Manila Standard - 2016 November 26 - Saturday

COUP FEARS EASED AMID ANTI-FM PROTESTS

By Joel E. Zurbano and John Paolo Bencito

Friday to voice their opposition to the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng THOUSANDS of protesters mga Bayani two weeks ago. joined the “Black Friday” rally at The Palace said Friday it was the Quirino Grandstand in Manila not alarmed about any possible

destabilization attempts, even after President Duterte issued an order restricting soldiers to their barracks in the wake of massive anti-Marcos rallies in various parts of the country.

Former senator Rene Saguisag, and former Bayan Muna Party-list lawmakers Satur Ocampo and Neri Colmenares joined multi-sectoral groups as protesters, all wearing black, came separately from Taft

Avenue and Liwasang Bonifacio and gathered at the grandstand.

A spokeswoman for the police, Kimberly Molitas, said there were no untoward incidents as of 5 p.m.

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Reds deny Bello yarn on Dec. 10 peace deal

By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

VOL. XXX • NO. 287 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

BLACK FRIDAY. Protesters, clad in black, march under light rains Friday to mount what they expect would be the largest expression of outrage thus far against former President

Ferdinand Marcos’ burial on Nov. 18 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani—with President Duterte reacting, quoting English writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’—an endorsement of the principle of freedom of speech. Lino Santos

COMMUNIST rebels said there would not be a ceasefire agreement by the target date of December 10, and blamed the government for lacking the resolve to release political prisoners while negotiations are ongoing.

“To put it realistically, a bilateral ceasefire agreement is most likely not to be forged before or around December 10,” the Communist Party of the Philippines said in a statement.

“The failure of the GRP to release all political prisoners in accordance with the August 21-26 Oslo talks, discourages the revolutionary forces from pursuing negotiations to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement,” said the CPP. “The longer the GRP takes to fulfill its obligation to release all political prisoners, the prospects of such an agreement ever being forged become ever dimmer,” they added.

The government and the NDF earlier agreed to transform their separate unilateral ceasefires into a joint, bilateral ceasefire within two months from the signing of their Joint Statement last August 26 -but both negotiating panels have to agree further on some terms and conditions, including the definition of hostile acts, identification of battle zones, and members of the team that will monitor the ceasefire’s implemenNext page tation and compliance.

‘No to slut-shaming’ Robredo hits out at House in defense of De Lima •

2 women-senators chime in, liken inquiry to public lynching

By Rio N. Araja, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

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Senate Liberals chide House members for unparliamentary behavior

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•

Party-list lawmaker wants De Lima to resign and save Congress from embarassment

ICE President Leni Robredo on Friday lashed out at Congress for harassing Senator Leila de Lima over her past affair with her exbodyguard and alleged bagman Ronnie Dayan.

Some questions asked of Dayan during the House committee on justice hearing Thursday were irrelevant and unnecessary to the congressional inquiry into the illegal drug trade, Robredo said, noting that some of the questions about the love affair were simply malicious.

Lawmakers must set a good example in respecting women, Robredo added, otherwise, ordinary citizens would feel they had a license to do otherwise.

“I checked [the news] online to know the questions asked.

[Those questions] seem totally unnecessary and malicious at

some point. Such must have no place in an institution that we respect,” Robredo said.

She said it was not only De Lima who was harassed, but women in general.

“If we follow closely the line of questioning, we can see that some [questions] had no relevance in the investigation being conducted. It seemed what was happening then was just slutshaming,” she added.

Two women senators also spoke up against congressmen who seemed to show an undue interest in the love affair between De Lima and Dayan.

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Ronnie-Kerwin faceoff over Leila

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and John Paolo Bencito THE Senate plans to invite the former lover and alleged bagman of Senator Leila de Lima, Ronnie Dayan, to the next hearing of its committee on public order and dangerous drugs, to iron out inconsistencies between his claims and those of self-confessed Eastern Visayas drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

In an interview on radio dzBB, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said committee chairman Senator Panfilo Lacson wanted both Dayan and Espinosa in the same hearing so that they could determine who was telling the truth.

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‘Congestion tax’ eyed on motorists

Complaints mount vs defiant ERC

A GROUP has filed graft, ethics and administrative charges against Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar before the Office of the Ombudsman over the allegedly questionable contracts he had signed with power distributor Manila Electric Co. The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, represented by secretary general Aya Jallorina, included Commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit and Geronio Sta. Ana in its complaint.

Jallorina said the Energy officials must be held criminally

crimes, but with regard to the Philippines, there is no preliminary examination that has been opened and there is no investigation ongoing,” Fadi El Abdallah, spokesman and head of

THE government is studying the proposal to levy a congestion tax to discourage vehicles from using congested roads and ease the traffic gridlock in Metro Manila, an official said Friday.

“It’s called congestion fee,” Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Thomas Orbos told reporters in Malacañang.

“We’re looking at that. In fact, there have been several meetings between the interagency council on traffic and the Singaporean government to precisely take a look at it.”

Orbos also said six more government properties will be opened to vehicular traffic to ease the congestion in Metro Manila after the MMDA opened Camp Aguinaldo to private vehicles to lessen the number of vehicles using Edsa to and from Katipunan and Santolan.

Among those to be opened in the coming days are the Bonifacio Naval Station at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, to ease the gridlock from Lawton to Pasong Tamo; the Office for Transportation Security along

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TS Marce leaves 10k stranded MORE than 10,000 passengers were stranded in various ports in the Visayas, Mindanao and the Bicol region as of 8 a.m. on Friday because of Tropical Storm “Marce,” the Coast Guard said.

The agency said it grounded 1,401 rolling cargoes, 161 Next page

WOMEN’S RIGHTS. Vice President Leni Robredo joins the Philippine Commission on Women staff in a photo op during the 2016 18-day campaign to end violence against women kick-off activity Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City aimed at raising awarenesss among all stakeholders that such violence is a public issue of national concern. Norman Cruz

No probe of Du30 over war on drugs, ICC clarifies NO INVESTIGATIONS are being prepared against President Rodrigo Duterte over his administration’s alleged involvement in the summary killings in the country due to his war on drugs, the International Criminal Court twitter.com/ MlaStandard

said Friday.

But the Court repeated its warning against the summary killings that have resulted in the death of thousands of drug dealers and users in the Philippines as a result of the Duterte admin-

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

istration’s continuing crackdown on illegal drugs.

“This is part of the deterrent effect of the court: to help deescalate the tension sometimes by calling on the different parties to be careful not to commit

thestandard.com.ph

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

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Ronnie-...

From A1 While Dayan admitted during a House hearing Thursday that he collected money from Espinosa, he said he didn’t know it came from drugs.

He also denied knowing Albuera police chief Insp. Jovito Espenido, whom Espinosa said had called him up so that he could speak with Dayan.

In that phone call, Espinosa said, Dayan said De Lima wanted P2 million a month to bankroll her senatorial bid. Dayan denied having this conversation, and also denied knowing the convicted drug lords detained at the New Bilibid Prison, who testified before the House to giving millions in payoffs to De Lima through Dayan.

Espinosa said his dealings with Dayan lasted from 2015 to 2016, but Dayan said he was no longer employed by De Lima by then, and that the transactions took place in 2014.

Sotto said the senators were not satisfied with the testimonies of either witness, saying that only 70 percent of what they said was true.

He said both seemed to be trying to save themselves through their testimony.

Despite the inconsistencies in his testimony, Dayan was seen as a “vital witness,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Some lawmakers raised doubts about Dayan’s testimony Thursday, citing inconsistencies between his and Espinosa’s testimony, particularly on details about when their transactions took place.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday denied that he was doing a demolition job on De Lima, saying even before the key witnesses appeared before the House and the Senate

Canberra backs Digong’s pivot

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

A

USTRALIAN Ambassador Amanda Gorely welcomed the Duterte administration’s pivot to China and Russia, viewing the new tack will likely increase trade and industry in the Philippines.

“It is just natural to be friendly with other nations like China and Russia,” Gorely said at the sideline of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Philippine-Australian diplomatic relations.

Gorely cited the foreign policy of Australia that has been seeking multiple relationships with the United States, Russia and China at the same time.

“Australia have an alliance with

the United States and we have also a very strong relationship with China and Russia. It’s good to have multiple relationships with all countries,” she stressed, adding that Australia respects any government that pursues an independent foreign policy.

“Australia also has bilateral relations with China and with Russia. All of us have strong relationship and we do have big invest-

ments in both countries and fast increasing,” she said.

She also added that a balanced diplomatic relationship combined with reciprocal trade relations will be of great help leading to close relations.

“We aim to have constructive relationship with as many countries as possible and you can accommodate differences within that. It doesn’t mean that you have to throw the baby out with bath water,” she stressed.

Gorely said Australia will continue to support the Philippines in further strengthening both diplomatic ties.

She said, the need and presence of overseas Filipino workers in Australia is increasing, recognizing their hard work and

Red...

From A1

‘Congestion...

From A1 the airport area, which will be opened next week; a village road that will connect Edsa to Jupiter Street in Makati; the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman; an MMDA property on Roxas Boulevard, and several properties of the Philippine National Railways and National Power Corp.

Singapore had earlier implemented the Certificate of Entitlement to limit the number of new vehicles and the Electronic Road Pricing or congestion tax to discourage vehicles from using congested roads.

More than 25 years since the congestion tax was first conceived and implemented, many other big cities that have adopted the principle are enjoying the benefits of such a system like London and Stockholm, which combined the scheme with other green measures that discourage fuel emission in confined areas.

Orbos said consultations with groups and legislators were needed before a law could be passed to levy the congestion tax.

“That will need consultations especially with the congressmen because I think they need to pass a law ... To put another fee might need some legislation,” he said. John Paolo Bencito

TS...

From A1 vessels and 58 motorized boats in the ports in the affected areas because of “Marce.”

“Marce”―international name “Tokage”―was 55 kilometers Southeast of Coron, Palawan, as of 4 p.m. Friday with maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move west-northwest at 22 kph.

Weathermen said it will be stormy over Southern Occidental Mindoro, Southern Oriental Mindoro and the Calamian group of Islands, where the seas will be rough to very rough.

Rain with gusty winds will prevail over the rest of Mindoro, Northern Palawan, Romblon, Antique and Aklan.

Cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain are expected over Quezon, Aurora and the Bicol Region. PNA

Coup...

From A1 Various youth groups led by Anakbayan, Kabataan Party-list, League of Filipino Students, National Union of Students of the Philippines, and College Editors Guild of the Philippines also marched to Mendiola before proceeding to the anti-Marcos protest at Luneta Park.

Mass actions were also held at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Katipunan, UP Manila, Polytechnic University of Manila, and the University Belt along Morayta and Mendiola.

“Today youth and students and people from all walks of life unite to

dedication.

So far, she said, there are a total of 240 Australian business investments in the Philippines, generating thousands of jobs for Filipinos.

On Thursday, UK Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad urged Duterte to reconsider his plan to form new alliance with Russia, citing Moscow’s invovlement in the ongoing unrest to all war-torn countries, including Syria and Afghanistan.

“You cannot cherrypick the positive attributes of a country and ignore the rest,” Ahmad said.

He said that Russia invaded Afghanistan which resulted to the creation of Al-Qaida, a terror group founded by Osama bin Laden, who was killed in May 2011.

GIVING A POSY. President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledges the salute of Cpl. Clavo Mendoza, among the

soldiers wounded in an encounter with rebels in Lamitan City, now recuperating at the Camp General Basilio Navarro, Western Mindanao hospital in Zamboanga City where the commander-in-chief gave personal assistance and thanked the troops for efforts to keep the peace.

‘No...

From A1 Speaking during Friday’s “Women in Business Breakfast Foruam” organized by the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Senator Grace Poe admitted she was upset with a lot of questions, which she said tended toward voyeurism.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the House had hit a new low point when it reopened its investigation into the narcotics trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Poe and Hontiveros rejected the assertion of House members that the House inquiry was in aid of legislation.

“We understand that a lot of things have to be investigated but I think that the details of certain personal affairs should not have been discussed,” said Poe. Hontiveros described the House hearing as a “public lynching” in aid of misogyny and sexism.

She said the intention of the members of the House committee on justice was clear, and slammed them for being “grossly unparliamentary.”

“Their derogatory line of questioning did not aim to shed light on the issue of the drug trade in our prisons.

They were meant to humiliate and shame Senator De Lima for her association with a certain man, or her past relationship,” Hontiveros said.

“It is very frustrating that in this day and age, the integrity and reputation of women can be undermined by unreasonable, traditional and conservative expectations of women’s conduct in romantic and even sexual relationships,” she added.

“It is even more shameful that this nation’s supposed leaders, elected representatives of the Filipino people, made the shaming of women a political strategy and a spectacle in the ‘honorable’ chambers of Congress.”

The dishonorable behavior of lawmakers reinforced the “despicable culture” that has led to a surge in the number of sexual harassment cases against women, both online and off, she said.

She urged Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to rein in the members of the House and stop them from resorting to sexist and misogynistic attacks against another elected public official.

“If they are confident that they have real and tangible evidence against Senator De Lima, then let the evidence speak for itself. That is the only way for the House to recover from this plunge into new and unparalleled lows,” she said.

In a statement issued Thursday night in reaction to the House hearing, De Lima said “no woman, whoever or whatever she may be, whether a sitting senator or a humble secretary, deserves to be betrayed, to be treated with so much disrespect and without dignity, before the public eye, by any man she is with or had a relationship with.”

“As a woman, it breaks my heart that my private life and personal relationship have become subject of the public and Congress’ ridicule,” she added.

In last Thursday’s hearing, lawmakers took turns prying into the past romantic relationship between Dayan and De Lima. They asked questions like how the relationship started, the intensity of their love for each other, what they did, where they went, and how they called each other when they were alone, and if they had ever made a sex video.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, said the House cannot proceed against a member of another chamber without violating the principles of co-equality and inter-chamber courtesy.

In a statement, Drilon and other members of the Liberal Party to which De Lima belongs, said the correct procedure was for the House

to bring their show-cause order before the entire Senate, not to just one senator.

Drilon, and Senators Francis Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV also slammed some members of the House for their unparliamentary behavior during Thursday’s hearing.

During that hearing, the House panel ordered De Lima to show cause why she should not be held in contempt by advising Dayan to go into hiding to evade testifying before the committee on justice.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III earlier said the Senate had its own rules, and that the ethics committee was the one tasked to investigate erring members of the chamber.

He bristled at the House trying to tell the Senate what to do.

This did not stop Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza from urging De Lima to resign “to save Congress as an institution from embarrassment” and urging Pimentel to do the same to “protect the Senate.”

“Secretary de Lima should not hold on to her post. She should immediately resign and concentrate on defending herself in court. With Kerwin Espinosa’s and Ronnie Dayan’s testimonies, she has run out of time,” Atienza said.

Atienza said the testimonies of the drug lords during the congressional hearings and the additional statements of Espinosa and Dayan are more than enough reason to recommend the filing of charges.

“It’s mind-boggling that a Justice secretary would be involved in the collection of drug money. And most telling of all is the shameful slapping incident narrated by Dayan when he found out she was two-timing him,” Atienza said.

“She said that if proven right, she will resign. I say—No Madame Senator. If proven right, you should rot in jail,” Atienza added.

hold the Duterte regime accountable for giving a hero’s burial to a dictator, plunderer, and human rights violator. Today we link arms to denounce Duterte’s unholy alliance with the Marcoses,” said Anakbayan National chairman Vencer Crisostomo.

Protest centers were also set in various major schools and roads in Metro Manila. The groups marched to Mendiola noon before heading to Luneta Park later in the afternoon.

The mass actions caused traffic congestion along the University Belt on C.M. Recto Avenue and other main roads in Metro Manila.

“We strongly condemn the Duterte regime for burying Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. This only exposes the prevalent fascist mindset in

the state which sings praises to a dead dictator and sees nothing wrong with massive human rights abuses, repression of civil liberties, and state terror,” said Crisostomo.

Crisostomo cited a report by rights group Karapatan that documented 16 cases of political killings and another 16 cases of frustrated murder since Duterte came to power on June 30.

The same report mentions over 13,000 victims of forced evacuations of civilian communities under Duterte, many of which are farmers and minorities.

“What’s worse, military operations are now disguised as part of ‘peace and development’ and the ‘war on drugs.’ The continuation of Oplan Bayanihan tramples on the essence of

the peace talks between the Duterte regime and the NDFP and the unilateral ceasefire declared by both sides,” said Crisostomo.

“No genuine change came after the EDSA uprising, allowing ruling elites like the Aquinos, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo, and now Duterte to make political accommodation with the Marcoses and pave their return to power. State fascism and human rights abuses continue up to this very day,” said Crisostomo.

“No change will come under the Duterte regime if it continues to lavish praise on the Marcoses and persists in looking up to the dead dictator’s fascist ways as role model. Real justice for the victims of Martial Law can only be secured by fighting a rot-

Benito Tiamzon, CPP chairman, said that as of mid-November, the NDFP has not monitored any development in the government’s pledge to release a substantial number of political prisoners by the end of this month. Tiamzon also added that political prisoners should be released before December.

On Tuesday, Labor Secretary and government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III said they would still target a ceasefire agreement by December 10, despite some drawbacks and insisted that the release of political prisoners should not be used as a condition for such an agreement.

“Let us not forget that a permanent ceasefire will eventually lead to the cessation of hostilities,” he said.

Bello said President Rodrigo Duterte plans to grant absolute pardon of 40 to 50 political detainees before Christmas as a confidence-building measure with the communist rebels.

Despite failed attempts at peace under five previous presidents, Foreign Minister Børge Brende of Norway said there is a new momentum under the Duterte administration that bodes well for prospects of a lasting peace.

He said he saw a breakthrough in the third round of talks scheduled for late January.

“Under the leadership of President Duterte and also Secretary [Jesus] Dureza, we have seen a new momentum in the process with the guerrillas and this is important for the Philippines,” Brende told the reporters on

No...

From A1 the ICC public affairs unit, told ABSCBN in an interview in The Hague.

The ICC said the run-up to the first stage of prosecution, which is a preliminary examination, is not an overnight process, hence protocols and procedures will have to take time.

“If the ICC prosecutor wants to investigate on her own initiative, she must obtain the authorization of the judges, so there is a control of a chamber of three judges over this matter,” he said.

“It’s not only the prosecutor deciding, the judges have to look into this decision and the state concerned may be able to present objections to that before the judges.”

Last October, Fatou Bensouda, a prosecutor of the International Crimi-

Complaints...

From A1

“If you check the history books, you’ll see Afghanistan was invaded by Russia, and Al-Qaida was born out of that conflict, and the consequences of that have gone global, including here in the Philippines,” Ahmad explained.

He said that Russian invasion in Afghanistan also affected not only the nearby countries but also the Philippines.

“So what was spawned by Russian intervention in Afghanistan, we’re paying the price for it today in Mindanao, Sulu, TawiTawi, Manila, when the ferry was blown up in the early part of the 2000s,” he said.

Ahmad was talking about the firebombing of a ferry in Manila Bay in 2004 killing more than 100 lives.

the sidelines of the European Ambassadors’ Forum on the Philippines’ Peace and Development Roadmap at the Diamond Hotel.

Brende said so far, since the current government resumed talks, there are now at least two new working groups that are looking at the economic and social development; and political participation on the peace agreement.

“I think there will be a new breakthroughs during the round of talks in later January...I see progress in this process,” he said.

Dureza for his part said the Philippine government is pushing to sign the peace agreement “as soon as possible” so they can move forward in implementing the treaty before Duterte finishes his term.

“I think the sentiment across the table is that would like to do it as quickly as possible while the President is still the President of the country so there is a lot of time left in implementing the agreement,” Dureza added.

Brende also said that Norway is willing to assist the Philippines in the implementation phase both economically and politically.

“Achieving peace is high on President Duterte’s agenda and compliments also to Secretary Dureza for your commitment. I think the steps taken by the President can result in a historical breakthrough...but the job is not done yet,” Brende said.

Both Brende and Dureza, however, declined to comment when asked about the leftist threat that they will not sign the agreement if President Duterte will not abrogate military treaties with the United States.

nal Court, said Duterte’s alleged orders on extrajudicial killings might fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if they were committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population pursuant to a State policy to commit such an attack.

The permanent international court can prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

Making another turn on his antiAmerican rhetoric, Duterte recently announced that he might withdraw from the ICC and follow in Russia’s footsteps.

The ICC said if preliminary examinations were conducted before any withdrawal took effect, the cases would proceed even if the Philippines had already withdrawn its participation from the Rome Statute.

John Paolo Bencito

and administratively liable for their alleged wrongdoings.

“The contracts are onerous and anti-people. ERC is supposed to be protecting consumers as a rate-regulating body. It seems the other way around,” she said.

“It isn’t providing least cost power as mandated by the Epira [Electric Power Industry Reform Act]. It is in fact obviously favoring DUs [distribution utilities]. It is easy to see why.”

The anti-corruption watchdog

claims Salazar and the other ERC officials arbitrarily deferred the implementation of the agency’s own rules for competitive selection process, allowing Meralco to secure “seven midnight coal contracts totaling 3,551 megawatts worth $10 billion without benefit of public bidding” last April.

President Rodrigo Duterte had threatened to abolish the ERC over allegations of corruption in the agency.

One of its directors, Francisco Villa Jr., committed suicide over the alleged pressure being exerted on him to approve illegal contracts.

John Paolo Bencito

ten system that organizes fascism and rights abuses against the people,” Crisostomo added.

The Marcos family earlier asked the people to unite amid the ongoing series of protests following the burial of the former president, which took the public by surprise a few days after the Supreme Court decided to allow the burial at the Libingan.

“Let my father’s burial be the first day amongst many days of our continuing to work for the unity and the progress of our country,” said Marcos’ namesake and only son former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The senator said it was his father’s fervent wish that when he came to the end of his days, that he be buried in a simple soldier’s ceremony.

“This was in keeping with his idea that he was but a soldier doing his duty, a citizen serving his country.

We have waited 27 years to fulfill that wish that he left us with. But we are here today and we are able to grant him that wish,” he said.

On Nov. 8, the Supreme Court voted 9-5 to junk the petitions seeking to bar the interment of Marcos at the Libingan because of the state-sanctioned human rights violations that occurred during his 21-year rule.

President Rodrigo Duterte said that Marcos, who served the country for more than three decades, should be buried at the Libingan, not because he is a hero but because he was a soldier. With Sandy Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

News

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Ex-MRT manager charged THE Office of the Ombudsman filed on Friday two counts of graft raps against the former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 general manager Al Vitangcol before the Sandiganbayan over alleged attempt to extort $30 million from the Czech firm Inekon Group.

Also sued was Wilson de Vera, incorporator of Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corp.

In 2012, De Vera advised the Inekon Group officers to give Vitangcol $30 million to be able to bag the contract to supply MRT trains under Lot 1 of the MRT-3 capacity expansion project.

The amount was later reduced to $2.5 million.

The second case involved Vitangcol’s supposed pressuring Inekon Group to enter into a 60-40 sharing agreement with PhilTrams.

The maintenance contract was later awarded to a joint venture of Comm Builders and Technology Philippines Corporation and PH Trams.

A bail of P60,000 for each case was recommended for the provisional liberty of Vitangcol and De Vera.

Former Czech ambassador Josef Rychtar and Inekon board chairman Josef Husek are two of the government prosecutor’s witnesses. Rio Araja

Pinoys very optimistic on Digong MORE Filipinos have ‘very high’ optimism level under the Duterte administration as they anticipate an improved quality of life and better economy in the next 12 months, the latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed.

The September 2016 survey, with 1,200 respondents, revealed Filipinos’ personal optimism posted a score of +43, with more respondents feeling their lives would improve in the year ahead.

Net optimism about the economy, on the other hand, scored +44 as more respondents foresee the better improvement in the economy in general.

The Palace welcomed this latest survey as it took note of so-called ‘very high net gainers’ (+19), or those who believed that their personal quality of life had changed compared to 12 months ago.’

“This is a record-high from the previous +11 in March 1987,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

John Paolo Bencito

HAVING FUN WITH GOMBURZA.

Children enjoy swimming at a fountain commemorating 19th century Catholic priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, collectively known as Gomburza, who were executed in 1872 for espousing reforms. Lino Santos

‘Unused’ cards have data, Marcos tells SC T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE camp of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday asked the Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to furnish it with the results of the decryption of the supposedly “unused” SD cards found to have data during the stripping process.

In a six-page manifestation, Marcos counsel George Erwin Garcia said the fact that many of the supposedly “unused” SD cards were found to have data during the stripping activities for 1,356 units of contingency Vote Counting Machines bolstered its position that mere physical examination was not enough to prove they were not used in the last elections.

