Manila Standard - 2016 December 05 - Monday

Leni quits Cabinet post Talks of ‘obstacles’; Palace text message was the last straw

By John Paolo Bencito

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ICE President Leni Robredo on Sunday resigned as the chairwoman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, citing the Duterte administration’s efforts to derail her efforts to function as housing czar Malacañang, however, said the country’s two highest elected officials have “irreconcilable differences” that prevent them from working with each other, and urged those not in favor of the President’s policies to resign from Cabinet.

“We had hoped this day would not come... I am tendering my resignation from the Cabinet on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. With this resignation, you can expect that I will continue to support the positive initiatives of this administration and oppose those that are inimical to the people’s interest,” she said in a statement.

Robredo also expressed her dismay

Vice President Leni Robredo

over the “obstacles” being thrown in her way by the Duterte administration, preventing her from functioning as a Cabinet secretary.

“One, the budget for all key shelter agencies in 2017 has been slashed by more than P19 billion. Two, all our key shelter agency appointment recommendations have not been acted on.

Three, the executive order designed to make HUDCC effective was not signed,” Robredo said.

Robredo said she received a text message on Saturday from Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, Jr., relaying the President’s instruction through Christopher Next page

VOL. XXX • NO. 296 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

De Lima defiant, draws 4 more raps

By Christine F. Herrera THE House is filing four complaints against Senator Leila de Lima, who defied its show-cause order that lapsed 72 hour after it was served, said justice committee chairman Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali.

“Senator De Lima showed her continued defiance. The showcause order expired Friday and not a word from her,” Umali said in an interview Sunday over radio

dzBB. “We followed the rule of law and we accorded her due process, which she refused.”

Umali said the four charges include contempt, an ethics complaint to be lodged before the Senate, a disbarment case before the Supreme Court and an obstruction of justice charge before the Justice department or a regional trial court.

All these complaints stem from De Lima’s advice to her former lover and alleged bagman Ron-

nie Dayan to go into hiding to avoid testifying before the House committee on justice, which was investigating the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary when De Lima was still Justice secretary.

“We… observed inter-chamber parliamentary courtesy so we officially coursed the show-cause order through the Senate Secretary, who was in charge of the administrative aspect of transmitting it to the person concerned,” Umali told

dzBB. “She remained defiant up to the very end. In fact even when we served it, that’s what we heard from her pronouncements. In so far as we are concerned, we have done our job and… no one is above the law,” Umali said.

Umali said the ethics complaint will be lodged before the Senate as part of the House’s adherence to inter-chamber parliamentary courtesy and respect to the Senate Next page as an institution.

Kerwin, Ronnie face Senate panel inquiry

By Macon R. Araneta SENATOR Panfilo Lacson said he wants to reconcile the conflicting statements of self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa and the former lover and alleged bagman of Senator Leila de Lima, Ronnie Dayan, when both meet before his Senate panel Monday.

In his testimony before the Senate, Espinosa said he gave money to De Lima through Dayan in 2015, but Dayan, testifying before the House, insisted that the money changed hands in 2014 because he was no longer working for De Lima in 2015.

The separate testimony by the

two established that money had changed hands, and that De Lima was implicated, Lacson said.

Still, Lacson said, he still wanted to tie up loose ends, including details on how and when they met and when money changed hands.

He added that based on his testimony before the House, Dayan was protecting himself by saying he thought Espinosa was an engineer, and not a drug lord.

Lacson said there would be no personal questions posed to Dayan about his affair with De Lima. In the House, this line of questioning drew angry reactions from the public.

Next page

‘Warrantless arrest’ against Lam justified

By Rey E. Requejo

HIGH VALUE CROP. Farmers gather tobacco leaves in La Union, one of the tobacco-producing provinces which account for the lion’s share of annual revenue from excise tax collection. David Chan

BuCor chief Tobacco tax bill sparks cigarette war talks tough By Christine F. Herrera on Bilibid

By Francisco Tuyay NEWLY appointed Bureau of Corrections Director Benjamin delos Santos warned erring inmates, prison guards and officials that he will not hesitate “to destroy in order to rebuild” the New Bilibid Prison, which has been mired in a drug scandal and corruption.

Despite stricter security measures being imposed by the Philippine National Police-Special Next page

A NEW bill has triggered a war among cigarette companies while government tax collection agencies have clashed with Congress after lawmakers pushed for the amendment of the Sin Tax Law

that has yet to mature next year.

In the middle of the clash are the tobacco farmers who complain that they were not consulted on the plan to “prematurely” amend the bill and warned against “railroading” of its passage following a November 28 hearing where farmers were

THE Justice Department on Sunday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to arrest Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam, despite the absence of a warrant from a court.

“Economic sabotage is a continuing offense, thus there could be a warrantless arrest,” said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who said Lam was running an illegal

online casino inside his Fontana Leisure Park and Casino Hotel in Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

The rules of court generally require an arrest warrant be issued by a court before the authorities can apprehend an individual accused of a crime. The same rules, however, provide for warrantless arrest in cases of continuing crimes, or when the suspect is caught in the act of committing a Next page crime.

not invited by the House committee on ways and means led by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua. “This bill is being rammed through Congress and we have never been asked for our opinion,” said Saturnino Distor, an official Next page

Political prisoners join hunger strike MORE than 600 inmates and political prisoners are joining the nationwide hunger strike to demand that the Duterte administration issue a presidential proclamation ordering general amnesty for all political prisoners, the farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Pilipinas said Sunday.

“We do not want another Bernabe Ocasla who died waiting in vain for his freedom that was promised by the Duterte government,” group secretary general Antonio Flores said referring to the first political prisoner to die

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

under Duterte’s watch.

He made his statement even as government chief negotiator Silvestro Bello III said President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration was committed to freeing all 400 political prisoners with the first

thestandard.com.ph

Next page

KIDS’ CONCERNS. Children appear mesmerized by a story teller during a reading session at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City under the sponsorship of the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns. Manny Palmero

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News

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Residents’ help sought on Maute aftermath MALACAÑANG on Sunday called on Mindanao’s residents to cooperate with the government after the terrorist Maute Group attacked the area.

“Our President has called for the cooperation of the residents so we can swiftly resolve the terrorist problem there,” presidential spokesman Martin Andanar told dzRB radio.

He said many government agencies were working together to help displaced civilians.

“The entire government is helping all the victims of the current conflict happening in that area. The DSWD, the Department of Health―all of them,” Andanar said.

He said the leaders of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were also helping the affected residents.

Authorities have placed Davao, Zamboanga and Cotabato under terror alert level 3 to protect vulnerable areas against retaliation from the terrorists.

“I think the developments that happened last week will have to be settled, will have to be discussed because it’s not that simple, the one that happened last week,” Andanar said.

“It requires a face-to-face conversation with regard to the policy of the President after that incident, after the ambush of the PSG and RTVM…the Army, in Lanao del Sur. “Things can change depending on the situation. Once I get information from the President we will let media know firsthand.”

Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said the military supported all efforts to end the fighting between government forces and the Islamic State-inspired militants.

“It is difficult to fight fellow Filipinos. As much as possible we are avoiding armed conflicts with our fellow countrymen. We share the same sentiment of our good President,” Padilla said.

Duterte said earlier he would “befriend” the Maute group to avoid more trouble, a statement that presidential communications assistant secretary Kristian Ablan described as “trying to exhaust all means in order to attain peace and order.”

Duterte also declared that he did not want “to wage a war against Filipinos,” which was why he is calling on the militants to not to force his hand.

Sandy Araneta

De Lima...

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“We are willing to submit to the Senate. We meet on their turf... Let them discipline their own member,” he said.

Umali said the House already has grounds to cite De Lima in indirect contempt and discuss whether or not there are enough grounds to cite her in contempt.

De Lima, he said, was already accorded many chances to explain why she refused to appear before the House committee on justice, of which Umali is chairman.

De Lima refused to take any of these opportunities, he said.

Umali said they would leave it up to the Justice department to effect De Lima’s arrest once the contempt charge was issued.

All these charges, he said, would be filed this week as House lawyers worked overtime over the weekend to draft all the charges against De Lima.

In the disbarment case, De Lima’s relationship with Dayan would come into play, Umali said, noting that her affair with a married man was a violation of her oath as a lawyer. Her advice to Dayan to go into hiding would also figure in the disbarment case, he added.

Umali said it was no longer the House’s concern if De Lima claimed she had not received the show-cause order because it was officially transmitted to the Senate.

“We couldn’t care less,” he said.

“For us, our time of reckoning is when we submitted it to the Senate secretary.”

PH-US ties seen warming T

HERE’S a big possibility that the diplomatic relations between the United States and Philippines will have a “reboot” following a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, a Palace official said Sunday.

MARIAN PROCESSION. Catholic devotees flock to the Manila Cathedral at Intramuros to catch a glimpse of the image of ‘La Immaculada Concepcion’ prior to the holding of Mass in celebration of the annual Grand Marian procession. EY ACASIO

Leni...

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Go for her “to desist from attending all Cabinet meetings starting this Monday, Dec. 5.”

“This is the last straw, because it makes it impossible for me to perform my duties. Hence, I am tendering my resignation from the Cabinet,” she said.

Robredo also implied that the President is supporting attempts to have the vice presidency stolen from her by supporting her rival, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who filed a complaint before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to contest the vice presidential race.

Kerwin, ...

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De Lima, a member of the panel, said she would not be there when Espinosa and Dayan faced off, but she would show up later in the hearing, when they had finished testifying.

“I just don’t want to create an atmosphere [similar to the House].

Although, of course, I trust my colleagues in the Senate that they are more professional, much more decent than their counterparts in the House, especially the House committee. You know some of them are really...these are chauvinist, sicken-

Tobacco...

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of the PhilTobacco Growers Association.

“The whole process is a sham and we call on the leadership of the House to seek proper consultation and a complete impact assessment before proceeding with it.”

Distor said the PTGA and the Philippine Aromatic Tobacco Development Association representing 50,000 tobacco farmers across the Philippines had expressed their opposition to House Bill 4144, which seeks to introduce a big increase in the tobacco Sin Tax. ABS Rep. Eugene Michael de Vera, principal author of House Bill 4144, wants Congress to discard the unitary tax imposing a 30-peso excise tax on all brands slated for January 2017 and opts for higher tax impositions.

De Vera said the bill aims to discourage smoking and raise revenues.

He is pushing for a two-tier tax that increases the tax on cheaper brands to P32 a pack and P36 for high-end brands.

The proposal also includes an annual increase of five percent on

‘Warrantless...

From A1

Aguirre said that while warrantless arrest could be valid for economic sabotage, he could not say if the same would apply to the bribery charges against Lam. Immigration records show that Lam left the country November 29, or four days after 1,316 Chinese nationals were arrested for operating an online casino in Fontana without the necessary permit from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

It was unclear, however, if he has

“I had been warned of a plot to steal the vice presidency. I have chosen to ignore this and focus on the job at hand. But the events of recent days indicate that this plot is now being set into motion,” she said.

“From the very beginning, the President and I had major differences in principles and values.

Since I assumed office, I have been consistent in my opposition to issues such as the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, extrajudicial killings, reinstating the death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability, and sexual attacks against women. But we both had a mandate to serve the peo-

ple,” she added.

“I will not allow the vice presidency to be stolen. I will not allow the will of the people to be thwarted.

I will continue to serve the Filipino family and fulfill their dream for a better life,” she added.

Robredo’s resignation follows those of National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairwoman Maria Sereno Diokno and NHCP Commissioner Francis Geolago, after Duterte allowed the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

In a radio interview, Evasco said he expects Robredo to lead the opposition in the Duterte administration.

Evasco also confirmed that it was

ing, sexist pigs,” De Lima said.

She added that she would monitor the testimony of Espinosa and Dayan from outside the Senate.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday ducked questions about Lacson’s accusation that President Rodrigo Duterte had a double standard in his war on drugs.

Lacson had criticized Duterte for countermanding Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, by ordering the reinstatement of the head of the Region 8 Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Marvin Marcos, who led the team that killed Albuera

Mayor Rolando Espinosa, father of Kerwin, inside his jail cell while serving a search warrant at the Leyte provincial prison.

The younger Espinosa had testified before the Senate that he gave drug payoffs to Marcos.

“I thought it was an all-out drug war I was supporting. Talk about double-standard. Talk about double-speak,” said the senator in a Twitter post Friday. “Change isn’t coming after all.”

Asked to comment on Lacson’s statement, Andanar said: “What do you think...? Maybe you should answer that question.” With Sandy Araneta

these rates as against the current Sin Tax on tobacco (Republic Act 10351) that sees a unitary rate of P30 per pack in 2017, with an annual four percent adjustment thereafter.

The present law imposes a tax of P25 per pack on cheaper brands with a net retail price of P11.50 and a tax of P29 per pack for brands that sell at more than P11.50 a pack.

De Vera seems to have the backing of the House leadership as sources told Manila Standard that House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, before the hearing, summoned the panel members to convince them to approve the new bill.

Mighty, a Chinese-Filipino owned cigarette company that sells cheaper brands, was pushing for the passage of the De Vera bill.

Philip Morris, a multinational company that sells the high-end brands worldwide, is opposing it and backs the existing Sin Tax Law that will implement the unitary tax next year.

Mighty hired Philip Sigfried Fortun as lawyer and former National Economic Development Authority director general Romulo Neri as spokesman.

During the hearing, Neri said the

bill would address an “inequitable situation” as cigarettes for the rich would be taxed higher.

The House leadership did not only find resistance from the farmers but also from all government agencies: the Department of Finance, Department of Health, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Tax Research Center, and advocacy groups Action for Smoking and Health, Action for Economic Reform and Philippine College of Physicians.

The National Tobacco Administration has no objection to the bill.

“Why are they proposing to hit tobacco again even before another big 20-percent excise tax increase in January next year, and we don’t even know what the impact of that will be,” Distor said.

“Tobacco farmers are struggling with the fall in demand for tobacco because of the huge 340-percent excise tax increases introduced in 2013, with annual compound increases of 20 percent or more ever since worsening the situation,” he said.

Distor said tobacco excise taxes contributed around P100 billion in 2015, up from P32 billion in 2012, and were now more than two-thirds of the sin tax take.

returned.

Last week, Aguirre revealed a supposed attempt of Lam’s camp to bribe Pagcor Chairwoman Andrea Domingo to allow Fontana to continue its online gaming operations while applying for a license in exchange for a one-percent commission from the income of the gaming operations.

Aguirre said Lam also met with him through mediation of former police general-turned-poker legend Wally Sombero, who asked if he could be the “ninong” (godfather or protector) of the Chinese businessman, believed to be biggest online gambling operator in Macau.

Aguirre said he did not see a basis to charge or arrest Lam or Sombero because there was no overt act of bribery during their meeting.

Nonetheless, he said he would leave it to other government agencies to investigate the illegal casino operations in Lam’s Fontana.

Lam’s lawyer Raymond Fortun denied the bribery charges in a press conference Friday.

He said the meeting between Lam and Aguirre on November 26 lasted only for five to 10 minutes and his client was not even able to speak a word.

The lawyer said Lam was not aware of whatever Sombero told

Duterte’s instruction for Robredo to desist from attending Cabinet meetings, but clarified that she was not fired.

“That was the President’s instruction,” he said in Filipino. “There are irreconcilable differences.”

