Manila Standard - 2016 October 31 - Monday

VOL. XXX • NO. 261 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

LAUNCHING. President Rodrigo Duterte attends the launching of the Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at the Sharif Kabunsuan Cultural Center Complex in Cotabato City on Saturday. Malacañang Photo

Du30 policy ‘swings like a pendulum’

By Christine F. Herrera

Ratify deal on climate now, FVR asks Rody FORMER President Fidel V. Ramos on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration to approve and ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, saying that any further delays would make Filipinos more vulnerable to the effects of typhoons.

“With the Philippines not having yet ratified the Paris Agreement, we can only be observers in the Marrakech Meeting.

Therefore, President [Duterte] should forthwith approve the Paris Agreement and certify it for Senate ratification to promote our country’s interests and fight for climate justice,” Ramos said.

“Any further delay will increase Filipinos’ vulnerability to super-typhoons that are forecast to come soon...,” Ramos said in a column for a national newspaper.

Ramos warned Duterte that he was “shooting himself in the mouth” when he insulted the United States, the European Union and the United Nations and complained against the December 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which was drafted by 195 nations, including the Philippines.

Ramos noted that under the agreement, wealth countries are supposed to set aside at least $100 billion yearly as financial assistance to developing countries starting 2020 to enable all countries to develop and use renewable energy sources. This allocation is expected to increase with time, he added. Next page

T

HE country swings like a pendulum between the United States and China, giving the impression that the Philippines has no coherent foreign policy, a senior diplomat said Saturday.

WINNERS ALL. The winners of the Miss Earth 2016 beauty pageant are, from left, Bruna Zanardo of Brazil (Miss Earth-Fire), Katherine Espin of Ecuador (Miss Earth 2016), Michelle Gomez of Colombia (Miss Earth-Air), and Stephanie de Zorsi of Venezuela (Miss Earth-Water). The event was held at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Manny Palmero

CAMP VICENTE LIM—Two illegal drug suspects were killed during two separate armed encounters in Laguna Sunday morning, an official said.

Cabuyao Police Chief Fernando Ortega told Laguna Police Chief Joel Pernito said the first encounter took place on Forteza Road in Barangay Pulo village in Cabuyao at 3:10 in the morning.

Pernito said police received a complaint against someone stealing a motorcycle who fired on them but was killed when the police returned fire.

In Dila village, Bay, a drug pusher was killed during an encounter with police during an anti-drug operation.

Meanwhile, a retired member of the Los Angeles Police De-

partment on Sunday expressed support to the anti-drug crusades of President Rodrigo Duterte and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, saying “drastic measures” must be taken to address the illegal drug problem in the country.

Scott Gilliam, who is in Manila to train members of the Manila Police District to become instructors Next page

By Rio N. Araja BAYAN Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Sunday said the US does not have any right to step into the dispute between China and the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal, noting that Washing-

the first 28 days of their life and another 2.6 million are stillborn each year.

Villafuerte said the WHO also admitted that data on maternal and neonatal deaths were still inaccurate because many of these fatalities were not recorded in a birth or death certificate, and thus were never been registered, reported or investigated.

Next page

Employees of the North Luzon Expressway monitor the traffic situation during the trip to the provinces of the Filipinos celebrating All Souls’ Day. Manny Palmero

tery and a mobile phone—came after the Cotabato City police office received a tip about a bomb in the house of Mohammad Lalaog Chenikandiyil alias Datu Boi in Barangay Rosary Heights 7, Cotabato City.

Galgo said the Cotabato police Next page

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

ton has done nothing to help Manila end the territorial row.

“No amount of US posturing and promises resulted in this development. We hope that this will continue with no Chinese strings attached,” he said, referring to Next page

2 Sayyaf killed in Sulu clash

TRAFFIC SITUATION. Bomb plot in Cotabato foiled; 4 suspects nabbed Hospitals go on white alert for Undas

COTABATO CITY—Police recovered and safely defused an improvised explosive device from the house of the second batch of suspects of the Sept. 2 Davao City bombing.

Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr. said the discovery of an 81 mm mortar with triggering devices—a bat-

Next page

War on drugs backed; 2 suspects fall Solon, groups hit US posturing on sea row

Mom-child care plan in each village pushed A LAWMAKER on Sunday called on Malacañang to include village-based mother-and-childcare programs in its social protection initiatives for the poor and low-income families.

Rep. Raymund Villafuerte made the call after the World Health Organization said some 303,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth. It added that 2.7-million babies die during

“What we should avoid in our foreign policy is to swing like a pendulum, swinging in one instance to the US and in another to China,” said former Philippine ambassador to the United Nations Lauro Baja in an interview with radio dzMM. “It seems there’s no clarity or coherence in our foreign policy.”

In the last few weeks, President Rodrigo Duterte has let loose with a barrage of antiAmerican rhetoric while building ties with China—leaving his Cabinet members to smooth the ruffled feathers of the country’s long-standing ally.

During a state visit to China earlier this month, Duterte announced the Philippines’ separation from the US, saying that Washington had treated Manila unfairly.

He later clarified that he was not severing ties with America, just Manila’s foreign policy

THE Department of Health placed all of its hospitals and regional offices on Code White Alert on Sunday until Nov. 2 in preparation for any health-related incidents during All Saints’ Day. Department spokesman Eric Tayag said the Code White Alert

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

was always declared during a mass gathering or national event.

He said immediate medical attention should be quickly rendered during these events.

“This means also that all medical teams are on standby for immediate mobilization,” he told

thestandard.com.ph

reporters.

Tayag said the alert was based on Administrative Order 20080024, which tasks general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists and nurses to respond to any emergency situation.

Next page

TWO more Abu Sayyaf Group bandits were reported killed in a skirmish with government troops in Indanan, Sulu Sunday morning.

The incident took place 6:45 a.m. when troopers from the 11th Scout Ranger Company, receiving reports about the presence of armed bandits, deployed a patrol, surprising eight brigands, two of whom were killed after a brief firefight.

Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, Joint Task Force Sulu spokesperson, said the body of one slain ASG was recovered along with a M-16 automatic rifle fitted with a M-203 grenade launcher and one improvised explosive device (IED).

The body of the remaining bandit was seen been carried deep into ASG territory, he added.

This brings to 38 the total number of ASG brigands Next page

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circ@manilastandardtoday.com

A2

News

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Du30...

From A1

alignment with Washington.

Economic officials scrambled to assure the public that trade relations would remain the same.

During his state visit, Duterte did not raise the decision of a United Nations tribunal that declared Beijing had no historic rights to the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea. But Baja said Duterte should not set aside the country’s victory against China before the UN international court.

“It’s okay to talk to China, but always in the context of our victory, even without mentioning the arbitral decision,” Baja said.

Filipino fishermen have been able to return to Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area that the Philippines claims by virtue of its exclusive economic zone. The Chinese Coast Guard has occupied the disputed territory since 2012, but now seem to allow Filipino fishermen to return following Duterte’s visit to China.

House Deputy Minority Leader Harry Roque Jr., meanwhile, said Duterte showed his independence when he refused to put in writing that China has agreed to allow Filipino fishermen to fish again in Scarborough Shoal.

“We do not want the word ‘allow’ and ‘permit’ to be used by China because the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal is that Filipinos and Chinese and Vietnamese can look forward to the Scarborough Shoal as traditional fishing grounds,” said Roque, who was part of the delegation to China early this month.

Roque also said that while the country wants to attract foreign investments, it must be careful that local procurement laws are respected, and that its partners are reputable.

In the case of China, Roque said, three potential partners had a shady track record dealing with the Philippines--China Road and Bridge Corp., China CAMC Engineering and CCCC Dredging Co. Roque said the China Road and Bridge Corp. was the company that was responsible for the Catanduanes Circumferential Road, which he questioned on behalf of his client, former Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Roque said China CAMC Engineering is, in fact, a subsidiary of Sinomach, which he sued for invalidating the North Rail contract.

“I also witnessed a memorandum of understanding signing with CCCC Dredging Co., and I hope I am wrong but from the brochure, it seemed CCCC Dredging is also the same company responsible for the building of the artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea,” Roque said.

“So we need to be on guard.

We need foreign investments, but we need to make sure, too, that our laws, particularly our procurement law, are respected to the letter,” he said.

Roque also said that he heard Duterte discuss the West Philippine Sea with the China’s Premier As for pursuing talks on the West Philippine Sea, he said he personally heard the President discuss this matter with the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang “The President brought it up.

He said that we have our disagreement over the West Philippine Sea, I come here not to quarrel about it but I’m saying that we need to resolve this soon,” Roque said.

Also over the weekend, the leftist youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) lambasted former President Benigno Aquino III for claiming that the country had an independent foreign policy during his term.

Aquino made the statement when he broke his silence on Duterte’s decision to separate the country’s foreign policy from the United States.

“Is it possible that Aquino may have suffered from selective amnesia since stepping down from the Palace three months ago? Need we remind him of instances he preferred to shun the pleadings and protestations of the people during his six year tenure?” the group said.

The group added that Aquino might be “one of the most subservient of all the past presidents, probably second only to Ferdinand Marcos or Ramon Magsaysay.” With Sandy Araneta

‘Resign-De Lima’ move gaining ground—VACC T

HE group Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Sunday called for the resignation of Senator Leila de Lima following its filing of criminal and disbarment charges against her.

VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez said it would be better for De Lima to quit to allow an impartial investigation on the charges against her― especially those by her former subordinates at the Justice Department that she headed in the previous administration.

“It will be better for Senator

De Lima to resign for the good of public service,” Jimenez told reporters.

He said his group and other organizations against crime, illegal drugs and government corruption will initiate a “Resign De Lima” movement after the holidays this week.

The VACC earlier filed drug

trafficking charges against De Lima at the Justice Department for her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison.

Last week, the VACC also filed a disbarment complaint against De Lima over her reported extramarital affair with her former driver Ronnie Dayan.

The VACC was joined by former National Bureau of Investigation deputy directors Ruel Lasala and Reynaldo Esmeralda in filing its complaints.

VACC lawyer Ferdinand Topacio urged De Lima to re-

frain from muddling the issues against her by finger-pointing and blaming other personalities for her ordeal.

“De Lima is trying to muddle the issue by finger-pointing when she should be explaining to the people why scores of witnesses―not only Bilibid inmates but former subordinates, aides and colleagues in the Department of Justice―have testified clearly and emphatically that she masterminded the transformation of the National Bilibid Prison into the hub of the nationwide drug trade, making the NBP her personal cash

Ratify...

From A1

COSTUME PLAYER. A girl dresses up in scary costume during a trick or treat event held at a five-star hotel in Manila. Norman Cruz

Solon,...

From A1

return of Filipino fishermen to the disputed shoal that the Philippines calls Panatag.

“On the other hand, the US also has no right to… interfere in the Panatag Shoal issue as in fact, it is… its saber-rattling and supposed Asian pivot that escalated the tension in the West Philippine Sea in the first place. They [US] must just keep quiet since they have not done us any help,” the leftist lawmaker said.

Zarate welcomed the return of the Filipino fishermen to the fishing grounds of the Scarborough Shoal without any Chinese harassment.

Still, he said, the Philippines must assert its sovereignty.

“What is needed now is to ensure that our fisher[men] could continue to fish at the Panatag Shoal and at the same time, not [to] compromise our national sovereignty,” he said.

He credited the “Duterte-style

Mom-child...

From A1

‘‘The WHO said the magnitude of maternal mortality has been underestimated by up to 30 percent worldwide and up to 70 percent in some countries,” Villafuerte said.

He said most stillbirths and neonatal deaths were preventable with quality health care during pregnancy and childbirth.

“The fact that most neonatal deaths and stillbirths are prevent-

War...

From A1

of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, said Duterte and Estrada’s efforts to rid the country of illegal drugs was commendable.

“You have to look at that point when things are terrible in the country,” Gilliam said.

Hospitals...

From A1

The medicine, equipment and supplies needed are also readied in the hospitals to save patients.

The Health department’s Health Emergency Management Bureau operations center

of diplomacy” for the successful return of Filipino fishermen to the disputed waters.

“We hope that this will continue.

But, of course, this development should not be a ground to set aside our rightful and adjudged claim on the Panatag Shoal, as ruled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration,” he said.

In July, the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal’s International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea decided that China did not have any legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within its “nine-dash line.”

China, which refused to join the proceedings from the start, rejected the tribunal’s ruling.

In his recent state visit to Beijing, President Rodrigo Duterte met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and raised the issue of fishing rights in Scarborough Shoal.

Days after the President’s state visit, Filipino fishermen were able to enter the contested shoal without

harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard.

The fishermens group Pamalakaya on Sunday lashed out at the United States for saying it would verify reports that Chinese vessels have not been sighted at Scarborough Shoal since Wednesday.

“Why would the US even bother to verify if this is true? They have nothing to do anymore in the issue of the dispute much more now that we have partially settled it without their help. We urge the United States to take its warmongering-hands off the Scarborough Shoal issue,” said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairman.

The Philippines and China have yet to form an official agreement on the use of Scarborough but Pamalakaya saw the return of the fishermen as a welcome development after China had aggressively occupied the West Philippine Sea, harassing and preventing Filipino fishermen from sailing into their traditional fishing grounds. With Sandy Araneta

able with quality health care points to the urgency to establish maternal and child care facilities in every barangay in the country,” Villafuerte said.

He said the Duterte administration “is treading the right path towards inclusive growth” with its plan to significantly increase spending not only on infrastructure but on human capital through education and health care programs.

“Social protection programs designed to improve access to affordable health care down to the barangay level and upgrade the skills

of our labor force, especially those coming from poor families, will attack poverty.” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte earlier filed a bill seeking to implement a maternal and childcare program in every village covering the first 1,000 days of an infant’s development from the womb up to two years of age.

“The first 1,000 days of a child’s life is most critical for growth and development. Consequently, hunger and poor nutrition during this period can have irreversible consequences,” Villafuerte says in House Bill 1340. Christine F. Herrera

“And sometimes drastic measures have to be taken to address drastic situation. You have to do something different.”

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday assured Duterte that the House committee on dangerous drugs will hasten the passage of the measures that will bolster the ongoing war against illegal drugs.

“As chairman of the committee

on dangerous drugs, I would like to guarantee the President that we at the committee rally behind his cause. We will fasttrack the passage of House bills that are timely,” he said.

“Now that we have identified local government officials and executives who are uncooperative, it’s time to take action.” Roy Tomandao, Sandy Araneta and Rio N. Araja

will continuously monitor any health-related event during the holidays.

The department is also working closely with other agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Metro Manila Development Authority and local government units for a coordinated health emergency response.

The department advises people to bring their own water and packed food as they are not sure if the foods sold within the cemeteries are safe to eat.

People should also apply skin repellents to avoid mosquito bites that can bring Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya illnesses. PNA

But since assuming the presidency on June 30, Dutere has done little to move the Paris Agreement forward, Ramos said.

Ramos said the President is correct in saying that developed countries that are responsible for most of the carbon emissions should carry the heavier burden of limiting such emissions, but it is clear enough that the Paris Agreement does not impose emission reductions on the Philippines.

Should any country decide to become a party to the agreement, it will only be asked to submit its nationally determined contributions, which are essentially successive fiveyear climate plans that can be determined by the Philippines, according to its national circumstances, development goals, and domestic capacity, said Ramos.

The Paris Agreement also does not have to counter or reduce the Philippines’ industrialization plans. It, in fact, recognizes that developing countries can peak their emissions at a later time, as they pursue sustainable development and poverty eradication accord-

2 Sayyaf...

From A1

killed since the intensified mili-

tary campaign was launched in July.

Soldiers suffered 15 killed in action and 28 wounded in the same period.

Authorities believe that the ASG has splintered into small groups to evade soldiers and are planting IEDs to delay movements of government troops.

Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega said the successful pursuit is a “result of the cooperation of the community against the ASG.” He also condemned the use of IED by the ASG saying “IEDs maim and kill individuals regardless whether they are soldiers or civilians and the main losers are the innocent people in the community. The use of IED is not only against

Bomb...

From A1

bomb disposal unit was immediately dispatched to the area and safely defused the bomb.

“The timely information relayed to authorities saved lives,” Galgo said.

Chenikandiyil was one of the four suspects arrested during a joint police and military operation in Barangay Tamontaka and along Ilang-Ilang Street, Cotabato City.

Aside from Chenikandiyil, police also arrested Jackson Mangulamas Usi alias Abu Mansor or Jam; Zack Villanueva Lopez alias Haron; and Ansan

cow,” Topacio said in a statement.

“Her general protestations of innocence and empty claims that the evidence are ‘fabricated’ and the witnesses ‘tortured and intimidated’ ring hollow in the face of numerous interlocking testimonies corroborated not only by each other but by the findings of a Congressional inquiry.”

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II earlier urged De Lima to answer the charges against her in formal proceedings instead of resorting to personal attacks on her accusers. Rey E. Requejo ing to their respective national plans, Ramos said.

“Ratifying the Paris Agreement will allow the Philippines to participate in the global effort to address climate change and advance the interests of our country and our people, as one of the most vulnerable to climate change. It will also enable us to secure more investments towards our climate goals and gain access to the financial, technological, and capacity-building support to be provided to parties of the Agreement,” said Ramos.

“Not ratifying the Paris Agreement, on the other hand, will force us to continue on our own without having to consider or report on our contributions to the global response to climate change. Note, however, that our country has spent an average of 0.5 percent of its GDP per year for the past 25 years for ‘losses and damages;’ so we are, in effect, already paying for the impact of climate change to which we have contributed very little,” Ramos added.

To date, 85 (out of 197) parties accounting for at least 55 percent of global emissions have already ratified the Paris Agreement, which will enter into force on Nov. 4. Sandy Araneta the law but it is outrightly evil and un-Islamic.”

“The focused military operation will continue until we deal a crippling blow against the ASG and rescue the remaining hostages,” Dela Vega said, referring to the bandits’ kidnap victims.

Another clash erupted in Patikul between soldiers of the 21st Infantry Battalion and about 100 Abu Sayyaf fighters.

Maj. Filemon Tan, spokesman for the West Mindanao Command, said eight soldiers were wounded and that the enemy suffered an undetermined number of casualties.

He said the commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade has “directed all adjacent operating units to block the possible routes of enemy withdrawal while 105mm Howitzer cannons delivered four rounds and an MG 520 helicopter gunship provided close-air support. Florante S. Solmerin with PNA Abdulla Mamasapano alias Abu Hamsa, all Cotabato City based members of Maute terror group.

The recovery of IED came hours after President Rodrigo Duterte visited and left the city, where he launched anti-poverty programs.

Recovered during the Saturday morning operation were several pistols and ammunition, a handheld radio with charger, three 60mm mortars, a 105mm Howitzer shell and a hand grenade.

The Davao City night market bombing in September left 15 people dead and wounded 60 others.

Police said a dozen individuals were involved in the Davao bombing. PNA

News

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

A3

Rody: Funds to pour in Mindanao

By Sandy Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has promised to provide more funds in Mindanao to boost growth and development in the region.

“You will have a share of the national wealth. Sinabi ko sa inyo na bubuhusan ko ng pera ang Moro region,” Duterte said on Saturday in his speech during the launching of the Comprehensive Reform and Development Agenda for Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other conflict areas in the region.

Duterte has ordered Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo to focus on programs and projects that will help the Muslim communities fight poverty while noting the high incidence of hunger in Mindanao.

“I want the incidence of hunger stopped. Kawawa ang mga bata [I pity the children]. We have to do something about it,” he said.

Duterte also led the ceremonial distribution of government assistance to several malnourished children and their families.

“Ako na po ang nagsasabi, bigyan ninyo ako ng kaunting panahon [Just give me more time]. I will improve the Moro land, Mindanao,” he said.

ARMM, which consists of provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, is considered one of the poorest regions in the country.

It is beset with problems such as terrorism particularly perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group, who is responsible for various heinous acts such as bombings, kidnappings and beheadings of foreigners.

Duterte vowed to eliminate the ASG and maintain peace and order to encourage more investors to enter in the region. The President also reiterated his appeal to Moros and communist rebels to stop waging war on government troops.

Being the first President who hails from Mindanao, Duterte vowed to develop the region to its “fullest extent” noting that it could become the richest due to its abundant natural resources.

He said Mindanao “holds a promise in agriculture.”

The President pledged to provide equipment such as tractors and seeds to the farmers to help them in their livelihood. He likewise vowed to give boats to fisherfolk.

He mentioned the possible donation from a businessman amounting to P1 billion for the construction of a hospital in Basilan.

The President again underscored the need to shift to federalism type of government believing that it will pave way for the country’s economic growth and development especially in Mindanao.

ANNUAL TREK.

Traffic is unusually heavy on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 as millions of people flock to the cemeteries in Metro Manila and the provinces to mark All Saints’ Day. Below, visitors at the Manila North Cemetery undergo routine inspection.

Ey Acasio

Repeal outdated penal code, Leila proposes Aquino bucks Negros region abolition

SENATOR Leila M. de Lima has sought the repeal of the 84-year-old Revised Penal Code and replace it with the Criminal Code of the Philippines to make it responsive and relevant to the country’s criminal justice system.

The embattled senator filed a measure which seeks to ordain and institute a new Criminal Code of the Philippines that would modernize, update, and codify the country’s basic penal law, including the present RPC’s provisions that were amended or repealed.

“This 84-year-old law, despite its antiquity, is still being enforced in our country. Since most of the provisions of the RPC have been amended, and a number of them had been replaced, there is an imperative need for this Code to be updated,” she said.

“This legislative measure does not only update and codify the current pe-

nal laws of the country, but likewise incorporates the international best criminal law practices,” she said.

In 2011 when she was Justice secretary, De Lima created an inter-agency Criminal Code Committee tasked to study, assess and consolidate a simple, updated and modern criminal law to provide clarity in law enforcement and improve administration of justice.

The committee, in partnership with Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany, produced the draft Criminal Code of the Philippines which is also hoped to result to an increased access to justice, especially for the marginalized sectors.

The Committee was composed of representatives from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government, such as the Supreme Court, the two Houses of Congress, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investiga-

tion, Bureau of Immigration, Public Attorney’s Office, Office of the Government Counsel, Office of the Solicitor General, Parole and Probation Administration, and Land Registration Authority, among others.

“An effective administration of criminal justice system could only be attained if it can efficiently address the maladies of the society and curb the perpetration of crimes that is anathema to an orderly and peaceful community,” De Lima pointed out.

Among the salient provisions of the bill are: • Changes to universal the jurisdiction of crimes instead of the current jurisdiction based on territory, given the evolving nature of crimes, especially transnational organized crime; • Simplifies the approach to criminalization based on conduct and not mental state;

• Simplifies the categorization of crimes by eliminating the frustrated stage of commission of crime and accomplices in the degree of participation; • Classifies crimes into three (3) main categories, namely Crimes against the State, Crimes against Persons, and Crimes against Property, instead of 13 categories under the existing RPC; • There is no longer a splitting of criminal and civil action with the civil remedy always embedded in the criminal action; • A new scale of penalties composed of five “levels”, and a level for “life imprisonment” aimed at simplifying the sentencing process, Using this new scale, crimes can be classified easily according to their gravity, along with the corresponding alternative. It also eliminates Latin/Spanish terms for penalties.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Keep the checkpoints, Lacson urges Du30

By Macon Ramos Araneta MOBILE checkpoints can help deter crimes and catch illegal drug smugglers, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Sunday.