“With all due respect, the presence of data stored in the SD cards, retrieved from the 1,356 units of contingency VCMs, bolsters the position of protestant Marcos that the mere physical examination of the subject VCMs, boxes, seals, stickers and SD cards is indeed

inadequate to prove that the same were not used in the 9 May 2016 Elections,” Marcos’ counsel said.

Comelec conducted the stripping activities after it unilaterally decided to release 1,356 VCMs to Smartmatic claiming they were not covered by the PPO since they were not used and/or not deployed in the May elections.

But it was later discovered that many SD cards in the supposedly “unused” VCMs were found to contain data during the stripping activities conducted by the poll body and Smartmatic.

This prompted the Marcos camp to request for the results of decryption of the SD cards found to contain data.

“It is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Tribunal to direct the Comelec to furnish the protestant and the other interested parties in this case with …the results of the decryption of the SD cards from (1,356) units of contingency VCMS, which were found to contain data during the said closure/ stripping activities . . .” Garcia stressed.

The Marcos lawyer told the PET they did not take part in the stripping activities on Oct. 26, and Nov. 2 because its position was the Comelec should have first secured authority from the PET before carrying out the stripping activities.

He said the existence of a Precautionary Protective Order, which enjoined Comelec to preserve all election materials used in the last elections, precluded the poll body from conducting the said activity without court approval.

Garcia said: “The objection of protestant Marcos was based on his position that the 1,356 units of contingency VCMs were covered by the PPO dated July 12, 2016, and that this Honorable Tribunal has not issued any explicit approval to the closure/stripping ac-

tivities.

“Moreover, the conduct of mere physical examination of the subject VCMs, boxes, seals, stickers and SD cards is inadequate to prove that the same were not used in the May 9, 2016 Elections.”

With the subsequent approval of the PET to conduct the stripping activities, Garcia said the group still reserved its right to question the propriety and legitimacy of the undertaking.

So as not to render its objection moot, Garcia appealed to the tribunal to compel the Comelec to furnish them copies of the Minutes of the Proceedings and other documents in relation to the activities which would guide them in their next course of action.

“On this score, and to guide protestant Marcos on the appropriate action to remedy his precarious situation, he would like to request this Honorable Tribunal to direct the Comelec to furnish him and the other interested parties in this case with copies of the Minutes of the Proceedings and/or Transcript of Stenographic Notes taken during the closure/stripping activities on Oct. 26, 2016 and Nov. 2, 2016.” he said.

Govt launches new package for infants

By Macon Araneta THE Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. launched Friday the benefit packages for premature and small newborns to treat the leading cause of death among newborn babies worldwide.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said the launch of this innovative benefit package would enable families to avail themselves of the necessary care for babies suffering from preterm and low birth weight complications.

By yearend, she said the PhilHealth benefit package for premature and small babies could be availed of in selected contracted government and private tertiary health facilities by all PhilHealth members.

She said the package covered a broad range of interventions from management of preterm labor to addressing severe complications of prematurity and low birth weight.

Examples of these include giving antenatal corticosteroids for pregnant women at risk of giving birth to premature baby, incentive for maternal transfer to the nearest referral facility while the baby is still inside, Unang Yakap at birth, Kangaroo Mother Care, neonatal intensive

care and breastfeeding support.

PhilHealth president Ramon Aristoza said: “This is a landmark benefit for PhilHealth [which] will address the problem of prematurity and low birth weight from the primary care level to the tertiary level.”

The benefit packages, designed with the support of the Unicef, will potentially reach 300,000 premature and small newborns every year.

Complications of preterm birth and low birth weight are the top killers of newborn babies globally.

These complications result in more than one-million deaths each year and countless others of babies who survive and suffer lifelong physical, neurological, or educational disability, often at great cost to families and society.

In the Philippines, almost half of children who die before their fifth birthday are newborns. Of those babies who die, 60 percent succumb to complications brought about by prematurity and low birth weight.

An estimated three-quarters of these preterm babies could survive if they had access to cost-effective interventions. Because of critical socioeconomic disparities, however, these interventions remain inaccessible to many, health officials said.

CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman Jose Jorge E. Corpuz (third from left) turns over documents on tax payments to Internal Revenue Commissioner Cesar Dulay. PCSO paid the BIR P1.3 billion for its 2008 deficiency in documentary stamp taxes. With them are PCSO board members Loreto Ata, accounting department manager Dorothy Robles and compliance officer Gay Nadine Alvor. Joseph Muego

DILG readies PLEB funding

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of the Interior and Local Government has committed to allocate P100million as initial provision for the nationwide reactivation of the People’s Law Enforcement Board for every town and legislative district in the cities.

The DILG was responding to Senator Richard Gordon’s call for the implementation of the Pleb as provided for in Section 43 of Republic Act No. 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.

Gordon pointed out that the law called for the creation of the Plebs which would have jurisdiction to hear and decide citizens’ com-

plaints or cases filed before it against erring members of the Philippine National Police.

“When we create a law here, it must be implemented. Otherwise, it will become just another dead letter law,” said Gordon.

“We must have some appropriation for Plebs and implement it immediately,” he added.

The DILG said it would allocate P100 million from its total budget and obtain additional allocation from the local government units to ensure that Plebs would be implemented.

Gordon also pointed to the need to amend the Plebs law to ensure it continued to be responsive to the needs of the times.

McCann wins big DoT deal

By Sandy Araneta TOURISM Secretary Wanda Teo has disclosed that McCann Worldgroup Philippines bagged the P650-million project the DoT put up for bidding recently.

Teo said this undertaking included media placements for P580 million, and production fees of P70 million, inclusive of all applicable taxes, commissions and production of creative materials for a year-long campaign.

The media placements, which will be placed in countries classified as emerging markets, shall include at least eight audio-visual presentations, eight television commercials, eight radio commercials, 16 print advertisements, and the DoT’s website upgrade.

Costs of production of advertising and creative materials for the campaign will include the necessary translations to other languages of the creative materials.

Payments will be made only upon approval of the campaign concept and timelines and approval of the media plan.

Teo pointed out that the P650 funding would be sourced from the P1 billion earmarked by the previous administration for the “It’s More Fun” campaign.

She assured the public, particularly the tourism stakeholders, that an improved country branding shall result in “optimal media exposure” and shall establish a stronger brand-consumer relationship across geographical markets worldwide in the digital age.

Meanwhile, Nina Terol, Corporate Affairs Director of McCann stressed they were working hand in hand with the DoT to finalize the list of timetables and deliverables.

“We know they have been studying the matter and are considering various data points to make the best decision moving forward,” Terol said.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT President Ro dr igo Roa D uter te has submit ted to the C ommis sion on A ppointment s (C. A .) for c onf ir mation the ad inter im appointment and nomination of the following of f ic ials: Ca b in et S e c r et a r y (ad inter im appointment) H on. M a r k A . V ill a r – S ec r etar y, D epar tment of Public Wor ks and H ig hways D e p a r t m ent of Fo r e i gn Af f a i r s (nomination) Jo se Sa nt i ag o L . St a . Ro m a na - as A mbassador E x tr aor dinar y and Plenipotentiar y to the People’s Republic of C hina wi th c oncur r ent jur is dic tion over the D emoc r atic People’s Republic of Kor ea and M ongo lia, wi th the salar y and emo luments of a C hief of M iss ion, C lass I The public may submit any infor mation, w r it ten repor t, or swor n /not ar ized c omplaint s or oppositions in for t y (4 0) c opies on the above appointment and nomination to the CA Sec ret ar iat, 6th Flo or, PN B Financ ial C enter, Roxas B oulevard, Pasay Cit y, M et ro M anila.

For the sc hedule of the public hear ings and any other inquir y, c ont ac t the CA Sec ret ar iat through telephone number s 5 51-75 32, 8 31- 0 8 93, 8 31-1824, 8 3 4 -270 6, 8 31-15 6 6 and 8 3 4 2713.

25 N ovember 2016.

H ECTO R A . V I LL ACO RTA Sec ret ar y (MS-NOV. 26, 2016)

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Opinion

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

‘Wagas’

S

ENATOR Leila de Lima may cry persecution and attempt to play the gender card again, but recent developments just remind us of her hypocrisy in portraying herself a paragon of justice and righteousness.

She admitted engaging in a years-long affair with a man whom she knew to be married and who later on said they actually lived together in one house.

Worse, phone records show she advised this same man, through his daughter, to go into hiding so he could avoid testifying before the House of Representatives. This is not hearsay; her mobile number is easily re-

flected in the messages.

The courts and, eventually, history will judge De Lima.

We hope the judgment would be swift and fair.

What stays with us, however, are our lawmakers’ speech and demeanor during the hearing.

Perhaps they were playing to the gallery, or were genuinely intrigued by the salacious details of the relationship between De Lima and her body-

guard. Whatever it was, there is neither excuse nor redemption for the outrageous questions that approximated show business proportions.

The driver, for instance, was asked: “Ang iyong pag-ibig ba kay De Lima ay wagas, dalisay at tapat (Is your love for the senator eternal, pure and true)?”

Yet another question compared the affair to a typhoon or earthquake: What was the highest signal, or intensity, that the relationship reached?

The lawmakers also wanted to know the terms of endearment used by the two when they were with other people and when they were

by themselves.

There was reference to the sex video that circulated; the candid driver said there could have been a recording, but it was most certainly not taken from his phone. Remember the lawmakers once considered playing the video during the hearing—an idea repulsive to those who believe such a display would serve no purpose in getting to the truth.

It is perhaps human nature to dwell—revel—on the misfortune of others. It is also tempting, especially for politicians, to portray themselves the bastion of morality whatever skeletons they may have

in their respective closets.

But it is simply wrong for public servants, no matter how often they do it already, to use the privilege of their positions to inflict their crass thinking on the people, most of whom already confuse real life with the antics they see on television. Plainly they were crude, indecent and prurient.

We have kept such low expectations of our politicians; we expect just a few of them to behave honorably amid insane developments in our dayto-day governance. Sadly, given their performance in this week’s hearings, we may have to push the bar even lower.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

The surreal world of Edcel Lagman

to talk about. When you love someone, you would not want to lose him or her. Certainly, death is a tough topic. But as my friend said, hard as it is, we need to face death, it is inevitable.

The good thing is, both of them are still around, and both obviously remain very much in love with each other. Theirs is a beautiful love story and I wish for them to have many more loving years together.

My last story (for now) is about a childhood friend. She called me some months back seeking advice for her predicament. She was in love with someone 15 years younger than herself. The guy was courting her but she was very worried that he was not serious because of their age difference. She was also worried about what people will say if she would go out with him. The man was single with a successful career, just like my friend.

Bottom line, I told her that what should matter most was not age but the feelings they had for each other.

I tried to convince her to give it a

UNDER the 1935 Constitution, the two houses of Congress, voting separately, may propose amendments to the Charter.

The 1973 Constitution had no provision requiring separate voting because its legislature was unicameral—the Batasang Pambansa. Under the 1987 Constitution, the two-house Congress was restored, but the charter is silent as to whether both houses should vote jointly or separately.

The distinction is important because a separate vote by both houses suggests a greater scrutiny of proposed amendments to the Constitution. That’s because two chambers (and not just one, as in a joint vote) give rise to more scrutiny and debates.

Years ago, Representative Edcel Lagman announced his own surreal take on how the 1987 Constitution may be amended.

Lagman opined that since the 1987 Constitution contains several sections which explicitly require both houses of Congress to vote separately, the silence of the 1987 Constitution—on how the two houses should vote when proposing amendments to the Charter—should be construed to mean that both houses must vote jointly as one chamber.

To support his view, Lagman cited a decision of the Supreme Court which, it turned out, was impertinent to his position.

After styling himself as a champion of charter change, Lagman got his allies in the House of Representatives to approve a resolution calling on both houses to convene as one constituent assembly, with the House of Representatives as the dominant chamber, and to vote jointly on any proposed amendments to the Constitution.

To those who are not familiar with the jargon, when Congress proposes amendments to the charter, it convenes not as a legislative assembly (which enacts laws) but as a constituent assembly.

The resolution excluded the Senate from the political equation because at that time, the Senate was not too keen on charter change—senators feared that proposals for charter change may trigger a popular call for the abolition of the Senate.

Lagman’s theory was debunked by Father Joaquin Bernas, one of the drafters of the

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Stories of the heart POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO I DECIDED to not write about politics this time. Simply put, I want to veer away from the divisiveness, betrayal, and all negativity resulting from political events we are subjected to, even for just a little while.

And what is a better way to be positive than to talk about love?

Yes, old-fashioned LOVE. I write this because I want to smile amidst all the troubles in this world.

Two friends just got married.

I witnessed a simple, beautiful, meaningful, intimate, and fun wedding of two people who have loved each other for nearly two decades. They are not young as we belong to the same “make love, not war” generation. They both have had earlier marriages and the kids are now all grown-up.

Their wedding was a riot. I guess it is because when one

reaches our age, one can be forgiven for acting like rascals and breaking norms, even at weddings. The ceremony was a lot of fun as both the bride and groom chose to bring out a bit of their naughty side. The mayor, who officiated the event, was grinning ear to ear all throughout.

Perhaps he was not used to seeing not-so-young people acting belligerently during a wedding.

After all, my friends chose to get hitched in a small quiet town where people still adhere to the old ways of doing things.

When the bride was asked if she was taking the groom as her lawfully wedded husband, she looked at her friends, and in a chorus they said, “We do!” The groom responded with, “I married a barangay!” Laughter reverberated all over as the groom got ribbed by the “barangay.”

This beautiful couple chose to spend the rest of their lives as spouses no matter if, as the bride said, they also decided to not live together but stay as they were before they got married. Perhaps to many this may sound unusual

but for this couple, their arrangement was perfectly working for them both and it did not surprise us that they want to keep it that way. I have known the bride and groom for years. Both are their own persons, both have strong personalities. Thus, their decision makes perfect sense.

Love comes in many forms, at whatever age, even in these crazy and difficult times we live in.

The beautiful love they share has weathered storms. I know in my heart, that they will work hard so their marriage works. I only have the best wishes and hopes for these dear friends of mine.

I know another couple, one

is in his 60s, and his partner is now more than 70 years old. One is Filipino, and the other, Brit.

They met in the United Kingdom and have been together for several decades. They were married in the UK but decided to permanently live here. I can only imagine how big a decision it was for my Brit friend to leave his country and family and stay here with the love of his life. It is not an easy decision especially since both are no longer young.

I have been witness to how these friends take care of each other with love. You will not be able to convince one to do anything that he knows his partner would not want to do. Theirs is a different generation and we respect the way they give in to one another to keep the relationship strong.

Once during one of our chats, my friend talked about how they would discuss things that will inevitably happen. Their conversation was on what they would want done in case one passes away. My friend was in tears as he told me what his partner’s wishes were.

Surely, these things are not easy

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continues to brainwash our people to accept the order of things THE demand now of the Left, where the majority wallow in the elitist opposition and the poverty and deprivation. UnChurch to exhume the remains fortunately, the alliance entered of the former President Ferdi- into by the Left with the Church nand Marcos is not really about resulted in the former’s political the human rights violation alleg- marginalization.

It is the same criminal opedly committed during martial law, but part of their covert cam- portunism they used to weed paign to distort our history. It is out suspected deep penetration designed to mould the thinking agents at the height of their poand perception of our people to litical frenzy. Thousands were maintain a positive attitude to- mercilessly butchered with some wards their former colonizers even buried alive to consumwith the Church as collaborat- mate their contempt, but nobody wants to talk about that bloody ing criminal partner.

This explains why they sub- episode committed by the counstituted Andres Bonifacio with try’s would-be liberators.

The elite/oligarchs, now one who was against the revolution; branded Macario Sakay as mostly identified with the bandit; junked the candidacy of yellow-shirted Liberal Party, the nationalist Sergio Osmeña, and the Church would not dare Sr. in favor of a pro-Japanese mention as human rights vioManuel Roxas; maligned El- lation the savage murder and pidio Quirino, another nation- liquidation committed by the alist, as corrupt to ensure the Communist Party of the Philipelection of Ramon Magsaysay, pines and National Democratic a US-backed candidate; ridi- Front because that would derail culed Carlos P. Garcia for his their agenda that only Marcos is “Filipino First policy”; accused guilty of such violation.

Notably, when the CPP creClaro M. Recto of being a communist lackey and engineered ated its own alter ego called the the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos NDF on April 24, 1973, many for attempting to adopt a truly were surprised why it was Filipino ideology. These are founded and headed by a renefew of the numerous chicanery gade priest, Luis Jalandoni, who committed against our leaders in turn is married to a Catholic with the Church acting as their nun named Coni Ledesma, also known as Sismost reliable ter Stella “L.” partner.

Aside from beToday, our ing members people’s slaveof the Church, like submisMany of us do both came sion to the from a promia u t o c r a t i c not know much nent family of authority of hacienderos the Church, about our Church in Western our blind acVisayas that ceptance of other than its bears the mark the grave eco- role in teaching of what the nomic and soMaoist brandcial inequality us about God ed as “landed in our society, and our moral gentry.” and the indocSince that trination that obligation to faithful allipoverty will obey their moral ance between be rewarded the atheistic in heaven precepts.

CPP and the is today bepretending to ing pursued be theist NDF, with much the Left and vigor. Being the guardian of the outmoded its various front organizations system of colonialism and im- silently drop their anti-clerical perialism, the Church takes the slogan of “down with cleriresponsibility in filtering out co-fascisms” to castigate the ideas that tend to erode the so- Church of its past conduct when cial values in what the Marxist it entered into an alliance with would call the “superstructure Benito Mussolini’s National Fascist Party and with National of society.”

The issue of who should be Socialist Party (Nazi) of Adolf our heroes and the icons of our Hitler during the Second World resistance began on the day the War while all the progressive Spanish colonizers planted the forces fought tooth and nail sword and the cross in our soil. against fascism.

Several priests and nuns Many of us do not know much about our Church other than its joined the underground moverole in teaching us about God ment. Among them were Edicio and our moral obligation to obey de la Torre, Conrado Balweg, their moral precepts. However, Frank Navarro, and Crescena re-examination of its role, one cio de la Cruz. Nothing could could not help point out that the amplify this act of Church colChurch as an institution has laboration with the CPP/NDF committed irreparable dam- than in the participation of some age to our present thinking and priests and nuns in the picket mortal values. The Church, as line that was often marred by vithe principal instrument of for- olence. Significantly, Jose Ma. eign subjugation, has consist- Sison and several other leading ently betrayed our interest and communist personalities were arrested inside the convents and that remained so today.

This explains why Spanish seminaries using the place as fortune-seeker Ferdinand Ma- sanctuaries.

Despite the harsh accusation gellan was accompanied by a cleric named Pigafetta. Both about the alleged strict censorwasted no time in converting ship of the “Marcos dictatorthe natives to Christianity. That ship,” the true-to-life story of instantly pierced an ideological Coni Ledesma a.k.a. Sister Stelhole into their consciousness. la “L” was made into a movie on From there, they succeeded July 11, 1984, and shown in varin convincing them to abandon ious theaters in Metro Manila. their local gods called anitos Marcos could have prevented and replace them with a Cau- the showing of that subversive casian-looking one, prohibited movie and ordered the arrest them from practicing many of of known leftist personalities their customs and tradition to who produced the film, but he erase whatever link they have did not. On Jan. 22, 1987 while with the past, and destroyed holding a peaceful assembly at their historical relics and native the footbridge of Mendiola, 13 written language such that we farmers were gunned down and are the only nation in Asia us- scores seriously wounded. The farmers were simply demanding the Western alphabet.

Today, the elite/oligarchy and ing the implementation of the the Church stand as jail wardens Cory Aquino promise of land of the discredited Spanish co- reform that to date has not been lonialism and US imperialism. fulfilled.

They are the enforcers of the rpkapunan@gmail.com hated polo or forced labor. It Part I

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In Advent, a season of returning

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

The partisan Catholic Church

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA TOMORROW, the first Sunday of Advent, marks the beginning of a period of preparation for the coming the birth of Jesus Christ, on Christmas Day. In the next four weeks, as I have done in previous years, I will be writing about this season. This year, in this so-called post-truth world where our political perspectives dominate the way we see the world and each other, I thought it would be good to quiet down a little, if only in my writing; to go up the hill and petition for clarity and wisdom of mind alongside purity of heart.

I ask for the gift to see through the fog of hate that permeates our national life, not to mention world affairs. Through the grace of God, perhaps, I can help my readers, too.

The Gospel for this First Sunday of Advent advises us most urgently to make ourselves ready, to be on the alert, to turn aside from our sinful ways, and give more time to God in our lives.

This urgency is not borne out of fear much like the master instill in his slave but one impelled by God’s intense love for us. The Lord lavishes us with love of indescribable intensity such that we are sent a very strong message asking us with loving kindness to reconcile ourselves with our Creator; to turn our backs away from the slavery of sin and experience absolute freedom. It is only when we sincerely follow in the footsteps of Christ that our spirits will experience real freedom. Jesus himself said to the Jews in the Gospel of John: “If you persevere in my word, you will indeed be my disciples. You will learn the

truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Oftentimes people do not experience freedom because they seek salvation from wrong sources. We find answers to our problems and anxieties from ephemeral remedies that do not bring about lasting solutions, like money, drugs, carnal lust, illicit affections and a variety of addictions. And we soon realize that these “solutions” fall dismally short of their hype. We end up becoming more frustrated and miserable than ever before. Most of us fall victim to our own worldly delusions.

This is the reason why so many remain mired in misery and often fall into despair despite the myriad of worldly contrivances purporting to give us pleasure and power.

People play god to become the judge and executioner to rid society of perceived evils. Thus, we are bombarded by daily news of murder and extrajudicial killings. People think that through their own efforts they can determine their destiny, thus resorting to all kinds of chicaneries, stealing, robbery, and all forms of dishonesty to manipulate their fortunes. These past days, we have seen how legal and political processes have been manipulated to obliterate memory and subvert truth. There is no end in sight. Conventional wisdom says it will get worse before it becomes better. But maybe not. God willing, maybe not.

What we most conveniently forget is that the answer lies not in our own contrived idea of instant remedies and reliance on our natural proclivities. The secret to attain true happiness, joy and contentment can only be reposed in the hands of one invisible and infinitely powerful God who once upon a time, in a historic moment, offered

himself on the cross to unveil the depth of God’s love and the mystery of humankind, lighting our way as we journey along the path of life toward its end, which is eternal communion with the Father.

In his most recent Apostolic Letter Misericordia et Misera, Pope Francis notes: “In a culture often dominated by technology, sadness and loneliness appear to be on the rise, not least among young people. The future seems prey to an uncertainty that does not make for stability. This often gives rise to depression, sadness and boredom, which can gradually lead to despair. We need witnesses to hope and true joy if we are to dispel the illusions that promise quick and easy happiness through artificial paradises. The profound sense of emptiness felt by so many people can be overcome by the hope we bear in our hearts and by the joy that it gives.

We need to acknowledge the joy that rises up in a heart touched by mercy. Let us keep in mind, then, the words of the Apostle: “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4; cf. 1 Thess 5:16).”

If we find we have squandered our “inheritance on a life of dissipation,” described in the Gospel of Luke, it is time to return to the Lord. It is time to humbly reconcile ourselves with our real nature—that we are finite, powerless, limited creatures who can do nothing apart from Christ; that it is sheer folly to play god, to judge others based on our often flawed standards. To all my readers, I acknowledge my own failures and ask forgiveness for the ease and speed with which I have also made my own judgments. Believing I am right and that the truth is on my side is not an excuse to being unkind.

Truly wise and holy persons

do not depend on their power but reconcile with the futility and the smallness of their stature in the scheme of things, in contrast with the greatness and majesty of Christ who abundantly dispenses love, mercy and hope. It is reconciling ourselves with our own insignificance that gives the spirit of Christ room in our hearts for him to dwell. This is a most pleasing form of welcome that we can offer Christ as we prepare for his coming. It is a gift I intensely desire.

The readings during this season exhort us to prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord with clean and pure hearts; to anchor ourselves to the love of God through Jesus Christ who became flesh and was made human. The Lord’s infinite love for us is such that our Messiah offered to die on the cross, enduring the humiliation of becoming like a creature like us, in all respects but sin. This is a profound message of unrelenting love from Jesus Christ, our redeemer. But only those are alert, those who are seeking the Lord constantly would see this.

Fortunately, nay, by design, this is what Advent is all about. It is a season of mercy, of a returning to the Lord. The song we sing in this time borrows words of the Lord, heard first and recorded in writing by the prophet Hosea: “Come back to me with all your heart; don’t let fear keep us apart.

Trees do bend though straight and tall, so must we to others call. Long have I waited for your coming home to me, and living deeply our new life.”

For you, my dear readers, I pray for an Advent full of desire for the Lord!