Evasco said all those not in favor of Duterte’s policies should resign from the administration.

“If they cannot… support what the President is doing, then they have to resign,” he said. Evasco confirmed that he sent Robredo a text message of Duterte’s instructions, after failing to reach her by phone.

“I called her up first but there was no response. Then I text her,” he said. With Sandy Araneta

Political...

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100 to be released before the third round of the peace talks in January 2017, “Yes, that is the commitment of our President and our President will keep his word,” Bello told ANC. Most of the 400 political prisoners in the country are farmers and land reform advocates. Many of them were implicated in cases of rebellion, murder, robbery with homicide, attempted murder, frustrated murder, illegal possession of firearms and explosives and other charges for which bail is not allowed.

“All of the political prisoners were arrested as civilians and not combatants and yet, the government tags them as members of the New People’s Army because of their past political activities as peasant leaders and organizers,” Flores said.

The KMP and farmers from Eastern Visayas will protest at Mendiola tomorrow to demand the release of peasant political prisoners including Dario Tomada and Oscar Belleza who are detained at the Manila City Jail.

Tomada, 56, is a former leader of the peasant group SagupaSinirangan Bisayas. He was arrested on July 22, 2010 in Binan, Laguna.

Belleza, 59, was the former vice chairman of KMP-Leyte. He was arrested on Nov. 26, 2008 in Olongapo City. Belleza suffered a stroke while in detention and underwent brain surgery. He is now paralyzed and in poor health.

Beatriz Gabuay who is still detained at the Samar Provincial Jail, was arrested on Sept. 23, 2008. She is 56 years old and suffers from hypertension. Sandy Araneta

Aguirre during the meeting and that his client “had no reason to bribe anyone as his operations are legitimate.”

Fortun said Fontana casino has an existing license to conduct online gaming in the Clark Economic Zone, adding tht the Chinese workers were arrested for alleged violation of Philippine immigration laws and not for illegal online gambling.

The lawyer refused to comment on the arrest order against Lam. Aguirre has already ordered the Bureau of Immigration to investigate the escape of 57 of the arrested Chinese from their temporary detention facility inside the same resort.

Duterte and Trump had a 10-minute phone conversation Friday night, when they tackled several issues.

“The conversation between President Duterte and President-elect Donald Trump went very well and it showed that there is a big possibility that we will have a reboot of relationship between the PH and United States,” presidential spokesman Martin Andanar told dzRB radio.

“President Duterte told us he and President-elect Donald Trump could get along well and again Trump wished the President well in his campaign against illegal drugs.”

Duterte said Trump would support the Philippine government’s campaign against illegal drugs and that he respected the country’s sovereignty.

Duterte said Trump commended him for conducting his brutal war on drugs “the right way.”

“He wished me well, too, in my campaign, and he said that, well, we are doing it as a sovereign nation, the right way,” Duterte said.

Since he took office in June more than 2,000 people have been killed by policemen and vigilantes.

He had invoked the Holocaust to defend his war on drugs. “Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there are three million drug addicts,” he said in September. “I’d be happy to slaughter them.”

His tactics have prompted criticism from leaders in the United States and United Nations. Sandy Araneta

BuCor...

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Action Force and installation of signal jammers, contraband continues to find its way into the national penitentiary.

“It’s like an old house that’s infested by termites. If necessary, we have to rebuild a fresh one, to Delos Santos said he is considering the full implementation of the agency’s modernization program to provide training and decent salaries to prison guards.

“I hope we could also put up a correctional academy where we could professionally train correctional officers, ” he said.

The agency’s modernization has been covered by a law, but has not been implemented since it was passed in 2013.

Secretary of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre II, however, would push for its implementation, Delos Santos said.

The current NBP was originally built to accommodate only 5,000 inmates, but the prison population has grown to 23,000, he said.

With the modernization program comes better benefits for NBP jail guards and personnel, De los Santos said.

He cited information that the Chinese nationals offered P100,000 to P250,000 each for their release.

Of the 57 who escaped, a total of 31 have already returned to the bureau’s custody while 26 remained at large as of Sunday.

One of them denied allegations of bribery, according to the BI. Liang Kun, 24, supposedly told BI officials with the aid of an interpreter that he just left their holding facility at the Fontana convention center last Wednesday, November 30, because he just wanted to go outside, take a shower and rest in the villa where he lived while working at the casino.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

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Oust-Tugade move gains steam C

By Rey E. Requejo

ONSUMER and commuter groups have joined forces to launch the Oust Tugade Movement—a call for the immediate removal of Secretary Arthur Tugade as head of the Department of Transportation.

According to Road Users Protection Advocates chairman Ray Junia, the alliance against Tugade’s continued stay in the DOTr, despite allegations of incompetence and conflict of interest with big companies involved in massive infrastructure projects of the government, will be launched officially on Tuesday.

“This is the product of RUPA’s efforts to come up with a solution to our traffic woes as well as to prevent corruption in the government,” he said.

“We are making a call for a clean government to protect the gains and visions of President Rodrigo Duterte,” Junia added.

He said the pro-Duterte group Kilusang Pagbabago, led by its

national coordinator Bishop Nilo Tayag, have committed to join their group to support their efforts to have Tugade replaced.

“We have always suspected that the reason why the DOTr has not acted on the so-called low-lying fruits or solutions that can ease the traffic problem is to force the hand of Congress into approving its proposed emergency powers package,” Junia said.

“Once Tugade gets this special powers, the DOTr can now enter into negotiated contracts, and logic dictates that these will only benefit the former employers and friends of the present Transportation officials because they are all conflicted,” he added.

Earlier, RUPA said the res-

ignation of Undersecretary for Rails Noel Kintanar was not enough to clean up the DOTr. “We have likened this to a chess game where you sacrifice the rook to save the king. But it is the mastermind who must be removed. If there is anyone who should resign first, that should be Tugade. He is the most conflicted of them all,” Junia said.

Junia said both the House of Representatives and the Senate have “said in so many words that Tugade is not fit to head the DOTr.” He said the powerful Commission on Appointments must stand by its decision not to confirm Tugade as Transportation chief although Malacañang has reappointed him.

RUPA earlier wrote the Commission on Appointments to register its opposition to Tugade’s appointment, scoring the latter for his “incredible and fantastic solutions” such as his plan to install cable cars over the length of Laguna de Bay as well as to transform the MRT Line 2 into a Bus Rapid Transit.

Two lawmakers have also pressed for the resignation of three more undersecretaries of the DOTr due to conflict of interest.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo and Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said the officials—Undersecretary for Air Operations Robert Lim, Undersecretary for Maritime Affairs Felipe Judan and Undersecretary for

Legal Affairs Raoul Creencia— must resign immediately to spare the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte from accusations of corruption and irregularities.

The two joined several other lawmakers, led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who have sought the ouster of the “conflicted” transportation officials.

Kintanar, who was previously with the Ayala Corp., was instrumental in the company’s acquisition of rail projects under the previous administration. Lim was a former country manager of the International Air Transport Association while Judan was formerly executive of a shipping business with Ramon Ang’s Petron as customer.

Charter Change debate boils down to cost

By Rio N. Araja

ON THE RIGHT TRACK. This handout photo taken by the Presidential Photographers’ Division on Dec. 2, 2016 and released Dec. 3, 2016 shows President Rodrigo Duterte gesturing as he talks to US President-elect Donald Trump on the phone at Legaspi Suites in Davao City. Trump told Duterte that Manila was conducting its deadly war on illegal drugs ‘the right way’ in stark contrast to the criticism he received from President Barack Obama. AFP

Solons back tax breaks for disabled people

By Rio Araja HOUSE leaders on Sunday joined former representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Philippine Constitution Association president, in his call for all establishments to comply with the requirements of a law exempting over 1.5-million persons with disabilities from the payment of 12-percent value-added tax on certain goods and services.

Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, deputy speaker; Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte; Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, and Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo, also a deputy speaker, expressed support for Republic Act 10754, or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability, exempting PWDs from VAT payment must be strictly implemented.

Romualdez was the principal author of the law’s House version.

“We will be vigilant to guarantee the compassionate law will be implemented strictly to bring hope to the PWD sector. This law will also show that the government is doing everything to help their plight,” Abu said.

Barbers, House committee on dangerous drugs chairperson, also called for strict compliance to the law, lauding Romualdez for “pursing a very good advocacy to directly help the PWD sector.”

“I would ask for a strict compliance of this law by all establishments and ask local government units to monitor strictly the implementation of RA 10754. Congratulations to the authors, especially to representative Martin who diligently worked for the passage of the

law,” he said.

Villafuerte, House committee on appropriations vice chairperson, urged business establishments to do its obligations to comply with the law.

“With last week’s signing of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10754, it behooves all private establishments and government institutions from hereon to accord PWDs the expanded benefits and privileges under this landmark law,” he said.

“May I remind private establishments and professionals offering good and services that under RA 10754, they are required to, among others, extend fixed discounts and exemption from the VAT to PWDs for services.”

Quimbo, then House committee on ways and means chairman in the

16th Congress, said the signing of IRR signaled the immediate implementation of the law.

“It is important that we be able to fully harness the bill so that the objective of making PWD’s productive members of society is achieved sooner rather than later,” he pointed out.

“The fight has just begun. Our task now is to ensure and guarantee that all beneficiaries will fully enjoy the assistance that the law has been offering,” said Romualdez, a former House independent bloc leader.

The law that stemmed from Romualdez’s House Bill No. 1039 amended RA 7277, or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, spares PWDs from the 12-percent VAT as amended by RA 9442 that gave the PWDs the 20-percent discount.

IT WOULD entail at least P8 billion to choose members of a Constitutional Convention who will initiate Charter Change that could benefit several generations, according to Buhay party-list Rep. Joselito Atienza, also the House deputy minority leader.

If the government could spend P26 billion to elect a president with a six-year term and a legislative representative with a three-year term, why can’t it not spend P8 billion for a Con-Con? Atienza asked.

He stood pat on his ground to back a Con-Con instead of a Constitutional Assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution.

“We should not hesitate to spend for the preparation of a new Constitution that could free up the national economy from the clutches of oligarchs, build genuine peace and order, provide full employment and guarantee every Filipino family a rising standard of living,” he said.

“Congress must treat the spending for a Con-Con as an investment in the future of our children, and in the future of our children’s children. We should not treat it as an expense.”

The 1987 Constitution primarily returned the presidential form of government with a bicameral Congress from the parliamentary form espoused by the 1973 Constitution, with the inclusion of several check-andbalance mechanisms among the three branches of government: judiciary, executive and legislative.

After the late president Ferdinand Marcos’ ouster in the 1986 People Power Revolution, the 1973 Constitution was replaced through a Constitutional Commission when the late President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 9 on April 23, 1986.

“This is the first time in nearly 30 years that we will be rewriting the 1987 Constitution. We might as well invest wisely in perfecting a truly responsive and highly relevant new Charter through a Con-Con,” Atienza said.

He reacted to the claim of Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, a House majority leader, who is batting for a Con-Ass that could cost only P2 billion against ConCon’s estimated cost of P6 billion to P8 billion.

“Next year, we will be spending another P6 billion for the barangay polls. Is the House majority telling us that electing barangay officials that we will replace in three years is more important than voting for a Con-Con? We can spend P6 billion for the barangay polls, but we cannot spend P8 billion for a Con-Con?” Atienza saidd.

In a Con-Con, the citizenry would elect representatives to recommend amendments to the Constitution, while under a Con-Ass, members of Congress would do the task.

In both cases, the proposed changes will require final direct approval by the people in a referendum.

Bacolod lawmaker liable for budget mess—CoA

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Audit has declared former representative Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City and a former sports official liable for disallowed spending of P36,778,105.44 during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

In a seven-page decision, CoA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo and Commissioners Jose Fabia and Isabel Agito upheld the notice of disallowance issued by the supervising auditor of the Philippine Sports Commission that ruled irregularities in the use of government funds transferred to the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games organizing committee.

Along with Puentevella as the sitting BASoc, then PSC secretary general Eric Loretizo was held liable.

Puentevella received the P50.5-million fund from the PSC and signed contracts with suppliers and contractors, while Loretizo approved the payment to contractors of the infrastructure projects.

The PSC auditor issued on Jan. 30, 2014 a notice of disallowance covering transactions of P36.78 million, taking into account the insufficiency of documents to show

proof that proper procedures were observed, and that the projects were duly delivered.

It also cited the absence of a public bidding.

The former lawmaker filed a petition, challenging the CoA decision on the ground that the shortage of time and the magnitude of the sports event justified dispensing with the requirements of direct contracting.

A reasonable cost of accomplishment may be computed based on the “principle of quantum meruit” or the computation of entitlement to compensation based on the amount of work done, he argued.

The CoA’s Commission Proper rejected Puentevella’s appeal. “(P)etitioner’s failure to submit the required documents bars the application of the principle of quantum meruit. Since the reasonable value could not be determined for lack of documentary requirements, the principle of quantum meruit cannot apply,” the ruling read.

“Considering that petitioner was signatory to the various infrastructure contracts, he should be made liable for the disallowance. Further, since no timely appeal has been filed by Mr. Lorezito, who is among the persons held liable…, the disallowance has already become final as to him.”

WCKF’s Unwavering Apostolic Mission.An organization known for its unwavering apostolic mission, the Wong Chu King Foundation (WCKF) initiated a pagbibihis of the Nuestra Señora delos Remedios de Ligas for the recent 111th barrio fiesta in Ligas, Bulacan. The image is historically popular as a guardian whom people pray to for guidance and protection against adversities. In photo are (L-R) WCKF volunteers Sophia P. Gonzalo, Marianne T. Vinluan, Pauline A. Arceta, Robimaire M. Enriquez, Conchita O. Punongbayan, Angie D. Sarmiento together with Parish Pastoral Council of Ligas and WCKF volunteers Jamaica F. Marcelo and Karizza C. Rivera.

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Opinion

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

W

The President’s double standard

HAT are we to make of President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to reinstate a police superintendent accused of profiting from the illegal drug trade, and who led a raid that looked more like a rubout than a legitimate law enforcement operation?

The President, who has promised to spare nobody—not even friends or relatives—from his bloody anti-drug war, has now made an exception for Supt. Marvin Marcos, the chief of the Criminal Investigation and

Detection Group of Region 8.

Earlier, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, had relieved Marcos and 17 other policemen while they were under investigation

for the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa in his jail cell, and for subsequent allegations that surfaced during a c o n g r e s s i o n a l investigation, that Marcos demanded and took payoffs from known drug lords.

Days later, however, Dela Rosa reinstated Marcos, saying someone from “higher up” called him with that order.

While the police chief refused to say who called him, Duterte admitted Friday that it was he who ordered Marcos reinstated so that he could pursue an

independent investigation.

He added that he wanted Marcos back in his post as regional chief of the PNP’s CIDG because he “needed to gather evidence” against the police official.

The President is well within his rights to countermand his PNP chief, but doing so on such a flimsy, illogical, and almost non-sensical reason suggests some—or all—of several possibilities.

First, the President could be protecting Marcos because the regional CIDG chief was doing his bidding when he and his men shot

Espinosa dead while “executing a search warrant” inside his jail cell at a provincial prison at 4 a.m.

Second, it suggests the President will protect all policemen, regardless of their guilt or innocence, because they form the tip of the spear in his antiillegal drugs campaign.

