400 6,419,360 2,635 273,030 170,000

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.95 3.84 1.02 1.48 15.5 113.8 200.00 11.6 17 140 100 23.5 62 2.14 6.69 12.36 11.500 7.35 5.93 7.60 1.87 23.25 70.6 12.50 16.60 6.1 2.050 247.00 87.80 1.94 4.02 27.85 30.9 28.5 15.94 291.20 0.250 4.50 3.08 10.74 11.50 2.16 5.88 1.54 3.62 4.21 2.2 3.24 222 0.148 1.76 184 4.58 2.18 1.19

6,660,300 12,939,000 28,116,000 5,516,000 10,800 59,310 1,010 77,992,700 16,162,400 30 7,170 1,809,200 543,240 2,228,000 4,482,700 103,000 21,340,900 8,364,400 41,070,800 2,288,200 100,000 6,445,400 1,234,990 163,400 6,048,388 13,152,100 2,470,000 1,774,280 29,820 14,000 115,900 2,900 31,310,200 1,858,500 13,976,100 3,006,320 2,690,000 50,000 19,683,000 16,310,300 130,100 8,095,000 4,257,506 1,228,000 1,395,000 23,425,000 6,000 47,000 8,150 12,140,000 2,831,000 13,616,520 73,000 18,474,000 2,072,000

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ BHI Holdings Inc. Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.385 78.10 15.28 1.28 5.99 0.340 0.330 858 1050.00 8.45 13.34 8.13 0.211 1420 6.27 78.90 3.76 5.2 5.3 8.2 0.8 15.5 7.18 0.0370 1.930 2.53 80.30 2.25 697.00 1.21 0.93 234.800 0.3050 0.2000 0.265

1,820,000 8,293,660 20,277,400 240,000 325,500 2,660,000 390,000 1,537,900 10 6,904,400 50,812,600 2,319,800 1,440,000 532,735 1,800 16,662,020 10,000 1,800 2,000 8,314,600 851,000 30,825,500 148,704,100 64,000,000 741,000 22,000 727,980 67,000 2,219,210 684,000 242,000 54,840 2,410,000 1,790,000 1,150,000

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

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

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

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

7.240 6.70 1.15 2.400 0.280 37.750 2.92 5.15 0.590 1.12 1.070 0.151 0.660 55.75 0.740 0.141 0.99 1.82 1.08 4.20 4.28 0.170 0.2700 0.415 36.35

915,600 7,900 13,936,000 4,964,000 6,010,000 84,604,200 14,712,000 87,400 24,451,000 835,000 183,000 22,600,000 200,811,000 1,804,450 1,191,000 250,000 10,114,000 50,827,000 2,372,000 34,000 229,551,000 404,440,000 560,000 260,000 6,800

Value FINANCIAL 430,870.00 14,608,595.00 1,941,114,753 739,168,028.00 112,001,030.00 709,480.00 1,795,480.00 900.00 3,550,678.00 42,344,557.00 8,683 296,620 24,370.00 167,450.00 17,242,200.00 187,292,980.00 1,703,504,346.00 9,565,350.00 9,987,580.00 19,810.00 12,852,917.00 15,757.50 19,114,578.00 1,305,038.00 74,341,165 1,457,351,666.00 3,936,040 20,502,483.50 342,050.00 INDUSTRIAL 307,025,770.00 50,212,000.00 27,024,440.00 7,206,950.00 166,890.00 6,126,374.00 197,100.00 887,780,994.00 263,318,846 4,200.00 727,092.00 42,442,770.00 32,840,107 4,666,300.00 30,207,181.00 1,257,952.00 242,313,092.00 61,671,979.00 243,282,506.00 16,850,271.00 182,560.00 151,060,610.00 87,359,008.00 1,969,812.00 8,841,756.00 79,984,315.00 5,023,420.00 436,994,414.00 2,222,604.00 27,290.00 513,700.00 77,390.00 971,455,215.00 52,439,920.00 216,503,268.00 861,327,850.00 658,090.00 227,520.00 60,996,870.00 172,876,002.00 1,447,128.00 17,590,610.00 25,516,273.00 1,835,030.00 4,919,830.00 97,575,650.00 13,200.00 153,170.00 1,788,734.00 1,779,070.00 4,932,760.00 2,469,515,114 333,340.00 40,122,360.00 2,413,600.00 HOLDING FIRMS 678,700.00 649,870,404.50 308,982,840.00 302,340.00 1,954,246.00 894,550.00 132,950.00 1,320,860,720 10,745.00 57,772,765.00 676,774,368.00 18,805,689.00 299,860.00 745,323,390.00 11,104.00 1,279,316,549.00 37,790.00 9,361.00 10,600.00 67,487,092.00 670,380.00 481,296,932.00 1,067,313,935.00 2,354,900.00 1,428,420.00 55,640.00 58,670,759.00 151,970.00 1,537,692,130.00 817,190.00 220,160.00 12,664,104.00 735,400.00 347,410.00 310,000.00 PROPERTY 6,645,126.00 54,330.00 15,627,000.00 11,618,670.00 1,638,800.00 3,149,214,105.00 42,599,100.00 449,466.00 14,508,130.00 946,090.00 193,320.00 3,402,770.00 132,290,590.00 98,803,870.50 887,980.00 35,880.00 9,985,110.00 91,380,680.00 2,605,670.00 143,090.00 984,290,340.00 70,660,790.00 142,300.00 107,750.00 231,975.00

Close

OCTOBER 10-14, 2016 Volume Value

STOCKS

OCTOBER 17-21, 2016 Close Volume

Primex Corp.

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

3.39 31.00 1.6 3.3 28.35 1.03 7.1 0.980 5.300

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Pacific Tollways Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

7.65 48 1.35 0.520 0.054 11.4 5.3 5.79 0.0840 3.1 108 10 2.85 6.70 2.89 956 1892 6.18 13.50 17.02 2.03 76.1 16.52 135 11.8 0.0092 9.20 0.213 1.4800 3.44 13.3 5.25 2.09 1.05 2.25 23.35 2 4.38 4.96 5.00 3.080 11.4 5.30 2.53 149.50 9.00 1645.00 0.400 1.140 43.10 81.00 5.70 2.88 0.780 1.86 3.4 0.355

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atlas Cons. `B’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0035 2.90 4.16 17000 10.50 0.203 2.1500 2.0800 0.57 0.400 8.20 1.210 0.275 0.197 0.205 0.0110 0.0120 1.6 6.87 2.85 0.4650 0.9200 0.0110 0.0110 3.88 8.14 4.02 0.0130 125.50 3.31 0.0095

8,385.00 9,010.00 103,161,826.00 1,007,950.00 645,260,084.00 1,115,306,905.00 6,258,400.00 7,264,030.00 22,870.00 77,385,632.50 68,900.00 1,247,369,030.00 1,517,660.00 109,160.00 6,186,526.00 3,922,850.00 346,840.00 1,154,600.00

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

48 529 535 103.5 103.8 116 521 6 109 1091 110.8 1020 107.5 112 77 82 76.1 77.5 79 79 78 77.85

839,300

6,107,707.00

LR Warrant

2.450

10,516,000 5,990,000 5,880,000 94,364,600 5,598,000 900 30,678,000 486,000 415,000 85,750,000 17,265,000 5,466,230 396,000 170,000 21,125,000 54,719,000 1,376,000 46,000 249,694,000 540,690,000 760,000 460,000 3,400

11,507,730.00 14,350,240.00 1,558,700.00 3,526,138,230.00 15,829,160.00 4,608.00 17,782,700.00 594,960.00 438,440.00 13,197,040.00 9,941,470.00 289,658,789.50 293,280.00 25,280.00 20,876,890.00 97,580,430.00 1,557,100.00 208,000.00 1,067,891,650.00 93,053,430.00 194,350.00 184,500.00 121,605.00

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3.56 3.09 4.12 12.3

First Metro ETF

126.8

3.45 48 107.50 103.20 38 3.80 1.33

81,000 105,400 14,122,830 7,817,070 1,467,600 351,000 599,160

280,820.00 5,032,455.00 1,535,511,301 809,981,999.00 48,236,630.00 1,334,250.00 455,370.00

16.8 18.82 6.61 0.67 1.83 671.00

390,800 3,448,200 1,900 7,815,000 116,000 2,050

6,482,248.00 63,913,544.00 12,613 5,693,190 211,180.00 1,380,170.00

0.750 83.25 0.87 14 22.00 55.00 96 220 260 35.85 215.8 1495.00 75.00 1.42

59,615,000 12,262,640 15,695,000 1,282,400 8,000 730,360 570 1,340 2,500 872,600 8,266,360 860 543,990 472,000

43,972,120.00 1,023,735,773.00 13,655,600.00 18,017,766.00 176,955.00 40,415,874.00 56,113.00 304,964.00 651,600.00 31,210,675 1,756,845,406.00 1,283,890 40,750,160.00 672,360.00

45.65 3.91 0.88 1.45 15.5 63.05 164.90 11.12 15.58 140.1 100 23.5 60 2 6.2 12.18 10.980 7.37 5.93 7.25 1.78 23.5 71.5 12.00 16.20 5.8 2.010 241.00 61.00 2.11 4.1 27.40 30.4 27.4 14.48 290.40 0.245 4.95 3 10.68 11.58 2.15 5.89 1.46 3.32 4.16

7,714,500 16,832,000 7,139,000 15,232,000 68,500 26,080 260 20,880,300 12,420,000 60 5,500 2,020,400 375,590 4,103,000 5,545,000 274,000 30,049,200 5,230,900 44,284,500 1,437,800 390,000 9,848,400 1,248,050 243,400 1,760,500 5,762,400 7,536,000 2,036,580 11,330 3,000 186,000 300 15,141,900 1,294,600 12,669,700 1,557,810 5,630,000 1,000 1,375,000 17,459,500 76,200 7,507,000 2,732,300 1,357,000 1,782,000 2,389,000

350,992,150.00 70,379,300.00 6,238,830.00 22,630,460.00 1,063,628.00 1,698,151.00 42,874.00 237,604,114.00 196,499,716 8,931.00 574,237.00 47,338,540.00 22,535,919 8,273,060.00 34,706,594.00 3,337,038.00 326,525,116.00 38,136,122.00 261,180,490.00 10,521,962.00 721,700.00 230,984,650.00 89,293,359.00 2,918,520.00 28,621,288.00 34,049,533.00 15,494,550.00 493,667,160.00 653,971.00 6,330.00 748,120.00 8,220.00 462,325,800.00 35,006,995.00 192,260,322.00 459,557,596.00 1,428,850.00 4,950.00 4,165,550.00 184,562,708.00 869,414.00 16,033,080.00 16,247,301.00 2,023,630.00 6,222,680.00 9,980,890.00

3.29 215 0.147 1.70 179 4.61 2.19 1.19

52,000 19,700 22,490,000 2,780,000 6,428,960 14,000 58,624,000 290,000

173,870.00 4,249,708.00 3,277,780.00 4,780,840.00 1,157,694,407 64,590.00 134,677,090.00 346,240.00

0.370 76.50 15.00 1.24 6.01 0.340 0.360 840.5 1050.00 8.25 12.68 8.12 0.206 1335 6.15 71.15

3,500,000 5,269,840 17,778,500 103,000 10,800 10,890,000 1,870,000 2,915,440 5 12,496,400 31,022,500 1,326,500 650,000 1,161,170 106,400 8,982,440

1,299,000.00 399,157,007.00 275,468,578.00 126,540.00 66,392.00 3,608,950.00 612,800.00 2,470,965,635 5,250.00 101,408,838.00 390,333,404.00 10,787,693.00 130,520.00 1,597,860,485.00 654,931.00 642,684,562.00

