Manila Standard - 2016 October 25 - Tuesday

TRUSTED ALLY. Washington’s most senior diplomat for Asia Daniel Russel arrives in Manila Monday, giving assurances the United States remains the Philippines’ ‘trusted’ ally but warns that growing concern about drug-related killings in the country is ‘bad for business.’ His visit follows President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to China where the latter announced his country’s ‘separation’ from the United States and realignment with China. AFP

VOL. XXX • NO. 255 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

US envoy snubs Du30, airs concerns

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and John Paolo Bencito

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TOP US envoy visiting Manila, departing from usual practice, did not seek a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte, whose fiery rhetoric he said was becoming a growing concern around the world.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay confirmed that there would be no meeting between the President and visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, the top American envoy for Asia.

The assistant press attaché at the US Embassy, Molly Koscina,

also confirmed that no request was made with the Palace.

“We did not request a meeting with the President for Assistant Secretary Russel,” she said in a text message.

After an hour-long meeting with Yasay in the DFA main office, Russel proceeded to

his scheduled consultation with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Russel arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, and watched a basketball game at the Araneta stadium in the afternoon.

In an ambush interview, Russel said the series of Duterte’s “controversial statements” against the US have caused uncertainty and consternation among some countries, not only his own.

He also said the President’s remarks were a growing concern not only among governments, but in communities such as the expat Filipino community, and in corporate boardrooms.

“This is not a positive trend,” he Next page warned.

‘200k Yolanda victims Tokyo trip deprived of state aid’ expected

By John Paolo Bencito

HARDEST HIT. PhilHealth employees repack bags of sugar for distribution to affected families of powerful Typhoon ‘Lawin’ in Tuguegarao City Sunday, only hours after President Duterte visited typhoon victims there and led the distribution of relief in the province, now under a state of calamity, before he went to Ilagan in nearby Isabela. Presidential Photo

MORE than 200,000 survivors from Regions 6 and 8 never received assistance from the government nearly three years after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” struck the country, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said Monday after initiating an internal assessment of donations given to the department during the previous administration.

“We have done an assessment of the “Yolanda” donations and we are going to make that report… on or around Nov. 8. This was something… the people themselves [requested] when we first came into office last July,” Taguiwalo said in a Palace press briefing.

“So, many farmers, fisherfolk talked to us and asked us about their emergency shelter assistance, three years after “Yolanda.” So, we decided to have an internal assessment of the donations given to the DSWD as well as other funding,” she added.

Taguiwalo, who earlier ordered the release of P5,000 in emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to each poor family affected by the twin super typhoons, said that there might be irregularities on how the ESA funds were spent in the Aquino administration.

“Our team is [working on] a more detailed report. Our main problem with “Yolanda” is while we have provided more than Next page

to unlock $2-b deals

By John Paolo Bencito TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday that the Philippines and Japan are set to sign 12 business-to-business deals worth $2 billion during the upcoming three-day official visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Tokyo.

On the sidelines of the launch of e-Presyo in Makati City, Lopez said some 200 businessmen will join President Rodrigo Duterte in his official visit to Japan that runs from Tuesday to Thursday.

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DSWD recants: We need aid after all SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said Monday the government was not closing its doors to foreign aid after her Facebook post denouncing the need for receiving aid from other countries went viral.

“I would like to apologize if my comment sounded like we no longer need foreign aid,” Taguiwalo told reporters.

“We were able to address the needs of the victims before and during [the typhoons] “Karen”

and “Lawin.” We were able to help them immediately.

“We welcome foreign aid based on our needs and it should come without any condition. We are thankful to our friends, the individuals, organizations and other countries which are willing to help.”

Taguiwalo made her statement even as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council appealed to critics to spare it from politics.

Plunder case filed vs Pagcor

‘Oust-Tugade’ gaining stead amid traffic woes

By Rey E. Requejo THE Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Monday filed a P234-million plunder case against former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Celestino Naguiat and 10 other officials in connection with a lease contract they entered into with a private company for a non-existent casino.

In its complaint, the VACC Next page

LAWMAKERS urged President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday not to reappoint Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade after the powerful Commission on Appointments bypassed him last week for his failure to solve Metro Manila’s traffic woes within 100 days from assuming office.

Reps. Gary Alejano, Tobias Tiangco and Danilo Suarez said Tugade does not deserve a second chance after failing to at least ease the traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

“The fact that Tugade failed to at least ease the worsening traffic twitter.com/ MlaStandard

“Please spare the NDRRMC from politics because it has no place in disaster and humanitarian efforts,” agency spokeswoman Mina Marasigan told reporters.

“During times of calamities such as typhoons we’re all losers.”

Marasigan issued her statement following persisting questions on how it and the government deal with foreign donors such as the United States, the United Nations and the European Next page

crisis in Manila as promised, it is but proper that he should not be confirmed,” Alejano said.

Tugade was deemed bypassed after the CA failed to confirm his ad interim appointment before Congress adjourned last week.

Alejano said Tugade sat on his job waiting for emergency powers to be granted him.

He said even without emergency powers Tugade could have accomplished something.

“My position is that [the Transport department] must exert all efforts within their power and within

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DISPERSAL CONDEMNED. Lumads and other indigenous peoples from Mindanao gather Monday outside the gates of PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City to condemn the violent dispersal Wednesday last week of protesting IPs and other militant groups by the police in front of the US Embassy in Manila. Manny Palmero

Cops destroy Isabela drug lab, kill 2 Sinos TWO Chinese nationals believed to be members of a drug syndicate were killed in an alleged firefight with lawmen following a raid of an illegal drug laboratory in Isabela Sunday afternoon, an official said Monday.

Cagayan Police Chief Gilbert Sosa identified the slain Chinese as Jixin Li Huang alias Kim Punzalan Uy and She Cangbo.

thestandard.com.ph

He said the two had been operating the shabu laboratory seized in Cauayan City Isabela at 4 p.m.

Sixteen other drug suspects were arrested during the raid.

The clandestine drug laboratory in Isabela brings to seven the number of shabu manufacturing sites seized by authorities in the war on drugs by the Duterte administration.

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Contempt raps poised on Comelec THE Commission on Elections may be held for contempt if it releases the “unused” votecounting machines to Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp., the electronic voting company tapped in this year’s general elections, the lawyer of Next page

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

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5 Pinoy sailors now in Nairobi

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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HE five Filipinos who were released by Somali pirates on Sunday are now in the custody of officials and are awaiting repatriation, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said on Monday.

Jose said the Filipinos are set October 28. They will undergo to arrive in the Philippines on some medical tests and psycho-

US...

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Duterte during his visit to Beijing has declared that he wanted to “separate” from the country’s top trading partner and long-time ally, the United States.

Russel was here to seek an explanation of Duterte’s remarks from the Philippine government.

Russel, however, said that Duterte himself has already “walked back and explained” that comment on Saturday, saying that the separation was in terms of foreign policy.

Now that it is clear, Russel said, there will be no change in the US diplomatic relationship with the Philippines.

“He described it as a reference to maintain an independent foreign policy. Well, if separation means that the government in Manila makes its own foreign policy decisions based on its own assessment of the Philippine national interest then there’s no need for a change,” Russel said.

While the American government fully support Manila’s decision in forging an alliance with Beijing, Russel said that it is a mistake to think that the improved relations with China comes at the expense of the US. Russel said Yasay had briefed him about Duterte’s recent state visit to China.

“I reiterated that the US welcomes a relaxation of relations between Beijing and Manila,” Russel said.

He added that the US does not intend for any country to choose between them and China.

“That’s not the way we think about it. This should be addition and not subtraction. We don’t want countries to have to choose between the US and China,” he said.

He said the US believed that all countries should be able “to make their own decisions in keeping with democratic values and keeping with international law.”

“So let me end where I began by strongly reaffirming America’s enduring bond of friendship, respect and shared value with the people of the Philippines,” he added.

Russel also said that he also told Yasay that some “friends” are also concerned about Duterte’s bloody war on illegal drugs.

“And as I candidly shared with the foreign secretary, your friends are also concerned about the loss of life, in connection with the counter narcotics campaign,” he said.

He said that the US government may support Duterte’s campaign, but said it should observe due process.

“Now we strongly support the effort against the scourge of drugs.

And I explained the ways the US can and does assist the Philippines in protecting your communities against the danger of illegal drugs that flow into your country from overseas, including by the support of our own DEA and other agencies,” he said.

“But I also reiterated the importance that we place and that others place on due process and respect for the rights of citizens as an important part of protecting communities as well,” Russel added.

He admitted that the continuous killing in the country caused a “growing uncertainty” that is bad for business.

“The growing uncertainty about this and other issues is bad for business... This is a very competitive region,” Russel said.

“And the Philippines’ advantage as a close US partner with strong institutions and respect for the rule of law has served it very well.

We think that is something that is worth protecting,” the American official added.

Yasay said he explained to Russel that Duterte’s remarks was only intended simply “for the Filipinos’ mindset to separate themselves from the paradigm of dependency and subservience” to a foreign interest.

“It has nothing to do with breaking our relationship with the United States, or breaking diplomatic ties, we continue to work towards the

strengthening our ties with the United States,” Yasay told the reporters shortly after Russel left his office.

Yasay said even Duterte admitted last Saturday when he arrived from his trip to China that breaking up with the United States would not be in the country’s best interest.

“We will continue to respect our alliance with the United States, as it’s our only military ally. We will respect our treaty and associated agreements with respect to the treaty. We will forge ahead in making sure that our relationship will proceed on a much stronger basis. Our thrust, however, in carrying out our independent foreign policy is to make sure that we will not have this kind of dependency or subservience that has always with against the national interest,” Yasay said.

The US State Department last Friday announced that Russel will be pursuing a “long-scheduled” plan to visit the country.

He, along with US Defense Assistant Secretary Kelly Magsamen, also met with Lorenzana.

The Palace on Monday played down Russel’s visit, saying it merely raised “old concerns.”

“It’s not a new line. It’s something that the US and the Western alignment have referred to again and again. However, the President already made his position clear regarding that, and there are no statesanctioned policy regarding these alleged extrajudicial killings. Even the Senate made reference with that and absolved the President in their own particular investigation of the matter,” presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a Palace press briefing.

US Secretary of State John Kerry rang Yasay on Monday to discuss the alliance, Russel said.

Duterte has frequently voiced deep anger at American criticism of his efforts to eliminate drugs in society, repeatedly branding President Barack Obama as a “son of a bitch” and telling him to “go to hell” for expressing concerns.

Duterte, who describes himself as a socialist, has sought to diminish his nation’s alliance with the United States in favor of closer ties with China and Russia.

Duterte’s “separation” remark was made during a four-day state visit to China.

“America has lost. I’ve realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to [President Vladimir] Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way,” Duterte said in Beijing.

Immediately upon returning to the Philippines, Duterte said he would not cut ties with the United States, but he nevertheless launched another profanity-laced critique.

“If there is one thing that America has failed miserably, it is in the province of the human dignity,” Duterte said on Saturday, as signaled he did not care about the hundreds of millions dollars in foreign aid from the United States.

“Assistance, USAID, you can go to hell,” he said.

Duterte has repeatedly said the Philippines has not benefited from its ties with the US, particularly denigrating their military alliance that is anchored on a 1951 mutual defense treaty.

The nations typically hold more than two dozen war games of various sizes every year, but Duterte has said there will be no more.

He has also said he eventually he may no longer allow American troops on Filipino soil at all, and canceled joint patrols in the South China Sea so as not to anger Beijing.

Nevertheless, the Philippines on Monday accepted a second-hand American C-130 transport plane at a handover ceremony in Manila.

“This will certainly boost our air transport facilities. The importance of this aircraft cannot be over-emphasized,” Lorenzana said at the ceremony.

The plane was the second delivered this year under an agreement in which the Philippines buys surplus American military hardware. With AFP

logical debriefing before they will be repatriated.

Jose said the five Filipino seafarers were received by DFA Undersecretary Jesus I. Yabes together with Philippine Embassy in Nairobi chargé d’affaires Uriel Norman R. Garibay and other DFA officials, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport upon arriving in Nairobi after four and a half years of captivity in the

hands of Somali pirates.

Arnel Pregellana Balbero, Elmer Salvador Balbero, Antonio Auxtero Libres, Jr., Edwas Akes Tininggal Jr., and Ferdinand Jacinto Dalit were among the 29-man crew of the Omaniflagged FV Naham 3 that was hijacked on March 26, 2012 while traversing the Indian Ocean some 65 nautical miles south of Seychelles.

Aside from the five Filipinos,

the crew was made up of Cambodian, Chinese, Indonesian, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese seafarers. Of the 29, one died during the hijacking while two others succumbed to illnesses while in captivity.

“We are pleased that the five Filipinos are now with us and that they are safe. We have scheduled them for medical tests and psychological debriefing to at least start their way to a

full recovery from this ordeal,” Yabes said.

Efforts for their release began immediately after their capture in 2012 with Oceans Beyond Piracy, a project of One Earth Future Foundation, spearheading the negotiation.

However, due to several security issues and the multi-national component of the case, it took a long time for the case to be resolved.

‘200k...

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US DONATION. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left) pours champagne for good luck on a newly acquired C-130 cargo plane from the United States during the handover ceremony at a military base in Manila Monday while US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg (lower right in suit) watches. The ceremony followed Duterte's trip to China, where he said he was ‘separating’ from long-time ally the United States and embracing China, but later appeared to pull back from his comment. (Story on A3) AFP

Tokyo...

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The Cabinet member added that most of these deals between Filipino and Japanese firms are in manufacturing and agriculture.

“There’s buying commitment from a Japanese company to import fruits from the Philippines,” Lopez said.

He said that during the visit, Manila and Tokyo are also expected to work on official development assistance (ODA) supporting training, technical cooperation as well as research and development.

Duterte’s visit to Japan follows his four-day state visit to China last week, where he gained some $24 billion worth of deals.

The new administration is pushing for strengthening ties with Asian neighbors.

President Duterte’s recent official trips include those in Laos, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam.

The Palace said Monday the

Plunder...

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through its president Dante Jimenez and board member Arsenio Evangelista asked the Justice Department to investigate the P3.2 billion lease contract that Pagcor awarded to Vanderwood Management Corp. in 2015 for being “highly irregular and anomalous.”

The VACC said the 6,500-squaremeter lot, the subject of the lease contract, was within the portion of the Museo Maynila Complex, formerly the Army and Navy Club and is owned by the Manila City government.

DSWD...

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Union in view of President Rodrigo Duterte’s animosity to them in connection with their criticism of his war on drugs.

Taguiwalo said the government still welcomed donations from other countries and organizations.

In her post on Monday, Tagui-

country’s maritime dispute over the South China Sea was not part of the initial agenda of the three-day visit, which would focus on economic and defense cooperation.

“The main agenda will not be political but economic so if it’s [South China Sea issue] referred to, it will be on the sidelines,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

“President Duterte will be discussing security, economic and defense issues with the prime minister during the three-day trip that is seen to continue the Philippines’ efforts to bolster strategic partnerships with its Asian neighbors. [The] President also plans to observe the Japanese shipbuilding process as maritime cooperation continues to prosper,” he added.

Upon his arrival from a four-day state visit in China, the President said that maritime issues would be among the topics to be discussed with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when he visits Tokyo this week, reiterating his respect for the

stand of Japanese on its maritime disputes with the China.

Abe faces a delicate task to promote the closely aligned security goals of Tokyo and Washington without pushing Duterte deeper into Beijing’s embrace.

Japan has disputes with China over the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea. The Philippines, on the other hand, has been granted its claims by the UN-backed arbitral tribunal against China’s over the South China Sea. Abe will be signing an agreement to supply two new patrol boats to the Philippines adding up to the vessels and aircraft Japan has already provided to help keep tabs on activity in the South China Sea. Duterte will be also meeting with Japanese car manufacturers Mitsubishi Motors and Toyota Motor Corp. to seek further investments in the Philippines.

Duterte concludes his trip on Thursday with a call on Japan’s Emperor Akihito. With PNA

The complainant said the property was leased by the city government to Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp. in January 2014.

“The amount of P234,000,000 was paid to VMC representing 12 months advance rental and six months security deposit at P13,000,000 per month pursuant to the lease contract, despite the fact that the premises to be leased [were] not existing at the time of the execution of the contract,” the complaint said.

“Considering that there was no leased premises to speak of, the disbursement of P234,000,000 was irregular and, therefore, disallowable in audit pursuant to Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-003 dated

October 29, 2012,” it said.

Also named as respondents were former Pagcor chairman Jorge Sarmeinto and board members Jose S. Tanjuatco, Enriguito M. Nuguid, and Eugene G. Manalastas; members of the Bids and Awards Committee Milagros Pauline L. Visque , Ramon Jose E. Jones, Romeo R. Cruz Jr., Annalyn Zoglmann, lawyer Kathleen G. Delantar; and VMC president Manuel B. Sy. The VACC also questioned the bidding committee’s decision to qualify VMC in the post-qualification process despite non-submission of certain documents and non-compliance with certain conditions under the technical requirements of the bid.

walo said the government was not soliciting international aid because it had enough funds to address the needs of the affected families, adding her agency would be “colorblind” when it came to helping the needy and poor as instructed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“To our beloved countrymen, just a few explanation: we are not asking for foreign assistance or donations from other countries

for [the victims of] “Karen” or “Lawin” because we saw that the government and its agencies have sufficient funds to address the needs of the affected families,” Taguiwalo said.

“We should not be too dependent on foreign agencies if we could stand on our own feet. If we unite, we could do it.”

John Paolo Bencito and Florante S. Solmerin

Cops...

Contempt...

And the death of Huang and Cangbo brings to three the number of Chinese nationals killed in the war against illegal drugs.

On July 22 Meco Tan, an alleged Chinese drug trader, was slain after allegedly resisting arrest inside a shabu lab in Binagbayanan, Valenzuela City.

At least nine Chinese nationals, two of them Taiwanese, have been arrested in separate anti-illegal drug operations apart from 31,297 drug dealers and users.

A total of 1,711 others were killed while 54,646 drug pushers and 696,113 users surrendered.

An estimated P3.8 billion worth of shabu and essential chemicals in the production of the illegal substance have been seized by authorities.

Sosa described the dismantling of the shabu lab in Isabela as “a major breakthrough in the relentless campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region after three months of painstaking intelligence operations.” Francisco Tuyay

former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday.

George Garcia asked the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to stop the Comelec from releasing the VCMs to Smartmatic because doing so would violate the Precautionary Protective Order it earlier issued to preserve all election materials and equipment used in the May elections.

Marcos, who was defeated in the vice presidential election this year, is contesting the victory of Leni Robredo claiming an anomaly in the counting of the votes and demanding a recount of the votes.

Garcia said should the Comelec

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P1 million in emergency shelter assistance to the victims, there are around 200,000 claimants who [said] they were victims of “Yolanda” in Region 8 and Region 6 but they were not given the assistance needed. That’s why here [with] “Lawin,” we said, emergency shelter assistance should be emergency, not three years, not two years after.”

The Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FAiTH) website earlier said the Philippine government received P1.202 billion in cash donations and another P1.269 billion in non-cash donations after the typhoon.

“Generally the money has gone to the people but there are cases of irregularities,” Taguiwalo said, noting that some of the irregularities include delays in the release of the emergency assistance to typhoon victims.

In some of the cases, she said some typhoon victims were not relocated due to the prohibition on giving assistance to residents living in danger zones.

Some victims had also failed to receive assistance because they were not part of political groupings in some local government units.

“The money has gone to the people but there are cases of irregularities or non-compliance… The exclusion of emergency shelter assistance is widespread,” she added.

Taguiwalo said she doesn’t want a repeat of the “Yolanda” experience, in which the DSWD was heavily criticized for the apparent lack of preparation and support for victims after the typhoon.

“We are doing our best so that the “Yolanda” experience in terms of delayed provision of emergency assistance should not be repeated,” Taguiwalo said.

“We don’t want any form of irregularity or corruption, and the President was very clear about it,” she added.

‘Oust-Tugade’...

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the established laws to solve the traffic problem,” Alejano said.

“However, if [the department] sees the need for emergency powers, it must be able to present its plans clearly: the specifics of what it will do and the timeline within which it will exercise this power.”

Tiangco said he was also opposed to Tugade’s reappointment.

“While it is the prerogative of the President to reappoint Tugade, Congress had already made its sentiment known through the CA,” he said.

Suarez had said Duterte should fire Tugade if he failed to address the worsening traffic situation by the end of the year.

“Let us give him another month. If people will still experience the traffic nightmare during the Christmas season, then the President should fire him already,” Suarez said.

Suarez backed Alejano’s position that Tugade does not need emergency powers to start resolving the traffic crisis.

Earlier, a network of road users urged the CA not to confirm Tugade. Maricel V. Cruz proceed with the release of the VCMs on Oct. 26, that act would be a “disobedience of or resistance to a lawful order of the court.”

“Protestant Marcos respectfully submits... that Comelec cannot release the subject VCMs as the determination of whether they were used in the 9 May 2016 elections, and are thus covered by the PPO, is solely within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Tribunal,” Garcia said.

“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.”

Garcia said only the high court and not the Comelec had the sole authority to decide on the release of the VCMs to Smartmatic. Vito Barcelo

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

China urged to fix illegals

By Maricel V. Cruz A NEOPHYTE party-list lawmaker on Monday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to find ways to legalize the stay in China of over 200,000 undocumented Filipino migrant workers.

Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III of ACTS-OFW party-list said more than 200,000 undocumented Filipino workers in China—household workers, tutors, and private teachers— appear to have failed to secure work visas from the Chinese government.

Bertiz said Duterte could push for the documentation of those Filipino workers as a confidence building measure in pursuing the resumption of bilateral talks with China on the maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea. He believes the President’s visit to China recently “will bring balance” in favor of these undocumented migrant workers.

“The concern of our sector would be the legalization of the agreement between China and the Philippines. Until now, the ones working in China, the majority of them, 200,000, most are undocumented, the documented ones are very few,” Bertiz told a news conference.

He said this issue was mentioned by Labor Secretary Bello III which shall be forwarded to the President to request Chinese authorities for the legalization of 200,000 undocumented OFWs in China.

Bello earlier said he brought up with the President the documentation of illegal OFWs in China, and have it discussed with Chinese officials during his state visit last Oct. 19 to 21.

Elsewhere, lawmakers expressed belief that the Philippine government is in the right track with joining alliance with China and Russia.

“We can have relationship with many countries. We may have multiple partners but one thing is constant, and we heard this from President Duterte: We must uphold our interest at all times,” CoopNatcco party-list Rep. Anthony Bravo said.

“Rather than judge what the President said, I would rather judge it with what was accomplished during the trip,” Bravo added.

MRS. PHILIPPINES GLOBE 2016. Professional dentist Fritzie Lexdy Noche after winning the Mrs. Philippines Globe 2016 beauty pageant at Taguig City. She will represent the Philippines in the 2016 Mrs. Globe World Finals in Hainan, China in December. Ey Acasio

Grace: No excuse for no telco alerts S

ENATOR Grace Poe stressed that telecommunications firms have “no excuse” for not sending mobile phone warnings during the past calamities that hit the country.

Poe said case in point was Metro Manila—which has been placed under Signal No. 1 in past two typhoons—where there is good quality of cellphone signals but no text alerts were actually received by many citizens.

“We are told of so many different kinds of promos. They may have an excuse in places where the signal is weak. But here in Metro Manila, there is no excuse not to receive any. I myself did not receive any,” Poe said in a radio interview.

People’s faith not misplaced—Koko SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III has vowed to “work harder” following the latest Pulse Asia survey that gave him the third highest approval rating among the country’s top five officials.

“I will make sure it is not misplaced,” said Pimentel, who formulated, after winning the Senate presidency, an 11-point Program of Government for Change, laying the “basis for the development and progress of our country and people.”

He thanked Filipinos for “their faith in me,” and said he was “humbled and inspired” by the trust placed in him.

Pimentel gained a 61-percent approval rating in the nationwide survey, called the September 2016 Ulat ng Bayan, conducted

by Pulse Asia from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, among 1,200 respondents using face-to-face interviews.

The survey has a plus/minus 3 percent error margin and 95 percent confidence level.