Third, it shows the President’s lack of confidence in his PNP chief.

Fourth, in reinstating a police officer under investigation and doing so surreptitiously, the

President shows he holds no regard for public perception, and that he believes he is not accountable to anyone, not even the Filipino people.

Finally, Mr. Duterte’s action indicates there is a double standard in the application of justice in his war on illegal drugs, in which civilian suspects and innocent bystanders are routinely shot and killed, while police officers suspected of taking drug money or suspected of summary executions are reinstated after they get a light rap on the wrist.

Trump will bring his war on the press to the White House

By Albert R. Hunt

PENSEES

lights from those contemplating on entering the dastardly trade —but that does not in any way legitimize summary executions and the abduction of persons who are neither seen nor heard from again! You deter criminal conduct through the formation of character—and there are not short-cuts to that. One thing it does demand, though, is a truth Justice Louis Brandeis of the US Supreme Court taught decades ago: “Government is the teacher of the people. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law.”

There are those who would plunge the nation into a Reign of Terror, forgetting that this terrible period of French history got France absolutely nowhere!

No matter that convictions follow only upon acceptance of proof beyond reasonable doubt, the trouble is that there is an epistemic difference between “what has been proved” and “what happened.” When you Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Now, we need you out!

FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO IT USED to be said of mathematics that it was an exact science, and although “exact” and “science” are disputable terms, that description was generally accepted. But these days, even counting has become problematic. How many joined the rallies against the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani? It seems that mathematics yields to politics, for we get different counts according to different sources, each claiming to be veridical.

But this time we need the marches, and the noise, and the ferocity even—but above all the conviction. At the urging of Malacañang, allies in both houses of Congress are poised to ram through the Legislature a bill that returns the death penalty. In fact so confident are its advocates that the measure will pass muster that the conversation has turned ghastly: which method inflicts the most agony—and proposals range from a return of the electric chair, to

ONE of the biggest conflicts in Washington next year will be the one between the mainstream media and the most anti-press president since at least Richard Nixon.

The relations between presidents and the press always are adversarial (each has different objectives) and symbiotic (each side needs the other).

Donald Trump not only has shown contempt for much of the media, equating fairness with favorable coverage, but also he’s vowed to “open up our libel laws.”

So “when The New York Times writes a hit piece which is a total disgrace,” he said, “we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they’re totally protected. You see, with me, they’re not protected.”

He also has threatened Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s chief executive, who owns the Washington Post, which has published stories that have infuriated him.

Bezos, he said, has “a huge antitrust problem” and ought to be paying more taxes.

The president-elect has frequently whipped up his followers by labeling specific reporters liars. In at least one instance, the Secret Service had to escort a reporter to her car at a rally where she was threatened by people in the crowd.

This is more worrisome than his rants about left-wing media bias and the “scum” in the press. He is not nearly as creative as former Vice President Spiro Agnew who, before he was driven from office for accepting bribes, called the media “nattering nabobs of negativism.”

“Trump wants 100 percent stories that love him,” says Stephen Hess, the Brookings Institution scholar who has studied relations between Washington politicians and the press for decades. “At the moment, he can play games.

But if his ignorance and ego try to change basic laws, he will be rolled over.”

It’s not clear, however, how much of the media will stand up to bullying in a highly

televised executions by firing squad, to hanging and to the terrible irony of lethal injection in a pseudo-clinical setting! If so much noise was made about the burial of one long dead, the proposal to inflict death on the living should meet with even more spirited opposition and manifest disgust!

In the first place, all the years that we sent people to their deaths by the electric chair and by the lethal injection chamber, we were really hypocrites, constitutionally. The fundamental law, in very clear terms, forbids inflicting “cruel and unusual” punishment, and yet, by some stupid (unpardonably stupid— repetition for the sake of emphasis) sophistry, Philippine jurisprudence has maintained that the “death penalty” is not cruel.

How much more deranged can one get? What can be more cruel than sending someone to his death? And it is not a question of whether or not the IV line that delivers a lethal dose is benign

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There is much to be learned from the fact that for most countries of the world, the death penalty has been stricken off their criminal codes. in comparison to the barbarity of the gallows or the guillotine. It is rather telling a person that she is to die, and then making her count the minutes as the hour of doom approaches, and then walking her to the site of execution—this whole macabre drama is cruel in the extreme. And

BenjaminPhilip PhilipG.G.Romualdez Romualdez Benjamin FormerChief ChiefJustice JusticeReynato ReynatoS.S.Puno Puno Former AnitaF.F.Grefal Grefal Anita BaldwinR.R.Felipe Felipe Baldwin EdgarM. M.Valmorida Valmorida Edgar

nothing has yet been said on the cruelty visited on parents, children and relatives. One reason we did not incorporate Sharia’h penology when we accommodated personal, marriage and inheritance laws was because we considered Sharia’h penalties irreconcilable with the constitutional proscription of cruel and unusual punishment. And we have made those pronouncements with the pompousness of utterers of supreme wisdom.

How different really are flogging, amputation and stoning from the plans afoot to inflict death on convicted persons in the most terrifying manner possible? How much does it speak of the perversity into which we have fallen even to suggest that executions by firing squad be televised?

I will not be drawn into the deterrence argument—because it is in fact a non-argument. Extrajudicial killings and the enforced disappearances of drug peddlers certainly scare the day-

Chairman Chairman BoardMember Member&&Chief ChiefLegal LegalAdviser Adviser Board TreasuryManager Manager Treasury OIC-AdSolutions Solutions OIC-Ad CirculationManager Manager Circulation

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EmilP.P.Jurado Jurado Chairman ChairmanEmeritus, Emeritus,Editorial EditorialBoard Board Emil

Opinion Way too many THURSDAY night, our Manila office employees had a small Christmas party in Makati, just about 700 meters from our Salcedo Village office, so most walked to the venue. Many were unable to have their families arrive on time, if at all. Some kids arrived two hours late. The usual culprit was —traffic.

I live near where Malate in Manila folds into Palanan in Makati, about 15 minutes away via normal speed on a trafficless Sunday to the Makati Commercial Center. Fetching my granddaughter in the house and bringing her along with my driver and his daughter from the De La Salle area to Makati Avenue took us all of one hour. Good thing we left at 5:30 and arrived at 6:30 that evening, right on time.

This of course is the new normal. Whenever I am in Manila, I have to give an hour’s leeway from house to office. There are days when I use up an hour and 15 minutes to travel a distance of just about five kilometers.

An officemate who lives in Antipolo City travels two hours minimum each day from home to office and another two, sometimes more, back in the evening. He has mastered every possible route to and fro, but still, it is two hours. On days when we have to leave for Taipei, which is normally half past noon, he has to leave Antipolo at six to make sure he gets to Naia on time.

Sadly, there is no way but to use a car, or get an Uber, from Antipolo to Naia. One cannot lug heavy suitcases into a bus going to North Avenue, then transfer to the MRT to get to Baclaran, then transfer to a taxi to Naia. There is a woeful lack of public transport available for the ordinary citizen, the result of several decades of neglect, absolutely no forward planning by government, especially in the last 10 years or so of the miserable Metro Manilan’s life.

One only has to look at the long queues in decrepit MRT and LRT stations to see the agony people have to go through day-in and day-out, five or six days a week.

One only has to see how so many empty or near-empty privately owned passenger buses snake-in and out of Edsa or Taft or Quezon Avenue every single day, stopping in the middle of the street whenever a solitary passenger could be picked up. One only has to get his hands hurt blowing his horn at intersections where public conveyances like rusting, obviously antediluvian jeepneys hug street corners (whether busy Buendia corner Taft or still busy Estrada corner Leon Guinto), obliviously await for passengers and let all the other vehicles freeze on the road till hell freezes over, and the nearby traffic aide or barangay tanod just looks askance, obviously bribed. One only has to be terrified at “padyak” contraptions and tricycles suddenly appearing counter-flow (especially in Manila) ferrying students too lazy to walk from their school a few steps away from where they double-parked their cars with the help of barangay tanods, whose daily survival depends on the number of cars they get to park.

I live in an area which used to be conveniently close to church, school and everywhere else, which was why my mother bought the property more than 50 years ago, a once-genteel place with old grace now jampacked with high rises standing cheek and jowl to cater to students of three elite schools whose administrators insist on expanding upon every single inch of Manila territory instead of being forced to move out to suburbia if only local and national governments had any sense of zoning and a sane land

Trump...

From A4 competitive and financially challenging environment.

During the primaries, too many, especially among cablenews and TV-interview shows, offered special arrangements for Trump, who drew audiences, and offered little examination of his superficial policy pronouncements.

He has shown no signs of changing in the three weeks since winning the presidential election; the press response has been inconsistent.

Trump recently asserted that there had been “millions of people who voted illegally” on November 8, and suggested that this fraud prevented him from winning the popular vote, which he lost by more than two million.

There is no evidence to substantiate this phony charge, and the notion of widespread voter fraud has been refuted by innumerable studies.

Some news outlets played the assertion straight, as if it were a

real story. Others, including the Washington Post and New York Times, treated it as a falsehood.

That is also the approach taken by Jeff Zeleny, a respected reporter for Cable News Network, and earlier the New York Times. He called Trump “a sore winner” who offered “no hard evidence” for a charge that appeared “baseless.” Trump then accused CNN of continuing bias against him and said Zeleny was a “bad reporter.” How will CNN executives react?

Trump uses his personal Twitter feed and some sycophantic news media, including Brietbart News, whose former executive chair, Steve Bannon, is now his top counselor. The presidentelect calculates that he can bypass some of the mainstream media, if he doesn’t intimidate them first, and can capitalize on the public’s mistrust of the press.

A daunting challenge for the media is that more than any other major figure in recent memory—there is no polite way to put this—Trump has lied repeatedly.

He has done so about opposing

Now...

From A4 have perjuring witnesses, well-rehearsed and coached professional liars, manufactured documents and an unfortunate confluence of circumstances (including bungling and incompetent lawyers and occasionally corrupt judges), you may be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt what in fact never happened. That is always the challenge of “historical truth”—the truth of “past events.” There is always a good amount of conjecture in every retelling and reconstruction of the past, and while, for purposes of everyday life, we can cope with that, there is certainly no way it can be trifled with when it means the death of another person!

It is clear from the victims of EJKs and

the suspected peddlers gunned down by the police that our enforcers can get their hands only on shanty-dwellers, small-time dealers, although occasionally you have some who live in mansions, high-rise apartments and exclusive subdivisions. But even President Digong admits that the really big fish are not around—ensconced safely in their guarded estates in China, perhaps or elsewhere. So we send the small fry frying because we cannot lay our hands on the big fish?

There is much to be learned from the fact that for most countries of the world, the death penalty has been stricken off their criminal codes. It is instructive that for even the most heinous crimes over which international criminal tribunals have cognizance—genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes—the death penalty is not meted out. It cannot but be of significance for us

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OUT OF THE BOX

use policy.

SO I cringe at how our transportation officials are cursed every single day, on air courtesy of I SEE radio commentators, and under their breath by LITO exasperated commuters and private motorists, for a problem seemingly beyond human solution BANAYO but whose cause, to put it very succinctly, is— human numbers as in population beyond the carrying capacity of the metropolis where everything is bunched up, and human predilection for buying private vehicles, partly aspirational, and partly necessitated by the lack of dependable public transport.

Yet both the case of human numbers and the case of too many motor vehicles is really a case of the lack of vision and forward planning by a State which has the power to compel and influence human behavior and human consumption patterns.

There’s just way too many of us, and there’s way too many people crammed in the metropolis called NCR, as well as in Metro Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and even Davao.

And there are way too many vehicles on the road.

Past leaders forgot all about trains, and allowed PNR to rot. Marcos put up the LRT 1, which has since expanded into another route called LRT 2, and then a private consortium put up MRT along Edsa. But clearly all these are not enough for a population that’s just way too big. Worse, these train systems and their maintenance have been left to rot in the last six years or so.

Immediately-needed solutions like constructing new train systems, a bus rapid transit system, a subway perhaps—all these will take time to complete, even if we had the public resources to do so, or even if China and Japan and whoever else will grant us loan facilities.

There is a crying need to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, or stop them from multiplying as fast as any Juan, Petra or Dodong can afford the low down payments to fulfill his aspirational car.

The Department of Finance has proposed additional taxes on motor vehicles both to raise revenues as well as to put the brakes on vehicle multiplication on our road systems. I propose adopting the COE—certificate of entitlement—system as in Singapore. You need one, which you pay to government, before you can buy a car. The more luxurious the brand or the bigger the engine displacement, the more you pay.

You can’t tell the banks to increase the interest on consumer financing, as they are awash with cash. That would run contrary to the law of supply and demand.

Make it more expensive for anyone to buy a car or other motor vehicle. Oppressive? Maybe, but then again, no other way in the meantime that we wait for public infrastructure to bloom.

On the medium and long-term, let’s (1) effectively and implement a population management policy while (2) seriously planning to move the seat of government from Metro Manila to elsewhere.

And please, Congress, pass the emergency powers bill into law soonest.

By the way, as I have been traveling a lot the past months, I must congratulate our Naia manager and our Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines director-general for relatively less downtime waiting for planes to depart and arrive at our international gateway. We wish you the best.

the war in Iraq before it started; about mocking a reporter with severe physical disabilities, and about his rationale for withholding his tax returns as a candidate. Schooled years ago by Roy Cohn, Joe McCarthy’s unsavory counsel, Trump shrewdly grasps that if he repeats untruths, much of the media will lose interest in holding his feet to the fire.

Yet the responsibility of the press is to hold a president accountable for his actions, integrity and ethics. It is not new or unusual for presidents—or presidents-elect—to be angry about news coverage. Bill Clinton used to fly into a rage about his, and was certain the New York Times had it out for him. Barack Obama has been contemptuous of what he considers the shallowness of much of the media.

These presidents, like most politicians, provide the most access to journalists they favor. But few seriously worried that Presidents Clinton, Obama, Ronald Reagan or George H.W. Bush would seek revenge, legally or otherwise, upon media critics. That

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

same comfort doesn’t exist with Trump.

And Trump is not surrounded by people likely to dissuade him.

President John F. Kennedy, who understood and basically appreciated the role of the press in a democratic society, once intemperately told his Federal Communications Commission chairman, Newton Minow, to complain to NBC News about a story. A short while later, Minow called a White House aide and said Kennedy was “lucky to have an FCC chairman who doesn’t do what the president tells him.”

There don’t appear to be any Newton Minows in the Trump entourage.

Bloomberg

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO Ambassador Del Rosario’s column will resume soon.

in the Philippines that we became state parties to the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is the emerging consensus among nations that humanity should have evolved beyond the stake and the block—and even its modern renditions: the gas chamber, the electric chamber, the lethal injection gurney. All are cruel. All transgress our humanity. All dehumanize the executioner and the executed alike. It is degenerate to counter the stream of the evolution of consciousness and humanity So shall we have the numbers and the voice shout out as loudly if not even louder for life, as they did against an almost 30-year-old deferred interment? rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

RITA LINDA V. JIMENO

How abused women think IN MY practice of family law for decades now, I have encountered many women suffering from the trauma of abuse and yet who are in denial about it.