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Why Facebook won’t give up on China

By Adam Minter FACEBOOK’S Mark Zuckerberg is willing to try just about anything to get his company back into China. Publicly, he launched a charm offensive that included learning Mandarin and offering Chinese President Xi Jinping the chance to name his first child (he declined). Less publicly, but no less important, the New York Times reports that his company has developed tools to prevent sensitive posts from appearing in Facebook feeds in “specific geographic areas.”

It’s a bold move that underscores just how hard Facebook is hunting for its next billion users. But even if the new tools convinced China’s government to lift its ban on Facebook, the country’s 700-million internet users have little reason to join.

They have plenty of social networks of their own, most of them more advanced and more convenient. As Zuckerberg surely knows, the business case for a move onto the mainland looks dismal.

So why is Facebook still so interested?

The...

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1987 Constitution. Bernas said the silence of the Constitution on how the vote is to be taken is a result of a clerical oversight of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which prepared the current charter. Bernas maintained that when Congress sits as a constituent assembly, both houses must vote separately.

The Bernas view is logical. If both houses of Congress must vote separately when Congress enacts legislation changing the name of a public school, both houses should likewise vote separately when Congress proposes amendments to the fundamental law of the land.

Surprisingly, the Senate did nothing to stop the resolution.

When Lagman insisted on his surreal theory, a public interest advocate challenged the constitutionality of the resolution before the Supreme Court. Soon thereafter, when public opinion mounted against the resolution, Lagman and his congressional allies abandoned their unconstitutional dream, and

Stories...

From A4

try if she really felt strongly for the guy. After all, dating is not marriage. There was silence for many weeks before I got another call from

History would certainly suggest caution. In 2008, when Facebook launched a Chinese-language version, it managed to attract a mere 285,000 mainland members—out of an internet population of more than 225 million. Meanwhile, competing platforms, especially Tencent’s QQ, were signing up tens of millions. The next year, Facebook was blocked by the government, obliterating any chance to catch up with China’s online entrepreneurs.

Even worse (for Facebook) was that its Chinese rivals started innovating: Sina Weibo, once derided as a Twitter knock-off, instead became Twitter done better, embedding comment threads and videos long before the San Francisco-based service had contemplated doing the same.

But the most revolutionary service was Tencent’s WeChat, released in 2011. At first glance, it looked like just another social network and messaging service.

Yet it quickly morphed into something much richer, offering a free video-chat system, a taxi-hailing service, a bill-paying portal and a vast shopping environment. Today it’s possible

to bank on the system and send money to anyone. Invoking “The Lord of the Rings,” some users joke that it’s the “one app to rule them all.” It now has more than 700-million users, including nearly everyone with internet access in China—and another 70-million overseas.

Compared to WeChat, Facebook is a desert, with little allure to Chinese users. There aren’t any public statistics on how many mainlanders use Facebook, but in my experience they’re mostly Chinese who have lived or worked in the West, want to maintain friendships overseas, and have access to the technical means to avoid government blockades. For those without such connections, Facebook’s only theoretical appeal is that it provides access to news, posts and videos that are otherwise censored. If and when Facebook is reintroduced, those advantages will disappear—and so will the most obvious argument for joining.

But Facebook still has one thing going for it, which is surely on Zuckerberg’s mind: Technology and social media evolve rapidly in China.

Only two years ago, Sina Weibo was China’s biggest and most popular social-media platform.

Then, after a government crackdown, it lost its political edge and many of its most popular users, and was left for dead. Even as the eulogies were being written, however, Weibo was reinventing itself. It soon became a platform for live-streaming bloggers and celebrity self-promotion, and it boomed once again, boosted by an astonishing 10 million live broadcasts between April and June of this year—a 116-fold increase over the previous quarter. Today, Weibo is approaching 300-million users and its most popular livestreamers get multi-million dollar endorsements.

It’s too late for Facebook to jump on the live-streaming bandwagon. But Zuckerberg and his colleagues are certainly taking note that a politically neutered site, focused on celebrities and short videos, can command the attention of hundreds of millions of Chinese—and thereby remake a beleaguered, left-for-dead social network. Zuckerberg’s charm offensive, in other words, may pay off yet. Bloomberg

nothing was heard from them again regarding charter change.

When President Rodrigo Duterte announced his plan to allow the burial of ex-President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Lagman found another opportunity to promote himself by opposing the president’s plan. Lagman soon joined his left-wing friends who filed, in the Supreme Court, petitions to stop the Marcos burial at the heroes cemetery. They alleged that Marcos does not deserve to be buried among heroes because of abuses which supposedly took place during the years Marcos ran the Philippines under martial law.

Radical groups apparently assumed that the Supreme Court will yield to the angry street mobs protesting the Marcos burial. That explains why they protested in the streets when the Supreme Court voted to dismiss the petitions against the Marcos burial at the military cemetery.

Not all decisions of the Supreme Court are well-received by the general public. Every citizen has the right to disagree with, and even openly criticize its pronounce-

ments. At the end of the day, however, everyone must either comply with or acquiesce in the rulings of the highest court of the land. The rule of law demands it.

Thus, to disagree with the reasons the Supreme Court gave for dismissing the anti-Marcos petitions is one thing. To advocate unreasonable, unconscionable measures to undermine public acceptance of the tribunal’s ruling is another.

This is where Lagman comes in.

After the Supreme Court dismissed the anti-Marcos petitions, and upon learning of the recent burial of the ex-president at the Libingan last November 18, Lagman went on a rampage in the news media. His protestations sounded almost as if the Supreme Court justices who voted against the anti-Marcos petitions didn’t pass law school.

Lagman’s harshest words were for Marcos himself. He said that the remains of the ex-strongman should be dug up to ascertain if those remains are really those of the expresident.

Good grief! Lagman may dislike the ex-strongman, but Lagman’s proposal to dig up a body already

interred in a cemetery smacks of gross disrespect for the deceased, akin to scoffing at the dead. That isn’t done in the Philippines, especially if it is politically motivated.

There are, after all, other ways to protest against the Marcos burial at the Libingan—indignation rallies, or even a boycott of the cemetery.

Digging up the dead to convey a political message is uncalled for.

It is preposterous for Lagman to even think that the body buried in the Marcos tomb at the Libingan isn’t that of ex-President Marcos.

That illogical thought suggests that the Marcos family went through a lot of trouble and controversy just to get someone other than the former president buried there.

Since the Libingan ng mga Bayani is a state-owned cemetery, there is a presumption that burials there are what they are alleged to be. Being so, Lagman, not the Marcoses, has the burden of proving that the body buried at the Libingan is not that of Marcos. Unless Lagman has evidence other than the exhumed remains of Marcos to prove his story, Lagman should exit from his surreal world, and move on.

her. She was giggly happy because they have been exclusively dating and so far, she has been immensely enjoying it.

Whatever happens from here onwards, I told my friend, she was made happy because of love.

There are many conventions

about love and relationship. Many Love is love. It comes in many times, people are limited because forms, at whatever age. Even in of these. Sometimes, happiness these crazy and difficult times is sacrificed because we want to we live in. follow what society tells us as acceptable. These love stories prove bethangsioco@gmail.com that love knows no age, gender, or @bethangsioco on Twitter any other distinction.

Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Customs delays rules on duties

By John Paolo Bencito

“We’re trying to consolidate the inputs coming from the public as well as their individual, LTHOUGH the law increasing the even minor concerns, so that when we start finalizing the tax exemption was enacted in May, IRR, we are assuring that these Filipinos returning from overseas may will be enhanced and help our still not enjoy the P150,000 exemption on their countrymen,” Estrella said.

“We’re safe to say that by early balikbayan boxes after the Bureau of Customs next year, we’re about to finalize delayed the issuance of the implementing rules the IRR,” he added.

Estrella said that while the for Republic Act 10863.

IRR is being finalized, the tax “Let’s give it one month,” Anthony Estrella. “Maybe we exemption ceiling for baliksaid Customs acting spokes- cannot do it by the holidays be- bayan boxes sent by any Filiperson for enforcement and cause officials maybe busy for pino worker or resident abroad will stay at P10,000. intelligence operations Neil this coming season.”

A

RA 10863, of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, was signed into law last May and granted tax- and duty-free privileges on balikbayan boxes brought into the country by Filipinos, provided the goods are not in commercial quantities nor intended for barter, sale or hire.

On top of the tax- and dutyfree balikbayan boxes, Filipinos, who have stayed in a foreign country for at least 10 years and are returning to the Philippines, will also be granted tax exemption for the personal

and household effects, not exceeding P350,000, when they return to the country.

As for Filipinos who have lived overseas for at least five years, he said, they would be entitled to tax- and duty-free personal and household effects amounting to P250,000, while those who have stayed abroad for less than five years could enjoy P150,000 taxfree ceiling.

According to BoC data, there are about 400,000 balikbayan boxes are shipped to the Philippines every month and the figure doubles during the Christ-

IN BRIEF

MMDA operates vs illegal parking

POEA beats own record THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has served more than 157,000 overseas Filipino applicants under the agency’s one-stop service for OFWs in the second week of November this year or 57 percent increased compared to its clients served last month.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the streamlined frontline service enabled the agency to serve 157,735 clients which takes only 72 hours for their documents to be processed and released.

Since it was launched in August, the agency already saw an increasing number of clients who availed of its facilities at the POEA Central Office in Mandaluyong OSSCO, as well as in its regional centers in Baguio, Pampanga, Calamba, Palawan, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Zamboanga.

“The POEA had served the biggest number of clients during the period with a total of 39,839 clients who availed of documentation of workers on leave or the Balik-Manggagawa and inquired about OFW concerns,” the Labor official said.

This was followed by OWWA who served a total of 31,169 clients who came to the Center to renew or apply for OWWA membership and ask other OFW-related concerns, he said.

On the other hand, the Social Security System accounted for the third biggest number of clients at 22,397, which consisted of OFWs who registered or amended their membership data, applied for benefits and loans, verified their loan or contribution status, enrolled for their Unified Multi-purpose ID Card (UMID) and inquired about their other SSS concerns. Vito Barcelo

Malacañang unfazed by peso’s slide MALACAÑANG on Friday allayed fears over the depreciation of the peso which reached P50a-dollar for the first time in eight years, saying that the situation is still “manageable.”

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that while the peso slipping to a level not seen since the 2008 global financial crisis is “an area of concern” for the government, the peso slump should not cause any worry.

“It’s an experience which all governments, all countries are experiencing. It’s still manageable,” Abella said, adding the peso’s weakness is in line with other currencies in the region with robust economic data in the US adding fuel to the dollar’s charge.

The peso lost P0.12 from the close of 49.86 a dollar on Wednesday. The peso opened Thursday’s trading at 49.95 and touched the 50-a-dollar level at one point before settling at 49.98 at the close.

It was the local currency’s weakest level in eight years, or since it traded at 49.99 a dollar on Nov. 20, 2008 at the height of the global financial crisis.

John Paolo Bencito

By Joel E. Zurbano

TACTICAL DRILL. Members of the Special Weapon and Tactics of the Quezon City Police District conduct a field demonstration on how to handle the kidnapping situation during the 77th anniversary of QCPD held at Camp Karingal in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

1,240 Chinese nabbed in Clark village

By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST 1,240 Chinese were arrested for illegally working in an online gambling den in a posh village in Clark, Pampanga, the Bureau of Immigration said on Friday.

The arrest was part of the bureau’s intensified drive against foreigners illegally working in the country, particularly in the operation of online gambling that caters to clients in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

The BI chief said the apprehended Chinese nationals are now considered undesirable aliens for violating the conditions of their stay as tourists.

Some of the arrested aliens were being checked based on reports that they illegally entered and worked into the country.

The BI’s Fugitive Search Unit, in coordination with Philippine National Police led

by Angeles City police director Sr. Supt Sidney Villaflor, raided a building in Fontana village where the Chinese were caught

operating computers for online gambling.

Seized from the aliens during the raid were several computer units, monitors, CPUs, modems, keyboard, laptop, hard disks, tablets, routers, Wi-Fi, telephones, cables, and other paraphernalia.

The arrested suspects were confined to a place secured by both immigration and police authorities.

The arresting agents were armed with a mission order from the BI chief after the aliens’ presence in the building

was confirmed as a result of intensive monitoring for several weeks.

“The sustained effort to weed out illegal immigrants and undocumented foreign nationals continues to gain ground with the help of our partners in law enforcement and the community,” Morente said.

The arrested Chinese nationals will undergo summary deportation proceedings for violating the conditions of their stay in the Philippines and for engaging in activities inimical to the public interest.

THE government has resumed its campaign against illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions on Mabuhay Lanes, formerly known as Christmas Lanes, which were designated as alternate routes for private motorists avoiding the congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The latest operation as of 4 p.m. on Friday resulted in the apprehension and towing of 45 illegally parked cars, motorcycles and public utility vehicles in the areas of Quinta Market in Quiapo, Laon Laan and Maria Clara Street, all in Manila, and Molave and Anonas Streets in Quezon City.

The move came a day after members of the Metro Manila Council rejected the implementation of the threedigit number coding scheme and suggested that the Metro Manila Development Authority and other members of the Inter-agency Council on Traffic should instead intensify the Mabuhay Lanes operations.

This developed as MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos warned barangay officials will face administrative sanctions if they will not cooperate with the government in the campaign.

“The Department of the Interior and Local Government will come up with guidelines on how the barangay officials will participate in the campaign. They [barangays] will be obliged to cooperate,” he said.

The MMDA is complaining that the lack of cooperation from barangay officials hampers the government’s campaign against illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions on Mabuhay Lanes.

Poe pushes expansion of anti-harassment law

By Macon Ramos-Araneta the definitions so this form of

HOLIDAY READINESS. Aviation authorities discuss the holiday rush issue at the airport with Department of Transportation assistant secretary and spokesperson Cherie Mercado, MIAA general manager Ed Monreal, CAAP director general Capt. Jim Sydiongco, deputy director general for operations Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo and Supt Reynaldo Garcia assuring the public of smooth operations during the holiday season. Eric Apolonio

EO on firecrackers postponed to Sept. 2017 THE Department of Health said Friday the proposed executive order on regulating the use of firecrackers will likely be implemented next year.

“EO on firecrackers to be implemented in September 2017,” Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean RosellUbial said in her Twitter account.

Ubial added that while they want the EO to be signed and implemented as soon as possible, certain concerns need to be addressed at the moment.

In recent press conferences and interviews, Ubial has said they are hopeful and optimistic that the

mas season. That translates to an average of three to four balikbayan boxes for every Filipino abroad.

The total estimated amount of the contents of these boxes is at around P80,000, he said.

RA 10863 also mandates the BoC to adopt non-intrusive examination of goods, and will be only allowed to conduct physical examination if directed by the commissioner, the goods are subject to an alert order, and if there are controversies surrounding the goods declaration and the import process.

signed EO on the regulation of firecrackers could be presented to the public as early as December 5.

Malacañang Palace, however, recently announced the “postponement” of the signing of the EO in consideration of the firecracker industry that may be affected by the order.

“Our position is to save lives and prevent as much suffering and disability as possible,” Ubial said in an interview.

She also confirmed that there have been requests from firecracker

manufacturers for a delay in the implementation of the EO so as not to affect their livelihood.

She said that with the “postponement,” the department is still hopeful that the EO would be signed as soon as possible, so injuries could be prevented during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Dr. Gerardo Bayugo, in a separate interview, said the “postponement” could have been to help firecracker manufacturers not to incur losses.

“But we will still continue our

advocacy for a safer, healthier New Year through our ‘Iwas Paputok, Ingat Paputok’, that we are advocating at the DoH,” Bayugo added.

Under the proposed EO, only experts will be allowed to handle the lighting of firecrackers in an identified area to ensure the people’s safety.

Firecrackers have been blamed for the high number of injuries, even deaths during the Christmas and New Year revelries. Accidental explosions in firecracker factories have also claimed lives and destroyed properties. PNA

SENATOR Grace Poe filed a measure expanding the definitions of criminal acts against women to combat all forms of sexual harassment as the world observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.

Poe said the criminal acts would include those committed with the use of technology and in public places and creating internal mechanisms to address sexual harassment in the workplace and in educational institutions.

Poe filed Senate Bill No. 1254 or the proposed Expanded AntiSexual Harassment Act of 2016 that seeks to repeal the old law— Republic Act No. 7877 or the Philippine Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995—which is limited in terms of prosecuting sexual harassment, especially against women.

“Sexual harassment is undoubtedly a pervasive barrier to the exercise of one’s sexual orientation and gender identity or expression,” said Poe. She noted that the existing law has its limitations that deter victims to report criminal and reprehensible acts.

“This proposal seeks to correct those limitations and expand

violence against women is eliminated,” said Poe. Poe lamented that forms of sexual harassment—most commonly in public places—are not covered under RA No. 7877 and are only prosecuted as Acts of Lasciviousness or Unjust Vexation under the Revised Penal Code, where penalties to be meted out are substantially less than the cost of actually filing a case.

Under the proposed legislation, sexual harassment is defined as an unwelcome or unwanted act or series of verbal and non-verbal acts and requests for sexual favors, including those which are committed online or through the use of computers or similar devices such as mobile phones, and tablets, which are lewd or sexually suggestive, and are degrading, offensive or humiliating to one’s dignity or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for the persons affected.

The measure also provides for internal mechanisms that will address sexual harassment in the workplace and in educational institutions that would investigate and decide on complaints within 10 days, protect victims from retaliation, and guarantee confidentiality.

Sports WADA: More positive tests in ‘15 MONTREAL—The World Anti-Doping Agency said Thursday the number of positive tests uncovered by its labs and testing facilities worldwide in 2015 increased to 3,809.

The figure represents 1.3 percent of the 303,369 total samples analyzed, compared with 2014 when it discovered 3,153 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF), or positive tests, WADA said in a statement.

There was also a 7.1 percent increase in the number of overall samples analyzed, to 303,369 in 2015 from 283,304 the prior year.

“The findings highlight an increase in the number of samples analyzed and an increase in the number of Adverse Analytical Findings reported,” said WADA president Sir Craig Reedie.

Reedie said anti-doping organizations around the world are attempting to snare would-be drug cheats by significantly increasing testing for banned substances such as growth hormone, growth hormone-releasing factors and erythropoiesis stimulating agents.

“Testing is a critical tool in anti-doping organizations’ commitment to working towards fair competition and clean sport,” he said.

In 2015, testing facilities also collected more blood samples from the overall samples, 21,176 compared with 13,553 in 2014.

“The 2015 Testing Figures Report provides powerful data that will help anti-doping organizations, including WADA, gain a better understanding of testing patterns and existing gaps, and adapt their anti-doping strategies,” Reedie said.

Reedie said the report was based on data and analysis from 403 testing authorities and 35 WADA-accredited laboratories. AFP

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Peping is POC chief again, to focus on elite athletes N

By Peter Atencio

OW that the elections are over, newly reelected Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. said it’s now time to focus on the welfare of athletes.

The training of elite athletes and a national training center where they can prepare for international meets will be his priority in the next four years.

Cojuangco was assured of his bid to remain as president of the POC for a fourth term, after 26 of 40 eligible voting members gave him their nod during elections

held Friday at the Westside Grill of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong.

His bid was boosted a day before when the Pasig City Regional Trial Court denied a the camp of boxing chief Ricky Vargas their application for a Temporary Restraining Order that was supposed to stop the

polls from taking place.

Vargas and Amateur Boxing Alliance of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson were not around to cast their vote during the polls.

“The game is over. The elections are over. We need to get everyone together and focus on our objectives which is to keep the community together. And that’s my role now,” said Cojuangco.

He said he will now visit friends and supporters of the POC in the provinces and in the regions to find out where training centers can be set up.

“Iyan na ang focus. I don’t want to wait for the training center

that’s being offered (by the Philippine Sports Commission),” added Cojuangco.

Joey Romasanta (volleyball) will remain as first vice president after he beat rival Albee Benitez (badminton), 23-13, for the post.

Jeff Tamayo (soft tennis) stays on as second vice president with 26 votes over Lucas Managuelod (muay thai), who had 11.

Wushu’s Julian Camacho is again treasurer after getting past Sonny Barrios (basketball), 25-12.

Named auditor is Jonee Go (canoe-kayak), while the members of the board include Clint Aranas (archery), Cynthia Carri-

Trump backs LA’s Olympic bid

SOLANE HOLDS 3RD GOLF TOURNAMENT. Isla LPG Corp., the leading LPG Solutions company carrying the brand Solane, held its 3rd Solane Golf Tournament at Ayala Alabang Country Club to demonstrate the company’s appreciation for its customers and commitment to nurture camaraderie and long-term business relationships. The company’s annual sporting event was attended by the management team of ILC as well as executives from some of the country’s biggest companies. Photo shows IPG executive committee chair Ricky Delgado Jr. (second from right) with (from left) IPG chief finance officer Willie Sarmiento, Edgar Aglipay, Leo Obias, Adam Laker, and Isla Petroleum and Gas CEO Shoichi Watanabe.

MVP Sports Foundation-Meralco kickfest on Sunday IT will be another action-packed weekend for the MVPSF-Meralco Philippine Taekwondo League , highlighted by the junior men’s division championship on Sunday at the SM City Sucat Mall in Paranaque.

The two topnotchers in each of the three groups in the eliminations advance to the quarterfinals of the competition organized by the Philippine Taekwondo Association and supported by the MVP Sports Foundation and Meralco.

Already clinching quarterfinal slots are Juan Sumulong Memorial College of Taytay and San Beda College from Group A, Arellano University and Letran from Group B and National University and Far Eastern U-FERN in Group C. The remaining two quarterfinalists will be decided at the close of Group B hostilities where San Sebastian College faces La Salle Greenhills at 2 p.m., UE meets Ateneo at 3 p.m. and LSGH takes on winless San Beda College Alabang at 5:30 p.m.

Opening the program is the lone senior women’s match pitting San Beda College versus La Salle at 1 p.m. and Ateneo against San Beda at 3 p.m. of the event also supported by the Philip-

Letran’s Khinez Sta. Ana (right) connects with a kick against Lyceum’s Jazmine delos Santos in senior women’s division action of the MVPSF-Meralco Philippine Taekwondo League held last weekend at the SM City Sucat Mall in Parañaque.

pine Sports Commission and the Philip“We can expect a lot of thrilling acpine Olympic Committee. tion in the PTL junior men’s competi-

tion on Sunday, considering the tough journey the teams had to undergo to reach this far,” noted tournament director Stephen Fernandez. “We want our fans to watch us and see our promising jins perform.”

The PTL was organized to serve as a platform where young taekwondo exponents can showcase their skills and groom them for international play in the future, Fernandez, a former national athlete and licensed international taekwondo referee, noted.

Similar to overseas tournaments, the jins are scored through the electronic scoring system with sensors inserted in the head gear and body armor of the participants, whose hits and corresponding points are projected on the electronic scoreboard once they connect solidly.

A body punch is worth one point, a simple kick, two points; a turning kick, three points; head kicks, three points, and turning kick to the head, four points.

Spicing up the action on Sunday is the poomsae (form) eliminations featuring the teams from De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, San Sebastian, National University and Letran.

ONE’s Folayang, Blackwater Elite are must-watch TV SPORTS CENTER REUEL VIDAL AN Eduard Folayang One Championship bout is easily one of the most spectacular Mixed Martial Arts fight you could watch on TV. That’s because a Folayang fight will always have a spectacular finish because of his gung-ho, gofor-broke attitude.

Early in the fight against Shinya Aoki NOW Championship Lightweight champion Folayang trailed after the first two rounds. The tide turned in the third as he went on to win the fight on a spectacular knockout in the third.

In a post fight interview with Filipino sportswriters Folayang said he knew that he was on his way to victory during the break

on (gymnastics), Robert Mananquil (billiards) and Prospero Pichay (chess).

The post of chairman was vacant after two candidates, Tom Carrasco of triathlion and Abraham Tolentino of cycling were disqualified.

Aside from the Vargas camp, representatives from fencing and rowing were absent, while the bowling group was not allowed to join due to requirement issues.

While Pasig City Regional Trial Court Judge Elma Rafallo-Lingan of Branch 159 did not issue a TRO, she set hearing on Dec. 9 and 16 to further discuss the complaints of the Vargas camp.

after the first round.

“Kulay duhat na ang labi niya kaya alam ko pagod na talaga siya.”

Gaining confidence Folayang tried to end the fight with a spectacular flying knee early in the second.

He missed so badly he wound up with his right knee resting atop Aoki’s left shoulder which led next to an earth shaking slam a split second later. From that high up the force of that slam could have been enough to end the fight right then and there.

Thankfully Folayang was made of sturdier stuff and somehow survived the round. By the end of the second Aoki visibly tired and the tide turned in favor of Folayang.

Late in the second round Folayang pushed Aoki against the cage.

Dead tired and out of breath Aoki just rested his back against the cage and swallowed several kicks and punches to the torso. The third round was all

Folayang as he went on to beat Aoki in spectacular manner.

Folayang’s strength is also his weakness. He fights spectacular fights because of his high risk and high reward attacks.