Pimentel also received a 99-percent awareness rating, while 55 percent of respondents also said they have “big trust” in him. This trust rating reflected a five-percent increase from the July 2016 survey, which gave him a 50-percent trust rating. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Poe has filed Senate Resolution No. 211 seeking an explanation from implementing agencies and telcos on possible lapses even though Republic Act No. 10639, or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, and its implementing rules and regulations are already in place.

“Receiving alerts in times of disasters is very important especially in far-flung areas. This is already spelled out in the law that warnings should be sent by telcos free of charge on the part

of the mobile phone subscribers,” Poe said.

According to Poe, it is important that telcos include emergency numbers of disaster response agencies such as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Social Welfare department, local governments, the police and the Philippine Red Cross.

“We know that [the law] is new. Maybe they need to get used to it and that’s why we are reminding them that we need text alerts when there is a typhoon,” she said. “What’s important is that people know what numbers to call when they need help.”

Under Section 6 of RA 10639, any person who gives false or misleading data or information or willfully or through gross

negligence, conceals or falsifies a material fact, in any investigation, inquiry, study, or other proceeding pursuant to the Act face imprisonment of two months to six months and a fine ranging from P1,000 to P10,000.

If the offender is a corporation, the penalties may range from a fine of P1 million to P10 million and/or face suspension or revocation of its legislative franchise and other permits and licenses issued by the NTC. Mobile phone subscriptions in the Philippines hit 115 million and the country has been consistently cited for mobile phone use, a proof that mobile phones bring better access to communication and engagement to critical information.

Justify fat salaries, SSS told

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Richard J. Gordon has challenged officials of the Social Security System to justify the high salaries they get by devising ways to improve the retirement benefits of the 33-million members of the state pension fund.

Gordon issued the challenge during the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises hearing conducted jointly with the Committees on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development; Health and Demography; and Finance.

A proposal mandating a P2,000 across-the-board hike in the monthly pension of SSS retirees was also approved by the joint panel.

“When you pay somebody well, you expect value for money,” Gordon said.

On the SSS’ concern it would have a shorter lifetime if the monthly pension of retirees would be increased, Gordon pointed out the SSS should be much more aggressive in getting more members and invest funds wisely to increase its resources.

“We cannot act on fear, we have to be more aggressive. I

will ask questions later on, on how we can be more aggressive so we can have more members, so we can invest the funds in worthwhile endeavors so you can get resources and our people will deserve more than a paltry amount when they retire or when they die. I think this is one of the legacies that any country of significance should be aiming for,” said Gordon.

“When we ask people to save in the nature of forced savings, there must be a good replacement. It should be transformational because what I think here is that we’re just transactional,” he stressed.

he has been well informed of the real state of our old and obsolete military assets, in land, at sea, and on air.

“He is well aware of the needs of our soldiers, from their individual basic armaments and equipment, to the enhancement of their morale, welfare and wellbeing,” he added.

Lorenzana said the Chief Executive has readily committed to address these requirements to the maximum limits as allowed by the country’s financial resources. PNA

Fuel prices up P0.20 GASOLINE prices went up by P0.20 per liter for the seventh week but kerosene and diesel prices went down by P0.15 per liter and P0.10 per liter, respectively starting Tuesday to reflect the movement in world oil prices.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Seaoil Philippines, PTT Phoenix Petroleum, Flying V, Eastern Petroleum and Unioil Philippines issued their respective advisories of the price movement.

“Seaoil will adjust its pump prices per liter effective 6 a.m., Oct. 25, 2016, as follows: gasoline: increase of P0.20 per liter, diesel: rollback of P0.10 and kerosene: rollback of P0.15 per liter,” Seaoil said in its advisory.

Oil prices went up in the past weeks after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced to cut production in its effort to stimulate prices.

The move is the the first planned output cut in eight years to raise oil prices.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Holiday pay rules stressed THE Department of Labor and Employment on Monday reminded all private sector employers to observe the correct pay rules on October 31 and November 1 which were declared as Special Non-working days.

“All Saints Day is one of the country’s most cherished traditions. The proper observance of the pay rules and core labor standards on this Special NonWorking Day promotes decent work, workers’ productivity, and competitiveness,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

“October 31 and November 1 [All Saints Day] were declared special non-working days by virtue of Proclamation 1105, Series of 2015,” he said. Vito Barcelo

P3.3-b fake goods seized

Govt aware of needs, Lorenzana tells soldiers PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is well aware of the weaknesses plaguing the Armed Forces of the Philippines and he is now taking steps to address this deficiencies.

This was stressed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during Monday’s turn over ceremonies for the Air Force’s fifth Lockheed C-130 Lockheed “Hercules” cargo aircraft.

“President Dutete has understood our defense and military establishment so well. He knows the capability and the needs of our Armed Forces, and

IN BRIEF

PCSO SERVICE AWARDS. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office officials, led by Chairman Jose Jorge E. Corpuz (second from left), honor fellow employees who have rendered five to 40 years in service. Among the awardees are Angelita D. Mendoza (third from left). With them are (L-R) PCSO directors Francisco Joaquin III, Betty Nantes, Loreto Ata, and general manager Alexander F. Balutan. Joseph Muego

A TOTAL of P3.3 billion worth of counterfeit products were seized by the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) from January to September this year.

During the 6th Philippine Anti-counterfeiting and Piracy Summit at the Edsa ShangriLa Hotel Monday, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines director general Josephine R. Santiago said bulk of the amount were fake watches and apparel amounting to PHP2.0 billion.

The nine-month value for confiscated fake goods was higher than the amount of seized products for the full year of 2015 at P2.0 billion.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Help from others

E

ARLY next month, the country will mark the third anniversary of the onslaught of Typhoon “Yolanda,” which ravaged the central Philippines and caused unprecedented death toll and damage.

This commemoration comes soon after another Super Typhoon, “Lawin,” hit northern Luzon last week. As of Monday, 14 deaths have been recorded with over P10 billion in damage in agriculture and infrastructure.

These days, government agencies involved

Adelle Chua, Editor

in the provision of relief and rehabilitation to the victims of the storm look back to what happened in 2013 and say that some of the issues from three years ago have not yet been resolved.

For example, more than 200,000 “Yolanda” victims from Re-

gions 6 and 8 still have not received emergency shelter assistance despite the cash and non-cash donations received from both domestic and foreign sources. There were irregularities and cases of non-compliance with the standards, said Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

Compounding the efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency in the release of help to victims is the recent

pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte daring the United Nations, European Union and the United States to cut their aid to the Philippines.

The President said we could survive on our own and do not need any help coming from foreign countries or institutions.

Senator Ralph Recto seconded this as he cited the availability of P44 billion in calamity funds especially since no major calamities

were recorded this year.

But the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council emphasized that politics must not be a factor in dealing with foreign countries and institutions that give donations for the shortand long-term.

Rightly so. Even before “Yolanda,” such institutions have voluntarily given help not only to provide immediate relief to victims but also to ensure communities could build

back and be resilient to future disasters.

This is not an issue of dependency or mendicancy but one of humility and openness, recognizing that during emergencies, we may temporarily depend on others and that does not make us weak or vulnerable.

Aid especially in times of disaster should be insulated from fiery rhetoric and professions of nationalism and selfsufficiency. There is just too much at stake.

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA

Padre Roque’s wise and holy life

The sky is not falling LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE sky was supposed to have fallen by the end of 1992. Except that it didn’t.

In December 1992, the 1947 Military Bases Agreement between the United States and the Philippines lapsed. A year earlier, the Philippine Senate voted 12-11 to reject a new bases treaty, despite the lobbying of the pro-American President Corazon Aquino.

Aquino, who was installed in a bloodless coup backed by Washington in 1986, had warned of dire economic consequences if the Senate failed to renew the proposed RP-US Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace. The treaty would have allowed the Americans to stay 10 more years at Subic Naval Base, the largest US military naval base in Asia at the time.

The New York Times reported that a decision not to extend the American lease on Subic and other bases “will be a major economic loss for the impoverished Philippines, which will lose the aid it receives annually for use of the [Subic] base and the hundreds of millions of dollars in business generated by its presence.” Under pressure from Washington, Aquino led rallies at the Senate and even called for a referendum on the issue instead of ratification by the chamber, as the Constitution that she had had drawn up stipulated; she failed.

Pro-American Filipinos, then as now making up a majority of the population, agreed that the bases should stay, according to surveys taken at the time. But the Senate was adamant, and in a historic vote won by the “Magnificent 12,” it rejected the renewal of the bases lease.

And despite all the warnings about bad times that would befall us if we turned our backs on the Americans, the sky did not fall. A quarter century after the

US military was kicked out by the Senate, we have not “turned Communist,” as officials of the first Aquino administration warned, nor has our economy tanked.

It only seems to be that way if you’re a proAmerican, proAquino neocolonial.

I’m reminded of the bases controversy because I see the exact same arguments being dusted off and deployed once again these days, from the same pro-American crowd that once fought tooth and nail to keep the US bases. That the people warn-

ing that the economy will take a major hit, that we will lose out on billions in aid and that we will turn Commie (in a world where no nation is really Communist anymore) are also identified with the Aquino family is probably not a coincidence.

I am convinced that President Rodrigo Duterte is merely continuing a policy that was sidelined during the six years of the Second Aquino administration.

It was Noynoy Aquino, like his mother before him, who tried to undo the process of weaning this country away from more than a century of dependence on the US which began when Admiral George Dewey sailed into Manila Bay in 1898.

It was Ferdinand Marcos who first tried to play the US off against its Cold War rivals, by renewing ties with a then-weak China and Russia. And all succeeding presidents after Marcos, except for the two Aquinos, continued the policy of opening up to other regional and world powers; Duterte is just speed-

ing up the process because he understands how his immediate predecessor caused a lot of damage with his own version of the reverse pro-American pivot.

Cory’s American ties are perfectly understandable, since she was installed by them after the US decided to oust Marcos. I’d like to think that Cory’s son was motivated by filial piety in embracing the Americans like his mother once did—except that I suspect that Noynoy only wanted to take the straight path of least resistance and did not want to worry about problematic geopolitical relationships and the balancing thereof, for the Philippines’ benefit. *** But since we’re being bombarded with the same dire predictions, mutatis mutandis, if we turn away economically and militarily from the US, let’s try to refute them, also using updated realities. Let’s begin with the supposed economic fallout of turning away from the US. Turn to A5

IF YOU are looking for a meaningful gift to give to friends and loved ones this Christmas, I recommend a wonderful book

by Fr. Roque Ferriols SJ— “Glimpses into my beginnings.”

The original version of this autobiographical book, published by the Ateneo University Press, is in Filipino and entitled “Sulyap sa aking pinanggalingan,” with the English version translated by Dr. Soledad Reyes and both versions edited by Dr. Leovino Garcia.

Padre Roque—92 years old, 75 years a Jesuit, 62 years a priest, more than 50 years a philosophy teacher—is the most brilliant Filipino I have ever met. He ranks up there with Jose Rizal and another Jesuit Fr. Horacio de la Costa in his mastery of languages, depth of insight of our culture and what makes us Filipino, and elegance in writing. As his classmate Fr. Catalino Arevalo SJ, also a towering Jesuit intellectual and theologian, quoted Fr. De La Costa during the book launch: “Roque Ferriols is the only true genius we have among the Philippine Jesuits.”

On a personal note, Padre Roque taught me two philosophy courses: one on AncientMedieval Philosophy, the other on Soren Kierkegaard. My mind and heart were forever changed by the experience of being in a Ferriols classroom.

It was not just that Padre Roque enabled me to go back to the time of the first Greek philosophers, the Pre-Socratics, to share in their first experience of abstraction. It was not just that Padre Roque helped me put on the eyes and heart of a Socrates and an Augustine searching for the truth that matters. It was not just being given an insight to the agony —the fear and trembling—and faith of the Danish philosopher Kierkegaard. Above all, Padre Roque taught me and many others how to think, how to ask questions, how to wonder, ultimately to search for God that leads us to the discovery that it is God who searches for us. I will always be grateful for that.

I was also fortunate in that I taught philosophy at the Ateneo de Manila for nearly a decade in the 1980s. As his coteacher, I was able to have many Turn to A5

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Where is our foreign policy headed?

Former President Fidel Ramos WHEN President Duterte said before a combined audience of said the Duterte boat is leakFilipino and Chinese business- ing. Unless the administration men and public officials that the can plug the leaks, this boat will Philippines would have a “sepa- truly sink.

I have never seen a president ration,” militarily and economically, from the United States, as talkative as Duterte. He is the my first reaction was, Santa Ba- only one I know who articulates nana, does Duterte realize what policies based on impulse. His visit to China may have earned he is saying?

“Separation” means cutting the country $24 billion worth of off of ties. Did the President agreements with the promised mean he was cutting off all con- investments of $15 billion and nections with the US even when $9 billion worth of credit faciliwe have existing military ties ties—which, by the way, we still like the Mutual Defense Treaty, have to pay.

In the geopolitical sense, the Visiting Forces Agreement and the executive-approved Duterte’s rants against the US agreement like the Enhanced presume that the United States Defense Cooperation Agree- needs the Philippines more than the Philippine needs the United ment?

Cutting of all economic ties States. This is wrong. with the US would also mean This is why we need circumthe end of aids and grants, and endangering American spection when we speak about investments in the Philippines, our foreign policy. *** especially in business process President Duterte is reported outsourcing. It is a $250-million industry with 2.1-million to have appointed a new Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority adworkers.

My gulay, that would be a na- ministrator in the person of Rantional tragedy—incomprehen- dy Escolango, former SBMA sible and dangerous, using the Deputy Administrator for legal affairs, replacwords of foring Roberto mer Foreign Garcia, who secretary and served both as former AmI have never chairman and bassador to administrator. the US Albert seen a president The chairmandel Rosario. ship went to D u t e r t e ’s as talkative as Martin Diño, words, which who ran for I believe were Duterte. president, but made in imgot substituted pulse since

by Duterte. he never conA close sults his team before making a policy speech, reading of the SBMA charter, sent members of his Cabinet however, provides that both scrambling all over the place, the chairmanship and admindecoding what their boss really istration should be held by one person. This was in the case meant.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez of Richard Gordon, the first said that economic ties with the SBMA chairman/administrator, US will continue, and Foreign and for Tong Payumo who sucSecretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said ceeded Gordon.

The trouble with having a this was all part of the country’s effort to have an independent chairman and a different administrator is the possibility of a foreign policy.

If Chinese officials in the turf war. There was even a time background were smiling, I at the SBMA when the chaircould not blame them. Duterte man and the administrator both was indeed kowtowing to the wanted to occupy the admiral’s Chinese. The phrase that made residence at the Freeport. Both me laugh was “China, Rus- sides appeared ready to shoot sia and Philippines against the each other. This did not happen when Roberto Garcia became world.”

My gulay, the President was both the chairman and adminequating the Philippines with istrator, whose leadership has superpowers like China and turned the Freeport in tip-top shape both in revenues and reRussia!

Even Japan—where Duterte cord employees. *** will go this week—wants clariHere’s good news for senior fication.

When the President promised citizens, especially the hearing to metamorphose from a local impaired.

The Movie and Television mayor to the president of 101million Filipinos, I had misgiv- Ratings and Classification ings. A zebra cannot change its Board may soon implement stripes. Still, I tried to be hope- the need for subtitles for all programs—news, ful that he would change for the television country’s sake. For all his warts, movies and sitcoms. This is President Duterte is now our the result of the findings of the president, and we are all in the Senate committee on public information chaired by Senator same boat.

No matter what his apologists Grace Poe upon the complaints say, Duterte’s nationalism is of many senior citizens, who simply passe. We now live in a have hearing deficiency and other physical disabilities. global community.

The...

From A4 The sad truth is, American investors haven’t exactly been breaking down the door to get in on the local action for decades.

Except for the business process outsourcing industry, there haven’t been any major investments locally.

And the BPO companies will not relocate because of Duterte, despite all the scare talk, because costs are low and talent and profit are good here. Remember that US President Barack Obama himself was ignored by these companies when he asked them to ship back to the US the jobs they sent here—that’s just the way business works.

As for aid, what aid? If you don’t know how small the Philippines, a former colony and supposed “valued ally” is getting in aid from America com-

pared to other countries like Pakistan, Israel, Vietnam and a host of others, you won’t find it here; as they say, Google is your friend.

As for turning Communist, a favorite line peddled by Duterte critic Senator Antonio Trillanes, that’s just so ignorant. China and Russia may be authoritarian states, but they’re even less Communist than we are these days.

And if Trillanes is so scared of us catching the Communist disease by dealing with China, I wonder how he inoculated himself when he visited that country 16 times as the “backdoor negotiator” of Noynoy Aquino. But that’s really another story, for another time.

All of which just proves that the sky was never in danger of falling when we strive to go our own way as a nation. It only seems to be that way if you’re a pro-American, pro-Aquino neocolonial.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The SC decision on the Marcos burial HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA THE Supreme Court has remained undecided on the issue of whether or not ex-President Ferdinand Marcos may be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. News reports disclose that the justices are deeply divided on the issue.

President Rodrigo Duterte made the overture two months ago by permitting the burial of the late strongman at the Libingan. Duterte wanted the nation to move on from its divisive discussions about martial law. For Duterte, the burial will provide closure to a controversial chapter in Philippine history that is largely unknown to the present generation of Filipinos. Duterte also believes that the closure itself will push the country out of the wilderness of political bickering and finger-pointing and back to the path towards progress and development.

Although the Marcos burial was planned for August 2016, activities in that direction will have to wait. Seven petitions opposing the intended burial at the Libingan were filed in the Supreme Court by parties opposed to the idea of President Marcos resting in a cemetery reserved for heroes.

Only a few of the petitioners were anti-Marcos partisans during their time. One petition was filed by a group of college students whose awareness of what actually happened during the martial law regime is hearsay, second-hand, or based solely on what historians aligned with the family of ex-

President Benigno Aquino III have said.

Senator Leila de Lima is also a petitioner. Whether or not De Lima was at the forefront of the anti-Marcos campaigns of the 1970s and 1980s is debatable because she does not seem to be among those who were openly fighting President Marcos. Critics say that De Lima filed the petition in her capacity as a loyal follower of the previous president and his family.

Since a temporary restraining order against the Marcos burial was issued by the Supreme Court, everyone interested in the outcome of this case will simply have to wait. Considering, in turn, that most of the justices have more or less made up their minds on the matter, it will not hurt to reiterate an earlier discourse on this issue.

First, the petitions pending in the Supreme Court allege grave abuse of discretion on the part of President Duterte for his decision to push through with the Marcos burial. Jurisprudence, in turn, defines grave abuse of discretion as arbitrariness, capriciousness, and whim.

Second, in cases where the exercise of executive power is allegedly tainted with grave abuse of discretion, the prevailing jurisprudence in Constitutional Law posits that the question the Supreme Court must ask is not whether the president acted correctly, but whether the president acted arbitrarily. Thus, the issue before the Supreme Court is not whether President Marcos deserves to be buried in the Libingan, but whether President Duterte acted with grave abuse of discretion in allowing the Marcos burial to proceed.

Third, the Supreme Court is composed of justices who

are unelected public officials.

Therefore, if it is established that the president did not act arbitrarily, then the Supreme Court must give the president the benefit of the doubt and refrain from getting in the way of executive action and discretion.

To hold otherwise is to allow an unelected branch of the government to substitute its own judgment for that rendered by an elected branch of the government, without any compelling reasons to warrant the same.

That will be antagonistic to the essence of a democratic and republican government operating under the rule of law.

Fourth, the Constitution explicitly provides that sovereignty resides in the people, and all government authority emanates from them. During the 2016 presidential campaign, then candidate Rodrigo Duterte promised the voters that if he is elected president, he will have the Marcos remains buried at the Libingan.

Duterte won convincingly and overwhelmingly, and by a majority unprecedented in Philippine election history. That mandate requires Duterte to keep his end of the bargain by, among others, allowing the Marcos burial at the Libingan.

Fifth, complying with the mandate of the Filipino people who elected him, Duterte decided to allow, once and for all, the Marcos burial at the Libingan. Complying with a directive from the people who elected him can hardly be considered as an arbitrary act on the part of President Duterte.

In fact, it is anything except being arbitrary.

Finally, the Libingan ng mga Bayani is a military cemetery.

As such, the final word as to who gets to be buried there,

and who does not, belongs not to the judiciary but to the President as the commanderin-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Therefore, unless the petitioners are able to show very good reasons to warrant a judicial incursion into matters which belong to the exclusive realm of the military, and the prevailing jurisprudence frowns against such judicial incursions, the Supreme Court has no choice but to accord due respect to the decision of President Duterte to bury ex-President Marcos at the Libingan.

To view the situation otherwise is to countenance a judicial usurpation of the powers which the commander-in-chief clause of the Constitution exclusively vests in the president.

The final decision of the Supreme Court in the Marcos burial case will have tremendous consequences on the separation of powers principle that underlies the existing constitutional government of the Philippines.

While the power of the Supreme Court to say what the law means is conceded, Congress has the power to unseat justices of the Supreme Court for culpable violation of the Constitution or for betrayal of the public trust. The exercise of that power was instigated by a sitting president back in 2011, and demonstrated to the people in 2012 by the televised ouster of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In the event that the Supreme Court dismisses the petitions, that ruling should not be interpreted to mean that the Supreme Court sided with the executive department. It means the Supreme Court simply upheld what the Constitution mandates—nothing more, nothing less.

The US can stay friends with the Philippines Bloomberg editorial FOR a moment last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte seemed to have orchestrated one of the most dramatic geopolitical shifts in Asia since the end of the Cold War—abandoning the US, his country’s longtime ally, for rival China. Characteristically, he did so with zero subtlety. In responding, the US should avoid making the same mistake.

That’s not to say Duterte’s anti-US comments in Beijing last week should be dismissed as the ravings of a hot-tempered diplomatic lightweight. He remains the Philippines’ legitimately elected leader, and at least some of his supporters hold antiAmerican views—stemming in part from America’s history as a colonial overlord. Whatever Duterte meant—he now says he was talking only about striking a more independent line in foreign policy—there’s every reason to

Padre...

From A4 conversations with Padre Roque and learned even more from him. It was during those years that he also became more prolific in writing as he discovered the wonders of word processing and the personal computer.

I cannot think of a better example of the teacher and writer that I wanted and want to be than Padre Roque. I cannot think of a better life, lived fully in wisdom and holiness than that of this priest and Jesuit. The dedication of this book manifests this: “I wish to dedicate this book to all my friends, but to give honor to the Three Persons in One Loving God, I will mention three of my friends.” Padre Roque then dedicates the book to a childhood friend Gusting who taught him “how to catch dragonflies in the meadows of Sampaloc,” to Jonathan who gave him “a book with blank pages” on which he could write the ideas that gave clarity to his reflection, and finally Genesis, who gave him “the courage to begin writing this book” on Feb. 29, 2012 (this was the birthday of Genesis, “whose name means beginning”).

believe ties with the US will cool in the near term. Meanwhile, China has promised Duterte billions in soft loans and potential infrastructure investments.

Nevertheless, the Philippines’ pivot contains more fury than substance. Duterte isn’t the first Asian leader to return from China with impressive promises of investment and cooperation; typically, only a fraction of that money gets spent. Duterte’s musings about saddling up with Russia as well as China— “three of us against the world”—wildly inflates his country’s global relevance. And if his charm offensive calms tensions in the South China Sea, that would suit the US as well as anyone.

In reality, the US still enjoys great support in the Philippines, from both the military and the public. More than three-fourths of Filipinos say they have “much trust” in America; less than onefourth say the same about China.

Already Duterte’s obsequious praise of the Xi Jinping regime has prompted grumbling at home. The Filipino military has a history of coups—and little interest in replacing American weapons, logistical support and training with Russian and Chinese technology.

For its part, China has serious inherent shortcomings as a partner. The terms of its development loans have, as often as not, ended up fostering resentment rather than friendship. And on its fundamental point of contention with the Philippines—over who owns several rocks, reefs and islands that fall within the latter’s exclusive economic zone —neither country can afford to compromise. Sooner or later, and especially if China uses this temporary calm to resume militarizing certain islands, a break is almost certain.

The US would thus be wise not to overreact to Duterte’s insults.

Threats to cut off aid or military support would only swing public support behind his anti-American campaign.

And the US has plenty of other points of influence. American commanders are no doubt already reminding their Filipino counterparts that a radical break in relations would have strategic consequences. Allies such as Japan—the Philippines’ third-biggest trading partner after China and the US—can quietly reinforce the message. Meanwhile, the US can and should calmly continue to deepen defense ties with Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.