Recently, a young, good-looking but agitated woman came to see me with a summons from a court ordering her to file her answer in a petition for declaration of nullity of marriage filed by her husband. My initial thought was she probably wanted legal representation to oppose the petition filed against her. To my surprise she said she did not want to contest the case but only wanted me to make sure that the promise of her husband to give her the small townhouse she was living in would be fulfilled.

She said she did not care about asking for support or even getting her share from all the other assets in their names.

Uncertain why she said this, I read the petition filed against her. It spoke of her as allegedly being immature, uncaring and having a dependent personality disorder.

The petition did not mention of any property belonging to their community of property so I wondered why she said she wanted an assurance that she would be given the townhouse she was living at.

My probing yielded these facts: that she married a man from a very wealthy family who, at the time of their marriage five years ago, had numerous properties in his name; that he turned out to be excessively possessive, physically and psychologically abusive and had extramarital relationships too.

She had to stop working to serve his needs as he expected her to make him the center of her life. Yet, he always called her worthless, stupid and other names meant to put her down. Sometimes he would slap her for minor reasons like serving cold food or not seeing that his clothes are ironed well enough. Worse, his mother made a point of making her know that she had always wanted her son to marry someone in their social class but her son failed her. One day, this young woman said, her motherin-law, with a lawyer in tow, and in the presence of her husband, made her sign several documents waiving her rights to a number of properties. The mother-in-law told her that all these properties were bought by her for her son and that it was only right that she, the wife, should make no claim over them.

I could not help noticing this young woman repeating a number of times that she did not want anything from her husband’s family but only the roof over her head as she has no other place to live since her parents are now abroad.

I sensed she was very She looked cautious about being thought of as greedy defeated and in wanting a share in her husband’s proper- resigned to her ties acquired prior to fate. their marriage. She also said she wanted her marriage voided too as she could not stand a day longer with him calling her up only to badger and curse her and to remind her that she should not contest the nullity of marriage he filed or else he would take back the townhouse unit she was living at. I learned that he had abandoned her six months ago and is now living with a woman he met in a bar.

When I asked if they had a pre-nuptial agreement, she said no. Thus I told her that, in fact, because they were married just five years ago, the Family Code which took effect on Aug. 3, 1988 governs their property regime.

I told her too that the law mandates that all properties already owned by a person at the time of the wedding shall belong to the absolute community of property of the spouses if they did not execute a pre-nuptial agreement saying otherwise. I also told her that she has to oppose his petition as it contained falsities and to tell the court that, in fact, they have community properties to divide over which she has a right. However, I noticed that she looked defeated and resigned to her fate saying that she does not want to be thought of as greedy.

I then went on to advise her to think things over and to be not afraid of being labeled as greedy because the law was on her side. I said that if she sincerely wanted to waive her rights over the properties her husband owned prior to marriage that was fine too provided that she and her husband signed an agreement which must be submitted to, and approved by, the court. She retorted that her mother-in-law had already made her sign waivers over their properties so there is really nothing else left to agree on. To this, I explained that whatever documents she signed pertaining to properties that rightfully belong to her and her husband’s absolute community have no binding and valid effect unless submitted to, and approved by, the court.

In spite of all that I advised her, she could not make a decision. She was frozen with the fear she would never hear the end of it from her husband if she even does so much as file an answer in the nullity case. She left, explaining she needed time to think things through.

I felt sad. This is a feeling that festers every time a woman who has been through an abusive relationship refuses to believe that she is not powerless. Yet, I am optimistic that, like most of the other women whom I have succeeded in empowering to pick up the pieces and find their worth again, this one will stand up for her rights.

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

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P7.4-b Manila Harbour Centre expansion okayed

Senator wants free tuition for 114 SUCs

By Sandy Araneta

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

F

ollowing President Duterte’s order to hasten reclamation projects in Manila, Mayor Joseph Estrada has signed a historic agreement with the Philippine Reclamation Authority and a construction consortium for the P7.4-billion expansion of the Manila Harbour Centre in Tondo.

Estrada said the memorandum of understanding officially seals the partnership of the city government, PRA, and R-II Builders, Inc. for the multibillion-peso expansion of the 79-hectare port facility.

This also marks the Duterte administration’s first foray into reclamation as a key component of an infrastructure development framework, Estrada said.

“This MOU is significant because it signals the start of more development projects in our city, with the full support of President Duterte,” he said.

“This means more jobs, economic opportunities, and billions of revenues not only for the Manileños and the City of Manila but also for the entire country,” Estrada added.

Estrada said he is grateful to Duterte for his whole-

hearted support to various infrastructure projects such as the Harbour Centre development, one of the more than 80 planned reclamation projects in the country.

“Being a former mayor himself, our President knows what the local governments require to promote development. Like here in Manila, we need more land to hasten economic growth, land we do not have, thus,

we’re pushing for reclamation,” he said.

Reghis Romero II, chairman of R-II Builders, recounted that in his recent meeting with Duterte, the chief executive had voiced his desire to immediately implement the project.

“The President said the development of Manila is his priority. Once Manila is moving everybody is moving,” Romero said.

CHRISTMAS IN VENICE. A mother poses with her child for a photo souvenir during the ‘Parata di Natale’—a Venetian-inspired Christmas parade at the Venice Grand Canal in Mckinley Hill in Tagug City. Manny Palmero

By Sandy Araneta AFTER the executive order on the Freedom of Information has been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, the government has been flooded with requests for information, official records, and other public documents.

But Communications Secretary Martin Andanar admitted there is still a lot more to learn before the administration could declare that it is 100 percent compliant with the executive order on FOI. “A lot have filed requests and the requests are addressed to different departments of the land. We have our own people under Assistant Secretary Kissinger Reyes who is in-charge of the FOI portal,” he said.

Andanar said so far, only 15 agencies have been complying with the FOI order in terms of assigning personnel to process the requests.

“There’s a lot of learning curve in the FOI Executive Order since not all agencies have been enrolled here and we are currently training the other agencies,” he said.

Personnel of regional offices still need training on how to implement the EO, he added.

Andanar earlier said any person who requests for information must write to the duly authorized personnel assigned by the head of the government agency, and should get the requested information in not longer than 15 days.

cular No. 8, which Monreal revoked, violated a law granting exemption to overseas workers from paying the airport terminal fee.

“I commend Monreal’s move to stop the collection of airport terminal fee for our OFWs starting March next year. This is long overdue because its

continued collection disregards the exemption granted by law to our OFWs,” he added.

Section 35 of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act exempts OFWs from paying travel tax, documentary stamp and airport terminal fee.

Monreal said starting March

2017, OFWs will no longer have to queue at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to refund the P550 terminal fee integrated in their airline tickets.

He said MIAA is now coordinating with the international airlines to be able to complete the technical details of the refund system.

SPREAD THE LOVE. Various LGBT groups held a solidarity march in Baguio City to press for the passage of the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill. David Chan

Sotto casts doubt on pro-RH advocates

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Palace says Solon hails OFW exemption from terminal fee

By Rio N. Araja govt still not 100% FOI ready ACTS-OFW Rep. John Bertiz II has lauded Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal for his decision to stop collecting the P550 terminal fee from overseas Filipino workers starting next year.

He said Memorandum Cir-

CLOSE to a million students of the 114 state colleges and universities will be spared from paying tuition next year if Minority Leader Ralph Recto’s amendment to the 2017 national budget seeking to exempt them from basic matriculation is carried in the final version of the P3.35-trillion spending measure.

Recto’s amendment to appropriate P8 billion to cover tuition cost of SUC enrollees is included in the Senate version of the Duterte administration’s first budget proposal.

The proposed “Higher Education Support Fund” has been added to the budget of the Commission on Higher Education.

The fund will be distributed among 114 SUCs based on the amount of tuition each school is projected to collect next year.

For 2017, SUCs’ earnings from tuition is projected to reach P7.78 billion.

Recto said the P8 billion will only cover tuition and not cover other school fees like dormitory use and laboratory fees.

He said this will guarantee that students from poor farming and fishing families as well as those from the urban poor will not shell out money for basic matriculation.

Recto said students from 4P families are covered by the fund to guarantee that “the ‘last mile’ in their search for education is partially financed.”

SENATOR Vicente C. Sotto III on Sunday expressed doubts on the intent of some organizations that have been urging the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order on the procurement of hormonal contraceptives.

“These NGOs are up to something else. Their motivation is misplaced. They should focus on implementation not shoot down the entire law,” Sotto said.

He belied allegations that Filipino families are being deprived of their rights to choose their preferred family planning method.

Sotto said millions of pesos have been allocated to the Department of Health for the procurement of contraceptives.

The 2017 proposed budget for the DoH’s Family, Health and Responsible Parenthood Program is P4.2 billion, of which P165 million has been allocated for contraceptives.

“The Supreme Court issued a TRO against the provision which they think violated our Constitution. Buying contraceptives that have not passed through the approval of the Food and Drugs Administration is a gross violation of our law,” Sotto said.

In September, the high court denied the plea of the Office of the Solicitor General to lift the TRO that stopped the DoH from “procuring, selling, distributing, dispensing or administering, advertising and promoting” the hormonal contraceptive Implanon and Implanon NXT. The SC also ordered the FDA to find out whether the said contraceptives are abortifacients or not.

Sports

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Woods ‘not quite there’ but hopeful

BIKING EXHIBITION. Internationally-renowned pro riders (from left) Duncan Shaw, Ali C, Fabio Wibmer and Danny McAskill kick off the Vermosa Active Revolution, a two-day Drop and Roll biking and active lifestyle exhibition at Vermosa by Ayala Land, Inc., a 700-hectare master-planned, mixed-use estate in Cavite that offers a modern suburban community where daily life becomes more dynamic for health enthusiasts.

9 honored in 1st PH Tourism Awards

THE Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, which has hosted a number of sports tourism events, has been named the Sports Tourism Destination of the Year during the inaugural Philippine Sports Tourism Awards at Resorts World Manila recently.

Eight other entities and events were honored in the first-ever rites recognizing events, destinations, local government units, national sports associations (NSAs), private companies, and event organizers who have contributed to the growth of the local sports tourism industry.

Organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, and Selrahco Management, the event attracted hundreds of nominations from across the country but only nine programs were picked for their efforts to develop and promote the Philippines as a sports tourism destination.

The Clark Freeport Zone led the elite roster of awardees for its successful hosting of various sports tourism events, including racing competitions, car shows, Frisbee games, and the Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta which draws around 112,000 local and foreign visitors annually.

The Municipality of Lubao and Sunrise Events, Inc. also received individual trophies as Organizers of the Year in the public and private sector categories, respectively.

Both have held events that boosted local sports tourism as a viable industry in the Philippines.

Cebu’s Tabuelan 111 took the Event of the Year-Domestic honors for its successful tri-event races held in celebration of the town’s fiesta. Ironman 70.3 Philippines, meanwhile, topped the Event of the Year-International events category.

NASSAU, Bahamas—Tiger Woods sees daily progress in his return from a 16-month back injury layoff and hinted Saturday he is still chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods, a 14-time major champion, sizzled early for the third consecutive round but fizzled late in firing a twounder-par 70 at his comeback event, the Hero World Challenge hosted by his charity foundation.

“I’m just not quite there, but it’s coming. The great thing is I’m building and each day I’ve gotten a little bit stronger,” said Woods, who admits tiring on late holes.

“I’m definitely not as fresh as I would like to be. No matter how much you work out it’s very different than being in playing shape. There are all these different things you can’t simulate at home.”

Woods, who has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, was asked after his round about trying to catch Nicklaus even though no player has won four majors after

turning 41, which Woods will do later this month.

“I wouldn’t be here doing this if I didn’t feel like I could play at the highest level,” Woods said. “I have too much pride.”

Only four players have won multiple majors after turning 41 -- Old Tom Morris with three 1860s British Opens and Harry Vardon, Julius Boros and Woods pal Mark O’Meara with two each.

Woods stood on eight-under 208, 11 strokes behind leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan after 54 holes at the 18-man invitational.

“For three straight days, I’ve gotten off to great starts. For two of those days, I haven’t been able to keep it going,” Woods said. “I would like to get another solid round.”

Woods birdied four of the first five holes but it was no day at the beach for the former world number one, who spent considerable time in Bahamas sand waste areas after missing the last five fairways at Albany Golf Club, a 7,302-yard Ernie Els-designed layout. AFP

Tabal, Agravante crowned champs

I

LOILO—Mary Joy Tabal won her fourth consecutive MILO Marathon Queen crown and Jeson Agravante bagged his first MILO Marathon King title at the 40th National MILO Marathon National Finals on Sunday.

Over 17,200 runners enjoyed the festive atmosphere, scenic route and very good weather. This was also the biggest race in Iloilo to date, a record fitting to mark the 40th anniversary milestone of the National MILO Marathon.

The champions received P150,000 in cash and a trophy each.

Tabal received an additional P250,000 for placing second in the 42K female

open category. Both will also be sent by MILO to Canada on all-expense paid trips to represent the Philippines in the 2017 Ottawa Marathon.

“By sending them to the Ottawa Marathon, we are also giving them a chance to be able to qualify for the Olympics,” said Andrew Neri, MILO Sports Marketing Manager. “The Ottawa Marathon is a race where elite runners can achieve the

qualifying standard for the Olympics. We are very happy to provide this opportunity to our champions.”

Olympian and SEA Games silver medalist Tabal broke her own record by posting her time of 2:47:49, enabling her to win a special prize of an additional PHP 50,000. Following Tabal were Christabel Martes (03:10:11) in second place and Lizane Abella (03:14:27) in third.

Meanwhile, Agravante posted a time of 02:35:13, besting his closest rivals Maclin Sadia (02:35:22) and Julius Sermonia (02:37:01) who came in second and third, respectively.

A month ago, Tabal was worried about defending her crown in this year’s finals.

Mary Joy Tabal and Jeson Agravante display their MILO Marathon titles at the podium.

PH Bowling Federation hosts national tilt Raptors THE Philippine Bowling Federation, a member of the Asian Bowling Federation and World Bowling, is hosting the 2016 PBF National Championships at the Coronado Lanes, Starmall Edsa, Mandaluyong City.

The tournament is open to all bowlers regardless of affiliations.

This singles features the following divisions: Men’s Open, Ladies’ Open, Men’s Graded, Ladies’ Graded, Men’s associate, Ladies’ Associate, Boys’ 16-under, Girls’ 16-under, Men’s Senior and Ladies’ Senior, with total prizes amounting to P700,000.

Gracing the opening ceremonies was PBF Chairman, Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III and POC President Jose Cojuangco Jr. The Philippine Bowling Federation is headed by former FIQ president Stephen Hontiveros.

Other officers of the PBF include Steve Robles as Vice President, Alexander Lim as Secretary General and Biboy Rivera as Treasurer.

It was incorporated by various stakeholders in Philippine Bowling, including former national

on a roll

The officers of the PBF visited POC President Jose Cojuangco Jr. (middle) at the POC office at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City. They are (from left) Atty. Teodoro Baroque, Boosie Ampuan, PBF Secretary-General Alex Lim, Geourgina Avecilla, Bong Coo, Cojuangco Jr., PBF President Steve Hontiveros, national coach Paeng Nepomuceno, Biboy Rivera and Atty. Nico Valderrama.

athletes, bowling clubs and associations, proprietors and bowling enthusiasts.