Meanwhile, have you noticed the similarities between Folayang and Bruce Lee? Folayang is a wushu practitioner which is probably as close a fighting style as you could get to Kung Fu. Do you even remember the spectacular spinning back kicks of Bruce Lee? Well, Folayang uses them all the time when he fights.

Finally, Folayang and Bruce Lee are also supremely fit physical specimens. They are about the same height though Folayang has the more muscular physique. Hey, look at their faces and hairstyle.

They even look alike a little.

All Folayang fights are spectacular to watch. He either wins big or losses big. But he always goes

for it and his fights always end in spectacular victories or spectacular losses.

Just like Bruce Lee fights in the movies. But that’s a topic for another column. *** I never thought I’d say this but games of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Blackwater Elite are must-watch TV. Why watch Blackwater? Well, there’s the best rookie this season in Mac Belo who can dribble the length of the court, evade defenders and finish strong to complete a layup. He can also drill the open mid- or long-range jumper. In short, he can score from anywhere on the court. He led Blackwater in scoring as the Elite tallied their first victory this season by beating Phoenix Petroleum.

Dylan Ababou is back in action. He’s long, he’s athletic and he’s deadly accurate from three-

point distance. He’s virtually unstoppable when he gets his feet set properly and is deadly on catchand-shoot situations. He drained three consecutive triples in the third period which propelled the Elite past Phoenix for good.

Then there’s are former National Collegiate Athletic Association Arellano University Chiefs John Pinto (then known as Nard Pinto in the NCAA).

The pugnacious point guard not only sets up their offense but is strong enough, and fearless enough to take it strong to the hoop when he wants to. He’s a throwback point guard in the mold of a Jimwell “Tora-Tora” Torion or a Wynne Arboleda.

With the way Blackwater trades their best players you better watch these guys in action now before they’re shipped off to other teams.

Yes the Blackwater Elite games are must-watch TV right now.

LOS ANGELES—US President-elect Donald Trump has offered his support to Los Angeles’s bid to host the 2024 Olympics, the mayor’s office said Thursday.

The Republican billionaire spoke by phone with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the two men had a “productive conversation,” Garcetti’s spokeswoman Connie Llanos said.

During the conversation Trump, who will succeed Democratic President Barack Obama on January 20, indicated his support for LA’s bid, she said.

Los Angeles hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984, and is competing with Paris and Budapest to do the same for the 2024 games.

The name of the 2024 host city is set to be announced in September 2017 in the Peruvian capital of Lima.

Many Olympics-watchers had seen Trump’s election on November 8 as bad news for Los Angeles’s bid because of his controversial remarks on the campaign trail deemed racist, sexist and anti-Muslim.

In last August, when Trump’s chances of winning the White House looked slim, Garcetti warned that a victory by the outspoken populist would reduce the chances of Los Angeles being picked by the International Olympic Committee. AFP

Phinma quarters rained out WEATHER permitting, the quarterfinal round of the Phinma-PSC International Juniors Tennis Championships Week 2 will be held Saturday after organizers called off play yesterday due to non-stop rain that rendered the courts unplayable.

Otherwise, the matches in the boys’ and girls’ sides will be moved to the Philippine Columbian Association’s indoor courts, according to tournament director Loida Mallare.

Top seed Khim Iglupas is trying to keep the Filipinos’ hopes alive in the Grade 4 ITF 18-under category event sponsored by the Phinma Group of Companies and the Philippine Sports Commission after the rest of the local bets bowed out one after the other in both categories.

The Philippine Tennis Academy stalwart fell short of her bid in Week 1, losing to eventual runner-up Ting Pei Chang of Taiwan, 6-7(3), 3-6. But Iglupas vowed to bounce back in Week 2, ripping Aussie Ivana Popovic, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round then disposing of Japanese Shiori Ito, 6-4, 6-3.

Iglupas, with Week 1 champion Lee Kuan Yi as partner, is also eyeing a finals berth in doubles against Ito and Kajuru while last week’s boys’ doubles winners Bryan Otico and Seita Watanabe take on Christian Chin of Malaysia and Indonesian Alvin Edison for a berth in the championship of the event backed by Mariposa Foundation, Technifibre and Century Park Hotel.

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

Sports

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

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

Blue Eagles, Tams dispute finals berth Games Today

(MOA Arena) 12 noon – UE vs AdU (women semis) 4 p.m. Ateneo vs FEU (senior semis)

By Peter Atencio LAST year, defending champion Far Eastern University had the twice-tobeat incentive and eased out the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 76-74, in their quest for a finals seat.

This time around, both teams are back in the Final Four semifinals, with the shoe on the other foot in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

The Blue Eagles now have the twiceto-beat incentive against the Tams when they meet at 4 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Coach Sandy Arespacochaga is aware of their situation in their quest to return to the finals for the first time in four years.

He believes that the Tams remain strong and that the Eagles have to prepare well against them.

“The team will not be thinking about that. Historically, there have been a lot of good matchups between Ateneo and FEU in the Final Four, and there have been upsets,” said Arespacochaga.

In 2001, Ateneo won over FEU, 67-63, to reach the finals for a dream encounter with the La Salle Green Archers.

And this is what will happen if the Blue Eagles hurdle the Tams.

The Blue Eagles score better than the Tams with 72.1 points, no. 2 in the league, while FEU is at no. 7 with 66.2 points.

Individually, the Tams have superior stats with Raymar Jose showing the way with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Monbert Arong can deliver 9.4 points.

Then, there’s Allen Trinidad (9.1 points), Wendell Comboy(7.2 points) and Axel Inigo (8.3).

The Blue Eagles are behind with Thirdy Ravena leading with 9.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. Adrian Wong follows with 9.4 points, while Mike Nieto can give out 8.34 points and 5.5 boards. They can also count on Anton Asistio, Isaac Go and Chibueze Ikeh.

Tams coach Nash Racela knows that they are in the way of a dream clash between Ateneo and La Salle, which last took place in 2008.

But he is not inclined to let that showdown happen this season.

Mahindra’s LA Revilla drives against GlobalPort’s Terrence Romeo in a PBA game won by the Batang Pier, 97-75.

Romeo-Pringle duo steers GlobalPort past Mahindra I

By Jeric Lopez

NSPIRED by its new head coach Franz Pumaren, GlobalPort showed glimpse of its improvement, trouncing new look Mahindra, 97-75, with ease to gain its first win in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

Picking up where he left off last season, Batang Pier superstar Terrence Romeo resumed his role as the league’s topscorer, putting up a game-high of 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting with four triples, to go with six assists to pace his squad.

His backcourt partner in Stanley Pringle likewise had a solid

game, notching 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while newcomers Nino Canaleta and JR Quinahan immediately made their presence felt as well.

Canaleta missed a triple-double by a point with his nine points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Quinahan had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Batang Pier.

Just four minutes into the game, the Batang Pier took command right away and never looked back the rest of the way.

GlobalPort started the game with a blistering 13-0 salvo at the 8:28 mark of the opening period, paving the way to a comfortable route towards victory.

With the win, GlobalPort joined San Miguel, Rain or Shine and Blackwater as the early tournament winners with 1-0 slates each.

Towards the end of the first frame, the game was already out of hand with the Batang Pier mercifully killing the Floodbusters, leading by 19 big points, 24-5, in the waning minutes of the quarter.

By halftime, the lead of GlobalPort stood at 18 points, 4628, with Romeo already having

14 points at the turn.

GlobalPort held several 27-point leads in the game.

In a sudden but not a very surprising twist, GlobalPort is now being officially coached by its then consultant Pumaren.

Pumaren has been calling the shots behind the Batang Pier’s bench as team consultant for quite some time.

After Adamson University bowed out of the Final Four in the UAAP last Wednesday, the veteran coach was suddenly made the official mentor of the Batang Pier, taking the place of transitional coach John Cardel, who now slides back as one of the assistant coaches of the team.

With its key players from last season all gone except for LA

Alab PH one of 3 new teams in Asean caging FILIPINO basketball enthusiasts have something new to look forward to as the new Philippine team, Alab Pilipinas, will represent the country in the upcoming Asean Basketball League, with all their games airing on ABS-CBN Sports and Action and the games in the Philippines, LIVE in key countries worldwide via TFC. ABL is a basketball league that was a brainchild of different Asean Leaders created during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was launched in 2009, no less than in the Philippines. The league is open to all countries that are members of the Asean.

This season, ABL’s 7th, the league marks a milestone as it opens to two non-Asean countries: Hong Kong Eastern Sports Club and Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Truth.

According to ABL Chief Operating Officer Jericho Ilagan, during the press conference for the opening of the league, the inclusion of non-Asean countries in the league “is a great sign for the league because it shows that the ABL is reaching more and more people.”

He also noted that this season will be

“very exciting” since the current champion Westports Malaysia Dragon will try to defend their title, the Singapore Slingers thirsty to win their first championship, and the three new teams—Alab Pilipinas, Hong Kong Eastern Sports Club and Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Truth—up to prove themselves.

Dino Laurena, head of ABS-CBN Integrated Sports said in a recent interview with abs-cbnnews.com that as a way of promoting nation-building, the Alab Pilipinas games will air live on ABS-CBN Sports & Action.

“These games will end up becoming national events, something that people will anticipate. It’s a way for us to show our sense of pride,” he notes. “Hopefully, it will also bring people together and give them a reason to celebrate,” Laurena muses.

Alab Pilipinas is the 4th team that will represent the country in ABL, following the first three teams: the AirAsia Philippine Patriots which won the 2010 championships; San Miguel Beermen that won the 2013 title; and the Pilipinas MX3 Kings.

Alab Pilipinas coach, Ronald Cuan said in an interview with abs-cbnnews.com that it is important for the country to have a

Griffins eye seat in semis Games Today

(Olivarez Sports Center) 12 noon – BulSU vs Diliman 2 p.m. – UB vs CDSL

Members of the Alab Pilipinas are presented to the media

“strong presence” in ABL. “The ABL is an established league that features the best in the ASEAN region, and it would be very healthy for Philippine basketball to continue making a strong presence there.”

This year’s team is composed of Val Acuna, Robby Celiz, Jeric Fortuna, Paulo Hubalde, Anthony Gavieres, Igee King, Jens Knuttel, Jovet Mendoza, JR Cawaling, Bobby Ray Parks, and Filipino-

American Lawrence Domingo. Two more World players will join the team and will be announced soon.

As for the team’s fighting chance this season, Cuan boasts that Alab players “will be a fighting team with a big heart, very true to the Philippine brand of basketball of speed; accuracy from the outside and inside; team chemistry; and brick-wall defense; not to mention the individual talent of Filipinos in the sport.”

424 players start Fil-Am golf quest BAGUIO CITY—A third of the supposed participants of the FilAm Golf Invitational Tournament starts their quest tomorrow as the 67- year-old sports spectacle kicked off officially with the ceremonial tee at both Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses.

Some 424 of the more than 1,200 players will be the first to hit the ball at the par 61 BCC and par 68 CJH courses in what is supposed to be the world’s biggest and oldest amateur golfing event, which will

also see the return of Baguio pride Kylie Verzosa, the newly crowned Miss International.

Verzosa, whose family owns a hotel and restaurant here, joined members of the executive committee in the ceremonial tees at both golf clubs.

Players tomorrow will come from the Seniors’ A and B and Regular G and H of both Fil and Am divisions.

“The course is in good condition,” said BCC spokesperson Andrew Pinero.

Revilla, Mahindra wasn’t the same team.

The dip in its capabilities were exposed and it was never in the game at any point.

Alex Mallari led Mahindra with a team-high 17 points off the bench.

The scores: GLOBALPORT 97— Romeo 29, Pringle 16, Quinahan 10, Canaleta 9, Pessumal 8, Aban 5, Pennisi 5, Semerad 5, Maierhofer 4, Mamaril 4, Saitanan 2, Cortez 0, Dehesa 0, Paredes 0.

MAHINDRA 75—Mallari 17, Deutchman 14, Apinan 10, Celda 10, Escoto 6, Revilla 5, Yee 5, Digregorio 4, Arana 2, Eriobu 2, Salva 0, Paniamogan 0, Nimes 0, Galanza 0, Ballesteros 0.

Quarterscores: 24-19, 46-28, 70-45, 97-75

“We’re very excited as we expect a very good competition this year,” added Pinero as players started checking in at both the courses starting Monday this week to check on the courses, including the seniors’ Fil Championship defending champion San Miguel – Northern Cement, led by former top pro Eddie Bagtas.

Bagtas is confident to lead his San Miguel squad anew to the title over local squad Pugo Adventure, which they beat in an exciting finale last year and won only

through countback.

Bagtas vowed that his San Miguel team this time is much stronger with Benjie Sumulong, Jingky Tuason, Bong Sison, Chito Laureta and former John Hay golf manager Jerich Hechanova. “(I) Like to see them play (in a) very competitive and challenging tournament and hope that my team will regain the supremacy this year,” said Pugo team captain Peter Go. Pugo will have many time seniors’ Group A individual cham-

pion Fred Puckett leading the charge with younger brother Jack, who replaced another brother Douglas in the team. The team also have mainstays Ed Montenegro, Goodie Ignacio and retired Korean architect Park Jun Wong.

The two teams start their bids on Sunday at the longer CJH course, take a break on Tuesday, before resuming on Wednesday at the BCC course until Thursday.

“Lalaban ang mga local players natin,” added Go, whose Pugo team won in 2014. Dexter See

COLEGIO De San Lorenzo goes for the fourth semis berth when it collides with University of the Batangas today in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque City.

Though the CDSL Griffins are tied with the Bulacan State University Gold Gears for fourth to fifth places with similar 4-6 records, they can clinch the last semis berth if they beat the surging UB Brahmans in their 2 p.m. showdown.

But if they lose to the Brahmans and the Gold Gears prevail over the Diliman College Blue Dragons in their 12 noon duel, the latter will earn the right to meet No. 1 Centro Escolar University in the semis.

The Griffins, however, will still secure the fourth semis if both teams hurdle their final assignments due to their superior quotients.

They suffered a heartbreaking 85-84 loss to the Gold Gears two weeks ago, but they won the first time they clashed, 94-88.

The Brahmans can play the spoilers’ role, having won their last two games after dropping their first 9 games.

The No. 4 seed will have to beat the Scorpions twice to advance to the finals – the privilege enjoys by No. 2 seed Technological Institute of the Philippines over No. 3 Olivarez College.

The Scorpions are still unbeaten in 11 games, while the TIP Engineers officially secured the No. 2 spot following a 79-74 win over the Olivarez Sea Lions the other day.

LandBank posts P10.3-b profit

B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

B1

German company investing P1.95b

By Othel V.Campos

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing November 25, 2016

8300

20TH AIRBUS A321. The 20th Airbus A321 of Philippine Airlines arrived from Toulouse, France, on Nov. 18, bringing to 80 the number of aircraft in PAL’s fleet. Shown is the delivery team, composed of (from left) Merwin Espeso – aircraft technical specialist; Angelie Wee – corporate finance officer; first officer Mark Victor Misa; captain Arnold Linantud; captain Anthony Fonghe; A320 chief instructor pilot captain George Alvarez; F/O Glenn delos Reyes; F/O James Joseph Estrada; Jorge Delima and Ramon Estellero, both CAAP airworthiness inspectors; and Efren Asturiano – LTP senior inspector.

7840 7380

SSS plans to increase PESO-DOLLAR RATE investments in utilities S

6920 6460 6000

6,889.78 16.47

Closing NOVEMBER 25, 2016 43.00

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.840

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P49.800 LOW P49.990 AVERAGE P49.923 VOLUME 538.200M

P430.00-P661.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.40-P44.10 Unleaded Gasoline

OPRICES IL TODAY

P25.75-P29.32 Diesel P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, November 25, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9680

Japan

Yen

0.008822

0.4408

UK

Pound

1.245000

62.2102

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128931

6.4424

Switzerland

Franc

0.982511

49.0941

Canada

Dollar

0.741565

37.0545

Singapore

Dollar

0.698178

34.8866

Australia

Dollar

0.740800

37.0163

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

132.5411

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266695

13.3262

Brunei

Dollar

0.695749

34.7652

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028042

1.4012

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.6045

Euro

Euro

1.055300

52.7312

Korea

Won

0.000847

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.144550

7.2229

India

Rupee

0.014545

0.7268

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224972

11.2414

New Zealand

Dollar

0.699400

34.9476

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031361

1.5670 Source: PDS Bridge

TATE-RUN Social Security System said Friday it plans to increase its investments up to 25 percent of utilities such as electricity and water companies to have more representation in these businesses.

Social Security Commission chairman Amado Valdez said the pension fund could use its investment funds to empower over 33 million members by giving them a “louder voice” in sensitive key issues such as rate increases for electricity, water and other basic utilities.

Valdez said while SSS investments primarily aimed to boost the pension fund’s earning capacity, enabling it to afford giving higher benefits for members, the fund should also find ways to

capitalize on its huge potential to promote social justice.

“It is already a given that SSS serves as a tool for social justice through the cross subsidies it provides – the young subsidize the old, the healthy subsidize the sick, those earning more subsidize those earning less, and even males subsidize females through SSS maternity benefits,” Valdez said.

Valdez said “SSS should seek to bring this concept of social justice further by maximizing

the use of SSS funds to gain representation in corporations involved in basic utilities such as electricity and water.”

“This gives SSS members a louder voice during deliberations on water and power rate hikes, since these have a significant and direct impact on the lives of workers and SSS pensioners,” he said.

SSS said it could use its investment funds to seek 25-percent ownership in utility corporations in return for the same percentage of their income.

“If rate hikes are justifiable and necessary, then SSS members will still benefit since the agency will receive higher income from its 25 percent share in the earnings,” SSS said.

He said the proposal of SSS to implement the P2,000 pension increase in two tranches, with the initial P1,000 across-the-

board pension hike scheduled in 2017 and the remaining P1,000 in 2022 or earlier, would provide SSS with additional funds that it could invest to enhance its generation of revenues.

Valdez said the initial P1,000 pension increase would offer a win-win solution as SSS pensioners would immediately get muchneeded financial assistance.

He said it would also put SSS in a better position to manage the impact of the pension increase on SSS’ financial viability and earning capacity.

“If we immediately increase pensions by P2,000, SSS funds will be depleted. It will force us to dip into our investment reserve fund just to afford the higher benefits. We also lose the opportunity to invest in utilities as well as infrastructure projects with a sovereign guarantee,” he said.

Businessmen turned less bullish in fourth quarter

By Julito G. Rada BUSINESSMEN turned less bullish in the fourth quarter amid the uncertainty in the direction of the government’s foreign policies and sluggish global demand, results of a survey conducted by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

Bangko Sentral said the business confidence index fell to 39.8 percent in the fourth quarter from 45.4 percent in the third quarter.

“This indicates that the number of pessimists increased but remained less than that of

optimists during the quarter,” Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

“Despite the usual uptick in demand during the Christmas season, business outlook was less buoyant for the current quarter due to perceived concerns over the direction of foreign policies and economic reforms in the country, weakening global demand, foreign exchange losses of importers due to peso depreciation, and lack of supply of raw materials,” Bangko Sentral said.

The survey also showed that for the quarter ahead (first

quarter of 2017), business confidence also weakened to 34.5 percent from 56.8 percent in the previous quarter’s survey results.

Respondents attributed their less optimistic outlook for the first quarter next year to the usual slowdown in consumer demand after the holiday season.

Other reasons cited by firms were the direction of foreign policies and economic reforms in the country, stiffer competition with the entry of new players in the market, and the waitand-see attitude of investors for

the coming year following the results of the US national elections which could affect the interest rate movements in the country.

The outlook of businesses involved in international commodity trading―such as importers, exporters and both importer and exporter―was less upbeat for the fourth quarter, outweighing the more bullish sentiment of domestic-oriented firms.

The survey was conducted on Oct. 3 to Nov. 17, 2016 involving 1,470 companies nationwide.

SAN Miguel Corp. said Friday it expects to complete the construction of the interim terminal at Boracay Airport in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan by end of the year to accommodate the projected increase in passengers bound for Boracay Island.

The conglomerate said a permanent world-class international passenger terminal with 12 air bridges was also being constructed.

“For passengers, this can only mean more airlines competing to offer better services, more affordable airfares, convenience, and less travel time. For the people of Aklan, this will create livelihood opportunities, further boost tourism, and improve their economy,” San Miguel president

and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

San Miguel said the new Boracay Airport in Caticlan could now handle Airbus A320 from Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines and other international carriers flying direct from South Korea, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia.

San Miguel expanded the Boracay airport runway from 950 meters to 1,700 meters.

The old ramp used to host only four turbo propeller aircraft.

San Miguel, through Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp., is undertaking the expansion of Boracay airport under a 25-year build-rehabilitate-operate-transfer concession granted by the Transportation Department.

IN BRIEF PAL set to launch Clark-Caticlan route PHILIPPINE Airlines will mount flights from Clark International Airport to Caticlan by the middle of December to help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Clark International Airport Corp. president Alexander Cauguiran said PAL would officially commence the Clark-Caticlan daily flights on Dec. 16.

He said PAL would also add more flights starting January 2017 to Cebu, Davao, Busuanga and Cagayan de Oro. PAL will also launch daily international flights to Incheon, South Korea

by January next year.

Cauguiran said that PAL would have a total of 21 flights per week at Clark Airport.

“This is a welcome development that augurs well to the achievement of overall socio-economic objectives of the Duterte administration that include the development and full utilization of the Clark International Airport,” Caugurian said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Govt eyes roadmap for MICE industry

San Miguel set to finish Caticlan airport terminal

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GERMAN construction company Knauf Gips KG is investing P1.95 billion to manufacture gypsum board panels in Batangas province.

The Philippine delegation to the recent Asia Pacific Conference of German Business in Hong Kong assured Knauf Gips of its full support for the P1.95-billion project.

Trade undersecretary for industry promotion Nora Terrado met the executives of Knauf Gips KGnx German Investment Development Corp. (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesselschaft, or DEG) at the sidelines of conference to discuss the current status of Knauf Gips’ gypsum board panel system manufacturing facility in the Philippines.

Terrado said the government would continue to support the company in the implementation of its investment project in the Philippines which is set to be completed and operational by 2018.

Since 2013, the Board of Investments and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Berlin have been assisting KnaufGips in several due diligence visits in the country until the establishment of the company’s business operations in July 2016.

Knauf Gypsum Philippines Inc., a partnership between KnaufGips KG and DEG, registered with the BOI on a pioneer status for the manufacture of gypsum boards in its facility in Batangas.

The project is estimated to generate 100 direct jobs.

The APK is a key signature event in Asia, where top business and government leaders from Germany and Asia gather every two years to discuss business, to network and strengthen personal and economic ties with the region.

CONNECTOR ROAD CONTRACT. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (third from left) and Manila

North Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco (fourth from left) shake hands after signing the 37-year concession agreement for the NLEx-SLEx Connector Road, an 8-kilometer elevated highway along the PNR route, extending the NLEx southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3/5th Avenue, Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila. Witnessing the signing are (from left) Public Works undersecretary for legal affairs Karen Jimeno, undersecretary for planning and public-private partnership service Maria Catalina Cabral, MNTC chief operating officer Raul Ignacio and MNTC senior vice president Romulo Quimbo Jr.

THE Board of Investments and the Tourism Department teamed up with the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers Inc. to prepare the roadmap for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions or MICE industry.

“We recognize the importance of tourism as one of the main drivers for inclusive growth since it is one of the largest employment generators in the country,” said Trade Secretary and BoI chairman Ramon Lopez.

Trade undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the tourism industry was one of the industries being considered for inclusion in the inclusive business category in the proposed 2017 Investment Priorities Plan.

“The agreement will boost the local tourism industry. Once the MICE roadmap is in place, it will lead to more investments not only in the accommodation sector, but also in the infrastructure side,” Rodolfo said.

The MICE roadmap aims to enhance the competitiveness of the industry with assessment and formulation of actions plans to address issues and concerns within the industry.

Othel V. Campos

B2

Business

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; Ayala Land up S tocks rose for a third day in line with the rally across world markets as strong economic data and the prospect of increased spending under President-elect Donald Trump boosted US stocks and the dollar.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 16 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 6,889.78 Friday. Despite the advance, the bellwether was still down 0.9 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, picked up 5 points, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 4,176.54, on a value turnover of P4.8 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 94 to 90, while 47 issues were unchanged.

Twelve of the 20 most active

stocks ended in the green, led by property developer Ayala Land Inc. which climbed 4.4 percent to P32.35 and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. which went up 2.4 percent to P74.75.

Meanwhile, Asian markets headed into the weekend on a positive note Friday, with Tokyo again propelled by the weaker yen but the dollar edged back slightly in the afternoon following its recent surge against global currencies.

With traders confident the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates before Christmas, the

dollar is cruising along, hitting record highs against India’s rupee and the Turkish lira and touching multi-month highs elsewhere.