It was President Rodrigo Duterte who ordered the dismantling of police checkpoints nationwide saying that these must be put up only if there is credible information that a high-value suspect will cross a certain road.

The President noted that security

checkpoints of the Philippine Army, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, and the Philippine National Police are causing travel delays in Mindanao.

But Lacson said checkpoints are more effective since they are not expected by those who transport illegal drugs, firearms and other contrabands.

Because of this, mobile checkpoints should be “retained, even enhanced,” said Lacson, a former chief

of the Philippine National Police.

“Fixed checkpoints should not have been deployed in the first place.”

He said that these type of checkpoints are a “breeding place for extorting policemen.”

In his speech in Cotabato City on Saturday, Duterte said only “necessary” checkpoints should be maintained by the authorities.

“Except really if it is necessary, only if it’s necessary, only if there is specific

reason to do it, I am ordering all checkpoints dismantled,” Duterte said.

Malacañang has yet to issue guidelines for Duterte’s latest order. The National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines could not say when the order would be enforced.

Police checkpoints were set up nationwide following Duterte’s declaration of a state of lawlessness after the night market bombing in Davao City on September 2.

ABOLISHING the Negros Island Region may not be conducive to the economic development of the region, according to Senator Bam Aquino who filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the national government’s plans for the NIR and its people.

The cousin of the former Philippine president submitted Senate Resolution No. 212 after the government revealed a plan to repeal Executive Order 183 that established the NIR. “Abolishing the NIR now would deprive the Negrense people of a critical pathway to economic development and poverty alleviation,” said Aquino.

In his resolution, Aquino stressed the need for the national government to consider and assess the broader potentials and long-term impact of having an administration center in the Negros Island.

“This will enable greater efficiency in the implementation of development projects, and better and faster delivery of government services to Negrenses,” said Aquino.

Signed on May 29, 2015, Executive Order 183 mandated the creation of a unified Negros Island Region (NIR), bringing together Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and all the cities, municipalities and barangays comprising the two adjacent provinces.

The NIR is aimed at accelerating social and economic development of the cities and municipalities comprising the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental and improving delivery of public services in the two provinces.

“Let’s not rush into a decision abolishing the NIR. We should give it the same amount of care, effort and time that was put into its creation,” Aquino said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Hearing voices

O

N THE flight back from Japan, President Rodrigo Duterte says he heard the voice of God admonishing him to stop cursing.

“Everybody was asleep, snoring, but a voice said that, you know, if you don’t stop epithets, I will bring down this plane now,” Duterte said in his arrival speech at the Davao International Airport on Friday, after an official three-day visit to Japan.

He said he even asked the voice who he was, and only later realized that it was God.

Adelle Chua, Editor

“So, I promise God to— not to express slang, cuss words and everything,” he said.

He said that a promise to God is also a promise to the Filipino people, the reason he must be careful not to use curse words.

For those who have been following Mr. Duterte’s pronouncement with some trepidation, this promise isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Profanity has become a Duterte trademark, particularly when he is threatening to kill drug dealers as part of his war on illegal drugs, a campaign that has left thousands dead since he took office on June 30.

The President, who once called the Pope a “son of a bitch,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a “fool,” and told US President Barack Obama to “go to hell,” has certainly earned for himself and the country for which he speaks some international notoriety for which we might eventually have to pay.

A promise to stop the cursing—if not the killing—

would certainly provide the nation with some welcome respite from our newfound bellicose voice, particularly in foreign relations.

Still, the revelation that our President has conversations with God is a legitimate cause of concern, given that the world largely associates hearing voices with mental instability.

We wonder, too, if the disembodied voice on the plane was not just that of a gifted ventriloquist, who seized the opportunity to have some fun and temper the President’s rhetoric.

Of course, Mr. Duterte isn’t the first leader to claim

that he received orders from God. Joan of Arc, who led the French army to many important victories against England in the Hundred Years’ War, said she heard the voices of angels and saints, through whom God spoke to her.

More recently, US President George W. Bush said he launched the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq because God told him to do so.

A Palestinian foreign minister at the time quoted Bush as telling them: “I am driven with a mission from God. God would tell me,

‘George, go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan.’

And I did. And then God would tell me ‘George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq.’

And I did.”

It might be useful to note, however, that neither of these cases of divine guidance worked out very well.

Bush’s military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq did little to bring peace and stability to those two countries, which are in the throes of even worse sectarian violence that they had before the US intervention. And Joan of Arc—she was burned at the stake for heresy.

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

On tenterhooks

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO THE Sunday immediately after “Lawin’’ struck Tuguegarao and other places in Northern Philippines a blow with an unbelievable 700-kilometer swath, there was not a dry eye inside the Cathedral when I opened the Mass with the introduction: “We gather tonight: a broken but praying people.” We prayed our grief, our frustration, our disappointments, our pains. We were—and are— grateful to be alive but it is now a burdensome life of which we are made aware each time we look at our roofless homes, our shattered establishments, our tattered city! The tremendous burden of having-to-be has been an existentialist theme for some time now, perhaps passé even, but it is an experience that comes upon even those least inclined to philosophize where we all live, through which the super typhoon made its horrendous way!

No one really is giving up, but all we can do for now is to

Mending even when one knows not how pick up shards, salvageable material and our precious few belongings strewn all over the place. We are not giving up, but just how to mend is the problem. To be sure, we fared better than Yolanda’s victims in the sense that government was quick to the rescue, as were groups like the Red Cross and volunteers from all over the country. My own colleagues at San Beda College will forever be an inspiration to me. Aside from asking about my family and how we were coping, one of them, Dean Tess Da Jose, sent me,

by Florida bus, a huge box full of kindness —canned goods, bottled water, paper plates and cups, flashlights—that I happily shared with others. After I had shouted out to the water district for compounding the distresses of the suffering people by allowing faucets to run dry, it speedily got things running again. There is water flowing copiously now in most

No more will the whistling wind be music to us. of Tuguegarao. Restoring electric power will take a little more time, but the local electric cooperative, with plenty of help from outside Cagayan, has been working more than double time and some streets have electricity again.

But farmers borrow to sow, to fertilize and to see to as bountiful a harvest as their toil can assure them. But when a super typhoon leaves not even a stalk, there is hardly anything more to do than borrow yet another time, on top of the loan one has already made, to sow again and to hope that, this time, one may be able to pay off part of the present loan, and, with some

good fortune, part of the previous one as well. Only the immensely wealthy are not talking about loans. I too am looking around for loans under benevolent terms. I want to help my parents rehabilitate our badly-damaged parental home. But for almost all, the magnitude of the loss and the tremendous costs can overwhelm, as so many of us wonder how to keep afloat.

Before last Sunday’s Mass, I sat down for a sharing of horror stories of “Lawin’s’’ visitation with church catechists. Retelling their ordeal alone sent many sobbing. My good friend, a university professor and a very dedicated father to two young daughters, stopped his ears when, on another occasion, others started recounting the horror of the night “Lawin’’ struck.

He could not go through again, even only by remembering, the horrible sound of the vacuum at the eye of the storm as it ripped roof, ceiling, rafters—

everything that kept his family dry —mercilessly apart sending him and his entire family cowering under dining room tables, shielding themselves with whatever it was that they could get their hands on from the lashing rain and the tormenting winds. And I cry with him, as I cry with my father and mother who look at the house that proudly stood through the test of decades, now misshapen and deformed, a painful travesty of the beauty it once was in which my parents took pride, because it was a house they built from their toil and my grandparents’ legacy!

It is the mending of memories that will even be more challenging—for no more will the whistling wind be music to us. It will send shivers down the spine of anyone who lived through that terrible night: it was just one prolonged destructive whistle lasting all of six to seven hours! And the mending of the

THE Economist used the title to describe how both Thais and foreign stakeholders view with trepidation their future under a new king.

King Bhumibol Aduljadej who died after a lingering illness at 88, was revered by all because of how he used the monarchy to steer his people and nation towards progressive development. He was the equilibrium point in Thai politics, which has been a roughand-tumble game among the politicians, the generals and the elite. The King had the last word in political leadership because his people believed in his wisdom and love of country.

Focus is now on the crown prince, soon to become king because the laws of monarchical succession in Thailand specify a male, unlike in many European countries with a monarchical tradition as well.

Maha Vajiralongkorn has divorced a succession of wives thrice, loves the good life, and was once photographed in Munich’s airport wearing jeans and a tank top, exposing a heavily tattooed torso (albeit the temporary henna type).

His escapades has shocked the Thais, who expect their future king to be in the mold of his revered father and even Queen Sirikit.

The power plays that may once more ensue in Thai politics without a steady and firm hand considered as the imprimatur without question of the King has somehow discombobulated Thailand’s foreseeable future even as the nation deeply mourns the passing of the beloved Bhumibol.

Recall how the duly-elected Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the generals on allegations of massive corruption.

He still lives in exile, now shuttling between London and Dubai where he maintains temporary residences, still nurturing hopes of a political comeback.

In the aftermath of the coup,

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

ONLINE MEMBER

PPI

Chairman Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager OIC-Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Adelle Chua Honor B. Cabie Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion Editor Night Editor Art Director Chief Photographer

Opinion SPECIAL REPORT

The federalist papers PART III Continued from Sunday PDU30 CORE’S federalist pitch The President Duterte Constitutional Reforms towards Federalism (PDU30 CORE) is at the vanguard of the campaign to win support for Federalism.

Headed by former Arroyo spokesperson Gary Olivar and lawyer Raul Lambino, the group defines federalism as a form of government where: - Sovereignty is constitutionally shared between a central authority and states or regions; - The national government focuses on foreign relations, national security and monetary policy; and - Autonomous regions or states are responsible for delivery of public goods and social services and local economic development.

Imagined outcomes The change from a unitary to federal system, PDU30 CORE says, will result in faster decision making, give the regions more power over funds and resources, and promote specialization.

It will also lead to the decongestion of Metro Manila, bring the government closer to the people, enhance political stability and encourage competition between states.

The shift to a parliamentary system, on the other hand, will prevent gridlock and promote consensus in governance, promote cohesive and disciplined political parties, and promote a broader-based and inclusive politics through a multi-party system.

PDU30 CORE cites Mexico, United States, Canada, Brazil, Malaysia, Germany, India, and Australia as models the Philippines can learn from in establishing its own Federal Republic.

One model it proposes—which has a bicameral parliamentary with a Prime Minister and President—hews closely to the model suggested

by President Duterte.

It also favors the House-backed proposal to go the Constitutional Assembly route rather than the Constitutional Convention which then-candidate Duterte had preferred.

PDU30 CORE says the powers of the Central and Regional governments will be defined in the new constitution.

It says, however, that defense and other primary services will be the responsibility of the national government. Services such as education and health will be shared responsibilities of national and local governments while tertiary services such as policing, agriculture, and fire protection will be under the local governments.

Preconditions PDU30 CORE proposes a four-stage process to achieve full and effective implementation of Federalism in the country.

—The first phase requires the passage of three measures and adoption of electoral reforms. The three proposed laws are: 1. A political party development and financing law 2. An anti-dynasty law, and 3. A freedom of information law —Once this is achieved, the second phase would be the adoption of a parliamentary system (also known as Party Government) where executive and legislative powers are fused in a bicameral parliament headed by a Prime Minister and a President who is head of state.

—The third phase would involve the creation of the federal states whereby “citizens within a contiguous territory decide in a referendum whether or not to proceed to autonomous status.”

If they decide to do so, petitions for autonomy are sent to the national parliament by the local legislative assemblies within the territory.

Parliament then enacts an organic law for that territory defining its land area, powers, obligations, and sources of revenue (taxes).

The autonomous territory then writes its own Constitution. *** Spain’s ‘Estado de las autonomias’ While moves to amend the charter have focused on federalism as a model to empower the the country’s regions, Spain’s successful shift from dictatorship under Generalissimo Franco to an Estado de las Autonomias appears to have escaped the attention of the country’s charter change prime movers.

There were remarkable parallels between Spain and the Philippines in the last half of the 20th century. Both nations were ruled by strongmen. Both framed new constitutions following the democratic restoration. Both faced separatist, insurgent movements. Both faced unrest in the armed forces.

Both recognized the demands of historical communities (Spain’s Euskadi (Basque), Galicia, and Catalunya and the Philippines’ Bangsamoro

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Conflict of interest IN FORMING his Cabinet, a newly elected president seeks to draw the best and the brightest to join his official family. It is as it should be. However, there are instances when due diligence in vetting Cabinet appointees was overlooked, giving rise to conflicts of interest. Too often, presidential appointments are mostly based on who helped in the political campaign.

Former President Benigno Aquino III appointed Cabinet members who had served his mother when she was president.

For example, he named Voltaire Gazmin, the former head of Cory’s Presidential Security Group as his defense secretary. Other appointees were Ateneo classmates, barkada (gangmates) or kabarilan ( shooting buddies) like the late Virginia Torres, chief of the Land Transportation Office.

It is the same now. Some Cabinet appointees of President Rodrigo Duterte were either his classmates or roommates at San Beda College. This is not to say they should be barred from serving in government if they are qualified. Those who were with Digong since his Davao mayor days and stayed the course to convince him to run when he was a reluctant presidential candidate included Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez, now Finance secretary; Manny Piñol, appointed Agriculture secretary; and Vitaliano Aguirre, Justice secretary. There is a gray area, however, when some appointees have a conflict of interest in their present Cabinet post and the private sector from where they were plucked to join

the government.

Department of BACK To preclude Tr a n s p o r t a t io n CHANNEL this conflict of Undersecret a r y interest, Quezon Arthur Tugade ALEJANDRO who has a conCity Rep. WinDEL ROSARIO f lict of interston Castelo filed House Bill 3758 est—just like which imposes a three-year ban the previous administration on Cabinet officials from re- when officials were giving priturning to their former compa- ority to the interests of their nies from the time they leave the former principals. He pointed government. Castelo’s bill also out that Tugade’s family is bans former Cabinet officials engaged in the transport and from forming their own compa- logistics business. Transportanies in industries related to the tion Undersecretary Noel Kinstate agencies they had served. tanar was assistant vice presiThe House measure is aimed dent of Ayala Corp. and was against giving undue advantage instrumental in the acquisition to the private companies with of railway projects under the which former Cabinet officials Aquino administration. Underhave previous ties to rejoin in a secretary for Air Operations key and high-paying position.

Bobby Lim was the former “This practice is breeding country manager of the Interground for the promotion of national Air Transport Assoconflict of interest especially ciation. Felipe Judan, Underwhen the official is in the same secretary for Maritime Affairs, industrial sphere,” said Castelo. once served in the Southwest His bill will prevent officials Marine Group which includes from continuing to exert undue among its clientele Petron of influence on both public and businessman Ramon Ang who private sectors after they leave owns majority share of Manila government service, said Caste- North Harbor Port Inc. This is lo in explaining the rationale for where inter-island vessels, inhis proposed measure. cluding the f leet of Southwest Castelo went further than Maritime Group Starlite FerHouse Speaker Pantaleon Alva- ries, dock. rez—a known Duterte ally who “Let us not fool ourselves. In with the supermajority in Con- every administration, private gress wants to grant Digong corporations put their people emergency powers in solving in departments covering their Metro Manila’ monstrous traf- business,” said Alvarez as he fic problem—did. In previous asked: “Whose interests are House hearings, Speaker Alva- they serving?” rez lamented that some memHouse Deputy Minority Leadbers of the Aquino Cabinet er Harry Roque cites the case of returned to private companies former Customs chief Albert they had worked for after they Lina. When Lina was appointed leave government service. in April 2015, he went after OmAlvarez cited the present niprime Marketing Inc., a com-

On tenterhooks From A4 Thailand seemed to get back to normalcy, and a peaceful transfer of power happened when Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck, won with a majority in Parliament in 2011 on the strength of Thaksin’s popularity among the rural folk. Yingluck then proclaimed a rice pledging policy, an ill-advised scheme which pumped in so much money to rice farmers but destroyed Thailand’s place in the international rice market. Unable to sell high-cost rice which stockpiled in public warehouses, the economy teetered on the brink with unsustainable deficits.

In 2014, she was ousted and the generals came back to power, with the now-deceased King restraining a political tsunami in the streets of Bangkok by recognizing the coup. Yingluck Shinawatra has been fined a billion dollars recently

by Thailand’s anti-graft court for her rice pledging policy.

There are stories of massive corruption engineered supposedly by her exiled brother Thaksin in collusion with a neighboring country which centered on manipulating the rice market. But these are of little interest to our readers.

Mending...

From A4

Thailand is in deep mourning, but the undercurrents of an unpopular succession to the throne are quite bothersome. The nation, and foreign investors which have a large stake in the Thai economy are, as an Economist report aptly describes, “on tenterhooks.” *** On tenterhooks as well are those who bother to observe the dirtiest presidential campaign in the US of A ever, between Hillary Clinton who somehow cannot find a wellspring of trust among voters, and Donald Trump, the 71-year-old enfant terrible the Republicans have foisted on their politics and the world.

Is Hillary a sure winner, as the polls and the electoral college voting trends indicate? Can Trump, four points below nationally, but losing heavily in the big states with big electoral vote counts, still upset Hillary’s applecart eight days from now?

It’s quite fun watching the political game in the United States. What isn’t so funny to a world on tenterhooks is what happens after, whichever way it goes. *** No longer on tenterhooks is Japan’s political elite, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after receiving assurances from our president in his three-day Tokyo visit, and the multitude of businessmen who received him most warmly in a busi-

petitor of his company, E Konek Pilpinas. Roque, a lawyer by profession and through required disclosure, admitted he represented Omniprime’s Annabelle Margoroli in the case against Lina pending before the Office of the Ombudsman. Roque said that Lina, upon assumption of office, canceled a P650-million contract that had undergone two rigorous public biddings to make his company, E Konek, the service provider of the Bureau of Customs.

There ought to be a law against conf lict of interest. Castelo’s House Bill No.3758 is exactly that as it seeks to address this problem of private-sector executives returning to rejoin their former companies. With their added expertise acquired in their government stint, they rejoin their former firms with a higher pay. Or they form their own companies. The bill, in effect, challenges Tugade and his DOTr team for seeking emergency powers without a concrete plan to decongest Metro traffic and proposing projects that have no funding under the 2017 national budget. Castelo and Senator Grace Poe are of the same mind in questioning the DOTr’s lack of planning in solving the traffic crisis that is causing commuter woes and costing the country billions of pesos in lost productive man hours.

“Emergency powers is not the magic wand that will make all our problems go away,” said Senator Poe, adding that projects that do not undergo public biddings will be more prone to corruption.

ness conference last Wednesday, October 26.

Abe had a lengthy one-on-one with Duterte after his appearance before the Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). The business elite of Japan cheered his brief speech which showed them his sincerity, his commitment, his political will, and above all, his nationalism, the kind of character they admire and respect.

Filipinos in that audience felt so proud that at last we have such a leader. *** Flying back to Taipei for a two-day Joint Economic Conference, we were assured by a highranking minister that they do not mind whatsoever the media reportage coming from the mostly-western press about the so-called “human rights” situation or the hyped-up “separation” brouhaha in China.

“We know what the real score is,” the minister told us. “Our ‘ambassador’ keeps us grounded on what is actually happening in your country, and the huge popularity of your president among the people.”

Gamely, they posed upon the Taiwanese photographer’s suggestion, to the by-now popular outstretched and clenched fist mnemonic of the Duterte leadership.

Business as usual.

whipped valley now seems foolish. Should we perhaps not look for kinder climes where winds do not lash at our homes and at our dreams? We must have confidence in ourselves. We know we must, but it is not now easy to see how!

confidence we have in ourselves—that will be more vexatious yet, but the most needful. How can we still sing of Cagayan as a “smiling land of beauty” rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph when it now seems to be the corridor of super typhoons? “My heart clings rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph unto thee…,” so go the words of our provincial anthem. Clinging to a storm- rannie_aquino@yahoo.com and Cordillera) and enshrined the principle of autonomy in their new constitutions.

But Spain would go much further, for it would detail in the constitution the powers of the central government and the autonomous communities and cities and the painstaking process of implementing the establishment of the Estado de las Autonomias.

Today, the Kingdom of Spain has transformed itself into a State with a central government, 17 autonomous regions and nationalities including the capital, Madrid, and the 2 autonomous cities of Melilla and Ceuta.

The Spanish experiment has been described as a “federation without federalism”—a highly decentralized, unitary state.

It is said to be a State “in fieri” (state of becoming).

“Even the most artificially created of the autonomous communities, a real sense of identity has grown…the outward and visible evidence of regional flags, institutions and bureaucracies is everywhere,” says scholar David Brighty.

Since the process of devolution began with the

ratification of the Spanish constitution in 1978, three years after the death of Franco, Spain has survived a debilitating recession and threats of secession and emerged stronger belying fears that autonomy would lead to a break-up of the Kingdom.

A historic compromise Spain’s adoption of the autonomy constitution was a product of a “negotiated compromise” among the Kingdom’s major political forces, the historian Raymond Carr wrote.

It was King Juan Carlos I, as successor of Franco and head of state, who steered the Kingdom back to democracy and eventual establishment of the Estado de las Autonomies.

But he left it to Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez Gonzales to manage the transition, particularly the crafting and passage of the new constitution, in the face of coup attempts from the Right and armed attacks by the separatist Left.

The success of Spain’s largely peaceful transition is attributed to the “convergence of all parties around the center of politics, as the Right aban-

doned authoritarianism and the Left ceased to endorse Marxism.”

The Philippines today is at another crossroads.

Under the mercurial Duterte, there is now a convergence of major political forces from the Right, Left and the Bangsamoro.

It was the Spanish intervention with the arrival of Magellan’s flotilla which led to the centralization of power in ‘Imperial Manila.’ It is perhaps time to consider and learn from the recent experience of Spain in reversing what Empire had imposed in the country over 500 years ago.

Concluded tomorrow

OUT OF THE BOX RITA LINDA V. JIMENO Atty. Jimeno’s column will resume next week.

A6

News

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Manila gets P40-m CT scan machines

By Sandy Araneta

BOUND FOR THE HEAVENS. Senate employees release balloons which were tied together to form a rosary to mark the Holy Rosary Month. PNA

IN A continuing effort to provide free, prompt, and quality healthcare to poor Manileños, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has acquired four brand-new computerized tomography (CT) scan machines worth P40 million to replace the old ones being used by the city’s public hospitals.

Estrada said the continued acquisition of new medical equipment is part of his 10-point agenda for the next three years, most of which were aimed at providing social services to indigents.

“This is one of my top priorities. This is part of my 10-point agenda, to improve our healthcare system. That’s why we continue to acquire the latest stateof-the art medical equipment for our hospitals such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), CT scans, X-ray and ultrasound machines, and incubators,” Estrada said.

“In private hospitals, you have to pay when using CT scan or MRI machines. And it is re-

3rd US Hamilton cutter leaves for PH on Nov. 1 T

HE Philippine Navy’s third Hamiltonclass cutter, which has been named BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), is scheduled to sail to the country on November 1.

These include damage control, gunnery training and emergency drills and evacuation.