Heading the coaching staff is six-time World Bowling Champion Paeng Nepomuceno.

The PBF has just finished a one-month tryout for aspirants

rent POC secretary general. “I believe the PBF will bring back the country’s glorious days in the bowling international scene.”

One of PBF’s missions is to rally all Filipino bowlers in uplifting the standard of the sport.

It also aims to revive Philippine dominance in the world of bowling and ignite a boom of new generation bowlers.

For more information, contact tournament director Archie Perez (0918-9291426) or e-mail philbowlingfed@gmail.com.

FEU clinches 1st finals berth in MBL Open tourney FAR Eastern University-NRMF-Gerry’s Grill threw its full might against Philippine Air Force to hammer out a vengeful 95-69 win and clinch the first finals berth in the 2016 MBL Open basketball tournament at the EAC Sports Center in Ermita, Manila.

Fil-Canadian sensation Clay Crellin provided the spark for FEU-NRMF, hitting a variety of baskets from almost all sides of the court in the first and second quarters to power the Niño Reyes-managed team to the final of this prestigious seven-team tournament sponsored by Smart Sports, Ironcon

Builders, Star Bread, Dickies Underwear and Gerry’s Grill.

Crellin, the 6’4” sparkplug who leads the MVP race with an average of almost 22 points a game during the elimination round, finished with18 points despite Air Force’s tight defense. He scored 14 points in the first two periods when FEU-NRMF pulled away for good, 56-32, from a close first quarter.

African imports Moustapha Arafat and Bright Akhuetie provided the muscle on the defensive floor as FEU-NRMF avenged a

heartbreaking 82-84 setback to Air Force in the elimination round.

Arafat, the 6’6” Cameroonian center, added 16 points, while Akhuetie, the 6’8” Nigerian banger, contributed 11 points for FEU-NRMF, which led from start to finish.

But it was on the defensive end where Arafat and Akhuetie shone brightest, alternating in protecting the shaded area for the Fairview, Quezon City-based team.

Former Lyceum mainstay Dexter Zamora and ex-PBA stars Jerwin Gaco and Erick Rodriguez also provided the much-needed

leadership to the team.

So dominant was FEU-NRMF that Crellin, Arafat and Akhuetie all had highlight plays to the delight of a highly-appreciative mid-afternoon crowd.

Jerry Lumongsod and Raniel Jake Diwa carried the fight for the Alvin Zunigamentored Jet Force with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Rama Krishna Morales, one of three Air Force players in the Top 10 scoring leaders, was held to only eight markers by the pressing defense of veteran Eugene Tan.

TORONTO—DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry combined for 38 points as the Toronto Raptors routed the Atlanta Hawks 12884 on Saturday to stretch their winning streak to a season-best six games.

Lowry also had eight assists and Patrick Patterson tallied 17 points for Toronto who moved into a tie with Cleveland for first place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

It was the sixth loss in a row for the Hawks (10-11), who also have dropped nine of their last 10 games.

The Raptors (14-6) led by as many as 21 points during the first half, were ahead by 15 points at halftime and by 16 after three quarters before running away with the contest in the fourth quarter.

Pascal Siakam contributed 12 points and DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph each had 10 for the Raptors.

Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway each scored 15 points for the Hawks, whose biggest lead was five points. Dwight Howard and Kris Humphries both had 10 points. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS

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

Oconer tops Ronda PH race in Bacolod

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

Sports QUICK WORK. Generika’s Polina Liutikova tries to sneak one against the defense of Cignal’s Sandra delos Santos and Laura Schaudt in the Asics Philippine Superliga Grand Prix at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City. Generika made quick work of Cignal, 25-10, 25-20, 27-25, to finish its campaign on an acceptable note. Roman Prospero

GEORGE Oconer continued to show impressive form as he topped the second and final qualifying race of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 edition that started in Bacolod City and ended in the mountains of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental Sunday.

The 24-year-old Oconer, who represented Go for Gold, overcame Cebu pride Jaybop Pagnanawon’s serious challenge in topping the 117-kilometer stage in three hours, 39 minutes and 18.691 seconds.

Pagnanawon, son of 1986 Marlboro Tour champion Rolando, checked at second in 3:40:09.663 to end up second, ensuring him of a slot in the main LBC Ronda race set Feb. 4 to March 4 next year.

There, a P1-million prize awaits the champion courtesy of presentor LBC and major sponsors Mitsubishi, Petron, ASG Group, Dans360 and Donen with sanction from PhilCycling under its president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Oconer’s Go for Gold team captain Ronnel Hualda wound up third in 3:41:25.098.

It was also Oconer, who topped the first qualifying race in Subic Bay last month that underscored his seriousness to finally win it all in the next edition after several failed attempts.

“I’m just focused right now on preparing for the main event,” said Oconer, whose finished as high as second last year and as low as 13th four years ago.

Phoenix extends Mahindra’s woes W

By Jeric Lopez

ITH momentum on its side, rising Phoenix Petroleum easily dismantled woeful Mahindra, 114-104, for its second straight win in the 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday.

Veteran gunner JC Intal continued to shine for Phoenix, once again putting up a stellar performance with a season-high 24 points, including six triples on only nine shots, to go with seven rebounds off the bench to lead the charge.

“We had a good start and thankfully, we got the win. It took another team effort,” said Intal. “Sana magtuloy-tuloy na.”

Prized rookie Matthew Wright already had his breakout game in

his young PBA career, also boosting the Fuel Masters with a careerhigh 21 points, spiked with five triples.

Also helping out solidly for the victor was improving big man Prince Caperal, who finished with a solid double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Phoenix climbed to a secondplace tie with several teams with its 2-1 card.

On the contrary, the ailing Flood-

buster remained winless and fell to 0-3 down the bottom of the ladder.

From the on-set until the final buzzer, Phoenix stamped its class on Mahindra with authority, taking the wire-to-wire win with ease.

The Fuel Masters zoomed right away to a 29-17 lead in the closing minutes of the opening frame to set the tone of the rout.

In the second canto, Phoenix broke the game wide open to breeze the rest of the way, taking a 60-43

cushion at the half.

The second was the same story as Phoenix kept the pounding until it formally clinched the victory.

Intal put an exclamation to Phoenix’s triumph by hammering down a two-handed slam in transition with over nine minutes remaining to give his squad a 30-point bubble, 105-75.

Mahindra then ended the game on a 29-9 run to finish and make the final tally more respectable.

Adamson Baldwin: We expect referees to make correct calls, too a win shy of sweep

By Peter Atencio

Games Saturday: (Filoil Flying V Centre) 9 a.m. – UE vs AdU (Jrs) 11 a.m. – NU vs UPIS (Jrs) 1 p.m. – FEU vs UST (Jrs) 3 p.m. – Ateneo vs DLSZ (Jrs)

ADAMSON University overwhelmed University of Santo Tomas, 86-43, to move to within a win of sweeping the first round Saturday in the UAAP Season 79 juniors basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Gerry Abadiano had 21 points and four assists, while Encho Serrano added 16 points and seven rebounds as the Baby Falcons stretched their perfect run to six games.

In other matches, defending champion National University bested Far Eastern University-Diliman, 78-67; Ateneo blasted UP Integrated School, 79-55; while De La Salle-Zobel routed University of the East, 86-54.

Adamson University, which last ruled high school hoops way back in 1993, guns for the seven-game sweep against UE on Saturday at the same San Juan venue.

FOR coach Tab Baldwin, the Ateneo Blue Eagles played a classic game with the La Salle Green Archers last Saturday.

They had a terrible start, allowing La Salle to take the lead following an 18-2 run they made in the first period.

“La Salle got off to a great start.

A lot of composure. They did things the way they wanted. We didn’t,” said Baldwin after the La Salle Green Archers posted a

67-65 win over the Blue Eagles in Game 1 of the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In that game, the Blue Eagles made a huge effort to contain big man Ben Mbala under the paint.

But, they could not.

The 6’7” Mbala went on to dominate the paint with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

The Eagles tried to make things difficult in the final moments of the fourth period. But Aljun Me-

lecio and Jeron Teng delivered the big plays in the last four minutes, bringing La Salle closer to their ninth men’s title since 2013.

“We were very rattled I think, in the beginning. Then, we settled down and played good basketball in the next three quarters. We came back and made a fight out of it,” added Baldwin.

Norman Aaron Black powered the Blue Eagles with 12 points and 8 rebounds, while John Wong contributed eight.

Baldwin felt that they had a

chance to overtake La Salle after Teng’s basket in the last 39.4 seconds was nullified due to a 24-second violation.

This was when Ateneo moved ahead, 65-64, following Nieto’s drive off Aljun Melecio in the final 34.6 seconds.

At this point, Teng took charge for La Salle as hit the layup in the last 15.1 seconds, putting La Salle ahead, 66-65.

Ateneo had a golden chance to win it, but Archer Kib Montalbo swiped the ball away from a driv-

Centro Escolar, Olivarez begin UCBL title series Game Today (Olivarez Sports Center) 12 noon -- CEU vs Olivarez College

THE bragging rights as the first champion of the Universities and Colleges Basketball League will be up for grabs when the Centro Escolar University and Olivarez College start their best-of-three championship series today at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque City.

The expected shootout is set as 12 noon, with both teams seeking a crucial win that will give them a psychological advantage going into the crucial Game 2 of the short title series.

While many believe the CEU Scorpions have the decisive advantage – both in manpower and experience – coach Yong

Garcia is not taking the Sea Lions easily.

The Scorpions mauled the Sea Lions twice in the elims, but Garcia insisted they will be facing a different Sea Lions in the finals.

“The elimination round is far different from the finals and they showed great character during their semis series with TIP,” said Garcia. “We’ll have to start from scratch since we have already been scouted from the elims to the semis.”

Knowing how formidable CEU is, Olivarez College coach Michael Saguiguit said: “Bahala na ang Diyos sa atin.”

“We were overwhelmed with our little achievement, I just hope we can sustain it and give CEU a good fight,” added Saguiguit. “Everybody knows that we are the smallest team in the league. So, we will try to put up a good defense.”

Ardina, Regina make cut

Olivarez College’s Albert Rabe drives to the basket against TIP’s Harley Diego and Bryan Santos during their do-or-die match in the UCBL Saturday at the Olivarez Sports Paranaque City. The Olivarez Sea Lions won, 42-38, to advance to the finals against the CEU Scorpions.

Fil-Am golf’s 2nd week of action starts

FOOTBALL CLINIC. Philippine Azkal Simone Rota did what he enjoys most, teaching young kids from different Gawad Kalinga communities at the free football clinic of the Football For A Better Life program sponsored

by Pru Life UK. The 12th and final leg of the nationwide grassroots football program was held last weekend at the ULTRA field with around 300 young players participating in the clinic, which also had Misagh Bahadoran and former Azkal Chieffy Caligdong and Reffix Cuaresma as instructors. The series was also supported by the Azkals Foundation, with the last leg in partnership with Gawad Kalinga and the Philippine Sports Commission.

BAGUIO CITY– The long FilAm Golf season’s second week starts Monday at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay golf courses.

Play begins in flights A, B, D and E in the Fil and Am divisions, even as defending champion San Miguel-Northern Cement and five other teams including perennial contender Manila Southwoods start their respective bids Tuesday in the premier Fil Championship flight.

Officials of the organizing committee and the host city, led by

ing Thirdy Ravena – which Baldwin said was foul. Montalbo, who only had four points, put La Salle out of harm’s way with 3.3 ticks left with his two charities off Nieto’s foul for the final count.

“I’m not very happy with the opportunity that Thirdy had. I think it was pretty clear that he was fouled. Thousands and thousands of people, millions around the country expect players to make big plays, while I expect referees to make correct calls, too,” said Baldwin.

mayor Mauricio Domogan, who saw action in the Seniors’ Fil-A last week, officially began the second phase of the Fil-Am golf, considered one of the biggest and oldest amateur golf events in the world.

More than 400 players are expected to start their quest in the hope of bringing home the Peter Pinder ethnic-inspired trophy. More than 600 golfers of the total 1,200 will see action in competition that ends Saturday with the awards ceremony at the BCC. “This will be a tough Fil-Am

golf just like last year,” said CJH Golf Club manager Tim Allen of the event presented by San Miguel, with the Fil Championship teams beefing up to win this year’s competitions.

The Carmona, Cavite-based parbusters hope not to repeat last year’s debacle when they lost the last day after getting outgunned by the past and future of amateur golf – Eddie Bagtas and Rupert Zaragosa – who both scored a three under 66 for 39 points as San Miguel rallied past the three-day leader. Dexter See

DOTTIE Ardina fought back from a four-over card to salvage a 72, while amateur Regina de Guzman bucked a 74 as they finished tied for 16th to safely made it to the 70-player final cut of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Final Stage in Florida Saturday.

Clariss Guce also rallied with a 70 to jump from joint 83rd to a share of 61st after four days of action at the Jones and Hills courses of the LPGA International.

But the three other Filipinas failed to make the last cut with Princess Superal hardly recovering from a poor start and finished with a 72 for a share of 96th at 294, Mia Piccio hobbled with a 75 for joint 123rd 298, and Cyna Rodriguez carded a 73 and ended up at 136th at 300.

While Ardina, De Guzman and Guce stayed in the hunt for the 20 LPGA Tour cards for next year, Superal, Piccio and Rodriguez settled for conditional cards for the Symetra Tour, the farm tour of the LPGA circuit.

At joint 10th after three rounds, Ardina uncharacteristically struggled in the early going at Jones, which she tamed with a 70 in the second round. She double-bogeyed No. 1 and dropped two strokes on Nos. 4 and 6 and fell down the leaderboard.

Cusi nixes new feed-in tariff B3

IN BRIEF Weak peso likely to raise power rates

POWER generation charges may slightly increase in December because of the peso depreciation and higher fuel prices, according to an official of Manila Electric Co. “There is a strong likelihood of a slight increase in the generation charge for December. While spot prices remained low, the depreciation of the peso [from around 48.40 a dollar in October to 49.70 in November] and higher fuel prices will probably push up the gen cost,” Meralco senior vice president and head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said.

Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, is expected to announce the actual generation charges Wednesday.

Meralco costumers experienced lower rates in November with the rate for a typical household going down by P0.0781 per kilowatthour to P8.26 per kWh. Generation charges declined P0.0502 per kWh in November to P3.8436 per kWh from P3.8938 per kWh in October. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

B1

Emperador buys Domecq

By Jenniffer B. Austria

E

MPERADOR Inc., the world’s largest brandy company owned

by Filipino billionaire Andrew Tan, is acquiring Domecq and Don Pedro brandies from Pernod Ricard SA of France.

Pernod Ricard is one of the world’s largest distilled beverage companies that owns major brands, such as Absolut vodka and Chivas Regal scotch.

Emperador said the deal with Pernod Ricard would further strengthen its position as the world’s largest brandy maker.

Emperador said in a statement the latest acquisition would give the company access to the brandy market in Latin America, particularly Mexico where the Domecq brandies accounted for half of the entire brandy market.

“This recent acquisition fits perfectly with our strategy to fortify Emperador’s status as the no.1 brandy company in the world,” said Emperador president Winston Co. Pernod Ricard said in a statement posted on its website the transaction would include the brand portfolio of Mexican brandies Don Pedro, Presidente and Azteca de Oro and the winery related to the production of Mexican wines in Ensenada, along with the relevant inventories related to the Domecq brands in several markets including Spain, the United States, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Pernod Ricard, which is based in Paris, said it would sell the unit to Bodega Las Copas, a joint venture owned by Emperador and Spanish winery Gonzalez Byass, for an undisclosed price.