When dealing with a hothead, it’s usually good practice to maintain one’s cool. The US has weathered strategic frictions with friends before—including far more critical allies Japan and South Korea—and can surely do so again.

Below are excerpts from the book—which is on the first four years of Padre Roque’s life as a Jesuit, the setting of which was the beginning of World War II, the Japanese invasion, and the battle in Manila. I share them here to entice all my readers to read and buy this book.

Padre Roque, writing about his first night as a novice of the Society of Jesus: “My first night in the Society of Jesus came. I could not sleep. I heard a noise that I could not figure out. The morning after, I woke up in a new place, the novitiate, surrounded by rows and rows of pine trees, and heard the whistling of the wind cutting through the rows of pine trees. This was the music of life: at times, full of happiness, on other occasions, sad and mournful; at times, laughing, with joy, on other occasions, tearing up with sorrow.

This was like my life in the Society of Jesus, this was life for anyone, anywhere.”

Padre Roque describes the first day of the war, which coincided with Christmas: “At daytime, we saw how lovely Novaliches was in the Yuletide season. The sky was intensely blue and the poinsettia leaves were crimson red. But at noon, the Japanese planes burst out of the horizon. They sounded

like the buzzing of the bees. And they flew over the house on their way to Manila. A little later, we heard the thud of bombs falling over the city.

The superiors thought of devising a camouflage to protect the house, and so we produced “paint” by combining the red clay of Novaliches and water.

Some painted the exterior of the house, while others cut off branches and used them to cover the roof. The idea was to spare the building from the bombs. I was not sure if it helped any.

The Japanese forces had landed in Luzon, and we thought mistakenly, that Fil-American troops could put up a fight and stop them. But we proceeded, undeterred, with our preparations for Christmas . . . Rorate coeli desuper . . . noli timere . . . drop down dew, ye heavens . . . do not be afraid. This was our first ever Christmas with the Society of Jesus and no one could make us give up our hopeful anticipation.”

Another passage from the book describing Christmas midnight mass, the last day of the novices in Novaliches before they evacuated to Manila: “Before midnight we awakened to the sound of Christmas carols. This was what the secondi (a second year novice) meant

when he said that angels would sing at midnight. The bell rang as the group sang “Fall on your knees.” We rose from bed, knelt down, and kissed the floor, and stretched out our arms. We put on our clothes and proceeded to the chapel.

It was pitch dark because lights were out during the war. But we felt the presence of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Infant Jesus whose shining light we could feel in the darkness.

We sang Flos de riodice dat and ended with the rousing Adeste Fidelis . . .”

In my next column, I will share Padre Roque’s stories of Manila during the war and at liberation. I will also share some of the original text in Filipino.

I recommend both versions to readers; in fact if one proficient in both languages, it is a delight to read this book in Filipino and English, one after the other, and even side by side.

During the launch, Fr. Arevalo SJ mentioned how Dr. Reyes said she shed tears as she was translating Padre Roque’s text.

I must confess that I too cried, overwhelmed by wonder and a sense of grace, as I read both the original and English versions.

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A6

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF CoA urges LTO probe THE Commission on Audit is asking the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the supposed irregularities in the production of driver’s licenses at the Land Transportation Office in 2012 until 2013.

State auditors said LTO failed to observe the procurement rules and adopt a build-operate-transfer scheme of the licenses’ production, and called for a probe of a possible criminal liability of agency officials.

The commission’s Chairman Michael Aguinaldo and commissioners Jose Fabia and Isabel Agito upheld the agency’s 2013 findings of the absence of a legal basis to proceed with the production and delivery of the driver’s license cards by Amalgamated Motors Philippines Inc. Despite its expired contract with LTO in 2006, the company was able to bag P500.904 million and P239.105 million in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

CoA issued a notice of disallowances to AMPI and then LTO chief Virginia Torres, who passed away in January 2016 due to heart attack, as well as License Section chief Judith Campos, Finance and Management Division chief Irenea Nueva, Budget Section chief Ada Valdez, Accounting Section chief Asuncion Maningas, Administrative Division chief Maribel Salazar, and accountants Pernafrancia Dizon and Sheila Rodriguez. Rio N. Araja

Orbos clarifies policy on coding exemptions

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

ETRO Manila Development Authority officer-in-charge Thomas Orbos on Monday clarified that only emergency vehicles are exempted from the number coding scheme being enforced in the National Capital Region.

“There is no such thing as an absolute or blanket exemption,” said Orbos in reaction to reports that a number of doctors in Metro Manila are complaining about the scheme, particularly the suspension of the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. window hours.

“In fact in the case of doctors,

from what I observe, a lot of people not necessarily them [doctors], there was abuse in their sector. Many are using, either putting logo or posting stickers that they are doctors, but they are not. So, if you are into emergency care, we will exempt that. If not, we need to sacrifice and I’m

sure the doctors will understand that,” he added.

Based on the MMDA advisory, the following are automatically exempted from the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or the Number Coding Scheme: emergency vehicles (police, military, ambulance, fire trucks); government service vehicles (red plate); diplomatic vehicles; accredited tow trucks; vehicles carrying persons who need emergency attention; medical practitioners responding to emergency cases.

Vehicles with commemorative plates are not exempted from the UVVRP. Meanwhile, the MMDA public information office said media personnel and outlets that are using

unmarked or unofficial vehicles during coverage need to apply for exemption from the scheme.

“With this, a letter addressed to MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos, stating the reason for their exemption needs to be submitted together with an attachment of the vehicles’ OR/CR to the MMDA Public Information Office,” it stated.

A P300 processing fee will also be charged for each UVVRP exemption.

Initial assessment of the MMDA on the full implementation of the number coding scheme showed that motorists reduced their travel by 10 to 15 minutes along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Monumento

CA junks Colanggo bail plea

Two killed in ‘shootout’ TWO unidentified motorcycle riders allegedly involved in the shooting of four civilians were killed by Caloocan City policemen in a supposed shootout during a dragnet operations along Camarin Road in Barangay 178 on Sunday.

The police claimed the 1 p.m. shootout took place along Raja Sulayman Street, Sto. Niño, Maligaya, Barangay 178 and resulted in the injury of Noel Kilantang, 40; female identified as Teresa aged 40-45 years old; Jeffrey Cacheco, 35; and Mark Jayson Cacheco, two years old. The Cachecos were confined at different hospitals after sustained gunshot wounds.

A concerned citizen reported the incident to the barangay which was eventually relayed to police community precinct 5. Authorities on patrol along Camarin Road, in Barangay 178 spotted a motorcycle with two riders who fit the description of the suspects and upon noticing the mobile car, the motorcycle hastily turned towards SMMI at Phase 6 prompting the policemen to pursue. Jun David

‘Undas’ promo at park WANT to personally experience the Korean blockbuster movie Train to Busan? Then you should visit the Centennial Garden in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna.

On November 1, the Centennial Garden will again open its gates to its clients and guests for its annual celebration of the Family Day which coincides with the commemoration of the traditional All Saints’ Day, locally called Undas.

Len Jontongco, head of the Marketing and Promotions, said highlight of this year’s Scary House inside the famous Acropolis building at the Centennial Garden is the characters from Train to Busan—the popularity of the movie led to viral reenactment of friends and classmates in the social media.

“If those who watched really enjoyed the movie, then this is the chance for them to personally experience what it’s like to deal with the scary zombie characters,” said Jontongco.

Aside from Train to Busan, the Scary House will also feature other scary characters in local and foreign movies like Feng Shui, Conjuring and Shutter.

The Scary House is the most popular go-to area inside the Centennial Garden. Located inside the beautiful building Acropolis, the Scary House features different various horror characters every year.

Jontongco said the November 1 Family Day is not only open for the relatives of their clients but also for the public. Every year, it has been a frequent destination of residents of Sta. Rosa City and nearby areas but also other guests from various parts of Luzon, especially in Metro Manila. Francisco Tuyay

in Caloocan City to Baclaran in Pasay City.

“Records show we have traveled in Edsa shortened by at least 10 minutes. We need to take into consideration the arterial roads. That’s what the directive of [Transportation] Secretary [Arturo] Tugade and we will do it,” said Orbos.

Members of the Metro Manila Council agreed with the proposal to extend the window hour suspension in the number coding scheme to one hour from 7 a.m.7 p.m. to 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

The MMC, composed of the 17 mayors in Metro Manila, also signed a resolution expanding the coverage of the traffic scheme to at least 15 main roads, most of them Circumferential and Radial roads.

KIDDIE BOO. Hundreds of Mandaluyong City children dressed in their Halloween best joined the city’s annual ‘Zombie Zumba’ at the Garden of Life Cemetery in Barangay Vergara. Manny Palmero

Matobato seeks transfer of trial venue

By Rey E. Requejo PROFESSED Davao Death Squad hitman Edgar Matobato on Monday asked the Supreme Court to transfer his trial on charges of illegal possession of firearms from the Davao City Regional Trial Court to a Manila court.

In a 16-page petition for transfer of trial venue, Matobato through his lawyer Jude Josue Sabio cited the possibility of being killed by those he named as allegedly behind the DDS operations.

Matobato is facing a case of violation of Republic Act No. 10591 which is carrying a firearm outside of residence without the requisite permit to carry that is pending before Branch 3 of the Davao City Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

The accused also appealed to the Office of the Court Administrator to cancel his ar-

raignment scheduled on November 3 while his petition to transfer the venue of his case is still pending.

Matobato recently testified before the Senate Committee on Justice inquiry on the series of extrajudicial killings in the country mostly involving alleged drug pushers and users.

The 57-year-old Matobato last September appeared before the Senate’s Committee on Justice and Human Rights inquiry on the series of extrajudicial killings in the country mostly involving alleged drug pushers and users.

In his testimony, Matobato tagged President Duterte as the mastermind behind the DDS, a group that is allegedly comprised of policemen from the Davao City Police and hired assassins tasked by Duterte to kill criminals in Davao as a strategy of crime control.

“The fact that President Rodrigo R. Duterte is the prime target of his [Matobato’s] exposé makes the scenario even more terrifying.

This is not to mention the fact that Matobato’s former comrades are policemen based in Davao City who are capable of mounting an attack on him in a covert manner,” the petition stated.

The petitioner believes that there is a higher risk for policemen riding in tandem to launch an attack against Matobato if he sets foot to Davao.

“After all, Matobato’s former comrades are still entrenched in Davao City with the backing of their leader, the most powerful man in the country, President Rodrigo R. Duterte a.k.a. Charlie Mike,” the petitioner said.

He also added that Matobato’s former comrades in the DDS is already in Manila “judging from the style of executions with which he is very familiar.”

THE Court of Appeals has dismissed the appeal of controversial New Bilibid Prison’s inmate Roy Gilbert Colanggo to be allowed to post bail.

In a decision, the CA’s Fifth Division stressed that it found no merit on Colanggo’s petition for bail since he was already convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court on May 10, 2013.

Colanggo was the leader of a notorious robbery group involved in several bank robberies in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in the early 2000 including the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. branch in Cabuyao, Laguna where 10 people were killed.

“We find no merit in accusedappellant’s petition for bail. Considering that bail pending appeal is only discretionary when the applicant is convicted of an offense not punishable by death, reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, accused-appellant is not eligible to be granted bail as a matter of course,” said the October 6, 2016 decision written by Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. The appellate court rejected Colanggo’s arguments which cited the case of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile who was allowed to post bail by the Supreme Court, despite facing the nonbailable offense of plunder saying that the latter’s case is not applicable since the former lawmaker has not yet been convicted of the case.

“Neither are we swayed by his reliance on the case of Enrile v Sandiganbayan as the factual circumstances of that case do not fall squarely to the case at bench. In the case of Enrile, the applicant for bail had not yet been convicted and was merely awaiting trial,” the appellate court said, adding that unlike Colanggo, Enrile has shown “utter respect for the legal processes of this country.” Rey E. Requejo

Mall developer reaffirms disaster resiliency support IN LINE with the call of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, SM Prime president Hans Sy has renewed his commitment to incorporate disaster resiliency into its business models.

“Our commitment to disaster resiliency has always been at the core of our business and we will further find ways to innovate in order to make business more responsive to the needs and demand of our times,” Sy said.

Sy made the commitment during the UNISDR Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilience Societies meeting in Washington DC held recently.

Sy is the only Filipino international board member of the UNISDR Private Sector Alliance which is also called as ARISE. SM Prime is the secretariat of the ARISE Philippines.

During the meeting, UNISDR has called on business leaders to make the risks posed by natural and man-made hazards to be put front and center in investment choices in order to curb disaster-related economic damage around the globe.

Taking note of the frequency and intensity of weather hazards such as Super Typhoon “Yolanda” and more recently, Hurricane Matthew, as a result of climate change, the UN-

ISDR said disaster risk reduction should be the topmost consideration in all business decisions because of the costly consequences of disasters.

More than 100 private sector representatives from different industries such as construction, insurance, retail, tourism, consulting and technology attended the meeting which was aimed at reviewing ongoing projects to build resilience and identify gaps to reach the global goals set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Sendai Framework, a 15-year plan to curb disaster deaths, the number of affected people and the scale of economic losses, was adopted by the international community in March 2015 which is also linked tightly to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

SM Prime has been spearheading disaster resiliency and management in the private sector through the annual Top Leaders Forum which brings together the UNISDR, government officials and business leaders to discuss best practices in DRRM and how to adopt them in their business operations and bring them to the communities where they operate. Macon Ramos-Araneta

SURIGAO MISSION. More than 300 Surigao City residents availed of free medical check-up, dental services and medicines during the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and FFCCCII Foundation’s first medical mission in the city in partnership with Councilor Fernando Almeda III. The FFCCCII team was led by board member Enrique Chua, chairman of Welfare Committee; Dr. Lily Lim, vice chairman of the Media and Public Information Committee; and Aniceto Bonpin Jr., regional executive director for Northern Mindanao and the Surigao Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce led by president Peter Paul Go.

Sports Johnson replaces Day in PH event AMERICAN Dustin Johnson has been chosen to replace world no. 1 golfer Jason Day in his scheduled PH exhibition against Rory McIlroy on Nov. 29 at the Pradera Golf Course in Lubao, Pampanga The event is now called “Dustin vs Rory: Battle for a Cause.”

Johnson, the current world No. 2, is the reigning US Open champion and was in the US contingent that won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008.

“I am very excited for this match and honored to be invited to play for charity. With Jason the hometown favorite in this match, I am happy to replace him,” said the 32-year-old Johnson.

Johnson recently earned his first PGA of America Player of the Year Award and the Vardon Trophy. The season-ending awards are presented by the PGA of America for excellence by a PGA TOUR professional. Johnson, the reigning U.S. Open Champion, collected 90 points this year, while Day finished with 74. Johnson and Day were each three-time winners this season.

McIlroy, who is currently in No. 3, is looking forward to the match against Johnson.

“I’m sorry Jason can’t make it to the Philippines this time but delighted Dustin’s stepping in for a very worthy cause and what promises be a great head-to-head match,” said McIlroy.

“I’m glad Dustin accepted to take my place in the exhibition match. I’m also very happy that the event is pushing through for the Filipino golf fans,” said Day, who although can no longer make it this year, has assured the Philippines of a visit in 2017.

Dustin vs Rory is the biggest event in recent Philippine golf history since Tiger Woods, then the world’s No. 1 golfer, played 18 holes at Mimosa in Pampanga in January 1998.

EAC routs New San Jose five EMILIO Aguinaldo College rode on the hot hands of Rustan Bugarin and Juju Bautista to overwhelm New San Jose Builders, 93-82, in the 2016 MBL Open basketball tournament at the EAC gym.

Bugarin and Bautista combined for 36 points for the Generals, who outscored the Builders, 36-16, in the second quarter enroute to their second straight win in the single-round tournament sponsored by Smart Sports, Ironcon Builders, Star Bread, Dickies Underwear and Gerry’s Grill.

Bugarin finished with 21 points while Bautista added 15 points for the Bong Melocotonmentored Generals, who debuted with a 74-70 win over Philippine Air Force last week.

Jethro Mendoza added 12 points, including three straight three-points during a fiery second-quarter blast that the Generals to take a commanding 56-33 lead at halftime.

Two other players—Jeanu Carlo and Gano and Jerome Garcia—also scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively Nikko Lao, Kevin Sumay and Jayson Grimaldo carried the fight for NSJBI of coach Rainier Carpio and playing manager Jomar Acuzar.

Lao topscored withh 22 points, including 11 of San Jose’s 31 third-quarter points that made the game interesting.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

One title drought must end as Cubs face Indians

C

LEVELAND—Long-suffering Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians supporters dream of a fairytale finish when the 112th World Series opens Tuesday, but only one of Major League Baseball’s longest championship droughts will end in the epic showdown.

The Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908, the longest title drought in American sports history, and they had not even reached the best-of-seven championship matchup since 1945 until dispatching the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday for the National League crown.

“There has been so much emotion over the years from this fan base,” Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist said. “It’s not just Chicago.

I know they are watching all over the country and all over the world.

“What a special moment. We’ve been wanting to do this for the fans all year long. Now that we’ve accomplished it, it’s time to move on to bigger things. The ultimate goal is still out in front of us.”

While it’s not as jaw-dropping as the Cubs’ 107-season wait, the Indians have not taken the crown since 1948, the longest American League drought, and they last

played in the World Series in 1997.

“It’s a blast to be a part of,” Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller said. “We have one more big step. We’re going to the World Series. That’s what you dream of. I can’t wait to see what it’s like in Cleveland.”

More than a century of futility could end for the Cubs, whose 103 wins led the major leagues this season -- not so long after they lost 101 games in 2012.

“We’re definitely on the verge of doing something wonderful,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

“I didn’t want to run away from negatives and pressure. I wanted us to run toward them.”

A Presidential ‘Holy Cow’ Partying fans jammed the streets outside iconic 102-yearold Wrigley Field for hours after

Chicago advanced.

“I’ll say it: Holy Cow, Cubs fans,” tweeted US President Barack Obama, using a catchphrase made famous by the late Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray.

The long-time Chicago resident supports the cross-town rival Chicago White Sox, who until 2005 had not won a World Series since 1917, but Obama admitted, “Even this White Sox fan was happy to see Wrigley rocking last night.”

Generations of Cubs players and fans had known only frustration, even joking, “Any team can have a bad century.” They were tagged as lovable losers playing in a stadium nicknamed the “Friendly Confines” by Ernie Banks, the Hall of Fame infielder nicknamed “Mr. Cub” who owns the dubious record of 2,528 games played

Jamili, Parcon top dance tilt

PINOY PRIDE. International Volleyball Federation Director of Medical Services Dr. Manfred Holz of Germany (third from left) praises the

Philippine medical and doping team composed of (from left) Dr. Raul Alcantara, FIVB Team Doctor Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, PSC Phi-Nado Dr. Alejandro Pineda,Jr., (standing from left) Jane Serapion, RND Ellen Constantino, RN Justin dele Cruz, Doping Control Officer Dra. Marion Rivera and RN Zennie Rollon for excellent work during the FIVB World Club Championship at the MOA Arena.

Football for Better Life goes to Davao del Norte FOOTBALL for a Better Life, the nationwide grassroots development program supported by Pru Life UK, assembles its biggest group of football mentors yet when the program visits Davao del Norte on Oct. 29 and 30.

Included in the contingent are former Azkals team captain Chieffy Caligdong, Fil-Brit footballer and sports show host Graham Caygill, Azkals Misagh Bahadoran and Amani Aguinaldo (who hails from Davao) and U-14 Little Azkals player Agiel John “Kano” Rojo.

They will conduct football clinics and will be part of

tournaments.

Venues for both events will be at the 4,200-seater Davao del Norte Sports Stadium and Complex in Tagum City, site of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa.

Co-organizer Renato Cosmod, president of the Davao del Norte Futbol Association, said over 100 teams have confirmed participation. These are teams from the regional football associations of Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, Golden Davao, Cagayan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, Butuan and Agusan del Norte.

The tournaments will comprise

of 5-versus-5 matches for U-8 and U-10 (boys or mixed) age groups, and 7-versus-7 matches for U12 Boys, U12 Girls, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, U16 Boys, U16 Girls, U18 Boys, U18 Girls, Men’s Open and Women’s Open categories.

“It’s been two years that the Azkals have been in Tagum,” said Cosmod. “The last time was in 2014 when the Azkals played a game versus the Davao del Norte Police football team during the Araw ng Davao del Norte.”

In an interview, Pru Life UK Chief Finance Officer Lee Longa declared that they are supporting grassroots football for the devel-

opment of the sport and the value formation of the youth.

“We hope that football inspires Filipino kids to become disciplined, strong-willed, brave, respectful, and loyal team players like our program ambassadors, which may later on help them gain an upper hand in life. We hope to achieve a lasting impact,” Longa said.

The Football for a Better Life leg in Davao del Norte is presented by Pru Life UK, the Azkals Foundation, SPEARS Sports, the Regional Football Associations and the local government of Davao del Norte.

PARTNERS Gerald Jamili and Cherry Clarice Parcon, and German Enriquez and Ma. Danella Renee Publico topped this year’s 20th DanceSport Council of the Philippines Inc. National Championships recently at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena in Pasig City.

Jamili and Parcon defeated Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo to win the Latin Grade A category title, while Enriquez and Publico beat Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla to take home the Standard Grade A crown.

The event was supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Board Corporation, Flawless, Calata Corporation, Vitug Beach, Ballare Events Studio, Dance Vision Arena, Studio 116 Dance School, Retro DCG-FM 105.9 and The Greenery Bulacan.

Other champions in the tournament organized by DSCPI President Becky Garcia were Edgardo Ladimo and Winifrida Constantino (grade B standard); Jeffrey Ruben Benarao and Therese Andre’ Quilaton (grade B Latin); Lew Gian Jose Yee and Cristy Glenn Hilario (grade C standard); and Filemon Baguio, II and Jhistine Glyde Baguio (grade C Latin).

The next DanceSport schedule will be at the Batang Pinoy, which will be held in Tagum City on Nov.28, 2016, and the DSCPI 1st Quarter Ranking and Competition at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena on March 18, 2017. For inquiries, call the DSCPI secretariat at 637-2314.

Media men vie in RWM golfest

Media practitioners are shown prior to the start of the Resorts World Media Golf Day at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

TWENTY-ONE media practitioners vying for three slots in the Resorts World Manila Masters Pro-Am tournament gathered at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite recently for the 2016 RWM Masters Media Golf Day topped by Philippine Star’s Mary Ann Reyes.

The 18-hole golf friendly was part of the coming 4th installment of the richest golf tournament in the country, the RWM Masters slated on November 10-13.

After five hours of play, Reyes emerged as the top player, while

Cook Magazine’s Dino Datu and Business Mirror’s Mike Besa placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Not far behind the top three were Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Musong Castillo for 4th and Spin.ph’s Dodo Catacutan for 5th.

Reyes, Datu, and Besa automatically qualify for the 4th RWM Masters Pro-Am tournament on Nov. 8.

“This high-stakes tournament is testament to how Resorts World Manila makes it our mission to bring such world-class events to the country as we continue to champion not only

TIP Engineers dodge CDSL Griffins’ upset bid BRYAN Santos and John Enriquez hit clutch baskets as Technological Institute of the Philippines outlasted Colegio De San Lorenzo, 76-72, in the 1st Universities and Colleges Basketball League Monday at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranaque City.

With the prospect of being upset by the CDSL Griffins, Santos came to TIP’s rescue, scoring back-to-back baskets as the Engineers regained the lead, 69-66,

without a playoff appearance.

A Cubs team with five starters age 24 or younger shook off the notions of a cursed team and a history of hard luck, moving four wins from a title for the ages by a team that played 11,309 games between World Series appearances.

“We’re too young. We don’t care about it,” said Kris Bryant, who scored a league-high 121 runs. “We don’t look into it. We’re having the time of our lives. And we’re just getting started.”

Pitching has powered the Cubs’ rise, with Jake Arrieta keeping rival batters to a .194 average and allowing only 6.29 hits per nine innings, both major league bests.

“To be four wins from a goal that hasn’t been achieved here in such a long time is really impressive,” Arrieta said. AFP

and the momentum to notch their third win in four starts.

But the win hardly pleased TIP coach Potit de Vera, saying his boys played inconsistently on the offensive end and their defense was fragile on several occasions.