5.2 5.3 8 0.78 15.06 7.11 0.0370 1.900 2.53 81.00 2.29 662.50 1.19 0.92 233.600 0.3000 0.2020 0.245

1,600 1,700 12,974,100 1,298,000 45,182,700 158,120,300 173,700,000 3,743,000 9,000 958,570 30,000 1,876,440 1,280,000 122,000 26,530 12,820,000 1,770,000 4,540,000

7.230 1.05 2.330 0.265 36.850 2.83 5.12 0.570 1.24 1.040 0.152 0.540 53.8 0.740 0.150 0.98 1.79 1.16 4.20 4.14 0.163 0.2700 0.400 34.60

Value

Close

3,470,000 9,691,000 1,091,000 352,000 54,423,400 8,080,000 700 540,000 26,198,800

11,800,330.00 295,149,075.00 1,740,620.00 1,149,800.00 1,525,471,280.00 8,397,700.00 4,750.00 535,330.00 135,501,930.00 SERVICES 1,227,600 9,441,822.00 104,100 5,001,775.00 355,000 488,620.00 4,210,000 2,160,630.00 2,035,999,700 133,190,277.00 235,000 1,236,042.00 65,100 340,988 183,739,700 986,882,859.00 174,860,000 15,002,930.00 12,712,000 40,173,890.00 3,129,980 285,716,863.00 94,900 926,610.00 82,000 202,240 1,681,100 11,259,222.00 8,000 22,940.00 4,670 4,490,480.00 647,845 1,234,269,815 333,800 2,074,721.00 381,900 5,204,986.00 3,400 57,920 14,763,000 30,706,970.00 3,579,000 275,514,250.00 52,800 895,408 240 32,540 7,100 80,990.00 220,000,000 2,066,500.00 2,454,000 22,596,685.00 98,120,000 21,351,770.00 4,982,000 7,189,720.00 360,000 1,203,300.00 986,300 12,606,284.00 2,434,500 12,445,111 4,025,000 8,408,440.00 8,000 8,310.00 41,000 89,270.00 61,400 1,421,660 80,000 160,000.00 58,339,000 244,593,110.00 10,983,900 54,235,795.00 25,945,000 127,330,150.00 9,297,000 29,572,170.00 75,100 853,610.00 138,400 715,044 10,000 25,300.00 1,820 261,368.00 11,521,400 102,630,239.00 845,010 1,390,574,185.00 2,630,000 1,055,550.00 111,433,000 122,697,830.00 11,491,900 484,565,895.00 11,582,390 872,665,565.00 1,418,300 8,097,247.00 5,224,000 14,988,230.00 118,367,000 92,485,150.00 6,000 11,160.00 4,335,000 14,493,480.00 480,000 158,200.00 MINING & OIL 1,010,000,000 3,642,000.00 918,000 2,811,730.00 2,393,000 9,800,140.00 69,130 600 6,114.00 1,890,000 386,440.00 377,000 767,540.00 70,000 145,750.00 2,062,000 1,222,150.00 3,900,000 1,530,150.00 69,900 567,578.00 621,656,000 722,172,640.00 1,750,000 464,550.00 47,950,000 9,436,230.00 9,320,000 1,861,420.00 125,700,000 462,000.00 285,800,000 3,285,600.00 11,851,000 19,935,740.00 63,829,700 445,554,646.00 152,000 431,810.00 130,000 59,250.00 520,000 466,050.00 47,400,000 521,900.00 52,200,000 624,300.00 11,627,000 45,937,280.00 5,962,500 48,692,384.00 104,547,000 455,181,650.00 118,100,000 1,420,200.00 5,306,690 670,276,956.00 613,000 2,035,730.00 39,000,000 361,900.00 PREFERRED 1,865,200 89,460,810.00 8,900 4,708,100.00 10,520 5,588,200 240,180 24,862,487.00 610 65,662.00 31,660 3,661,060.00 4,440 2,267,630.00 276,300 1,659,093.00 9,480 2,300,940.00 1,740 1,898,340.00 90 9,972.00 48,035 10,690,535.00 10 1,075.00 20,010 2,241,108.00 9,220 708,942.00 92,830 7,484,907.00 150,010 11,448,882.00 12,180 949,035.00 102,990 8,135,885.50 16,930 1,333,040.00 95,150 7,347,345.00 478,640 37,091,572.50 WARRANTS & BONDS 2,086,000 5,004,880.00 SME 6,957,000 25,039,400.00 136,000 402,710.00 1,280,000 5,329,640.00 26,768,700 324,892,950.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 109,980 13,625,266.00

OCTOBER 10-14, 2016 Volume Value

3.5 29.50 1.61 3.25 26.75 1.04 7.15 0.980 5.060

20,513,000 13,502,000 1,134,000 207,000 49,545,700 19,042,000 1,400 2,907,000 29,560,100

77,659,270.00 406,517,350.00 1,829,460.00 677,960.00 1,343,686,480.00 20,004,030.00 9,908.00 2,814,150.00 150,505,885.00

7.56 48 1.27 0.520 4.980 11.7 5.45 5.15 0.0890 3.15 103.8 9.52 2.5 6.60 3.18 992 1835 6.23 13.96

806,400 196,100 577,000 1,923,000 9,329,000 1,000 38,000 84,348,400 547,380,000 14,064,000 3,087,700 22,400 144,000 483,700 10,000 2,710 419,110 422,300 394,600

6,142,297.00 9,451,125.00 749,600.00 1,022,210.00 54,800,250.00 11,700.00 178,385 279,333,133.00 48,832,470.00 45,376,200.00 322,164,570.00 215,268.00 363,230 3,280,509.00 31,330.00 2,636,345.00 764,653,260 2,635,945.00 5,409,854.00

1.92 75.1 16.74 136 11.8 0.0097 9.23 0.210 1.4700 3.67 12.68 4.95 2.19 1.03 2.15 25.20 2 3.88

20,519,000 9,438,630 119,000 140 3,200 94,000,000 2,380,600 91,610,000 5,893,000 264,000 1,769,100 5,069,400 4,494,000 8,000 56,000 655,000 151,000 52,716,000

41,610,840.00 708,264,358.50 2,113,170 20,120 37,580.00 905,100.00 21,971,970.00 20,176,260.00 8,703,710.00 924,890.00 21,659,636.00 25,484,927 10,080,810.00 8,480.00 120,420.00 21,872,065 300,560.00 203,570,160.00

4.88 3.050 11.38 5.29 2.53 147.90 9.10 1613.00 0.405 1.050 41.00 73.25 5.63 2.78 0.760 1.85 3.22 0.355

35,999,100 20,616,000 81,500 60,500 12,000 14,480 42,213,300 1,048,875 7,950,000 80,108,000 3,960,200 5,556,350 10,700,900 7,284,000 56,112,000 2,000 4,766,000 140,000

175,760,321.00 64,713,360.00 918,230.00 322,930 30,400.00 2,011,372.00 371,084,973.00 1,684,209,085.00 3,259,000.00 84,967,240.00 163,070,450.00 415,430,778.00 63,775,740.00 20,406,970.00 39,193,350.00 3,650.00 15,300,420.00 48,300.00

0.0037 2.96 4.10

1,341,000,000 6,534,300.00 927,000 2,758,350.00 301,000 1,234,320.00

10.46 0.203 2.1400 2.1000 0.57 0.380 8.32 1.020 0.265 0.192 0.195 0.0110 0.0110 1.45 7.03 2.86

5,300 3,460,000 92,000 13,000 515,000 3,970,000 18,400 150,059,000 1,450,000 31,320,000 8,760,000 68,000,000 29,700,000 1,146,000 23,018,200 428,000

52,875.00 749,270.00 192,570.00 26,500.00 294,800.00 1,526,000.00 152,373.00 152,100,040.00 380,850.00 5,827,120.00 1,680,200.00 746,100.00 334,100.00 1,632,400.00 162,434,112.00 1,210,300.00

0.8400 0.0110 0.0110 4.22 8.11 3.95 0.0130 122.70 3.15 0.0090

398,000 70,600,000 31,900,000 2,371,000 2,267,400 22,958,000 74,800,000 3,390,130 427,000 103,000,000

339,310.00 802,800.00 351,100.00 8,875,470.00 18,463,024.00 90,126,100.00 900,300.00 414,397,025.00 1,370,460.00 950,600.00

48.35 535 535 103.6 102.8 115.4 540 5.98 108 1091 1155 1025 108 110.7 76.5 80.5 76.4 78.2 79 79 77.5 77.8

737,600 21,480 1,810 107,350 15,000 31,350 31,250 434,000 19,000 9,380 3,320 1,730 1,950 9,910 281,080 182,340 34,060 79,600 221,930 549,540 446,430 830,380

35,588,870.00 11,491,850.00 968,350 11,141,639.00 1,554,844.00 3,680,250.00 16,883,940.00 2,608,596.00 2,102,130.00 10,078,590.00 3,664,600.00 1,768,200.00 210,640.00 1,097,037.00 21,502,660.00 14,779,587.50 2,605,570.00 6,258,255.00 17,536,952.00 43,120,810.00 34,375,934.50 64,392,903.00

2.360

1,546,000

3,697,890.00

3.39 3.07 3.8 12.22

16,776,000 186,000 1,804,000 18,644,400

58,415,630.00 576,850.00 6,019,050.00 235,091,882.00

122

68,000

8,330,449.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Apollo Global Abra Mining Ferronickel MRC Allied Ind. Manila Mining `B’ Megaworld IP E-Game Ventures Inc. MEDCO Holdings Cyber Bay Corp.

Bloomberry

VOLUME 2,035,999,700 1,010,000,000 621,656,000 404,440,000 285,800,000 229,551,000 220,000,000 205,790,000 200,811,000 183,739,700

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ Universal Robina Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Metrobank SM Investments Inc. SM Prime Holdings Security Bank PLDT Common Ayala Corp `A’ JG Summit Holdings

VALUE 3,149,214,105.00 2,469,515,114 1,941,114,753 1,703,504,346.00 1,537,692,130.00 1,525,471,280.00 1,457,351,666.00 1,390,574,185.00 1,320,860,720 1,279,316,549.00

build and invest on our network. We are confident that our collaboration with Huawei, Nokia and Wuhan FiberHome will translate into a more robust Globe network that will meet the country’s future digital demands,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said.

The agreements signed by Globe include the deployment of new LTE spectrum in the country.

Cu and Globe director Fernando Zobel de Ayala signed a memorandum of confirmation with Chen Yuhua, the head of Nokia international business, relating to the implementation of this project in the Visayas and Mindanao.

A similar memorandum of confirmation was signed between Globe and Huawei chief executive Kevin Gao, relating to the deployment of LTE spectrum in Luzon.

This project aims to provide wider LTE coverage and better indoor penetration, through an estimated 4,600 sites in the country.

The project will increase data and fixed-wireless broadband capacity to provide telecommunications services in many areas in the country that at present have no access to broadband services.

The project will strengthen telecommunications infrastructure and address the adverse impact of typhoons that constantly hit the country and enhance support to the government’s thrust for higher availability of broadband internet services.

“This is a significant agreement with a longstanding collaborator. It strengthens Nokia’s position as Globe Telecom’s premier end-toend solution provider,” Mike Wang, president at Nokia Networks Greater China, said.

Ayala’s power unit expands in Mindanao

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC Energy Holdings Inc., the power arm of Ayala Corp., is looking at Mindanao as a growth market, a top executive said over the weekend.

AC Energy John Eric Francia told reporters an electricity spot market in Mindanao would support the expansion of energy sector in the region.

“This is the right time for Mindanao to have a spot market. It’s the first time in decades for Mindanao to have oversupply,” AC Energy president and chief executive John Eric Francia told reporters.