More than 500,000 nine-liter cases of Domecq brandy and sherry were sold last year, according to industry tracker IWSR. Pernod Ricard said the disposal was in line with its strategy to simplify its portfolio for growth and focus on its priority spirits and wines brands. It reinforces

the presence of Bodega Las Copas in the global brandy category.

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including its clearance by the Mexican Anti-Trust authorities, and is expected to take place before the end of the fiscal year 2016/2017.

The acquisition came a year after Emperador bought Beam Suntory’s brandy and sherry business in a deal valued at about 275 million euros ($292 million). The deal included Fundador Pedro Domecq, Spain’s largest and oldest brandy.

Emperador also operates a global Scotch whisky business, which Emperador purchased in 2014.

Whyte and Mackay has a rich heritage of a Scottish spirits, which is the fifth largest Scotch whisky manufacturer in the United Kingdom with prestigious brands such as The Dalmore, Jura Single Malt Whisky, Mackinlay’s Shackleton Malt Whisky, Whyte & Mackay Scotch Whisky and Vladivar Vodka.

Emperador expanded its brand footprint outside the Philippines beginning 2014. Bloomberg

PH wants higher exports to Spain

THE government plans to increase exports of high-value goods, such as computer products and electronics, to Spain.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who met Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Ignacio Ybanez Rubio, said Philippine exports were at an advantage given the strong position of the US dollar against other Asian currencies, including the Philippine peso.

Dominguez said the quality of Philippine manufactured products was “quite competitive with the rest of the world.”

He said direct exports to Spain could include computers and computer parts, printers and electronic parts for smartphones and other devices that were exported by the Philippines to another country before these goods eventually ended up in a third country like Spain.

“Our manufacturing base here is growing and growing stronger. The fact that our currency has depreciated in the US dollar is certainly an advantage. Plus I think also our production here is quite competitive with the rest of the world,” Dominguez said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

SM Appliance taps Mober for delivery

MOBER, the country’s first on-demand delivery mobile app, teamed up with SM Appliance Center to allow the latter’s customers to experience same-day delivery service.

SM Appliance said with the strategic tieup, their customers won’t have to wait several days for their merchandise to be delivered.

With the Mober mobile app-enabled service, delivery can be made on the same day, in an efficient, cost effective and safe manner.

SM Appliance said the partnership with Mober was very timely because of the approaching holiday season when more people were expected to gift their family members and loved ones with high-quality appliances.

“We are happy to announce this joint same-day delivery service with Mober″ SM Appliance vice president for operation Chito Mendoza said.

“We take this deal with SM Appliance Center as a seal of approval from one of the country’s largest conglomerates. It shows that Mober’s service is being recognized as the most efficient, cost effective, and safe on-demand delivery service in the country,” said Mober founder and chief executive Dennis Ng.

IT-BPM AWARDEE. Globe Telecom Inc. chief commercial officer Albert de Larrazabal presents the “Globe Business-IBPAP Sapphire Flare for Brilliance” to Monchito Ibrahim (right), deputy executive director of Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology, for his contribution to the information technology and business process management sector during the 8th International IT-BPM Summit organized by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines. IBPAP expects the sector to increase its annual contribution to the economy to $40 billion by 2022 from $25 billion in 2016.

AMLC prepares forfeiture case against PhilRem

By Julito G. Rada THE Anti-Money Laundering Council plans to file a forfeiture case against remittance company PhilRem Service Corp. to seize assets and properties believed connected to the $81-million money laundering scam in February this year.

Senate investigations earlier found out that PhilRem was one of the conduits in the case that resulted in Bank of Bangladesh losing $81 million of its fund deposited with the New York Federal Reserve.

“Definitely we will file cases against them. A criminal case has already been filed… We will also file a forfeiture case,” AMLC executive director Julia Bacay-Abad said in an interview.

“Definitely we will run after them,” she said, adding the subject of the forfeiture case would be properties and assets connected to the $81-million bank heist.

In a civil forfeiture case, the government seizes assets with evidence that dirty money had been used. The owner of the assets has the right to contest

the case and must prove that the assets came from clean money.

Abad, however, was unsure if the executives of PhilRem were still in the country. She said this would not prevent AMLC from filing a forfeiture case.

The stolen funds entered the country’s financial system in February through an RCBC branch on Jupiter Street in Makati City. Investigations found out that the funds went through three layers of highly protected financial institutions: the New York Federal Reserve, Swift system and the three

Manila seeking copy of bank heist report from Bangladesh

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE government asked a highlevel Bangladesh delegation for a copy of the results of its investigation into the $81-million cyber heist to help recover the stolen reserves, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said over the weekend.

Dominguez and other Philippine officials met last week with the Bangladesh delegation led by justice minister Anisul Huq and Bangladesh Bank governor Fazle Kabir.

The delegation thanked the Philippine government for helping in the return of $15 million of the funds stolen by hackers in February from the Bangladesh Bank, and which found its way to the Philippines, the Finance Department said in a statement.

The hackers stole $81 million from Bangladesh Bank’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which said instructions to make the payments were authenticated by the Swift message system, widely used by financial institutions. The episode highlight-

ed vulnerable links in the payment network underlying the global financial system.

Dominguez said the government would continue to help recover the rest of the funds following processes required under Philippine laws.

At the meeting, Philippine officials asked that Bangladesh share with the Department of Justice and the AntiMoney Laundering Council the results of its investigation into the heist.

“We are pursuing lawsuits on your behalf, actually, as vigorously as we can,” Dominguez said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla asked Bangladesh officials for a full report on the investigation to strengthen the Philippine government’s position on behalf of Bangladesh in the court proceedings, the Finance Department said in the statement.

Espenilla also assured the Bangladesh officials that the Philippines had an “effective anti-money laundering system in place” and that Bangko Sentral already advised the parties involved to “correct the deficiencies” in their respective processes.

SUPPORT FOR INVENTORS.

Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña expresses his full support to Filipino inventors and encourages them to become entrepreneurs by creating products that truly benefit the consumers.

De la Peña is the guest of honor during the 23rd National Inventors Week Grand Inventrepreneurs Fellowship Banquet organized by Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative on Nov. 22 at 55 Events Place in Quezon City.

global banks that eventually made the remittance.

The Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas cancelled the registration of PhilRem in June due to significant violations of Section 4511N of the Manual of Regulations for NonBank Financial Institutions in connection with the bank heist.

Bacay also said AMLC was awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on a petition for review and certiorari, after a lower court lifted a freeze order on the frozen account in Solaire.

B2

Business

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks likely to enter bear market

By Jenniffer B. Austria

F

OREIGN selling will likely continue to drag down the local stock market this week ahead of the December US Federal Reserve meeting, according to analysts.

Analysts said the positive November US jobs data could convince the Fed that the US labor market was healthy enough to absorb another round of rate hike this month.

A rate increase in the US would draw foreign funds away from emerging markets such as the Philippines and into dollardenominated assets.

Data released by the US Labor Department showed the

world’s largest economy added 178,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell sharply to 4.6 percent, the lowest rate since August 2007.

“The market might find itself under further selling pressure as investors stay away ahead of the US Fed policy meeting to be held from Dec. 13 to 14. In our view, a breakdown below 6,800 on a surge in volume could signal further downside towards

6,084,” RCBC Securities analyst Jeremy Yumul said.

“From this year’s high of 8,102 on July 21, a bear market, technically defined as a 20-percent drop from the peak, would be established at the 6,480 level,” Yumul said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark closed flat last week at 6,886.74, while the all-share index declined 0.2 percent to 4,166.49, amid an unexpected deal reached by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut production.

Except for the financial and industrial indices which went up 1.1 percent and 0.1 percent, all other sectoral indices ended in the red, led by services which

fell 1.2 percent and mining and oil which retreated 1.1 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P1.72 billion, as total foreign selling reached P22.9 billion while foreign buying amounted to P21.2 billion.

Top gainers last week were Petron Corp. which climbed 10 percent to P10.12, DMCI Holdings Inc. which rose 5.2 percent to P13.40 and gaming company Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. which advanced 5.1 percent to P3.30.

Heavy losers were DoubleDragon Properties Corp. which declined17.2 percent to P40.45, Cebu Air Inc. which went down 5.3 percent to P97.80 and LT Group Inc. which dipped 5.2 percent to P12.94.

MNTC proposes expressway on C5

By Darwin G. Amojelar MANILA North Tollways Corp. submitted an unsolicited proposal to the Duterte administration to build an overhead expressway around C5 to decongest Metro Manila.

“We are looking at few other [unsolicited] projects that we hope we will be able to submit proposals to the government.

Actually we have one project that we submitted,” MNTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.

Franco said the company sub-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 2, 2016 Close Volume Value

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

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

3.39 47.9 115.20 91.55 37.7 3.88 1.45 9 16.58 16.52 19.16 0.66 1.78 730.00 0.690 76 0.77 14.1 56.00 97.35 130 258 35.4 184.1 1749.00 75.15 1.3

24,000 66,700 12,770,560 10,602,430 336,200 16,000 731,000 2,900 300 31,000 1,117,200 22,000 5,000 220 31,806,000 21,014,370 924,000 25,800 377,570 280 250 1,130 852,800 6,926,610 555 143,050 112,000

FINANCIAL 78,530.00 3,188,390.00 1,448,496,241 960,251,643.50 12,677,135.00 62,080.00 1,096,900.00 26,100.00 4976 508,666.00 21,380,860.00 14,520 8,900.00 159,080.00 21,906,630.00 1,576,501,631.50 716,110.00 362,972.00 20,964,335.50 26,036.50 32,362.00 290,298.00 30,348,645 1,268,333,221.00 947,740 7,930,159.50 146,760.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

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

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

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

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

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

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

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

43 4.52 0.92 1.3 21.3 0.204 85.25 20.00 11.28 17.4 135.2 91.45 23.4 57.5 1.9 7.22 12.06 11.160 7.10 5.15 6.47 1.88 22.2 68.45 12.58 15.70 6.23 1.750 219.00 75.15 2.28 3.7 29.9 26.7 15 258.00 0.250 4.94 3.3 10.12 3.27 68.1 11.30 2.07 5.62 1.36 4.95 4.45 2.86 235 4.6 0.144 1.54 171.5 4.57 1.74 1.12

8,489,700 16,083,000 2,174,000 8,589,000 122,400 7,240,000 340 37,600 79,884,800 5,607,600 30 3,440 1,143,500 4,710 2,880,000 1,334,100 155,000 16,289,500 4,207,800 71,210,900 689,400 17,000 2,491,900 1,268,100 22,800 1,439,000 3,775,600 1,904,000 3,206,070 1,190 41,000 24,000 8,769,600 1,794,500 2,873,900 1,316,780 240,000 590,800 21,445,000 26,943,200 14,000 4,719,950 37,300 4,675,000 243,300 619,000 8,722,000 1,291,000 110,000 85,010 45,000 4,150,000 1,692,000 10,725,280 47,000 10,643,000 245,000

INDUSTRIAL 364,730,775.00 72,582,090.00 1,972,460.00 10,652,530.00 2,689,494.00 1,435,750.00 31,197.00 776,049.00 871,208,280.00 96,293,798 4,056.00 309,412.00 26,741,950.00 274,581 5,539,260.00 9,713,324.00 1,856,962.00 182,959,036.00 29,493,918.00 364,368,062.00 4,451,977.00 30,640.00 53,882,470.00 86,532,505.00 283,072.00 22,555,298.00 22,946,484.00 3,294,800.00 685,749,744.00 90,867.00 93,670.00 90,130.00 262,124,265.00 45,053,010.00 43,422,602.00 344,017,710.00 57,800.00 2,929,612.00 70,204,800.00 265,955,022.00 45,780.00 320,064,032.50 424,400.00 9,674,420.00 1,402,452.00 853,260.00 43,792,370.00 5,683,450.00 317,020.00 19,779,530.00 197,200.00 590,130.00 2,605,210.00 1,831,464,156 213,900.00 18,911,590.00 261,310.00

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

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

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

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

0.395 73.00 13.02 1.19 5.95 0.305 0.320 739.5 8.29 13.40 4.78 8.24 0.185 1185 6.20 70.80 5 7.8 1.4 12.94 0.460 6.5 0.0380 1.140 1.970 2.50 85.40 650.00 1.15 236.600 0.3050 0.1820 0.255

22,720,000 11,640,540 27,261,500 21,000 98,600 1,130,000 10,000 1,856,280 4,575,500 51,594,600 4,800 986,400 450,000 955,430 24,200 10,924,530 2,604,200 43,831,700 85,271,000 27,052,300 60,000 136,229,800 13,800,000 100,000 77,000 26,000 1,922,540 3,114,650 2,234,000 67,770 1,450,000 260,000 1,730,000

HOLDING FIRMS 9,193,600.00 854,550,148.50 353,768,992.00 24,190.00 569,447.00 346,950.00 3,200.00 1,364,291,950 38,411,238.00 693,807,142.00 24,025.00 8,027,376.00 85,530.00 1,121,598,215.00 144,975.00 756,299,280.00 12,893,760.00 339,710,761.00 133,326,020.00 355,701,556.00 27,600.00 868,158,005.00 520,100.00 114,500.00 147,740.00 60,080.00 162,250,952.50 1,962,267,055.00 2,583,540.00 16,196,766.00 430,550.00 48,330.00 459,000.00

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

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

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

Phil. Realty `A’

6.990 1.10 2.200 0.330 33.000 2.93 5.14 0.530 1.09 1.380 0.157 0.540 40.45 0.730 0.137 0.95 1.72 1.17 5.08 3.7 0.144 0.2600 0.410

1,147,000 2,121,000 1,896,000 6,970,000 75,231,100 67,812,000 78,500 63,879,000 2,708,000 20,040,000 7,080,000 10,429,000 6,513,600 184,000 30,000 3,649,000 50,812,000 1,284,000 2,000 129,656,000 74,870,000 470,000 110,000

PROPERTY 8,010,280.00 2,312,410.00 4,031,690.00 2,274,000.00 2,481,049,525.00 198,547,090.00 395,785.00 34,373,230.00 3,270,580.00 28,085,210.00 1,112,430.00 5,568,180.00 279,171,390.00 135,760.00 4,110.00 3,466,220.00 87,705,560.00 1,466,980.00 10,160.00 484,814,320.00 10,384,270.00 123,600.00 46,050.00

NOVEMBER 21-25, 2016 Close Volume Value 3.55 47.8 112.00 90.50 37.95 3.88 1.43

66,000 66,000 6,792,900 5,623,650 122,400 1,933,720 870,000

225,070.00 3,145,700.00 754,121,848 519,374,493.50 4,634,195.00 214,836,550.00 1,239,620.00

16.7 19 0.68 1.78 715.50 0.680 74.75 0.78 14.1 55.20 95 133 252.2 35.8 188.1 1692.00 74.40 1.31

4,800 387,800 90,999 58,000 1,140 38,369,000 26,394,730 549,000 495,900 499,010 1,160 3,070 11,390 1,137,100 4,229,080 1,750 400,760 285,000