Though the Engineers built a 13-point lead, 49-37, at the half, it was gone in the fourth after allowing the Griffins to score in transition.

“We have a bad game today.

Games Thursday

(Olivarez Sports Center, Parñaque City) 12 noon TIP vs Diliman 2 p.m. CEU vs Bulacan State U

My players were not playing according to their true worth.

Although, CDSL is also a good team, no doubt about it. But if we played according to our plan, I think, the score would not be that close,” said De Vera.

The loss pulled the Griffins

down to sixth place at 1-3 and put the 33-point performance of Jonjon Gabriel to waste.

It was Gabriel who led the CDSL’s comeback in the fourth that saw them grab a 66-65 lead.

Gabriel completed a doubledouble show with 21 rebounds aside from posting five assists.

Harley Diego topscored for the Engineers with 16 points apart from registering 10 rebounds and two assists, while John Enriquez

and Santos posted 15 and 14 points, respectively.

First game TIP 76—Diego 16, Enriquez 15, Santos B. 14, Jimenez 7, Napoles 6, Alcober 5, Akpuru 4, Matignas 4, Santos I. 3, Pinas 2, Okoronkwo 0.

CDSL 72—Gabriel 33, Carongoy 12, Callano 12, Vargas 6, Alvarado 4, Formento 3, Borja 2, Astero 0, Ajero 0, Salizo 0.

Quarters: 20-16, 40-27, 61-52, 76-72.

Filipino golfers but the best of Asia as well,” says RWM Senior Director for Gaming Marketing Jeff Evora, who also played with the media practitioners.

Last year, Thai rookie Natipong Srithong captured the top purse of US$180,000 of the US$1 million prize with an exciting one-shot victory over South Africa’s Jbe’ Kruger. This year, more rising stars of international golf are expected to enlist for the richest golf tournament in the country.

Visit http://www.rwmanila. com/web/rwmmasters/ for more on the 2016 RWM Masters.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

Dooley has high hopes for PH Azkals

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

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

Sports VICTORY DANCE. Members of Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul, led by Russian spiker Tatiana Kosheleva, celebrate their title romp in the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Istanbul team beat Pomi Casalmaggiore, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11, in the finals to win the crown. Roman Prospero

Donaire learning precision boxing from Cuban trainer

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

F

IVE-DIVISION world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire had no problems going 12 rounds with sparmate Jose Gonzalez, a cousin of unbeaten poundfor-pound king Roman“Chocolatito” Gonzalez, thanks to precision boxing being preached by his new trainer.

“Gonzales has a good style similar to unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno,” said Donaire, referring to the challenger against whom the reigning WBO super bantamweight champion will defend his title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas

Superal, 2 others advance PRINCESS Superal improved by seven notches with a joint 40th-place effort to safely reach the LPGA and Symetra Tour Qualifying School Final Stage at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida Sunday.

Superal, who started the final round at 47th, failed to break par in four days, but she still safely made it to the Final Stage despite a closing 73 in Stage 2 topped by Norway’s Marianne Skarpnod at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida Sunday.

Superal continued to grope for form, hitting just one birdie against two bogeys for a 37-36 and a four-day total of 294 that included rounds of 73 and backto-back 74s.

Though the former US Girls’ Junior champion easily made it to the top 80 and the Final Stage, her performance paled in comparison with her strong joint runner-up finish in Stage I in California last month.

“I’m happy with the result but I thought I could’ve played and scored better. I struggled with my irons and couldn’t make the putts,” said the former spearhead of Team The Country Club, who launched her pro career with back-to-back victories on the local circuit back home.

She only made eight birdies and had 14 bogeys in four days at the Bobcat and Panther courses.

Mia Piccio, a Symetra Tour campaigner, likewise earned another shot for an LPGA Tour card, finishing at joint 52nd with a 296 after a 73, while amateur Regan de Guzman also made it to the final stage despite a 75 for a 297 and a share of 62nd.

on Nov. 6.

“I had no problem at all and it was the first time I was in terrific control,” Donaire told the Manila Standard.

Donaire revealed that Cuban trainer Ismael Salas has shown him “a better way to fight and

when you see me (against Magdaleno), you’ll’ be surprised. He helps me fight in a more precise fashion.”

Salas has trained world champions Guillermo Rigondeaux, who beat Donaire some years ago in New York; Yuriorkis Gamboa; Danny Green; Jorge Linares, and Manny Pacquiao’s opponent in the main event of the same fight card.

Gonzalez is an unbeaten super bantamweight with a record of 5-0-1 with 2 knockouts and is 20 years old.

Meanwhile, rugged Ricky Sismundo scored an impressive 10-round unanimous decision over Ghislain Maduma,

a former sparring partner of eight-division world champion Pacquiao, dropping him with a wicked right in Round 9 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Canada on Sunday.

Sismundo went after Maduma with a flurry of punches, but failed to put him away.

All three judges scored the fight for Sismundo, who fights out of Yokohama, Japan.

Richard Blouin scored it by a comfortable 97-91 margin for the Filipino, while Benoit Rousel and Nicholas Esnault had Sismundo the winner by identical 95-93 margins over the fighter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who

now fights out of Canada.

With the upset victory, the 29-year-old Sismundo improved to 31-9-3 with 13 knockouts, while the 31-year-old Maduma dropped to 18-3 with 11 knockouts.

Sismundo was coming off a split draw against another Pacquiao sparring partner Dierry Jean last May 13 and previously suffered a 10-round split decision to highly touted lightweight Jose Felix Jr on Jan. 31, all because he had a point taken away in a clash at the Marriott Convention Center in Burbank, California last Jan. 30.

Felix is ranked No. 3 by the WBO and No. 5 by the IBF.

ALTHOUGH the conditions are less than ideal, American coach Thomas Dooley still believes that he has more time to prepare the Philippine Azkals the second time around for the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup kicking off on Nov. 19 at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“Everything went wrong with our training the last time,” said Dooley, recalling his maiden Suzuki Cup stint with the Filipino booters, who were drained from the long the United Football League season two years ago, then had to travel out of the country for the group stage.

Despite these challenges, the Azkals reached the semifinals of Southeast Asia’s men’s football tournament for the third time in a row before being booted out by irrepressible Thais, who, under coach and Thai legend Kiatisuk Senamuang, went on to capture their fourth championship.

A former US team captain and two-time World Cup veteran, Dooley noted that most of his players now suit up for squads in the UFL and unlike in 2014, the Azkals won’t be traveling overseas as the country hosts one of the group stages for the first time.

“We are staying in the country at the start of the tournament so that we won’t have to travel much, which is an advantage. Most of our players are also playing in the UFL so we won’t have to wait for those playing overseas to come over and train,” Dooley said.

He added that he would give most of his players who saw action in the UFL, whose season wound up last Sunday, at least a few more days off before they get down to brass tacks and start girding for the Suzuki Cup. The Nationals are coming off a pair of 1-3 setbacks to Bahrain and North Korea, last Oct. 7 and 10, respectively, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, losses that exposed the weaknesses of the squad but which Dooley looked at as valuable learning experiences.

Despite those defeats, surprisingly, the Filipinos still managed to move up a notch to No. 124 in the latest International Football Federation world rankings released over the weekend. They likewise remained Southeast Asia’s top team in the ratings.

Dooley would rather have the Azkals take their licks now, learn their lessons and avoid the same mistakes in the Suzuki Cup.

Cyna joins hunt as PH Golf Tour unwraps REIGNING three-time Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez signed up at the last minute, boosting the compact field vying in the P1 million ICTSI Royal Northwoods Ladies Challenge starting Tuesday at Royal Northwoods Golf Club in San Rafael, Bulacan.

After dominating the first three years of the country’s firstever ladies circuit, Rodriguez campaigned on the LPGA Tour and played only in half of the first eight legs of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, ending up tied for sixth at Sherwood and finishing third at Eastridge last month, both ruled by Princess Superal.

But with Superal failing to make it on time for a crack at a third straight pro crown, Rodriguez loomed as the player to beat in the 54-hole championship sponsored

by ICTSI which has raised the total pot money to P1 million for the first time with the winner now set

to receive P250,000.

But Rodriguez remains wary of her chances and the field reinforced by three Thai campaigners and an Indonesian first-timer plus a bunch of local players raring to score a repeat or get a shot at the crown.

Rodriguez braces for a tough start at 7:50 a.m. as she drew Anya Tanpinco and Thai Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, who hopes to finally hit paydirt in her second year on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Sharp, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Champion, TaylorMade, Ping, Yamaha and Pacsports.

Pattaranakrueang has vied in at least six tournaments here but has not seriously contended for the crown, finishing sixth in her last stint at the LPGT Eagle Ridge Invitational won by FilJapanese amateur Yuka Saso last May.

Busy PSA Forum TRIATHLON, football and bowling will be discussed in today’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association at Shakey’s Malate.

New Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Mon Marchan, national triathlon coach Ani de Leon-Brown, and coach Rick Reyes will discuss the federation’s direction under its new leadership in the public sports program aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp, Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Also appearing in the session are the Globe underprivileged kids and 15-year-old Patrick Nuqui, who is the youngest bowler to win the SM Cup. Former Azkals stalwart Chiefy Caligdong will be coming over in behalf of Globe football, along with Globe manager for citizenship Sheldin Magto, and players Jared Pena, Ryan Johansson, and Astrid Ignacio.

Chihiro Ikeda also launches her bid for a second title after scoring a breakthrough at Orchard last June, slugging it out with Lovelyn Guioguio and Jaruporn Palakawongnaayuttawa at 7:30 a.m.

Jessica Lydia, meanwhile, hopes to come out strong in her 8 a.m. flight with Eva Miñoza and Lucy Landicho with the Indonesia national team mainstay confident of her chances in her first foray on the LPGT. Former leg winners Jayvie Agojo and Fil-Am Cristina Corp u s , meanwhile, kick off their drive at 8:10 a.m. with Lina de Guzman while Sarah Ababa, winner at Sherwood last year, tests the mettle of the other Thai bet, Sarauttaya Ngam-usawan in the 8:20 a.m. group that includes Korean teener Hwang Min-jeong, who stunned Superal and Rodriguez to win at Mt. Malarayat last year.

Rodriguez

Tria, Bayking pull off triple romps in netfest NIO Tria and Bliss Bayking lived up to the hype as they racked up three victories each to dominate the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Dangcagan, Bacolod leg regional tennis tournament at the Center Court, Panaad and Manville tennis clubs Monday.

The top seeded Tria posted shutout victories in his first three matches then held off No. 8 Reynan Mahusay, 6-4, 6-3, in the finals to clinch the boys’ 16-and-under plum. As No. 3, the Manila-based teener went all the way to capture the 18-U crown with a 6-3, 6-2 romp over Reyniel Marcellana, who shocked No. 1 Karl Baran, 2-6,

6-4, 10-5, in the semis of the Group 2 tournament sponsored

by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Bayking, in contrast, struggled past Kianna de Asis before snaring a thrilling 2-6, 6-2, 10-8 decision for the girls’ 14-U plum then the rising San Carlos City, Negro star stunned top seed Tracy Llamas, 6-2, 6-2, to bag the 16-U diadem in the top-ranking tournament sanctioned by Philta and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball, and held as part of the Bacolod Masskara Festival.

Tria and Bayking capped their big campaign with victo-

ries in the doubles category with the former teaming up with Baran to edge Marcellana and Lorenzo Legaspi, 8-6, for the 18-U plum and the latter combining with Alexa Milliam to rout JufeAnn Cocoy and Arean Pecaoco, 8-0, for the 14-U title.

“Tria and Bayking are but two of a slew of young players who have the skills and talent to make it big someday given proper training and exposure,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, adding that the country’s leading pawnshop and remittance company is committed to provide year-long tournaments for the youth.

Sharing the spotlight were

Llamas and Milliam, both from La Carlota, who pocketed the 18-U and 12-U titles, Wilyn Segura, also from La Carlota, who took the 10-unisex plum, Surigao’s Rupert Tortal, who ruled the boys’ 12-U side and local ace Fernando Po, who dominated the boys’ 14-U category of the event sanctioned by Philta and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball.

Llamas foiled De Asis, 7-6(7), 6-1; Milliam trounced Wendy Galanza, 6-1, 6-1; Segura clipped Federer Clelo, 4-0, 4-2; Tortal crushed Fern Po, 6-0, 6-2; and Fernando Po upended Tortal, 6-3, 4-6, 10-6.

Gokongwei building Westin condo, hotel B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

B1

BSP includes yuan in reserves

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

T

HE Monetary Board on Monday approved the inclusion of Chinese renminbi (yuan) in the official reserves of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, following the shift to closer ties between the Philippines and China.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the inclusion of RMB on BSP’s reserves became effective Oct. 13.

“The BSP may hold RMB as part of its gross international

reserves to ensure the said currency is available to the banking system when needed. At present, the country’s GIR is held in various currencies, mainly the US dollar, International Monetary

Fund, special drawing rights and gold,” Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

“The MB also took into consideration the country’s increasing economic linkages with China,” it said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Philippine exports to China rose 7.9 percent from $5.7 billion in 2010 to $6.2 billion in 2015. In the first seven months of 2016, China ranked as the fourth largest destination of Philippine exports, with 10.2 percent share ($3.2 billion)

of total exports.

Meanwhile, Philippine imports from China jumped from $4.6 billion in 2010 to $11.5 billion in 2015.

China became the biggest source of Philippine imports in 2013, and this continued in the first seven months of 2016, with imports from China at 18.5 percent ($8.4 billion) of total imports.

Data from the Tourism Department showed that in July 2016, China ranked as the second biggest visitor market for the Philip-

pines, an improvement from its fourth place ranking in 2015.

The Monetary Board said in deciding to make the RMB Philippine reserve-eligible, it took into consideration the inclusion of RMB effective Oct. 1 in the basket of reserve currencies that determine the value of the International Monetary Fund SDR. SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries’ official reserves.

“The RMB’s inclusion is an important milestone in the inte-

IN BRIEF

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing October 24, 2016

BSP posted P10-b profit in 8 months

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,609.31 40.91

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing OCTOBER 24, 2016 43.00 45.40 46.60 47.80

P48.190

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P48.190 LOW P48.390 AVERAGE P48.294 VOLUME 560.450M

P400.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.40-P44.94 Unleaded Gasoline

OPRICES IL TODAY

ELECTRIC VEHICLES. The development and promotion of the Philippine electric vehicles industry’s competitiveness receives a boost with

the inauguration of the P550-million Mobility as a System project in Intramuros, Manila. The MaaS project is an electric vehicle initiative of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization in coordination with Japanese IT service provider SoftBank Corp. and the Board of Investments. Shown during the launching are (from left) Michael Concepcion of MC Metro Transport Operation Inc., Junichiro Suzuki of Japan embassy, Tourism assistant secretary Gwen Javier, Munehiko Tsuchiya of Nedo, Merceditas de Sahagun of Intramuros Administration, and Amane Kito of SoftBank Corp. and BoI executive director for industry development services Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa.

P27.40-P30.75 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, October 24, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.2840

Japan

Yen

0.009632

0.4651

UK

Pound

1.222900

59.0465

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128917

6.2246

Switzerland

Franc

1.005834

48.5657

Canada

Dollar

0.750356

36.2302

Singapore

Dollar

0.717412

34.6395

Australia

Dollar

0.761000

36.7441

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

128.0743

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266631

12.8740

Brunei

Dollar

0.714847

34.5157

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028473

1.3748

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.1460

Euro

Euro

1.088400

52.5523

Korea

Won

0.000881

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.147809

7.1368

India

Rupee

0.014945

0.7216

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239063

11.5429

New Zealand

Dollar

0.715500

34.5472

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031447

1.5184 Source: PDS Bridge

gration of the Chinese economy into the global financial system.

The IMF’s determination that the RMB is freely usable reflects China’s expanding role in global trade and the substantial increase in the international use and trading of the renminbi. It also recognizes the progress made in reforms to China’s monetary, foreign exchange, and financial systems and acknowledges the advances made in liberalizing, integrating, and improving the infrastructure of its financial markets,” IMF said.

Meralco’s 9-month net income fell 3% to P15.7b

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday unaudited consolidated core net income fell 5 percent in the first nine months to P15 billion from P15.8 billion in the same period last year, on lower electricity prices.

Consolidated reported net income also declined 3 percent to P15.7 billion in January to September from P16.1 billion recorded in the same period in 2015. Reported net income is adjusted to exclude the effect of foreign exchange gains or losses, mark-to-market adjustments, gain on disposal of

investment and other one-time exception transactions.

Meralco, however, said core net income grew 10 percent to P4.6 billion in the third quarter from P4.154 billion posted in the same period last year.

Net income in the third quarter also rose to P4.9 billion from P4.4 billion a year ago, as sales grew 7 percent to 10,386 gigawatt-hours.

Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said in a financial briefing net income in full-year 2016 would likely hit P19 billion. The company posted a core net income of P18.9 billion in 2015.

“Business remains challenging yet exciting as we see electricity helping transform dreams into reality. Even as we expect the challenges from disruptive new energy sources, energy efficiency technology and innovation, more severe weather patterns, in addition to continuing policy and regulatory shifts to continue, we remain confident of our ability to deliver on our commitments to superior customer experience and a consolidated core net income for 2016 of P19 billion,” Pangilinan said.

Sales volume in the nine-month period grew9.5 percent to 30.103 gWh, as sales across all customer

classes remained strong.

Meralco treasurer Betty Siy-Yap said the consolidated core net income in 2016 excluded the gain in sale by the company of an 8-percent interest in Global Business Power Corp. which was sold to JG Summit Holdings Inc. and foreign exchange adjustments on dollar denominated funds.

“Our consolidated core net income for nine months was also boosted by the noteworthy growth in the contribution of Meralco’s operating subsidiaries which include CIS-Bayad Center whose bills payment transactions,” Siy-Yap said.

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas posted a net income after tax of P10.4 billion in the first eight months, a turnaround from the P1.78-billion net loss it incurred a year ago.

Data showed that interest income jumped 26.6 percent to P31.22 billion from P24.67 billion a year earlier while miscellaneous income climbed 42 percent to P20.36 billion from P14.34 billion.

Gains on foreign exchange fluctuations reached P4.82 billion, down by 28.4 percent from the P6.73 billion recorded in the same period last year.

There was also a 3.2-percent decline in expenses in the January to August to P46 billion from P47.52 billion.

The biggest loss of Bangko Sentral was recorded in 2012 at P95.38 billion. However, prudent management led to a significant decline in losses in 2013 to P17.51 billion, P10.11 billion in 2014 and P3.90 billion in 2015.

Bangko Sentral’s primary objective is to promote price and financial stability conducive to balanced and sustainable economic growth. It also seeks to maintain monetary stability and the convertibility of the peso by performing a wide range of functions involving money, banking and credit in the performance of this mandate for stabilization. Gabrielle H. Binaday

PH eyes $2-b deals with Japanese firms THE Philippines is working out at least $2 billion worth of investments with Japan as they seek to strengthen trade and economic ties.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said most of the deals are agri-business in nature.

“We are not limiting the possibility of getting more than $2 billion [worth of investments]. We have outlined 12 deals that cut across industries with Japan’s private sector. We have lots of [Japanese] companies committing to buying our agriculture products,” he said.

Lopez is flying to Japan today with President Rodrigo Dueterte for a threeday state visit that is expected to yield more investment opportunities for the Philippines.

A Japanese company already expressed interest to import 20 million boxes of bananas and mangoes from the Philippines.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Japan was the country’s top trading partner in 2015, accounting for a total trade worth $18.7 billion or 14.4 percent of the total.

Othel V. Campos

Fitch revises outlook Marcventures nickel mine remains fully operational on telecom to negative By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

By Darwin G. Amojelar FITCH Ratings on Monday downgraded the outlook on Philippine telecommunications sector to negative from stable amid the stiff competition in the domestic market.

Fitch said it revised downward the sector’s outlook in the belief that domestic market competition would intensify further as the market-leader PLDT Inc. took a more aggressive approach. The outlook is contained in the credit rating agency’s “2017 Outlook: Philippine Telecommunications Sector Report.”

Fitch said it would be challenging for Philippine telcos to generate positive free cash flow in the next two years, in light of a decline in profitability and high capital expenditure.

PLDT announced it would spend $1 billion this year to expand mobile broadband network, particularly 700 megahertz, which the company acquired from Vega Telecoms Inc., the telco unit of San Miguel Corp.

Rival Globe Telecom also raised its capital expenditure to $1.05 billion this year from the original capex of $750 million.

The telecom operators aim to accelerate LTE rollout to cover 90 percent to 95 percent of cities and municipalities nationwide by 2018.

“We expect telecom operators to offer cheaper data pricing and higher handsets subsidies -- alongside an accelerated 4G rollout to drive data adoption in a predominantly prepaid market,” Fitch said.

Fitch said it expected PLDT to be “more vulnerable” to margin dilution as it incurred higher marketing cost and handset subsidies in a bid to regain lost market share.

The credit rating agency said PLDT was more reliant on legacy service as 53 percent of its first-half revenue came from voice and messaging services compared to Globe’s 42 percent.

MARCVENTURES Holdings Inc. said its nickel mine in Surigao del Sur remains in full and active operation.

Marcventures Holdings said in

a disclosure to the stock exchange while unit Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. already received a copy of the letter from the Environment Department, the letter merely informed the company of the major findings from the audit

conducted without any mention of suspension or instructions to reply.

“Notably, the same letter also advises MMDC that the DENR shall be forwarding the soonest the pertinent audit report for MMDC’s guidance,” Marcven-

BEST PUBLIC COMPANY. Ayala

Corp., represented by chief financial officer TG Limcaoco, receives the award for Best Public Company in the Philippines during the 20th FinanceAsia Platinum Awards at Conrad Hotel in Hong Kong. The award signifies Ayala as the best managed public company in the Philippines for the entire past 20 years, a recognition that FinanceAsia based on a two-decade assessment and research period to mark the 20th anniversary of the Platinum Awards.

FinanceAsia is a Hong Kong-based publication that recognizes exemplary financial institutions in Asia.

tures said.

Marcventures said that so far, MMDC had not yet received the detailed audit report.

MMDC is one of the 20 mines which were recommended for suspension due to several violations.

The Environment Department said the company had not yet implemented the planting of 3 million seedlings imposed as penalty for mining outside areas covered by its partial declaration of mining project feasibility.

“We are confident that we will be able to refute the findings mentioned in the said DENR letter since they mostly refer to alleged deficient documents or programs which were already submitted for for appropriate action of the DENR,” Marcventures said.

“We assure our stakeholders of our commitment to comply with and support the efforts of the DENR and the Philippine government to ensure that mining will be made in a responsible manner in compliance with existing laws and regulations and with due regard to the well-being of our host communities,” Marcventures said.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops; DD advances

S

tocks fell for a third day, ahead of the release of third-quarter income earnings of listed companies and as uncertainties including the US presidential election on Nov. 8 and the trajectory for stimulus from the Fed and the European Central Bank weigh on investors’ minds.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 40 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,609.31 Monday. This reduced total gains this year to 9.5 percent.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also fell 19 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,498.95, on a value turnover of P4.7 billion.

Seven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by

DoubleDragon Properties Corp. which climbed 4.4 percent to P58.20 and Megawide Construction Corp. which rose 3.5 percent to P16.52.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks pared their best weekly performance in a month, led lower by developers and banks, as investors braced for a busy week of earnings reports across Japan, China and the US. “Earnings is the key metric

for investors,” said Matthew Sherwood, head of investment strategy in Sydney at Perpetual Ltd., which manages about $21 billion.

“Meanwhile, there are a number of important macro events which are holding the market back, including the US election early next month and key Fed and ECB meetings in December.”

The Asian gauge has failed to break above its most recent high on Sept. 22 as uncertainties including the US presidential election on Nov. 8 and the trajectory for stimulus from the Fed and the European Central Bank weigh on investors’ minds. The measure now trades at 14.5 times projected earnings, compared with its threeyear average multiple of 13.6.

Shanghai climbed on hopes China will unveil fresh economy-boosting

measures, while the dollar’s early strength waned through the day.

Chinese growth has leveled out this year after a painful slowdown, but there are hopes officials will push on with spending measures and reforms, particularly of giant state-owned firms.

“Stabilization in [China’s] third-quarter economic data has provided support to the broader market,” Wang Zheng, Shanghaibased chief investment officer at Jingxi Investment Management, told Bloomberg News.