The CGC Boutwell was retired from US Coast Guard service on March 16 and was handed to the The ship and its Filipino crew is fornia where they are undergoing Philippine Navy in July. currently docked at the US Coast training on the various systems of She will be the third HamiltonGuard Base in Alameda, Cali- the vessel.

class cutter in the Philippine Navy after the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), which were acquired in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said the BRP Andres Bonifacio has a crew of 80 offic-

ers and enlisted personnel.

Lincuna said the ship is expected to be in the Philippines by second week of December.

“She will pass by Hawaii and Guam for refueling and provisioning before heading to the Philippines,” he added. PNA

The decommissioned CGC Boutwell, which has been renamed BRP Andres Bonifacio, will arrive in the country by mid-December. US Coast Guard

Solon opposes lifting of quota on rice imports

By Rio Araja CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte on Sunday raised concern over a governmentt plan to lift the quantitative restrictions or quotas on rice imports and allow importation of private traders.

If such a plan pushes through, “pa-

lay farmers will be at the losing end,” Villafuerte said, adding the local rice producers do not have the capability to compete with the prices of imported rice.

“Is there any guarantee that the entry of cheap rice imports would lower the price of rice in the market? The government must provide safety nets to our

farmer by helping them cut production and distribution costs, and other postharvest expenses,” he said.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, an umbrella organization of farmers, agri-business operators and party-list groups, also expressed alarm over the abolition of quantitative restrictions, he said.

Villafuerte was reacting to reports that the government supports the quota removal starting in 2017 in line with the country’s commitment as a member of the World Trade Organization.

WTO had allowed the country to extend its quantitative restrictions on rice several times since 1995. The latest extension will expire on June 30, 2017.

ally expensive. Here in our public hospitals, everything is free,” he added.

The new CT scan machines are to be used by Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Justice Abad Santos Mother & Child Hospital, Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center and Sta. Ana Hospital.

“This would be a big help to the poor. All medical tests in our hospitals are free, consultation is free, medicines are free,” Estrada added.

The newly purchased CT scan machines will replace the sixyear-old malfunctioning scanners presently being used by the Sta. Ana Hospital, according to its director, Jesus Sison Jr. The new CT scan machines have 16-32 slice systems which are much preferred by doctors, Sison said.

In April, the city government acquired a P117-million MRI machine for the Ospital ng Maynila.

Estrada also put up a dialysis center and an Eye Care Center at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.

Govt plans to establish OFW Bank

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government is poised to put up an Overseas Filipino Workers Bank to recognize the significant contributions of the country’s modernday heroes.

Bello, who graced the inauguration of an OFW one-stop shop service center at the Baguio Convention Center, said capitalization of the bank, which will initially amount to P3 billion, will come from the funds of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Employees Compensation Commission and the OFWs themselves which initially amount to P80 billion.

“We need at least P3 billion to buy the Philippine Postal Bank and convert it from a thrift bank to a commercial bank that will be solely owned by the OFWs so that they will be able to operate the largest commercial bank in the country,” he said.

The labor chief said the initial capitalization for the OFW Bank will come from the P19.8-billion money of the OFWs lodged with the OWWA. Bello said the bank will be operational by the end of the year or by the first quarter of 2017.

He said his memo to the President regarding the establishment of the OFW Bank was already initially approved.

Bello disclosed ownership of the bank will be open to all 4.8-million OFWs at P1,000 per share, potentially making it the largest commercial bank in the country that will bankroll key government and private projects geared toward sustainable economic growth.

Sports

A7

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 , 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Hideki 1 Asian WGC champion st

S

HANGHAI—Dominant Hideki Matsuyama made history Sunday when he became the first player from Asia to win a World Golf Championships.

GOLF WINNER. Harmie Constantino (center) receives her trophy from NGAP president Calos Coscoluella (left) as Beverly Place Golf Club general manager Elson Alvaran looks on after dominating the women’s side of the NGAP Northern Luzon Regional Golf Championship at Beverly Place Golf Club in Pampanga last Saturday.

The 24-year-old from Japan left a worldclass field, including Rory McIlroy and all four 2016 major winners, trailing in his wake as he finished seven strokes clear at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The 24-year-old Japanese player also became the first from the continent to win “Asia’s Major” and he did it in style with a flawless final round of six-under par 66.

Matsuyama was just one shot shy of the record 72-hole score at Sheshan International Golf Club of 24-under par set by current US Open champion Dustin Johnson three years ago.

Matsuyama finished at 23-under par after four stunning rounds of 66, 65, 68 and 66 at the par-72 layout. British Open champions Henrik Stenson and Daniel Berger of the US were tied for second way back at 16-under par.

World number three Rory McIlroy on Sunday carded his second 66 of the week

for yet another top-five finish as he took fourth place on 15-under par.

Matsuyama, whose total of 29 birdies for the week was just three short of the all-time US PGA Tour record of 32, remarkably did not card a bogey after the ninth hole of his second round on Friday, despite testing damp and windy conditions in the Chinese megacity.

The in-form 24-year-old is set to rise to as high as number six in the world following his victory for which he wins $1.62 million.

It caps a remarkable run in which Matsuyama has won the Japan Open, finished runner-up in the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia and won the WGC-HSBC Champions in consecutive weeks.

Before that he had finished fifth in the US PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championships, won by McIlroy.

Meanwhile, China’s Feng Shanshan won her second Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia

title in three years as a final-round charge from world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand fizzled on Sunday.

Feng, who won in 2014, had stormed into the lead with a seven-under par 64 in a raininterrupted third round that forced her and several others to wait until early Sunday to finish up.

She then started the final round with a bogey on the first hole but regained her footing to finish at 17-under for a three-stroke win over Norway’s Suzann Pettersen at TPC Kuala Lumpur.

With the win, the ebullient Feng ended a two-year title drought.

“It’s really good, especially in the last four years where I finished second, first, second, first here,” she said.

“Even though I only improved one spot, I think I’ve had a fantastic week coming back here. Makes me feel like I’m at home.”

“I really love this golf course. And actually can we have like ten LPGA events here on this course?”

Feng had finished in the top five in her four previous tournaments leading up to the event.

Questionable and flawed

THE decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee Commission on Elections, composed of Frank Elizalde as chairman, Bro. Bernie Oca of De La Salle and congressman Conrado Estrella Jr, chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Youth and Sports in disqualifying Ricky Vargas from running against incumbent POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, who is seeking a fourth term as president, is legally flawed and ethically seriously questionable.

In a series of self-serving rules that effectively were approved by Cojuangco and his henchmen in the POC General Assembly, Vargas was disqualified as they claimed the rules introduced primarily by Cojuangco barred any individual who sought the office of POC president from running for the highest office if he failed to attend at least 50 percent of the General Assembly meetings and that the sending of a representative was not enough.

This position appears strange because last Tuesday, current POC vice president Joey Romasanta, who is very close to Cojuangco, told us that there was no rule requiring Vargas to attend the meetings in order to be eligible to run for the POC top post, but pointed out that in his opinion “it’s the propriety of having been indifferent all of these times and not even offering any advice or criticism.”

However, when you use the word propriety, Cojuangco supporters are going to have a hard time defending the “propriety” of seeking a fourth term as though there was nobody else qualified to seek the POC presidency.

Surely fair play and justice, let alone fundamental integrity dictate that other qualified individuals, who wish to help Philippine sports that has gone through one disaster after another even in the lowlevel Southeast Asian Games, be given a chance to face off against Cojuangco, who is 82 years old.

Being 81 ourselves, we don’t – and cannot truly consider Peping’s age a handicap because when he shook our hand at a recent TV 5 affair in a tribute to our Rio Olympic delegation, his grip was strong. Besides, he plays a round of golf once a week to stay in shape.

Ranged against this is the fact

that the International Olympic Committee Constitution demands that any candidate for the POC presidency must be not over 70 years of age.

The pertinent provision states: 3.3 Age limit: 3.3.1 Any IOC member ceases to be a member at the end of the calendar year during which he reaches the age of 70. On the Extension of age limit: the rules state The Session may, on the proposal of the IOC Executive Board, extend the age limit for any IOC member, who is not subject to the transitional provisions set forth in specific board resolutions which state “There may be no more than five such IOC members for whom the age limit is extended at any time.”

Any extension will be for up to a maximum of four years.

There is also a rule which states while the age limit is fixed at 70 there is an exception “for members co-opted between 1966 and 1999, for whom the age limit is 80.”

Mr. Cojuangco doesn’t fall into that time frame.

Another distressing aspect of this scandalous episode is that Frank Elizalde, in flatly refusing to talk to us, a legitimate media practitioner with sound credentials, who has been in the business for over 55 years, betrayed his abrasiveness and a warped mentality that did a terrible injustice to the respected Elizalde name. Perhaps, he believes that our country is still under Spanish rule!

Obviously, “Peping” and his dwindling number of cohorts felt threatened by the widespread demand for change under Vargas’ leadership, which has the unstinted backing of the eminent businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan, who currently supports no less than eight different sports and several presidents of National Sports Associations with the Football Association head Mariano Araneta, who thought about seeking the office giving way and supporting Vargas.

Against the utter lack of class of Elizalde, Vargas demonstrated his personal decency when he told us he didn’t wish to take the Elizalde Comelec decision to court because the IOC may claim it is government interference, which it loathes and would therefore hurt Philippine sports.

Vargas is truly a sportsman and more so a gentleman.

The Elizalde decision to disqualify Vargas is a blow against the development of Philippine sports and not merely undermines all that is progressive and good, but tears at the fabric of the search for human excellence.

How sad it is.

COURTESY CALL. Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon welcomed the Football For A Better Life delegation for the 6th leg of the PRU-Life UK - backed

nationwide grassroots football development and talent-identification program. The event, held at the Tagum Sports Complex, drew the series’ biggest number of teams and participants. Heading the FFABL delegation was Spears Sports and chief organizer Albert Almendralejo, together with Azkals Misagh Bahadoran and Mindanao native Amani Aguinaldo, former Azkals skipper Chieffy Caligdong, Pru Life UK football ambassador and UFL player Fil-Briton Graham Caygill, and Little Azkal Agiel John Rojo and Elmer Centeno from Pru Life. Photo shows Mayor Rellon with Davao del Norte Football Association president Percy Guarin at the Tagum City Hall.

Old, new faces rule Cebuana Lhuillier net meet IT was a mix of familiar names and relatively unknown provincial players, who emerged winners at the recent Cebuana Lhuillier AgeGroup Championship series Surallah, South Cotabato leg, which was played anew in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat because of unplayable playing conditions in Surallah.

Leading the charge of multi-leg winners were Carlyn Bless Guarde from Isulan, who ruled both the girls’ 16-under and 18-under categories, continuing her consistent performance from the previous leg also held in Isulan.

She beat Davao City’s Danna Mariella Abad, 6-2, 6-7, 10-4, for the 18-under crown and earlier, disposed of 14-under champion Sydney Ezra Enriquez from Zamboanga del Norte, 6-0, 6-2, in the 16-under finals.

Enriquez consoled herself with the 14-under title, where she posted an easy 6-1, 6-0 win over Cagayan de Oro’s Casey Padilla in the 10-yearold grassroots tennis developmental program, also supported by Dunlop as the official ball.

The other individual winner in the distaff side was up-and-coming North Cotabato bet Tenniele Madis,

who delivered a double win after topping the 12-under at the expense of Padilla, 6-0, 6-2, and the 10-under unisex group, where she beat Reyman Saldivar Jr. 4-1, 4-2.

Madis actually came up with three victories as she teamed up with Saldivar and won the 10-under doubles’ title over Almae Chiong and Angel Khylis Amada, 4-1, 4-1.

“I am truly pleased when I hear new names coming out as winners in this series. It really shows that there are a lot of potential players in the provinces given the opportunity to show what they can do,”

said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President / CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier and current Philippine Tennis Association Chairman.

In the boys’ side, Cebu City bet Marc Nicole Suson added two more titles in his growing collection as he won both the 16-under and 18-under crowns.

Suson won both in easy fashion, starting off with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Nicole Gorospe from Koronadal for the 16-under title, and followed it up with a 6-1, 6-2 win over the same opponent in the 18under finals.

Season-opening surprises FANTASY FANATIC JIMBO GULLE

THE National Basketball Association 2016-2017 season is off to a flying start, and so are fantasy hoops leagues that will close their first week of action tomorrow. Lots of awesome performances from the NBA’s stars have fired up fantasy managers worldwide, and so I’ll begin by noting this week’s best and worst and who to look forward to as Week 2 begins Tuesday (Manila time): STUDS Anthony Davis – Those who dared ignore The Brow on draft day owing to his injuries in the past (myself included) quickly felt remorse after the Pelicans forward scorched two opponents for 47.5 points, 16.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 4.5 steals and 3.0 blocks with 0.5 three-pointers, 52.3 percent field goal shooting and an 83.9 percent free throw clip. Too bad

the Nuggets and Warriors didn’t let him get the win in those games as well, and the Spurs (who else?) brought Davis back to earth with a pedestrian 18-point/5rebound/3-block line as New Orleans starts the season 0-3.

Kawhi Leonard – This guy made me forget my regret about not picking Ant Davis with his own terrific start to the season. He’s currently ranked No. 3 in 9-category per-game value with his norms of 32.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 5.0 spg, 0.5 treys and a flawless 22-of-22 from the line so far. The steals are to be expected from The Claw, but not the high scoring clip, which proves he is now the center of the Spurs’ universe (and they are unbeaten so far in three games).

James Harden – The Beard is auditioning for Point God under the Rockets’ rollicking O with coach Mike D’Antoni, and proved he isn’t just a wing player with a stupendous 12.5 apg average to go with 30

ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.0 spg and 2.5 3pg. Of course he’s also making 5.5 turnovers a contest, which is why Houston could only manage a split of his first two games.

Russell Westbrook – KD who? Russ is showing he’s all the Thunder needs with his near triple-double norms of 41.5 ppg, 12.5 rpg and 9.5 apg. He’s also making 1.5 treys and posting a decent 43 percent clip from the field despite taking 33 shots a game, and has to keep it up considering his backcourt mate Victor Oladipo has yet to live up to the preseason fantasy hype.

Myles Turner – Speaking of hype, the 20-year-old center has embraced it with his averages of 21.5 ppg, 13.5 rpg, and 3.5 bpg over three matches as the Pacers are now at 1-2. Drafted in the third to fourth rounds before the season, MT is currently ranked sixth overall in 9-category leagues (behind The Brow, Kevin Durant, Kawhi, Dirk Nowitzki, and Blake Griffin) and will pay owners back

handsomely if he keeps this up.

Tim Frazier – As a stand-in for Jrue Holiday, the New Orleans PG who’s on the shelf because he has to take care of his ailing wife, Frazier is competing for the league lead in assists with his 10.5 average, third behind Harden and a guy named LeBron and just a bit ahead of John Wall. Owners who picked him up in the late rounds of drafts are cashing in, and there’s little indication Jrue will be back soon for the Bugs.

DUDS Hassan Whiteside – The Heat’s starting center is doing alright with his 19 ppg, 14.5 rpg and 3.0 bpg, but it’s his atrocious free throw shooting (4 of 11 for 36.4 percent so far in two games) that’s not doing it for his owners so far (yours truly among them). But you know what you’re getting with Hassan, and in head-to-head leagues other players on your roster can balance out

his FT non-shooting.

Victor Oladipo – Like many others who spent a much-hyped second-round pick on him in drafts, your Fanatic is disappointed that VO “only” has 15.5 ppg and 1.5 apg with 33 percent FG shooting and 3.5 TOs per game to go with his expected averages of 5.0 rpg, 1.0 spg and 1.0 bpg. He may yet turn the corner in the Thunder’s slate of games next week (which includes Westbrook’s revenge game against Durant and the Warriors) so his fantasy owners need to eat

more Pacencia biscuits to bear this early phase of the season.

NEXT WEEK Sacramento will play five times next week, a boon for those who drafted DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins, Rudy Gay and (if they did) Ty Lawson, who seems to be back to his Denver best. Charlotte and Miami only play twice as well, so owners of Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Hassan and Goran Dragic need to get their streaming options on tap.

Comments and suggestions are welcome at jimbo.gulle@yahoo.com.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Tigresses battle Lady Warriors

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

A8

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 , 2016

Games Wednesday 12:30 p.m. – Champion Supra vs Air Force (Spikers) 4 p.m. – BaliPure vs Coast Guard (V-League) 6 p.m. – UST vs Pocari (V-League)

Sports Michelle Gumabao (7) of Pocari Sweat defies BaliPure net defenders Dzi Gervacio (9) and Rysabelle Devanadera during their Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference encounter at the Philsports Arena.

STREAKING Pocari Sweat and gutsy UST, both bracing for a dogfight in Wednesday’s final day of eliminations in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, won’t be going anywhere but their respective gyms to practice during this holiday break.

At stake is not just the top spot in the Final Four but also the momentum and confidence needed in what promises to be a pair of exciting semifinals matches in the season-ending conference of the league where it all started.

Pocari dropped just one set in a stirring five-game win run after losing a five-setter to Air Force last Oct. 5. And the Lady Warriors are peaking at the right time with imports Breanna Lee Mackie and Kay Kacsits now blending well with the locals, led by Michelle Gumabao, Myla Pablo and Elaine Kasilag and Fil-Am setter Iris Tonelada, to anchor that streak that tied them with the Tigresses on top at 5-1.

That makes their Wednesday’s duel a match to watch although Pocari Sweat looms as the slight favorite owing to its reinforced roster with UST relying on its gutsy all-Pinay crew headed by the power-hitting EJ Laure, block artist Marivic Meneses, Carla Sandoval, Pam Lastimosa, Chlodia Cortez and the exciting Cherry Rondina.

Belo leads rookies in PBA Draft

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE Smart Gilas Cadets were officially distributed to the 12 teams in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Draft yesterday with Mac Belo considered as the top player in the bunch.

Cojuangco says election rules in place since 2008

By Peter Atencio RULES concerning the attendance of the president and the chairman of a national sports association have been in place for the last eight years.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. said this after boxing chief Ricky Vargas sought of a motion for reconsideration, and the candidacy of Tom Carrasco for the chairmanship of the POC has been put in question as well.

“It’s been there since 2008. This rule has been there since 2008.

These are the two highest positions in the POC. The members feel that those holding the position of president and chairman should know everything happening in the organization,” said Cojuangco.

He explained that the provision contained in Article 7, Section 11 of the POC constitution and bylaws specifically called for the president and chairman of an NSA to be present at any of the meetings of the general assembly.

Vargas, who is the president of the Amateur Boxing Alliance of the Philippines, has filed a motion for reconsideration after the Philippine Olympic Committee’s three-man election committee, headed by Frank Elizalde, disqualified him from running against the 82-year-old Cojuangco.

With the special draft featuring the National team trainees already done, the league formalized the selections as it announced, in alphabetical order, where the Gilas players are headed.

Belo, widely recognized as the best talent available, went to Blackwater Elite as expected. National Collegiate Athletic Association superstar Jio Jalalon was selected by Star and versatile swingman Kevin Ferrer went to Barangay Ginebra.

Those three were considered as the top prospects among all applicants.

San Miguel went big and acquired Arnold Van Opstal, Mahindra took Russel Escoto, Alaska got Carl Bryan Cruz, Rain or Shine tapped Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal went to GlobalPort, Meralco had Ed Daquioag, NLEX added another big man with Fonso Gotladera, Phoenix grabbed a shooter in Matthew Wright and TNT KaTropa added a gunner in Roger Pogoy.

Belo expressed his excitement as his PBA career looms.

“I will do my best for the team. I will

continue my hard work so that I can help the team. I am so excited,” said Belo who is projected to be the new star of the Elite.

In the regular draft that followed, the Elite also had the first pick and grabbed Ael Banal, a combo guard, to boost its backcourt.

He was followed by Gelo Alolino (Phoenix), Jammer Jamito (Ginebra), Joseph Eriobu (Mahindra), Chris Javier (Star), Rashawn McCarthy (San Miguel), Jonathan Grey (Meralco), Re-

den Celda (NLEX), Jericho De Guzman (Ginebra) and Phoenix Jeoff Javillonar (Phoenix).

Alaska and Rain or Shine passed in this round.

In the third round overall, Blackwater added Tristan Perez (Blackwater) and he was followed by Francis Tamsi (GlobalPort), Jessie Saitanan (Meralco), Jovit Dela Cruz (San Miguel), Ryan Arambulo (GlobalPort), Paolo Javelona (Phoenix), Cedrick Ablaza (Mahindra) and Alejandro Inigo (Phoenix).

Pacquiao, Donaire look impressive at practice

By Ronnie Nathanielsz EIGHT division world champion Manny Pacquiao and Philippine senator and “Fighter of the Decade” is back to his old form as a devastating punching machine while World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire looks amazing.

ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo told the Manila Standard that Hall of Fame

trainer Freddie Roach revealed “his left shoulder was hurting while Buboy Fernandez also complained that his elbow ached because of Manny’s punching power” in seven rounds on the punch-mitts.

Roach complimented Pacquiao for his footwork during six rounds of sparring with Rey Beltran and said “Manny is exactly where we wanted him to be.

He added Pacquiao has shown “amazing energy after nine to 10 hours of work

in the Senate and then the gym and added, that he’s “really pleased, he was perfect.”

Pacquiao’s training team indicated “they can feel the old Manny is back and if Jessie Vargas comes forward” because he is a fighter, “the 5’10” champion will be in deep trouble.”

In an interview with The Main Event, Donaire laughed off unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno’s decision to dye his fair to boost his confidence.

Nonito, told us “it was a way to take his mind off the fight... something that keeps his (Magdaleno’s) mind off the fight. Something that keeps his focus away from the fight. He is scared of me.

It’s fear.”

Donaire said he is “physically and mentally well into this fight” and that Cuban trainer Ismael Salas had shown him “a better way to fight, more precise, more accurate.”

Cleveland Cavs stay unbeaten

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) protects the basketball against Orlando Magic defender Aaron Gordon. James had 23 points, nine assists and six rebounds to lead the Cavaliers to a 105-99 victory. AFP

Weak-hitting Cubs on brink of another World Series flop CHICAGO—Woeful hitting has the Chicago Cubs on the brink of an eighth consecutive World Series defeat to extend America’s longest sports title drought since their last championship in 1908.

Cleveland’s 7-2 romp over the Cubs at iconic Wrigley Field gave the Indians a 3-1 lead in Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final and a chance to snap their own futility streak by winning Sunday for their first crown since 1948.

But Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he likes Chicago’s chances to make a rare comeback for

the trophy if they can fight their way into a sixth game Tuesday at Cleveland.

“We have to have a one-game winning streak tomorrow, and if we do that, I really would be feeling pretty good about going back to Cleveland,” Maddon said.

“We just need that offensive epiphany somehow to get us pushing in the right direction. And if we do that, I really think, based on what they have left pitching-wise and what we have, going back over there, I kind of like our chances.” AFP

LOS ANGELES—It wasn’t always pretty, but the Cleveland Cavaliers held on for a 105-99 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday to stay unbeaten in the fledgling NBA season.

Shooting guard J.R. Smith, whose contract dispute dragged on through training camp before the reigning NBA champs inked him to a four-year deal worth as much as $57 million, gave good value with three three-pointers in the final three and a half minutes as Cleveland won after letting most of an 18-point lead get away.