Francia urged electric cooperatives in the region to embrace the planned wholesale electricity spot market in Mindanao. WESM is the country’s trading floor of electricity operated by the Philippine Electricity Market Corp.

PEMC earlier said it would conduct an assessment of Mindanao’s readiness to integrate the interim Mindanao electricity market to WESM with the entry of new power plants.

“There are talks [for WESM Mindanao] but there are also resistance…Not all coops [electric cooperatives] are on board at this time. We have to look forward that given the over capacity situation is likely to stay,” Francia said.

Business SEC says new rules on mutual funds up THE Securities and Exchange Commission has drafted new guidelines governing mutual funds in a bid to align the current rules with global standards and practices.

The SEC said the drafting of the 2016 implementing rules and regulations of the Investment Company Act aims to register open-end investment, or mutual fund, companies, and make them comply with certain standards, including regular public disclosure of financial condition.

The SEC is also authorized to regulate fund managers and other parties involved in the operation of mutual fund companies.

The SEC stressed the need to align the current rules with global standards and practices in order to develop the Philippine capital market and help prepare mutual fund companies compete in international crossborder transactions.

Under the draft rules, a mutual fund company applying for incorporation should have a minimum subscribed paidup capital of P50 million.

A mutual fund company planning to sell or distribute shares to the public will be required to file with the SEC a registration statement about the planned offering.

It will also be required to appoint a fund manager with an investment company adviser license.

For a fund manager to have an investment company adviser license, it should have a paid up capital of P50 million and a minimum unimpaired net worth of at least P50 million, exclusive of revaluation surplus, unrealized gain in value of non-current investments, deferred income tax and other capital adjustments as may be required by the SEC. Jenniffer B. Austria

B3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Calax project starts in 2017 A

By Darwin G. Amojelar

UNIT of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. expects to start the construction of the P34.5-billion CaviteLaguna Expressway early next year.

MPCala Holdings Inc. president Luigi Bautista said the detailed engineering design for the Calax project would be completed this month, while the rightof-way acquisition was proceeding with the Public Works Department in charge.

“If sufficient ROW becomes available, we hope to be able to commence construction in the first quarter of next year,” Bautista said.

MPCala tapped DMCI Consunj Inc. to construct the Laguna side of the project, while Leighton Holdings of Australia would build the Cavite side.

Calax, one of the largest public-pri-

vate partnership projects, involves the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a four-lane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex (Manila– Cavite Expressway) and South Luzon Expressway.

The P34.5-billion expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at the SLEx-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2020, while operations and maintenance is set from 2020 to 2050.

Aside from Calax, the Metro Pacific

group is currently constructing Segment 10 of NLEx Harbour Link, a 5.6-km elevated expressway costing P10.5 billion and running from Valenzuela City to C3 in Caloocan City. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017.

Other MPIC projects are the P2.6billion Segment 2 and 3 of NLEx Road-Widening Project to accommodate growing traffic, which started on March 9.

The project will expand the existing two-lane portion of NLEx between Sta. Rita and San Fernando to three lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides, while the current one-lane stretch between Dau and Sta. Ines will be expanded to two lanes in each direction.

The Toll Regulatory Board also issued the Metro Pacific group a conditional notice to proceed with the con-

struction of the C5 Link Expressway, a part of the existing Cavitex network and a P10-billion project spanning 7.6 kilometers to link C-5 Road in Taugig to R-1 (Coastal) Expressway. Construction is expected to start by the first quarter of 2017 upon approval of the final engineering design.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. also signed a joint venture agreement with the city of Cebu and the municipality of Cordova in April 2016 to build the P27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Bridge project. The 8.25-km bridge project, set to be completed by 2020, will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova.

The group is also awaiting the notice of award from the Public Works Department to build an elevated expressway to connect the northern and southern toll road systems at a cost of P18 billion.

IN BRIEF Subsidies to state firms jump by 44%

THE government infused almost P79.257 billion in subsidies to state-owned and controlled corporations in the first eight months of the year, Bureau of Treasury data show over the weekend.

Latest available data showed that subsidies extended by the government to GOCCs in the January-to-August period of 2016 jumped 44 percent to P79.257 billion from P43.87 billion year-onyear.

The bulk of the amount went to Philippine Health Insurance Corp., P35.268 billion; National Housing Authority, P10.632 billion; National Irrigation Administration, P10.04 billion; and National Food Authority, P4.25 billion.

Subsidies in August alone dropped 16 percent to P7.402 billion from P8.802 million in the same month in 2015.

The biggest recipient of government subsidies in August was Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. with P3.361 billion. Gabrielle H. Binaday

PNB AWARD. Philippine National Bank receives the award for Best Remittance Product in the Philippines at The Asian Banker Philippine Country

Awards for the second time around. Shown at the awarding ceremony in conjunction with the International Banking Convention 2016 at the ShangriLa at the Fort hotel in Bonifacio Global City on Oct. 7, 2016 are (from left) Foo Boon Ping, The Asian Banker managing director; senior vice president Norman Martin Reyes, PNB chief marketing officer; first senior VP Benjamin Oliva, PNB Global Filipino Banking Group Head; PNB director Christopher Nelson; assistant VP Leia Regala-Teodoro, marketing services division head; and Markus Gnirck, former co-Founder and Global COO.

Global Gateway adding more office, retail spaces in Clark

By Othel V. Campos GLOBAL Gateway Development Corp., operator of a newly-built logistics center in Clark Freeport, will add 45,000 square meters of office space and 9,000 square meters of retail space once it completes the first two towers in the area.

The AeroPark Campus One West and Two West towers, which are nearing completion, represent the first phase of the multi-million dollar hub in the 177-hectare Global Gateway Lo-

gistics City in Clark.

“With the addition of new high-quality office space located in a well-designed master planned precinct within the Clark Freeport Zone and directly adjacent to the Clark International Airport, we foresee the Clark Freeport Zone emerging as a new office and logistics hub for the Philippines,” Global Gate CEO Mark Williams said during the topping-off ceremony.

GGLC expects to generate over 300,000 jobs that will translate into $600 million in annual

payroll. It will also reinforce the status of Central Luzon as an emerging economic hotspot of the Philippines and the whole Asia.

Williams said the two new buildings were 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 international green building rating system.

“And it will highlight the potential of the Philippine coun-

tryside as a catch-basin of the overflowing vibrancy of Metro Manila,” Williams said.

Global Gateway is the same company that built The Medical City Clark’s 173-bed world-class medical center and the first locator in GGLC, a master-planned mixed-use project.

About $100 million were invested in the project and an additional $250 million were appropriated for the completion.

The project was originally founded by The Port Fund, a private equity fund managed

by Kuwait firm KGL Investment Company, whose investors largely consist of the shareholders of government entities of Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation countries.

Three more buildings in 2017 will rise at the Aeropark Campus, located just across The Medical City Clark.

The five office buildings, with a combined gross floor area of 142,000 square meters, will be interconnected by walkways at the second floor, allowing trafficfree pedestrian movement.

Work-life harmony JHO-ANNE LAYUGAN

GREEN LIGHT IN this current age, young professionals like me are now becoming more competitive at work. We tend to envision ourselves as future executives of a company. It is good news because we want to attain a terminal value of a comfortable life. In this way, we will make our families experience all the best things that this world can offer.

Counting the cost Our parents will also be proud of what we’ve achieved. But this success will not come in an instant.

It means overtime work, sleepless nights, less time with family, pimple breakouts and many other setbacks.

I remember my situation before when I was still with auditing firm Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. I stayed there for four years and I experienced office work overtime. even on Holidays like Holy Week and Dec. 31. This has been a tradition in the company since the deadline of filing of annual income tax returns is set every April

15 while Dec. 31 is usually the cutoff date for physical inventory cycle counts. On hitting the April 15 deadline, we usually only had two to four hours of sleep in a day.

That is why every April 15, there is buffet feast in our office which is a sign of the end of our no-sleep misery.

Missing family Still in SGV, I also remember a point when I was not able to go home for a month to my real home in Cavite province because of another engagement (apart from the normal tax return filing season).

My family (parents, sister, and grandmother) was already missing me. I had a lot of family affairs that I missed including my grandmother’s birthday. I was really sad to miss moments like that where you know that your close relatives will gather in my grandmother’s house and celebrate and will be having fun while you are away busy working.

On a side note, when I reopened my twitter account after ages, I saw my sister’s tweets about me not going home yet. She has many posts saying that she’s hoping I go home soon. Although her tweet was three years ago, it still

saddened me because I did not know that I was badly missed in our home.

Choosing greener pastures In relation to this, I thought of our OFWs who go after higher salaries in richer countries. It must have been very difficult for them to leave their families behind. But is it always right to choose a greener pasture over bonding with family?

Some OFWs may be able to provide all the luxuries to their children but they cannot provide what their children really needs – the tender loving care of a mother or father. For me, no amount of riches can beat the feeling of having your parents around you because you know that you have someone to help you and pick you up when you fall.

Avoiding overtime With all these things being said, we ought to find work–life balance so we can live our life to the fullest. According to McLeod, we can avoid overtimes by doing these seven things: • Begin the day with the end in mind – Psych up that you have to leave work on time.

• Tell people when you have to leave – This is to escape from un-

important last minute assignments or meetings.

• Allow 20 minutes to transition – Do your filing of papers and cleaning of work area ahead of time.

• Do the most important work – Make sure to focus on your most important and urgent work.

• Stop wasting time during the day – Stop checking emails every five minutes and avoid gossips • Pick up the phone – Try to call your business partners. It’s much faster than email.

• Use technology to help you focus – Try to automate your manual works through extensive use of Macros in Microsoft Excel.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal she kept in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit her blog at http:// jho-annewrites.blogspot.com/.

The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

Outstanding debt up slightly to P3.9t

The national government’s outstanding debt paper slightly rose to P3.903 trillion at the end of September of 2016, Treasury data show over the weekend.

The Bureau of Treasury said in latest data posted in its web site that total IOUs issued by the national government rose 0.55 percent from P3.882 trillion recorded in the same period in 2015.

Data showed the bulk of the debt issuances in end-September were treasury bonds amounting to P3.610 trillion, while treasury bills stood at P293.018 billion.

Treasury bonds maturing in the next three and five years amounted to P50.76 billion and P276.398 billion, respectively.

Longer tenor paper such as the seven- and 10- year debt facilities reached P594.127 billion and P362.632 billion, respectively.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Economists expect low inflation—poll

By Julito G. Rada PRIVATE sector economists expect inflation this year to remain subdued mainly due to low global oil prices, results of a survey conducted by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the month of September show.

The mean inflation forecast this year remained at 1.8 percent relative to June 2016. The average annual inflation forecast for 2017 also stayed at 2.7 percent. Meanwhile, the mean inflation forecast for 2018 fell marginally to 2.8 percent from 2.9 percent in the previous quarter.

“Analysts attributed their subdued inflation expectations to persistently low global oil prices, sub-par global economic growth, and stable food price conditions,” Bangko Sentral said.

“These were seen to outweigh the upside risks brought about by a possible rebound in oil prices, strong domestic demand, possible power rate adjustments, a weaker peso, and the impact of La Niña in the latter part of 2016 until the first quarter of 2017,” the regulator said.

Based on the probability distribution of the forecasts provided by 20 out of 25 respondents, there was a 72.5-percent chance that average inflation for 2016 would settle between the 1.0 percent to 1.99-percent range.

Meanwhile, there was a 25.3-percent chance that the 2016 inflation rate would fall within the 2 to 4 percent target range.

For 2017, respondents assigned a 70.7-percent chance that inflation would fall within the 2 to 4-percent target range.