The advance has come hand in hand with a rally across world markets since Donald Trump’s shock election win, with dealers expecting his big spending, high tax plans will give a boost to the world’s top economy.

However, there are some concerns inside emerging market governments about his campaign pledge to review global trade deals, which could lead to an era of protectionism and throw up huge US tariffs.

“There’s this anticipation of the US raising rates that is a positive signal that the US economy is strong and that’ll keep pushing additional inflows into the dollar,” Niv Dagan, executive director at Peak Asset Management

LLC, told Bloomberg News.

“The fact that there are outflows out of emerging markets, like the Philippines, places a lot of pressure on their equity markets and we’ll continue to see that stronger dollar as a negative.”

In Asian morning trade the dollar flirted with the 114 yen mark for the first time since March, providing more support for Japan’s exporters, before it eased back slightly.

The Nikkei came off earlier highs but ended 0.3 percent up, its seventh straight win.

Another weak reading on Japanese consumer prices meant any monetary tightening by the central bank was unlikely in the foreseeable future.

The greenback dipped slightly against many other currencies, although it still remains elevated.

Among regional currencies, South Korea’s won, the Indonesian rupiah, Malaysia’s ringgit and the Thai baht were all stronger but still sitting near multi-month lows as traders drag their cash out to seek better returns in the US. Nicholas Teo, a strategist at KGI Fraser Securities in Singapore, said: “The dollar has been really strong in anticipation of Yellen’s move next month and that strength in the US dollar is ultimately going to mean that emerging market assets would be seen as disadvantaged.”

In other stock markets, Hong Kong and Sydney were up 0.4 percent, Shanghai gained 0.1 percent and Seoul put on 0.2 percent while Singapore jumped 0.8 percent. There were also big gains in Wellington, Taipei, and Jakarta.

With AFP, Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.55 57,000 47.8 14,800 90.5 1,556,490 112 555,640 1.43 506,000 37.95 6,100 19 45,200 1.78 52,000 715.5 20 0.68 5,699,000 74.75 2,665,580 0.78 388,000 14.1 94,800 55.2 165,290 252.2 800 133 1,480 35.8 112,200 188.1 870,640 1,692 20 74.4 100,280 1.31 115,000

195,220 707,025 141,024,024 61,888,565 747,390 231,495 860,404 92,860 14,310 3,916,360 198,968,805 303,150 1,336,880 9,132,483 205,126 185,670 4,017,525 165,378,436 33,840 7,465,783.50 150,650

587,625 -75,882,791.50 27,635,475 462,618 -1,000 -48,515,521.50 -1,923,931 17,734 -587,250 -73,052,737 -

42.1 4.13 0.92 1.3 21 0.189 82.4 11.04 17.36 135.5 23.4 22.5 59.05 89 1.97 7.1 11.86 11 6.4 6.96 5.11 21.55 67.5 15.94 5.9 1.73 212.4 2.22 3.9 25 29.9 26.15 14.86 265.4 0.24 3.2 9.15 11.3 2.08 5.62 1.38 67.35 4.8 215.2 4.38 2.83 4.15 0.141 1.54 171.6 4.2 1.8 1.07

INDUSTRIAL 42.9 1,038,800 4.25 3,236,000 0.94 1,122,000 1.31 334,000 23 173,100 0.19 510,000 92 3,400 11.08 5,792,400 17.4 667,800 135.6 130 23.45 264,800 22.7 1,800 59.05 35,400 98.95 1,850 1.98 204,000 7.35 2,755,800 12.14 18,400 11.02 750,500 6.47 299,800 7.05 66,500 5.15 4,618,900 21.7 1,733,200 67.5 55,930 16 2,500 6 155,100 1.74 641,000 217 310,700 2.44 133,000 3.9 2,000 27.15 2,200 29.95 2,623,200 26.5 129,600 15.1 1,238,300 266 186,340 0.25 40,000 3.3 976,000 9.16 522,400 11.44 19,300 2.1 1,085,000 5.8 146,200 1.4 199,000 67.6 615,290 4.97 9,439,000 215.2 15,580 4.4 362,000 2.83 8,000 4.15 18,000 0.142 620,000 1.56 398,000 174.1 1,601,860 4.48 13,000 1.85 5,074,000 1.07 120,000

44,150,505 13,781,020 1,052,430 436,950 3,950,095 96,900 293,324 64,183,032 11,644,124 17,982 6,204,385 40,875 2,090,390 172,336 404,060 19,646,198 220,262 8,288,290 1,939,308 468,009 23,812,983 37,663,475 3,783,983.50 40,060 930,085 1,140,890 66,912,824 304,840 7,800 57,100 78,634,490 3,430,775 18,698,180 49,721,982 9,700 3,201,200 4,791,610 220,246 2,266,820 839,102 276,380 41,608,325 47,261,590 3,365,388 1,591,880 22,640 75,740 87,510 623,300 280,642,470 55,240 9,414,690 129,170

5,876,130 514,910 2,640 -19,200 -223,780 10,017,456 2,038,406 3,960 740 127,572 -1,625,643 6,916 -1,078,349 -7,438,305 116,319 -8,100 866,199 11,396,830 -58,134,285 -2,043,775 465,432 6,573,248 2,971,410 -1,430,619.00 -9,152 15,712,908.50 33,494,290 -2,529,940 123,120 40,858,510 -

0.39 75 13.3 1.17 5.9 0.32 750 8.39 13.26 8.06 5 5.5 0.185 1,220 6.34 71.8 5.4 1.7 7.76 14.34 6.62 0.039 1.86 84 645 1.18 240 0.305 0.185 0.26

0.375 72.9 13.04 1.1 5.8 0.31 725 8.27 12.74 8.04 4.9 5.5 0.181 1,195 6 70.3 4.95 1.56 7.52 13.64 6.45 0.038 1.86 81.3 636 1.16 238 0.295 0.181 0.255

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 430,000 75 855,670 13.1 5,184,800 1.17 10,000 5.8 73,700 0.32 1,010,000 728 266,630 8.28 1,776,100 12.74 7,372,300 8.05 93,400 5 5,600 5.5 1,000 0.181 540,000 1,217 125,655 6.01 16,100 71.7 457,370 5.2 1,617,100 1.64 17,108,000 7.66 1,193,900 13.64 1,175,600 6.6 11,260,300 0.038 3,700,000 1.86 19,000 83 289,920 640 676,850 1.18 15,000 240 4,760 0.295 490,000 0.184 430,000 0.255 500,000

165,100 63,738,758 68,055,238 11,070 433,150 313,200 194,497,125 14,708,663 95,497,072 752,056 27,800 5,500 98,150 152,541,540 96,724 32,456,275 8,010,727 27,842,570 9,097,017 16,151,376 73,603,248 140,800 35,340 23,898,809 433,220,250 17,560 1,140,740 145,150 78,880 129,200

12,620,003.50 367,770 -84,161,460 7,834,277.00 -1,500,850 51,693,660 3,791,918 8,310 -6,703,745 -12,598,166 -33,093,693 2,851,049.50 -118,215,890 -

7.03 1.09 2.11 0.335 32.4 3.13 5.03 0.57 1.13 1.17 0.163 0.55 50 0.73 0.137 1.73 0.95 1.2 4.7 3.91 0.147 0.25 0.42 3.22 35.3

6.98 1.06 2.09 0.315 31.25 3.08 5.03 0.54 1.13 1.17 0.161 0.54 48.2 0.71 0.137 1.71 0.94 1.16 4.62 3.76 0.14 0.25 0.41 3.11 34.9

1,109,892 560,120 543,000 1,452,550 615,687,800 2,268,460 94,061 9,750,520 7,910 418,860 147,340 777,870 15,663,865 31,390 183,580 3,797,670 557,510 984,580 64,920 86,356,400 3,374,650 2,500 209,250 149,070 45,460

178,182 26,400 -18,553,400 -661,270 -3,095,000 -444,380 -2,170 -2,281,400 14,998,710 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

3.26 47.8 92 112 1.44 37.95 19.04 1.78 715.5 0.69 74 0.79 14.12 55.5 260 126 35.75 189.7 1,692 74.45 1.31

3.55 47.8 92 112.3 1.5 37.95 19.1 1.79 715.5 0.7 75 0.81 14.12 55.6 260 133 35.85 192.4 1,692 74.5 1.31

3.15 47.5 90.2 110.9 1.4 37.95 19 1.78 715.5 0.68 74 0.78 14.1 55.1 252.2 120 35.75 188.1 1,692 74.4 1.31

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

42.55 4.14 0.94 1.32 25.25 0.194 90 11.1 17.5 140.1 23.4 23.25 59.05 90 1.99 7.37 12 11.06 6.6 6.96 5.11 22 67.75 15.94 6 1.84 214 2.22 3.9 26.05 29.9 26.15 15.14 268.2 0.24 3.2 9.19 11.5 2.08 5.68 1.38 67.6 4.99 216.6 4.4 2.83 4.27 0.141 1.58 179.5 4.22 1.81 1.08

43.05 4.39 0.95 1.32 26.2 0.194 92 11.24 17.6 140.1 23.45 23.25 59.1 100 2 7.46 12.18 11.16 6.6 7.1 5.18 22.1 68 16.2 6 1.85 217 2.44 3.9 27.15 30 26.5 15.18 272.6 0.25 3.34 9.25 11.54 2.1 5.8 1.4 67.75 5.1 223.8 4.4 2.83 4.28 0.142 1.62 179.5 4.48 1.88 1.08

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

0.385 73.4 13.12 1.1 5.9 0.31 750 8.29 12.98 8.04 5 5.5 0.185 1,195 6 71.5 5.4 1.65 7.75 13.68 6.6 0.038 1.86 81.3 645 1.16 239.4 0.3 0.185 0.26

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP

6.98 1.07 2.09 0.33 31.25 3.13 5.03 0.56 1.13 1.17 0.161 0.54 49.2 0.73 0.137 1.72 0.95 1.19 4.7 3.86 0.141 0.25 0.42 3.12 34.9

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

26.25 1.5 3.23 26.5 0.98 0.94 5.12

27.2 1.55 3.23 26.9 1.04 0.94 5.15

25.85 1.5 3.2 26 0.97 0.9 5.08

27.2 1.55 3.2 26.85 1.02 0.93 5.15

1,770,700 121,000 464,000 4,999,100 7,387,000 122,000 747,400

47,068,415 181,550 1,487,200 133,087,620 7,441,090 111,050 3,830,821

4,283,160 49,550 38,500,475 -2,681,572

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

7.68 45.2 1.28 0.52 0.042 10.58 5 6.6 0.071 2.86 102.1 6.8 1,439 6.15 14.08 17.36 1.98 14.96 125.1 74 0.009 11.26 9.12 0.191 1.33 3.53 13.38 5.35 2.03 4.1 3.71 17.9 2.22 11.2 5.05 150 14.7 1,323 1.14 0.42 38.9 72.6 5.4 2.55 0.93 3.1 0.345

7.68 45.2 1.43 0.54 0.044 11.48 5 6.6 0.073 3.05 104 6.8 1,470 6.15 14.48 17.36 2.04 19.98 160 74.9 0.0092 12.26 9.12 0.195 1.37 3.53 13.5 5.42 2.05 4.1 3.86 17.9 2.29 11.2 5.1 150 14.94 1,340 1.15 0.445 40 73.95 5.4 2.58 0.93 3.15 0.345

7.5 45.1 1.28 0.52 0.041 10.58 5 6.38 0.07 2.85 102.1 6.66 1,435 6.11 14 17.36 1.95 14.96 120 72 0.009 11.26 9.11 0.187 1.33 3.53 13.38 5.22 2.03 4.03 3.68 17.6 2.21 11.2 5.05 150 14.04 1,320 1.14 0.42 38.9 72.35 5.14 2.5 0.9 3.09 0.335

SERVICES 7.65 45.1 1.3 0.54 0.042 11.44 5 6.54 0.07 2.93 103.4 6.66 1,450 6.15 14.46 17.36 1.99 18.08 145 72.5 0.009 12.26 9.11 0.19 1.34 3.53 13.5 5.3 2.05 4.1 3.75 17.6 2.21 11.2 5.1 150 14.74 1,324 1.15 0.44 39.3 72.6 5.29 2.58 0.9 3.14 0.335

81,000 69,600 225,000 171,000 31,500,000 1,300 500 4,785,000 23,100,000 14,146,000 68,970 103,000 89,530 183,400 147,800 100 1,362,000 458,100 3,090 407,730 8,000,000 5,700 499,500 9,230,000 199,000 5,000 600 1,512,100 3,000 1,423,000 5,128,000 1,400 3,020,000 400 3,200 2,800 4,800,900 117,775 4,038,000 5,850,000 1,655,200 480,800 35,000 2,390,000 6,432,000 268,000 520,000

616,314 3,141,140 316,360 88,940 1,330,100 14,016 2,500 31,273,896 1,642,390 41,175,090 7,114,157 688,982 129,845,605 1,126,982 2,120,634 1,736 2,724,890 8,494,972 459,667 29,766,540 72,400 64,282 4,550,940 1,767,280 266,090 17,650 8,040 8,080,228 6,120 5,794,910 19,484,220 24,830 6,783,910 4,480 16,180 420,000 69,775,910 155,981,600 4,634,040 2,547,250 65,265,220 34,957,465.50 184,088 6,015,110 5,827,530 832,520 176,800

-107,000 -7,800,404 29,000 2,787,448 27,200 39,675,790 56,820 1,727,899 28,200 -123,050 -853,130 -2,822,410 -112,040 0 -1,044,048 -6,361,630 -44,500 10,075,655 4,715,193 1,971,810 2,587,500 -554,900 -

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

0.0034 2.9 5.36 10.42 2.3 0.56 0.4 13.2 3.78 0.28 0.207 0.2 0.012 0.012 2 8.78 3.4 0.46 1.42 0.01 0.011 3.97 0.012 8.26 3.8 131.5 3 0.0087

0.0035 2.9 5.45 10.42 2.3 0.56 0.4 14.92 3.95 0.285 0.21 0.218 0.012 0.012 2.12 8.85 3.57 0.46 1.46 0.011 0.011 3.97 0.013 8.26 3.88 133.5 3.04 0.0088

0.0034 2.85 5.22 9.7 2.3 0.56 0.4 12.68 3.78 0.275 0.205 0.2 0.012 0.012 1.93 8.55 3.26 0.46 1.21 0.01 0.01 3.97 0.012 8.14 3.74 129 3 0.0087

MINING & OIL 0.0034 332,000,000 2.85 66,000 5.3 1,581,000 10.42 2,400 2.3 224,000 0.56 220,000 0.4 20,000 13.5 1,272,800 3.85 23,813,000 0.275 810,000 0.209 8,590,000 0.217 1,270,000 0.012 13,900,000 0.012 100,000 1.96 1,796,000 8.64 4,113,900 3.28 1,395,000 0.46 7,000 1.28 7,928,000 0.011 51,500,000 0.01 5,000,000 3.97 30,000 0.013 36,100,000 8.14 482,500 3.75 3,262,000 129.5 897,930 3 52,000 0.0088 2,000,000

1,129,400 191,100 8,408,020 24,380 515,200 123,200 8,000 17,626,818 91,501,420 225,250 1,781,830 272,210 166,800 1,200 3,578,660 35,738,074 4,794,020 3,220 10,615,400 542,200 51,000 119,100 453,700 3,939,127 12,334,840 116,891,368 156,980 17,500

-40,909 -1,200,460 -34,649,000 20,200 2,293,029.00 7,060 74,050 -221,293 307,540 2,910,760 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2I

44.8 543 104.4 540 5.86 1,025 1,020 112 1,100 77.25 82.45 79.95 79.5 78.3

44.8 544.5 104.9 540 5.9 1,025 1,024 114 1,100 77.95 82.45 79.95 79.5 78.3

44.6 543 104.3 540 5.86 1,025 1,020 112 1,100 77.25 80.5 79.95 79.5 77.95

PREFERRED 44.6 83,500 544.5 6,580 104.9 370 540 2,100 5.9 25,000 1,025 2,430 1,024 4,940 114 12,000 1,100 5,685 77.95 36,010 80.75 22,990 79.95 500 79.5 20,000 77.95 12,250

3,730,280 3,581,025 38,628 1,134,000 146,900 2,490,750 5,038,840 1,348,000 6,253,500 2,806,769.50 1,853,505.50 39,975 1,590,000 957,720

71,520 98,332 -

LR WARRANT

2.53

2.62

2.44

WARRANTS 2.48 1,194,000

3,039,990

-

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

2.4 3.43 2.8 9.9

2.5 3.45 2.8 10.04

2.35 3.4 2.8 9.83

2.48 3.41 2.8 9.83

3,393,850 368,700 42,000 24,077,659

148,620 -8,209,794

FIRST METRO ETF

113.1

114

113.1

1,641,163

-

MS

PROPERTY 7 1.09 2.11 0.32 32.35 3.11 5.03 0.55 1.13 1.17 0.162 0.54 48.85 0.71 0.137 1.71 0.95 1.18 4.62 3.88 0.14 0.25 0.41 3.21 35.3

158,700 521,000 258,000 4,480,000 19,236,300 733,000 18,700 17,519,000 7,000 358,000 910,000 1,440,000 319,600 44,000 1,340,000 2,218,000 589,000 838,000 14,000 22,450,000 23,520,000 10,000 500,000 47,000 1,300

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

13,967,630

INDUSTRIAL

50,399,852

HOLDING FIRMS

56,956,329

PROPERTY

122,306,541

SERVICES

133,889,822

MINING & OIL

498,981,219

GRAND TOTAL

880,454,103

SME

1,391,000 108,000 15,000 2,423,300

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113.6 14,450

VALUE 1,672.08 (DOWN) 0.49 666,742,351.47 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,008.12 (DOWN) 46.01 868,315,147.94 HOLDING FIRMS 7,025.76 (DOWN) 13.07 1,332,526,154.144 PROPERTY 3,072.98 (UP) 68.49 SERVICES 1,296.12 (DOWN) 3.91 972,928,759.28 MINING & OIL 12,230.54 (DOWN) 184.86 663,587,511.59 PSEI 6,889.78 (UP) 16.47 311,259,185.607 All Shares Index 4,176.54 (up) 5.90 4,844,885,189.434 Gainers: 94; Losers: 90; Unchanged: 47; Total: 231

DD secures SEC nod for P15-b fund raising

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the P15-billion shelf registration of property developer DoubleDragon Properties Corp.

DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the corporate regulator also approved the company’s initial offering of P10 billion worth of 10-year fixed-rate bonds to be issued next month.

Nearly half of the proceeds will be used to finance land development and construction of CityMalls, it said.

“The proceeds from the offer will be used to partly finance the construction of 5 to 10 CityMalls and acquisitions of 12 to 19 CityMall sites,” DoubleDragon said, The 10 CityMalls currently under construction are located in Sultan Kudarat, Surigao City, San Jose Antique, Ozamiz City, Pagadian City, Calamba Laguna, Palo Leyte, Ormoc City, Pangasinan and Sorsogon City.

The company also explores potential CityMall sites in Butuan City, Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte), Bayugan (Agusan del Sur), Legazpi, Ligao (Albay), Tabaco (Albay), Lamitan (Basilan), Balanga (Bataan), Batangas City, Tanauan (Batangas), Lipa City, Baguio, Malaybalay (Bukidnon), Valencia (Bukidnon), Malolos, Meycauayan, San Jose Del Monte, Iriga. Naga, Bacoor and Cavite City.

Maynilad repairs 22,300 pipe leaks

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales WEST zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said Friday it was able to repair 22,300 pipe leaks as of the third quarter, bringing the company’s total leak repairs to 302,000 since 2007.

Leak repair is a vital component of Maynilad’s non-revenue water management program, which seeks to bring down physical and commercial water losses.

“We have been investing in state-of-the-art technologies to detect and repair leaks in our pipe network, which is one of the oldest distribution systems in Asia,” said Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez.

“Through intensive leak repairs and selective pipe replacements, we have already managed to renew about 40 percent of our network, thus allowing for better supply management,” said Fernandez.

Maynilad said pipe leaks detected and repaired in the third quarter were located mostly in Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Cavite and Quezon City.

Maynilad allotted P2 billion for its NRW management program this year, of which ₱275 million was dedicated for leak repair projects.

Aside from leak detection and repair, the company’s NRW management program also covers selective pipe replacement, network diagnostics, establishment of district metered areas and replacement of old water meters.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base.

It is the agent and contractor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the west zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of certain portions of Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon.

Business

B3

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Chinese online casino generates $58-b game coins

CROSS-BORDER TRADE. The International Chamber of Commerce Philippines and Bank of China hold a roadshow for the SME Cross-Border Trade and Investment Conference that will take place in Davao City in 2017. Shown are (from left) Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chairman and treasurer Sergio Ortiz Jr. and Bank of China deputy general manager for SME services department Wang Jian. Teddy Pelaez

Banks admit to ringgit cartel SYDNEY, Australia— Australian banks ANZ and Macquarie on Friday agreed to pay Aus$15 million (US$11 million) in fines for trying to manipulate the benchmark rate of the Malaysian ringgit.

ANZ admitted to 10 instances of attempted cartel conduct and Macquarie to eight relating to setting the daily rates for derivative instruments linked to Malaysia’s currency in 2011.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said both banks had cooperated with their investigation, with ANZ agreeing to a Aus$9 million penalty and Macquarie Aus$6 million.

The case involved Singaporebased traders communicating via private online chat rooms about daily submissions on the Malaysian ringgit fixing rate to be made to the Association of Banks in Singapore.

“These proceedings are a reminder that Australian cartel laws apply to financial markets, and capture cartel conduct by firms that carry on business in Australia, regardless of where that conduct occurred,” said ACCC chairman Rod Sims.

“The ACCC recognizes the integrity of foreign exchange markets plays a fundamental role in our market economy.”

The Federal Court needs to determine if the penalties are appropriate.

ANZ said in a statement the three ANZ traders involved no longer worked for the company.

“While there is no evidence that FX benchmarks in Singapore were successfully influenced, we accept responsibility and apologize for the actions of our former employees,” said chief risk officer Nigel Williams.

“We have made significant improvements to our compliance, training and monitoring systems to ensure this does not happen again.”

Macquarie said one junior employee was involved, who no longer worked for the bank.

“Since Macquarie became aware of the matter and as the ACCC notes, it has significantly strengthened its e-communication surveillance globally, improved trade monitoring and intensified training for its front office staff,” it said. AFP

SHANGHAI, China—Nearly $60 billion passed through China’s biggest illegal online casino before it was broken up by authorities, a court said.

The gambling operation was set up by a man surnamed Zhou in 2012, the official Xinhua news agency cited the court as saying.

The following year he moved it to Vietnam to try to avoid detection by police.

Players on the site, games998.net, exchanged real money into game coins to participate in dozens of gambling games from mahjong to poker, the Legal Daily newspaper reported last year.

According to investigators more than two million people signed up and bought 400 billion yuan ($58 billion) in game coins, Xinhua said.

The operators made profits of 580 million yuan.

Zhou, 47, was arrested in Vietnam and repatriated. He went on trial Thursday in Songyang, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, charged with setting up the online casino.

Eight of Zhou’s accomplices were sentenced in an earlier case and several are still at large, Xinhua said.

Gambling is illegal in China, except in state-sanctioned lotteries. AFP

LandBank posts P10.3-b profit

By Julito G. Rada

S

TATE-OWNED Land Bank of the Philippines, the fourth-largest lender in terms of assets, said Friday net income in the first nine months reached P10.3 billion, or nearly unchanged from P10.27 billion a year ago.

Land Bank said in a statement the nine-month bottomline was in line with full-year income target of P13.5 billion.

The bank’s return on equity in January to September reached

15.8 percent, while net interest margin hit 3.14 percent.

Total assets grew 17 percent to P1.3 trillion from P1.1 trillion in the same period last year, buoyed by growth in loans and

investments.

Gross loan portfolio grew 9 percent to P481.9 billion from P 441.1 billion, while investments climbed 55 percent to P471.9 billion from P303.6 billion.

Land Bank president and chief executive Alex Buenaventura, who assumed his post on Nov. 11, said these numbers put the bank in a good position to further expand its services, reach and support especially to farmers and fishers, micro-enterprises and SMEs. “This will be our priority moving forward, as we strive to

keep the balance of maintaining our financial viability and fulfilling our development mandate,” Buenaventura said.

Total deposits reached P1.2 trillion, up 18 percent from the year-ago level of P991.3 billion.

Total capital increased 18 percent to P91.1 billion from P 77.3 billion in the same period last year.

Land Bank is the only universal bank present in all provinces of the country with its nationwide network of 365 branches and 1,607 ATMs. These are complemented by 27 other banking offices across the

country.

It remains the biggest credit provider to small farmers and fishers and local government units and is the largest lender to micro-enterprises and SMEs among government financial institutions.