“Not every game is going to be pretty for us,” Cavs guard Kyrie Irving said.

“We understand that. (We) came off a kind of late win just like this against Toronto yesterday and now Swish (Smith) hit the big shot. For us it’s just about being ready no matter what the score is.

We’ve just got to stay resilient.”

Superstar LeBron James had 23 points, nine assists and six rebounds, Irving added 20 and Smith shook off another slow start to score 16 points – 11 of them in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Love fouled out in the final minute with 19 points and five rebounds as the Cavaliers improved to 3-0 for the

season less than a week after raising their 2015-16 championship banner.

After controlling most of the contest, Cleveland opened the fourth quarter shooting just 2 of 12. They went more than five minutes without a basket from the floor, and the Magic had trimmed the deficit to 88-85 with four minutes to play.

“I just thought there was a stretch in the game where we messed around, took some bad shots,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said.

Lue said Smith is still finding his rhythm after missing all but one pre-season game.

But James found him in the corner for a big three-pointer after Orlando’s Elfrid Payton’s jump shot pulled the visitors within three.

Smith added another three-pointer on the Cavaliers’ next trip down and one more in the final minute.

“The guys just set the table for me,” Smith said. “It was just time for me to eat.”

In Denver, Damian Lillard made a floating seven-foot shot with three-tenths of a second remaining in overtime to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a 115-113 triumph. AFP

NU Lady Bulldogs demolish DLSU, 93-77

By Peter Atencio JACK Daniel Animam came up with double-double outputs for reigning two-time champion National University which went on to clobber De La Salle, 93-77, last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The victory moved the NU Lady Bulldogs within two wins of clinching an outright Finals berth in the UAAP Season 79 women’s basketball tournament.

Animam had 25 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks for the Lady Bulldogs, who stayed unbeaten after 12 games.

Earlier, University of Santo Tomas boosted its Final Four bid after easing out last season’s runner-up Ateneo, 59-42.

NU, unbeaten after 44 games spanning three years, has assured itself of a twice-to-beat bonus in the Final Four.

The Lady Bulldogs banked on a 28-point second period explo-

sion to put the game beyond recall.

Gemma Miranda (23 points, 13 rebounds) and Afril Bernardino (21 points, 12 boards) also produced double-double numbers for NU. De La Salle absorbed its second straight loss.

The Lady Archers fell to a tie with idle University of the East in second place at 8-3. This tightened the race for the other twiceto-beat slot.

Credit data system pushed B3

IN BRIEF Outstanding govt debt exceeds P6t

OUTSTANDING government debt hit P6.08 trillion as of end-September 2016, as the peso fell to its weakest level in seven years in September.

Data from the Treasury showed that outstanding debt rose 2.5 percent from P5.935 trillion in September 2015, as both foreign and local debt increased over the past 12 months.

The Treasury showed on a monthly basis, government debt increased 1.8 percent, or P106 billion, from P5.98 trillion recorded in August this year.

Domestic debt grew 0.5 percent to P3.9 trillion in September from P3.88 trillion recorded in the same period a year ago.

This was also P20.75 billion higher than P3.85 trillion recorded in August.

“The growth in domestic debt portfolio was a combined effect of government securities net issuance amounting to P19.79 billion and upward adjustment in the peso value of onshore dollar securities by P0.96 billion due to peso depreciation,” the Treasury said.

Domestic debt accounted for almost 64.15 percent of total outstanding government debt as of the end-September.

Foreign debt climbed 6.3 percent to P2.18 trillion as end-September from P2.07 trillion in the same month last year. This was also P85.9 billion higher than the end-August 2016 level.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

B1

Sy also eyes new airport

By Darwin G. Amojelar

B

ELLE Corp., a property developer led by retail tycoon Henry Sy, joined a consortium that plans to build a new international airport, seaport, economic zone and mixed-used real estate development off the coast of Sangley Point in Cavite worth up to $50 billion.

Belle and Solar Group’s All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. signed a shareholders’ agreement for the Philippine Global Gateway Project Saturday.

Belle, part of Henry Sy’s SM Group, will become an almost equal partner in the project, said Edmundo Lim, the venture’s vice chairman. China Communications Construction Co.’s dredging unit is set to be both an investor and technical partner.

“This project started in 2012 when ARRC was established by the shareholders with a vision to build a world-class airport facility that can accommodate passenger traffic well into the year 2050 and the first integrated sea port that is accessible to the inhabitants and business enterprises located in the Greater Manila area,” ARRC president Wilson Tieng said.

Tieng said the project would also provide efficient and transportation connectivity for private and public vehicles and rail system.

ARRC plans to reclaim 2,500 hectares at Sangley Point. The company expects to complete the reclamation in 12 months, according to Tieng.

Tieng said the new airport would be designed to have a capacity of 50 million passengers and be completed in five years.

“It has been submitted to Neda [National Economic and Development Authority] and during the Cabinet meeting it was verbally approved by President Duterte,” Tieng said.

Tieng said the project cost could reach $50 billion

because it would involve airport, seaport, economic zone and real estate components.

“Probably we can say that we are looking at $50 billion for the whole project. It’s big, it involves airport, seaport and ecozone,” Tieng said.

Belle vice chairman and executive director Willy Ocier said the project was very timely considering the air and land traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

“This project will also provide the platform for increased economic activity.” he said.

Tieng’s ARCC would be competing with San Miguel Corp., which earlier proposed to build a new international airport at a reclaimed area along the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road for $10 billion.

Ang, after being told of Sy’s proposal, said in a text message it’s now going to be a “beauty contest.”

Solar, owned by the Tieng brothers, has investments in industries such as TV networks, real estate and consumer goods. San Miguel, the country’s largest food and drinks company, has expanded under Ang into non-allied industries, including tollroads and power. Bloomberg

Money supply up 13% to P8.8t

BEST PH BANK.

DOMESTIC liquidity, or money supply, increased 12.6 percent year-on-year to P8.8 trillion in September, driven mainly by sustained demand for credit, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said over the weekend.

The September growth was faster than the 11.9-percent revised expansion in the previous month. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 rose 1 percent.

“Demand for credit remains the main driver of money supply growth. Domestic claims grew by 16.1 percent in September from 15.1 percent in August, due largely to sustained growth in credit to the private sector,” Bangko Sentral said.

“Growth in bank loans remains strong on account of lending to key production sectors such as real estate activities; electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; manufacturing; and information and communication,” it said.

“The continued expansion in M3 affirms the BSP’s assessment that liquidity conditions remain manageable and supportive of non-inflationary growth. Consistent with its mandate, the BSP will continue to closely monitor monetary conditions to ensure that overall monetary settings are in line with its price and financial stability objectives,” Bangko Sentral said. Julito G. Rada

BDO Unibank Inc. is recognized as the Best Bank in the Philippines in the Global Finance World Best Bank Awards 2016. BDO won the citation after meeting the set of criteria comprising of growth in assets, profitability, strategic relationships, customer service, competitive pricing and innovative products. BDO president and chief executive Nestor Tan (right) receives the certificate of recognition from Global Finance publisher and editorial director Joseph Giarraputo in a ceremony held during the IMF/ World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington D.C.

Duterte supportive of IT BPO industry

THE government remains supportive of the information technology and business process management sector, according to the Information and Communications Technology Department.

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rudy Salalima said the sector had the full backing of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I assure you that the BPO industry will be protected not only by me but by the president.

I will protect your industry as long as I am the secretary of the DICT,” Salalima said in a news briefing after the formal release of the IT-BPM Roadmap 2017-2022 in Pasay City.

“He is a very sincere human. Do not prejudge our president. I assure you that there is no conflict to what he said about the US during the China state visit. He only wants economic independence without cutting ties with the US,” Salalima said.

More than 70 percent of the business process management companies in the Philippines serve the American market.

Under the new roadmap, the IT-BPM sector expects revenues to climb to $38.9 billion by 2022 from $22.9 billion at present. Jobs in the sector are expected to increase four-folds to 7.8 million of direct, indirect and induced jobs with 1.6 million full-time equivalent. Othel V. Campos

business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Pagcor posts Phinma keen on Pangasinan LNG plant P3.2-b profit

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Gabrielle H. Binaday STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said net income rose 0.3 percent in the first nine months to P3.2 billion from P3.18 billion a year ago, on the back of improved gaming operations.

Pagcor said income from gaming operations jumped 17 percent to P38.13 billion as of end-September. Excluding gaming taxes and contributions, net income from gaming operations reached P19.193 billion, it said.

Total expenses rose 3.9 percent to P15.983 billion from P15.385 billion a year ago. It was also 3.5 percent higher than its programmed expenditures of P15.447 billion for the period.

Pagcor said total assets hit P34.218 billion while total liabilities settled at P20.855 billion as of end-September.

Pagcor earlier this year won a Supreme Court decision that it should be exempted from corporate taxes.

The Finance Department, however, plans to slap taxes on casinos and to fully omit Pagcor’s commercial functions.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters the plan was to tax the winnings of individuals from casinos.

“Well if you win in the casino you should pay a tax just like what you do in other countries,” Dominguez said earlier.

Dominguez also said the agency would push through with the privatization of “obsolete” state-run institutions including the commercial functions of Pagcor.

“We had a discussion [with Pagcor chief Andrea Domingo] and I suggested that Pagcor should limit itself to the regulatory functions and should privatize their casino operations. Because quite frankly it is very difficult for them to outplay the other seven casinos,” Dominguez said.

Domingo earlier said of the P46 billion the state firm earned in 2015, half or P23 billion came from gaming operations, while licensees contributed the other half.

PHINMA Energy Corp. is keen on developing an integrated liquefied natural gas facility in Sual, Pangasinan, an executive said over the weekend.

Phinma senior vice president for energy resources development Raymundo Reyes said the feasibility study for the project was expected to be completed early next year.

He said the planned LNG facility, which would include a 380-megawatt LNG power plant, drew strong interest from potential partners.

“We are still deciding, maybe by second quarter of next year. We will talk with potential partners,” Reyes said.

Reyes said the feasibility study would include the costing, different options or configurations of the LNG facility.

He said Phinma Energy was likely to make the final investment decision by early 2018, as it needed to raise financing for the project.

Reyes said the company was still keen on the project after announcing its initial plan in April.

“We have long been interested. We tried to be part of Shell…but they have not pushed through with the FSRU [floating, storage, regasification unit],” Reyes said.

Phinma announced in April that the LNG facility would include an import terminal and natural gas plant estimated to cost at least $500 million.

Reyes earlier said the planned LNG facility would be enough to power a 500-megawatt gas-fired power plant.

The company said in a separate disclosure “it is seeking to expand operations to include the midstream sector,” which involves the transportation and delivery of petroleum products.

“Tapet is currently conducting a pre-feasibility study for the construction of a liquefied natural gas import terminal at a prospective site in Sual, Pangasinan,” Phinma said, referring to unit Trans-Asia Petroleum Corp.

“The facility is intended to supply gas for power generation as well as for industrial, commercial and transport applications,” the company said.

CARGILL’S NEW PLANT. Cargill is opening a new facility at the First Bulacan Industrial Park in Malolos, Bulacan

that will manufacture premix feed solutions to expand its animal nutrition capabilities and meet increasing demand from domestic customers. This will be Cargill’s fifth animal nutrition facility in the Philippines and its first dedicated to manufacturing Provimi premix solutions. Shown are (from left) Shimizu Philippines general manager Makoto Fujii, Cargill’s country representative Philip Soliven, Cargill Premix and Nutrition country cirector Noel Kim, Malolos City yayor Christian Natividad and Cargill Premix and Nutrition Southeast Asia director John Fering.

B2

Business

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market likely to remain volatile

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

RADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to remain volatile in this shortened trading week, on heightened possibility of a US interest rate hike before the end of the year.

Analysts said the strong thirdquarter US gross domestic product growth report could push the Federal Reserve to implement another round of rate increase in December.

The US economy expanded 2.9 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, the fastest growth recorded over the past two years.

Investors are also focusing on the upcoming US presiden-

tial elections in November and results of the third-quarter earnings report of listed firms.

“Chartwise, the last week’s close at 7,404.80 signals the recent rally towards the 7,721.51 as a mere technical rebound.

Continue to see the market to range between the 7,300 and 7,500 levels in the week ahead,” BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index fell 3.2 percent over last week’s fiveday market trading to close at 7,404.80 on Friday, while the broader all-share index declined 2.7 percent to 4,398.58, as investors remained cautious ahead of the third-quarter corporate earnings and higher expectations of a rate hike in the US. All six sectors ended in the red, led by property and services which both went down by 3.9 percent while holding firms and financial companies posted declines of 3.2 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

Despite the huge drop in the market last week, the PSEi was still up by 6.5 percent in the first 10 months of the year.

Foreign investors were net sellers last week of P2.25 billion, as they sold P19.9 billion worth of shares compared to P17.73 billion that they bought.

Top gainers last week were casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which climbed 2.3 percent to P5.92 and port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. which went up by 2.2 to P77.80. Both companies are owned by billionaire Enrique Razon.

Heavy losers included holding firms GT Capital Holdings Inc. which declined by 7.7 percent to P1,311, Alliance Global Group Inc. which went down by 6.7 percent to P14.56 and DMCI Holdings Inc. which dropped 6.3 percent to P12.50.

Century Pacific Food gets Kamayan brand

By Alena Mae S. Flores CENTURY Pacific Food Inc. said wholly-owned subsidiary Century Pacific Seacrest Inc. acquired the license to the Kamayan trademark for North America.

Kamayan is one of the top brands in the US market for shrimp paste―a popular condiment in Philippine cuisine, locally known as bagoong.

“This is an exciting addition

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

OCTOBER 24-28, 2016 Close Volume

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

3.57 47.75 112.80 101.10 37.95 3.74 1.38 9 16.08 19.12 6.63 0.72 1.88 665.00 0.830 81.3 0.85 14.2 22.05 58.00 95.05 150 255 35.9 220.4 1496.00 74.95 1.38

311,400 67,000 9,574,910 8,304,670 799,200 144,000 192,000 1,000 123,500 1,316,300 900 10,137,000 43,000 200 25,431,000 24,340,310 581,000 506,300 400 201,930 2,950 3,790 11,360 461,600 3,855,890 1,120 464,330 727,000

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

45.95 3.88 0.93 1.4 18 132 34.00 11.42 16.7 100.1 23 62 2.07 6.8 12.5 10.980 7.25 5.90 7.20 1.87 22.95 69.35 12.46 16.60 6.06 2.020 238.00 82.00 2 3.91 26.55 30.25 27 15 276.00 0.260 4.60 3.11 10.38 3.29 11.36 2.17 5.82 1.48 3.67 4.30 2.2 3.15 225 4.1 0.147 1.70 182 4.58 2.17 1.15

7,826,900 4,918,000 17,353,000 7,656,000 329,100 40,600 700,360 37,808,900 6,463,800 4,350 1,919,300 398,170 792,000 11,900,600 802,100 22,207,300 8,646,900 30,780,200 2,178,800 69,000 12,064,600 1,620,490 7,100 2,199,200 3,240,000 2,039,000 2,527,290 18,500 17,000 145,000 200 8,692,500 1,913,800 23,766,900 1,016,460 681,000 24,000 18,974,000 15,697,100 1,000 14,900 4,619,000 3,446,200 660,000 1,358,000 22,513,000 2,000 129,000 34,050 1,015,000 13,510,000 1,353,000 5,732,970 715,000 29,459,000 12,378,000

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

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.395 78.00 14.26 1.26 5.95 0.330 0.340 835 1003.00 8.5 12.50 6.04 8.17 0.208 1311 6.27 76.00 4 7.95 0.99 14.44 7.2 0.0380 1.910 80.50 2.21 672.00 1.19 0.89 188.00 235.000 0.3000 0.2020 0.260

50,240,000 8,625,380 26,060,000 330,000 242,900 1,970,000 70,000 1,638,880 20 4,498,500 42,423,700 8,100 7,404,300 760,000 849,740 8,100 11,315,210 2,000 3,689,100 87,107,000 12,902,400 134,559,700 554,200,000 536,000 528,960 35,000 1,718,890 863,000 65,000 60 37,010 6,190,000 1,880,000 980,000

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

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

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

7.120 1.11 2.300 0.295 36.250 2.92 5.16 0.600 1.16 1.050 0.152 0.650 55.8 0.760 0.137 0.97 1.77 1.07 4.02 0.166 0.415 35.25 3.36

625,600 5,216,000 2,429,000 20,923,000 67,524,100 13,321,000 130,300 19,330,000 335,000 136,000 28,170,000 105,173,000 3,447,483 372,000 3,810,000 8,240,000 20,636,000 1,323,000 155,927,000 178,790,000 230,000 3,700 3,033,000

Value FINANCIAL 13,511,300.00 3,188,895.00 1,080,264,642 848,019,247.00 30,323,950.00 548,900.00 261,140.00 8,810.00 1,994,488.00 25,464,682.00 5,970 7,095,440 79,880.00 132,500.00 21,585,510.00 2,059,177,816.50 498,440.00 7,188,240.00 8,820.00 11,743,496.50 285,019.00 573,094.00 2,936,624.00 16,802,350 848,418,974.00 1,679,345 34,844,642.00 1,016,140.00 INDUSTRIAL 354,756,935.00 18,914,620.00 17,310,420.00 10,879,530.00 5,801,686.00 5,146,112.00 26,169,905.00 428,988,764.00 109,266,686 444,354.00 44,899,590.00 25,323,498 1,653,300.00 85,320,651.00 10,203,972.00 248,190,420.00 63,420,554.00 181,214,540.00 16,353,238.00 128,630.00 276,374,040.00 113,376,671.50 85,710.00 36,586,820.00 19,758,613.00 4,171,070.00 617,979,892.00 1,584,116.50 33,760.00 594,470.00 5,310.00 265,976,505.00 52,823,260.00 371,088,592.00 285,051,056.00 216,630.00 112,420.00 58,821,370.00 164,923,952.00 3,290.00 167,956.00 10,075,820.00 20,414,380.00 983,070.00 5,138,320.00 96,733,250.00 4,400.00 413,410.00 7,610,800.00 4,530,850.00 1,991,790.00 2,333,910.00 1,043,774,508 3,278,990.00 65,687,110.00 14,236,140.00 HOLDING FIRMS 18,572,450.00 661,285,355.00 378,721,938.00 403,430.00 1,452,431.00 638,650.00 24,000.00 1,386,511,090 20,060.00 38,094,141.00 538,313,652.00 49,774.00 60,125,118.00 152,970.00 1,139,102,930.00 50,775.00 856,090,222.00 8,000.00 29,529,448.00 84,930,930.00 190,113,775.00 968,631,833.00 20,006,900.00 1,037,190.00 42,339,267.00 78,190.00 1,169,942,250.00 1,035,850.00 57,460.00 11,280.00 8,686,684.00 1,863,150.00 364,800.00 255,800.00 PROPERTY 4,511,573.00 5,796,750.00 5,601,110.00 7,436,500.00 2,500,063,975.00 38,322,950.00 661,520.00 11,427,350.00 363,590.00 143,610.00 4,403,670.00 70,756,640.00 213,774,472.50 278,100.00 523,110.00 8,092,590.00 36,668,350.00 1,422,940.00 646,081,950.00 30,859,960.00 98,650.00 125,190.00 10,387,390.00

Close

OCTOBER 17-21, 2016 Volume Value

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

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

430,870.00 14,608,595.00 1,941,114,753 739,168,028.00 112,001,030.00 709,480.00 1,795,480.00 900.00 3,550,678.00 42,344,557.00 8,683 296,620 24,370.00 167,450.00 187,292,980.00 1,703,504,346.00 9,565,350.00 9,987,580.00 19,810.00 12,852,917.00 15,757.50 19,114,578.00 1,305,038.00 74,341,165 1,457,351,666.00 3,936,040 20,502,483.50 342,050.00

45.95 3.84 1.02 1.48 15.5 113.8 200.00 11.6 17 100 23.5 62 2.14 6.69 12.36 11.500 7.35 5.93 7.60 1.87 23.25 70.6 12.50 16.60 6.1 2.050 247.00 87.80 1.94 4.02 27.85 30.9 28.5 15.94 291.20 0.250 4.50 3.08 10.74

6,660,300 12,939,000 28,116,000 5,516,000 10,800 59,310 1,010 77,992,700 16,162,400 7,170 1,809,200 543,240 2,228,000 4,482,700 103,000 21,340,900 8,364,400 41,070,800 2,288,200 100,000 6,445,400 1,234,990 163,400 6,048,388 13,152,100 2,470,000 1,774,280 29,820 14,000 115,900 2,900 31,310,200 1,858,500 13,976,100 3,006,320 2,690,000 50,000 19,683,000 16,310,300

307,025,770.00 50,212,000.00 27,024,440.00 7,206,950.00 166,890.00 6,126,374.00 197,100.00 887,780,994.00 263,318,846 727,092.00 42,442,770.00 32,840,107 4,666,300.00 30,207,181.00 1,257,952.00 242,313,092.00 61,671,979.00 243,282,506.00 16,850,271.00 182,560.00 151,060,610.00 87,359,008.00 1,969,812.00 8,841,756.00 79,984,315.00 5,023,420.00 436,994,414.00 2,222,604.00 27,290.00 513,700.00 77,390.00 971,455,215.00 52,439,920.00 216,503,268.00 861,327,850.00 658,090.00 227,520.00 60,996,870.00 172,876,002.00

11.50 2.16 5.88 1.54 3.62 4.21 2.2 3.24 222

130,100 8,095,000 4,257,506 1,228,000 1,395,000 23,425,000 6,000 47,000 8,150

1,447,128.00 17,590,610.00 25,516,273.00 1,835,030.00 4,919,830.00 97,575,650.00 13,200.00 153,170.00 1,788,734.00

0.148 1.76 184 4.58 2.18 1.19

12,140,000 2,831,000 13,616,520 73,000 18,474,000 2,072,000

1,779,070.00 4,932,760.00 2,469,515,114 333,340.00 40,122,360.00 2,413,600.00

0.385 78.10 15.28 1.28 5.99 0.340 0.330 858 1050.00 8.45 13.34

1,820,000 8,293,660 20,277,400 240,000 325,500 2,660,000 390,000 1,537,900 10 6,904,400 50,812,600

678,700.00 649,870,404.50 308,982,840.00 302,340.00 1,954,246.00 894,550.00 132,950.00 1,320,860,720 10,745.00 57,772,765.00 676,774,368.00

8.13 0.211 1420 6.27 78.90 3.76 8.2 0.8 15.5 7.18 0.0370 1.930 80.30 2.25 697.00 1.21 0.93

2,319,800 1,440,000 532,735 1,800 16,662,020 10,000 8,314,600 851,000 30,825,500 148,704,100 64,000,000 741,000 727,980 67,000 2,219,210 684,000 242,000

18,805,689.00 299,860.00 745,323,390.00 11,104.00 1,279,316,549.00 37,790.00 67,487,092.00 670,380.00 481,296,932.00 1,067,313,935.00 2,354,900.00 1,428,420.00 58,670,759.00 151,970.00 1,537,692,130.00 817,190.00 220,160.00