Results of the September 2016 consensus economics survey showed a lower mean inflation forecast for 2016 at 1.8 percent from 1.9 percent in June 2016. Also, the mean inflation forecast for 2017 was lower at 2.7 percent from 2.9 percent.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

Reebok to make shoes in US again NEW YORK―Sports equipment manufacturer Reebok is bringing some of its shoemaking back to the United States, unveiling plans to open a new manufacturing lab next year using innovative liquid material and 3D drawing.

Some parts of the 300 pairs of shoes planned will come from Asia, but the most technical components will be manufactured in Wixom, Michigan, the company said Saturday.

German chemical giant BASF developed with Reebok a liquid material that is drawn across the outsole of the shoe for a three-dimensional fit with the help of 3D drawing. The material helps absorb shock.

“This is the very first use of this process to make athletic footwear. We borrowed and enhanced it from a process we found in the automotive industry,” said Bill McInnis, Head of Future at Reebok.

“The Liquid Factory concept is proprietary to Reebok.”

All of Reebok’s shoes were previously made in Asia.

“This is ultimately a local for local program. Once we define a manufacturing cell, we can do it anywhere,” McInnis said.

In the short term, Reebok will only produce a small series of the shoes at the relatively high price ($189 for the first version) due to still expensive development costs.

In the long term, Reebok hopes to use this technology to create a product with competitive prices.

“The Liquid Factory process is very flexible in that each machine can be used to create as many different concepts as imagination allows―it’s programming, not molds,” McInnis explained.

“Scaling up is a matter of installing more Liquid Factory machine setups. The local manufacturing also gets us much closer to the consumer in terms of speed to market.” AFP

Business

AT&T unveils deal to buy Time Warner N

EW YORK—AT&T on Saturday unveiled a mega-deal for Time Warner that would transform the telecom giant into a media-entertainment powerhouse positioned for a sector facing major technology changes.

The stock-and-cash deal is valued at $108.7 billion including debt, and gives a value of $84.5 billion to Time Warner—a major name in the sector that includes the Warner Bros. studios in Hollywood and an array of TV assets such as HBO and CNN. It would give the big US telecom firm “the world’s best premium content with the networks to deliver it to every screen, however customers want it,” a statement from the companies said.

“This is a perfect match of two

companies with complementary strengths who can bring a fresh approach to how the media and communications industry works for customers, content creators, distributors and advertisers,” said AT&T chairman and chief executive Randall Stephenson.

The tie-up, which could face tough antitrust scrutiny, makes AT&T a strong rival to Comcast, which owns Time Warner rival NBCUniversal, and aims to counter the growing threat from online services such as Netflix and Amazon.

It also positions AT&T against longtime telecom rival Verizon, which has acquired internet group AOL and is in the process of buying Yahoo, and against new delivery platforms expected from Google and others.

The tie-up includes the vast Time Warner film library, including the Harry Potter franchise, and TV operations that include HBO’s popular “Game of Thrones,” and would allow AT&T to deliver the content to its fiber TV subscribers and also through its newly acquired DirecTV satellite service and mobile devices.

“Premium content always wins,” Stephenson said.

“It has been true on the big screen, the TV screen and now it’s proving true on the mobile screen. We’ll have the world’s

best premium content with the networks to deliver it to every screen.”

But the deal is likely to face tough scrutiny from antitrust regulators, and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he would block it if elected.

Even before the announcement, US consumer groups called for regulators to consider the impact of the tie-up.

John Bergmayer of the consumer group Public Knowledge said the merger could open the door to “self-dealing and discrimination” by a powerful media and delivery group.

“DirecTV, for instance, might favor Time Warner content, crowding out or refusing to carry alternative and independent programming that viewers might prefer,” he said. AFP

Pedestrians walk past an AT&T Inc. store in the Times Square area of New York, US, on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. According to a statement Saturday, AT&T agreed to buy Time Warner for $107.50 a share. Bloomberg

Free trade pacts face resistance WASHINGON―The collapse of free trade talks between Canada and the European Union Friday is yet another sign of increasingly stiff resistance to economic globalization.

Despite seven years of talks between Ottawa and Brussels, the CETA Treaty crashed into a wall Friday after being rejected by the Belgian region of Wallonia, making it impossible for the European Union to approve the deal.

That was an ominous sign for another ambitious treaty, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the United States and the EU, which also faces strident opposition on both sides of the Atlantic.

And one huge deal already struck, the Trans Pacific Partnership between the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries, is foundering because of the refusal so far of the US Congress to ratify it.

And now, both candidates for the White House, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, say they do not support the treaty.

It is a sharp reversal of a quarter-century since the fall of the Berlin Wall of support in the world’s leading economies for freer trade and globalization. Now, the enthusiasm for breaking down borders appears to be fizzling out.

“We are seeing the results of several decades of failures by political leaders to take the concerns over trade seriously,” said Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

For many years accusations have mounted that the progressive breaking down of trade barriers and removal of import duties in advanced economies has caused deindustrialization and huge job losses to developing countries.

“We’re seeing a backlash caused by that neglect for the losers from trade,” said Alden, author of the book “Failure to Adjust: How Americans Got Left Behind in the Global Economy.”

Debra Steger, a former Canadian negotiator at the World Trade Organization, sees a rising tendency to blame a country’s economic problems on foreigners.

“People are blaming it all on immigrants or goods coming into the country,” she told AFP. “They want to blame it on something that’s coming from outside, not on technological changes or on bad national policies.” AFP

Taiwan beekeepers battle climate change to cash in on honey buzz

By Laura Mannering YILAN, Taiwan―Under a shady starfruit tree Taiwanese beekeeper Jiang Hwan-bin tends his hives, pumping out pure honey for a rapidly growing market of health-conscious consumers.

Jiang’s family has been keeping bees for 80 years and he now manages 500 hives in the northwest county of Hsinchu.

In total his family run around 2,000 across northern Taiwan.

A string of food safety scandals in Taiwan has driven demand for clean, traceable produce, with pure honey seen as particularly beneficial― whether stirred into water as a summer thirst-quencher or used as a sugar substitute in desserts.

But although domestic appetite is voracious and outstrips supply, which keeps prices high, beekeepers say it is hard to fully capitalize as climate change and disease hamper expansion.

This year alone saw a series of typhoons and an unusually cold January affecting early blossoms.

Jiang, 54, who sells most of his produce through his shop in Hsinchu city under the name “Ah-bin Pure Honey,” says his production fell 30 percent due to the adverse conditions.

The situation for the whole family is even worse: overall production across the thousands of hives they run has dropped by two thirds, he says.

The unpredictability of the seasons is reflected in island-

This picture taken on October 4, 2016 shows owner of Bee Farmer cafe and education center Huang Tungming (right) checking a hive next to his colleague at a bee farm in Yilan. A string of food safety scandals in Taiwan has driven demand for clean, traceable produce, with pure honey seen as particularly beneficial— whether stirred into water as a summer thirst-quencher or used as a sugar substitute in desserts. AFP

wide honey output over the past five years.

Taiwan produced 11,726 tons of pure honey in 2015, more than doubling in a decade, with the number of bee farms going up by over a fifth to 860. The industry is worth Twd$2.7 billion ($85.9 million) annually.

But production has been unstable since 2011, when it peaked at 15,000 tons, with extreme weather a major factor.

Jiang says his fundamental focus is now disaster prevention.

“We prepare for everything as much as we can,” he told AFP. “What we can do is manage the bees well and do our best to keep more bees. The rest depends on the weather.”

Hard lessons Disease problems troubling beekeepers around the world have also taken their toll on Jiang’s stock.

In 2005 he saw half his bees wiped out by a bacterial infection.

He quarantined his queens,

burned the infected frames from his hives, and started again, sharing those hard lessons with other local beekeepers.

The government says it is also giving bee farmers advice on disease prevention and violent weather swings.

“In Taiwan, climate change has been huge,” says Wu Tzuhsien, a senior apiculture expert for the government’s agriculture ministry.

“If the changes are too extreme, bees cannot control

their body temperature and die.”

Brand building In rural Yilan county in the northeast of Taiwan the “Bee Farmer” cafe and education center sits against a backdrop of misty mountains.

Giant bee statues greet visitors, who buy everything from royal jelly to pollen sachets at the store inside.

There is a honey museum and active hives to teach the public about bees. Visitors come mainly from Taiwan, although some from Hong Kong and Singapore also drop in.

The business belongs to Huang Tung-ming, a fourth generation bee farmer who manages 300 hives in the area, producing a variety of honeys, including longan, lychee and melon.

He has diversified to prosper, selling produce from other local bee farmers as well as his own.

There are 10 “Bee Farmer” shops around Taiwan but the company sells mostly online through its Chinese-language website, a more modern approach than most traditional beekeeping families. The business brings in Twd$50 million each year.

“In the past, farming villages were isolated. When you produced honey you didn’t know where the customers were,” says Huang.

“Now with the internet, with branding, packaging and a corporate image, it’s much easier than before.”

Building a bee brand has

helped Huang offset the challenges of bad weather and bee health, both of which have affected his farms.

Eight years ago, many of Huang’s bees deserted their hives, unable to find their way home after going out for nectar.

Huang, 61, believes inbreeding affected the bees’ sense of direction and has since developed a method of isolating the best pairs.

That has meant his hives have not succumbed to illnesses that have killed so many bees worldwide, he says.

Despite the pressures, his son Huang Chun-yen, 33, who helps run the business, says there are still keen young bee farmers who consider it a good option in the face of Taiwan’s economic stagnation.

“Young people can’t find jobs that pay well,” he says.

“As the value of bee products is high, young people go to farming villages to learn to keep bees and develop their careers.”

For Jiang in Hsinchu, looking after bees means more than just business.

He sees it as a global issue, key to environmental protection and food provision.

“Almost one third of human food relies on bee pollination.

Bees play an important role in the eco-system,” he says.

Meanwhile, he does his best to defend his own hives against whatever nature throws at them.

“We believe we have to work hard first, and then heaven will help us,” he says. AFP

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

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LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TRICK OR TREAT. A security guard of an exclusive subdivision in Pasig City decorates the gate with a jack o' lantern in preparation of All Saints' Day. Manny Palmero

Cops find 40 kilos of shabu Fisherman Geronimo Magallon, who turned over the substance to the Dingalan police, said the cauldron may have been washed ashore when the province was battered by Typhoons "Karen" and "Lawin."

Police Insp. Desiree Buluag said the PNP crime laboratory in Baler is now examining the re-

By Ferdie G. Domingo

D

INGALAN, Aurora—A fisherman has uncovered at least 40 kilos of suspected shabu contained in a cauldron buried along a sandy shoreline in Barangay Matawe.

covered substance.

Mayor Shierwin Taay said the substance may have been part of residues from a shabu laboratory that was discovered in Barangay Butas na Bato in 2006.

Last month, Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, PNP regional director for Central Luzon, urged Aurora officials and concerned citizens

to help find a floating shabu laboratory in the province.

Aquino made the appeal following the discovery of a floating shabu laboratory in Subic, Zambales in July.

Police said the four suspects from Hong Kong, who were arrested during the police operation in Subic, could be chemists

Rescued wildlife species increase

DoLE to assist workers affected by fireworks ban THE Department of Labor and Employment said on Sunday it is considering possible livelihood assistance as immediate intervention to workers who may be displaced in case the use of firecrackers is finally regulated or banned.

Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said the regulation on firecracker’s use will have a negative impact on the livelihood of those who have been relying on its production.

Maglunsod said the livelihood assistance they will offer will be designed to fit the skills or inclinations of the workers who may be displaced.

Maglunsod made the statement in anticipation of the expected signing by President Rodrigo Duterte in November of an executive order drafted by the Department of Health aiming to limit the use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices in the country.

Earlier, Duterte said he will consult his Cabinet members whether or not the government needs to impose a nationwide firecracker ban this year.