79,082.00 7,367,832.00 61,200 104,000.00 816,310.00 27,421,160.00 1,941,082,346.50 432,600.00 6,994,530.00 27,662,498.50 108,465.00 393,928.00 2,921,070.00 40,658,620 815,222,136.00 2,964,015 29,919,581.50 374,950.00

42.9 4.25 0.94 1.31 23 0.190 92 22.70 11.08 17.4 135.6 98.95 23.45 59.05 1.98 7.35 12.14 11.020 7.05 5.15 6.47 1.88 21.7 67.5

9,930,400 12,592,000 4,317,000 2,245,000 1,121,400 1,800,000 5,250 33,200 28,333,300 13,031,800 260 10,980 1,294,900 841,270 646,220 6,766,000 103,600 9,947,300 914,900 52,983,400 739,500 43,000 7,159,900 479,380

422,535,735.00 51,446,350.00 3,915,500.00 2,937,910.00 27,016,285.00 349,300.00 466,843.00 781,020.00 315,283,106.00 226,955,088 36,290.00 1,109,838.00 30,348,495.00 50,273,918 1,311,610.00 50,852,505.00 1,246,438.00 109,796,108.00 6,435,242.00 271,218,092.00 4,833,019.00 76,880.00 158,021,780.00 32,392,437.50

16.00 6 1.740 217.00 85.00 2.44 3.9 29.95 26.5 15.1 266.00 0.250 4.78 3.3 9.16 3 67.6 11.44 2.10 5.80 1.40 4.97 4.40 2.83 215.2 4.15 0.142 1.56 174.1 4.48 1.85 1.07

347,600 956,100 3,996,000 2,514,190 2,460 336,000 31,000 8,937,400 1,277,100 10,181,700 1,255,260 810,000 15,000 11,947,000 13,206,200 3,000 6,164,050 34,800 13,837,000 582,100 711,000 16,346,000 5,908,000 185,000 16,090 36,000 4,390,000 4,216,000 7,172,040 76,000 21,141,000 382,000

5,597,894.00 5,745,420.00 7,135,320.00 534,453,868.00 206,861.50 755,980.00 115,850.00 268,970,260.00 33,679,760.00 152,789,492.00 453,915,080.00 196,770.00 70,440.00 36,716,980.00 121,800,362.00 9,000.00 416,915,215.50 396,334.00 29,127,570.00 3,316,094.00 996,980.00 79,532,220.00 25,992,690.00 527,140.00 3,478,762.00 149,430.00 624,430.00 6,854,930.00 1,266,145,349 323,430.00 40,412,480.00 413,070.00

0.375 75.00 13.10 1.17 5.80 0.320 740.000 728 8.28 12.74 5 8.05 0.181 1217 6.01 71.70 5.2 7.66 1.64 13.64 0.460 6.6 0.0380 1.150 1.860 2.29 83.00 640.00 1.18 240.000 0.2950 0.1840 0.255

1,880,000 5,775,630 41,986,400 112,000 147,500 6,430,000 617,830 1,436,490 13,655,600 41,876,200 87,900 1,130,100 640,000 1,124,850 35,200 5,381,080 1,633,900 4,503,800 142,151,000 7,830,200 100,000 91,695,200 92,600,000 26,000 836,000 93,000 1,218,360 3,260,070 1,491,000 28,960 2,210,000 720,000 3,990,000

704,650.00 428,053,146.50 538,929,302.00 121,960.00 863,320.00 1,994,450.00 418,904,375.00 1,070,525,025 113,468,455.00 562,928,578.00 452,090.00 9,036,117.00 116,730.00 1,294,913,870.00 215,346.00 374,627,573.00 8,111,088.00 34,371,188.00 214,959,870.00 108,101,274.00 46,000.00 600,761,355.00 3,491,100.00 29,940.00 1,554,810.00 205,840.00 98,495,201.50 2,079,551,495.00 1,739,900.00 6,889,186.00 645,050.00 134,140.00 1,076,350.00

7.000 1.09 2.110 0.320 32.350 3.11 5.03 0.550 1.13 1.170 0.162 0.540 48.85 0.710 0.137 0.95 1.71 1.18

303,300 3,338,000 2,111,000 54,190,000 97,046,800 25,944,000 447,300 109,770,000 14,000 1,223,000 20,990,000 18,023,000 2,712,410 1,233,000 2,570,000 6,638,000 113,893,000 3,380,000

2,119,181.00 3,611,980.00 4,503,660.00 17,970,000.00 3,056,447,220.00 81,987,670.00 2,252,047.00 59,443,740.00 15,680.00 1,419,970.00 3,383,040.00 9,578,210.00 132,992,379.00 865,030.00 347,300.00 6,284,370.00 197,155,330.00 3,885,020.00

3.88 0.140 0.2500 0.410

184,530,000 155,180,000 580,000 1,070,000

693,909,020.00 22,622,400.00 146,250.00 446,450.00

STOCKS

NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 2, 2016 Close Volume Value

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

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

33.00 3.11 26.00 1.54 3.25 26.80 1.19 7.1 0.940 5.090

2,700 1,116,000 8,020,000 1,098,000 157,000 45,641,200 235,682,000 6,000 881,000 40,392,800

89,350.00 3,486,420.00 208,791,150.00 1,649,510.00 504,600.00 1,220,799,625.00 287,131,440.00 42,610.00 805,180.00 202,009,098.00

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

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

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

Manila Broadcasting Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

7.6 44.5 1.4 0.540 0.042 10.56 5 6.52 0.0700 2.74 97.8 9.94 6.92 2.86 990 1390 6.15 15.04 1.97 72.65 15.40 121 12.24 0.0096 9.11 0.179 1.3800 3.54 13.48 5.52 2.19 17.30 2 4.21 3.61 2.660 11.32 5.00 2.93 140.00 13.80 1270.00 0.430 1.180 39.70 76.50 5.16 2.50 0.990 3.3 0.330

SERVICES 159,500 1,200,203.00 437,300 19,625,590.00 6,180,000 9,918,340.00 774,000 412,090.00 115,600,000 4,744,600.00 500 5,280.00 9,400 47,161 21,807,300 141,627,740.00 149,370,000 10,119,610.00 17,521,000 49,112,590.00 1,548,330 154,681,658.50 1,300 12,922.00 577,400 3,925,205.00 12,000 34,320.00 2,140 2,054,500.00 495,835 701,918,990 372,900 2,294,466.00 505,300 7,416,538.00 9,952,000 19,974,790.00 7,067,820 512,512,738.00 259,500 4,333,134 1,500 188,680 1,900 22,536.00 1,326,000,000 12,610,700.00 1,961,300 17,875,732.00 17,950,000 3,266,740.00 1,111,000 1,496,770.00 34,000 112,300.00 40,700 539,960.00 14,730,700 82,934,559 21,000 43,360.00 6,200 106,728 261,000 527,950.00 28,637,000 121,097,200.00 6,295,000 22,793,570.00 29,637,000 77,692,510.00 5,900 66,248.00 65,100 323,601 54,000 148,580.00 79,660 11,154,778.00 16,132,700 220,119,258.00 2,264,000 2,899,919,700.00 15,480,000 6,851,100.00 40,066,000 46,409,300.00 2,214,000 87,493,450.00 2,039,570 154,817,650.00 291,100 1,504,233.00 2,925,000 7,341,730.00 135,695,000 131,987,520.00 1,834,000 5,871,890.00 910,000 318,200.00

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

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

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0034 2.93 5.26 2.1800 0.53 0.465 12.50 3.450 0.280 0.193 0.197 0.0120 0.0120 1.9 7.9 3.07 0.5000 1.1700 0.0120 0.0110 4.17 8.66 3.85 0.0130 131.90 2.91 0.0086

813,000,000 1,070,000 6,115,200 65,000 944,000 22,230,000 664,600 59,931,000 377,900 42,150,000 2,470,000 99,900,000 47,800,000 6,576,000 19,405,200 1,951,000 60,000 8,808,000 165,200,000 10,100,000 19,000 4,649,100 14,304,000 125,500,000 1,544,910 418,000 39,000,000

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

44 545 533 104.2 119 540 5.86 1020 1021 1.07 112.4 1080 1160 1037 110 110 77.95 80.6 77.6 78 79.65 79.5 77.65 78.2

639,000 12,510 2,120 70,190 5,000 2,100 81,900 30,620 15,545 737,000 7,600 85 1,000 13,325 2,010 30 34,310 158,610 21,000 1,000 157,800 9,970 99,770 97,300

PREFERRED 28,275,890.00 6,809,900.00 1,128,580 7,319,875.00 595,000.00 1,133,800.00 480,656.00 31,232,400.00 15,895,255.00 788,590 854,240.00 91,800.00 1,160,000.00 13,797,960.00 220,500.00 3,300.00 2,674,627.00 12,818,459.00 1,631,200.00 78,000.00 12,590,693.00 792,615.00 7,777,707.00 7,584,273.00

LR Warrant

2.580

WARRANTS & BONDS 5,792,000 15,343,230.00

MINING & OIL 2,794,800.00 3,100,630.00 32,615,624.00 143,270.00 508,050.00 9,865,550.00 8,607,432.00 211,973,770.00 2,346,050.00 8,253,900.00 708,490.00 1,199,100.00 573,600.00 13,206,520.00 157,749,591.00 6,207,320.00 30,200.00 10,894,390.00 1,892,400.00 111,100.00 75,520.00 39,276,025.00 55,061,650.00 1,531,400.00 202,839,188.00 1,252,340.00 334,600.00

SME 17,346,270.00 1,496,180.00 2,617,590.00 46,318,525.00

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

2.54 2.81 3.5 9.73

6,893,000 532,000 751,000 4,738,200

First Metro ETF

114.1

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 32,490 3,698,954.00

NOVEMBER 21-25, 2016 Close Volume Value 35.30 3.21 27.20 1.55 3.2 26.85 1.02

1,900 2,027,000 6,577,300 709,000 758,000 47,521,300 11,921,000

66,400.00 6,527,360.00 174,145,045.00 1,076,860.00 2,436,630.00 1,250,806,925.00 11,828,130.00

0.930 5.150

2,018,000 15,749,500

1,826,880.00 81,342,568.00

7.65 45.1 1.3 0.540 0.042 11.44 5 6.54 0.0700 2.93 103.4 9.94 6.66

956,100 146,670 394,000 2,496,000 456,200,000 4,800 15,800 52,119,800 149,720,000 31,491,000 1,273,260 10,200 245,100

7,508,027.00 7,188,285.00 549,490.00 1,321,860.00 19,489,100.00 51,966.00 79,030 336,856,781.00 10,775,500.00 91,904,200.00 131,717,303.00 101,123.00 1,645,327.00

954 1450 6.15 14.46 1.99 72.5 18.08 145 12.26 0.0090 9.11 0.190 1.3400 3.53 13.5 5.30 2.13 17.60 2.05 4.1 3.75 2.210 11.2 5.10 2.55 150.00 14.74 1324.00 0.440 1.150 39.30 72.60 5.29 2.58 0.900 3.14 0.335

100 633,000 512,700 1,065,400 16,961,000 2,996,220 507,200 3,120 14,400 52,000,000 2,484,600 66,640,000 1,353,000 13,000 58,700 6,623,900 82,000 35,900 38,000 10,554,000 17,554,000 19,152,000 34,100 145,300 5,000 43,280 45,706,400 661,510 8,920,000 36,565,000 6,168,200 1,314,160 683,700 4,503,000 117,048,000 1,568,000 1,010,000

95,400.00 903,856,465 3,142,404.00 14,691,140.00 34,401,600.00 221,616,819.00 9,199,866 463,417 171,934.00 475,800.00 22,640,880.00 12,201,960.00 1,834,290.00 45,060.00 766,142.00 34,476,393 173,530.00 688,470 76,120.00 43,341,860.00 65,498,090.00 40,119,140.00 384,374.00 732,825 12,750.00 6,491,940.00 583,451,038.00 879,601,135.00 3,815,100.00 41,952,580.00 244,625,375.00 95,477,778.00 3,557,722.00 11,426,820.00 106,180,090.00 4,877,360.00 343,850.00

0.0034 2.85 5.30 2.3000 0.56 0.400 13.50 3.850 0.275 0.209 0.217 0.0120 0.0120 1.96 8.64 3.28 0.4600 1.2800 0.0110 0.0100 3.97 8.14 3.75 0.0130 129.50 3 0.0088

4,508,000,000 697,000 7,301,000 806,000 3,245,000 950,000 3,728,000 54,978,000 8,910,000 107,430,000 9,920,000 78,100,000 3,700,000 13,713,000 37,178,900 7,550,000 7,000 35,916,000 219,600,000 16,500,000 58,600 3,687,600 9,885,000 200,900,000 3,126,780 296,000 3,000,000

16,029,600.00 2,009,280.00 37,786,250.00 1,851,700.00 1,819,930.00 379,350.00 45,303,732.00 208,438,270.00 2,585,750.00 22,428,260.00 2,122,790.00 937,800.00 47,700.00 26,387,690.00 314,111,368.00 25,145,840.00 3,220.00 45,594,820.00 2,314,900.00 169,000.00 364,520.00 30,411,055.00 37,755,940.00 2,391,000.00 409,672,618.00 884,700.00 26,600.00

44.6 544.5 531 104.9 122.7 540 5.9 1025 1024

1,236,200 24,760 20 223,760 10,050 45,120 85,600 12,540 29,290

55,595,020.00 7,947,540.00 10,620 23,415,610.00 1,186,067.00 24,364,795.00 502,816.00 12,820,080.00 29,874,690.00

114 1100 1161 1030 110

15,500 12,235 150 10,190 24,070

1,739,050.00 13,458,500.00 174,150.00 10,488,835.00 2,647,600.00

77.95 80.75 79

37,010 77,570 188,330

2,884,019.50 6,274,588.00 14,792,553.00

79.95 79.5 77.95 77.95

6,200 77,010 68,950 192,250

495,450.00 6,120,315.00 5,358,452.50 15,061,722.00

2.480

3,156,000

7,790,610.00

2.48 2.8 3.41 9.83

5,895,000 419,000 652,000 8,798,000

15,138,510.00 1,176,790.00 2,297,640.00 86,793,112.00

113.6

90,710

10,368,753.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Abra Mining Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Oriental Pet. `A’ Boulevard Holdings Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

STI Holdings Megaworld Philodrill Corp. `A’ Apollo Global

VOLUME 1,326,000,000 813,000,000 235,682,000 165,200,000 149,370,000 136,229,800 135,695,000 129,656,000 125,500,000 115,600,000

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

VALUE 2,899,919,700.00 2,481,049,525.00 1,962,267,055.00 1,831,464,156.00 1,576,501,631.50 1,448,496,241.00 1,364,291,950.00 1,268,333,221.00 1,220,799,625.00 1,121,598,215.00

mitted to the Toll Regulatory Board and Public Works Department an unsolicited proposal to construct an elevated expressway around C5.

C5 Road, the second most important transportation corridor after Edsa, serves as a beltway around the city of Manila as it traverses the cities of Parañaque, Taguig, Makati, Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City and Valenzuela.

No other details were provided on the full concept of the project.

Franco said the company needed to complete first the P8.6-billion NLEx C5-Link Project before undertaking a new elevated expressway in C5 under unsolicited mode.