Land Bank posted a 10-percent increase in net income to P13.3 billion in 2015 from P12.1 billion in 2014. The solid performance last year exceeded by 11 percent the bank’s annual target net revenue of P12 billion. This also translated into a high return on equity of 17.15 percent.

Airports prepare for holiday rush

By Darwin G. Amojelar

ADB PRESIDENT. Asian Development Bank president Takehiko Nakao speaks during the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines Forum at the ADB headquarters in Ortigas. Nakao called on US President-elect Donald Trump to continue with a landmark trans-pacific trade deal, but said the region would press on with key accords regardless of his decision. AFP

AIRPORT officials laid down measures to ensure safety and convenience of passengers nationwide in anticipation of the heavy volume of passengers this Christmas.

A slot management system is being enforced to make sure airlines depart as scheduled. The system has helped improve the on-time performance of airlines, effectively reducing incidents of flight delays. At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the OTP of airlines improved from 47 percent to 71 percent since the new administration took over.

A two-minute waiting time is also being implemented for people fetching passengers at the airport. Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal appealed to the public to refrain from turning arrival gates into a parking area.

To improve the flow of traffic to and from the Naia, Monreal said MIAA is now coordinating with Villamor Airbase to allow passengers to pass through and decongest traffic especially along Andrews Avenue. Security issues are currently being discussed.

MIAA is also hopeful that the stretch of Naia Expressway covering Terminal 3 will open in December.

Jim Sydiongco, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, also reported that Legazpi, Dumaguete, Roxas, and Caticlan airports were now night-rated. Night landing capabilities will enable airports to accommodate flights after sunset.

In terms of safety and security of passengers, the MIAA will deploy an additional 97 security personnel at Naia. The PNP is also ready to augment the airport’s security force should it become necessary.

San Miguel teams up with PAJ for 2016 Binhi Awards

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales for its strong support to the Awards will offer cash prizes, magazines SAN Miguel Corp. teamed up again with the Philippine Agricultural Journalists Inc. for the 2016 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards, the group’s annual national agricultural journalism contest that is now open to online journalists.

PAJ president Roman Floresca said the support of SMC, under president and chief operating officer RamonAng, to the Binhi Awards was a big boost to Philippine journalism and stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

“We sincerely thank SMC

PAJ through four decades and counting, particularly the ‘Binhi Awards’ as we continue to raise the bar of coverage and reportage of the country’s agricultural developments and breakthroughs, and success stories of farmers, fishers, livestock raisers, food manufacturers, and agribusinessmen,” said Floresca.

SMC and PAJ recently formalized the agreement at the SMC main office in Mandaluyong City.

The PAJ Board designated PAJ vice president for internal affairs Noel Reyes as contest chair.

The 2016 PAJ-SMC Binhi

ranging from P15,000 to P50,000, for 17 individual and institutional contest categories.

Starting this year, online journalists can now compete in three major categories, which include: agricultural journalist, agri-beat reporter, and environment journalist, where the first, second and third place winners will receive P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000 cash prizes, respectively.

Reyes said that in previous years, only print journalists from national and regional newspapers, agricultural

and other publications vied for major and minor individual categories.

Print and online journalists can compete in other four minor individual categories which include the agri news story, agri feature story, environment story, and climate story of the year.

One winner per category will be awarded a P15,000 cash prize and a trophy.

The other 2016 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards minor categories are: agriphoto journalist; agri section of a national and regional or provincial newspaper; agri magazine; agri newsletter; national and regional agri radio

program; national and regional agri TV program; and agri info and/or media campaign of government agency. Winners will each get P20,000 cash prize and trophy.

The contest coverage is from Nov. 1, 2015 to Oct. 31, 2016, which means all entries should be published, uploaded or aired during the 12-month period.

Entries should be submitted on or before Dec. 16, 2016 to the 2016 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards Committee, c/o Filipino Inventors Society Producer Cooperative, Ground floor, Delta Bldg., Quezon Ave. corner West Ave., Quezon City.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

PROPERTY AUCTION SCORES BIG HIT. More than 2,500 visitors attended the recent housing fair organized by propery portal Lamudi Philippines at SM Megamall. Homebuyers, investors, property bidders, and seminar attendees dropped by for investment and homebuying seminars conducted by industry experts, as well as discounts offered by various developers and real estate companies. One major partner, My Saving Grace Realty & Development Corporation, generated a total of Php25 million worth of property sales during the event’s property auction. “We are now seeing a new trend in real estate buying in the form of property auctions,” said Jacqueine van den Ende, managing director of Lamudi Philippines and MyProperty.ph. At the opening of the three-day event were Dr. Eduardo G. Ong (third from right) chairman of the Professional Regulation Commission - Board for Real Estate Service; Jacqueline van den Ende (third from left); Claro Cordero, associate director for research, JLL (second from right). Also present were (from left) Ma. Cristina Cruz, senior account manager of Lhoopa Inc.; Armie Nozal, senior project consultant of Solid Pattern Homebuilders Corp.; and Gilles Hage, head of Lamudi’s corporate partnerships.

Property

CHRISTMAS TURNOVER. Amaia Land recently announced that it will deliver units in seven more of its developments before the year ends. This will bring the number of its operational projects to 22 by end-2016. The developer said it delivered almost 3,000 homes in 16 projects this year. Before 2016 ends, it will turn over another 1,000 units to homeowners in Bicutan, Amaia Steps NUVALI, Mandaue, Bauan, Capas, Trece Martires, and Novaliches.

Amaia vowed to deliver another 1,000 units to their owners in early 2017 in Sta. Mesa, San Pablo, Bulacan, General Trias and Altaraza. Shown in photo are the various home options (Bungalow pod, twin pod, multi pod, single home and twin home) at Amaia Scapes Capas.

PUBLISHING COMPANY GOES GREEN. Rex Group of Companies, led by its flagship company, Rex Book Store Inc., recently green-lighted the use of its first ever solar power plant for its operations. The Rex Group is an educational publishing outfit with more than 60 years of experience producing books and educational materials. Present during the switch-on of the 178.5-kilowatt (kWp) solar rooftop project were Rex executives (L-R) Roger John Y. Fontelera, director for finance and administration; Jeanne Marie Fontelera Tordesillas, director for marketing; Danda Buhain Garcia, director for publishing; Don Timothy I. Buhain, COO; Atty. Dominador D. Buhain, chairman and president of the Rex Group; Teresita Fontelera Carpio, director; Rose Ann Y. Fontelera, head, legal materials division for Rex Book Store. Greenheat Corporation installed the power plant, which is expected to provide a maximum of 20% of Rex’s energy needs, thus reducing the company’s carbon footprint to 108 metric tons.

SETTING UP FOR A FRESH START. Rockwell Primaries’ latest venture

BY THE LAKE. Megaworld’s Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI) recently unveiled the Manor, its latest residential development at Twin Lakes, Tagaytay’s rapidly growing residential and tourism estate. The 12-storey three-clustered residential development will have 129 units, and each floor will have 14 units per floor that range from 27 sqm to 55 sqm., as well as nature spaces linked by commercial and retail hubs and leisure facilities. Located within Twin Lakes “Vineyard”, the 1.3-hectare Manor will be located beside a 10-hectare vineyard. Aside from Twin Lakes, GERI has four other townships across the country: Boracay Newcoast in Boracay Island, Aklan (150 hectares); Southwoods City on the boundaries of Carmona, Cavite, and Biñan, Laguna (561 hectares); Sta. Barbara Heights in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo (173 hectares); and Alabang West (62 hectares).

south of Metro Manila, East Bay Residences, is a 6.5-hectare community teeming with everything one would wish for living in the south. Located along the bustling district in Sucat, Muntinlupa, East Bay will soon break ground for the Fordham Tower, its first to rise in the site on the second quarter of 2020. Fordham will be 15 storeys high and will comprise 22 units per floor. Units range from 44-98 square meters (1 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom, and 3 bedroom), and can be translated to adapt to the individual’s or family’s evolving needs. “East Bay is a perfect first home that captures the essence of the south. More than just a home, we hope to build a tight-knit community with shared values that is ideal for kids and families to grow. ,” said Malou Pineda, senior vice president, Rockwell Primaries.

SANTA ROSA PRIMED AS NEXT BPO HUB IN SOUTH. SM Prime is betting on the booming BPO sector as it sets to open another office tower in Santa Rosa, Laguna in the first quarter of 2017. Built right next to SM Santa Rosa

(SMSR), the new BPO tower will have a leasable area of approximately 30,000 square meters, a majority of which will be allotted solely for BPO companies. But the company is providing flexibility for smaller cuts that cater to SME (small to medium-sized enterprises) operations. Dubbed the “investment capital of South Luzon,” Santa Rosa is being eyed as a hub for BPOs and other businesses given its proximity to Metro Manila, but minus the congestion. Aside from SM Santa Rosa, SM Prime is also set to open BPO office towers in SM Clark, SM Cagayan De Oro, and SM Southmall.

More QC detention facilities planned QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista is considering several unused city government properties as temporary detention facilities for persons facing drug-related cases.

At a meeting with members of the city peace and order council, Bautista directed the city engineering department, headed by Joselito Cabungcal, to study the proposal.

Quezon City Police District chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar sought the mayor’s help to relocate the detainees who are temporarily housed at the QCPD covered court in Camp Karingal.

“We actually do not need good buildings. What is important is there is a toilet facility, which the detainees can use,” Eleazar said.

Bautista also bared plans to expand the Quezon City Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (Tahanan) in Barangay Payatas to accommodate more drug dependents who have surrendered.

The city government’s public safety modernization program includes the construction of the new rehab facility and is one of the highlights of the city’s three-year peace and order public safety plan.

Eleazar complained police has not used Camp Karingal’s covered court for several months now since it has become the processing center for drug surrenderees of the Oplan Tokhang launched by the Philippine National Police under the Duterte administration. Rio N. Araja

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

C1

‘Water utilities must stay free’

By Romeo Dizon

S

AN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Local Government Secretary Ismael D. Sueno warned anew all local government officials not to interfere with the operation of local water utilities in their respective areas or face “final sanction” from the government.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL TREE. Mall goers pass a mannequin dressed as a Christmas tree in a shopping mall in Digos City, Davao Del Sur. The unusual display had to be cordoned off from eager visitors. Alloha U. Solmerano

Sueno issued the warning after receiving reports that LGU officials continued to put their relatives, friends and associates on the local water utility boards.

In Memorandum Circular No. 2016-146, Sueno ordered all governors, city and municipal mayors, regional directors of the DILG and other concerned offices to stop interfering with the local water utilities.

“It has been brought to our attention that some local government officials continue to exercise control and supervision over local water districts, despite a series of department issuances reminding local authorities of the operational autonomy of the local water districts,” Sueno said.

The secretary reminded the local authorities that the water districts formed under Presidential Decree No. 198 as amended and other department circulars are not under the jurisdiction of any political subdivisions. He stressed that water districts are autonomous agencies independent of the local government.

They should be at their best when they are allowed to op-

erate “without the least hindrance and interference from the local officials, but with maximum support and assistance,” he added.

“While the Local Government Code provides for the legal basis relative to the devolution of power, functions and attributes granted to the local water utilities administration, there is nothing in the code that indicates that it has repealed the pertinent provisions of PD No. 198,” Sueno added.

Meanwhile, one of two pumping stations of the City of San Fernando Water District was opened Thursday in Barangay Sta. Lucia here.

The pumping station, worth P22 million, has a 300-cubicmeter capacity and will serve the surrounding villages of San Nicolas and Del Pilar.

Ferdinand Caylao, vice chairman of the San Fernando water district, said another pumping station will be opened soon in Barangay Telebastagan with a capacity of 500 cubic meters.

These pumping stations aim to meet the growing demands of the city, which is one of the fast developing areas in Central Luzon, Caylao added.

C2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

LGUs

Davao takes Xmas party to lumads

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

D

AVAO CITY—Instead of the lumads coming down from the hinterlands around this city to make a living amid this Christmas season, the city government on Thursday said it will bring the party to them.

That would be an “added extravaganza” in this year’s Pasko Fiesta celebration, said Maria Luisa Bermudo, head of the City Social Services and

Development Office.

Every December, thousands of lumads would descend from their communities to roam the city, performing

dances and songs in exchange for some cash, used clothing, and other gifts.

The city government provides them shelter, food, and social and medical services each time they visit.

But this year, Bermudo said the services will be brought to their communities in Marilog, Paquibato, and Baguio Districts from December 7 to December 21.

Lumads are still free to come down and join the festivities in

Davao, and the city government will continue to provide them food and other services for 10 days starting December 1 in six different shelters.

“They will be gently herded back to their respective barangays where various activities are prepared entirely for them,” the CSSDO chief said.

Mayor Inday Sara Duterte touted this special Pasko Fiesta program as an innovation aimed at making the celebration of Christmas more meaningful for

the lumads.

“This is also to ensure their safety while we are celebrating Christmas,” said Bermudo.

The highlights of the Pasko Fiesta for the lumads include a trade fair featuring their indigenous products, health day, birth registrations, mass wedding, children’s day, tribal games, and cultural shows.

A program called Balihudnoy or “makeover” will also be conducted for lumad women.

“We will pamper lumad wom-

en through the different services we will give them for free,” Bermudo said.

City Administrator Zuleika Lopez said this year’s Pasko Fiesta celebration aims to “make everybody happy.”

Several activities for different sectors—children, persons with disabilities, children living with HIV-Aids, LGBT, children in conf lict with the law, prostituted women, and senior citizens—have also been slated.

QC lets hawkers sell on streets

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has approved a hawkers’ holiday or moratorium on street vending in 22 recommended sites to enable small vendors to legitimately pursue their livelihood during the Christmas season.

During the moratorium, the city government will only allow vending activities on approved and regulated vending sites so as not to cause obstructions to both pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

Pedestrian footbridges are not included in the moratorium, Bautista stressed.

The moratorium requires the use of uniform temporary stalls or tents not exceeding an area of two square meters, payment of required taxes and fees, endorsement from concerned barangays, maintenance of cleanliness and voluntary dismantling of vending stalls at the end of the moratorium period.

Marilou Arrieta, Market Development and Administration Department officer in charge, said 22 vending sites for 802 vendors will be covered by the moratorium effective last Thursday until Jan. 8, 2017.

Monitoring and implementation of the moratorium will be coordinated by Arrieta’s office, the Quezon City Police District, Metro Manila Development Authority, the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety, and the barangays involved. Rio N. Araja

BORONGAN PARTNERSHIP. Army Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario of the AFP Central Command signs the pledge for peace and development in Eastern Samar as the military held a stakeholders fellowship with local government executives in the province on Tuesday. Mel Caspe

NCIP chides MGB for Loakan exploration permit LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—The Cordillera office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples has questioned the Mines and Geosciences Bureau office here for allowing a mining company to explore portions of the Baguiobased Philippine Economic Zone Authority compound, the Loakan airport, and parts of Itogon town.

Atty. Roland Calde, NCIPCAR regional director, said issuing an exploration permit to the

Golden Era mining firm is considered illegal because it failed to pass through the free and prior informed consent process of the affected indigenous peoples.

Calde said the company must have first secured the consent of the affected IPs and ICCs before it was issued the permit, and his agency was obviously bypassed when it the MGB permit was issued.

“We were not aware of the conduct of the FPIC process, that is

why we were surprised to know that it was issued a permit by the MGB-CAR,” Calde stressed.

NCIP-CAR, in coordination with the city government, will proceed to nullify the issued permit because it was invalid from the start, he added.

Golden Era applied for an exploration permit over a 444-hectare area covering several barangays in Baguio City, particularly some parts of PEZA, the whole Loakan

airport, and Itogon in Benguet.

Under Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act, companies intending to explore, utilize and develop the resources of the State that falls within the ancestral domain of indigenous peoples must first secure an FPIC from the affected indigenous peoples.

Calde said his office was preparing for a field-based investigation on Golden Era’s application for an exploration permit

IN BRIEF

NEW PIZZA PLACE.

Families in the south of Manila have another place to patronize as Parmigiano Ristorante Pizzeria opened its new branch at Unit 10 of the Lifestyle Exit at the Molito Commercial Complex in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Cutting the ribbon to open the store are (from left) Doris Samson, Regatoni Corp. managing partner, Bea Madrigal Vasquez, Regatoni president Giulius lapino, Seritio lapino and Toni lapino.

Manny Palmero

New engineering district in Mt. Province NATONIN, Mountain Province—The Mountain Province Second District Engineering Office formally opened here on Monday in ceremonies led by Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera Autonomous Region director Danilo Dequito.

The office was the brainchild of local officials, said District Engineer Wilbur Likigan of the province’s First District Engineering Office based in Bontoc.

The new office would overseea total of 151 kilometers of the Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis national road, in addition to school buildings and other infrastructure projects in the area, Likigan said.

House Bill 1869 was filed on August 10, 2011, in the 15th Congress and became Republic Act 10379, which was approved on March 8, 2013, paving the way for the establishment of the office. Public Works Secretary Mark VIllar then issued Department Order 190 in September to operationalize the office.

Dexter A. See

25 fall in Biñan shabu lair raid BIÑAN, Laguna—Intelligence operatives of the Binan City Police swooped down on a suspected shabu den on Wednesday, arresting 25 persons caught in the act of using the illegal drug inside an abandoned house here.

Binan Police chief Supt. Serafin Petalio said the operatives verified the drug activity at Tramo Lawa, Barangay Canlalay before arresting the suspects, who were caught with four sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Petalio identified the suspects as Ariel Laurente, Erlon Danao, Jason Trinidad, Jason Trinidad, Ruben Galora, Enrico Nazareno, Erwin Cabatingan, Jose Jay Rimas, Alvin Alfonso, Wilmark Hebron, Jobert Silva, Harley Quion, Jose Erwin Martinez, Jerry Kunanan, Jennefer Suzara, Roan Doria, Ralf Abad, Peter Lopez, Lorenz Verano, Jeffrey Ejada, Jayson Olarino, Ariel Tanedo, Jan Francis Militar and Froilan Ponayo. Roy Tomandao

2 die in Rosario buy-bust operation ROSARIO, Cavite—Two men died after resisting arrest following a buy-bust operation for shabu at C. Abueg Street, Barangay Wawa 2 here.

Tricycle driver Ronelio Valera, 49, and Ryan Sunga, 28, used two improvised 12-gauge shotguns or “sumpak” to fight off the arrest and died on the spot, officer on case PO2 Rogelio Pico Raquin said.

Aside from the weapons, police recovered five sachets of shabu from the suspects along with the marked money used in the operation. Benjamin Chavez

when they were informed the company was already issued the permit, which caught NCIPCAR by surprise.

Engr. Fay W. Apil, MGB-CAR regional director, said it was clearly stipulated in their permit that Golden Era was required to secure the consent of the affected communities within six months from its issuance, and present the matter to the local government units concerned. Dexter A. See

CAR eyes halt to dumping of road debris LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—The Regional Development Council in the Cordillera Autonomous Region has ordered its infrastructure committee to investigate the complaint of Gov. Crecencio Pacalso regarding the rampant illegal dumping of construction debris along various roads here that impede the smooth flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

During the RDC-CAR fourth quarter meeting, Pacalso told

the body that motorists and the commuting public provincewide were pointing out unscrupulous contractors implementing government projects who willfully dump their debris on the roads.

This malpractice results in muddy and slippery sections on the roads when it rains, creating a dangerous situation, the governor added.

Milagros A. Rimando, Cordillera regional director of the National

Economic Development Authority and RDC-CAR vice chairperson, said the infrastructure committee must probe projects being implemented by the Public Works and Agriculture departments and local governments as well.

The committee must check if contractors are strictly observing the proper construction techniques on their road projects to lessen the inconvenience and threat to the public’s safety, she added.

The rampant use of job mix, or the mixing of construction aggregates at a road-building site, is another issue the regional council must address, Pacalso said.

The RDC-CAR infrastructure committee was directed to meet with representatives of the concerned government agencies in an effort to discipline erring contractors who continue to defy lawful orders over their projects.

Dexter A. See

World

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

Otto becomes tropical storm M

ANAGUA―Otto was downgraded to a tropical storm late Thursday but not before striking Central America at hurricane force, as an offshore earthquake also shook the region.

The storm, packing sustained winds of up to 170 kilometers (110 miles) per hour at the time, triggered alarm in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

Nicaragua was caught in the middle of both events, as the hurricane plowed into its Caribbean coast while the 7.0 quake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, off its other coast.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega declared a national emergency to handle both potential disasters.

But hours later, there were no reports of any widespread destruction, only of fallen trees and electrical cables, and a few collapsed roofs from the storm.

El Salvador ordered residents along its Pacific shore to move inland. But it and Nicaragua soon lifted tsunami alerts they had issued as a precaution.

By nightfall, Otto had weakened to a tropical storm over northwest Costa Rica, and the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update that “the center should emerge into the eastern Pacific in the next few hours.”

The Miami-based NHC said Otto’s maximum sustained winds had slowed to 110 kilometers per hour.

In Panama, eight people lost their lives during the storm in recent days, three of them directly linked, Jose Donderis, director of the national civil protection service, said Thursday at a news conference.

Designer wants to fix the world for his mom

C3

ROME―Canadian-American industrial designer Karim Rashid is on a mission to change the world and it is not for money or even greater fame, it’s for his mother.

“The world is a mess, it doesn’t work,” the 56-year-old groans as he reflects on his path to global fame and how he can give something back to the woman who raised him.

“We throw function out of the door. I don’t know why. Every hotel I go to, it’s a disaster: the location of the bathroom, the lights,” he tells AFP at Rome’s University of Fine Arts (RUFA) The man dubbed by Time magazine in 2001 as the “the most famous industrial designer in all the Americas” has designed everything from manhole covers to buildings, and prides himself among other things on having reclaimed the color pink for men.

But for all his prolificness, he is still frustrated by the poor design of ordinary objects which have a real impact on daily lives―like the family car.

“It is such a simple, simple thing. Like getting out of a car. In 1967 Citroen makes a car

The other five people died ple from its Caribbean coast. through acts of negligence or risky Vigilance remained high in Nibehavior, such as not following au- caragua and Costa Rica, however, thorities’ warnings, he said. given the risk of mudslides in comOtto’s projected path was ing days from the storm’s rains. through sparsely inhabited rural In El Salvador, following the areas in southern Nicaragua and quake, officials scrambled to evalunorthern Costa Rica. ate the possible damage. The task Satellite images showed Blue- was made more difficult because fields, Nicaragua’s main Caribbean some telephone lines in the capital city, bearing the brunt of the hur- San Salvador had been cut. AFP Manila ricane, but there was almost no Standard wind or rain.

TODAY Republic of the Philippines An AFP journalist there said ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION there was even some sunshine.

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City “We haven’t lost any lives.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION Things are going well. We FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SALE OF VARIOUS SUB-TRANSMISSION think that tonight (Thursday), LINES/ASSETS OF THE NATIONAL people should be able to start TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO) TO MANILA ELECTRIC going back to their homes,” COMPANY (MERALCO), AS COVERED said a government representaBY A CONTRACT TO SELL DATED 23 DECEMBER 2015 tive in Bluefields, Lumberto ERC CASE NO. ______RC Campbell.

NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION In San Juan de Nicaragua (TransCo) AND MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO) , further south, the town closest Applicants. to where Otto made landfall, there were reports of strong JOINT APPLICATION wind and rain, with fallen trees Applicants, NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TransCo) and MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO), through their respective counsels, and electrical cables, and roofs and to this Honorable Commission, most respectfully aver that: torn off -- but no deaths or in1.

TransCo is a government-owned-and-controlled corporation created and juries. existing by virtue of R.A No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Neighboring Costa Rica, Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), with principal office address at the TRANSCO Main Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It may be served which had been fearing its with pleadings, notices, orders and other documents through its undersigned counsel. first direct hit from a hurricane 2.

MERALCO is an electric distribution utility (DU), organized and existing since records began in 1851, under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal office address at the also showed little damage.

Lopez Building, Ortigas Avenue, Barangay Ugong, Pasig City. It is duly authorized to construct, operate and maintain an electric power distribution system within its The government had defranchise area as delineated by its legislative franchise (R.A. No. 9209). It may be clared a national emergency, served with pleadings, notices, orders and other documents through its undersigned counsel. closed schools, sent nonessential workers home for 3.