234.800 0.3050 0.2000 0.265

54,840 2,410,000 1,790,000 1,150,000

12,664,104.00 735,400.00 347,410.00 310,000.00

7.240 1.15 2.400 0.280 37.750 2.92 5.15 0.590 1.12 1.070 0.151 0.660 55.75 0.740 0.141 0.99 1.82 1.08 4.28 0.170 0.415 36.35 3.39

915,600 13,936,000 4,964,000 6,010,000 84,604,200 14,712,000 87,400 24,451,000 835,000 183,000 22,600,000 200,811,000 1,804,450 1,191,000 250,000 10,114,000 50,827,000 2,372,000 229,551,000 404,440,000 260,000 6,800 3,470,000

6,645,126.00 15,627,000.00 11,618,670.00 1,638,800.00 3,149,214,105.00 42,599,100.00 449,466.00 14,508,130.00 946,090.00 193,320.00 3,402,770.00 132,290,590.00 98,803,870.50 887,980.00 35,880.00 9,985,110.00 91,380,680.00 2,605,670.00 984,290,340.00 70,660,790.00 107,750.00 231,975.00 11,800,330.00

STOCKS

OCTOBER 24-28, 2016 Close Volume

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

30.95 1.63 3.28 26.90 1 0.970 5.230

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

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

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

Manila Broadcasting Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

7.8 46.4 1.29 0.550 0.057 11.48 5.39 5.92 0.0830 3.05 105 9.73 2.52 6.70 956.5 1780 6.26 13.60 17.44 2.05 77.8 17.00 135 11.78 0.0096 9.17 0.207 1.4900 3.5 13 5.15 1.71 1.02 2.12 23.00 2 4.3 4.74 3.000 11.72 5.16 2.53 8.75 158.10 8.79 1530.00 0.400 1.130 40.75 77.30 5.60 2.76 0.780 1.93 3.35 0.355

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon PREFERRED ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

0.0035 2.96 3.97 0.203 2.2600 2.2200 0.58 0.390 8.50 1.220 0.270 0.198 0.197 0.0110 0.0110 1.62 6.83 2.8 0.4850 0.9400 0.0110 0.0110 4.23 8.18 4.02 0.0120 125.90 3.15 0.0092 46.05 521 535 104 109.9 115.4 540 5.99 1003 1005 1.05 110 1094 1160 1028 107.5 110.5 80.1 76.1 79.5 79.5 79.5 77.5 78 2.3

LR Warrant

2.410

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

3.11 2.95 4.03 11.62

First Metro ETF

122.4

Value

Close

8,507,100 639,000 833,000 79,493,400 8,974,000 388,000 38,697,300

257,427,615.00 1,023,300.00 2,724,910.00 2,208,396,625.00 9,063,910.00 378,900.00 205,505,660.00 SERVICES 282,800 2,171,337.00 77,100 3,662,240.00 623,000 843,950.00 7,572,000 4,241,500.00 676,280,000 38,979,080.00 500 5,646.00 11,600 60,688 72,283,500 430,451,291.00 110,480,000 9,295,300.00 5,135,000 15,881,980.00 1,980,420 211,043,937.00 3,300 32,241.00 57,000 148,450 244,600 1,649,600.00 3,110 2,978,395.00 360,800 657,525,170 1,205,700 7,553,325.00 208,400 2,829,610.00 900 15,696 19,062,000 41,678,450.00 4,395,650 335,130,105.00 45,600 757,872 1,190 160,650 3,400 38,382.00 180,000,000 1,731,900.00 2,432,000 22,348,720.00 24,810,000 5,217,210.00 4,160,000 6,156,300.00 60,000 203,710.00 49,600 645,192.00 4,337,100 22,580,491 1,267,000 2,340,260.00 172,000 173,660.00 74,000 158,170.00 57,200 1,400,180 99,000 197,710.00 47,952,000 205,569,870.00 18,830,000 92,091,000.00 3,774,000 11,442,450.00 2,311,400 26,719,834.00 118,500 609,697 180,000 455,400.00 140,400 1,184,829.00 146,570 21,995,959.00 2,237,200 19,578,724.00 723,775 1,137,719,610.00 3,920,000 1,566,750.00 66,006,000 75,019,040.00 3,938,900 167,076,965.00 1,812,990 142,684,029.50 424,200 2,416,927.00 4,783,000 13,445,990.00 101,970,000 81,776,950.00 2,000 3,680.00 2,098,000 7,140,660.00 1,300,000 430,100.00 MINING & OIL 1,121,000,000 3,932,500.00 4,462,000 13,131,360.00 2,155,000 8,812,310.00 800,000 162,840.00 476,000 1,068,940.00 544,000 1,215,100.00 6,755,000 3,916,080.00 1,750,000 693,250.00 79,300 668,971.00 204,810,000 253,700,390.00 2,860,000 787,400.00 25,270,000 5,024,950.00 1,730,000 347,260.00 224,600,000 2,550,600.00 10,200,000 119,000.00 4,288,000 7,098,190.00 36,375,500 249,519,541.00 491,000 1,362,360.00 110,000 52,850.00 3,999,000 4,057,680.00 30,500,000 337,700.00 5,100,000 56,500.00 24,000 96,480.00 3,291,600 27,044,979.00 32,455,000 133,535,870.00 320,100,000 3,998,500.00 1,829,390 230,796,634.00 171,000 545,770.00 30,000,000 276,900.00 1,640,400 77,739,320.00 10 5,210.00 3,480 1,861,800 216,710 22,524,212.00 390 42,885.00 3,340 385,436.00 15,920 8,488,695.00 416,700 2,521,201.00 41,550 41,662,770.00 23,125 23,151,120.00 497,000 524,460 3,590 394,434.00 3,870 4,228,670.00 810 939,600.00 10,635 10,851,060.00 16,770 1,802,825.00 900 99,607.00 62,450 5,005,317.50 20,580 1,573,050.00 48,200 3,760,500.00 109,580 8,672,675.00 22,000 1,743,750.00 261,100 20,137,050.00 1,013,780 79,018,163.00 31,000 62,800.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 850,000 2,034,780.00 SME 39,358,000 141,484,190.00 46,000 140,650.00 541,000 2,203,910.00 18,090,486 68,469,264.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 101,960 12,547,450.00

OCTOBER 17-21, 2016 Volume Value

31.00 1.6 3.3 28.35 1.03 0.980 5.300

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

295,149,075.00 1,740,620.00 1,149,800.00 1,525,471,280.00 8,397,700.00 535,330.00 135,501,930.00

7.65 48 1.35 0.520 0.054 11.4 5.3 5.79 0.0840 3.1 108 10 2.85 6.70 956 1892 6.18 13.50 17.02 2.03 76.1 16.52 135 11.8 0.0092 9.20 0.213 1.4800 3.44 13.3 5.25 2.09 1.05 2.25 23.35 2 4.38 5.00 3.080 11.4 5.30 2.53

1,227,600 104,100 355,000 4,210,000 2,035,999,700 235,000 65,100 183,739,700 174,860,000 12,712,000 3,129,980 94,900 82,000 1,681,100 4,670 647,845 333,800 381,900 3,400 14,763,000 3,579,000 52,800 240 7,100 220,000,000 2,454,000 98,120,000 4,982,000 360,000 986,300 2,434,500 4,025,000 8,000 41,000 61,400 80,000 58,339,000 25,945,000 9,297,000 75,100 138,400 10,000

9,441,822.00 5,001,775.00 488,620.00 2,160,630.00 133,190,277.00 1,236,042.00 340,988 986,882,859.00 15,002,930.00 40,173,890.00 285,716,863.00 926,610.00 202,240 11,259,222.00 4,490,480.00 1,234,269,815 2,074,721.00 5,204,986.00 57,920 30,706,970.00 275,514,250.00 895,408 32,540 80,990.00 2,066,500.00 22,596,685.00 21,351,770.00 7,189,720.00 1,203,300.00 12,606,284.00 12,445,111 8,408,440.00 8,310.00 89,270.00 1,421,660 160,000.00 244,593,110.00 127,330,150.00 29,572,170.00 853,610.00 715,044 25,300.00

149.50 9.00 1645.00 0.400 1.140 43.10 81.00 5.70 2.88 0.780 1.86 3.4 0.355

1,820 11,521,400 845,010 2,630,000 111,433,000 11,491,900 11,582,390 1,418,300 5,224,000 118,367,000 6,000 4,335,000 480,000

261,368.00 102,630,239.00 1,390,574,185.00 1,055,550.00 122,697,830.00 484,565,895.00 872,665,565.00 8,097,247.00 14,988,230.00 92,485,150.00 11,160.00 14,493,480.00 158,200.00

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

1,010,000,000 918,000 2,393,000 1,890,000 377,000 70,000 2,062,000 3,900,000 69,900 621,656,000 1,750,000 47,950,000 9,320,000 125,700,000 285,800,000 11,851,000 63,829,700 152,000 130,000 520,000 47,400,000 52,200,000 11,627,000 5,962,500 104,547,000 118,100,000 5,306,690 613,000 39,000,000

3,642,000.00 2,811,730.00 9,800,140.00 386,440.00 767,540.00 145,750.00 1,222,150.00 1,530,150.00 567,578.00 722,172,640.00 464,550.00 9,436,230.00 1,861,420.00 462,000.00 3,285,600.00 19,935,740.00 445,554,646.00 431,810.00 59,250.00 466,050.00 521,900.00 624,300.00 45,937,280.00 48,692,384.00 455,181,650.00 1,420,200.00 670,276,956.00 2,035,730.00 361,900.00

48 529 535 103.5 103.8 116 521 6

1,865,200 8,900 10,520 240,180 610 31,660 4,440 276,300

89,460,810.00 4,708,100.00 5,588,200 24,862,487.00 65,662.00 3,661,060.00 2,267,630.00 1,659,093.00

109 1091 110.8 1020 107.5 112 82 76.1 77.5 79 79 78 77.85

9,480 1,740 90 48,035 10 20,010 92,830 150,010 12,180 102,990 16,930 95,150 478,640

2,300,940.00 1,898,340.00 9,972.00 10,690,535.00 1,075.00 2,241,108.00 7,484,907.00 11,448,882.00 949,035.00 8,135,885.50 1,333,040.00 7,347,345.00 37,091,572.50

2.450

2,086,000

5,004,880.00

3.56 3.09 4.12 12.3

6,957,000 136,000 1,280,000 26,768,700

25,039,400.00 402,710.00 5,329,640.00 324,892,950.00

126.8

109,980

13,625,266.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Apollo Global Pacifica `A’ Philodrill Corp. `A’ Manila Mining `A’ Ferronickel IP E-Game Ventures Inc. MRC Allied Ind. Megaworld Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

VOLUME 1,121,000,000 676,280,000 554,200,000 320,100,000 224,600,000 204,810,000 180,000,000 178,790,000 155,927,000 134,559,700

STOCKS Ayala Land `B’ SM Prime Holdings Metrobank Ayala Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. GT Capital PLDT Common Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Universal Robina Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

VALUE 2,500,063,975.00 2,208,396,625.00 2,059,177,816.50 1,386,511,090.00 1,169,942,250.00 1,139,102,930.00 1,137,719,610.00 1,080,264,642.00 1,043,774,508.00 968,631,833.00

to Century Pacific’s growing range of products and brands,” Gregory Banzon, vice president and general manager for branded export of Century Pacific, said.

Century Pacific is the Philippines’ largest canned food company. We “ intend to capitalize on our manufacturing and marketing capabilities, plus our developing sales coverage globally, to expand the Kamayan portfolio,” Banzon said. Kamayan brand has grown its presence in the United States since entering the market in the 1980s.

It is currently being sold in leading Asian food stores across the West and East Coast, catering primarily to large Filipino communities there. Century Pacific’s acquisition also includes the Kamayan license for Canada. It is also expected to support the growth of Century Pacific’s international branded business as it continues to expand in countries where there is a strong overseas Filipino presence.

Century Pacific has established market leadership locally for brands Century Tuna, Argentina Corned Beef, 555 Sardines and Birch Tree.

The same brands gained traction abroad as the company gradually builds its international presence.

The company’s branded products are available in more than 55 countries globally.

Flagship Century Tuna is now among the leading brands in China, Vietnam and the Middle East. The acquisition of Kamayan is also in line with Century Pacific’s strategy to be a leading player in ambient food products.

ABS-CBN’s mobile unit seen to cut net losses

By Darwin G Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp. said it expects to reduce the net losses of its mobile and digital terrestrial television businesses next year.

ABS-CBN Mobile posted a net loss of P560 million while its DTT business incurred a P470-million loss in the nine-month period.

“We are starting to see see improvements in the revenues of DTT. We will start selling minutes for DTT channels,” ABS-CBN chief financial officer Aldrin Cerrado said.

The broadcast network aims to sell 2 million ABSCBN TVPlus by end-December, up from 1.6 million boxes sold as of September.

“For ABS-CBN Mobile, we are looking at trimming down the loss by next year,” Cerrado said.

The company had over 600,000 subscribers as of September, up by 50 percent from a year ago.

The country’s leading media and entertainment company reported a net income of P2.85 billion in January to September, up from P1.89 billion in the same period last year.

ABS-CBN’s revenues increased 12 percent to P31 billion from P27.76 billion last year.

Cerrado attributed the growth to strong advertising revenues in the first nine months, which were boosted by election-related spending and the continued leadership in ratings of primetime shows.

Business Aseagas fires up biomass facility

By Alena Mae S. Flores ASEAGAS Corp. has started operating its 8.8-megawatt biomass power plant in Sitio Hermosa, Barangay Malaruhatan in Lian, Batangas Danel Aboitiz, president and chief operating officer of Aboitiz Power Corp.’s oil business unit, told reporters the company planned to start commercial operations of the plant in the next two months. The power plant uses organic wastes as fuel.

“Commissioning is very difficult to predict. … it’s our first time to commission that kind of power plant…, he said.

“With all the other power players who have moved to a different kind of technology, they had notoriously low availability factors during the first six months of commissioning,” he said.

Aboitiz said the company they had not made any expansion plans and was focusing on the commissioning of the plant.

He said the project would avail of the feed-in tariff rate given to a renewable energy source under the Renewable Energy Act of 2001.

Aseagas has marked a major safety milestone after recording one million hours of safe working without lost time incident.

“Aseagas has carried out work over the last two years in a challenging environment. To reach one million man hours is a considerable milestone in itself, but to accomplish this without a single reported incident is a significant achievement,” Aseagas president Sabin Aboitiz said.

The first Aseagas plant will use the organic effluent directly from Absolut Distillery’s plant in Lian, Batangas, where the wastewater is converted into power and other by-products.

The plant could power 22,000 households.

IN BRIEF PCIC allots P622m for crop damage STATE-owned Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has earmarked P622 million to indemnify farmers in Luzon following the successive onslaught of typhoons Karen and Lawin.

PCIC president Jovy Bernabe said in a report to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol that a quick assessment of the post-typhoon situation showed that 103,338 hectares operated by 81,700 farmers were damaged.

The report said the rice sector suffered the most, with about 77 percent of the farmers and areas affected.

Corn farmers accounted for about 15 percent and while their farms represented 13 percent of those damaged by the typhoons.

Bernabe said rice accounted for 86 percent, or P533.26 million of the indemnity allocation; corn, 1.86 percent or P11.55 million; and high-value crops, 12 percent or P76.82 million.

Typhoon Karen hit the country on October 15 to 16 while Typhoon Lawin, which was the most destructive to hit this year, struck on October 19 to 20. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Japan to promote other tourism sites JAPAN Association of Travel Agents, Japan’s biggest travel group, agreed to promote new Philippine destinations after the successful introduction of Cebu, the Tourism Department said Friday.

JATA members are expected to meet in the next few days to study the Philippine proposal to keep a strong presence in the Japanese market. The Philippines offered new and emerging destinations such as Bohol, Laoag, Siargao, Iloilo, Palawan, Clark, and Davao.

“With JATA’s renewed commitment to promote the Philippine Tourism Department, we could only anticipate the Japanese market to rise to number one in generating inbound tourists,” said Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo. Othel V. Campos

B3

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Credit data system pushed

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

S

TATE-run Credit Information Corp. affirmed its position that the Credit Information Systems Act is constitutional amid calls from several sectors to suspend the law.

CIC chief executive officer and president Jaime Garchitorena told reporters only the Supreme Court could determine the constitutionality of the law.

Passed into law in 2008, Republic Act No. 9510 or CISA directed all lending institutions to submit their clients’ basic and credit data to CIC. The law calls on lending agencies like banks to submit the credit track record of their borrowers to CIC. The requirement will enable a lending agency to gain access to the record of a borrower and help it in deciding on a loan application.

“One is that some people claim that

the law itself is unconstitutional, so our answer to that is that no one can determine the constitutionality of a law, except the Supreme Court. So unless it’s brought forth to the supreme court, the law stands,” Garchitorena said.

“The CISA bill was passed unanimously, zero opposition in both the Congress and the Senate. So when we talk about constitutionality, you’d have to imagine that first of all, the premise for this CISA act did not exist,” he added.

Garchitorena also defended CIC on the issue of privacy against the data collection activity of the agency.

“Fortunately for us, the data privacy act is very explicit when it says that the data collection activities by the CIC, using the RA 9510 as a basis for collecting data, is exempted from the data privacy act,” he said.

Several groups of cooperatives from Mountain Province province and the Visayas areas sought a postponement of the implementation of the law on alleged violation of the Philippine Cooperative Code.

The law states that a cooperative is an autonomous and duly registered association of persons, with a common bond of interest, and independently controlled by its members.

Article 140 of the Code prohibits “direct or indirect interference or intervention by any public official or employee into the internal affairs of a cooperative of which he is not a member.” “… the word autonomy may have been used in their law, but I cannot imagine a

law that creates an institution that is autonomous from the law. … even if you are given autonomy to do business, autonomy does not mean being autonomous from the law,” Garchitorena said.

CIC recently extended the deadline for data submission among large and medium cooperatives until the end of the first semester of 2017 in response to the call of cooperatives and their federations.

Cooperatives have faced challenges in meeting CIC’s deadline. These include the inability of many cooperative members to provide a tax identification number, their lack of access to the internet and technical capacity, and the outdated nature of their systems.

“The cooperatives are a critical participant in the national financial ecosystem and front-liners in the goal of enabling greater access to credit for MSMEs,” Garchitorena said.

TELCO SUPPORT. Globe Telecom Inc. chief technology and information officer and chief strategy officer Gil Genio (extreme left) underscores the need for government support in developing telco infrastructure and harnessing the full potential of the ICT industry during a Philippine Trade Summit panel discussion organized by the British Chamber of Commerce Manila Philippines. Genio is joined in the panel by (from left) Samie Lim, chairman emeritus, Blims Lifestyle Group; Senen Perlada, Export Marketing Bureau director of the Department of Trade and Standard Industry; Mike Toledo, head of the Metro Pacific Group mediaTODAY bureau; and events moderator Cielito Habito, chief of party, USAID Trade-Related Assistance for Development Project.

Hope and future through classical music MUSIC in its varimeals, uniforms and ous forms and genre daily counseling in provide tonic and a values formation. SevDENNIS L. BERINO, eral groups have been positive force that DBA can inspire people to formed in various Philfeel good, to do good REEN IGHT ippine locales which things, to feel conbenefits around 600 nected, to be energized. One particu- scholars and counting. lar type of music which traces its roots Giving opportunities to grow during the classical period in the 18th and flourish century is what we refer to as classiFrom the SFY scholars was born cal music. And we normally associate what is now known as the Orchestra them with musical giants like Bach, of the Filipino Youth, the flagship enBeethoven, Chopin, Mozart, among semble, which has performed in various others. And another normal associa- venues locally as well as abroad. tion is with the orchestra, a group of The SFY through its music advocacy musicians with various instruments led has certainly given that particular opby a conductor who can put together portunity to those with talent and intergreat sounds of inspiration. est in music to be nurtured and afforded Providing free musical education them a chance to grow and flourish.

It is common for people to think It has provided entertainment to the that to be a member of an orchestra, communities they have visited, an opone has to have the means to train as portunity to appreciate classical music well as to acquire ones instrument of at the grassroots, which many consider choice. Rightly so since it may be ex- as a high brow genre. It has also given pensive to purchase say a violin or a pride to the country whenever the muflute and more so, to engage a musical sic ambassadors through the OFY travteacher to hone ones musical aptitude. el abroad for performances.

It usually takes a good amount of time Supporting this advocacy to surface the talent and interest of an The SFY members can also consider a individual to become an accomplished life-long commitment and the playing of musician. music not only as a hobby but also as a In 1975, Jose Antonio Abreu, a Ven- vocation. And since it takes a village to ezuelan, founded a ground-breaking raise a child, we can support this advocaorganization called El Sistema devoted cy through attendance and patronage of to “free classical music education that their concerts as well as through finanpromotes human opportunity and de- cial commitment which will go a long velopment for impoverished children.” way in helping the young musicians that Abreu cites that music is an agent of so- great chance to have a bright future. cial development and has the ability to If you are interested in sponsoring unite communities. His modest move- a young musician, there are several ment has expanded not only in Venezu- sponsorship packages available. Visit ela but across the globe. their website, http://www.angmisyon.

Achieving full musical potential com/ for more information on the group Inspired by the El Sistema phe- and how to contribute to this worthy nomenon, the Sistema for the Filipino program.

Youth (SFY) was put together in 2013.

From its website, the SFY is a musiDr. Berino is an Associate Professional cal program that offers children from Lecturer with the Decision Sciences and deprived communities the opportunity Innovation Department of the Ramon V. to achieve their full musical potential del Rosario College of Business, De La through the classical music discipline, Salle University. He can be reached at with the ultimate hope of creating a dennis.berino@dlsu.edu.ph. positive impact on their respective communities.

The views expressed here are the The SFY Scholars are provided with author’s and do not necessarily reflect free music education, performance and the official position of DLSU, its faculty, transportation allowances, instruments, and its administrators.