“I’m going to have the Cabinet meeting. I will allow a full economic review because this will also result in loss of jobs,” the President said.

During the campaign, Duterte vowed to ban firecrackers nationwide to keep Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations safe for all Filipinos just as he did in Davao City when he was still the mayor. PNA

STREET ART. An old woman passes by a mural done by National Artist Carlos 'Botong' Francisco along a street gallery in Angono, Rizal. Teddy Pelaez

Tesda: 100,000 scholars in NCR, Calabarzon

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority eyes 100,000 scholars in the National Capital Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) to benefit from its programs next year.

connected with big time Chinese and local drug syndicates.

PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa earlier said the floating shabu laboratory was believed to be on a Chinese fishing vessel operated by an international drug syndicate distributing and supplying drugs in several areas in Luzon.

Scholars can choose from the different courses offered under Tesda’s skills training program.

“Tesda plays a big role in helping the youth reach their goals and become successful. This is in line with the gov-

ernment’s plan to provide the basic needs of our young people like education,” Tesda director-general Guiling Mamondiong said.

Mamondiong said applicants may also avail of Tesda scholarship via the

Barangay-based Scholarship Program.

He said the agency has mounted a series of campaign in every barangay in the provinces to inform the public about its scholarship program. PNA

PALO, Leyte—The number of recovered wildlife has increased significantly this year following the opening of a rescue center here, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said.

From only five rescued animals in the previous years, the number rose to 40 this year.

The rescue center, which opened on March 3, is intended to house wildlife species.

The facility, located in Cadahug village, is also open to educational tours and family trips.

“After rescue, our personnel check the health condition of these animals before releasing them back to the wild,” DENR assistant regional director Carlito Tuballa said.

DENR development management officer Winston Solite said the increase in number of turned over animals also indicates heightened public awareness on the value of preserving wildlife.

“The number of animals being surrendered here is increasing. Most of them are pythons, I don’t know why, but maybe because of the rainy season,” Solite said.

Animals with stable health conditions are then released back to their natural habitat, preferably in protected areas of the region. PNA

Exhibit to showcase indigenous and modern arts

THE 2016 National Arts and Crafts Fair, a trade fair that features both indigenous crafts and contemporary art, will be held on October 26 to 30, 2016 at the Megatrade Halls 1-3 in SM Megamall, Senator Loren Legarda said.

“A fair that brings together fine examples of craft and design and contemporary art, this National Arts and Crafts Fair

aims to dissolve the divide between art and craft,” said Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The fair, spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry, will exhibit the cultural expressions of local artists from different regions across the country, mainly highlighting both contemporary art and crafts that exemplify indig-

enous living traditions through hand-made products, ornaments, jewelry, fabric and accessories, among others.

“This fair is a powerful platform to promote micro, small and medium enterprises as viable rural livelihoods and to showcase Filipino home-made products as well as individual and indigenous talents,” Legarda said.

Legarda said an important feature of the trade fair is that it brings together fine examples of craft and design and contemporary art that involve virtues and principles of craft.

“The experience of the fair is contemporary and cosmopolitan but is sensitive to the living traditions of Philippine culture,” she said.

Around 120 groups and indi-

viduals from different regions in the country will be displaying their crafts and art inside Megatrade Halls 1, 2 and 3.

The exhibition was designed by Patrick Flores, curator of the University of the Philippines’ Vargas Museum, together with Dannie Alvarez and Ann Pamintuan.

“I invite everyone to visit the 2016 National Arts and Crafts Fair to see both indigenous crafts

and contemporary art that we can all be proud of. This trade fair, which could turn small opportunities into great achievements, is a demonstration that art is an enabler of development and that culture is wealth. Thus, we have to utilize our country’s available resources, maximize our local and indigenous talents, and vigorously implement our laws,” Legarda said.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

LGUs

CDO mayor’s accuser backs down

By Lance Baconguis

C

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Mayor Oscar Moreno’s number-one accuser has called it quits after two of the cases he filed against the mayor and some city officials were turned down by the Court of Appeals and the Commission on Election.

Former Barangay Taglimao chairperson and businessman William Guiliani filed numerous cases against Moreno and

his top department executives, city treasure Glenn Banez, accountant Beda Joy Elot and budget officer Percy Salazar.

“I am tired and have lost all the backing of the people who supported me,” Guiliani said after saying last week that he would go all the way up to the Supreme Court. He also said he had no more new evidence that he could present to the court.

“I was left behind by the people who I expected to help me.”

Guiliani filed a petition against Moreno after the 2016 election on the basis that the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss Moreno and bar him from public office for grave misconduct.

Guiliani argued that Moreno was not qualified to seek reelection in the May 2016 election because the Ombudsman in August 2015 had ordered him dismissed and perpetually disqualified from government service.

The case was dismissed by the Court Of Appeals earlier this month.

In a September 29, 2016 resolution, the Comelec’s first division did not find any merit to Guiliani’s election petition against Moreno.

“After careful consideration of the facts of the case, as well as the law

and jurisprudence applicable, hereto, we deny the instant petition,” the Comelec ruled. The decision was signed by Commissioners Christian Robert Lim, Louie Guia and Maria Rowena Guanzon.

The Court of Appeals also rebuked the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing Moreno and Banez from public office.

The appellate court said in a ruling dated 13 October 2016 that since that tax settlement agreement emanating from the case filed by Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation before the

Loakan airport up for repair

PEP TALK.

Philippine Red Cross chairman Senator Richard Gordon talks to emergency responders before their humanitarian mission to Cagayan and Isabela to help the victims of Typhoon 'Lawin.'

Manny Palmero

By Dexter A. See

Uplanders Quezon City holds job fair at 5th district to act vs. loggers, 'kaingeros'

By Ferdie G .Domingo CABANATUAN CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has mobilized some 300 upland dwellers and farmers in Central Luzon to guard the region’s forests from illegal loggers and kaingeros (slash-and-burn farmers).

Francisco Milla Jr., DENR regional director for Central Luzon said the uplanders belong to the Palauig Green Planters Association Incorporated in Palauig, Zambales and the Digmala Tree Planters’ Association Incorporated in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.

Milla said they will guard 357 hectares of forestlands in the two provinces—251 hectares in Nueva Ecija and 106 hectares in Zambales not only from illegal logging and kaingin but also from forest and grass fires and other forms of environmental destruction.

He said these functions are stipulated in a 25-year community based forest management agreement the two people’s organizations were awarded with.

The uplanders are the latest beneficiaries of the CBFMA 12 years after a moratorium on its issuance was implemented.

The CBFMA, Milla said, will help reduce poverty in rural areas and promote social justice and equitable access to forest resources.

Milla explained that the DENR is not giving land titles in forestlands, only alienable and disposable lands (A and D) such as agricultural land and residential areas. “However, tenurial instrument in the form of agreement is being awarded to upland farmers as proof of their legitimate occupancy over the forestland,” he said, adding the agreements covers 25 years renewable for another 25 year.

Regional Trial Court of Cagayan de Oro to review the P2.9 million tax assessment from 2006 to 2012 “had been declared by the court to be not contrary to law, public policy and public morals” there could have been no case for the Ombudsman to start with.

Moreno, in a text message, sent to reporters, said, “It was very obvious that the disqualification case filed with the COMELEC had no legal or cogent reason in the first place. Nonetheless, they still proceeded with it, and endeavored to becloud the people’s will.”

THE Quezon City government has conducted a job fair for unemployed and under-employed residents in the city’s 5th district.

The job fair held October 20 at SM Novaliches offered a wide array of openings, for both local and overseas employment.

For local manpower pooling, available job postings are for call center agents, engineers, clerks, office staff, service and kitchen

PEDDLER.

A vendor offers a bow-andarrow set for P250 to churchgoers outside the Manila Cathedral on Sunday.

Manny Palmero

crews, cashiers, baggers and sales personnel.

For overseas employment, most needed are skilled workers and heavy equipment operators.

About 20 firms participated in the activity, which was jointly hosted by the city’s Public Employment and Services Office and the Office of Councilor Jose Visaya. Participating firms included Convergys, Sitel, SM

Supermarket, DMCI Construction, EEI Construction, Bioessence, Gardner College, and CDO among others.

Mayor Herbert Bautista has been pursuing an aggressive employment program initiative to complement his administration’s business development plan for the city to attract more investors and at the same time provide livelihood and employment.

Job fairs organized by the Quezon City government successfully attracted and assisted thousands of the city's unemployed over the past years.

PESO records show that in 2015, a total of 15,807 job applicants registered during the job fairs conducted

by PESO either at QC Hall or in the city’s barangays. Of the total, 3,712 applicants were hired for a placement rating of 23.48 percent.

BAGUIO CITY—The Loakan airport is up for repair and upgrading to accommodate regular commercial flights to decongest the Naia and help the tourism industry, a ranking tourism official said here recently.

According to Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro, air travel is the most convenient means of travel for foreign and domestic tourists to be able to visit the scenic tourist spots around the country.

Baguio, being the summer capital, must be accessible by air transportation to attract more tourists.

The Loakan airport has a runway 1.6 kilometers long, enough to cater to the landing and taxi needs of medium aircraft.

Commercial airlines stopped servicing the Baguio route because of the absence of landing equipment and the zero visibility around the airport during bad weather.

It remains open for chartered and military flights coming in and going out of the city.

Local tourism industry stakeholders and the local government have been lobbying the national government for the immediate rehabilitation and upgrading of the airport to allow the city to host various national and international gatherings and attract more foreign and domestic tourists on short visits through regular domestic flights using the airport.

N. Ecija cops eye politics in death of councilor

GAPAN CITY—Police are looking into politics as one of the motives behind last Wednesday’s killing of city councilor Sonny San Jose and his driver inside a farm amid reports linking Mayor Emerson Pascual to the attack.

Pascual laughed off the accusations, saying he considers San Jose a friend.

Police Supt. Peter Madria, Gapan police station commander, said that politics is one of the angles they are eyeing in the twin murders of San Jose and his driver Antonio Punzal.

“Yes we are looking into politics as one of the motives. You have to look into that because he [San Jose] is a politician,” Madria said, adding other motives being looked into are love triangle and business rivalry.

San Jose’s elder brother Lauro sought justice for his slain brother, saying authorities should exert all-out efforts to find the killers and bring them before the bars of justice.

He described the slain councilor as kind and reserved and with no known enemies.

“That is why he goes around without any bodyguard because according to him, he has not wronged anyone,” Lauro, the eldest in a brood of 12, said of Sonny, the youngest at the latter’s wake at St. Peter’s here.

San Jose, 41, and Punzal were inside the Mini-Game Fowl Farm of businessman Roel Francisco in Barangay Mangino here when motorcycle-riding gunmen barged inside the compound and gunned them down. They both died on the spot. Ferdie Domingo

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

World

Standard

TODAY

Clinton eyes more gains in Congress P

HILADELPHIA―With polls giving her the edge on Election Day, Democratic White House nominee Hillary Clinton said late Saturday that she planned to work hard to see her party make gains in Congress.

Speaking to reporters aboard her campaign plane, the 68-year-old former secretary of state said she no longer wished to respond to the attacks or provocations of her opponent Donald Trump in the run-up to the November 8 vote.

The 70-year-old Republican billionaire, making what his team had billed as a key policy speech laying out his plans for the first 100 days of his presidency, did hit on some key issues, vowing to create 25 million jobs over a decade and cut middle-class taxes.

But he also angrily pledged to sue the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct―an issue that has dogged his candidacy in recent weeks and put Clinton in the driver’s seat with just over two weeks to go in the campaign.

Barnstorming through key swing states on Saturday, the candidates provided a study in contrast―Clinton was the picture of optimism and inclusion, while Trump lobbed scathing attacks at his critics, including his female accusers, the media and Clinton herself.