By virtue of Section 8 of the EPIRA, TransCo assumed the electrical transmission functions of the National Power Corporation (NPC) and it was authorized Thursday and Friday, and and made to assume the responsibility of NPC for the planning, construction and evacuated around 4,000 peocentralized operation and maintenance of high voltage transmission facilities,

LEON T. TAPEL, JR. Deputy Legal Counsel Roll of Attorneys No. 34555-30 May 1987 IBP 0995329, 02 February 2015-PPLM MCLE Compliance IV-0012123-30 January 2013

NYERSON DEXTER TITO Q. TUALLA Manager, Legal Counseling Department Roll of Attorneys No. 52294 IBP 07135 (Lifetime), 09 January 2008, Quezon City MCLE Compliance No. V-0017377, 30 March 2016

SOLEDAD T. DE LA VEGA-CABANGIS Corporate Attorney III Roll of Attorneys No. 45797, 05.24.01 IBP No. 825514 (Lifetime), 23 April 2010, Bulacan MCLE Compliance No. V-0004031, effective until 14 April 2019.

MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY (MERALCO) Lopez Building, Ortigas Avenue, Barangay Ugong, Pasig City By:

FRANCIS DINO S. ANTONIO Counsel for Applicant MERALCO Roll of Attorneys No. 48145 PTR No. 1473407; 01/21/16; Pasig City IBP No. 1023724; 01/08/16; RSM MCLE Compliance No. V-0004608; 6 November 2014

including grid interconnections and ancillary services.

4.

Section 8 of the EPIRA and Rule 6, Section 8 (e) of the EPIRA-Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) also mandate the segregation of the transmission and sub-transmission functions and assets for transparency and disposal, and authorize TransCo to negotiate for, and to transfer such sub-transmission assets (STAs) and facilities to qualified distribution utility/ies/Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)authorized entities.

HAZEL ROSE B. SEE Counsel for Applicant MERALCO Roll of Attorneys No. 48265 PTR No. 1473408; 01/21/16; Pasig City IBP LRN No. 06460; 01/16/07; Quezon City MCLE Compliance No. VI-0000253; 11 July 2016

5.

Pursuant thereto, this Honorable Commission promulgated the “Guidelines to the Sale and Transfer of the TransCo’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Franchising of Qualified Consortiums” (ERC Guidelines) dated 17 October 2003.

6.

Consistent with the ERC Guidelines, TransCo has adopted its own Guidelines on the Sale of Sub-transmission Assets (TransCo Guidelines) [Annex “A”], as approved via TransCo Board Resolution No. TC-2003-067 dated 28 November 2003 [Annex “A-1”], as further amended by TransCo Board Resolution No.TC-2004-009 dated 16 March 2004 [Annex “A-2”].

MONICA M. MARTIN Counsel for Applicant MERALCO Roll of Attorneys No. 55693 PTR No. 1473411; 01/21/16; Pasig City IBP No. 1023726; 01/08/16; RSM MCLE Compliance No. VI-0000239; 11 July 2016

7.

On 06 July 2011, this Honorable Commission issued Resolution No. 15, Series of 2011 entitled: “A Resolution Adopting the Amended Rules for the Approval of the Sale and Transfer of TransCo’s Sub-transmission Assets and the Acquisition

by Qualified Consortiums.”

8.

In accordance with the aforesaid ERC Guidelines, and based on its thorough evaluation, TransCo has determined that the following assets are subtransmission assets: (a) (b) (c)

RALLY. Indonesian Muslims hold a rally outside the Myanmar embassy

in Jakarta against “ethnic cleansing” in Myanmar of Rohingya Muslims .

Myanmar is carrying out “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims, a UN official has reportedly said, as stories of gang rape, torture and murder emerge from among the thousands who have fled to Bangladesh. AFP

Supplies running out for Iraqis left in Mosul MOSUL―Rasha rummages through her kitchen cupboard and holds up a nearly empty bag of rice―the last of the stock of supplies for her family of five in Iraq’s battleground city of Mosul.

“I don’t know what will happen when this runs out,” she told AFP, as her five-year-old son Yunus fiddled with a toy bazooka his father made him.

“We are relying on God.” A few blocks away from the home in the densely packed Aden neighborhood, Iraqi special forces are battling Islamic State jihadists in grinding house-to-house fighting to oust the group from Mosul, the last major population center it controlled in the country.

But the family are among the thousands of residents of Mosul sitting tight in areas retaken by government troops and praying that the hurricane of violence will soon pass them by.

While aid agencies estimated that some 200,000 residents could flee the city in the first weeks of the fighting, five weeks into the operation only around 70,000 civilians have fled their homes.

Those who stay behind in the city―often too scared or unable to quit―are facing both danger and deprivation.

“We’ve already had three mortars hit our roof,” said the

mother-of-three.

“I am so afraid for my children.”

Power lines are cut, gas for heating is running low, and drinking water is nearly gone.

The only supplies the family receives are the occasional bags of bread and packs of bottled water the troops from Iraq’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service can bring them.

But―with temperatures at night dropping below zero Celsius―the thought of making the perilous journey out of Mosul with three young children to one of the sprawling camps for displaced people seems daunting.

“At least here we have a roof over our head,” Rasha said.

For humanitarian agencies, trying to reach the people inside the recaptured areas of Mosul is becoming increasingly urgent.

The fighting and high risks mean that aid deliveries have been severely restricted.

The United Nations says it has been able to deliver food to some 37,000 people, but they are on the very eastern fringe of the city.

“Security and access is the big challenge,” Inger Marie Vennize, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program in Iraq, told AFP. “It is a huge concern for us because we know that people need food assistance.” AFP

where the seat rotated: you get in, you rotate, right? It’s so comfortable.”

But not so today. “I mean my mother, who is 85, she can’t get in or out of a car.”

Rashid, sporting pink jeans, a pink jumper and florescent pink nails for his appearance as guest speaker at the university, says he was inspired to become a designer by his father.

He was born in Cairo to an Egyptian artist and a British mother and lived in several countries during his youth.

“When I was two years old, we lived in Rome. My father was a set designer for Cinecitta,” the historic film studio in the Italian capital.

“I had a father who was an artist, a painter, but he didn’t stop there. He would every night make furniture for the home because he had very little money, so he would make his own furniture,” says the heavily-tattooed designer.

“Some days he would wake up and make sketches of my mother, design a dress, take the fabric, cut it, sew it and that night go to a party, and my mother’s wearing the dress. AFP

7th Floor, Lopez Building Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City Telephone Number 1622-2260; Fax No. 1622-3550 Email: regulatory.legal.staff@meralco.com.ph

Bolbok-Mahabang Parang-Concepcion 13.8 kV Line; Dasmariñas S/S Equipment; and, Biñan 115kV Switchyard.

Copies of the Report on the nature of the assets, List of sub-transmission assets for sale and the Electrical Diagram are attached as Annexes “B”, “C” and “D,” respectively.

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION ON NON-FORUM SHOPPING

9.

MERALCO, as the buyer of the subject sub-transmission assets possesses the technical and financial qualifications to acquire, operate, maintain, expand and upgrade the said STAs within its franchise area.

I, GENEROSO M. SENAL, of legal age, Filipino, and with office address at the National Transmission Corporation, TRANSCO Main Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City, after having been duly sworn in accordance with law, do hereby depose and state, that:

Copies of the Audited Income Statements and Balance Sheet of MERALCO as of 31 December 2014 are attached as Annexes “E” and “F”, respectively.

Also, copies of the Technical and Financial Qualification Evaluations conducted

by TransCo as well as the Description of the Franchise Area being served by the subject assets are attached as Annexes “G”, “H” and “I,” respectively.

10. TransCo has negotiated and concluded a Contract to Sell with MERALCO dated 23 December 2015 [Annex “J”] covering the said sub-transmission assets.

11. Under the terms of the said Contract, the total purchase price of TWO HUNDRED FOUR MILLION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN AND 75/100, Philippine Currency (Php204, 162, 119.75) shall be paid by MERALCO in cash or in the form of manager’s or cashier’s check within sixty (60) calendar days from its receipt of the Notice of the ERC’s final approval of the contract, plus value-added tax (VAT), documentary stamp tax and other transaction taxes, fees or duties incurred in connection with the execution, delivery and annotation of the said contract.

12. The subject sub-transmission assets are valued in reference to the Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) valuation [Annex “K”] pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 01, Series of 2009, as amended.

13. MERALCO is the only DU utilizing the subject assets and there are existing directly connected customers thereto [Annex “L”).

14. Furthermore, TransCo and MERALCO respectfully submit the Draft Deed of Absolute Sale (Annex “M”) as part of the requirements provided in the ERC Guidelines.

15. The proposed sale has satisfied all of the requirements and criteria set by the EPIRA and its IRR, as well as the ERC and TransCo Guidelines on the Sale of Sub-transmission Assets.

16. The approval by this Honorable Commission of the instant Joint Application shall pave the way for the attainment of a reformed electricity industry under the EPIRA, which would ultimately best serve the interest of the consuming public.

17. Finally, in support of the prayer for the approval of this Joint Application, attached as Annex “N” is the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. ROBERTO D. ISIP, JR. (Manager, Network Asset Planning Office of MERALCO), to emphasize the benefits that the public would enjoy as a result of the approval of the instant Joint Application.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed to this Honorable Commission that the instant Joint Application for the approval of the sale of TransCo’s subtransmission assets in favor of the Manila Electric Company, under the terms provided in the Contract to Sell dated 23 December 2015, be APPROVED.

1.

I am the Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Office of the President (OP) of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO), who is authorized to represent it in this Joint Application as per the attached document [Annex “O”];

2.

I have caused the preparation of the instant Joint Application and read the contents thereof, and I attest that the allegations herein contained are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and on authentic records;

3.

I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial agency and, to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein; and,

4.

Should I hereinafter learn that the same or a similar action or claim has been filed or is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial agency, I shall report the said fact within five (5) days from discovery thereof to this Honorable Commission.

GENEROSO M. SENAL Affiant

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this 11th day of November 2016; affiant exhibited to me his ID# 00044-1 issued in the Philippines.

Doc. No. 462; Page No. 94 ; Book No. II ; Series of 2016.

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION ON NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, JOSE RONALD V. VALLES, Filipino, of legal age, married , with office address at 7th Floor, Lopez Building, MERALCO Compound, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, hereby state under oath that: 1.

I am the Vice President and Head, Regulatory Affairs Office, of Manila Electric Company, who is authorized to represent it in this Joint Application as per the attached Secretary’s Certificate (Annex “P”);

2.

I have caused the preparation of the instant Joint Application and read the contents thereof, and I attest that the allegations herein contained are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and on authentic records;

3.

I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial agency and, to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein; and,

4.

Should I hereinafter learn that the same or a similar action or claim has been filed or is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial agency, I shall report the said fact within five (5) days from discovery thereof to this Honorable Commission.

Applicants also pray for other just and equitable reliefs.

Quezon City and Pasig City, for Pasig City, 04 October 2016.

NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION TransCo Main Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City

JOSE RONALD V. VALLES Affiant

By:

SUBSCRIBED and SWORN to before me this 4th day of October 2016, affiant exhibited to me his SSS ID No. 33-10900088 issued in the Philippines.

NOEL Z. DE LEON General Counsel Roll of Attorneys No. 36660-April, 1990 IBP No. 1020905, 05 January 2016, Quezon City MCLE Compliance V- 0012407-10 December 2015

Doc. No. 41; Page No. 10; Book No. II ; Series of 2016.

(MS-NOV. 26, 2016)

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

REVENGE. Fires burn at the Moria migrant camp on the island of Lesbos early on November 25, 2016. Angry migrants set fire to a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos after a woman and a six-year-old child died following a gas cylinder explosion, local police said. AFP

India’s Modi defends cash ban NEW DELHI―Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit back Friday at the mounting criticism of his decision to withdraw all highdenomination bank notes from circulation, describing the move as “for the larger social good”.

The November 8 move to ban the 500 and 1,000 rupees ($7.30, $14.60) notes―some 85 percent of all bills in circulation―as legal tender has sparked turmoil in the vast cash-reliant nation.

Long queues have formed outside banks across the country as people try to get rid of their old notes, and the government has repeatedly changed rules surrounding the exchange process in response to pressure from various groups and mounting chaos.

“The decision isn’t being criticized much [by the common man],” Modi said in a speech Friday, in which he praised citizens as “soldiers in this fight against corruption and black [unaccounted] money”.

“Some things have to be done above politics for the larger social good,” he added.

Critics of the move have included former prime minister Manmohan Singh―whose economic reforms are credited with rescuing India from the brink of bankruptcy in the early 1990s― who said that the decision could shave two percentage points from the country’s GDP. AFP

IS bomber kills 70 Shiite pilgrims H ILLA, Iraq―A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 70 people, mainly Shiite pilgrims, south of Baghdad on Thursday, as Iraqi forces battle to retake Mosul from the jihadists.

The huge truck bomb blast ripped through a petrol station where packed buses returning from the Arbaeen commemoration in Karbala were parked, officials said.

Most of the dead were Iranians, the largest contingent of foreigners in the pilgrimage,

which is one of the world’s largest religious events and culminated on Monday.

The attack took place near a village called Shomali, about 120 kilometers southeast of Baghdad.

IS, which is fighting to defend its Mosul stronghold in northern

Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Falah al-Radhi, head of the provincial security committee for Babylon, the province where the bombing happened, said several buses were targeted.

“A large truck exploded among them. It was a suicide attack,” he told AFP. “There are at least 70 dead, fewer than 10 are Iraqis, the rest are Iranians.”

Videos circulating on social media showed debris scattered over a large area along the main highway linking Baghdad to the main southern port city of Basra.

“There are completely charred

corpses at the scene,” said Radhi, who added that at least 20 wounded were transferred to nearby hospitals.

The Joint Operations Command in Baghdad issued a statement saying the truck was packed with ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound used in many explosive devices.

Up to 20 million people visited Karbala, home to the mausoleum of Imam Hussein, for Arbaeen this year. According to the Iraqi authorities, around three million of them were Iranians.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi condemned the “brutal and inhu-

mane” attack, the IRNA news agency said.

US National Security Council spokesman Ned Price also strongly condemned the attack, saying it was “clearly intended to stoke sectarian tensions”.

“The United States remains steadfast in its partnership with the Iraqi people and government, and this attack only serves to strengthen our resolve in defeating ISIL,” he said, using another name for IS. Iraq had deployed around 25,000 members of the security forces in and around the shrine city to protect the pilgrims from a feared IS attack.

Power station death toll rises to 74

Trump invites Orban of Hungary BUDAPEST―Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Europe’s biggest supporters of Donald Trump, says the US president-elect has told him of his “high regard” for Hungary and invited him to Washington.

“I spoke with the new US president by telephone, and can say that our position has improved a lot. Donald Trump made clear that he holds Hungary in high regard,” Orban told Vilaggazdasag news site in an interview published late Thursday.

“He invited me to Washington, I told him that I hadn’t been there for a long time as I had been treated as a ‘black sheep’, to which he replied, laughing: ‘Me too’.”

In July, Orban, 53, was the first EU leader to come out in favor of the US billionaire, praising his policy proposals on immigration and security.

Orban was also one of the first world leaders to congratulate him after his shock victory.

The tone signals a marked shift in relations between the US and EU and NATO member Hungary.

After coming to power in 2010 the maverick Hungarian was often accused by Washington of steering Hungary away from democratic norms.

Outgoing President Barack Obama and Trump’s defeated election rival Hillary Clinton both warned Hungary against clamping down on the judiciary, press and civil society organizations. AFP

The jihadist group, which is losing ground in Mosul, has carried out a series of high-profile diversionary attacks since Iraqi forces launched a huge offensive against their northern stronghold last month.

Elite forces battled IS jihadists in eastern Mosul Thursday, looking for fresh momentum in their five-week-old offensive to retake Iraq’s second city.

Maan al-Saadi, a commander with the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), told AFP on the front line in Mosul that his forces were fighting IS in the neighbourhood of Al-Khadraa. AFP

PERFORMANCE. Karen

Chen performs during the women’s singles short program at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2016/2017 NHK Trophy in Sapporo. AFP

32 bodies found in mass graves in Mexico MEXICO CITY―Authorities have exhumed 32 bodies and nine heads from several clandestine graves in a southern Mexican state plagued by kidnappings, murders and drug cartel turf wars, officials said Thursday.

The remains were unearthed between Tuesday and Thursday in 17 pits on a hill in the village of Pochahuixco, part of the municipality of Zitlala.

“The discoveries are terrible,” Guerrero state security spokesman Roberto Alvarez said, adding that the victims include 31 men and one woman.

The remains were taken to the state capital, Chilpancingo, to be identified, Alvarez said in a state-

ment. No arrests have been made in the case.

The bodies were found in 17 of 20 pits that were dug up by investigators. Seven were found on Tuesday, five on Wednesday and the rest on Thursday in various states of decomposition.

No other remains were found but soldiers are scouring the region for any other hidden graves. No arrests were made.

Drug cartels have been burying their victims in hidden graves across the country for years, and authorities regularly find human remains.

At the border between the western states of Jalisco and Michoacan, for instance, 75 bodies were unearthed from 37

clandestine graves between late 2013 and early 2014.

Guerrero has been plagued by a series of mass kidnappings, including 12 people abducted in the municipality of Ajuchitlan del Progreso last week.

The clandestine graves were found after authorities received an anonymous tip about a camp where people were being held, Alvarez told AFP. When they arrived at the site on a hill, they found a kidnap victim as well as two cars, a motorcycle and bulletproof vests.

Soldiers and police also found four heads inside a cooler that could be linked to nine bodies that were found on a roadside

in the town of Tixtla a few days ago, he said.

The Ardillos and Los Rojos drug gangs are fighting over territory in the Zitlala region, the security spokesman said.

“There are a lot of murders, a lot of abductions,” he said.

Guerrero is one of the country’s most violent states and a major opium poppy grower. Last weekend at least 24 people were killed in the state.

“There are poppy fields in a large part of Guerrero and the price of poppies has increased at the international level” while feeding heroin addicts in the United States, he said, adding that cartels are fighting “without mercy.” AFP

SHANGHAI―The death toll from a collapse at a power station under construction in China has risen to 74, state media said Friday, as web users expressed outrage over the country’s latest industrial accident.

A platform more than 230 feet high in a cooling tower at the Ganneng Fengcheng power station in the eastern province of Jiangxi crashed to the ground early Thursday.

The official Xinhua news agency said 74 people had been confirmed dead, the youngest of the identified aged 23, and two injured.

The vice governor of Jiangxi, Li Yihuang, and two other officials bowed to pay their respects to the victims at a press conference, offering their condolences to the families and saying they felt “very sad” about the accident, footage showed.

Pictures of the scene in Fengcheng showed a gray mass of concrete slabs, steel girders and twisted metal splayed in a heap on the ground inside a large round structure.

Hard-hatted rescue workers in neon jumpsuits carried bodies out from the site on stretchers wrapped in orange sheeting.

Commentators on Chinese social media condemned the latest accident in a country with a dire industrial safety record, demanding that the cause be identified and those responsible punished.

“This is too cruel, devastating 74 families completely with a man-made disaster,” said one poster on China’s Twitter-like Weibo.

“90 percent of them are the pillars of their family.” AFP

Life

MERRY MAKATI CHRISTMAS. Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue sparkle with festive lights and stained glass decor featuring popular Yuletide themes

WEEKEND LIVING

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

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MAKATI lights up for the HOLIDAYS

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EREMONIAL street lighting ceremony ushered in Christmas along the streets of Makati City welcoming the season with a traditional street lighting ceremony—a highly anticipated affair that transforms the premiere business district into a Christmas wonderland.

As the enchanting lights were turned on, the whole stretch of Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue sparkled with colorful lights that evoke the splendor of Christmas. Stained glass wrapped around palm trees and kinetic windmills dotted the street islands, converting them into Christmas landmarks featuring themes closest to people’s hearts—the Holy Family, the Three Kings, angels, Christmas parols and gifts.

These beautiful installations showcased Ayala Land’s commitment to bring the magic of Christmas to its community.

Makati aims to give a distinct, exceptional look for its much-anticipated street lighting every year. This 2016, the city drew inspiration from the iconic stained glass designs of old medieval churches. The busiest streets of the metro are adorned with intricate patterns and designs of old church windows, bursting with vibrant and colorful hues—providing an instant holiday vibe, as well as the perfect backdrop for selfies.

MACEA President David Balangue, Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Ayala Group of Companies founding chairman Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Honorary Consul of the Philippines to Monaco Patricia Zobel de Ayala, Makati Mayor Abigail Binya and Ayala Land President Bobby Dy led the ceremonila lighting of the streets of Makati Central Business District

“Christmas is indeed the most special time for Filipinos who traditionally come to Makati to take part in yuletide festivities. Each year, we aim to bring good cheer among those who work and live in Makati. By lighting up the major streets of the Makati Central Business District and bringing the Festival of Lights to Ayala Triangle Gardens, we hope to create priceless memories that will linger in the minds of people,” said Shiella Aguilar, Project Development manager of Makati.

With the city bathed in the colors of

Christmas, Makati also mounted the much-anticipated Festival of Lights at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, an immersive and magical lights and sounds show. This distinctly Makati tradition, which has been cited as one of Conde Nast Traveller’s Seven Most Spectacular Lights in the World, is sure to delight the whole community with its masterful blend of lights and music.

Ayala Land, together with its co-presenter HSBC partner with MasterCard and Sun Life to present the Festival of Lights every 30 minutes nightly, from

6 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 8, 2017.

Christmas is not just about the food and the gifts as prayer and thanksgiving should be at the forefront of our celebration. Gather your loved ones for the daily thanksgiving masses that will be held from Dec. 15 to 23, 6 p.m. at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.

At Circuit Makati, meanwhile, an amazing 56-feet outdoor Christmas tree offers an amazing, immersive experience.

Witness high school chorale groups showcase the real essence of the holidays through well-loved Christmas

carols at the Makati, Inter-High School Caroling Competition on Dec. 19 at the Globe Circuit Events Grounds.

Indeed, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, especially in Makati, as it brings families, friends and colleagues together in its memorable holiday traditions.

For more information about the city that makes it happen, visit www.makeitmakati. com and follow MakeltMakati on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Photos by Sonny Espiritu

5 reasons Christmas is merry at Century City Mall

By Bernadette Lunas BLAME it on the modern design and hip range of shops, services and restaurants, because despite of its newness, Century City Mall has become the favorite shopping and entertainment center of mall-goers living or working in Makati City.

“Many of our concepts here are the first in the country, and we continue to pursue all of these relevant and unique destinations for the consumers,” enthuses Century Properties Group COO Marco Antonio.

In celebration of its third Christmas, the mall is decked out with cheerful lights and white motif, complete with polar bears—transforming the twoyear-old complex into a Winter Wonderland destination.

But aside from festive decors and Yuletide vibe, here are five more reasons why you should make fun and merry moments with loved ones at Century City Mall.

Express station, the main showcase at the lobby. The station is manned by an adorable polar bear which encourages everyone to post their photos with him and use the hashtags #MerrierMoments at #CenturyCityMall.

Lucky shoppers spending P2,500 on non-food items from today until Nov. 30 have the chance to bring home a limited edition Century City Mall polar bear stuffed toy.

Support a community of creative the time many individuals are buying third Christmas. It’s special for us beappliances, furniture and furnishings for cause it really allows us to put our best and passionate women Looking for unique gifts? Pursuit Manila, a community of Christian female creatives in Manila, will offer its delightful treats at the Christmas Fair happening on Dec. 3 to 4 and Dec. 10 to 11 on the 3rd floor Al Fresco Area.

their home, Century Properties stages Lifestyle and Property Fair 2016 on Dec. 17 on the 5th floor Events Center. Free lifestyle talks on interior styling, real estate investment, as well as health and wellness will be given. Special raffle prizes from Siglo Suites and Centuria Learn how to spruce up your home Medical Makati are up grabs.

Since the month of December is also “We are very happy to celebrate our

foot forward to share what Century DNA is all about. We want to give our consumers a unique experience available only at Century City Mall,” ends Antonio.

Visit www.centurycitymall.com.ph to know more about the mall and its #MerrierMoments promos.

Photos by Lino Santos

Meet Santa Claus

Catch Santa Claus every weekend until Dec. 25 and find out whether you are on his Nice or Naughty list this year.

Shop for gifts and get rewards to shop again

The much-awaited shopping event of Century City Mall returns for the third time on Dec. 17 to 18. The Shopaholic Weekend Promo 3.0 gives customers who spend a minimum of P5,000 to a maximum of P100,000 in single or accumulated receipts from any of the shopping establishments at the mall up Take photos with a giant polar to 20 percent rebate in gift certificates. bear, or bring home a small one These GCs can be used throughout the Century City Mall brings the North mall to shop for gadgets, clothes or Pole to Makati as mall-goers can take food. Visit www.centurycitymall.com. lots of photos at the Christmas Polar ph/deals to know more.

Century City Mall has a lineup of wonderful treats and exciting surprises for mall-goers this Christmas Century Properties Group COO Marco Antonio (right) led the Christmas tree lighting at the mall

Life

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Rebuilding schools for the Filipino youth

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S KRISPY KREME celebrates its 10th year in the Philippines, the well-loved doughnut brand keeps on sharing the joy in a more meaningful way by helping communities together with World Vision Philippines.