G

L

040608 (Bank Code)

METRO SOUTH COOPERATIVE BANK

IDC Centre, Zapote Street cor. Kalayaan Avenue, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Makati City

BALANCE SHEET As of SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 ASSETS Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivables - Net Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures-Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Non-Current Assets Held for Sale Other Assets-Net Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Due to Other Banks Bills Payable a) BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) b) Interbank Loans Payable c) Other Deposit Substitute d) Others Bonds Payable-Net Unsecured Subordinated Debt-Net Redeemable Preferred Shares Special Time Deposit Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL LIABILITIES Stockholders’ Equity Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Assigned Capital TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Guarantees Issued Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Securities Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts c) Advisory/Consultancy Derivatives Others TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) c. Net NPLs d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ Deferred Charges not yet Written Down Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instruments Received

Account Code 108000000000000000 105150000000000000 105200000000000000 112000000000000000 195200000000000000 195250000000000000 195300000000000000 195350000000000000 195400000000000000 140050000000000000 195401000000000000 140150500000000000 195402000000000000 175150000000000000 148000000000000000 195452500000000000 195500500000000000 195501000000000000 150150000000000000 152000000000000000 155250000000000000 100000000000000000

Amount Current Quarter Previous Quarter 625,483.01 2,688,460.32 46,843,157.11 46,843,157.11 668,786,890.06 535,231,491,82 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10,000 000.00 20,000,000,00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,907,830,604.57 1,789,179,986.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,958,968,808.10 1,831 ,818,189.86 0.00 0.00 51,138,203.53 42,638,203.53 22,639,040.04 23,211,466.15 0.00 0.00 40,132,126.75 41,154,797.83 19,220,431.02 19,415,254.68 0.00 0.00 8,729,998.42 8,834,440.78 0.00 0.00 2,724,807,730.98 2,486,559,055.02

208000000000000000 215000000000000000 220050000000000000 220100000000000000 220100001500000000 220100002000000000 220100002500000000 220100003000000000 295201500000000000 295202000000000000 220250000000000000 220300000000000000 230350000000000000 240050000000000000 240100000000000000 230850000000000000 200000000000000000

0.00 1,625 243,851.64 0.00 471,841,666.68 0.00 471,841,666.68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6,023,916.66 107,811,227.45 0.00 2,210,920,662.43

0.00 1,475,316,840.90 0.00 442,154,166.68 0.00 442,154 166,68 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6,472,313.37 53,796,181.59 0.00 1,977,739,502.54

335050000000000000 335100000000000000 315000000000000000 325200000000000000 300000000000000000 905000000000000000

439 024 300,00 27,974,203.22 46,888,565.33 0.00 513,887,068.55 2,724,807,730.98

439 024 300,00 22,772,575.07 47,022,677.41 0.00 508,819,552.48 2,486,559,055.02

405000000000000000 410050000000000000 410100000000000000 415000000000000000 420000000000000000 425000000000000000 430000000000000000 495220000000000000 495250000000000000 495250500000000000 495251000000000000 495251500000000000 435000000000000000 440000000000000000 400000000000000000

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,411,560.91 3,411,560.91

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,410,948.91 3,410,948.91

499020000000000000 499300000000000000

1,991,637,207.56 32,668,399.46

1,864,486,589.32 32,668,399.46

499100500000000000 499150500000000000 499101000000000000 499151000000000000 499200000000000000 499400000000000000 499480000000000000 499500000000000000 499550000000000000

291,820,460.21 14.65 259,152,060.75 13.01 45.00 90,888,384.78 4.56 0.00 0.00

254,870,865.76 13.67 222,202,466.30 11.92 45.00 122,514,209.31 6.57 0.00 0.00

499050500000000000 499051000000000000 499350000000000000

13.44 30.62 5.00

15.71 23.62 10.00

499650500500000000 499650501000000000 499650501500000000 499700000000000000 499750000000000000

17.86 489.84 0.00 0.00 0.00

18.25 458.16 0.00 0.00 0.00

1/ Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

Republic of the Philippines ) Makati City) s.s.

I/We, RODA L. CRUZ and RENELIA V. ESTIOKO of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

RODA L. CRUZ Finance Head

RENELIA V. ESTIOKO President

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 24th day of October at Makati City, affiant exhibiting his/her/their Passport No.EB5924413, issued at Manila City on July 13, 2012 and Passport No. EB6029990, issued at Manila City on July 25, 2012.

Doc. No. 142 Book No. 30 Page No. 317 Series of 2016

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

B4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

Business

Internal Opec strife prevents agreement O

PEC’S internal disagreements over how to implement oilsupply cuts agreed last month prevented a deal to secure the cooperation of other major suppliers.

More than 18 hours of talks over two days in Vienna yielded little more than a promise that the world’s largest oil producers would keep on talking. Discussions will continue in late November, just days before the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is supposed to finalize the accord that lifted oil prices to one-year highs.

Non-Opec nations ended talks with the group on Saturday without making any supply commitments, Brazil’s Oil and Gas Secretary Marcio Felix said after the meeting. The outcome of the process hinges on Iran and

Iraq, two nations that are more interested in increasing production than reducing it, said Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev.

While Saturday’s meeting was a successful “first step,” oil-producing nations need to continue dialog and “come up with real numbers” before cuts can begin, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Energy Minister Magzum Mirzagaliyev said in an interview after the meeting.

A deal wasn’t possible because internal Opec talks on Friday reached an impasse over the role of Iran and Iraq, both of which want to be exempt from any cuts. While nonmember Oman said Saturday it was willing to cooperate in a supply deal, it couldn’t commit to a specific output cut until Opec had its own agreement.

Opec’s surprise agreement in Algiers to make the first supply cuts in eight years will only make a serious dent in a record oil surplus if producers outside the group join in.

While the accord helped push oil prices to a 15-month high above $50 a barrel earlier

this month, they have subsequently fallen as several members disputed the production estimates that would determine the size of cuts.

Failure to implement last month’s accord will hurt oil producers, the organization’s top official warned.

Opec agreed in the Algerian capital on Sept. 28 to reduce output to a range of 32.5 million to 33 million barrels a day, compared with about 33.4 million in September.

Friday’s meeting of technical experts from members of the group was intended to finalize details of how those supply curbs would be shared. Talks with non-Opec nations on Saturday sought to seek wider participation in cuts.

None of the countries that attended Friday’s meeting specified how much they are willing to cut, said one delegate, who asked not to be identified because the meeting was private. Progress was made on the methodology to be used for allocating individual production curbs, the delegate said. Bloomberg

From left are: UPLAA Director Atty. Ferdinand Domingo, UP Law Class 1991 President Atty. Susan D. Villanueva, UPLAA Director Atty. Victoria V. Loanzon, UPLAF Trustee Prof. Myrna S. Feliciano , UPLAF Treasurer & UPLAA Chair Atty. Victor P. Lazatin , Dean Danilo L. Concepcion, UPLAF President Atty. Avelino J. Cruz, Jr. , UPLAF Trustee Atty. Teresita CruzSison , UPLAA Chair Emeritus Atty. Alfonso R. Reyno, Jr. , UPLAF Trustee Ambassador Edgardo B. Espiritu, UPLAA Director Atty. Nilo B. Peña , UPLAF Trustee & Corporate Secretary Atty. Fina De la Cuesta-Tantuico , UP Law Class 1991 Atty. Jun Manaligod

IN THE GRAND MANNER TEACHING Law in the grand manner and making great lawyers. That, I believe, has been fulfilled by the University of the Philippines College of Law (UP Law), from the time it was established in 1911, to the time it transferred to the Diliman campus in 1948, and up to this very day.

Indeed, much has been said and written about the greatness of UP Law, but none so distinct as its tradition of public service. The University, especially the College of Law, has put a premium on public service right after graduation, being true to the calling of an “Iskolar ng Bayan”.

At one time or another, a UP Law graduate has served government and served it well, with four Presidents, three Vice-Presidents, eight Senate Presidents, five Speakers of the House, and thirteen Supreme Court Chief Justices, not to mention those who served in the Cabinet, in Congress, and in the Judiciary.

In the current Senate, for example, we have Senate President Koko Pimentel; Senate President Pro Tempore Frank Drilon; Senators Dick Gordon, Sonny Angara, Kiko Pangilinan and Chiz Escudero. In the House we have my good classmate Cong. Ronnie Cosalan as well as Representatives Kit Belmonte, Rodel Batocabe, Pia Cayetano, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, and Deputy Speaker Miro Quimbo, just to name a few.

In the Executive Branch we have Foreign Affairs Secretary Jun Yasay, Philippine Competition Commissioners Johannes R. Bernabe and El Cid R. Butuyan, and Cabinet Undersecretary and former Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon. I must make mention of my other classmates in public

service, namely Judge Princess Bustos Ongkeko of Santa Cruz, Laguna; former Justice Secretary Emmanuel “Copper” Caparas, former Solicitor General Joel Cadiz, and former Congressmen Jacinto “Jing” Paras and Ruy Elias Lopez.

For the Judiciary we have Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Marvic Leonen, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Jose Perez, and Francis Jardeleza. We also have Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda.

However, in a recent Board meeting of the UP Law Alumni Association (UPLAA) and the UP Law Alumni Foundation (UPLAF), we noted a decrease in public sector interest and an increase in private sector pursuits. Observing law classes, there seems to be a piqued interest in subjects covering commercial law. Perhaps this is the trend among millennials.

Recently, a testimonial was tendered by the UP Law faculty, UPLAA and UPLAF for UP Law Alumni in public service. It was part of what we needed to “rekindle the passion” of public service, to awaken the strong sense of idealism, to change the world by serving people through government.

In his speech, UPLAF President and former Defense Secretary, Atty. Avelino “Nonong” Cruz Jr., shared a story about a man who called his son to him as he lay on his deathbed. The man told his son that, in looking back on his life, he seemed to have fulfilled all that he needed to fulfill and yet, there was this gnawing feeling of being unfulfilled; that there was something else yet to be done. He then realized what was lacking— he did not heed the call to be in public service.

He admonished his son to fulfill what he had not: to serve in government; and, to serve well.

We need to bring back this burning desire to serve government and to serve well -- with the highest standards of probity, honesty, integrity.

You cannot get any grander than that.

From left: Atty. Jun Manaligod, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Reynaldo P. Cruz , Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda

From left: Mr. Gaspy Villegas, CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn PimentelGana and UP College of Law College Secretary Prof. Gisella Dizon-Reyes

“THE BUSINESS OF A LAW SCHOOL IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY DESCRIBED WHEN YOU MERELY SAY THAT IT IS TO TEACH LAW OR TO MAKE LAWYERS. IT IS TO TEACH LAW IN THE GRAND MANNER, AND TO MAKE GREAT LAWYERS.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes

Belgian Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders (left) shakes hands with Ambassador of Canada in Belgium Olivier Nicoloff on October 29, 2016 during the signing of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement at the Egmont palace in Brussels. AFP

EU, Canada to finally sign trade pact BRUSSELS, Belgium—After a chaotic drama in which a small Belgian region threatened to sink a giant trade deal seven years in the making, the European Union and Canada will finally sign on the dotted line on Sunday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed at the last minute to fly to Brussels to ink the landmark pact known as CETA at a summit with European Union President Donald Tusk and European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker.

Trudeau’s plane was briefly forced to turn back due to mechanical problems and the start of Sunday’s summit was delayed until 1100 GMT with the signing due at 1230 GMT, officials said.

The ceremony had already been pushed back from its planned date on Thursday, after Belgium’s French-speaking region of Wallonia, with just 3.6 million people, refused to agree to the terms of a deal affecting more than 500 million Europeans, along with Canada.

Wallonia resisted huge pressure from all sides until it won concessions—for regional farming interests and guarantees that international investors will not be able to force governments to change laws—allowing Belgium to sign the deal late Friday, enabling Tusk and Trudeau to set a new date.

The Belgian drama had sparked dire warnings for both

the EU’s credibility following Britain’s shock vote to leave and for the Western economic system in general at a time of widespread uncertainty.

Trudeau hailed it as a “good sign in an uncertain world” in a phone call with Tusk, an EU source told AFP. Underscoring the relief on the EU side, which is also struggling to stay unified in the face of a huge migration crisis spawned by the war in Syria and over its policy towards a resurgent Russia, former Polish premier Tusk tweeted “Mission accomplished!”

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said “nothing is simple in Belgium but few

things are impossible” as he officially signed up to the deal on Saturday.

Formally known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the deal removes 99 percent of customs duties between the two sides, linking the single EU market of 500 million people with the world’s 10th largest economy and a member of the G7 club of industrialized powers.

But it had been hanging by a thread due to protests from Wallonia, a formerly wealthy industrialized region in Belgium’s south that has now fallen into rust-belt decline, alongside opposition from other Frenchspeaking communities. AFP

Laurent-Perrier’s owners eyeing sale of stake THE owners of French champagne producer Laurent-Perrier are exploring strategic options including a stake sale, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Nonancourt family, which owns about 60 percent of the maker of Ultra Brut and Cuvée Rosé champagnes, has informally discussed options including a partial or full stake sale, the people said, asking not to be identified as the details aren’t public. Deliberations are

preliminary, no final decision has been made and the family could decide against a stake sale, the people said.

“The information is not correct as it is not in the family’s near-term or long-term plan to cede the company,” Arnaud Richard, a spokesman for Laurent-Perrier, said on Friday.

Any sale of the 204-yearold business could attract big drink-makers like LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and Remy Cointreau SA, who

have both been on the hunt for deals. Remy Cointreau chief executive officer Valerie Chapoulaud-Floquet has said that the company is on the lookout to acquire champagne brands after an agreement to distribute Charles Heidsieck and Piper-Heidsieck champagnes ended in 2015. LVMH’s sales of champagne in the US have helped insulate it from a broader slowdown in the luxury sector.

Representatives for LVMH

and Remy declined to comment.

Laurent-Perrier is the fourthbiggest champagne maker in the world with about 4.3 percent of the global market, according to its annual report. Its shares have fallen about 16 percent this year, trimming its market value to 413 million euros ($452 million).

The company reported a 10.2 percent rise in net income to 25.2 million euros for the year ending in March, helped by growing demand for its spirits in key markets like the US. Bloomberg

Dean Danilo L. Concepcion, Gov. Now lawyers, Isko & Iska keep their Jesus Crispin C. Remulla , UP Law hearts burning for their alma mater Alumni Foundation President - Atty. by singing “UP Naming Mahal” Avelino J. Cruz, Jr.

From left are: Prof. Myrna S. Feliciano, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Reynaldo P. Cruz, National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) 4th Division Commissioner Bernardino Julve, Chair Emeritus of UPLAA Atty. Alfonso R. Reyno Jr., Ambassador Edgardo B. Espiritu, Dean Danilo L. Concepcion, UPLAA Director Atty. Ferdinand A. Domingo.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

C1

KEEPING THE FAITH. As the Philippine sun sets yet again in Catarman, Camiguin island, its post-meridian rays touching the landmark cross of the sunken cemetery, thousands now in their resting place keep the faith that someday they will rise again. The graveyard was buried in fathoms of water as a cataclysmic eruption of Daan Volcano on March 13, 1871 plunged the 5-hectare cemetery into the ocean. Lance Baconguis

Club opens Christmas Village Nov. 11

By Dexter See BAGUIO City—The Baguio Country Club, the only exclusive club in this mountain city 5,000 feet above sea level, will again open to the public its popular and much awaited Christmas Village for the sixth straight year with its inauguration on Nov. 11.

The Christmas Village, at the Club’s main gate, will as in past offerings showcase the use of resources that may have been considered junk materials from the Club’s daily operations but were turned into beautiful Christmas decorations and worthwhile endeavors.

This year’s Christmas Village will be hinged on the mixture of the latest craze “Pokemon” and “Traditional Christmas” theme, officials said.

Its design was conceptualized by the Club’s general manager Anthony De Leon and executive assistant manager Marylou Galiste and is being put up with the assistance of employees.

The Christmas Village hopes to give those who cannot afford to travel abroad to feel at least a semblance of a White Christmas as experienced in other countries.

Some 80 percent of the materials used in the Christmas Village are recycled, ranging from old sewer pipes, golf balls, used room key cards, plastic spoon and fork, to water and wine bottles.

Andrew Pinero, BCC customer service department manager, said the materials will be used in making posts, lamps, snowflakes, balls and various decorations handcrafted by employees.

Construction excess trimmings such as plywood , steel bars and bark, twigs and pine cone which fell from trees within the premises were used to build the various structures and Christmas trees.

As a practice, the Club employees collect and keep materials they gather from the various outlets of the Club which they reuse for various purposes.

Pinero said: “It always is a worthwhile experience for the young and old alike at the Christmas Village which features various characters from popular children’s books.

“The Nativity reenactment sets the tone in the evening which constantly reminds us of a more Christ-centered celebration while the lights, artificial snow show and Christmas carolers at the main stage never cease to amaze the crowd.”

The Christmas Village had a soft opening last Saturday before its inauguration on Nov. 11 and will run until Jan. 8, 2017.

Entrance fee is P100 for adults, P50 for children ages four to 12 while children three years old and below are free of charge.

Senior Citizens and persons with disability can enjoy 20-percent discount.

Makati promotes skills for friendly environment

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE city government of Makati has completed training volunteers from 33 barangays on basic knowledge on governance and design skills in promoting ecofriendly environment.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the training, dubbed Green Urban Design and Governance, was intended to bring the concepts of green building and sustainable urban governance to the grassroots level.

The last four barangays to undergo the training were Northside, Guadalupe Viejo, Guadalupe Nuevo, and Carmona. The other barangays participated in the first five cycles of the workshop.

“With all 33 barangays now in the GUDG loop, our city will have greater leverage to fulfill its climate commitments and targets. The combined impact of all our efforts to promote green and sustainable communities will inevitably translate into a green and livable environment for the entire city,” said Binay.

Other participants included representatives from the city Urban Development Department, Budget Department, Department of Engineering and Public Works, Department of Environmental Services, and the Office of the City Mayor.

The three-day workshop featured

resource speakers from the University of Makati, UP Graduate School of Architecture, and Mapua Graduate College of Architecture, and other experts and consultants.

In August, Makati was chosen by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature as one of the three cities as the most environmentally-progressive local government units in the Philippines.

Makati placed 19th in the “We Love Cities Campaign” organized by the WWF from May 13 to June 26.

The WWF said “Makati City in the National Capital Region is developing a center to provide barangay

officials with the basic knowledge and design skills to be able to promote urban design projects designed not just to be eco-friendly, but to promote the respective cultural identity of each barangay.”

Lawyer Michael Arthur Camina, Makati City legal officer Binay’s spokesperson, acknowledged and thanked the WWF for recognizing the city as one of the “Green Development Hubs” in the Philippines.

Camina said: “The Makati City government is humbled and greatly honored for the recognition given by such a prestigious body as the World Wildlife Fund for Nature.

Death prompts 24/7 hotline

By Pearl Gajunera

LANZONES FESTIVAL. Students from various schools in Camiguin Island Province perform during Camiguin’s 37th annual Lanzones Festival on Oct. 29, catching the minds and hearts of local and foreign tourists who have made Camiguin the country’s 5th most tourists-visited province in the country. Lance Baconguis

2 Benguet Lupons win top national awards LA TRINIDAD, Benguet— Two barangays in Benguet that have consistently won municipal, provincial and regional awards in resolving conflicts through the Lupon Tagapamayapa, were top national awardees last week.

The Lupon Tagapamayapa of Barangay Tuding of Itogon placed second in the 2015 national search for best performing Lupon in the First to Third Class Municipality Category,

while Barangay Ambassador of Tublay placed third.

This was the result of the evaluation by the National Board of Judges and the Secretariat of the Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards National Committee of their on-site validation last Dec. 8 and 9.

Punong Barangay Martin Chavez Jr. received the Second Place plaque for the Tuding Lupon on Oct. 27 at the Sofitel Hotel in Metro Manila.

Itogon Mayor Victorino Palangdan, Cesar Ating, Lupon secretary Krystine Joy Taguda, along with Lupon and Sanggunian members witnessed the awarding.

The Lupon Tagapamayapa of the Katarungan Pambarangay Law under RA 7160 is mandated to amicably resolve personal conflicts in the barangays through mediation, arbitration and conciliation.

No personal dispute or con-

flict within the authority of the Lupon may go to a regular court of law without a “certification to file action” issued by it.

Except for 2012 when Barangay Tinongdan, Itogon was nominated to the national awards, Tuding was consistently the municipal, provincial, regional and national nominee for “Best Performing Lupon” for First to Third Class Municipality Category from 2010 to 2016.

Dexter A. See

DAVAO City—Kean Gabriel was to celebrate his fourth birthday last Oct. 29.

Since his mother and stepfather could not afford a party, the best the boy had hoped for was a plate of pancit and a ‘Happy Birthday’ song from his siblings and friends in the community.

There would be no cake, no candles to blow, neither balloons.

Like the past three years, nothing extra special.

Except that even the simplest way to mark his milestone—a simple birthday party as it were— could not happen anymore.

For Kean was no longer there— only the name and the memory of a child killed two months before he could turn four.

The 21-year-old killer was Kean’s stepfather, who beat him for misbehaving, forcibly placed him inside a sack he placed atop a cabinet inside their one-room house in Matina Pangi.

The sack, the boy, fell off to the floor several times. His head injuries were fatal.

The abuse happened while Kean’s mother watched but did nothing to save her son.

Post-mortem report revealed severe internal hemorrhage inside the boy’s head.

At his wake, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio could not hide her disgust.

“No child deserves such a death,” she said. “No three-yearold child or any child of whatever age should die or suffer from abuse or neglect from the hands of anybody.”

She stressed: “Children should, at all times, be protected.”

C2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

LGUs

2 cities reroute vehicular traffic T

WO cities in the metropolis— San Juan and Marikina—have rerouted vehicular traffic during the long weekend in the run up to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

San Juan rerouted all types of vehicles plying the “rising city of excellence” going to the San Juan cemetery and closed certain areas for Nov. 1 and 2, according to Renato Ramos, chief of the Traffic Parking and Management Office.

The areas closed to traffic are Boni Serrano corner Horseshow Drive; San Juan-Crame terminal; the Murphy Cubao-Crame terminal; and the Adamson-Cubao terminal.

Marikina City itself started rerouting vehicles last weekend for five days ending Nov. 2 to prevent what officials said was possible vehicle congestion around the city’s graveyards, particularly Loyola Memorial Park.

A. Bonifacio Avenue will only be open to one-way eastbound traffic from Barangka Flyover to Shoe Avenue Stoplight.

All people who need to get to Loyola Memorial Park will have to take Marcos Highway and take Barangka Flyover or Barangka Underloop to access A. Bonifacio Avenue.

Gate 2 of Loyola Memorial Park will serve as the entrance to the cemetery. To get there, one must turn left to Plaza delas Flores, then left to Paspasan St., right to Don Gonzalo Puyat Street.

Meanwhile, Gate 1, the main gate of Loyola Memorial Park, will serve as the exit, in which traffic will be directed to turn right to Paspasan St., turn left to Chorillo St., and left to A. Bonifacio Avenue.

Riverbanks Avenue will only be open to one-way southbound traffic, towards Marcos Highway, which means motorists can access the highway from A. Bonifacio Avenue by accessing Riverbanks Avenue.

Motorists are advised to park at the pay parking area of Riverbanks Mall if Loyola Memorial Park is already full with parked vehicles.

Medical and emergency/first aid stations, ambulances, policemen will be stationed in these cemeteries, and CCTV cameras will be positioned to ensure coverage of all areas.

Command centers will also be placed in the cemeteries, all being controlled by a central command center of Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, officials said.

IDEAL BUSINESS. Smokefish making in Calbayog City, Samar is now a tourist attraction in Eastern Visayas. The smoked fish or tinapa is a style of fish preservation wherein the fish are cured by smoking, done for the unique taste and flavor imparted by the smoking process. Mel Caspe

Shanghai vows ‘more exchanges’ Teener wins 1st regl

By Pearl Gajunera Consumer Quiz Bee DAVAO City—Officials from Shanghai have promised “improved relations and more exchanges” between China’s biggest city and the southeastern coastal city of Davao, following the visit there last week of Filipinos.

Shanghai Vice Mayor Chen Yin assured Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte of more ‘exchanges’ between their cities, noting the positive outcome of the recent visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in China.

Shanghai, on China’s central coast, is the country’s biggest city and a global financial hub, whose heart is the Bund, a famed waterfront promenade lined with colonial-era buildings.

Davao, the Philippines’ third most populous city and the most

populous in Mindanao and the main trade, commerce and industry hub of the country’s second largest island, is known as the durian capital of the country.