“Some big state-owned enterprises are doing well as there is speculation that the government will accelerate their consolidation to improve efficiency and boost infrastructure spending to further bolster economic growth.”

With AFP, Bloomberg

Pilmico to open flour mill for Asian market

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales ILIGAN CITY—Pilmico Foods Corp., the food arm of the Aboitiz group, plans to increase flour exports to take advantage of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic integration.

Pilmico vice president for operations for Iligan plant Florencio Sebandal said in an interview the new flour packing plant catering to the exports market was expected to be completed by the end of the year.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 47.8 10,000 103.4 902,080 3.9 16,000 112 1,115,760 1.38 23,000 38 54,400 16.58 5,500 19.7 115,000 0.72 10,011,000 1.89 4,000 0.85 7,592,000 85.15 2,873,030 0.87 100,000 14.16 15,900 58.3 36,140 260 1,190 150 1,410 96.9 490 36.2 199,100 223.4 463,730 1,495 80 75.5 79,340 1.41 174,000

477,535 93,491,320 62,400 125,037,815 31,200 2,066,940 91,006 2,281,914 7,007,820 7,560 6,460,660 244,374,650 87,000 225,144 2,098,452 308,826 212,110 47,481.50 7,277,770 103,451,874 119,225 5,947,244.50 246,040

472,775 -10,656,996 36,600,521 1,930,400 3,968 -3,500,000 363,200 -101,356,291.50 1,221,861 2,594 3,321,415 -14,051,382 7,475 3,587,135.50 -

45.1 3.78 1 1.46 15.12 0.203 103 11.36 16.7 22.6 199 62 98.5 2.09 6.51 12.2 11.18 7.53 7.33 5.89 23.25 69.95 12.02 16.6 6.1 2.04 247 81.9 1.96 3.98 30.7 27.8 15.8 289.4 0.241 4.5 3.08 10.56 2.18 5.83 1.5 3.66 219.8 4.24 2.2 3.2 4.3 0.147 1.71 182 4.3 2.15 1.19

INDUSTRIAL 45.25 1,439,300 3.83 1,312,000 1.01 6,809,000 1.47 397,000 15.3 900 0.204 740,000 104 970 11.4 6,357,000 16.7 1,842,300 23.4 224,700 210 1,960 62 41,980 100 580 2.12 301,000 6.87 106,200 12.32 23,600 11.42 869,100 7.55 986,700 7.49 2,920,800 5.96 6,693,800 23.35 472,000 71.1 446,590 12.02 6,200 16.6 12,300 6.1 2,237,500 2.05 167,000 250.8 488,690 86.1 3,830 1.96 4,000 4.07 20,000 30.8 1,656,000 28.15 353,300 16.1 4,716,000 289.8 115,350 0.25 210,000 4.5 1,000 3.08 418,000 10.56 507,600 2.21 920,000 5.85 1,440,600 1.5 80,000 3.7 24,000 224 20,300 4.3 16,469,000 2.2 2,000 3.24 74,000 4.31 633,000 0.147 1,750,000 1.76 134,000 183.9 888,150 4.3 5,000 2.2 2,022,000 1.19 10,000

65,095,255 5,027,550 6,980,390 585,710 13,792 150,660 102,764 72,549,286 31,084,076 5,257,965 396,890 2,627,072.50 58,320 631,620 706,565 288,554 9,928,916 7,491,562 21,738,628 39,694,333 11,025,380 31,320,225.50 74,540 204,398 13,650,570 341,110 122,141,084 317,278.50 7,840 80,240 51,155,445 9,933,615 77,816,934 33,500,876 50,800 4,500 1,318,560 5,375,626 2,024,100 8,500,518 121,050 88,600 4,540,836 70,769,090 4,400 237,970 2,922,690 259,280 233,440 163,211,272 21,520 4,395,200 11,900

-48,073,960 -29,250 -4,462,052 3,202,422 1,660,771 -173,278 6,264,598 -2,245,329 -11,290,708 8,440,730 323,345 -27,666,752.50 12,020 16,620 -4,435 10,200 92,060,378 -22,587,000 -295,895 4,363,986 -12,445,964 810,360 -2,068,276 -385,680 -5,137,225 10,640 30,591,420 -26,640 22,977,072 -896,030 -

0.385 78.5 15.28 1.28 6 0.34 853 8.48 13.26 8.13 0.21 1,420 78.7 0.8 8.17 15.2 7.28 0.038 1.93 80.5 2.25 689 0.88 1.22 235 0.305 0.2 0.265

0.37 76.3 15.14 1.28 5.99 0.335 849.5 8.36 13.1 8.1 0.201 1,370 77.65 0.79 8.04 15.06 7.17 0.037 1.93 79.05 2.25 680 0.88 1.18 232.8 0.3 0.192 0.26

HOLDING FIRMS 0.385 40,000 78.5 647,960 15.28 2,608,400 1.28 66,000 5.99 65,400 0.34 540,000 849.5 245,240 8.48 434,000 13.16 3,418,100 8.1 1,271,000 0.21 40,000 1,373 165,765 78 2,340,420 0.79 733,000 8.06 1,741,500 15.16 1,574,100 7.25 29,084,400 0.037 7,500,000 1.93 15,000 80.5 156,530 2.25 20,000 684.5 396,960 0.88 26,000 1.18 370,000 235 11,690 0.3 2,880,000 0.2 750,000 0.26 570,000

15,250 50,482,065 39,797,270 84,480 391,778 183,100 208,638,495 3,666,497 44,981,652 10,299,940 8,250 229,395,210 182,557,146 581,100 14,056,231 23,857,694 210,286,231 284,000 28,950 12,492,833.50 45,000 271,523,065 22,880 442,220 2,739,474 866,700 144,500 149,000

-1,385,376.50 -14,516,482 -119,800 13,863,765 34,699 -5,494,516 -99,876.00 -58,870,520 26,820,223 1,347,547 8,131,160 -27,760,780 -8,581,993.50 -16,129,660 -932,324 15,250 -

7.36 1.15 2.39 0.29 38.1 2.96 5.16 0.6 1.12 0.154 0.67 58.9 0.75 0.141 1.82 0.99 1.08 4.29 0.174 3.41 30.6

7.27 1.12 2.32 0.28 37.35 2.81 5.16 0.58 1.12 0.151 0.62 56.5 0.74 0.141 1.78 0.97 1.05 4.19 0.166 3.33 30.2

224,510 796,540 545,420 382,000 340,291,455 2,549,750 111,456 686,110 1,120 413,870 10,128,560 135,213,213.50 70,470 1,410 8,677,280 2,726,040 981,490 157,272,710 4,179,550 959,220 28,161,005

-58,000 236,800 19,354,725 145,410 -22,704 66,670 -320,860 3,326,462.50 -8,250 -2,160,910 980 13,620,870 36,120 -21,382,215

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

47.7 103.5 3.9 112 1.37 38 16.6 19.98 0.7 1.89 0.85 84.35 0.87 14.16 58 259.4 153 96.9 37 226 1,490 75.5 1.42

47.8 104.1 3.9 113 1.38 38 16.6 19.98 0.73 1.89 0.87 85.8 0.87 14.16 58.3 260 153 96.95 37.5 227 1,495 75.6 1.42

47.6 103.4 3.9 111.6 1.3 37.9 16.2 19.7 0.69 1.89 0.83 84.35 0.87 14.16 57.7 259.4 150 96.9 36.15 220 1,490 73.9 1.41

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

45.2 3.89 1.04 1.49 15.12 0.203 113.8 11.7 17 22.6 200 62 98.5 2.09 6.58 12.36 11.34 7.71 7.35 5.94 23.3 70.5 12.02 16.64 6.13 2.06 248 82 1.96 4.02 30.7 28.1 15.9 291.2 0.242 4.5 3.2 10.6 2.19 6 1.53 3.66 220 4.25 2.2 3.25 4.3 0.149 1.76 184 4.31 2.19 1.19

45.35 3.92 1.06 1.49 15.5 0.214 113.8 11.7 17.12 23.5 210 64 105 2.12 6.94 12.36 11.54 7.71 7.49 5.97 23.8 71.1 12.1 16.64 6.13 2.06 252 86.9 1.96 4.07 31 28.15 16.8 291.2 0.25 4.5 3.2 10.74 2.21 6 1.53 3.7 224 4.3 2.2 3.25 5.3 0.149 1.76 185 4.31 2.21 1.19

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

0.385 76.3 15.28 1.28 6 0.34 852.5 8.46 13.2 8.1 0.204 1,417 78.2 0.79 8.1 15.2 7.18 0.038 1.93 80.1 2.25 683 0.88 1.21 233 0.305 0.192 0.265

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND

7.28 1.15 2.39 0.28 37.7 2.91 5.16 0.59 1.12 0.151 0.67 56.5 0.75 0.141 1.79 0.99 1.08 4.29 0.17 3.36 30.25

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

1.62 3.3 28.1 1.02 0.98 5.23

1.62 3.3 28.7 1.03 0.99 5.23

1.58 3.24 27.8 1.01 0.98 5.17

1.58 3.24 28.7 1.03 0.98 5.22

320,000 523,000 9,975,900 1,281,000 65,000 4,114,300

508,670 1,705,120 282,728,310 1,306,410 63,900 21,461,293

-252,260 68,460 45,383,810 18,620 -1,058,751

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

7.7 48.1 1.42 0.52 0.055 5.3 5.83 0.085 3.16 108.1 9.55 6.75 2.85 956 1,901 6.26 13.48 2.06 16.62 76 0.0095 11.8 9 0.216 1.45 3.32 13.3 5.22 2.09 1.05 2 4.34 4.96 22.7 3.07 11.4 5.4 2.53 150 8.99 1,645 1.15 0.4 43.5 81 5.91 2.88 0.77 3.4

7.7 48.1 1.42 0.54 0.057 5.3 5.98 0.086 3.2 108.8 9.98 6.79 2.85 956 1,920 6.26 13.48 2.16 16.9 78 0.0098 11.8 9.2 0.216 1.5 3.48 13.3 5.25 2.09 1.05 2 4.4 4.97 23.35 3.08 11.52 5.4 2.53 150 9 1,646 1.15 0.4 43.9 81.1 5.91 2.9 0.78 3.49

7.61 47.9 1.35 0.52 0.052 5.3 5.71 0.084 3.06 107.9 9.55 6.65 2.85 956 1,850 6.2 13.4 2.03 16.58 75.5 0.0094 11.04 9 0.211 1.45 3.32 13.28 5.12 2 1 2 4.22 4.9 22.55 3.01 11.4 5.1 2.53 150 8.79 1,615 1.12 0.395 43 80.8 5.8 2.84 0.76 3.37

SERVICES 7.65 48 1.4 0.54 0.055 5.3 5.85 0.084 3.06 108 9.98 6.77 2.85 956 1,861 6.24 13.4 2.15 16.58 77.85 0.0097 11.04 9.2 0.214 1.47 3.48 13.28 5.23 2.02 1 2 4.3 4.96 22.65 3.04 11.52 5.1 2.53 150 8.88 1,620 1.15 0.4 43.3 81 5.86 2.85 0.77 3.41

64,700 19,200 116,000 87,000 144,070,000 1,300 12,047,700 15,290,000 1,900,000 320,240 1,600 85,300 2,000 2,720 72,865 91,900 20,900 2,206,000 3,700 295,830 80,000,000 2,800 452,000 4,040,000 665,000 19,000 1,100 484,000 72,000 165,000 10,000 4,496,000 4,630,000 2,000 946,000 2,700 29,100 180,000 33,440 455,800 84,100 9,784,000 1,280,000 803,000 518,280 9,300 859,000 5,105,000 498,000

494,512 920,520 161,360 45,260 7,875,170 6,890 70,166,140 1,292,530 5,866,410 34,644,269 15,323 576,152 5,700 2,600,320 135,708,370 573,182 280,484 4,664,320 61,802 22,823,951.50 774,000 31,368 4,158,000 861,810 985,080 63,480 14,618 2,521,150 145,880 166,520 20,000 19,364,640 22,946,610 46,275 2,877,440 31,040 149,666 455,400 5,016,000 4,043,003 136,395,670 11,201,360 506,150 34,836,860 41,970,216.50 54,431 2,470,380 3,934,340 1,710,230

68,740 41,112,897 658,300 16,617,222 -62,626,285 306,182 42,540 1,100,923 17,990 -15,023,780 2,550 477,000 77,282.00 -13,125,280 -559,270.00 28,290,485 -17,068,180.50 -1,308,930 2,825,230 -13,640

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

0.0035 2.91 4.15 2.08 2.18 0.57 0.39 8.02 1.22 0.275 0.197 0.2 0.011 0.012 1.61 6.78 2.86 0.93 0.012 4.1 0.013 8.26 3.88 126.8 3.31

0.0036 2.95 4.15 2.1 2.18 0.58 0.39 8.2 1.24 0.275 0.198 0.2 0.011 0.012 1.68 6.85 2.86 1.07 0.012 4.1 0.013 8.26 4.02 127 3.31

0.0035 2.9 4.1 2.08 2.18 0.57 0.39 8.02 1.18 0.27 0.197 0.197 0.011 0.012 1.57 6.58 2.77 0.93 0.012 4.1 0.012 8.08 3.87 124.5 3.21

MINING & OIL 0.0036 38,000,000 2.94 506,000 4.15 928,000 2.1 8,000 2.18 1,000 0.58 206,000 0.39 410,000 8.2 1,100 1.23 52,605,000 0.27 30,000 0.197 2,910,000 0.197 690,000 0.011 22,800,000 0.012 1,000,000 1.61 275,000 6.77 10,025,000 2.79 170,000 1.04 2,758,000 0.012 300,000 4.1 8,000 0.012 10,900,000 8.23 1,018,600 3.92 4,823,000 124.5 225,780 3.21 42,000

136,500 1,480,190 3,850,900 16,680 2,180 119,380 159,900 8,840 64,127,380 8,150 573,920 137,640 250,800 12,000 439,400 67,428,832 473,370 2,813,950 3,600 32,800 138,400 8,288,798 19,105,230 28,424,137 136,140

-3,448,650 7,675,370 6,196,085 208,000 1,374,517.00 248,010 -4,962,530 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

47.9 535 103.7 115.4 521 1.06 109.5 1,091 1,020 76.8 78 79 78.5 77.5 77.9

48 535 103.8 115.4 521 1.06 109.5 1,091 1,020 77 78 79 78.5 77.5 78

47.9 535 103.5 115.4 521 1.05 109.5 1,091 1,020 76.8 77.5 79 78.5 77.5 77.9

PREFERRED 48 585,400 535 1,980 103.8 12,150 115.4 3,340 521 30 1.06 265,000 109.5 900 1,091 200 1,020 6,715 77 9,340 77.5 17,600 79 6,000 78.5 3,000 77.5 51,000 78 208,500

28,095,960 1,059,300 1,259,865 385,436 15,630 280,860 98,550 218,200 6,849,300 718,280 1,369,000 474,000 235,500 3,952,500 16,259,610

-20,651,610 -

LR WARRANT

2.5

2.5

2.37

WARRANTS 2.4 283,000

683,240

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

4.12 3.1 12.36

4.3 3.1 12.38

4.12 3.09 12.1

4.22 3.09 12.2

FIRST METRO ETF

126.8

126.8

124.5

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.36 1.14 2.32 0.285 37.7 2.96 5.16 0.59 1.12 0.154 0.64 58 0.75 0.141 1.82 0.98 1.08 4.29 0.17 3.39 30.55

30,800 704,000 233,000 1,340,000 9,040,500 881,000 21,600 1,166,000 1,000 2,720,000 15,748,000 2,364,490 95,000 10,000 4,836,000 2,779,000 921,000 37,178,000 24,520,000 285,000 927,100

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

23,793,412

INDUSTRIAL

67,389,280

HOLDING FIRMS

58,026,343

PROPERTY

122,102,260

SERVICES

293,896,449

MINING & OIL

150,854,230

GRAND TOTAL

716,908,004

SME

-

36,000 32,000 769,200

150,480 98,900 9,384,070

-704,540

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 125.7 8,830

1,108,377

-

VALUE 1,819.63 (down) 13.64 601,422,906.67 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,848.06 (up) 12.56 893,649,788.51 HOLDING FIRMS 7,647.62 (down) 77.97 1,332,146,305.033 PROPERTY 3,413.42 (up) 15.96 SERVICES 1,470.78 (down) 4.12 1,003,451,368.70 MINING & OIL 11,371.83 (down) 53.68 649,977,373 PSEI 7,609.31 (down) 40.91 198,192,696.204 All Shares Index 4,498.95 (down) 19.16 4,689,582,265.12 Gainers:74 Losers: 94; Unchanged: 57; Total: 225

“The requirement of the export market is quite complicated, so we have to have a packing line that is dedicated for the export market,” Sebandal said.

“The most important thing that we will be able to achieve once the plant starts its operations is we can have a dedicated plant solely for the exports market. There’s a special requirement for the export flour that we cannot afford the local flour to contaminate,” he said.

Pilmico exports about 2,000 tons of flour a month to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Sebandal said the plan was to double the volume of exports once the packing plant started operations.

“Our biggest market for exports right now is Indonesia. But we also supply flour to Yellow Cab, Jollibee, JVO, Gardenia, Rebisco and Zest-O,” Sebandal said.

Sebandal said Pilmico was focusing on the export market as the company could not expand in the domestic market given the Asean integration.

“We have the Asean integration and right now cheaper flour is now in the Philippines so that’s the reason why we cannot grow here. We are seeking growth through the export market,” Sebandal said.

BDO launches its online trading

By Jenniffer B. Austria BDO Nomura Securities Inc., a joint venture of BDO Uniobank Inc. and Nomura Holdings Inc., on Monday launched online trading services for stocks listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

BDO said in a disclosure to the stock exchange BDO Nomura would provide investors in-depth market research, quick execution time and competitive rates.

The platform offers ease of use through simple and paperless online application and fund transfers through BDO deposit accounts.

“Nomura is excited to work with BDO, the leading commercial bank in the Philippines, to create a strong platform to serve a fast-growing market and bring new investment opportunities to domestic retail investors,” said BDO Nomura president Koichi Katakawa.

Katakawa said 86 percent of new investors who opened trading accounts in 2015 preferred to trade through an online brokerage.

The partnership leverages on the strength of both companies, with BDO’s market leadership and wide distribution network complementing Nomura’s strength in asset management, equity research and investment banking.

The joint venture with BDO is Nomura’s second retail operation in the region, following a successful one in Thailand, and is in line with Nomura’s strategy to develop local retail brokerage businesses in Southeast Asia.

BDO will also provide online trading clients where BDO rewards points will be earned for all transactions made. These rewards points can be redeemed for products available in SM affiliated stores.

Business

B3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Will Hillary Clinton proceed with TPP?

SMART PARTNER. Wireless leader Smart Communications Inc., through its value brand TNT, is the exclusive partner of Telepreneur Corp. for its 4th anniversary celebration with major activities lined up in key cities across the country including Urdaneta, Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, Legazpi, and Quezon City. Sealing the partnership agreement are (from left) Smart executives Louie de Guzman, assistant vice president for retail partners and key accounts; Maloo Agoncillo, department head, retail and key accounts; Kat Luna-Abelarde, first VP and wireless consumer operations head; and partners Lorenzo Rellosa, president of TPC, a sub-key account of Muenchen; Pascualito Oliveros, president and CEO of Muenchen; and Sajiron Dayao, VP for marketing of TPC.

Gokongwei building Westin condo, hotel

By Jenniffer B. Austria

R

OBINSONS Land Corp., the property unit of the Gokongwei Group, on Monday launched its most luxurious residential development— the P6-billion The Residences at the Westin Manila Sonata Place—on a four-hectare area in the Ortigas central business district.

Robinsons Land general manager for residential development Henry Yap said during the project launching The Residences at Westin Manila would offer 344 rooms selling at an average price of P180,000 to P200,000 per square meter. The company will also develop a 304-room-Westin Hotel within the same area.

Unit sizes range from 47

PPA says 9-month profit rose to P5.99b

By Darwin G. Amojelar STATE regulator Philippine Ports Authority said on Monday net income rose 16 percent in the first nine months despite the drop in storage fees due to the introduction of the terminal truck appointment and booking system early this year.

PPA said net income amounted to P5.99 billion in the January-to-September period from P5.16 billion yearon-year.

“The decrease in storage fee of about 39.56 percent brought about by the implementation of several anti-port congestion measures has been offset in the other revenue items as operations became more efficient and effective due to these measures, specifically TABS that hastened the movement of inbound and outbound containers at the Manila Ports,” PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said.

Santiago said the modest increase in the fund management income of about 6 percent to P68 million due to the hike in interest rates for special/high-yield savings deposits had also contributed to the strong revenue performance of the agency.

Gross revenues rose 8 percent to P10.62 billion during the period from P9.84 billion a year earlier. Port revenues reached P10.55 billion from P9.78 billion accumulated in the same period last year.

Total expenses, meanwhile, decreased 1.1 percent to P4.63 billion from P4.69 billion in the first nine months of 2015 because of the gradual disbursement in the implementation of repair and maintenance projects complemented by the decrease in depreciation charges.

square meters for one-bedroom unit worth P9 million and 250 square meters for penthouse units worth P50 million.

The 50-storey The Residences at Westin Manila will be the first themed-residential development of the Westin Group in Southeast Asia.

Robinsons Land’s move to team up with Starworld Hotels and Resorts, the company be-

hind the Westin hotel chain, was in line with the company’s move to upgrade the level of luxury in its premier residential brand.

“Our commitment to serve and offer the best quality residential developments to match the discerning tastes of our client remains strong,” Robinsons Land president and chief operating officer Frederick Go said.

“We are positive that our strong partnership will set new benchmarks for luxurious residences in the Philippines. This project will be at the forefront of our portfolio, being the most luxurious hotel and residential project to date of Robinsons Land Corp,” Go added.

Yap is optimistic the company would be able to sell more than half of the residential units by the

end of 2017.

Robinsons Land expects to generate about P6 billion in total sales from the project.

The company is targeting investors as well as end-users, especially entrepreneurs, executives, expatriates and returning overseas Filipinos, for the development.

Aside from the residential project, Robinsons Land will build a 304 room-Westin Hotel.

The hotel is scheduled for completion by 2019 while the residential tower will be ready for turnover to unit buyers by 2021.

Robinsons Land in recent years has been selective in the launching of condominium projects because of increased competition, especially in the middleincome market.

PXP Energy optimistic after China visit

By Alena Mae S. Flores PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s recent visit to China has given PXP Energy Corp., formerly Philex Petroleum Corp., a ray of hope to explore its oil and gas asset in the disputed West Philippine Sea. PXP Energy chairman Manuel Pangilinan told reporters the company was optimistic on the government’s recent alliance with China. The Energy Department has suspended service contract 72 at the Recto Bank following the territorial dispute with China over certain islands in the area.

“It’s (service contract) suspended so on that basis, … we

cannot undertake any activities in the area without DeE consent.

Our work for them is also suspended. We will not explore until the government lifts the suspension,” Pangilinan said.

Duterte’s visit to China has raised the possibility of a joint exploration over the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. Aside from SC 72, exploration on other service contracts in the area were also suspended by the government due to the territorial dispute.

“I think it offers some hope that there could be some understanding with China on at least explore what might be there,” Pangilinan said.

The Philippines and China earlier in a joint statement agreed “to continue discussions on confidence-building measures to increase mutual trust and confidence and to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities in the South China Sea that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.”

“In this regard, in addition to and without prejudice to other mechanisms, a bilateral consultation mechanism can be useful, which will meet regularly on current and other issues of concern to either side on the South China Sea. Both sides also agree to explore other areas of cooperation,” the statement read.

IT IS in the nature of presidential elections in a democratic country that a candidate may find himself or herself forced to make changes in his or her electoral platform in order to win over the followers of a rival candidate or even the rival candidate himself. In the 2016 US electoral campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton found herself having to alter her electoral platform, in the course of the nomination contest, to accommodate the left-of-center positions of her principal rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, in order to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination.

Over the years, in the course of her public life—as a social activist, governor’s wife, First Lady, US Senator and Secretary of State—Hillary Clinton has developed a strong and well-defined philosophy with firm views on social, political and economic issues. She entered the hustings sure about where she stood on the major issues facing a superpower with 320 million people manning the world’s No. 1 economy.