Krispy Kreme Philippines and World School’s Science Laboratory, which Vision successfully completed the was turned over to the school at a reimprovement of Imelda Elementary cently held ceremony in Malabon.

Present during the event were the Principal of Imelda Elementary School, Mary Lu Rocela Cabais; Communications Manager of World Vision, Genesis Jeff Lamigo; and Senior Marketing Manager of Krispy Kreme Philippines, Ariane Valinton.

Parents and students of Imelda Elementary School also attended this special occasion. By 2017, Krispy Kreme and World Vision intend to

Present during the turnover ceremony of Imelda Elementary School’s Science laboratory are (from left) a student of the school, Science teacher Jalmelyn Marucot, School Principal Mary Lu Rocela Cabais, World Vision Communications Manager Genesis Jeff Lamigo and Krispy Kreme Senior Marketing Manager Ariane Valinton

Krispy Kreme will donate P20 to World Vision Philippines for every purchase of a half dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts in specially designed tin cans

turn over two additional classrooms to the school.

Krispy Kreme Philippines, a member of Max’s Group, Inc. (MGI), has always been anchored on its mission of spreading the joy of sharing.

“Max’s Group has always placed a premium on reaching out to communities to help uplift their lives, and Krispy Kreme shares the same belief as it supports the youth and public schools,” says MGI Chairperson and Krispy Kreme Philippines CEO Sharon T. Fuentebella. “Even the smallest donations can go a long way, and when we put them all together, there’s definitely a lot that we can do just like improving a Science laboratory and building better classrooms for the benefit of the Filipino youth.”

Doughnut lovers will get the opportunity to share in this mission as each purchase of a half dozen

Brassieres for breast cancer awareness COOBIE Philippines gave away pines for the first time the Pink Bra more than P100,000 worth of giveaway which it has been holdPink Peony Coobie Bras and ing exclusively for US residents for vouchers to lucky participants of several years.

ICanServe Foundation’s Zumba Through ICanServe’s Zumba fitfitness party event to raise awareness party, Coobie hopes to give ness on breast cancer. the message that Filipina breast October is world breast cancancer patients, survivors and their cer awareness month and Coofamilies are well-supported by the bie partnered with ICanServe community as they go through Foundation, the country’s leadtheir journey of battling the disease ing breast cancer support network and ad- all the way towards recovery. vocacy group.

“Coobie Philippines is very glad to be a part of The bra brand is bringing to the Philip- ICanServe’s campaign to spread information on

promoting early breast cancer detection through the annual Zumba fitness party,” said Abbey Hinto,, owner at Dei Fiori Trading, exclusive distributor of Coobie bras in the Philippines.

Coobie bras have long been a favorite of ladies who have undergone either mastectomy, reconstruction or are going through chemotherapy sessions as it provides superior comfort on sensitive areas and has proved to be an inexpensive alternative to pricey post-operative undergarment support. In the US, Coobie is also a long-time partner of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts packaged in specially designed tin cans will allow Krispy Kreme to contribute P20 to World Vision Philippines.

“For Krispy Kreme, it’s not only about enjoying your favorite doughnut, but also sharing the joy that comes with it by helping and reaching out to more people,” said Valinton. “This special promo that we’re having serves as a campaign to help raise funds for the construction and improvement of even more public school classrooms.”

Celebrate 10 years of shar sharing the joy with Krispy Kreme Philippines and help touch the lives of many more people.

Coobie gave away its Pink Peony Scoopneck Bra to lucky participants of ICanServe Foundation’s Zumba fitness party event

Selfie can be your ticket to free Japan trip POTATO snack lovers can level up their #BESTOPOTATO experience as Jack ‘n Jill Calbee partners with Cebu Pacific to fly in two groups of four to an all-expenses-paid trip to Tokyo for its #TakeUsToJapan promo.

To join, take a photo of your #BESTOPOTATO moment with any Jack ‘n Jill Calbee product. Upload the photo to www.jacknjillcalbee.com, share it to your social media and include the hashtags #JackNJillCalbee, #BESTOPOTATO and #TakeUsToJapan. The two most creative and original posts will win four days, three nights trips to Tokyo, with an exciting side trip to the Calbee Plus store in Harajuku.

Thirty raffle winners will also be drawn from the entries to

receive Jack ‘n Jill Calbee gift packs.

Jack ‘n Jill Calbee will announce all the raffle winners in its social media accounts so be sure to follow the brand on Facebook at @ JacknJillCalbee.PH, and Instagram at @jacknjillcalbee;; and check its website for more information about the promo.

Bite into the #BESTOPOTATO goodness of Jack ‘n Jill Calbee and snack your way to Japan. The #TakeUsToJapan promo until Dec. 16.

The Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific Air offers 11 flights weekly to Tokyo and four flights weekly to Osaka, Japan. Book your flights at Cebu Pacific’s website at www. cebupacificair.com.

Taiwan donates P1M to Meranti victims in Batanes

Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco (third from left) receives the P1-million peso and one batch of instant noodles donation from Taiwan

DR. Gary Song-Huann Lin, Representative of Taiwan (ROC), accompanied by a delegation of clean energy technology Assessment Mission, on behalf of the ROC (Taiwan) Government, donated P1 million and one batch of instant noodles to Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco at the Batanes Government Square in Basco on Nov. 23.

About 200 people, including Batanes Representatives, government officials, judges, the media, fishery representatives, and tribe chiefs attended the amicable donation ceremony.

Lin emphasized “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” He pointed out the geographic proximity and close bond between Taiwan and the Philippines by stressing that, Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines, is actually the nearest Philippine province to Taiwan.

Lin said Batanes residents, on a clear day, can even see Kaohsiung, the southernmost city of Taiwan.

In fact, an urban legend states that one can hear a rooster crows from the southernmost tip of Taiwan in the morning in Batanes. In addition, people in Batanes can even listen to the radio programs from Taiwan. For a Taiwanese, it truly feels like being home when staying in Batanes.

Representative Lin further stated that Taiwan fishing vessels often arrive at Batanes for necessary supplies from March to June during the fishing season yearly. They receive warm welcome from the locals. This shows that Taiwanese and Filipinos enjoy longstanding friendship. Therefore, when

Batanes needs assistance due to the wrecking of typhoon, Taiwan of course will extend a helping hand through caring disaster relief efforts without any hesitation.

Taiwan’s immediate relief action toward Batanes is also to reflect the ROC (Taiwan)’s recent launched “New Southbound Policy,” in which Taiwan attaches significant importance to the Philippines, seen as the gateway to ASEAN countries, and endeavors to promote people to people interactions and mutual understandings between the two countries.

Representative Lin went on to point out that Batanes suffered a heavy loss by September typhoon Meranti, which caused severe damage in housing and infrastructure.

However, Batanes is not alone. Taiwan, as a genuine friend and close neighbor of the Philippines, is quick to respond by expressing sympathy to the victims and providing 1 million pesos for the relief work.

Taiwan wishes the best for the victims and hopes that they can return to their normal lives soon, and that the reconstruction may be carried out smoothly to regain its charm in no time.

In return, Batanes Governor Cayco, on behalf of Batanes government and its people, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the generous donation from the ROC (Taiwan) government, as Batanes urgently needs the monetary assistance for the after typhoon reconstruction.

Taiwan’s timely donation is a testimony of solid and robust Taiwan-Philippine relationship that has been growing stronger in the past years.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

Mother Lily on MMFF snub of

‘Mano Po 7’

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Cirque’s cast includes stuntmen, trapeze artists, aerial performers, fire breathers, jugglers as well as strongmen and motorbike acrobats doing death-defying stunts and magical numbers

‘Le Grand Cirque’ at Big Dome on Christmas THE Araneta Center has always brought a lot of firsts to Filipino audiences, and it’s no different this year as it stages the firstever Le Grand Cirque at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in December, a show that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Le Grand Cirque lets audiences feel the thrill of death-defying stunts and unbelievable acts families can enjoy this Yuletide season.

Direct from Las Vegas and touted as the greatest show in town, Le Grand Cirque promises to give a high-octane family entertainment with its mesmerizing display of impossible feats of agility and strength.

It is a big-scale circus production that features a group of world-class performers and artists that come from Europe, Canada, China and the UK.

Combining comedy and high-risk acrobatics, the dynamic and engaging circus show has enamored audiences all over the world. Le Grand Cirque mixes traditional circus acts with modern theatrical techniques to seamlessly convey a narrative or theme.

It is packed with thrilling action and humor leaving its viewers, young or old, watching with bated breath.

The amazing show will feature a series of jaw-dropping routines like a Russian swing, where acrobats do impressive high jumps as they are tossed from one large floor-mounted swing to another. Acrobats and contortionists will gracefully perform high in the air and on-stage, thrilling audiences with various acts involving suspended aerial cubes, high bars, and hanging poles. Trapeze artists will also

showcase their gymnastic skills with beautifully choreographed aerial stunts.

Fire-breathers, hoopers, jugglers, and strongmen will also show off their skills alongside clowns that bounce along the sides of the stage. It is going to be an exciting visual display of talent mixed with an amusing play of lights and music that perfectly set the mood for every act.

It also promises an extravaganza of action and spectacular choreography as well as colorful and elaborate costumes.

Sure to capture the thrill and excitement that Christmas brings, Le Grand Cirque shows will run from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3, 2017 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. For more information, visit Ticketnet website at www.ticketnetonline.ph or call its hotline at 911-5555.

Mariella born to be an artist YOU know an actor is serious with his craft when he describes it as “a genuine way to show an audience a truth in life.”

Those are the exact words of Mariella Munji Laurel, daughter of Franco and Ayen Laurel. In fact, Yela (as she is fondly called by close friends and family) showed inclinations to become a performer when she was only three years old. While most girls played with dolls at that age, she enjoyed watching her mom perform in musicals and then dreaming of doing the same.

“Even the theories of acting always interested me,” she said. Yela studied Theater Arts in high school. “Acting is an experience the artist in me can’t get enough of.”

“I prayed about being a performer every day of my life,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to do this for a living and make a difference somehow. I waited to graduate with a BA degree, which was what my parents wanted, for me to finish school. I wanted to finish as well, and when it was time, I took every opportunity that was given to me for my career.”

Her prayers were answered, though, perhaps, not as glamorously as others who don’t get it would think. To wit, her first acting job as an adult was playing a “baby bear, a Dulocian doll, a villager” and (get this) “a tap rat.”

But, hey, there are no small roles, just small actors, right? And Yela, well, she isn’t one of them at all. “It was in (the local production of) Shrek the Musical in 2014 when I played those roles,” she said. “It was ensemble work and it required me to change roles within the musical.”

Some of Yela’s favorite actors are Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Colin Firth, Jaclyn Jose and Irma Adlawan. She doesn’t hesitate including her mom in the

Showbiz scion Mariella Munji Laurel finds her niche as a stage actress

list as she finds her work “organic.” “Nothing fake, nothing forced,” Yela said. “She is my biggest influence.”

It helps a lot that the budding theater actress was born to parents who are actors themselves. “Not only did they provide the artistic genes, but they understand the process of an actor, the time spent to grow and all that comes with it,” Yela pointed out.

“I am thankful that they are artists as well that can support me in what I do. I can also ask for help with my craft when it’s needed.”

She must be consulting with them more than usual these days. In Artist Playground’s recent production Lagablab, Yela played the lead character named Chayong. The play is set in Bulacan during the Japanese occupation and it chronicles the desolation of a Filipino family forced by the cruel realities of war to either painfully surrender their dignity in exchange for security or bravely fight for

their name till the bitter end. Lagablab was Yela’s first Tagalog straight play. She said, “I was part of the series of workshops and the recital was Lagablab.’

Next in line for Yela is the holiday show, A Christmas Carol, based on the novel

by Charles Dickens with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and music by Alan Menken. She plays the role of the mother of Scrooge.

Yela said it will be exciting to act in these scenes showing Scrooge’s past, as well as to be part of the competent ensemble.

A Christmas Carol will be at the Globe Iconic BHS Amphitheater on 7th Ave. at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Dec. 3-4, 9-11, 16-18, 21-22 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 7 p.m. You can get your tickets at http://bit.ly/2ffTenb. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld outlets and you can email info@9workstheatrical.com “Theater is my first love. I take every opportunity and open door thrown my way.

It’s very exciting to be in this industry.”

Asked what kind of characters she wants to play or projects she wants to take on in the future, Yela she could always sink her teeth into those that are “complex,” “something new” or “a story that sparks change for an audience.”

“I pray everyday that I am where He wants me to be. That He opens doors for me when He knows I am ready for it. I also always pray for strength and make sure that I stay rooted on His word so I don’t stray.

“Success is accomplishing the purpose I have in life. I plan to always keep working hard, staying motivated and positive, professional and remembering to stay humble and kind no matter what the world of entertainment throws at me. I know putting God first will be the key to success as well.”

With such a mindset and her gift in acting, surely Yela won’t be denied.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, November 26, 2016

ACROSS 1 Like it was 5 Cop a — 9 Explorer’s sketches 13 Stadium level 14 — Hashanah 15 Bay 17 Not know from — 18 Smidgen 19 Type of drum 20 K follower 22 Feels at home 24 Good-natured 25 Possibilities 26 Dawn of mammals epoch 29 Stays in line 31 Like a fall morning 32 A question of time 33 Root vegetable 36 Dracula, at times 37 Maroons 40 PFC mail drop 41 Furtive 42 A current flows through it 43 Museum piece 45 Curly-tailed dog 47 Steered 48 Polo stick 51 Table salt

52 Forever young 54 All thumbs 58 Judge’s hammer 59 On a rampage 61 Lamb’s alias 62 Alexander’s tactic 63 Via Appia terminus 64 — Ness monster 65 Must-have 66 Battery fluid 67 Tolstoy et al.

DOWN 1 Betelgeuse or Deneb 2 Non-soap opera 3 Vegan’s no-no 4 Royal furs 5 Frog, post-kiss 6 Rattling around 7 C’— la vie!

8 Melville captain 9 Lose 10 Drives up the wall 11 What to try next (2 wds.)

12 Suit material 16 Hardy’s dairymaid 21 Farm sounds 23 Improve by editing 26 Subsides

27 Vaccine type 28 — slickers 29 Butler in-law 30 Singer — — King 32 Court summons 33 Gridiron gain 34 Cathedral part 35 Kind of ring 38 Fools 39 In traffic, say 44 Drilling result (2 wds.)

45 Claim to be true 46 — over (fainted)

47 Stared openmouthed 48 Flashy wheels 49 “Destry Rides —” 50 Embankment 51 A Judd 53 Name in cheesecake 55 Shampoo additive 56 Puerto — 57 Dit opposites 60 Beaded shoe

E JUST want to give our moviegoers an early Christmas treat,” said Regal Matriach Lily Monteverde on releasing Mano Po 7: Chinoy a week before the MMFF opening.

The Regal movie failed to make the cut as official MMFF entry and though Mother Lily as she is fondly called in showbiz said that “it was a sad reality,” she still wants to be part of the traditional celebration of showcasing movies for the whole family.

“Tradisyon na iyan eh. In my long practice of producing and making films for the filmfest, the very basic formula of presenting the Pinoy folks movie for the entire family is very evident.

That’s why we are releasing Mano Po 7,” explained Mother Lily.

Filipino-Chinese actor Richard Yap tackles a role of a very rich business tycoon who is very protective of his family and a strict a husband to his wife (played by Jean Garcia) and father to children played by Enchong Dee, Janella Salvador and Jana Agoncillo.

The star-studded cast also includes Jessy Mendiola, Jake Cuenca, Marlo Mortel, Kean Cipriano and Eric Quizon, who all praised young director Ian Lorenos for his “brilliant understanding “ of the material.

And yes, as per Mother Lily, she will not just show the movie on Dec. 14 all over the country, but Regal will also mount an event where her big stars will be joined by some friends from showbiz in a Filipino Chinese tradition-like “parade of stars,” on a float or trucks around Metro Manila.

Whether this is an expression of protest or disgust, that we do not know! ***** “That’s very Mother,” quips Congresswoman Vilma SantosRecto when we visited her at the Lower House last Wednesday.

The hardworking Congresswoman known in showbiz as Star For All Seasons doesn’t see anything wrong with Mother Lily’s wish to show Mano Po 7 before the MMFF opens on Christmas Day. “Hindi naman siguro,” said when asked whether the Regal Matriach just wants to despise the MMFF Selection Commmitee after Mano Po 7 landed on the 9th or 10th position in the final choices, or she was simply being a producer who feels the need to join the filmfest.

We caught the Lipa City representative in her office moments after she finished her

meeting in the Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, which she chairs.

“I heard about it (MMFF news). As an artist, I respect the decision (sic) by the Screening Committee that selected the official entries.

Maybe, their goal this time is to bring back the luster of a filmfest where entries really boast their good qualities. On the other hand, and based on my experiences over the years in the filmfest, eh talaga namang pampamilya ang Pasko. People go to cinemas to be entertained. Once a child encourages his parents or elders to watch a film, lahat sila sama-sama na (all of them go together),” shared Ate Vi. She has quite a different workload in Congress compared to her being Batangas Governor.

“Everything we make here is still for our people. It’s just that whatever law or laws we will file or approve will be used as basis for legislation,” she said also adding that she enjoys reading and studying research-based works and consultations for her to know better, how more beneficial to majority each every bill or law she wishes to pass. ***** Speaking of dear friend and fellow Bicolano Enchong Dee, he related that he doesn’t mind being bashed for his opinions on our government and its leaders.

Growing up, he shared, he experienced and saw systems that do not really work or serve for people.

“Wala naman pong problema.

We are in a democracy sabi nga, pero at least po ako, I always check my facts and whenever I share my sentiments on any issue that I feel needs public understanding, wala pong makakapigil sa akin,” Enchong said on his latest take about the Marcos burial.

Enchong is in Mano Po 7 as the eldest son of the roles played by Richard Yap and Jean Garcia.

“Pasaway ang role ko, doing it out of the character’s desperation to find love and happiness for the family. This is the first time that I play a role like this and I so like it,” he added.

His love interest in the film is Jessy Mendiola. When asked about their many steamy and intimate scenes in the movie, he simply answered, “eh di masarap.”

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2016

ISAH V. RED

CELESTIAL MEETING.

T

HE one and only and still the superstar of Philippine entertainment, Nora Aunor, is making a rare appearance in a talk-variety show today.

She is Regine VelasquezAlcasid’s special guest in Sarap Diva on GMA 7 today before Eat Bulaga.

The cast and other guests of the show will surprise Aunor with a game.

Will Ate Guy remember the scenes the cast and guests will perform on the show?

Popular impressionists known only as Ate Velma, Ate Shawie and, who else but Nora Aunor will also join the fun.

Also, a slum book that the superstar has been keeping in secrecy for a long time will reveal something “explosive.”

And Asia’s songbird will whip up a special Bicolano dish, which the superstar will definitely appreciate.

Watch the Superstar and Asia’s songbird in one rare instance in Sarap Diva today after Maynila. *** The comedy queen, Aiai de las Alas, has finished shooting her new TVC (commercial) as endorser of Hobe Bihon.

This is her first TVC after her contract was renewed to be the noodle brand’s endorser a couple of months ago.

Hobe Bihon is now the top selling bihon in the market and this has made the owner Bobby Co super glad he doesn’t regret taking in De las Alas to be the face of his noodle brand.

GB Sampedro directed the commercial. *** It is that time of the year again.

Last Thursday Christmas came early to the audience of GMA News TV as the station and CDO Foodsphere, Inc. premiered Everyday Sarap with CDO Christmas Edition.Actress-turned-chef Donita Rose, host of the show, shares her passion in the kitchen.

The show features celebrity guests, and they join Donita Rose in creating special recipes for the Yuletide season made with CDO products , like Danes Classic Cheese, CDO Nata de Coco, CDO Kaong and CDO Holiday Whole Meat Ham. Rico Gutierrez directs Everyday Sarap with CDO - Christmas Edition.

Feel the Christmas vibe with Everyday Sarap with CDO - Christmas Edition, Monday to Fridays at 8:20-8:30 a.m., 3-3:10 p.m. and 7 -7:10 p.m.; on Saturdays at 8:20-8:30 a.m., 3-3:10 p.m. and 4:505 p.m.; and on Sundays at 12:25-12:55 p.m., 4:50 -5 p.m. and 5:40-5:50 p.m. on

Superstar Nora Aunor with Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez in a rare photo op during “Sarap Diva” shoot

Nora Aunor is Regine’s guest today in

‘SARAP DIVA’

Comedienne Aiai delas Alas with Bobby Co, owner of Hobe Bihon

“Everyday Sarap with CDO” host Donita Rose

GMA News TV. Get the latest updates on Everyday Sarap with CDO on its official Facebook page: facebook.com/everydaysarapwithCDO. *** Ina Raymundo plays a wife who has misgivings about her husband in today’s episode of Karelasyon.

At first glance, the marriage of Margaret (Ina) and Edward (Carlos Morales) is a picture of a happy and content relationship.

But Margaret can’t help herself from doubting Edward after she caught him once of being unfaithful to her.

When Jake (Ken Anderson) comes into the couple’s life, Margaret’s fears return. It seems Edward will be once again tempted to commit infidelity—with another guy. Will this push Margaret and Edward to end their relationship this time around?

Catch this controversial story written and directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr. Karelasyon is hosted by Carla Abellana and airs every Saturday after #LIKE on GMA 7.

Ken Anderson, Carlos Morales and Ina Reymundo caught in a controversial love triangle in today’s episode of ‘Karelasyon”

Meet Manila’s young power couple on ‘Modern Living TV’ THIS week on Modern Living TV, Bianca Gonzalez and Stephanie Zubiri visit the homes of Manila’s young and successful power couple, actress and beauty queen Maggie Wilson and real estate scion Victor Consunji, to talk about prioritizing family life and keeping the romance alive despite their busy schedules as careeroriented personalities. Anla Li Tan, Modern Living TV’s go-to interior designer, will reveal some time tested tips on how to make your living room the favorite hang-out place among friends.

Does spending the holidays out of town appeal to you? Let Modern Living TV help you discover the perfect home away from home

this Christmas for those who are willing to give it a try.

Also in this week’s episode, Steph tours one of Manila’s premium shopping destinations, Shangri-La Mall, to check out the stores of the latest and chicest brands.

Every episode of Modern Living TV features the latest eye candy in the form of breathtaking living spaces and other elements of modern living.

Don’t miss Modern Living TV’s latest episode. Now on its 6th season, Modern Living TV airs every Saturday on ANC at 6 p.m., with replays at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. Modern Living TV is the first lifestyle-TV show by a news ‘Modern Living TV’ hosts Bianca Gonzales and Stephanie Zubiri media organization.

New York Film Academy in a seminar AMONG the many institutions that have made New York a center of world-class education, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) stands out for being a true symbol of quality training and education in the art of film making.

Those whose interest and talent lie in film acting, producing or directing will have the opportunity to jumpstart a career in the film industry through proper education during a guidance and placement seminar on Dec. 1, 1 to 5 p.m., at the AIM Conference Center, Benavidez cor. Trasierra Sts. Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Dubbed “Study in New York, USA”, the educational event will provide participants the chance to discover the New York Film Academy and other schools in New York state and learn important tips on how to enter these institutions.

The seminar will feature presentations from US Embassy representatives who will give information on studying in the New York area and discuss the student visa application process, while an Inter-Ed staff will explain various scholarships and admission guidelines and requirements.

Recognized for its contributions to the development of the film industry, the New York Film Academy has been credited for providing formal education and training to many famous international actors, actresses and directors whose talents and skills have been honed in the school.

The academy offers a wide range of specializations and subjects at the bachelor’s, master’s, professional and short course levels in such fields as film making, acting, producing, screenwriting, 3D animation, broadcast journalism, digital photography and game design.

It has gained renown for the quality and intensity of its program and for its classes that are focused on hands-on instructions that inspire creativity in each student who is given the opportunity to take an active role in class.

Also available are programs in media studies, fine arts and documentary production.

Other participants in the “Study in New York,, USA” seminar are City College of New York, Long Island University-Brooklyn, James Madison University, Roosevelt University, Widener University, Merrimack University, University of Vermont, Texas A&M University (Corpus Christi campus) and Culinary Institute of America.

Although the seminar focuses on New York as an educational destination, Inter-Ed, the leading student placement center in the Philippines, also represents a long list of other prestigious colleges and universities located across the US. During the event, applicants will have the opportunity to interact with representatives from several New York colleges and universities through one-on-one interviews by the admission staff from the New York Film Academy, City College of New York, Long Island UniversityBrooklyn, Culinary Institute of America, and other wellknown American universities.

The seminar is free of charge, but requires applicants to pre-register online through www.inter-ed.com and submit their curriculum vitae. For more information, contact InterEd on 02-8191001or 0917-5351956 .