“We’re talking about what’s at stake in the election, drawing contrast, but we’re giving people something to vote for―not just against,” said Clinton.

“As we’re traveling in these last 17 days, we’re going to be emphasizing the importance of electing Democrats down the ballot,” she added, determined to capitalize on the divisions in the Republican Party sparked by Trump’s White House run.

On Election Day, Americans will choose a new president to succeed Barack Obama, as well as a third of the 100 senators and all 435 members of the House of Representatives, who serve two-year terms.

Both houses of Congress are currently under Republican control, but the Democrats believe a changing of the guard in the Senate is within reach.

Remaining cautious on the eventual election result but noting “really encouraging signs” about turnout, Clinton said she was prepared to finish the campaign without worrying about

her unorthodox opponent.

“I debated him for four and a half hours.

I don’t even think about responding to him anymore,” she said in between two campaign stops in Pennsylvania.

“He can say whatever he wants, he can run his campaign however he wants to,” Clinton added.

“I’m going to let the American people decide between what he offers and what we offer.”

Trump, who has dropped in the polls since a number of women have come forward with allegations that he groped or forcibly kissed them, looked to reset his flailing campaign in Gettysburg.

The historic battlefield town, also in Pennsylvania, is where Abraham Lincoln delivered his key Civil War speech to try to unite the nation.

“Change has to come from outside our very broken system,” Trump told a room of several hundred supporters, hitting on many of his usual stump speech themes-immigration, trade, Congressional term limits and his call for Obamacare to be repealed.

“Hillary Clinton is not running against me, she’s running against change.”

The 70-year-old Manhattan real estate mogul invoked the legacy of Lincoln, saying the nation should look to heal sharp divides. AFP

Murder tale tipped for Booker Prize

IN CONCERT. Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs her only full concert of 2016 during the Formula 1 US Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 22 in Austin, Texas. AFP

Art-loving couple donates painting collection to Paris PARIS-A Texan couple who discovered their love for art during a trip to Paris in the 1970s are to donate the multi-million dollar collection they have amassed since to the French capital.

Businessman Spencer Hays and his wife Marlene were in the city Saturday to formalize the first installment of their donation―187 works including pieces by Edgar Degas and Amedeo Modigliani worth around 173 million euros ($188 million)―to the Musee d’Orsay.

“When Marlene and I grew up in a little town in Gainesville, Texas, even visiting France was far beyond our great expectations. But in 1971 we made our first trip to Paris, and our love affair with this wonderful country began,” Hays told a crowd that included President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace.

“After our death, our collection will be gifted to the French people for the benefit of art lovers around the world. But, even more

important to us, this collection is our legacy,” he added.

The couple, who are both aged 80 and have been married for 60 years, have a collection of some 600 works from the late 19th and early 20th centuries worth 350 million euros―and it continues to grow.

“The people who know you know your collection gets bigger around July 14 and December 7, because those are your birthdays. And this year, once again, Marlene, you gave Spencer a Matisse, and you, Spencer, gave Marlene a Modigliani... It wasn’t easy to live up to that!” Hollande said.

The President added that the couple had given France not only their collection but also “access to culture for everyone”.

“Your act, your donation, honors the French Republic,” he said during a ceremony in which the couple received the distinction of commander of the Legion d’Honneur, one of the country’s highest honors. AFP

EDINBURGH―A tale of murder and class warfare in the Scottish Highlands by a littleknown novelist is one of the favorites to win this year’s Booker Prize for literature on Tuesday.

“His Bloody Project”, the second novel by Scottish author Graeme Macrae Burnet, has been outselling the other five nominees, leaving its small Glasgow-based publisher struggling to meet demand.

“One of the great side-effects of being shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize is the interest that it has created abroad,” Burnet told AFP in an interview before the ceremony for the prestigious English-language literary award.

His novel tells the gritty story of a young and poor tenant farmer who murders the village administrator and his family.

The social hierarchy of 19th-century rural Scotland―dominated by aristocratic landowners―is a key feature of the book.

But its roots stretch far from the small community of Culduie where the novel is set.

“The initial idea, which has been in my head for 30 years, came from the case of Pierre Riviere, a French peasant in the early 19th century who killed three members of his own family and then wrote a rather eloquent account of what he had done,” said Burnet.

“I was just totally fascinated by that,” he said.

In a year where the jury spurned big-name novelists, the bookmakers’ two other favorites are South African-born Briton Deborah Levy’s “Hot Milk” and Madeleine Thien’s “Do Not Say We Have Nothing”.

“Hot Milk” is a tale of a torturous relationship between mother and daughter set in a Spanish village, while Canadian Thien’s book is based around a world of classical music and silence in revolutionary China.

Among the other shortlisted novels is Paul Beatty’s “The Sellout”, a satirical novel set in a fictional neighborhood of his native Los Angeles, which explores racial equality and the civil rights movement.

US first-time author Ottessa Moshfegh’s “Eileen” is a portrait of a disturbed young woman and Canadian-born Briton David Szalay’s “All That Man Is” was described by judge Jon Day as “a post-Brexit novel for our times”.

Previous winners of the prize include Salman Rushdie for “Midnight’s Children” and Michael Ondaatje for “The English Patient”.

Burnet said he was undaunted by the limelight and curious to see how the novel would resonate with different audiences internationally.

He said a Chinese journalist had told him that the book’s “oppressive atmosphere” reminded her of Mao’s China and the condition of Chinese peasants.

“That sort of Kafkaesque notion of the arbitrary use of power and regulations has actually filtered very much into ‘His Bloody Project’,” said Burnet, who lived in Kafka’s native Prague for a while.

The novel also has more than a touch of Belgian influence through Burnet’s devotion to the work of prolific crime writer Georges Simenon.

“The book is now going out into the world, but when you’re writing the book you have no thought of that and I don’t think you should have any thought of that,” he said.

“All you’re trying to do is create your characters in the most vivid, authentic way possible.” AFP

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

C3

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Invitation to Bid The National Housing Authority (NHA), through the Corporate Budget approved by the NHA Board for the year 2016 intends to apply the sum of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payment for the following contract: Ref. Projects No. 2016- Procurement of 10-189 Trucking Services for the Belongings of Informal Settler Families Living Along the Waterways and Danger Areas Navotas City 2016- Procurement of 10-190 Trucking Services for the Belongings of Informal Settler Families Living Along the Waterways and Danger Areas Malabon City 2016- Production of 2016 10-191 Information-Education Communication (IEC) Tools

ABC/ Source of Duration Funds (P) (c.d.)

28,159,241.45 / 290 NG Subsidy

15,756,293.95 / NG Subsidy

154

1,823,260.75 / Corporate Receipts

45

Work Description Provision of six-wheeler trucking services to transport belongings of ISFs affected by the clearing of waterways and danger areas in Navotas City to their respective resettlement site.

Provision of six-wheeler trucking services to transport belongings of ISFs affected by the clearing of waterways and danger areas in Malabon City to their respective resettlement site.

Supply and printing of various IEC tools for posting in key information outlets in NHA project communities/distributed to NHA beneficiaries and community residents.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The NHA now invites bids for the above-cited project. Delivery of the Goods is required within the duration herein cited upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five years from the date of submission of bids, a single contract similar to the Project costing at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

A complete set of Bidding Documents shall be issued only to bidders/authorized official representatives or employees of the bidder who can show proof of Notarized Authority to secure bid documents for the specific Project and Official Company ID upon submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon Cash Payment of non-refundable fee of P20,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-10-189, P12,500.00 for Ref. No. 2016-10-190 and P2,000.00 for Ref. No. 2016-10-191 at the Office of the NHA-BAC 2 Secretariat, 2nd Floor NHA Main Building, Diliman, Quezon City starting on October 24, 2016. For further information, the NHA BAC 2 Secretariat may be contacted at Tel/FAX No. 9288272.

The NHA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on November 3, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Operations center, 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be OPEN only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered at the Operations Center 3rd Floor NHA Main Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City on November 15, 2016, not later than 10:00 a.m. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount as stated in BDS. Bid opening shall follow immediately after the deadline of submission of bids at the same venue. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders representative who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The NHA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

(SGD) AR. SUSANA V. NONATO Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee 2 (BAC 2) NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

( M S - O C T. 2 4 , 2 016)

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE

: :

REGISTRATION SECURITIES Initial Public Offering

OF

SHAKEY’S PIZZA ASIA VENTURES INC.) : (formerly INTERNATIONAL FAMILY : FOOD SERVICES, INC. : (Registrant) x----------------------------------------------------- x

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 10 October 2016, a sworn Registration Statement (“RS”) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on behalf of SHAKEY’S PIZZA ASIA VENTURES INC. (formerly INTERNATIONAL FAMILY FOOD SERVICES, INC.) (the “Company”) for the registration of One Billion Five Hundred Thirty One Million Three Hundred Twenty One Thousand Fifty Three (1,531,321,053) common shares with par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share broken down as follows1: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial price Public Offering, unissued shares)

104,000,000 common shares

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP15.58 per share

Secondary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial Public Offering, issued shares)

202,000,000 common shares

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP15.58 per share

Over-allotment Option (To be offered and sold pursuant to the Over-allot Option, issued shares)

46,000,000 common share

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP15.58 per share

Issued and Outstanding 1,179,321 ,053 Shares (Not included in the common Offer and the Over-allotment shares Option) Total

With par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share

1,531,321,053

According to the documents presented on 10 October 2016, the following persons are the directors and executive officers of the Company2: NAME Christopher T. Po Ricardo Gabriel T. Po, Jr. Teodoro Alexander T. Po Leonardo Arthur T. Po Oscar A. Pobre Manuel T. Del Barrio Ferdinand A. Constantino Vicente L. Gregorio Genevieve U. Yu

POSITION Director, Chairman of the Board Director, Vice-Chairman of the Board Director, Vice-Chairman of the Board Director, Treasurer Director Director, Vice President Director Director, President Corporate Secretary

The Registration Statement, its attachments and any amendments therein (collectively referred to as “RS”) are open for inspection by interested parties during business hours. Copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to every party upon request at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. Said RS and its updated version may be downloaded from the company’s website: https:llwww.shakeyspizza.ph/

EMMA A. VALENCIA Officer-In-Charge 1

2

On October 7, 2016, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) an application to amend its Articles of Incorporation to, among others, increase its authorized capital stock (the “Second Amendment’). The foregoing is the description of the shares of stock to be registered with the SEC after the Second Amendment is approved by the SEC. Prior to filing of the Second Amendment, the following is the description of the shares of stock to be registered with the SEC: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial price Public Offering, unissued shares) Secondary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial Public Offering, issued shares)

104,000,000 common shares

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP15.58 per share

202,000,000 common shares

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP15.58 per share

Over-allotment Option (To be offered and sold pursuant to the Over-allot Option, issued shares) Issued and Outstanding Shares (Not included in the Offer) Total

46,000,000 common share 416,614,050 common shares 768,614,050

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP15.58 per share With par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share

On October 6, 2016, the Company filed with the SEC an application to amend its Articles of Incorporation to, among others, reduce the numbers of directors from fifteen to seven(the “First Amendment). The foregoing is the complete list of directors and officers of the Company priot to the filing of the First Amendment. After the First Amendmend was approved by the SEC on October 14, 2016. the following is the complete list of directors to be elected: NAME Christopher T. Po Ricardo Gabriel T. Po, Jr. Teodoro Alexander T. Po Leonardo Arthur T. Po Vicente L. Gregorio Paulo Campos Fernan Victor P. Lukban Jorge Maria Q. Concepcion Manuel T. Del Barrio Armie M. Quintos Genevieve U. Yu

POSITION Director, Chairman of the Board Director, Vice-Chairman of the Board Director, Vice-Chairman of the Board Director, Treasurer Director, President Independent Director Independent Director General Manager Vice President Finance Director Corporate Secretary

(MS-OCT. 20 / 24, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Life SIP & SAVOR

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

D1

Taal’s Adobo sa Dilao, which uses turmeric instead of soy sauce

Feliza’s

heirloom recipes

Pancit 1913, an heirloom recipe made of miki-bijon topped with pork, shrimp, tofu, egg and chicharon

A

T the turn of the 20th century, the house of Feliza Diokno, private secretary of the late President Emilio Aguinaldo for 45 years, was built in Taal, Batangas. Aside from keeping in order Aguinaldo’s THE JOYCE OF EATING official affairs, she also served as JOYCE BABE PAÑARES secretary and treasurer-general of the Asociacion de los Veteranos de la Revolucion (Association of Revolutionary Veterans), which worked to ensure that former rebel fighters had access to land and pensions.