But US presidential campaigns are not conducted in a vacuum, and as the electoral season progressed, Hillary Clinton found herself facing an adversary who was scoring points with some sectors of the electorate—especially the youth and the blue-collar workers—on a number of issues.

On those issues, Hillary Clinton had always held firm views that were contrary to those held by Senator Sanders.

But in the face of a persistent challenge from the Vermont legislator, she had to re-examine her positions on those issues.

One of the issues related to the national minimum wage. Former President Bill Clinton’s wife is not known for strong views on wages in general and on the national minimum wage in particular. But she was forced to align her views on the issue with Sanders’ views when she saw how the issue of a national minimum wage increase was resonating with blue-collar worker community. Now she is saying that she will work for such an increase when she is in the White House. Of course, the outcome of such an initiative will depend on whether the Democrats will be able to gain control of both houses of the US Congress.

The other major part of the Sanders’ electoral platform that Hillary Clinton was forced to adopt was the Senator’s position that international trade arrangements like the Obama administration-favored TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) hurt American exports and jobs and should be renegotiated and/or discontinued. As a member of the Obama administration and as the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton had been presumed to be a supporter of the Obama administration’s foreign economic policies, including its policy on foreign trade agreements. That was to be expected in the absence of any indication from her of negative views on the subject.

In an effort to cement a reconciliation with the Sanders’ camp, Ms. Clinton agreed to a re-examination of TPP—a free-trade arrangement that encompasses all the major Pacific countries except China—and a reduction of US participation in multilateral trade deals. That position appears to have metamorphosed into outright opposition to TPP as it is currently structured.

What will happen to TPP in the event of a Clinton victory—something that now appears to be a nearcertainty? Will she allow TPP to proceed, or will she turn her back on a commitment to Senator Sanders? If Hillary Clinton were to be inclined to turn her back on the commitment, it might be too late to take the US out of TPP. So much work has already gone into the structuring and formulation of TPP; it is all set to go.

My prediction is that, once elected, Hillary Clinton will give the order for the implementation of TPP. That will be the right decision.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Upgrading to Yakkety I UPGRADED the operating system on my MacBook Air last week and I figured I ought to do the same on my Linux desktop.

Moving from Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) to 16.10 (Yakkety Yak) on my desktop PC was nowhere as quick and easy as it was to upgrade from OS X 10.11 to macOS 10.12, but the process was nonetheless pretty straightforward and relatively trouble-free.

While it took less than an hour to perform the upgrade on my Mac, it took several hours to download and install the latest version of Ubuntu.

Much has already been written about how Unity 8, the new converged interface being developed for mobile and desktop devices, again failed to make it to the latest version of Ubuntu—although a rough preview of it is built into Yakkety (just log out and choose Unity 8 in the log-in screen).

On the surface, Ubuntu 16.10 doesn’t look very different than previous releases, and its built-in Unity 7.5 interface features just minor improvements and a few bug fixes.

To find out what’s new about Ubuntu 16.10, you have to look inside.

One of the biggest changes is the inclusion of the latest 4.8 Linux kernel,

which includes improvements to open source video card drivers, support for the latest Raspberry Pi, and a possible fix for a bug that can slow down Linux wireless networks.

Other changes: LibreOffice, the open source productivity suite, has been updated to 5.2, which enables users to assign a classification level to a document, a forecast function in the Calc spreadsheet application, and a single toolbar mode in Writer to help users focus on content.

Update Manager now shows changelog entries for PPAs (Personal Package Archives).

Applications provided by GNOME have been updated to at least 3.20.

Many have been updated to 3.22 also.

Among the improvements are: a Shortcut Windows feature that lists all of the keyboard shortcuts supported in the application you’re using; native image editing features in the Photos application; an improved GNOME calendar; and a more versatile Maps application.

The Nautilus file browser has been updated to 3.20. The upgrade means Ubuntu users will enjoy the improvements made to the GNOME file manager over the last year and a half. These include the ability to access Google Drives in

Nautilus and improved file and view sorting menus. Ubuntu’s default file manager has also gained new search filters, a compact preferences dialog and support for recursive search. The new file manager also fixes one of my pet peeves with the previous version— by adding the option to display available space on a drive in the “other locations” section.

On my Ubuntu box, I’ve swapped out Unity with GNOME Flashback (Metacity) interface, and the crossover to the new distribution was almost seamless.

I say almost because I experienced a glitch in the way my windows looked after the upgrade—a problem I fixed by simply changing the GTK theme. A more perplexing problem, still unsolved, is that my favorite time waster, Kmahjongg, no longer works—giving me a blank screen with no tiles. I know, there’s always GNOME Mahjongg—but it just doesn’t look as good as the KDE version.

Curiously, the Hectic Geek website found that Ubuntu 16.04 actually edged out 16.10 in terms of boot-up time, memory usage and the speed of shutdown. The new release performed better only in terms of power usage. Its recommendation: If you’re happy with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, then stick with it.

That’s a pretty fair conclusion— particularly since 16.04 is a long-term support release that will be supported until 2021.

Sierra compatibility issues: The upgrade from El Capitan to macOS Sierra I wrote about last week was not as troublefree as I first hoped, because the new operating system doesn’t play nice with all third party applications—and I use a number of these. For example, running Gimp 2.8 on Sierra produces frequent crashes, particularly when controls in the dialog boxes need to be tweaked.

MacRumors.com has posted a list of compatible and completely incompatible applications (a pretty long list) as well as programs that may run into compatibility problems—including Gimp, Aperture 3.6, Acrobat Pro 11.0.16; and CleanMyMac 3. There doesn’t seem to be a fix for the Gimp problem just yet; I will just have to wait for the developers to release an update that addresses this instability. Just another reminder that there are always risks invovled when upgrading your OS. Column archives and blog at: http://www.chinwong.com

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

B4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

Business

Samsung buyers in Korea file class suit

Iraq not joining Opec cuts

O

PEC’S second-largest producer threw an obstacle in the group’s path toward a final deal to stabilize oil markets when Iraq balked at joining efforts to trim output to prop up crude prices.

Iraq should be exempted from cutting production because it’s embroiled in a war with Islamic militants, Oil Minister Jabber Al-Luaibi said Sunday at a news conference in Baghdad.

The country currently produces more than 4.7 million barrels a day it pumped in September, and Iraq’s output could rise higher still as the government urges international companies to boost production at its fields,

he said. The minister disputed Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries figures that peg Iraqi output at less than 4.2 million barrels daily.

“We are with Oped policy and Opec unity,” Al-Luaibi said. “But this should not be at our expense.”

A meeting in Algeria last month of the group’s 14 members stretched to seven hours as Iraq argued over the level of production that should be used as a baseline for setting

quotas.

Opec is trying to woo other producers to join in the group’s first output cuts in eight years, a policy shift that members agreed to last month in Algiers. Crude plunged to a 12-year low in January, hammering the budgets of producers from Venezuela to Saudi Arabia. The price slide led Oped to abandon its two-yearold Saudi-led policy of allowing members to pump as much as they could in an effort to protect market share.

Russia, the biggest prize in Opec’s quest for support, refused again on Sunday to commit to joining the plan. Russia can’t say yet whether it will freeze or cut output as part of a final accord and

is reviewing “many scenarios” to speed the oil market’s recovery, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said after talks with Gulf Arab counterparts in the Saudi capital.

“We see reasons to take steps to balance the market in coming months to bring investments back and reduce volatility,” he said.

“We discussed issues related to levels of limiting oil production

by Russia and by other countries that may join the agreement, but it’s too early to tell the concrete figures because the process of finalizing positions is going on.”

Like Iraq, Russia is seeking to ramp up output, not tamp it down. Russia is producing about 10.9 million barrels a day

on average this year, according to Energy Ministry data. The latest draft of Russia’s energy strategy sees a potential increase in annual production from 534.1 million metric tons last year to 555 million tons, or 11.1 million barrels a day, by 2020.

Opec pumped a record 33.75 million barrels a day in September, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 10.58 million barrels of the total, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih echoed comments by Russia’s Novak that oil markets are improving. Even so, producers must take further action to speed the recovery, he said in Riyadh. Bloomberg

Hanjin to close Europe business

HANJIN Shipping Co., South Korea’s largest container line that has put its Asia-US business on sale after filing for bankruptcy protection late August, won approval from a court to wind down its European operations as demand for its services to the continent slumped.

The judge overseeing Hanjin’s receivership at the Seoul Central District Court approved the firm’s request, a court spokesman said. Hanjin will close all its 10 branches in Europe, including its regional headquarters in Germany, the container line’s spokeswoman said separately on Monday.

The Seoul-based company expects to start the process as early as this week, she said.

The decision to shut down its Europe business is part of the breakup process of Hanjin kicked off by the Seoul court, which earlier said it would consider selling the company entirely. Hanjin is also seeking separate bids for its AsiaUS network as well as the investment in a terminal in Long Beach, California. The closure may benefit bigger rivals, such as A.P. MoellerMaersk A/S and CMA CGM SA, as competition eases on one of the world’s biggest trade lane. Bloomberg

Two women walk past an advertisement for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 device at a Samsung store in the Gangnam district of Seoul on October 11, 2016. Samsung told customers worldwide to stop using their Galaxy Note 7 smartphones as it struggled to contain a snowballing safety crisis that threatens to derail the powerhouse global brand. AFP

THE number of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owners demanding compensation for being inconvenienced by the smartphone’s troubles is starting to rise.

In what may be the first Note 7 related class-action lawsuit filed in South Korea, 527 smartphone buyers are demanding Samsung Electronics Co. pay each plaintiff about 500,000 won (about $440) for time and effort lost when the phones were first recalled and then scrapped amid reports devices were heating up and catching on fire.

“We’re now planning to file a lawsuit every month,” said Ko Young-yeel, an attorney for Seoulbased Harvest Law, which filed the class-action lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court Monday. The firm took just five days to have the more than 500 Note 7 owners sign up for the class-action lawsuit, he said. Consumers are “very angry.”

Samsung started a global recall in September following reports that its newly released smartphone was causing burns and property damage. The Suwon-based company sent text messages to Note 7 owners in Korea requesting they visit a nearby store to get their phones exchanged for new ones.

Ko said customers had to return to the store to get batteries checked before they had to download a program that only allowed 60 percent of battery capacity. Samsung then asked them to come into the store again for the recall.

“It takes time to just reinstall all the applications and set up logins again,” Ko said, describing the complaint in the suit.

“Then, like a bolt from the blue, they say there is something wrong with the phones, again.”

Among the complaints the law firm received, three owners claimed their phones caught on fire. Ko said the law firm will prepare a separate lawsuit for them.

The suit in Korea comes less than a week after the first Note 7-related class-action against Samsung was filed in the US. The phone owners there are seeking unspecified damages and an order requiring the company to repair, recall and/or replace the phones, and extend applicable warranties. Bloomberg

AT&T deal: merger for new media era or a bad remake?

WASHINGTON―An AT&TTime Warner mega-deal could create a new kind of media-tech firm in an age where consumers get content Netflix-style, when they want it on any device.

Or it could be a remake of another huge merger 16 years ago that sought to unite the media-entertainment giant with another tech sector leader but ended in failure.

The deal unveiled Saturday aims to make AT&T a powerhouse positioned for a sector facing major technology changes.

The stock-and-cash deal worth $108.7 billion including debt gives a value of $84.5 billion to Time Warner, which includes the Warner Bros. studios in Hollywood and an array of TV assets such as HBO and CNN, rights to sporting events including basketball and baseball and a major video game publisher.

It would give the big US telecom and internet operator “the world’s best premium content with the networks to deliver it to every screen, however custom-

ers want it,” a statement from the companies said.

But analysts say the deal faces multiple challenges, including winning regulatory clearance for a massive merger affecting tens of millions of consumers, and successfully combining two different kinds of companies, one in content and the other in delivery.

“We’ve seen this movie before and it didn’t end well,” said Rebecca Lieb, an independent media consultant and analyst, referring to a 2000 deal merging

AOL and Time Warner that was unwound nine years later.

“It’s difficult merging technology and creativity.”

However, AT&T “didn’t want to sit on the sidelines” while rivals such as Comcast and Verizon expanded to become more than simply operators of “pipes” that deliver internet and television, Lieb said.

Comcast, which began as a cable operator, took a stake in NBCUniversal in 2009 and full ownership of the media-

entertainment group in 2013 to achieve “vertical integration” of content and delivery.

“All the pipe operators are trying to get content,” Lieb said.

“They don’t want to be just delivery entities.”

The sector’s economics have changed as many consumers― especially younger ones―reject the pay TV “bundles” of hundreds of channels that often cost $100 or more and have long been lucrative for both delivery and content operators. AFP

After summer bonanza, Spain worries about tourism future

By Emmanuele Michel MADRID―After basking in its best tourist summer season in 15 years, Spain now sees dark clouds on the horizon as popular destinations reach saturation point and holiday-makers are more thrifty, industry experts say.

The 2016 summer season proved exceptionally good, with an influx of tourists fleeing other popular destinations recently hit by attacks, said Jose Luis Zoreda, vice-president of Exceltur, the sector’s employers’ association.

A combination of lower interest rates and petrol prices along with unrest in other Mediterranean countries benefited Spain’s coastal regions, with their famed “sun and beaches,” he said.

But he warned that “it will be difficult to reproduce this oneoff scenario.”

Exceltur believes that out of the 75 million estimated tourists to Spain this year, close to four million will be holiday-makers who used to go to places like Turkey or Egypt.

But it’s “a very uncertain and volatile bubble,” Zoreda said.

Thrifty trend In 2016, the tourism sector

is expected to grow 4.4 percent year-on-year―compared to a forecast 3.2 percent expansion in Spain’s overall economy― which is “the highest rise in the past 15 years,” said Exceltur.

In the first eight months of the year, Spain saw a 10 percent increase in the number of tourists from 2015―or a total of 52.5 million people, with the Brits in the lead.

This compares with more than 68 million foreign visitors for the whole of 2015, when Spain was ranked the third tourism destination in the world after France and the United States.

But dark clouds are gathering.

For one, business tourism has dropped due to political uncertainty in a country that has been without a fullyfunctioning government for 10 months after two inconclusive elections.

More importantly though, tourists on average have not been spending as much as last year―between two and six percent less depending on the months―as they stay for shorter periods of time.

Generally, the trend is to save money, said Philip Moscoso, professor at Madrid’s IESE

This file photo taken on July 2, 2016 shows tourists sunbathing at Barceloneta’s beach in Barcelona.

Spanish tourism just experienced its best summer for 15 years, but professionals are more cautious for the future, warning against lower tourist spending and saturation in some regions. AFP

Business School.

“More people arrive with low-cost airlines and opt for alternative types of rentals”, such as Airbnb, he said―a phenomenon that hurts hoteliers.

Over the past two years, the number of regulated tourist

accommodation has risen 1.6 percent, while rentals through platforms such as Airbnb have jumped 75 percent, said Exceltur.

Less quantity, more quality As such, popular destinations such as Barcelona and the

Balearic Islands reached saturation point, which in some cases posed environmental problems.

Margalida Ramis of Majorca’s GOB environmental group said the island’s infrastructure was not able to handle “the effects of

the summer,” pointing for instance to the treatment of waste water.

This summer, dirty water found its way into the island’s northern Albufera natural park as purifiers at a nearby resort’s plant stopped working correctly.

The influx of tourists on the country’s beaches also threatens a fragile ecosystem made up of dunes and aquatic plants, said Ramis, who called for a limitation on unregulated tourism rentals.

Authorities are trying to “shift the ‘sun and beach’ model towards a type of tourism that would be less about quantity and more about quality,” said Moscoso, as well as highlighting the country’s heritage.

Barcelona, for instance, is trying to promote excursions to the nearby rocky range of Montserrat, while for the northern Basque Region and the wine-making Rioja area it’s gastronomy.

Another proposal is to attract more Asian tourists―who by and large prefer shopping and visits over sunning themselves on the beach.

But Moscoso pointed out that business had been so good recently for the “sun and beach” sector that companies are reluctant to drastically change their models.

AFP

LGUs

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

An artist’s rendition of Okada hotel’s iconic dancing fountain—equivalent to 50 Olympic-sized pools—is touted to be one of the world’s largest.

MMDA to open 30 ferry terminals

By Joel Zurbano

T

HE Metro Manila Development Authority is planning to open 30 Pasig River Ferry terminals to accommodate more passengers in the eastern part of Metro Manila and in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna.

nila,” said MMDA officer-incharge Thomas Orbos.

“Hopefully, we are looking to go beyond Metro Manila. In Taytay, you can imagine it will take you two hours from Taytay to Makati and we are talking 30 to 45 minutes,” he added.

Orbos said he will be having a meeting with Department of Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade and officials of the Laguna Lake Development Authority soon to discuss the opening of new terminals.

“The role of the government is to open up the routes. Hopefully when it becomes successful, the private sector should come in already,” Orbos said.

Aside from Rizal and Laguna,

the MMDA will also open soon the new terminals in the areas of Eastwood in Quezon City and Riverbank in Marikina City.

“We are encouraging the people to try our ferry system. We can help in the environment and at the same time our travel will be faster, like from here to Manila it will take you less than an hour. So, please help us, the more that we use it, the more that we’ll become viable,” said Orbos.

MMDA records showed that the total ridership of the ferry system has reached more than 150,000 as of December last year.

The MMDA revived the Pasig River system in 2014 as a means to decongest Metro Manila’s major roads.

Of the 30, seven terminals will be constructed around the Laguna Lake and in the City of Calamba, said MMDA deputy chairman Frisco San Juan.

“This will be built in the coming years,” San Juan said.

The MMDA made the announcement during the launching of two new fiber glass fer-

ries at the Guadalupe Station in Makati City on Monday.

The arrival of new boats, capable of carrying at least 15 passengers, including crew, brings to 16 the total number of operational ferries.

“Our main objective really is to help the people find an alternative mode of transportation and to ease traffic in Metro Ma-

DA eyes expanded Davao rice production

Police arrest 5 for cybersex

MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur—The town of Magsaysay, which has been tagged as the rice granary of Davao del Sur, has been identified by the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA11) as a pilot area for massive rice production.

Mayor Arthur Davin made the announcement during Monday’s flag ceremony after meeting with DA 11 regional director Ricardo Onate.

“There are still a lot of farm areas in the locality which are potential for rice farming,” Davin said.

He cited Barangay San Miguel to be suited for rice cultivation as there is already an existing irrigation system.

Farmers, however, have not yet been able to convert their banana and coconut plantations into rice fields due to the lack of farm machinery.

Davin said the DA has promised to provide more farm equipment like tractors to cultivate the lands. PNA

By Joel Zurbano LAWMEN have arrested five individuals allegedly engaged in online child pornography and rescued three minors during a raid in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.

Arrested were Shaira Candaza, Girlie Candaza, Estrellita Candaza, Mary Rose Reyes, and Mary Grace Cahanding. They

100 YEARS.

The Philippine Postal Corp. has issued a commemorative stamp for the centennial anniversary of Philtrust Bank.

PIA

are now detained at the Taguig City Jail.

The suspects were charged with violations of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012; Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009; AntiPhoto and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009; and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the city pros-

ecutors office.

The raid was conducted by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Human Trafficking Division in close coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Inter-Agency Council Against Human Trafficking, the International Justice Mission, and the city government of Taguig.

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Okada hotel ready for Miss U in 2017

By Vito Barcelo OKADA Manila, the $2.4-billion Y-shaped hotel and casino located right at the center of the entertainment city in Parañaque which is being considered as venue for the Miss Universe pageant in 2017, will rival the best hotels in Las Vegas and Dubai.

The three-level complex, with a fountain that is equivalent to 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools that is touted to be one of the largest in the world, is now 85 percent complete.

It will have its soft opening in November and will be fully operational by the end of 2016, Okada Manila chief operating officer Takahiro Usui said.

With more than 18,000 construction workers operating 24/7, the grand structure covers the casino floor, two hotel wings, nightclub and beach club areas, restaurants and retail areas.

“From its architecture to its interior design, every single detail was carefully planned and executed in order to bring to life Chairman Kazuo Okada’s vision. The chairman has been a long time believer in the potential of the Philippines.

This project is a fulfillment of his dream and his biggest gift to the Filipinos yet,” Usui said.

The hotel will have 993 rooms and 21 self-operated restaurants, while the gaming complex will have 500 table games and around 3,000 elec-

tronic game machines.

The complex will also have a retail promenade featuring local and international brands and a glass dome-enclosed beach club with white sand that can fit 4,500 people.

Usui said that another prominent feature of the property is the sky bridge, a three-level structure that connects the two Y-shaped hotel wings.

It is strategically located in the exact center of the building, giving guests an amazing vantage point over Manila Bay and the integrated resort’s $30-million dancing water fountain.

“The sky bridge will house the Sky Casino and offer a private gaming haven exclusive to VIP guests,” he said.

“Each room is designed to offer an impressive view of either Manila Bay or the resort’s majestic dancing fountain, the biggest in the country and the second largest in the world next to the choreographed Dubai Fountain in man-made Burj Khalifa Lake,” Usui added.

The 9,000-sqm entertainment venue will be enclosed in a climate-controlled glass dome which will feature Asia’s first kinetic chandelier with six rings that can create 10,000 special effects and project stunning 3D motion graphics.

“Its white sand indoor beach club will also be the first in Southeast Asia and will rival the largest clubs in the world,” Usui said.

Former drug addicts ‘graduate’ from rehab

By Jun David CALOOCAN City has rolled out a comprehensive rehabilitation program for drug addicts after the successful graduation of its first batch of trainors who underwent its Community-Assisted Rehab and Recovery Out-patient Training System (Carrots).

Mayor Oscar Malapitan, who is also the chairman of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, ordered the speedy implementation of the community-based out-patient drug rehabilitation program.

The council recently concluded the training of the first batch

of Carrots counselors in Buena Park Sports Complex, University Hills, Caloocan City.

Resource persons from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police taught participants basic knowledge of the Comprehensive Drugs Act. They also gave a national and local situationer on the proliferation of illegal drugs and explained how to activate the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils through Operation Masa Masid.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

LGUs

Standard

TODAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

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DPWH clears roads for ‘Undas’

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Department of Public Works and Highways has cleared all national highways, particularly those leading to public and private cemeteries, from obstructions and potholes in preparation for the observance of All Saints’ Day.

The program is meant to ensure the safety of motorists expected to flock major roads this coming long weekend, the department said.

All DPWH-District Engineering Offices have implemented various highway routine maintenance activities on major routes, which include re-gravelling; road, bridge, shoulder, drainage,

and vegetation-control maintenance; and traffic service maintenance, particularly the provision of proper informative and regulatory warning signs or traffic advisories.

DPWH will also reactivate its motorist assistance program dubbed as “Lakbay Alalay” starting 5 p.m. on October 28 until 12 noon of November 2.

Hundreds of “Lakbay Alalay” teams will be deployed nationwide along strategic locations to aid the traveling public round-the-clock.

“These teams shall assist roadside concerns of motorists joining the All Saints’ Day rush. They shall also coordinate with the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, and officials of local government units if

they require assistance from the maintenance teams of the DPWH, likewise if DPWH necessitates their services,” the DPWH said.

“Early roadwork constructions will be announced by DPWH implementing offices to guarantee that proper scheduling of road works and installation of necessary traffic advisory will be made,” the department added.

Bounty for Roxas market bombing on hold—Duterte

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The local government here will not easily release the P3-million bounty to whoever introduced themselves as the informants who helped lead to the capture of three suspects in the Roxas night market bombing.

City legal office chief Osmundo Villanueva said they have recommended that the fiscal’s office should first find probable cause against the suspects before the bounty can be released.

The three suspects—TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan and Musali Mustapha—were apprehended in Cotabato City for their alleged involvement on the September 2 bombing.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she has adopted the recommendation of Villanueva.

“Our city legal has released a guideline as to when will we release the reward money, for them the case must be filed in court first, and that’s the only time we will consider giving out the reward,” she said.

She said the military has yet to release its own report as to who were their informants.

“We required the military to submit report for their recommendation as to who will receive the award,” Duterte said.

OUTSTANDING. Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario accepts the Manuel L. Quezon Gawad Parangal conferred by the Quezon City

government to outstanding individuals and institutions in recognition of their extraordinary achievements and contribution to the growth and development of the Philippines. Looking on is Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte as Mayor Herbert Bautista confers the award.