“The visit of President Duterte greatly improved our bilateral relations and brought up many opportunities and exchanges,” Chen said.

He hoped the improved relations between China and the Philippines would benefit cities like Davao, adding “I am sure that with great support from our governments, we can make contributions to our relationship and cooperation.”

He told the Davao City vice mayor that Shanghai was also committed to strengthen its relationship with the Philippine city.

Duterte noted how Davao City was determined to improve the livelihood of the people by wel-

coming investments that could result in the generation of jobs and economic growth.

“Davao City is determined to work harder to change the lives of our people for the better,” he said.

He cited Davao’s competitiveness and potentials, particularly in tourism, agriculture, property development, energy, transportation infrastructure, and information and communications technology.

“We hope to partner with the government of China and Shanghai in the realization of our objectives as a developed, progressive, and peaceful city,” he said.

Duterte, accompanied by five members of the City Council and other officials of the local government, also met with Chinese exporters of Philippine bananas and other business groups.

ILOILO City—Sixteen-year-old student, accompanied by her mother from Aklan, won as grand champion in the 1st Regional Consumer Quiz Bee of the Department of Trade and Industry in this year’s Consumer Welfare Month.

Lyka Dawn Macolbacol of the Regional Science High School for Region 6 in Aklan, with her mother Doris, went home richer by P7,000 worth of gift certificates.

Joachim Regalado of the Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus, with his father Cyril, representing Iloilo, won 1st runner-up while Remie Rose Barcebal of San Pedro National High School in Antique, with her sister Annie Rose, won 2nd runner-up.

The runners-up received P6,000 and P4, 000 worth of gift certificates, respectively.

Consolation prizes were also given to representatives of Capiz

and Guimaras.

The quizzes, divided in easy, average and difficult levels, were composed of questions which focused on topics about Fair Trade Laws, Consumer Act of the Philippines and Price Act. The student contestants, along with their mother or father, or guardian, were from Grade 7-12 (high school) who were champions from their respective provinces.

DTI-Iloilo provincial director Diosdado Cadena Jr. said they were starting to educate the youth about consumer rights through the quiz bee.

Macolbacol thanked DTI for the learning she acquired after joining the contest.

“I learned the different information applicable in our daily lives,” she said.

She added she would share her learning with her friends, classmates and relatives. PNA

DPWH strengthens Liloan Bridge in Leyte

ENTERTAINMENT FOR ELDERLY. A senior citizen is flanked by two mascots from a leading fastfood chain to bring more fun and laughter in this year’s Tacloban celebration of Elderly Week supported by Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez and newly installed Senior Citizens Affairs office head engineer Dalmacio Grafil at the City Engineer’s Gymnasium on Oct. 29. Ronald Reyes

LILOAN, Southern Leyte—The Department of Public Works and Highways is currently strengthening the Liloan Bridge here that connects Leyte’s mainland to Panaon Island.

The P50-million project, one of the major upgrade works since the bridge was built, involves concrete jacketing on piers and application of carbon fiber sheets as well as carbon fiber plates.

Jacketing is done by application of a new layer of concrete to strengthen the bridge piers.

Carbon fiber sheets and plates are materials used in strengthening bridges to increase a structure’s load capacity.

“This project is a priority of the district since there is no alternate bridge that connects Panaon Island to the mainland. Based on findings of experts from Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the bridge badly needs strengthening,” said DPWH Southern Leyte district engineer Ma. Margarita Junia.

Completion of Liloan Bridge rehabilitation is one of the projects recently delegated by the DPWH Eastern Visayas regional office to Southern Leyte office for supervision.

The project is said to be the second major upgrade of the 291-meter bridge commonly known to locals as Wawa Bridge.

The structure got its major repair after it was slightly damaged by the earthquake that jolted Bohol province in 2013.

Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado backed the project, saying strengthening the bridge would ensure that Panaon Island is always accessible especially during emergencies.

Panaon Island is composed of the towns of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo.

The lawmaker noted that some villages in these towns were prone to landslides and rockslides.

Mercado said stable infrastructure also supported the tourism development.

The small island, known for scuba diving and whale watching, has been attracting European tourists.

Liloan Bridge forms part of the primary national highway that links Mindanao to Luzon.

Liloan and nearby San Ricardo town have roll-on roll-off ports that serve ferries going to Surigao in Mindanao. PNA

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World

TODAY

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

C3

Trump turns up heat on Clinton MIAMI―Donald Trump stepped up his attacks against Hillary Clinton, seeing to exploit the FBI decision to reopen an investigation into her emails as America’s bruising election campaign heads into its final stretch.

Just 10 days before the country goes to the polls to elect either the former US secretary of state or the bombastic Republican billionaire, America’s top cop James Comey has been thrust center stage.

The FBI director wrote to lawmakers on Friday, announcing that his agents are investigating a newly discovered trove of emails, renewing an inquiry that the Clinton campaign thought ended in July.

Trump pounced. Campaigning in the western state of Colorado, which has been leaning toward Clinton, he denounced what he called his opponent’s “criminal and illegal conduct,” to chants of “Lock her up!”

“This is the biggest political scandal since Watergate, and it’s everybody’s deepest hope that justice at last will be beautifully delivered,” Trump, 70, told a later rally in Phoenix, Arizona.

While his 69-year-old opponent remains on course to be voted in as America’s first female president at the ballot box on November 8, her campaign is furious that its momentum has slowed in the final straight.

Clinton campaigned hard in the key battleground state of Florida on Saturday, greeting thousands of supporters at a Jennifer Lopez concert in Miami after earlier demanding that Comey explain in detail why he had effectively reopened the inquiry declared complete in July.

“It’s pretty strange to put something like that out with such little information right before an election,” she said in Florida’s coastal town of Daytona Beach.

“In fact, it’s not just strange, it’s unprecedented and it is deeply troubling because voters deserve to get full and complete facts,” she added.

“So we’ve called on Director Comey to explain everything right away, put it all out on the table, right?” she declared, to rapturous cheers.

In reality, it seems unlikely that much progress will be made in the investigation before polling day and few observers expect Clinton to face criminal charges.

But every day that she spends dealing with the fallout of her decision to use a private email server as secretary of state is a day the media is not dwelling on the scandals dogging Trump. AFP

HARVEST TIME. A Tunisian woman harvests grapes at the Negeris vineyard in the wine-producing region of Grombalia, some 40 kilometers southeast of Tunis on September 16. AFP

Tourism in Egypt in limbo C

AIRO―A year after jihadists bombed a Russian plane carrying holidaymakers in Egypt, tourism shows little sign of recovery in the Arab country grappling with an economic crisis.

In Khan el-Khalil, a historic bazaar in Cairo once full of tourists, a clothing store owner says he now spends his days surfing Facebook.

“I don’t have anything else to do,” said Amgad Qasabgi, 45,

in front of his shop, a sequined two-piece belly dancing outfit dangling over his head.

The October 31, 2015 bombing of the plane claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group killed all 224 people on board

after takeoff from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Russia reacted by canceling all flights to Egypt, with Britain canceling flights to the resort town itself, decimating a tourism sector already battered by unrest following the country’s 2011 revolution.

Citizens of the two countries make up around 40 percent of the foreign tourists to Egypt.

The drop in tourism revenues, a main source of foreign hard currency, has exacerbated a dol-

Astronauts return from ISS ASTANA―Three astronauts landed safely in Kazakhstan Sunday following a 115-day mission aboard the the International Space Station, including US astronaut Kate Rubins, the first person to sequence DNA in space.

Russian mission control confirmed the touchdown of NASA’s Rubins, Roscosmos’ Anatoly Ivanishin and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency at 0358 GMT. The trio landed southeast of the Kazakh steppe town of Zhezkazgan in clear but frosty conditions after a flight from the orbital lab.

“Landing has taken place!”

Russian mission control stated, with commentators on NASA TV noting that the Soyuz craft had landed in an upright position.

Molecular biologist Rubins and Onishi were both returning from their first missions in

space, while flight commander Ivanishin undertook a fivemonth mission at the ISS five years ago.

Footage from the landing site on NASA television showed Rubins smiling after she was hoisted out last from the Soyuz descent module.

“Everybody is feeling wonderful,” said Ivanishin, who emerged first from the craft, in comments translated from Russian.

After they are flown to the Kazakh city of Karaganda, Ivanishin will head to Star City just outside Moscow for postmission work, while Rubins and Onishi will fly to Houston.

Their journey back to Earth marks the first complete mission to and from the orbital lab for a new generation of Soyuz spacecraft with upgraded features.

The trio’s arrival at the ISS was delayed by two weeks as Russian space officials carried

out further software tests on the modified Soyuz MS-01 vehicle.

Rookie Rubins’ participation in the mission generated particular excitement after NASA announced plans for the career scientist to sequence DNA aboard the ISS in a world first.

In August Rubins successfully sequenced samples of mouse, virus and bacteria DNA using a device called MinION while Earth-based researchers simultaneously sequenced identical samples.

NASA said the biomolecule sequencer investigation could help to identify potentially dangerous microbes aboard the ISS and diagnose illnesses in space.

Rubins was also the first woman aboard the ISS since Italian Samantha Cristoforetti returned to Earth with the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (199 days) in June last year. AFP

lar shortage in Egypt that in turn has hit imports.

Government officials have blamed a foreign conspiracy targeting the Egyptian economy, while unveiling slick commercials to try to woo back the tourists.

“There are no foreign tourists,” said Qasabgi, a father of five. “Spending by Egyptian tourists does not cover our daily expenses.”

The bazaar’s cafeterias and restaurants are empty save for some Egyptian families and

strolling students.

A few tourists hopped off two buses parked at a plaza in front of the nearby Hussein mosque, but most returned without buying any souvenirs.

“Tourism has totally died,” said Abdel Rahman, a salesman at a large store specializing in lanterns and inscribed silver chandeliers.

A family of European tourists enters the shop and haggles over a small lamp. They leave emptyhanded. AFP

Japan to conduct survey on racism TOKYO―Japan’s justice ministry will conduct its first largescale survey into racism in the country, a report said Sunday, as discrimination becomes a growing social concern.

The survey will cover 18,500 foreign residents aged 18 or older, the Asahi newspaper said, adding that the results would be released by the end of March and will be reflected in policy- making.

The poll will be in 13 languages ranging from Japanese and English to Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Portuguese, the national daily said.

The questions will include whether the respondents have experienced or seen racial discrimination in everyday life or work-

place, and what action they want the government to take to eliminate discrimination, it added.

The number of foreign residents in Japan has increased in recent years but their ratio to the total population is still low, standing at below 2.0 percent, according to justice ministry data.

No comment on the report was available from the ministry on Sunday.

A number of incidents of hate speech against specific ethnic groups on the streets or online have been reported in recent years.

These are most commonly directed at Koreans who came to Japan when the Korean peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule between 1910 and 1945, and to their offspring. AFP

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF

: : AUDIOWAV MEDIA INC. : X=============================X

REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES (In Relation to an Initial Public Offering)

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

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:

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

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

PRAYERS. Thai devotees offer special prayers under the sacred Bodhi Tree for the soul of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Bodhgaya. AFP

(MS-OCT.25/OCT. 31, 2016)

EMMA A. VALENCIA Officer-In-Charge

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

C4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

World

Raids kill 38 in Yemen

A

DEN―At least 38 people were killed in Saudi-led air strikes on rebel-held security buildings in Yemen’s west, including a detention center, an official said on Sunday.

The provincial official told AFP the bodies of 38 people were transported to hospitals in the port city of Hodeidah, which the Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies have held since late 2014.

The official, speaking on

condition of anonymity, did not specify the number of prisoners who died in Saturday’s raids.

Most of the more than 40 inmates at the facility were opponents of the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, according to a military

source close to the insurgents.

Previously, medical and military sources had said the number of inmates and insurgents killed in the air raids on the buildings in Zaidia, north of Hodeidah, was more than 30.

Elsewhere on Saturday, strikes on residential buildings killed 17 people and wounded seven in the battleground town of Salo, southeast of Yemen’s third city Taez, said rebel-controlled media.

The sabanews.net website said four raids had completely

destroyed three residential buildings.

The Saudi-led coalition has yet to comment on the report, but a local official loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government said its air strikes had hit three adjacent homes by mistake.

“All those in the houses were killed,” he told AFP, adding a child and seven women were among the dead.

Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s govern-

ment have been locked in deadly battles with Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels who overran the capital Sanaa in 2014.

The conflict escalated in March last year when Saudi Arabia launched a military campaign to push back the rebels.

The conflict has killed nearly 7,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the United Nations which had been struggling to convince the warring parties to implement a ceasefire and revive a stalled political process. AFP

GALA. Helena Gatsby attends the LACMA Art + Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, California, on October 29, 2016. AFP

Iraqis to cut off IS supplies AL QAYYARAH-Iraqi paramilitary forces launched an operation Saturday to cut the Islamic State group’s supply lines between its Mosul bastion and neighboring Syria, opening a new front in the nearly two-week-old offensive.

Forces from the Hashed al-Shaabi, a paramilitary umbrella organization dominated

by Iran-backed Shiite militias, have largely been on the sidelines since the launch of the operation to retake Mosul.

But on Saturday, they began a push on the town of Tal Afar on the western approach to the city, the only side where ground forces, which have advanced from the north, east and south, are not yet deployed.

“The operation aims to cut supplies between Mosul and Raqa and tighten the siege of (IS) in Mosul and liberate Tal Afar,” Hashed spokesman Ahmed alAssadi told AFP, referring to IS’s main stronghold in Syria.

Assadi said the operation was launched from the Sin al-Dhaban area south of Mosul and aimed to retake the towns of Hatra and Tal Abta as well as Tal Afar.

The drive toward Tal Afar could bring the fighting perilously close to the ancient city of Hatra, a UNESCO world heritage site that has already been vandalized by IS. Though it was not mentioned by name, the operation may also pass near the ruins of Nimrud, another archaeological site that has previously been attacked by IS. The involvement of Shiite militias in the Mosul operation has been a source of contention, although some of the Hashed’s top commanders insist that do not plan to enter the largely Sunni city.

Iraqi Kurds and Sunni Arab politicians have opposed their involvement, as has Turkey which has a military presence east of Mosul, despite repeated demands by Baghdad for the forces to be withdrawn.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saturday warned Shiite militias against attacking Turkmen residents of Tal Afar.

“If the Hashed al-Shaabi sow terror there, then our response will be different,” Erdogan said, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency, without specifying what measures would be taken. AFP

Moldovans in first Lifetime ban planned on boat people popular elections CHISINAU―Ex-Soviet Moldova went to the polls Sunday in its first popular presidential election since the 1990s, seen as a tug-of-war between the supporters of closer relations with Russia and those seeking EU integration.

The crisis-hit country of 3.5 million wedged between Ukraine and Romania is the poorest in Europe and has struggled with a string of high-profile corruption scandals which are overshadowing the vote.

Presidential candidates are presenting diametrically opposed visions for the country’s future: calling for deeper ties and boosting trade with Moscow, or committing to the path toward Europe.

Voting commenced at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) at the nearly 2,000 polling stations across the country.

Moldova has been rocked by protests and political turmoil since the mysterious disappearance of $1 billion (915 million euros) from three banks last year, which undermined people’s support for the ruling proWestern coalition.

Western observers monitoring the campaign said in September that Moldovans lack confidence in state authorities after the bank scandal, which led to the suspension of EU aid that risks plunging the country into even deeper poverty.

Already 41 percent of the population live on less than $5 a day while the monthly average salary is $240, according to World Bank figures.

Moldova last elected a presi-

dent by popular vote in 1996, after which members of parliament chose the head of state.

It was the pro-Western coalition that earlier this year reestablished the popular vote, but pro-Moscow candidate Igor Dodon of the Socialist Party, who has been ahead in opinion polls, has pledged to push for new parliamentary elections.

The central election commission in Moldova said the presidential vote will be heavily monitored by over 3,200 Moldovan observers and 562 international ones.

Dodon is one of nine candidates remaining on the ballot.

The leading pro-Western contender for the post is Maya Sandu, from the centre-right opposition, who received a boost when ruling party candidate Marian Lupu withdrew on Wednesday, endorsing her.

Sandu, a former education minister who worked for the World Bank, told AFP ahead of the polls that authorities in Chisinau would have to work hard to earn back people’s trust.

“We advocate European integration because we see true democracy and prosperity for workers in the EU,” Sandu told AFP. Dodon told AFP that while he is “not against the EU,” there has simply not been enough support from Europe to convince Moldovans the future would be brighter there.

“What have we received from Europe? Nothing,” said Dodon, who served as economy minister from 2006 to 2009, vowing to “restore a strategic partnership with Russia.” AFP

SYDNEY―Australia moved Sunday to bar any refugee or asylum-seeker who arrives in the country illegally by boat from ever being able to apply for a visa, even as tourists or for business.

The lifetime ban will be put to parliament when it next sits, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying it was necessary to send an “absolutely, unflinching, unequivocal message” that boat people will never be al-

lowed in Australia.

“This is a battle of will between the Australian people, represented by its government, and the criminal gangs of people-smugglers,” he said.

“You should not underestimate the scale of the threat. These people-smugglers are the worst criminals imaginable. They have a multi-billion-dollar business.

“We have to be very determined to say no to their criminal plans.”

Amendments to the migration act would be backdated to mid2013, when former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd declared: “As of today, asylum-seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia.”

Canberra currently sends all boat people to offshore processing camps on the Pacific islands of Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus.

They are already blocked from

being resettled in Australia even if found to be genuine refugees.

They can either return home, make a life on Manus or Nauru, or go to a third country.

The new legislation would affect those sent to Nauru and Manus from July 19, 2013, including those who have returned home, and anyone who arrives in the future.

But children will be exempt and the immigration minister would have the power to make exceptions. AFP

SELFIE. A couple dressed in costumes take a selfie on a motorcycle during a ‘Moto-Halloween party’ along the streets in Cali on October 29, 2016. AFP

Life

Keftedes, a low-fat version of Greek meatballs

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

SIP & SAVOR

D1

Clients of CLC’s Meals on Wheels get to enjoy tasty dishes like the zoodle pasta, which uses long strips of zucchini to replace traditional noodles.

A Delicious Diet THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

I

AM probably the least credible person to discuss diets of any kind.

Diet to me is like stairs to Po’s character in the movie Kung Fu Panda – an old enemy. There was never a phase in my life when I could consider myself remotely thin, thanks to my mother who would cook sumptuous meals every day.

However, there is one diet which, should I ever think about losing weight and getting more fit, might actually make the grade for me. The philosophy of letting food become your medicine is appealing. The fact that there is no need to exercise is a definite dealmaker.

“Our body is not designed to store fat, and using natural food is the best way to burn those fats and become healthy,” said Regina Chuavon, director of Cohen’s Lifestyle Centre-Philippines CLC), during the first Cohen cook-off challenge last week at Nikko’s Baking Studio in Makati.

“What we offer is not a diet, but a lifestyle change that is scientific, safe, sensible and sustainable,” she added.

Asparagus wrapped in mushroom meat

Backed by years of scientific research that follows the work of its founder, Dr. Rami Cohen, CLC gives its clients a personalized and rapid weight-loss and wellness program based on one’s unique blood profile. The program works like a prescription. But instead of pills or injections, CLC prescribes food tested at the precise quantity that will allow one’s body to do what it is naturally designed to do – to burn fat.

According to Chef Pixie Sevilla, a pastry chef who also went through the program, ingredients for Cohen dishes are readily available.

“The dishes are not extraordinarily hard to prepare. The ingredients are those that can be easily found in wet markets and grocery stores. There are no special ingredients,” said Sevilla, who now leads the team of chefs who prepares Cohen Meals on Wheels – ready-to-eat packed meals that are tailor-made for each client, and with the ingredients weighed raw according to

Marian Remo and her winning dish: beef zucchini boat

your prescribed quantity, down to the last slice of garlic.

“Being in the Cohen diet doesn’t mean you have to suffer. The dishes are never bland. And if you don’t have the patience to measure your ingredients and cook these at home, we are extending this service of delivering your customized food,” Sevilla added.

Some of the dishes offered by CLC include asparagus mushroom rolls, zoodles—long strips of zucchini used to replace traditional pasta or noodles, Japanese chicken curry, and keftedes, the low-fat version of Greek meatballs.

They also have Filipino dishes such as arroz caldo that uses cauliflower instead of rice, as well as Beef Steak Tagalog, which uses lean meat.

During the cook-off, 30-year-old Marian Remo bagged the top prize with her Beef Zucchini Boat. Remo, who has lost 16 lbs. to date since joining the program this year, bested Mary Ann Tangcangco and Carrie

Luis who prepared apple cake and mushroom burger, respectively.

The voracious eater in me was pleasantly surprised that the dishes were delicious, unlike meals prescribed in other diet programs that are so bland they suck all the joy out of eating.

Cohen-prescribed meals also have a home-cooked feel to them (since they can really be prepared from one’s kitchen). In fact, majority of CLC’s resident cooks are home makers who discovered their talent for cooking when they joined the Cohen program.

“Some believe that you can’t enjoy delicious food and lose weight at the same time. Cohen’s Lifestyle Centre showed that you can prepare healthy, easy-tocook and appetizing Cohen meals that can be quickly prepared at home, and by doing so, lose weight safely and effectively,” Chuavon said.

“You don’t need to be a chef to be able to prepare healthy, delicious meals. With a little bit of creativ-

ity in preparing food, losing weight can actually be fun,” added Barbara Young, CLC’s chief executive officer and a certified life coach.

But while the meals-on-wheels service removed significant barriers that prevent most people from the eating healthy and losing weight – such as not knowing how to cook or having no time to prepare the dishes – the prices remain prohibitive at around P1,000 a day to cover three meals and free delivery.

Despite this, those who have undergone the Cohen program swear by the lifestyle change that they have experienced. Perhaps, if one day I should decide that I want to lose weight the natural way and healthily (and that day may never come, but one can never be too sure), I would consider the Cohen program. For now, it is good to know there is that delicious option.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

Savor a hearty Thanksgiving harvest feast at Planet Grapes TAKE time out for some fun and relaxation at Planet Grapes, a wine bar and restaurant. Sip good wine and enjoy a special dish whipped up as part of an ongoing Thanksgiving Harvest. This special deal costs only P1,100, and may be availed until Nov. 30.

Planet Grapes, with its laidback ambience, is a perfect spot to enjoy good wine and tasty meals with friends or family. The Thanksgiving Harvest presents the L’Escargot Sauvignon Blanc, perfect as an apéritif or paired with chicken.

In the wine world, as wineries move into harvest season is almost synonymous to Thanksgiving because it is when wine grapes are ready to be turned into the succeeding year’s awesome wine.

Planet Grapes is showing how thankful it is for a year’s worth of bounty. It has been a fruitful year of making Filipinos enjoy and love street food and wine. In line with this, Planet Grapes has laid out a hearty food and wine feast to mark the changing seasons.

The Planet Grapes chef has prepared a roast chicken dish infused with lemongrass and dill, prepared sous-vide, served with fresh vegetables.

The Thanksgiving Harvest offers L’Escargot Sauvignon Blanc paired with roast chicken and potato-pumpkin mash

A sweet, creamy potato-pumpkin mash will be served with the roast chicken dish at Planet Grapes Tuscany. The fragrant chicken is finished in the oven to achieve a golden brown exterior, while retaining the juices inside.