Diokno’s two-story house, with a lovely azotea where a 26-year old balete tree now grows, has since been converted into a charming bed and breakfast place called Feliza Café y Taverna. Framed black and white photographs, a peacetime flag, and elaborate 19th century dining pieces welcome guests, mostly expatriates who are eager to relive history in Taal which, aside from being hailed as the balisong and barong Tagalog capital of the Philippines, has been declared as a heritage town by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

“We wanted our menu to reflect not just the rich history of our country, in general, but also of Batangas, in particular,” Chef Giney Villar told Manila Standard.

“We offer what we call heirloom recipes. These are recipes that are passed on from one generation to another and are guarded closely. After all, cooking food is power. And even if you want to, you cannot just buy these recipes: you have to earn the right to cook these food,” she added.

An example of these would be the restaurant’s Chicken Relleno 1940s with salsa monja (P300).

The dish, which takes two days to prepare, is based on a recipe that is close to eight decades old now. The roasted chicken is stuffed with chorizo, ham, quezo de bola, and dried fruits, and is served with green beans toasted in garlic and roasted potatoes or rice. Salsa monja, or nun’s sauce, is an appetizer made of pickles, shallots, and olives that is said to date back to the Spanish period when nuns prepared it to accompany main courses.

There is also the Pancit 1913 (P315), which harks back to the early 1900s when Filipinos would line up for pancit and gulaman. The miki-bijon is topped with pork, shrimp, tofu, egg, fried garlic, and chicharon.

Villar also prepared dishes which, she said “any self-respecting Taal household would serve.”

These include Adobo sa Dilao (P235) with the chicken cooked in fresh turmeric, garlic, onion, and vinegar until the meat is tender in its own sauce, and is served with singkamas and mango salad.

It is Batangas’ own version of the more common adobo that is cooked in soy sauce. (There are other versions across the country,

Chicken relleno 1940s, served with salsa monja and roasted potatoes

Taal suman served two ways

such as Adobong Pula cooked in atsuete and Adobong Puti, which uses only salt.)

Another Taal dish is the Sinaing na Tulingan (P175) and Tapang Taal with spicy mango and papaya salad (P205). The tulingan is still made in the time-honored way of pressing the fish in a clay pot with dried kamias and slivers of pork fat for three days.

And of course, what is a Taal menu without steamed maliputo, a rare fish endemic only to Taal Lake. (A piece of trivia: maliputo and talakitok actually come from the same fry. If the fry from Pansipit River, the sole drainage outlet of Taal Lake that empties to Balayan Bay, goes to the ocean, it becomes talakitok with a bluish sheen. But if the fry

Sinaing na tulingan, which takes three days to prepare

remains in Taal Lake, it becomes the flavorful maliputo, with yellow streaks instead.)

For dessert, Feliza cafe offers Taal Suman ala Feliza (P100) which is sweetened sticky rice served two ways – traditional and deep fried – and comes with three dips: Batangas tablea, coconut cream, and mango purée; and Bunuelos con Tsokolate – lightly

crisped, melt-in-your-mouth puff balls that were once known as Suspiros de Monja or nun’s sigh.

If only for the dishes at this heritage house-turned-cafe, the three-hour trip to Taal town from Manila is worth it. Feliza’s azotea beckons, as does her kitchen.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

ADVT

Life

D2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Ian’s Taste of Hong Kong T

HE most travelled man on the planet is getting to the heart of Hong Kong.

Everyone has followed well-known travel show host Ian Wright as he braved active volcanoes in Vanuatu to getting a bite out of culinary meccas around the world.

Now he’s exploring the famed foodie haven Hong Kong, joining chef extraordinaire Christian Yang on the latest season of A Taste of Hong Kong, made possible by TLC and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Ian recently flew to Manila to introduce the brand new season to Filipino viewers as HKTB held the A Taste of Hong Kong launch at ShangriLa Fort. Simon Wong, regional director, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Southeast Asia, spoke about the wonders of Hong Kong, while stars of the show, Ian and Christian, were both present to talk about the

show and their experiences and thoughts on Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong is Asia for beginners. Everything’s brilliantly accessible; transport, food and more. You could be anywhere and within a five-minute radius, you could get the most amazing street foods for cheap, try some of the best high dining eats or simply stand at the ferry to enjoy the incredible view of the beautiful harbor. The contrasts are fantastic,” shared Ian. Christian added, “Hong Kong is a culinary encyclopedia.

The food is consistently of a high standard, especially since they’re produced with a lot of

Travel show host Ian Wright joined by Chef Christian Yang during the media launch of ‘A taste of Hong Kong’

Wright and Yang also talk about their thoughts on Hong Kong while taking some snaps with the attendees of the media launch

SELFIE. Wright and Yang gladly pose with a fan during the event

passion. It’s also so easily accessible and has something in store for everyone.”

Guests were treated to great food and super fun games that involved some good eats as well. These unique experiences actually took off from what Ian and Christian tried during the show’s filming, including the fish ball challenge where teams race to make the most fish balls in one minute, and the beer cap challenge where they worked hard to open a beer bottle with chopsticks.

Now on its third season, A Taste of Hong Kong continues to showcase the most amazing aspects of the city. Hong Kong is renowned for many things—its bustling art scene, modern architecture, wide array of shopping, and so much more. This time, the show will focus is on the rich and varied cuisines in “Asia’s World City.”

You can catch the foodventures of Ian, along with local chef and foodie extraordinaire Christian, as they go around the city to uncover the very best dishes Hong Kong has to offer.

Christian wants to create pop-up food events to pay homage to his city’s wonderful sights and smells, but with so much to choose from he’s enlisted the help of the seasoned international traveler. The pair leaves no stone unturned as they jump from restaurant to restaurant in their search. In a city like Hong Kong, there’s never a shortage of delicious dining destinations.

Catch A Taste of Hong Kong Fridays at 7:35 p.m. on TLC. Log on to DiscoverHongKong.com for more information.

B ITES

Quake Overload Writable Packs SHARE that heartfelt message, the sweet way, with the limited edition of Quake Overload Mocha Butter Writable Packs.

Your favorite chocolate cake bar dedicated a part of its pack to give you a canvass where you can #ShowYourFeels, and express your message to your loved

ones in a fun, creative way.

Each polybag of this limited offering from Jack ‘n Jill has 12 packs of delicious mocha cream-filled cake bars, enough to share with your family and friends. The package also contains a pad of 12 emoticon stickers, which you can attach

to your notes to display as much intensity and gusto.

Whatever intense feelings you want to share, be it a simple thanks, or a heartwarming message of admiration, you can level up how you #ShowYourFeels through every pack of the well-loved chocolate cake treat.

caption

Chef Raymond’s steamed lobster garnished with edible gold

The unique twist at Lung Hin LUNG HIN continues to provide only the most authentic Cantonese dishes, this time with a fusion of traditional and modern culinary techniques, with its new Chinese Executive Chef, Yeung Waai Hoi, or Chef Raymond.

Sharing over 26 years of Chinese culinary experience gained from five star international hotels and well-known international Chinese Restaurants across the Asian region, Chef Raymond is not new to the Philippines. He was previously assigned here for more than four years with renowned restaurant group and international hotel. A proud awardee of Hofex 2009 Hong Kong International Culinary Classic Gold Award, he showcased his skills in the modern Chinese cuisine challenge hot cooking competition.

Chef Raymond’s unique dishes with complex flavors are now being served at Lung Hin, bringing a mixture of traditional and modern, and Eastern and Western dishes, that showcases the diverse and thrilling world of Chinese cuisine.

Discover these dishes starting with a uniquely prepared soup, Chrysanthemum Tofu Matsutake Chicken Consomme. Steamed Lobster with Egg Golden Leaf brings

Quake Overload writable packs designed for young kids

Delightful snacking experience

The famed chef’s version of Crystal Osmanthus or jelly cake desert

the freshness of seafood for the main dish, as well as Deep Fried Squid with Salted Egg Yolk. Top the Cantonese fusion experience with the Crystal Osmanthus Jelly for dessert.

Lung Hin is on the 44th floor of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

Award-winning chef yeung Waai Hao more properly known as Chef Raymond

PARENTS can now feel good about bringing home fun and tasty treats that they know their kids will love, with Griffin’s Cookie Bear biscuits.

These yummy goodies are sure to add delight to family bonding time with their fun and imaginative shapes and colors, all lovingly baked with real New Zealand milk.

Youngsters will love playing with and munching on Cookie Bear Chocolate Milky Bears, snappable bear-shaped

milk biscuits dipped in yummy chocolate. For an equally exciting snacking experience, little ones can nibble on Cookie Bear Hundreds and Thousands — milk cookies with colourful party sprinkles on top of pink or chocolate icing.

Cookie Bear biscuits are baked

by Griffin’s, New Zealand’s Favorite Biscuit Bakers. Founded

by John Griffin, a humble flour miller over 150 years ago, Griffin’s is now New Zealand’s number 1 snack food manufacturer,

selling over 300 products from its two manufacturing facilities in Auckland, New Zealand.

Griffin’s recently ventured into Asia and is excited to introduce its delightful creations to Filipino biscuit lovers, extending the lighthearted joy and delight that Kiwis have experienced for generations.

Griffin’s Cookie Bear Biscuits are now available in all leading supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide for only Php 100 (SRP).

Three variants of New Zealand’s favorite biscuit brand is now available in Manila

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

Piolo wants to be in another soap

Glaiza De Castro

ACCORDING to Piolo Pascual, he still wants to star in the soap opera titled Written in our Stars originally meant for him and Toni Gonzaga.

“It just so happened that Toni got pregnant so it had to be shelved temporarily. But now that she has already given birth, I’m positive that the project will finally push through. For sure, this is a welcome thing for our respective fans,” Piolo said. “Actually, I sent Toni a text message to tell her that if I were to do a soap once again, I want it to be with her. I’m happy to get a positive response because she expressed her desire to do the project. She just told me to wait while she’s working on her figure to come back.

So, maybe come January or February next year, we can start taping.”

There’s a reason why the handsome actor is determined to star in the soap.

“Well, I guess it’s understandable, to think that my last prime time offering was Hawak Kamay in 2014. It’s been two years. I also miss appearing in a daily soap. Apart from the fact that it will be with Toni, Sam Milby is also part of the main cast. Don’t you think it’s an exciting screen combination?”

Since Toni just gave birth, many ask if he’s not jealous of the thought.

“Honestly, having another baby is a nice idea. Personally, I would still like to have another one in the future. A child brings joy to any household. But at this point, I’m content with my only son Iñigo who is just like a buddy to me. I tag him along in most of my social functions.”

Right now, the award-winning Kapamilya actor enjoys his light work schedule.