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax No. (0632) 527-4855

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATION OF AIDS TO MARINE NAVIGATION AT PORT OF MANILA The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of P145,142,073.02 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Construction and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation at Port of Manila, Port Area, Manila (LFP NCS/NCN No. 012-2016). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction, Delivery and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation System B. Supply, Construct and Delivery at Staging Area of Solar Powered Lighted Buoy Assembly C. Offshore Commissioning, Testing and Observation of Marine Aids to Navigation. Completion of the Works is required in 120 calendar days. Bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the PSA consumer price indices must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. 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 non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 25 October 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 03 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all interested bidders.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 17 November 2016 at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the following acceptable forms and amount: Form of Bid Security a)

Bid Securing Declaration

Amount of Bid Security (Equal to Percentage of the ABC) No percentage required

b) Surety Bond callable upon demand Five percent (5%) issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below on 17 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Medium B - Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor Port Area, Manila

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O. Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855, http://www.ppa.com.ph

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID

FOR THE PROPOSED OPOL PORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATION OF AIDS TO MARINE NAVIGATION AT SAN JUANICO STRAIT, EASTERN VISAYAS

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of P 270,107,331.53 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Opol Port Development Project, Port of Opol, Brgy. Luyong Bonbon, Opol, Misamis Oriental (LFP MOC No. 013-2016). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction of R.C. Wharf (Area=2,700.00 sq. m.) B. Back-up Area and Access Road (Area=10,767.77 sq. m.) C. Port Lighting System. Completion of the Works is required in 480 calendar days. Bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the PSA consumer price indices must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. 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 non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 25 October 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 03 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all interested bidders.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 17 November 2016 at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the following acceptable forms and amount: Form of Bid Security

Amount of Bid Security (Equal to Percentage of the ABC)

a) Bid Securing Declaration b) Surety Bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security

No percentage required

Five percent (5%)

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below on 17 November 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of P 146,694,717.58 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Construction and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation at San Juanico Strait, Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Eastern Visayas (LFP ELS No. 011-2016). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction, Delivery and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation System B. Supply, Construct and Delivery at Staging Area of Solar-Powered Lighted Buoy Assembly C. Offshore Commissioning, Testing and Observation of Aids to Marine Navigation. Completion of the Works is required in 120 calendar days. Bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the PSA consumer price indices must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. 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 non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 25 October 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 03 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all interested bidders.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 1:00 p.m. of 16 November 2016 at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the following acceptable forms and amount: Form of Bid Security

Required PCAB Registration: Large A - Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior tp contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Amount of Bid Security (Equal to Percentage of the ABC)

a) Bid Securing Declaration b) Surety Bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security

No percentage required

Five percent (5%)

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below on 16 November 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

Required PCAB Registration: Medium B - Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, 5 Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor Port Area, Manila Telephone Nos. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 530 th

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor Port Area, Manila Telephone Nos. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 530

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

Telephone Nos. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O. Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax. No. (0632) 527-4855, http://www.ppa.com.ph

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering

REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering

REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering Standard – Oct. 25, 2016

Standard – Oct. 25, 2016

Standard – Oct. 25, 2016

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

C3

Clinton to solidify lead over her rival C

HARLOTTE―With just over two weeks to go before Americans vote for a new president, Hillary Clinton―who has widened her lead over Donald Trump―is stepping up her efforts in key battleground states to consolidate her lead.

The Democratic former secretary of state vying to become America’s first female president leads the Republican real estate mogul among likely voters by 50 percent to 38 percent, according to a national ABC News poll.

That is her highest score since the start of the race to succeed Barack Obama in the White House.

“We are behind,” Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Con-

way admitted Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” nevertheless insisting that the race was not over.

At an evening rally in Naples, Florida, the 70-year-old Trump called on his supporters to turn out en masse to “get rid of Crooked Hillary once and for all,” using one of his favorite nicknames for his 68-year-old rival.

“Numbers are looking phenomenal in Florida. Don’t believe the

media,” he insisted.

The Sunshine State is a key prize in the presidential race, one of several battleground states that are key for both candidates if they want to win on November 8. Most polls put Trump a few points behind Clinton there.

Conscious that winning the minority vote will help lead her to victory, the 68-year-old Clinton started her day Sunday at a mainly black church in Durham, North Carolina -- another of the swing states up for grabs.

Obama won the southern state by a razor-thin margin in 2008, but lost it to Mitt Romney four years later. Team Clinton is pulling out all the stops to put it back in the Democratic win column.

Before a congregation that

included Sybrina Fulton―the mother of slain unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin, whose death shocked America in 2012―Clinton called for awareness of the “systemic racism” seen across the country.

“If we are honest with each other, we know we face the continuing discrimination against African-Americans and in particular young African-Americans,” she said.

“These conversations can be painful for everybody, but we have got to have them.”

She accused her Republican opponent of painting “a bleak picture of our inner cities” and ignoring the successes of black leaders “in every field and every walk of life.”AFP

‘Babies should sleep in parents’ room 1 year’ st

MIAMI―To reduce the risk of sudden death, babies should sleep in the same room as their parents but in their own crib or bassinet for the first year of life, US doctors said Monday.

The new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics still says babies should sleep on their backs, on a clean surface free of toys and blankets, a guideline that has been in place since the 1990s and has reduced sudden infant deaths by about 50 percent.

Still, some 3,500 infants die

each year in the United States from sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation and strangulation.

The main change to the AAP guidelines, which were last issued in 2011, is the specific call for infants to stay in their parents’ room for six months to a year if possible―but not sleep in the same bed.

“Parents should never place the baby on a sofa, couch, or cushioned chair, either alone or sleeping with another person,” said

lead author Rachel Moon.

“We know that these surfaces are extremely hazardous.”

Experts say that urging parents to put babies to sleep on their backs instead of their bellies helped drive down the rate of sudden infant death from 120 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1992 to 56 deaths per 100,000 in 2001―a 53 percent reduction in one decade. That advice still stands.

Deaths from SIDS have plateaued in recent years, but it is still the leading killer of babies aged

Republic of the Philippines CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila 1018, Philippines, P.O Box 436, Manila, Philippines Tel. No. (0632) 527-8356, Fax No. (0632) 527-4855

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR NO. 2016-2947 The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna through the 2016 Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsodintends to apply the sum of Php 2,905,404.50 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery of Offices Supplies for Various Office/ Departments– City Government of San Pedro. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids for the following: QTY UNIT DESCRIPTION 1 lot Office Supplies Accounting Office Administrator’s Office Architect’s Office Assessor’s Office Budget Office BJMP BPLO CENRO CFAU CHO-Sanitation CHO-Nutrition Office COA CPDC CSU CUDHO DILG DYSD Engineering Office BFP GALIC GSO JLAEH HRMO Legal Office MTC Branch 1 MTC Branch 2 MTC-OCC LCR Office of the City Mayor OSCA PAIO PESO PLEB PNP POSO/TMU Population Office Population Office: Clinical PWDO CHO-RHU I & II RTC Branch 31 RTC Branch 93 RTC-OCC Slaughterhouse Office SPO SPTC TCA Treasurer’s Office TRU PUP-San Pedro SPTI Comelec CSWD Prosecutor’s Office ILSP SPUR BUB-PMT CDRRMO Internal Audit Services Quality Management System Office Pharmacy Unit Xray Unit Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

In addition,bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:30AM to 9:30 AM only.Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on thedate, time and address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Php 5,000.00.

ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND October 24 - November 8, 2016 BIDDING DOCUMENTS: 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna PRE-BID CONFERENCE: October 25, 2016 5.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before the specified date and time. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION OF ELIGIBILITY November 8, 2016 REQUIREMENTS AND OPENING OF BIDS: 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Rm. City Administrator’s Office City Hall Bldg., San Pedro, Laguna Bid opening shall be on the same date and time for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

6.

The City Government of San Pedro, Lagunaassumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid.

Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, 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.

7.

For further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat San Pedro City Hall San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847.1722 (SGD) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee (MS-OCT.25, 2016)

one month to one year.

Children may become entangled in bedding, or suffocate under bumpers or toys, get squeezed in the corner of a couch or armchair, get overheated, or simply stop breathing for no apparent reason.

“It is nothing but tragic,” said Peter Richel, chief of the department of pediatrics at Northern Westchester Hospital, who remembers losing two patients in the past 26 years to sudden infant death―a four-month-old boy and a two-week-old girl. AFP

INVITATION TO BID

1.

FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OFFSHORE INSTALLATION OF AIDS TO MARINE NAVIGATION AT ILOILO SOUTH CHANNEL, PORT OF ILOILO

The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2016, intends to apply the sum of P 75,139,361.26 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Proposed Construction and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation at lloilo South Channel, Port of lloilo, lloilo Strait, lloilo City (LFP PNG No. 010-2016). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Construction, Delivery and Offshore Installation of Aids to Marine Navigation System B. Supply, Construct and Delivery at Staging Area of Solar-Powered Lighted Buoy Assembly C. Offshore Commissioning, Testing and Observation of Aids to Marine Navigation. Completion of the Works is required in 90 calendar days. Bidders must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the PSA consumer price indices must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid. 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 non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

MERYL STREEP IN TOKYO. US actress Meryl Streep poses for

photos following a press conference for her latest movie “Florence Foster Jenkins” in Tokyo on October 24, 2016. Streep spoke with the press ahead of the Tokyo International Film Festival. AFP

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF

: : AUDIOWAV MEDIA INC. : X=============================X

AMENDED NOTICE This supersedes the Notice dated September 8 and 15, 2016 published in Manila Standard and likewise published on September 7 and 15, in the Daily Tribune disclosing that on 30 August 2016, a sworn Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of Audioway Media Inc. for the registration of up to Three Billion Nine Hundred Million Two Hundred (3,9000,000,200) common shares with par value of Php0.01 per share broken down as follows: i. Primary Offering 900,000, 000 (To be offered and sold by way of Initial common shares Public Offering unissued shares)

At an Initial public offering price of Php1.177 to Php2.96 per share

ii. Issued and Outstanding shares 3,000, 000, 200 (these are not included in the offer) common shares

With par value of Php0.01 per share

Total

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 25 October 2016 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 50,000.00).

Name Carlos Jose G. Hinolan

Position President/Chief Executive Officer/Director Chairman of the Board

Benigno G. Hinolan II Mary Lanie Joie S. Hinolan

Director Director/Treasurer and Vice President for Purchasing, Procurement and Music Licensing Director and Investor Relations Officer Director/Comptroller and Vice President for Finance Independent Director Independent Director Corporate Secretary, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer Chief Finance Officer Chief Technology Officer

Jimmy Francisco P. Perez Alma A. Jadie Rufino D. Dela Rosa Reynaldo C. Lugtu, Jr. Mark S. Gorriceta Ebenezer D. Gener Arnold Ray K. Alagar

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 9:00 a.m. of 16 November 2016 at the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in the following acceptable forms and amount: Form of Bid Security a)

Bid Securing Declaration

Amount of Bid Security (Equal to Percentage of the ABC) No percentage required

b) Surety Bond callable upon demand Five percent (5%) issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below on 16 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

•

(MS-OCT.25/OCT. 31, 2016)

Republic of the Philippines Metropolitan Naga Water District 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City MNWD, Naga City

Telephone Nos. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph

The METROPOLITAN NAGA WATER DISTRICT (MNWD) through its approved Corporate Budget, intends to apply the sum of TWO MILLION FORTY SIX THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE PESOS (Php 2,046,665.00)only, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS SIZES OF COMBINATION PRESSURE REDUCING & SUSTAINING VALVE, PROJECT NO. GOODS 2016-014. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The MNWD now invites bids for the SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS SIZES OF COMBINATION PRESSURE REDUCING & SUSTAINING VALVE. Delivery of the Goods is required within THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS. Bidders should have completed, within the last two (2) years, from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the MNWD and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below starting from 8:00 AM – 12:00 NN and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders starting on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 to NOVEMBER 14, 2016, from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php 5,000.00) only.

6.

The MNWD will hold a PRE-BID CONFERENCE on NOVEMBER 2, 2016 at 1:30 PM at 2nd Floor, Board Room, MNWD Building, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before NOVEMBER 14, 2016 at 1:30 PM at 2ND Floor, Board Room, MNWD Building, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

BID OPENING shall be on NOVEMBER 14, 2016 at 1:30 PM at 2nd Floor, Board Room, MNWD Building, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The MNWD 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.

9.

For further information, please refer to: ENGR. MELVIN B. MACARAIG Planning Design and Construction Division MNWD Compound, 40 J. Miranda Avenue, Naga City Tel. No.: (054) 472-1685 local 119; Telefax No.: (054) 473-9288 E-mail Address:b mnwdbac@yahoo.com Website Address:mnwd.gov.ph

REYNAND C. PARAFINA Officer-in-Charge, AGM for Engineering Standard – Oct. 25, 2016

Goods-2016-014 Various Sizes of Combination Pressure Reducing and Sustaining Valve P.R. #16-10-0300

1.

The Philippine Ports Authority 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.

BAC Secretariat, 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor Port Area, Manila

EMMA A. VALENCIA Officer-In-Charge

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS SIZES OF COMBINATION PRESSURE REDUCING & SUSTAINING VALVE

Required PCAB Registration: Medium A - Port, Harbor and Offshore Engineering

For further information, please refer to:

and

Said Registration Statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively known as “RS”) and the subsequent updates are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to every party, upon request, at such fees as the Commission may prescribe. Said RS may also be downloaded from the website of the corporation at www.wav.global

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Philippine Ports Authority, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee for Engineering Projects will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 03 November 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all interested bidders.

3,900, 000, 200

The purpose of this amended notice is to include the recently appointed Mr. Ebenezer D. Gener, as Chief Finance Officer, in the list of key officers/directors of Audioway Media Inc., to wit:

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Engineering Projects and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES (In Relation to an Initial Public Offering)

(SGD) MELVIN B. MACARAIG BAC Chairman Bids and Awards Committee (MS-OCT. 25, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

C4

Banker pleads not guilty of murder

World

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

FOUR-DAY VISIT. Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his wife Solrun receive flowers during a conferment ceremony for an honorary degree of Doctor of Political Science at Yonsei University in Seoul on October 24, 2016. Rasmussen is in Seoul for a four-day visit to discuss regional and global issues. AFP

Storm victims bemoan aid chaos JEREMIE, Haiti―Rickety structures made of sheet metal and scrap wood are clustered along the road to the Haitian city of Jeremie, which still hasn’t seen any aid nearly three weeks after Hurricane Matthew.

In a scene that is eerily similar to the devastation in Port-au-Prince after the 2010 earthquake, when hundreds of thousands of survivors had to cram into every available space, families are living in makeshift camps.

In one such camp on the side of the road, Dominique Pierre-Louis is trying to start a motorcycle covered in mud.

“I fixed it so I can try to earn a little money by driving a motorcycle taxi,” said the 42-year-old, who normally works as a bricklayer.

“I just want a job, I don’t need any charity.

I’m a professional, I can help myself.”

Before the hurricane swept over Haiti, leaving hundreds dead, Pierre-Louis and his family lived outside Jeremie. But after days of not receiving any aid, he moved his wife and eight children to this muddy roadside camp.

In the past two weeks, convoys carrying humanitarian relief have driven by, but none has stopped.

The family is now living in a small space made of sheet metal and tarps. Pierre-Louis’s wife Dieula, who has asthma and has been ill, rests on wooden planks covered by a sheet while their children scramble naked in the mud.

“I was in the hospital for eight days, I was better but the fever came back yesterday,” she said, her face covered in sweat. “I should go back but I can’t afford it.”

Aside from a cholera treatment center set up on the grounds of Jeremie’s partially damaged public hospital, there is no free medical care in this city, which bore the brunt of Matthew’s might.

At night, Pierre-Louis sleeps sitting up in a plastic chair, the only possession they were able to save from their home. Two of the younger children sleep on his lap.

His sick wife shares their makeshift bed with their six other children.

But Dieula doesn’t complain too much about her situation.

“The solidarity that usually binds Haitians has been ruptured -- there are too many homes destroyed, too many losses. The state can’t do anything, it’s too much,” she said.

A few meters away, Filton Janvier is more angry, and refuses to accept that the international community has abandoned him.

“We’re just on the side of the road. Authorities go by, the mayor just passed by, and even the president was here. But no one came to ask us how we were doing,” the 39-year-old said, seething with rage.

“I pay my taxes, I contribute like everyone else... I don’t understand what is happening. It makes me angry because it makes me question our humanity,” he added, as he watched another group of vehicles from a non-governmental aid organization drive by. AFP

HONG KONG―A Hong Kong court Monday heard how British banker Rurik Jutting tortured one of his victims for three days as the trial opened into the killings of two Indonesian women at his upscale apartment.

Jutting, 31, had earlier Monday pleaded “not guilty” to two counts of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution rejected the lesser plea.

The court heard Jutting filmed both women on his iPhone and jurors were warned by judge Michael Stuart-Moore that the footage was “very shocking indeed”.

“The defendant even recorded on his iPhone part of the torture that he inflicted on his first victim,” Stuart-Moore said.

Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih, both in their 20s, were found dead in Jutting’s flat in the early hours of November 1, 2014, after he called police.

Prosecutor John Reading said Ningsih was tortured for three days at Jutting’s apartment in Wan Chai―where expensive homes lie close to a red-light district.

Jutting then killed her in the shower with a serrated knife, Reading said.

Ningsih, who was in Hong Kong on a visitor visa, had sex with Jutting on a previous occasion at a hotel for an amount of money, Reading said, but had offered to refund half the cash to be allowed to leave early, because he treated her violently.

She had reluctantly agreed to meet Jutting again on October 26 when he offered her another amount of money which was not specified.

After she was killed, her body was wrapped in plastic sheets and blankets, and put inside a suitcase, Reading said.

Jutting recorded footage describing how he had enjoyed the killing and saying he could not have done it without using cocaine.

Late on October 31, Jutting met Mujiasih at a bar in Wan Chai and brought her home after offering her money for sex―they had never met before, said Reading.

Mujiasih was in Hong Kong on a domestic helper visa, he said. AFP

Migrants risk it all for better life in US N

OGRALES, Mexico―The two teens had trekked in the Sonoran Desert’s searing heat for four days and were lost and almost out of water when border patrol agents in Arizona spotted them.

Now, hours after being deported back to Mexico, 19-yearold Rodriguo and his 17-year-old brother Jose sat quietly on a recent evening in El Comedor, a shelter in the town of Nogales within sight of the US border and its promise of a sweeter future.

Around them, some 60 other freshly deported migrants from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala waited, forlorn, for the evening meal served by charity workers.

“Tomorrow we go back home to Oaxaca (in southern Mexico) and we will tell our mother that we failed,” said Jose, who asked that the pair’s last name not be used.

“But we won’t give up, we will attempt the crossing again,” he added, matter-of-factly.

The shelter in Nogales, a town that straddles the US-

Mexico border, is run by the Kino Border Initiative, a religious charity that offers migrants not only food but also legal advice, clothing and a muchneeded dose of TLC. Spend time talking to the men and women crammed on the benches of the oneroom shelter―their faces etched with the hardships they have been through―and their stories bring forth the stark realities of the immigration debate that has roiled the US presidential campaign.

“The people we help are coming to the United States to seek a more dignified way of life,” said Sean Carroll, a Jesuit priest and executive director of KBI, which runs El Comedor (dining hall in Spanish).

“These men and women literally cannot earn enough money to put food on the table for their families.”

For several of the migrants at El Comedor, it was not the first time they had attempted the dangerous journey to cross the border, putting their fate in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers and drug cartels that can charge upwards of $7,000 for the trip through the unforgiving desert.

Women are frequently sexually assaulted during the journey and many migrants go missing in the desert, where temperatures climb to 120 degrees (49 Celsius) in the summer.

Lost and desperate, some like Rodriguo and his brother end up hoping to be found by the border patrol agents who scour the frontier in vehicles, on horseback, on bicycle and on foot.

Tougher border security aided by better technology has pushed migrants into remote areas con-

FESTIVAL. Beach Goth music fans attend the Beach Goth Music Festival at the Observatory on October 23, 2016, in Santa Ana, California. AFP

Unofficial US-North Korea talks held in Malaysia SEOUL―A group of former US diplomats held closed door talks at the weekend with senior Pyongyang officials, even as international efforts gather pace to further isolate North Korea, diplomatically and economically.

The two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur, which was confirmed by the South Korean and US governments, was the latest

in a series of unofficial talks commonly referred to as Track 2 that are closely monitored in the absence of any official contact between Washington and Pyongyang.

In July, the North cut off its only remaining official channel of diplomatic communications with the United States in retaliation for American sanctions

against its leader, Kim Jong-Un. The so-called “New York channel” had previously served as a key point of contact between North Korean and US diplomats at the United Nations.

American participants at the talks in the Malaysian capital included Robert Gallucci, who had led the US negotiating team that brokered a 1994 deal with

Pyongyang on freezing its nuclear weapons program.

Among those on the North Korean side was vice foreign minister Han Song-Ryol, who previously served as deputy ambassador to the UN. The meeting came after North Korea on Thursday testfired a powerful new mediumrange missile and Leon Sigal,

an academic specializing in the Koreas who attended the talks, said the North’s nuclear weapons program had dominated the discussion.

Sigal told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency that the North had reiterated the need to sign a peace treaty with the United States before moving on its weapons program. AFP

Life

Members of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the resident musical ensembles of the Cultural Center of the Philippines

T

HE Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will reverberate with the beautiful and soothing music as Italian Maestro Fermo Roscigno performs 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

ARTS, CULTURE & MEDIA

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

D1

Musical homage to Italy and Philippines

His repertoire highlights the Clas- the Philippines. sical and Romantic Periods, his forte, Fazioli is considered by many musiwith a tribute to Filipino music. cians to be the finest Muzio Clementi’s Minuetto piano today.

Pastorale, Symphony N. 3 The The elder Great National and Conbrother of cert in C Major for Piano Italian Amand Orchestra (Cadenzas bassador

by Fermo Roscigno) will to the premiere in South East PhilipAsia that night. Maestro pines Roscigno will play on Massia Fazioli, the newly acmo Roquired piano of the CCP scigno and the first of its kind in (giving

Italian Maestro Fermo Roscigno pays tribute to Filipino music

the occasion a neat local touch), Maestro Roscigno studied piano under the tutelage of Maestro Vincenzo Vitale at the Conservatorio di Musica di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He also attended Specialist Courses in Italian Music in Venice.

His many performances include recitals and concerts with orchestras in Italy (Rome, Milan, Naples, Venice, Trieste, Bari, Lecce, Bergamo, Arezzo, Matera) as well as in other countries: Malta, Yugoslavia, Hungary, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia, Russia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Lebanon, China.

Joining Maestro Roscigno on stage will be the country’s premier orchestra, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), fresh from its hugely successful and much acclaimed concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Conducting the PPO is visiting Italian conductor Maestro Ruggero Barbieri who, for several years, was the much respected Music Director and Principal Conductor of the PPO. He is currently the Principal Guest Conductor of Bergamo Musica Festival Gaetano Donizetti Orchestra.

Generously supporting the concert, apart from the CCP, are Rustan’s, the Philippine Italian Association (PIA), Calata Corporation, and the Embassy of Italy to the Philippines.

The Peninsula Manila is the hotel sponsor.

The concert is also made possible through the efforts of Dr. Raul Sunico, president of CCP; Nedy Tantoco, president of PIA and PIA’s cultural committee headed by Silvana Diaz.

Japanese classical pianist in Manila NORIKO OGAWA, world renowned Japanese classical pianist, will play for Filipino fans for the first time in a specially staged concert for clients and friends of BDO Private Bank on Nov. 12 at the Francisco Santiago Hall of BDO Corporate Center in Makati.

Ogawa has prepared an enthralling repertoire that should captivate the audience, which includes sublime masterpieces by legendary composers Claude Debussy, Robert Schumann, Toru Takemitsu, Franz Liszt, and Frédéric Chopin.

“I am looking forward to performing for the Manila audience as this will be my first time in the Philippines,” said Noriko.

Ogawa found her spot in the global music scene when she won third place in the 1987 Leeds International Piano Competition. From there, she

launched a vibrant international performing career and is widely considered a Debussy specialist. In 2011, she recorded Debussy: The Solo Piano Works, a beautiful, all-encompassing six-disc boxed set.