The sweet citrus f lavors of this French sauvignon blanc plays off of the silky fat and butter in the dish, creating harmony while surprising taste buds with tart yet savory f lavors.

L’Escargot Sauvignon Blanc is light and crisp with a refreshing finish. Its pure, lime fruit character melds wonderfully with chicken.

Planet Grapes’ stores showcase enjoyable, affordable wines from around the world. At Planet Grapes, customers are shown how these wines can be best paired with regular comfort food. There is no pressure, no judgment, and no drama at Planet Grapes. You can pair any wine with any food.

They have wine and spirits specialists in the store if you need help with the wine and food pairings.

Visit Planet Grapes and have a hearty Thanksgiving Harvest feast. For more information, email info@planetgrapes.com.ph or visit planetgrapes.com.ph. Planet Grapes is located at the New Wing of Ayala Center Cebu (032266-0526 or 032-262-0515) and Shangri-La Mall (531-8207 or 532- 2950).

Life

D2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

What’s new on the menu?

P

REMIUM Pretzel brand, Auntie Anne’s, now offers a limited edition snack combining your favorite pretzel and caramelized biscuit spread, Lotus Biscoff called Almond Biscoff Bites.

“Lotus Biscoff Spread’s delectable flavor sets these sweet bites apart from the other existing bites,” Auntie Anne’s Marketing Manager Michelle Guballa shared.

Each Biscoff Bite is a treat of Auntie Anne’s signature dough filled with rich Lotus Biscoff spread baked to perfection. The complementing flavors and textures of smooth Lotus Biscoff with Auntie Anne’s crispy signature dough will surely satisfy any sweet tooth’s cravings.

“The traditional way of eating our biscuits with spreads sparked the idea of this partnership with Auntie Anne’s, which is in line with our brand mission to create new innovative and tasty products. The rich flavor of Lotus Biscoff spread and Auntie Anne’s dough are a perfect

combination realized in the new Almond Biscoff Bites,” said Fly Ace Corporation Product Manager for Snacks Emie San Beda.

The limited edition bite snack is available in all 41 branches of Auntie Anne’s store nationwide for a limited of time only. And if you want to enjoy the richness of the spread, Lotus Biscoff Spread is available in all leading supermarkets nationwide.

For more information, follow Auntie Anne’s Philippines on Facebook and Lotus Biscoff Philippines on Facebook Auntie Anne’s signature crispy dough and Lotus Biscoff spread are combined to create Almond Biscoff Bites

Time makes the perfect iced coffee

Cold Brew Coffee is now available in selected Starbucks branches in the Philippines

H ALLOWEEN

THERE are many sayings about time and how it affects almost every aspect of life. But do you know that time is also a big factor in brewing naturally sweet tasting iced coffee?

Starbucks now offers Cold Brew Coffee, which undergoes a process that relies heavily on time rather than heat for extraction of flavor.

Brewed in small batches, this process requires ground coffee to be steeped in cool filtered water for up to 48 hours. Compared to the traditional iced coffee made by brewing hot coffee and cooled, cold brewing allows the ground coffee to be in contact with water for a longer period of time, bringing out its natural rich and bal-

anced flavors. With patience comes a smooth, iced coffee like no other.

“Knowing the Filipinos’ love for cold caffeinated beverages, we felt it was a perfect opportunity to bring Cold Brew to the Philippines, with its inviting aroma that comes from the unique mixture of premium Arabica coffee beans from different coffee growing regions,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines.

Starbucks Cold Brew Blend is a balance of washed African coffee that lends a refreshing citrus flavor and Latin American beans, which are responsible for its naturally sweet and chocolate notes.

The medium roast beans accen-

tuate the full-flavored coffee that was specifically blended for the cold brew process.

“We are committed to bringing new coffee experiences to our Filipino customers. With the time and effort that goes into every batch of the Starbucks Cold Brew, we are confident that our customers will enjoy every sip of our new offering,” said Keith.

Starbucks Cold Brew is available only in Starbucks Reserve stores on Tomas Morato in Quezon City, and at Eight Forbes Town and Central Square in Taguig City, Keyland Center and Signa Designer Residences in Makati City, Sapphire Bloc in Pasig City and S’Maison in Pasay City.

THRILLS

Eerie Halloween at Acacia Hotel ACACIA HOTEL MANILA unveils its lineup of spooktacular offers for the Halloween season. Kids together with the kids at heart are invited to the Creepy Circus Halloween party from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today at the Grand Acacia Ballroom.

Celebrate with clowns and freaky creatures for just P1050 net inclusive of kid-friendly brunch buffet, live entertainment, games, loot bags and trick-ortreat. Kids ages 2 years old and below are also invited to dress up and join the fun for free. Tickets are available at the Guest Services desk.

Spend the Hollow’s Eve with a luxurious retreat by booking the Creepy Circus Room Package for P5,788+++ inclusive of an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room with buffet breakfast for two persons and two tickets to the Halloween party.

Moreover, take advantage of a longer holiday with the three-day/two-night package for just P6,888+++ inclusive of daily breakfast for two persons and 20 percent discount across all restaurants. Valid for local residents and for stays until Nov. 2.

All room packages come with welcome drinks, special Halloween turndown amenity, complimentary Wi-Fi, use of swimming pool and fitness center, plus a 24-hour shuttle service with Alabang area.

Freaky creatures come together for this Halloween party

For room reservations call (02) 7202000 or email reservations@acaciahotelsmanila.com.

Spend a night in one of Acacia Hotel’s Deluxe Room by booking the Creepy Circus Room Package

Southeast Asia’s largest and most intense Halloween event is back for its 6th edition

Ultimate Halloween at Universal Studios Singapore THERE’S more to Halloween than just trick-or-treating, and if you feel like you’re already too old to go door-to-door for all you can eat candy, pack your bags and head on over to Singapore as Mastercard elevates the scariest Halloween events sure to thrill adventure-seekers and horror-movie junkies alike.

Dubbed as Southeast Asia’s largest and most intense Halloween event, Halloween Horror Nights is back for its sixth edition at Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa. The event transforms the popular theme park into a world-class set and a horrific territory full of monsters, ghouls and zombies. This Halloween event is packed with a record number of five haunted houses and horrifying scare zones that make you feel like being on set of a horror movie marathon plus a lineup of two spectacular and haunting shows.

Mastercard just keeps making experiences even more rewarding by bringing you more perks at Resorts World Sentosa.

From now until Dec. 28, all Mastercard cardholders may avail of an accommodation and multi-attractions package, which includes a two-night stay at your choice of a Resorts World Sentosa hotel and two adult passes to Universal Studios Singa-

pore, S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark.

Also, until Dec. 31 Mastercard is also offering exclusive deals for all cardholders.

Enjoy your stay even more by shopping and dining to your heart’s content as Mastercard gives all its cardholders 10 percent savings at over 15 retail outlets and 40 dining spots all in Resorts World Sentosa. You can also get the VIP treatment with 10 percent off a Universal Studios Singapore VIP Tour. Mastercard World and World Elite cardholders get added perks like an exclusive tour and Unlimited Universal Express access to all the attractions.

Lastly, until May 2017 all Mastercard cardholders can avail of exclusive promos to the Resorts World Sentosa attractions.

Enjoy 10 percent off at Universal Studios Singapore plus receive a souvenir cup and adult one-day passes to S.E.A. Aquarium and the Adventure Cove Waterpark will be S$10 less than the original prices.

So if you’re looking for something new and even more spine-tingling this Halloween or simply a reason to relax and chill out, Mastercard has got you covered. Take this chance to shop and dine with your Mastercard for experiences that are more rewarding than ever.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

G

MA Network (GMA) reinforced its strong showing in Urban Luzon with improved shares across all day parts, based on data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, the industry’s trusted ratings service provider.

Urban Luzon accounts for 77 percent of the total urban TV household population in the country.

During the covered period (with the dates of Sept. 25 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA’s household audience share in the area reached 41.7 percent, 8.9 points higher than ABSCBN’s 32.8 percent.

GMA led ABS-CBN in the morning, afternoon and primetime blocks, which resulted in an even bigger total day advantage over competition versus the previous month.

Moreover, GMA dominated the list of top-performing programs in Urban Luzon with the Kapuso telefantasya Encantadia taking the no.1 spot followed closely by primetime newscast 24 Oras and weekend comedy show Pepito Manaloto in the second and third slots, respectively.

Rounding out the list of Kapuso programs in the top 10 are the weekly drama anthology Magpakailanman,

Local remake of Korean drama is next for Jennylyn

“Encantadia” lead stars (from left) Gabbi Garcia, Glaiza de Castro, Kylie Padilla and Sanya Lopez

GMA Network strengthens Urban Luzon ratings lead in September 2016’s no.1 Koreanovela Descendants of the Sun, multi-awarded news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, recently launched primetime drama Alyas Robin Hood, and Sunday night sitcom Hay Bahay!.

Joining these shows in the list of top programs in Urban Luzon are Ismol Family, 24 Oras Weekend, Sunday Pinasaya, Eat Bulaga, Juan Happy Love Story, Wowowin, #Like, Imbestigador, Superstar Duets, Someone to Watch Over Me, Magkaibang Mundo, and Dear Uge. Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number

of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. Nielsen has a nationwide sample size of 3,500 urban and rural homes, bigger than Kantar’s sample size of 2,610.

For the first six months of the year, GMA’s consolidated revenues improved by 32 percent to P8.760 billion due to election-related earnings and consistent growth in recurring advertisements, while its net income after tax jumped 116 percent to P2.378 billion. ABS-CBN ended the period with a net income of P2.114 billion, lower than GMA’s net income by P264 million.

Trolls’ colorful journey from beloved toys to movie stars FROM the creators of Shrek, DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, a smart, funny and irreverent comedy about the search for happiness, and just how far some will go to get it will soon hit the screens.

The film transports audiences to a colorful, wondrous world populated by the overly optimistic Trolls, who have a constant dance in their step and a song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have Trolls in their stomachs.

After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly cautious, curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Their mission is full of adventure and mishaps, as this mismatched duo try to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.

Happiness was foremost in the minds of Trolls director Mike Mitchell and co-director Walt Dohrn, even during the earliest stages of story discussions with screenwriters/co-producers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger and producer Gina Shay.

The two filmmakers had

worked together on DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster Shrek franchise, and their familiarity with the beloved ogres of that world led them to their distant cousins, the Trolls. Their research into Troll lore, which sprang from Scandinavian mythology, revealed that Trolls came in myriad shapes and sizes, from monstrous giants to tiny creatures who granted wishes.

As DreamWorks had done with Shrek, Mitchell and Dohrn decided to adapt the Trolls mythology to create a new universe and set of characters.

The filmmakers note that they did embrace one aspect of previous Trolls history. “We were fascinated by how these creatures were originally scary and evolved over time into being cute and lovable,” says Mitchell. “In the 1970s they became a symbol for happiness.”

“Those ideas compelled us, as did the opportunity to create a story and mythology from scratch,” says Dohrn. “We decided it was time to start spreading some joy again.

Mike and I had a blank slate, from which we could create anything with these characters, their story and their environments. With

happiness as a guidepost, we wanted to create a film with a mix of fun, adventure, heart, music, color and textures.”

In many ways, says producer Gina Shay, another of Mitchell and Dohrn’s Shrek franchise alumna, “Trolls” hearkens back to the 1970s, a time “when there was this feeling of freedom; disco, pop and dance music was everywhere; and everybody seemed to be roller skating. We wanted the Trolls to reflect that joy in their society.

“Trolls” transports audiences to a colorful, wondrous world populated by the overly optimistic small creatures who live in an almost perpetual state of happiness

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, October 31, 2016

ACROSS 1 Urban pollution 5 Heavy gold chain 9 The Dog Star follows him 14 Many layers 15 Tabloid topics 16 Gung-ho response (2 wds.)

17 Sundance Kid’s girl 18 Rockies, briefly 19 Musical combos 20 Big Band — 21 Woman on campus 22 Rhymes 23 Movie snack 25 Wyo. neighbor 26 Hosp. workers 27 Aching 28 — Moines 31 Beau 34 Winter 36 Nose-bag tidbits 37 Sets 38 Whale like Shamu 39 Becoming behavior 41 Candle lovers 42 Sound of deep thought 43 Like a pro 44 Geological

period 45 Forum hellos 46 Expires (2 wds.)

50 Not impressed 53 — Raton, Fla. 54 Attorney’s deg.

55 Rustic 56 Claw badly 57 Baja boy 58 Plumber’s tool 59 — spumante 60 “Terrible” tsar 61 Faked it 62 Organ part 63 — -majeste DOWN 1 Meek types 2 Paris subway 3 Ready to go (2 wds.)

4 Youth org.

5 Grapevine products 6 Frequently 7 Reedy place 8 Lisper’s problem 9 Fest month 10 Harder to find 11 — — for keeps 12 Fragrance 13 Prying 21 Mass. neighbor 22 Dijon dads 24 Bracing 25 Generously 27 Like river

bottoms 28 Move quickly 29 Draw with acid 30 Wave makers 31 Undergrad 32 Getting close 33 Cyclotron target 34 Dressy attire 35 Lunch periods 37 Agreed 40 Frayed 41 “— Lisa” 44 Geometry pioneer 45 Stirring 46 Line of travel

They’re also very peaceful.”

The Trolls even have a special kind of watch that reminds them to hug every hour on the hour. No matter what they’re doing, when the watch blooms, it’s “hug time.”

Notes Mitchell: “Part of being happy is connecting with others, and what better way to show that than with a hug.”

Trolls opens Nov. 2 in cinemas nationwide (2D and 3D) from 20th Century Fox and distributed

by Warner Bros.

47 Dull green 48 Arm bones 49 Juicy steak (hyph.)

50 — Major or Minor 51 Now, to Caesar 52 Trapped like — — 53 Ignoble 56 Put a dent in 57 Not even one

JENNYLYN Mercado confirms that her next big soap for GMA, the remake of the hit Koreanovela titled My Love from the Star is finally pushing through.

“Yes it is,” she avers. “We will start taping this week. I know that many are already curious or has become impatient as to when the show will officially commence. Well, here it is. I’m really excited to work on this grand project!”

Fans are asking who is her leading man in the program since Alden Richards has been pulled out of it.

“I cannot disclose his identity at this point in time.

All I can say is he’s a newbie, a model and a moreno.

He really auditioned for the part and did some line reading with me. It will be a fresh screen combination so I hope the viewers will support it.”

Chemistry is an important factor for a screen pair to succeed. Isn’t she afraid since she will be paired with a newbie in the program?

“Oh, no! We will undergo workshops anyway. I’m sure our chemistry will surface eventually.”

My Love from the Star is a huge ratings success. It tells the story of a famous actress who falls in love with an alien. Jen will play the character of Steffi Cheon in the story which was originally done by popular Korean star Kim Soo-hyun. What are her preparations for the role?

“Actually, I watched the original version to study my character. I know that she’s well-loved by the viewers, so I don’t have plans of deviating much from Ms. Kim Soo-hyun’s portrayal. I want my Steffi to be very, very close to hers.”

This early, the talented Kapuso actress knows that her portrayal will be compared to the original female lead of My Love from the Star.

“I guess it’s inevitable, right? Well, I promise to do my best, that’s for sure. I just hope that feedbacks would still be positive and encouraging,” says Jen. Since the Christmas season is fast approaching, some quarters are wondering if she will have an entry in this year’s MMFF where in the past two years, she clinched the Best Actress trophy for the movies English Only, Please and Walang Forever, respectively.

“I’m afraid that I will skip this year’s edition of the MMFF. I had offers but the taping of my new soap was delayed from its original date. That time, I thought it wouldn’t be wise to start with the soap and then shoot a movie. I didn’t want to look haggard!”

Speaking of films, it was reported that she would do a project with Coco Martin after John Lloyd Cruz.

“Yes, supposedly. It just didn’t push through.”

Many of her followers ask why until now, she hasn’t starred in a silver screen project opposite rumoured boyfriend Dennis Trillo.

“There’s no offer! Ha-ha-ha! We’ve done hit soaps together, but movies, no. Actually, it’s a welcome idea. For one, it would really be an acting aria for the two of us since we both know each other’s range. I’ll have no difficulty whatsoever,” ends Jennnylyn. ******** Kim Chiu admits that she hesitated at first when her new soap opera titled Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin was offered to her since it will reunite her with former flame Gerald Anderson.

“Of course, I’m just human. There was awkwardness on my part. But Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) pointed out to me that I should treat it as a challenge. For one, I’m no longer a teenager. Gone are my cutie-pie days.

I’m an actress so I should be professional,” she avers.

The popular Kapamilya star is obviously matured enough to handle this phase in her career.

“It’s been seven years since Gerald and I worked together. So many things happened in our lives in that span of time. I think we have something fresh to offer the viewers with our latest program!”

Asked what she missed the most about her former love team and steady, Kim says: “I don’t want to call or tag it as miss but looking forward. Yes, that’s a better term. Both of us have matured and grown wiser already in the passing of times so I’m looking forward to it…”

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com

D4

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

Showbiz KathNiel

sweeps Push Awards once more

Head of ABS-CBN Integrated Corporate Communication Kane Errol Choa accepts the award for Best TV Station

ABS-CBN

PMPC’s best TV station

A

BS-CBN, the country’s leading entertainment and media company, was honored as the Best TV Station at the 2016 PMPC Star Awards for TV, making it the company’s eighth consecutive win since 2009.

The Kapamilya network also topped the awards night as its roster of programs and artists were recognized across categories in both TV and Music.

FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano was named Best Primetime Drama Series with Coco Martin as this year’s Best Drama Actor. Child actors McNeal Briguela and Simon Pineda, who play Makmak and Onyok in the hit teleserye, were also named Best Child Performer and Best New Male TV Personality, respectively.

The Julia Montes starrer Doble Kara bagged the Best Daytime Drama Series award, while actors Arjo Atayde and Aaron Villaflor were both

recognized in the Best Drama Supporting Actor category for their work in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and All of Me. Luis Manzano was one of the most awarded stars of the night as he copped the Best Male TV Host, Best Game Show Host, and Best Talent Search Show Host. He shared the Best Talent Search Host award with Robi Domingo and Kim Chiu for The Voice Kids 3.

Other Kapamilya big winners were Kim Chiu and Xian Lim (German Moreno Power Tandem of the Year), Anne Curtis (Best Female TV Host), Boy Abunda (Best Celebrity Talk Show Host and Best Public Affairs Program Host), Ria Atayde (Best New Female TV Personality), ASAP (Best Musical Variety Show), Goin’ Bulilit (Best Gag Show), Tonight with Boy Abunda (Best Celebrity Talk Show), Ipaglaban Mo (Best Drama Anthology), and RX Plus (Best Lifestyle Show).

ABS-CBN’s news and current affairs arm also bagged awards including Best News Program (TV Patrol), Best Documentary Special (Politika at Pamilya, Sila Noon, Sila Pa Rin Ngayon), Best Magazine Show (Rated K), Best Educational TV

Cast of “Goin Bulilit” receives the trophy for Best Gag Show

Program (Matanglawin), and Best Public Affairs Program (Bottomline).

Kapamilya news and current affairs personalities were also recognized – Korina Sanchez (Best Magazine Show Host), Julius Babao (Best Public Service Program Host), Kim Atienza (Best Educational Program Host), Anthony Taberna, Jorge Carino, Atom Araullo, Amy Perez, Winnie Cordero, Ariel Ureta, and Gretchen Ho (Best Morning Show Hosts for Umagang Kay Ganda).

For the PMPC Star Awards for Music, Kapamilya talent also stood out like Jed Madela (Best Male Recording Artist of the Year), Jolina Magdangal (Best Female Recording Artist of the Year), Marion Aunor (Best Female Pop Artist of the Year), Janella Salvador (Best New Female Recording Artist of the Year), Hashtags (Best Dance Album of the Year), Vice Ganda and Edward Benossa (Best Music Video of the Year).

Kapamilya stars Arjo and Ria Atayde were recognized as Male and Female Star of the Night for Music, while Luis Manzano and Yassi Pressman Male and Female Star of the Night for TV.

Luis Manzano is the most decorated Kapamilya star of the night

Power Tandem of the Year Kim Chiu and Xian Lim

(Top) Kathryn Bernardo and (bottom) Daniel Padilla receive their awards at the recently concluded Push Awards 2016

KAPAMILYA love team Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla once again proved their power and influence on digital media as they dominated the Push Awards 2016 held recently at Dolphy Theater, where celebrities with the biggest online influence online were honored

by ABS-CBN entertainment site PUSH.com. ph.

Like in last year’s ceremony, the Barcelona stars brought home all the awards as a tandem: the Push Elite Tandem of the Year awarded to them by a distinguished panel of judges, and the fan-voted Digital Media Awards, namely the Push Like Tandem, Push Tweet Tandem, Push Gram Tandem, and Push Play Tandem awards.

They also got the most number of votes in categories. Kathryn won the Push Tweet Female Celebrity and Push Gram Female Celebrity awards, while Daniel nabbed the Push Tweet Male Celebrity award.

Singer Yeng Constantino was also among the major winners as she was hailed the Push Elite Female Celebrity, Push Like Female Celebrity, Push Tweet Music Artist, and Push Play Female Celebrity. Darren Espanto, meanwhile, was named the Push Elite Music Artist, Push Like Male Celebrity, Push Like Music Artist, and received the Awesome Popular Song Cover award for “I Believe.”

The Unkabogable star Vice Ganda also shone as he won the Push Gram Male Celebrity, Push Play Male Celebrity, Push Elite Male Celebrity awards, and received the Awesome Popular Movie Performance for Beauty and the Bestie.

Teen star Ylona Garcia also proved that her time has come as she was named the Push Elite Newcomer, Push Gram Newcomer, and Push Play Newcomer.

Meanwhile, LizQuen fans were given the Push Ultimate Fan award for posting the most number of tweets during the voting period.

Bahay Trese a good way to spend Halloween MOST of us need a good scare every now and then.

This Halloween, there’s no better place to go for a thrill fest than Bahay Trese at Building 3 of Sta. Lucia Mall, inside World of Fun. Sta. Lucia Mall is located along Marcos Highway, Cainta, Rizal.

Bahay Trese doesn’t just rely on special effects and sporadic horror elements that pop up without rhyme or reason.

This theatrical immersive horror experience inside a haunted house

makes guests scream, shout, and feel like running away, because it is based on real events.

Bahay Trese is inspired by a series of massacres that happened in Manila in 1945, when homes were torched, women were raped and murdered, and men were killed. Bloodshed was everywhere.

The 20-minute tour of Bahay Trese has a story thread, and actors from a leading theater company take guests from room to room, as they reenact that tragic day in our history.

The spooktacular has earned good reviews from guests who come out of the house feeling that they traveled back in time to a world filled with unspeakable horror.

They feel like part of the action as the scary residents of the haunted house—the mysterious caretaker, the lonely little girl, etc.—stand right before and beside them, they can almost touch them, but can’t.

Find out what the reviews are all about. This Halloween season Bahay Trese is open from today until Nov 2.

Experience an immersive horror thrill at Bahay Trese, a haunted house along Marcos Highway