“I’m finishing just one film called Once in a Lifetime opposite Yen Santos. This is under Regal Entertainment. Like what I’ve mentioned before, following a hectic schedule in previous years, I needed to slow

holds fundraiser for kids with cancer

D

REAMS never end for the Kapuso actress Glaiza de Castro as she continues to use her talents in paying it forward. As a woman of passion, Glaiza believes that sharing her blessings with the people in need is not only a way to give back, but also a commitment that she needs to fulfill.

At the beginning of the month, Encantadia’s Pirena organized a 10k marathon for the benefit of the SPED students in Valenzuela City.

She invited her co-stars and some friends from the industry to support her cause, as well as her fans who continue to support her advocacies.

“Nakakatuwa na maraming gustong sumuporta sa mga ganitong pagtulong, kaya naman nakakagana ring ulit-ulitin. I am overwhelmed with all the blessings that continue to come my way, and I want to share it with the people who need it most,” says the GMA Artist Center star.

Kapuso star Glaiza De Castro held a fundraising show last Saturday at the UP Cine Adarna for the children of the PGH Pedriatic Cancer Ward.

Glaiza is best known for her roles in top-rating primetime series on GMA, among which is The Rich Man’s Daughter, and she is currently in the 2016 remake of the fantasy series Encantadia as Sang’gre Pirena.

In 2015, she launched her selfproduced album titled Synthesis, which reached the Gold Record status recently.

On top of her amazing live performances with her band, fans also got the chance to interact with Glaiza at the event through games, photo opportunities and even ask questions.

She also announced that she would be launching something special, which were welcomed with wild cheers among Glaiza de Castro fanatics.

Newest Kapamilya love team in

‘The Greatest Love’

Kapuso actress Glaiza de Castro pays it forward

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, October 24, 2016

ACROSS 1 — my lips!

5 London’s Old — 8 Wedding fixture 12 Oscar nominee 14 Relax 15 Carry — — of weight 16 Our, to Pierre 17 Bogus butter 18 Ho-hum 19 Most woebegone 21 Vegas hot spot 23 Summer quaff 24 Calendar divs.

25 Lisper’s problem 26 Beet products 30 Hartman and Bonet 32 Total 33 Don Quixote’s horse (var.)

37 Lab medium 38 Assumed as fact 39 Deception 40 Outer limits?

42 Organ feature 43 Windblown sand 44 Gorp eaters 45 MSNBC rival 48 “— Girls” 49 Little rascal 50 Young cow 52 Stumble across (2 wds.)

57 Chalet feature 58 Shaman’s quest 60 Thin, as a voice 61 Suits to — — 62 Makes the most of 63 Downhill racers 64 Ducks’ haunt 65 City rtes.

66 Besides DOWN 1 Called the butler 2 Green sci.

3 Aleutian island 4 Campus building 5 Battery word 6 Text ending 7 Punches a time card (2 wds.)

8 Airport queue 9 Kate’s sitcom friend 10 Zen riddles 11 Social mores 13 Comment 14 Kiss good-bye 20 MS readers 22 Strong — — ox 24 More prudent 26 Trade 27 Press for 28 Transmission part 29 Pungent

my pace, take some time off and just rest in order to recharge my batteries, so to speak. This is good for the craft,” ends Piolo. ******* Regine Tolentino admits she has gradually adjusted to leading the single life after her separation from Lander Vera-Perez more than a year ago.

“We are actually on the process of making things legal. It’ll be soon,” she says.

Is reconciliation still possible in the coming days?

“We haven’t communicated since then.

Probably, there’s nothing like that at this point. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.

This is a new chapter in my life and he’s not included anymore. With our daughters Reign and Reigen, I give them the option.

In fact, I always encourage them. You should communicate and do what you need to do or feel what is right.”

At this point, Regine is okay with how she runs her life.

“Well, for one, I’m busy with Zumba and managing my boutique. I always stay positive and that’s what helps me to get through everything. I have a mind-set as to where I want to direct my life, particularly my family and career. I guess, that’s what keeps me healthy, strong and inspired with my job.”

The dance empress wants her separation from Lander to be legalized first before she enters a new relationship.

“Yes, I should be a good girl at this point. Ha-ha-ha! Honestly, I’m ready to have a new love but it’s just that there’s no opportunity. I’m just waiting for the right time to focus on that part of my life.

“I have a very hectic schedule that it doesn’t permit me to do extra-curricular activities, except for my daughters. And I don’t have any complain. I love what I do and I have enough time to spend with my girls.

Let’s take it from there,” Regine states.

30 Delights in 31 Mr. Spock’s father 33 Ceremonies 34 In the buff 35 Romanov title 36 Sushi fish 38 Big-hearted 41 Kind of slipper 42 Laird’s musicians 44 Thoughtful murmur 45 For a song 46 Groovy 47 He played

Phileas Fogg 49 Charged particles 51 Wine and dine 52 Average grades 53 River in the Congo 54 Flake off, as paint 55 Track postings 56 NASDAQ rival 59 Santa Fe hrs.

The next Popoy and Basha? Kira Balinger and Joshua Garcia loveteam is a tandem to watch out for

ANOTHER Kapamilya love team is giving viewers a daily dose of kilig. Joshua Garcia and Kira Balinger’s budding romance in ABS-CBN afternoon drama The Greatest Love is thrilling fans to no end.

Viewers are drawn to the on-screen chemistry of Kira and Joshua, who play Y and Z. Netizens also shared their appreciation for the rising love team as they went giddy over their first kilig moments.

“Right now, we are still in the ‘getting to know each other’ stage. But our story has just started. There is still a lot to watch out for,” said Joshua.

The Kapamilya star also reacted positively to the fans’ constant comparison between him and multi-awarded actor John Lloyd Cruz.

“I am very happy, who would not be? It’s John Lloyd Cruz,” he said.

This has also led to fans dubbing his love team with Kira the next John Lloyd-Bea Alonzo tandem.

Meanwhile, Kira, who was introduced in the primetime series The Story of Us, treats her role in the afternoon drama as a huge challenge and an opportunity to learn. “It is really a big adjustment, because I spoke fluent English in The Story of Us, whereas here, I grew up in the slums, and I need to speak pure Tagalog. But it is all part of my growth as an artist,” explained Kira.

Y and Z’s paths have finally crossed.

How will their budding friendship affect the lives of Gloria (Sylvia Sanchez) and her family?

The Greatest Love airs after Doble Kara on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

Taki (center) with Baes Miggy and Kennet, the three star in “Trops,” GMA-7’s latest late morning offering that features the rest the boy group

The ‘Baes’ of ‘Eat Bulaga’ star with Taki in ‘Trop’ T

know.

Kim is a British Filipino. A martial arts expert, he is also a terrific dancer. These days, he is ISAH V. RED seen every Sunday in GMA 7’s Sunday Pinasaya.

Tommy is the tallest at six feet noontime show. among the “baes.” He has a bachelor of science The “baes” are Kenneth Medrano, Kim degree in Radiologic Technology, but chose to be Last,, John Timmons,, Miggy Tolentino Tolentino, and a singer and actor, that was why he joined “That’s Joel Palencia. They were the finalists in Eat My Bae.” Bulaga’s “That’s My Bae” segment, which Like the rest of the group and Taki, Jon and Joel replaced its “Mr. Pogi” search. are also masters of the dance floor.

Joining them in the new daily rom-com is Taki, Before starting taping for Trops, Taki and the a French-Japanese-Filipina now seen regularly in “baes” attended acting workshops to help them in the noontime show. breathing life to the characters they will play in Kenneth was the grand winner of the search. the series.

The Cebu-born good-looking lad can act, sing, According to the producer of the show. Trops and dance. Even before this new series, he has will delve into the various issues that concert appeared in Eat Bulaga’s Lenten Specials as an today’s generation, like peer pressure, friendship actor. And, previous to Trops, he was also in the rivalry, generation gap, among others. show Calle Siete.

The guys hope parents of millennial kids would Twenty-year old Miggy’s talent in dancing be able to relate to the show. has become his passport to a career in show The show also aims to acquaint the audience business. Trops is his biggest break so far. He with the dynamics of today’s generations, from plays Kenneth’s rival over Taki’s heart. fashion to their attitudes and relationships as Kenneth and Taki’s team up has the show aims to bridge the gap between the gained a following as they play millennial kids and the generation before them. sweethearts in Calle Zurbano who used to be director Mike Tuviera’s Siete. Their fan assistant belongs to the millennial generation, yet base has grown she says the show will try to imbue values, like after Taki became love and respect for elders, siblings and fellow a regular in the men in general. noontime show. *** Trops, In One of GMA Network’s top leading men M i g g y Rocco Nacino remains a Kapuso. He signed an c o m p l e t e s exclusive network contract last Thursday with the love GMA Network, Inc. triangle During the contract signing, the Kapuso hunk w i t h said he appreciates how the Network helped K e n n e t h him grow as an actor. “This is where I started and Taki as my career. I am just thankful na sa lahat ng both men projects na binigay sa akin ng GMA, tumatak c o m p e t e siya sa viewers. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng for the assistance ng GMA sa career ko at sa kanilang l a t t e r ’ s pagtitiwala,” Rocco said. affection.

He is currently in the top-rating primetime series W h o Encantadia as Aquil, the head soldier of Lireo will in who fell in love with Sang’gre Danaya. According the end? to Rocco, his role in the iconic telefantasya T h a t ’ s is definitely one for the books because of the what the experiences he has gained and the friendships he fans will has formed with the cast members. w a t c h “Nagpapasalamat talaga ako for being part of f r o m Encantadia kasi talagang classic show siya ng today till GMA. Lahat ng tao tinututukan fervently yung its end. program because of its story talaga. Bukod sa ang W h e n ? dami kong natututunan as an actor, enjoy siyang Only TAPE, gawin. The cast I am with is just so fun to be with.

Inc. and Also, the fact that kahit ako ginugulat ni Direk d i r e c t o r Mark (Reyes) sa twists ng show, nakaka-‘wow!’

L i n n e t lang talaga.”

Z u r b a n o Also, during the contract renewal, Nacino

HE latest and hottest all-male group called “Baes” is no longer just a group of dancers. Beginning today, the members are featured as actors in the half-hour daily soap called Trops.

The title is the street language of today’s youth taken from the world “tropa” (from the English word troup), which literally refer to a group or gang.

Fans of these “baes” (Bae, pronounced be-I, a contraction of “baby,” a term of endearment) will definitely have their h e y d a y s from Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. watching their favorite dancers transform into thespians while waiting for their favorite

New Kapuso stars David Remo and Therese Malvar

said that 2016 won’t end with a sad note as he continuously receives blessings, among which is Sanya Lopez, her leading lady in Encantadia. He wasn’t expecting the audience would receive their tandem warmly.

“Actually nung una, kinakabahan kami e, kasi bago kami. Pero masaya ako kasi nakita ng mga tao yung galing ni Sanya—which dati ko pa naman talaga nakikita. Masaya rin ako kasi I found a friend in her,” the actor said. *** Award-winning actress Therese Malvar and child wonder David Remo each signed an exclusive contract with the Kapuso Network recently.

The young artists continuously grow as two of the most promising actors of this generation and GMA Network is proud to have them as its homegrown talents. Therese and David are both part of the Afternoon Prime series Oh, My Mama!.

Therese, who made waves in the international scene this year with her stellar performance in numerous independent films, says that she trusts GMA with her career. “Whatever the Lord gives, I will forever be grateful. Lalong-lalo na po sa GMA dahil they believe in my talent. I am excited for the upcoming projects and I trust GMA na whatever they give po sa akin ay makakabuti sa career ko,” shares the Kapuso actress.

At a young age, David has shown not only his prowess as an actor but his passion for the craft as well. He is able to balance school and acting, which makes him even more admirable.

“Masaya po ako and thankful sa GMA. Salamat din po sa mga sumusuporta, and sana po panoorin ninyo ang Oh, My Mama,” says the child star.