Aside from her musical successes, Ogawa has also been involved in various humanitarian efforts.

She participated in a fundraising activity for relief and rebuilding efforts after the March 2011 earthquake in Japan. Likewise, she serves as a Cultural Ambassador of Japan for the National Autistic Society, performing concerts for the parents of autistic children.

This will be the second musical collaboration between BDO Private Bank and Steinway Boutique Manila.

In May, BDO Private Bank presented the 3rd Philippine Steinway Youth Piano Competition, a showcase of the

Philippines’ best young pianists. In that competition, 13-year old Hansel Harel Ang was declared the overall winner and went on to represent the country in the Steinway Regional Finals Asia Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“We at BDO Private Bank advocate the uplifting of the Filipino spirit through the promotion and appreciation of classical music.

Having Noriko Ogawa perform here is indeed a rare opportunity that we are delighted to be a part of,” says its president, Josefina N. Tan. BDO Private Bank takes pride in being the only Filipino domestic private bank that provides complete wealth management services and is a proud supporter of artistic education and expression for the Filipino youth.

Renowned Japanese classical pianist Noriko Ogawa

Visiting Italian conductor Ruggero Barbieri leads the PPO in the much anticipated classical music event

Tickets at P2,000.00, P1,500.00, P1,200.00, P800, P500 and P300 are available at the CCP Box Office, telephone: 832-3704, Ticketworld: 891-

9999, PIA office: 815-1310, and the Secretariat :895-2109 or 877-3412 , look for Lulu Casas and Maricar Alamodin.

Life

D2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

TH E AT E R

Rizal’s relationships in epistolary T

HE annual ceremony of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature featured performances of select pieces set to be honored that night. For its 66th year, one of the presentations showcased an excerpt from the grand prize-winning full-length play The Floret Road by seven-time Palanca awardee Joachim Emilio B. Antonio.

The Floret Road is set in the 19th century, a time when long-distance communication relied heavily on letter exchanges, the pace of which is nothing a millennial could probably ever comprehend or believe. This understandably put a strain on relationships, including that of national hero Jose Rizal and his then ladylove, Leonor Rivera. Adding to that was the opposition of Leonor’s mother to this romance. Told in reverse chronology, the play begins with Rizal’s deep grief at the end of their relationship before going back in history to explore the nature of his attachment to Leonor.

“A vague melancholy consumes me.

I fear I’m going to be one traveling down a floret road, passing by without touching any of the flowers there, in the hope of finding something uncertain. The road then becomes dry, bare, and I look into the past with regret,” the play reads.

On the Palanca stage, it was brought to life by Noel Rayos as Pepe, depicted from age 16 in 1877 to age 30 in 1891, and Annicka Dolonius as Taimis, the code Rizal gave to Rivera.

Dolonius also played the other women romantically linked to Rizal, namely, Suzanne Jacoby, Nellie Boustead,

Jose Rizal played by Noel Rayos during the Palanca Awards 2016

Seiko Usui, and Tottie Beckett. Joining them were Matthew Barbers, who represented Everyjuan, and Cara Barredo as Everymaria.

Everyjuan raised questions and speculations on the gaps of history, while Everymaria filled in the facts and necessary context.

Barbers also played Rizal’s friend correspondents Ferdinand Blumentritt, Antonio Regidor, and Jose “Chenggoy” Cecilio, while Barredo also played Narcisa Rizal, Pepe’s sister.

At the directorial helm was Bart T. Guingona, with Mara Agleham as stage manager.

Antonio revealed he found the in- An old photo of the women who were romantically linked to our National Hero spiration to write The Floret Road when he stumbled upon a letter Rizal to the national hero. After all, Rizal given the play’s mobile design. wrote to his sister Soledad. In the underwent an emotional breakdown When asked how he comes up letter, Rizal was advising her to con- when they broke up. with unique ideas to write about, duct her relationships honorably inThe Floret Road is Antonio’s sec- Antonio quotes the Nobel Prize laustead of keeping it secret. “Though I ond historical play, following the 2014 reate William Faulkner who said do not set myself as a model, all my Palanca Award-winning piece, The that, “A writer needs three things, relationships with women have been Last Filipino. experience, observation, and imagiacted upon honorably.”

As of press time, there are plans nation ─ any two of which, at times “This struck me, as this went con- to stage an abridged version of The any one of which ─ can supply the trary to the popular Rizal playboy Floret Road next year at University lack of the others.” image,” Antonio said. of Asia and the Pacific, where Anto“Of the three, I believe that observaMoreover, after his initial re- nio is currently teaching Literature. tion is most important. In fact, it’s insearch, he found Leonor as the most He also hopes to be able to tour per- dispensable. Without observation, exfascinating among the women linked formances in schools and museums perience becomes inevitably shallow

and imagination becomes impossible to fuel. But it’s still the combination of the three that generates unique ideas: experience will tell you what has been done, observation will tell you what hasn’t been done yet, and imagination will tell you what can still be done,” Antonio said.

“I think uniqueness isn’t enough for a story to be written. What’s more important is that the story is worth telling, that it’s something readers would care to read about. Human-like characters and consequential situations make readers look into their own humanity,” he added.

Even with seven Palanca awards under his belt now, Antonio believes that the more important reward the Palanca provides writers is the opportunity to develop discipline, high standards, and professionalism.

“Beating the April 30 deadline and following the meticulous rules is good for the writing discipline. Prepare your entries as early as May 1 and finalize them by March,” he said.

While winning is a good thing, losing, for him, does not necessarily mean that one’s work isn’t any good. Perhaps, there are just others as passionate about writing.

“Don’t join to win; join to beat the deadline and to give potential winners a run for their money. Join multiple categories and divisions every year. If you do, the worst thing that will happen is that you’ve been able to complete written works. And that’s always a good thing,” Antonio concluded.

Lecture on latest theater design trends NEW YORK-based production designer Jenna Snyder recently held a comprehensive lecture on Designing for Performance: Current Trends and Innovations in Production Design at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Theater of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).

Snyder, a Master of Fine Arts in Design and Production graduate at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, discussed the latest direction and design movements prevalent

in modern theatrical projects, which ranges from Broadway and West End theaters, to community and schoolbased programs.

Benilde Senior Industry Fellow and award-winning art director Rodell Cruz elaborated on some design innovations in Philippine film and television, while Production Design Department Chair Emeritus and globally acclaimed director Gabriel Fernandez moderated the open forum.

Italian Day at The National Library DURING La Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo (the Week of the Italian Language in the World), on Oct. 18, the Philippine Italian Association and the National Library of the Philippines inaugurated the first Italian space to strengthen their cooperation and periodically organize cultural activities together in the fields of Italian language and Culture.

The partnership between the National Library and the Philippine-Italian Association, which recently collaborated to upgrade the cataloguing

system of the PIA library, was formalized with the Memorandum of Understanding seen as a starting point for a proactive journey together.

The Ceremony was held at the library premises with Ambassador of Italy in the Philippines, Massimo Roscigno, the Directors of the Philippine Italian Association as well as the heads of the National Library and the representatives from different city and university libraries of Metro Manila in attendance.

The PIA has been in existence

for more than 50 years and seeks to strengthen bonds of friendship between Italy and the Philippines through a series of cultural and educational programs. It also provides practical services including Italian language classes, translation and interpreting services.

The PIA is located on the 2nd floor, Zeta Building, 191 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati.

For more information please contact us at: philippineitalianassociation@gmail.com

Grupo Kwadro mounts 1st group exhibit

Designer Jenna Snyder shares her expertise with the students of DLS-CSB

GRUPO KWADRO, an art group created out of friendship and love for the arts, launches its first group exhibition at The Art Center of the SM Megamall, 4th Level of the Building B, in Mandaluyong tomorrow.

Called Grupo Kwadro: Framed in the Principle of Friendship and by Art, the exhibit will feature the works of Cee Cadid, Nemi Miranda, Remy Boquiren, Jun Martinez, Bing Siochi, Roland Santos, Nik Masangcay, Andy Urag, Vic Bachoco, Roy Espinosa, Raks Molata, Liza Villaseñor, Andy Pernia, Cesar Del Mundo, Naning Molata Gavin, Lucipinio Ng, Esther Garcia, Liza Oppus, and Marlyn Aquino.

Cocktails at 6 p.m. will follow the program with Luis M.C. Pagulayan and Chona de Robles as guests of honor.

The exhibit is made possible with the help of Old Manila Gallery and the Filipinas Institute for the Advancement of Arts and Culture, Inc. “What makes Grupo Kwadro unique is that it is born out of friendship; and

Some of the works of Nik Masangcay, one of the featured artists at the Grupo Kwadro exhibit

we wanted to keep it that way. The pas- says Cadid, a flexible artist who serves sion for creating works of art just comes as the leader of the group.

For details you can call or text Roy C. second, though it is also equally important in the development of Kwadro,” Espinosa at 09214799189.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

S

ENATOR Loren Legarda brings her advocacy to television with the return of the second season of Dayaw on Nov. 3, 6 p.m. on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

A partnership between ANC and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Dayaw is a six-part, 30-minute weekly documentary series that focuses on the preservation of the country’s culture and heritage.

This season, the three-term senator will explore the arts, culture, traditions, and beliefs of various indigenous groups from the north to the south of the Philippines to show how each contribute to the identity of the Filipino.

Legarda, one of the most respected and the most awarded broadcast journalists of her time before becoming a public servant, has been known for her advocacy of protecting the rights of indigenous people and the preservation of traditional culture.

In Dayaw, she hopes to showcase how knowledge and appreciation of the indigenous ways can make every Filipino whole, and how this can also strengthen love for our country, as she has experienced it herself while doing the documentary.

“My interest in indigenous peoples’ culture goes back three decades and they never fail to amaze me. Whenever I talk to IPs or visit indigenous communities, I always discover marvelous things about our culture and heritage. Doing the Dayaw TV series is an enriching experience

LorenLegarda Legardaback back on onTV TV Loren From left: NCCA Public Affairs and Information Office head Rene Napeñas, ABS-CBN News chief Ging Reyes, Sen. Loren Legarda, ANC COO Cilette Liboro-Co

for me because I continuously learn about our indigenous culture with every episode. We have a very rich culture that we must all try to learn about and I hope that through Dayaw, Filipinos will be inspired and encouraged to discover their indigenous roots. To me, it is not just another television show but a legacy for the Filipino people,” she said.

ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs Head Ging Reyes, meanwhile, expressed the network’s commitment to this project.

“As journalists and media practitioners, we at ABSCBN and ANC deemed it our responsibility, in fact our duty to do our part in promoting

this knowledge about our past, and pushing for an enlightened citizenry, hence, this partnership with the NCCA. We are very proud to be launching the second season of Dayaw,” Reyes said during the program’s launch.

Each episode promises a rich treasure trove of images, insights, traditions and beliefs from various groups, juxtaposing differences and similarities, creating a synthesis of culture.

In the first episode, the documentary zeroes in on the ways we preserve, prepare and present food - from the saltmaking tradition of the North, to the Halal of the South.

The second episode tackles how the environment shapes traditional homes, and will look

Filipino-dubbed foreign films on TAG ABS-CBN subsidiary Creative Programs, Inc. (CPI) continues to grow its wealth of content as it introduces a new cable channel called TAG dedicated to foreign films dubbed in Filipino, bringing foreign cinema closer to Filipinos.

TAG, which airs on SKYcable (Ch. 77), features a mix of hit Asian and Hollywood movies segmented into five different programming blocks showcasing a collection of light rom-coms, critically-acclaimed dramas, action-packed movies, cult movies, thrillers and horrors, comedies, iconic Asian classics, boxoffice Asian movies, and the freshest Hollywood and Asian titles.

Filipinos can look forward to a stunning initial lineup of movies like the romantic drama film Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, the political action-thriller on the manhunt of Osama bin Laden Zero Dark Thirty, the star-studded Hollywood thriller Now You See Me, and the comedy drama film I Love You Phillip Morris starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, among many others.

As the Halloween season draws closer, TAG also features a slew of scream-worthy films including Sadako, Shutter, Woman in Black, After Life, and Resident Evil 3.

A number of films from neighboring countries will be also be screened, making TAG a platform for Filipinos to conveniently watch Asian films in the comfort of their homes. These include the Hong Kong-Chinese action film Chinese Zodiac,

the Hong Kong martial arts film Dragon Fist, the Korean disaster film Flu, and the Thai comedy horror Pee Mak. The team behind TAG also believes that exposure to foreign cinema will give an enriching experience and new perspective to Filipinos.

Among the homegrown ABS-CBN cable channels that have become part of the TV viewing habits of millions of Filipinos are Cinema One, the no.1 cable channel in the Philippines; Myx, the no.1 music channel in the Philippines; Lifestyle, an all-day one-stop hub for food, travel, and fashion; Jeepney TV, a channel dedicated to well-loved and timeless movies and programs that define Pinoy TV; and Hero, an all-day anime channel.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

63 Piano-key wood 65 Kid 66 Between ports 67 Less polite 68 Currycomb target 69 Paw, in humans 70 Stand in good — 71 Kitty starter DOWN 1 Prayer-wheel turners 2 Buggy drivers 3 Quartet member 4 Patella 5 3 tsp.

6 Two-timer 7 From Baghdad 8 Air rifle (2 wds.)

9 German industrial center 10 Begin again 11 All, in combos 12 Melville work 13 Spotted animal 21 Barely scrape by 23 It has a home page 25 Monkey havens 27 Meg or Nolan 29 Jai — 30 Glacier’s break-

tattoos of Whang Od, and the traditional jewelry of the Ivatan, to the heirloom beads of the Kalinga and the Gaddang, to the modern jewelry of Bulacan.

With Dayaw offering a grand opportunity to promote traditional Filipino culture and heritage, NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon, Jr. said he is looking forward to more seasons of the documentary series, emphasizing how it can help strengthen unity among Filipino people.

“Even if we have 1000 Dayaw episodes, these are not enough to showcase the great variety and diversity of Filipino cultures. With 131 languages, it means we have 131 ethno-linguistic groups and the best way to know the Filipinos is really to know who they are.

If you look at Dayaw, it really represents what we call the IKSP of the Philippines: Indigenous Knowledges Systems and Practices and this is the only way to bind the country. You know, any kind of society becomes united by showing them their strengths.

Only the positive can unite the people; negative things only tend to divide. We have to showcase the strengths of the Filipinos through Dayaw,” he said.

For more information on Dayaw,visit the official Facebook account of NCCA (https://www.facebook.com/ NCCAofficial) and news.abscbn.com/anc, or follow ANC on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/ANCalerts) and Twitter (@ANCalerts).

‘Disney Princess: I Dare to Dream’ launched

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Be out of 5 Mohawk 10 Chimney’s place 14 You said it!

15 Pointed remarks 16 Mrs. Peel 17 Marathon unit 18 Bachelor parties 19 Natural crystals 20 Unconscious 22 Doubt 24 Unpleasant surprise 25 Bright flower 26 Space lead-in 28 Piece of land 32 Pitch a tent 35 — Kippur 37 Travel downer 38 Luau strings 39 Kind of physicist 41 MacGraw of film 42 Urban nuisance 45 Library abbr.

46 Vex 47 Ruins a nylon 48 Ancient colonnade 50 Clearings 54 Distinct stage 58 Easy mark 61 Fauna 62 Leaf source

at the Ivatan home, the Ifugao Bale, the T’boli longhouse, the Bahay Kubo, and the Bahay na Bato.

In the third episode, the Senator will show the different rituals that employ music, chant, and dance, such as the Subli of Batangas, the Tudbulul chant of the T’Boli, and the Bulul ritual of the Ifugao.

Episode four will take on an even more spiritual route, as it surveys the rich spiritual traditions of the Agusanon Babaylan, the Mambobolo and Mananambal of Siquijor, and the Baglan of Abra.

The last two episodes, meanwhile, will focus on traditional adornments on the body, from the Kalinga batok

off 31 Happy-hour letters 32 Mugs 33 Similar 34 MHz part 36 “I Want My —” 37 Bump and jostle 40 Diana of the Supremes 43 Geek or Nerd 44 European capital 46 Sage, in India 49 Unlatch, to a bard

51 52 53 55

Maintains First appearance Carve a canyon Lake Nasser dam 56 Tour of duty 57 Helena rival 58 Pharaoh’s creator god 59 Bear in the sky 60 Glimpsed 61 Polar explorer 64 PBS funder

ONE way or another, girls all over the world have seen themselves as a Disney Princess. Disney Princesses are an inspiration to most and inspire young girls to dare to dream big and make it a reality.

Inspired by the empowering values of Disney Princesses, in association with Globe, a first-ofits-kind, digital reality-series comes to life with Disney Princess: I Dare to Dream.

Auditions were held on Oct. 22 at Cortes de las Palmas, Alabang Town Center, and on Oct. 23 at Ayala Center Cebu.

Disney Princess: I Dare to Dream celebrates the aspirational values of the beloved Disney Princesses who have achieved their dreams, and hopes to encourage and inspire

young girls in the Philippines to dare to dream, too. In the web series, the chosen girls will be staying in a house where they will be paired with a mentor who excels in the field that they aspire to be.

The audience will be able to join their journey as they take that first step in living their dreams through a 10-episode web series.

“We are proud to bring to our customers our very first original content in collaboration with Disney. I Dare to Dream gives us an engaging platform to that will possibly change the lives of its participants. Not only are we able to give new and fresh entertainment content to our customers, but we also become part of a meaningful project,” says Globe Senior advisor

for Consumer Business Dan Horan.

Interested participants may also submit their video auditions via www.idaretodream.ph. In the video, the contestant needs to introduce herself and talk about her big dream. Submission of entries will be until Nov. 4.

The time has come for girls who look up to their favorite Disney princess to embrace their ambitions, achieve their potential, and above all, dare to dream big!

To stay updated on the digital reality series, just visit www. idaretodream.ph.

For more information, just follow Globe and its official Facebook page as well as at @enjoyGlobe on Twitter and Instagram.

Showbiz

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

D4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

Ai Ai delas Alas joined by her friends from the clergy lead by Bishop Antonio Tobias (third from right) and preacher Bo Sanchez (first from left)

Ai Ai de las Alas feels blessed with

PAPAL MEDAL C

OMEDIAN Ai Ai de las Alas is incredulous the Catholic Church has given her the Papal award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Latin: For Church and Pope) medal is an award of the Roman Catholic Church, also known as the “Cross of Honour,” established by Leo XIII on July 17, 1888, to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee. It was originally bestowed on those men and women who had aided and promoted the jubilee, and by other means assisted in making the jubilee and the Vatican Exposition successful.

It is currently given to lay people and clergy for their distinguished service to the church. It is the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity by the Pope.

De las Alas has been quietly helping the local Catholic Church, particularly the Diocese of Novaliches headed by Bishop Antonio Tobias whose parish priests unanimously recommended the comedian to be given the distinguished Papal medal.

The conferment ceremony will be on Nov. 11 at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, coinciding with the actress’ 51st birthday.

The only other Filipino in the entertainment business who received the same medal was musician Ryan Cayabyab several years ago.

According to Bishop Tobias, the award is in recognition of De las Alas’ “distinguished service to the church.” Among which was the construction of the Kristong Hari Church on Commonwealth Avenue and the Anawim Lay Missions Foundation, Inc. in Montalban, Rizal.

Ai Ai admitted she was surprised when she was told about the recognition.

“Alam ko ni-nominate ako pero ’di ko in-expect,” she said. “Nu’ng sinabi nila sa akin, umiyak ako. Sabi ko, ‘Lord hindi po ako karapat-dapat sa award na ito pero tinatanggap ko po, thank you po.’”

She plans to visit the Vatican to extend her gratitude to Pope Francis personally.

Asked how the award would bear on her being an entertainer, she said, “Hindi naman ako magbabago sobra pero siyempre pagiisipan kong mabuti ’yung mga gagawin ko. Like siguro ’pag concert, hindi na ako magta-tangga, mas wholesome na kahit paano.”.

Father Erick Santos, a good friend of Ai Ai’s, shared, “Alam ng Roma ang lahat ng tungkol sa kanya, pati ang kanyang nakaraan. Hindi naman ibig sabihin nito ay tinuturing na siya na parang pakabanal-banal. Kinikilala lamang nito ’yung pagmamahal at pagmamalaskit na pinapakita niya sa simbahan. Simbolo ito na sa kabila ng ating mga nagiging kahinaan, pagkakamali, tinitignan pa rin ng simbahan ang ating kabutihan.”

Brother Michael Angelo Lobrin added, “Hindi naman ibig sabihin nito ay santa na

ISAH V. RED

si Ai Ai. Ito’y hamon sa kanyang pagiging Katoliko, sa kanyang pananampalataya, ito’y may karampatang responsibilidad. Ito ay hamon ng patuloy na pagpapanibago or complete change. Sana maging inspirasyon ito lalo na sa mga Katolikong artista na nagtitiyaga at nagsisipag na maglingkod sa Inang Simbahan.”

“Sa totoo lang, ang mga kahinaan ko – ang mga nangyari sa buhay ko – ’yun ’yung nagpapalakas sa faith ko,” De las Ala, a Marian devotee, shared.

“Ganun naman ang buhay eh, cycle ’yan.

Minsan dapang-dapa ka then babangon ka ulit. Tine-test lang ni Lord ’yung faith mo.” *** Radio GMA’s nationwide proof-ofpurchase promo, RGMA Pera Sorpresa, is back for its 6th season with more than P4 million worth of prizes ready to be given away to almost 2,000 winners nationwide.

Until Jan.14, next year, 16 lucky winners will be chosen weekly from each of the 15 RGMA areas namely Manila, Tuguegarao, Dagupan, Baguio, Lucena, Naga, Legazpi, Palawan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Kalibo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos.

Each winner will take home P1500, while an additional 15 bonus prize winners will be drawn nationwide.

The grand draw, with P1 million as prize, will be held on Jan. 14 and will include all non-winning entries during the promo period.

There will also be five winners of P25000 who will each be drawn from South Luzon, North Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Mega Manila.

This season’s participating sponsors are Baygon, Petron, Capsinesis, Tang, Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, Chooks-to-Go, Rexona, and Wellmade.

To join, simply write down your name, age, address, contact number, and signature on a piece of paper and enclose it together with the required proof-of-purchase in a white envelope.

Then, participants must write “RGMA Pera Sorpresa 6”, week number, POP/brand attached, and RGMA Station listened to at the back of the envelope.

Participants can drop their entries in designated drop boxes located in selected Petron outlets, in RGMA Network Stations, or via registered mail to RGMA Stations. Entries will be accepted until Jan. 6, 2017.

For additional details, tune in to any Barangay FM stations and Super Radyo AM stations nationwide, like the promo Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ PeraSorpresaNationwidePromo, watch the Pera Sorpresa mechanics plug, see posters or visit www.gmanetwork.com/radio.

Alden Richards first-ever Yale endorser

YALE proudly announces that it has tapped its first local endorser, whom the brand describes as someone “who has strong family values and looks after the welfare of his loved ones”.

According to Camilo Umlas, Assa Abloy general manager, “Alden Richards is the ideal personification of the brand. He will be able to remind everyone that more than just in the business of locks, Yale is in a mission to provide safety and security. We believe that his credibility as an endorser will further strengthen our leadership in the market. His overall image and reputation plus his immense popularity and inspiring success will bring our brand to the widest possible segment of the population and his relevance to the present times represents what Yale is all about. A relatable character consumers can identify with is now a member of the Yale family”.

Yale is the brand behind locks of every design and function in over 125 countries.

As one of the oldest international brands, Yale is among the best-known and most respected names in the lock industry, with millions of Yale locks in use worldwide.

That’s why we proudly say that Yale is “the world’s favorite lock”.

Yale, more than a company and a brand, may already be considered an institution.

Always coming up with best and innovative ways to provide security and safety since it first started. After countless of locks that have secured millions of homes through the years, Yale has stayed true to its philosophy of providing businesses, families and homes the freedom from worrying about security and safety.

Like Yale, he highly values the things that matter most in his life -- guaranteed safety for his family, 24/7 security for the home, convenience and peace of mind for his loved ones. Yale and Alden Richards certainly make a perfect fit.

Yale continues to provide security, welcoming consumers to safer homes, its business partners into a home with even greater opportunities, and Alden into a home that share his values and priorities.

Yale is part of Assa Abloy global brands since year 2000, the global leader in total door opening solutions dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience, with more than 200 brands under its portfolio.