The 7.85-kilometer C5 link will start from the end of Segment 8.1 at Mindanao Ave. and end at Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.

The C5 link aims to decongest Metro Manila as it would provide alternative access to mainline North Luzon Expressway further east of Metro Manila, bypassing Edsa and Balintawak toll plaza.

Franco said for public private partnership projects, his company was interested in the P14.2-billion CLEX Phase 2 and Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project.

CLEX Phase 2 is an extension of CLEX Phase I and will connect Cabanatuan City to San Jose City, also in Nueva Ecija. Phase 1 will be constructed by the government with funding from the government of Japan.

SMIC raises P15b CONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. successfully raised P15 billion from the sale of seven-year fixed-rate bonds, according to the lead underwriter handling the transaction.

BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said in an interview total demand for SMIC bond offering reached more than P20 billion at the end of the offer period.

Given the strong demand, SM Investments may increase the size of the offering to P20 billion by exercising the P5-billion option in case of over allotment.

“But it will be up to SM Investments if they want to exercise the overallotment,” Francisco said.

The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on Dec. 7.

The seven-year bonds carry an interest rate of 5.159 percent per annum.

The P15-billion bond offering plus P5-billion oversubscription option forms part of the P50-billion bond offering under the company’s shelfregistration program which was earlier approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The remaining P30-billion bonds will be placed in shelf for issuance within the next three years.

Net proceeds from the issuance will be used by SMIC to refinance maturing debt and finance future investments and strategic acquisitions.

The conglomerate said it already identified potential acquisitions and investments.

SMIC booked P22 billion in net income in the first nine months, up 11 percent from the same period last year on solid contributions from property, banking and retail businesses. Jenniffer B. Austria

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Business

TODAY

IN BRIEF Sun Life investing in 2nd infra project SUN Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. said over the weekend it plans to invest in another infrastructure project to increase profit, noting that long-term investments meet the long-term nature of liabilities held by insurance companies.

Sun Life Philippines President and chief executive officer Rizalina Mantaring told reporters the company was looking at long-term investments with higher yield, such as infrastructure projects.

“We’re looking at more infrastructure investments.

This second one is renewable energy,” Mantaring said without identifying the project and citing a non-disclosure agreement.

She said the second infrastructure investment was also looking for opportunities in the Public-Private Partnership program of the government. Gabrielle H. Binaday

B3

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Cusi nixes new feed-in tariff E

By Alena Mae S. Flores

NERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi is not inclined to a third round of feed-in tariff to ease the burden of consumers from high electricity rates.

“As long as I don’t violate anything, I will put a stop to it,” Cusi said, adding he was not endorsing the third round of installation targets sought by the National Renewable Energy Board during the previous administration.

“The succeeding FIT, I don’t want that,” he said. The previous NREB board asked for an additional installation target of 500 megawatts for wind and another 500 MW for solar.

Newly-appointed NREB chairman Jay Layug, however, said the agency was still weighing on a decision to reaffirm or scrap the previous filing with the department.

“No decision yet, I need to convene with the board,” said Layug.

Manila Electric Co., meanwhile, is set to file an intervention to the application of National Transmission Corp. with the Energy Regulatory Commission for a feed-in tariff allowance, or the per kilowatt-hour rate charged to consumers for payment of use of renewable energy, amounting to P0.2291 per kilowatt-hour starting in 2017.

“We intend to intervene in the petition,” Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said.

TransCo is currently collecting P0.1240 per kWh from consumers un-

der the FIT-Allowance line item in the power bills. The rate will be increased to P0.2291 per kWh, if approved by ERC. The amount represents the payment to eligible renewable energy developers totaling P16.488 billion, including under-recoveries in 2016.

TransCo also asked ERC to make permanent its approval of the rate, “or in the alternative, such other amount as may be found by the Commission to be consistent with the FIT-All guidelines and on the basis of new and updated information not heretofore available to the applicant at the time of the present application.”

TransCo based its petition on the most updated list of renewable energy projects that are projected to be eligible under the feed-in tariff system from 2014 to 2018 as provided by the Energy Department.

TransCo also tapped its own database

containing historical information and the available submission of the developers on actual or forecast generation.

The state-owned firm said the department’s list provided the best estimate of the timing of the renewable energy plants. The list, however, does not give preemptive right to the identified projects to be counted under the final feedin tariff eligible projects, not does it limit the payment to these projects.

The company limited the determination of the 2017 FIT-All rate to include eligible capacities up to the installation targets set by the department, namely 500 megawatts for solar, 400 MW for wind, 250 MW for hydro and 250 MW for biomass.

TransCo said it included projects that reached at least 80 percent electromechanical completion, which meant they were certain to operate within the period under consideration.

New trade missions to Korea, Japan set

THE Philippines will hold separate trade and investment meetings with Korea and Japan on the second and third week of December to follow up earlier discussions.

“We’re looking forward for big investments from these two countries,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said at the sidelines of the twoday Livelihood and Employment Summit held recently in Taguig City.

The Korean leg, Lopez said, was an effort to draw in more Korean investors into the Philippines.

The department, meanwhile, will meet with the Bank of Tokyo on the third week for possible cooperation on wholesale financing.

President Rodrigo Duterte made several state visits and trade missions to Asia, bringing home $24 billion of pledges and assistance from China.

Another trade and investment mission will be launched in Russia by early 2017. Othel V. Campos

ANOTHER ORTIGAS MALL. SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading integrated property companies in Southeast Asia, opens its newest mall, SM City East Ortigas, on

December 2, 2016. The latest shopping destination adds more than 80,000 square meters in gross floor area and is suited to offer a fresher and more colorful vibe in the eastern part of Metro Manila. SM City East Ortigas joins SM Prime’s roster of malls in the eastern portion of Metro Manila, such as SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, SM Center Pasig and SM Marikina. There are SM Taytay, SM Masinag, SM Angono and SM San Mateo in Rizal province, all of which reflect the growth and progress in these areas.

CEO Yoling Sevilla of The Leather Collection the company succeed.

IN this new era, women are now being acknowlThey do not approve of edged by the world. The MAUREEN INCIONG products that are just time when women were good or okay but always given fewer opportunities REEN IGHT the best.

Being a woman helps has ended. We already deserve to be treated equally and see that in maintaining the standard operating we exist especially in the business world. procedures of a company and ensures that everything function smoothly. Women We can become great leaders.

This is what I realized when I listened are more hands-on in terms of the perto Ms. Yoling Sevilla’s talk. Having the formance of the company and solving the chance to listen to her makes me feel problems immediately. Although women proud as a woman and empowered to do are more emotional than men, we still the right thing. She is a good example of know our limitations and can be profesa heroine who touches the lives of her sional at all times. Men or women must people and helps them to become better. be treated equally.

Learning from a true CEO Ensuring integral human Therefore, being women should not be development Also, she proves that being a mother is a hindrance to becoming a leader. I adnot a hindrance in doing her work as a mire Ms. Yoling Sevilla in empowering CEO, but a tool in easily taking care and women and giving them equal opportuunderstanding the people around her. She nities while promoting our own culture. uses her maternal love in inspiring them- It is because a true CEO should value her people and help them to improve the selves and making the right decision.

She is a remarkable CEO for her hard quality of their lives. Having a high level work in helping different groups of wom- of integrity helps in building trust with en to make a living. Her priorities not one another.

Also, building relationship within the only focused on profit making but also on raising the standard of living for indig- organization, your family and to God is enous people, and providing equal oppor- what makes you an effective leader. Puttunities for productive employment and ting the Catholic Social Teaching in action will help you in making the right and integral human development.

I was moved by her words as I listened best decision while following God’s path to her and it touched me deep inside. It for you. Lastly, always be just and fair at makes me understand how genuine she all times. is as a person and what makes her a The author is an MBA student at the leader. The Leather Collection’s “HanapBuhay” program is a great example of Ramon V. del Rosario College of Busithe application of her personal values ness. This essay is part of a journal she that she incorporates in the organization. keeps in fulfillment of the requirements of They build relationships and share values the course, Trends and issues in Business with one another. Everyone is allowed to and Management: CEO Series. Visit her talk freely and eat together in the kitchen. blog at https://inciongmau.wordpress.

It is a proof that they value their people com/. as their family and not only because they The views expressed here are the auprovide income to the business. thor’s and do not necessarily reflect the Producing high quality products Furthermore, I believe that producing official position of DLSU, its faculty, and high quality products and services help its administrators.

G

L

Top business leaders meet on key issues TOP business and government leaders will lead a conference on December 8 in Makati City to share their insights on the most important national and economic policies.

Leading the list of speakers from the business sector during the First Pilipinas Conference are Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Corp.; Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.; Enrique Razon Jr., chairman and CEO of International Container Terminal Services Inc.; and Joey Concepcion, chairman and CEO of RFM Corp.

Philippine Stock Exchange president Hans Sicat and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president

George Barcelon will also join the list of speakers in the First Pilipinas Conference, which is organized by private think-tank Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi).

“As the institute’s culminating activity for 2016, we are privileged to organize the First Pilipinas Conference to gather our country’s thought leaders in a forward looking perspective in rare forum for strategic thinking and constructive discussions in the Philippine policy space,” said Dindo Manhit, president of Stratbase ADR Institute.

Speakers from the government side include Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza-

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD IN RE: APPLICATION FOR) ORIGINAL AUTHORITY) TO OPERATE AS AN) INTERNATIONAL AND) DOMESTIC AIRFREIGHT) FORWARDER ) ) AAI LOGISTICS CARGO ) EXPRESS INC., ) Applicant. ) x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - x

CAB CASE NO. EP-2102-16

NOTICE OF HEARING Pursuant to the provision of Republic Act No. 776, as amended, Notice is hereby given that AAI LOGISTICS CARGO EXPRESS, INC. has applied with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) an application for original authority to operate as an International and Domestic Airfreight Forwarder. The application shall be given due course by this Board within five (5) working days from completion of all requirements.

Parties opposed to the granting of this application must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence within ten (10) working days from publication hereof, furnishing a copy of the same to the applicant, and if any so desire, appear before the Board. Failure on the part of any interested party to register its opposition on time shall be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard. Thereupon, the Board shall act upon the application on the basis of the records and documentary evidence presented by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or testimonial evidence.

The applicant is required to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general Circulation, and/or have copy thereof sent to existing airfreight forwarders either by personal service or registered mail with return card at least ten (10) workings days from complete submission of the documentary requirements by applicant.

Let a copy of the application and this Notice be posted in CAB Bulletin Board beginning this day.

November 28, 2016 Pasay City, Philippines

ATTY. MARIA CECILIA C.PAGUIRIGAN Chief, Air Carrier Accounts and Field Audit Division

(MS-DEC. 5 & 12, 2016)

na and Bases Conversion Development Authority president and CEO Vivencio Dizon.

Among the key topics to be discussed are pursuing a federal government structure for the Philippines; the Philippines and Asean’s role in the South China Sea; promotion of foreign investments and enhancements of SMEs; and the Philippine footprint in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Representing the academe during the conference are Dr. Ronald Mendoza of the Ateneo School of Government, Dr. Julio Teehankee of the De La Salle University and Dr. Paul Hutchcraft of the Australian National University.

Republic of the Philippines Deportment of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

Markets and Securities Regulation Department IN THE MATTER OF

: : SHAKEY’S PIZZA : ASIA VENTURES INC. : - Registrantx: - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - - --x :

SEC MSRD Order No.40 Series of2016 Registration of Common Shares (Initial Public Offering)

ORDER OF REGISTRATION Upon consideration of the Registration Statement and other papers and documents attached thereto which were filed on behalf of SHAKEY’S PIZZA ASIA VENTURES INC., the Commission, resolved in its meeting of 18 November 2016 to render effective the same for the registration of One Billion Five Hundred Thirty One Million Three Hundred Twenty One Thousand Fifty Three (1,531,321,053) Common Shares, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 8 and 12 of the Securities Regulation Code.

The shares are broken down as follows: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial 104,000,000 common shares Public Offering unissued shares)

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP11.26 per share

Secondary Offering 202,000,000 (To be offered and sold by way of Initial common share Public Offering, issued shares)

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP11.26 per share

Over-allotment Option 46,000,000 (To be offered and sold pursuant to the common share Over-allot Option, issued shares) Issued and Outstanding Shares (Not included in the Offer and the Over- 1,179,321,053 Allotment Option)

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP11.26 per share

Total

With par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share

1,531,321,053

In this regard and after determining that the company has complied with the required submissions as directed in the Pre-Effective Letter issued on 21 November 2016, the subject Registration Statement is now rendered effective.

Let a Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale be issued in favor of subject company authorizing the sale and distribution of the aforementioned securities.

Let this Order be published at the expense of the Issuer in a newspaper of general circulation and uploaded in its website within two (2) business days from its issuance. The corporation is hereby directed to furnish the Commission with a copy of the affidavit of publication of this Order.

SO ORDERED. EDSA. Mandaluyong City, Philippines, December 1, 2016.

(MS-DEC. 5, 2016)

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

Ministers to discuss debt relief for Greece BRUSSELS, Belgium―Eurozone finance ministers meet Monday as far apart as ever on the debt relief measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund for it to back their bailout program for Greece.

The IMF played a key role in two massive rescues for Greece but balked at a third in 2015, worth 86 billion euros ($92 billion), warning that Athens would never get back on its feet unless its debt mountain was cut outright.

The fund is obliged to only lend to countries that can repay and its head, former French finance minister Christine Lagarde, has faced accusations that she bent the rules in the two previous bailouts to help save the eurozone.

Europe’s largest economy Germany insists meanwhile that Greece must meet all its commitments on spending cuts and tax hikes before measures to reduce a debt mountain equal to some 180 percent of annual economic output can be considered.

“We are going around in circles,” one EU official said, as an end-of-year deadline to resolve the impasse looms large.

The situation is further complicated by differences within the 19-nation single currency bloc. France for example― where public finances are far from healthy―believes Athens should be cut some slack.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and French President Francois Hollande agreed Saturday that “a deal on a technical level is needed by (Monday) and measures for debt relief by the end of the year are imperative.”

During a May review, the European Union and IMF agreed to start discussions on debt relief by end-2016 if Athens met its reform pledges.

The issue turns on a key figure―3.5 percent, the primary balance, or the surplus on the public finances before debt repayments, that Greece is supposed to reach. AFP

Business

Lagarde: Globalization requires inclusive ‘face’ S UPPORTERS of globalization need to develop a new way to promote open markets that relies on smaller trade deals and helps people who are feeling left out, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said.

“I certainly hope there is not a move toward de-globalization,” Lagarde said Friday in an interview with Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait in New York. “I equally think we have to move toward globalization that has a different face, and which is not excluding people along the way.”

In a wide-ranging interview touching on topics from women’s issues to Brexit, Lagarde laid bare the challenges policy makers are facing in a world beset by sluggish growth and a groundswell in anti-trade sen-

timent. With the prospect of a global trade deal seeming like a distant hope, globalization is “clearly taking a different form” than imagined, she said.

“A new framework has to be invented,” she said. “I hope it can be proposed in a sufficiently attractive way that’s compatible with regional or bilateral agreements.”

US stocks have surged since Republican Donald Trump won the US election last month, as investors bet his administration will boost growth by cutting taxes and raising spending on

infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Lagarde welcomed signs of increased infrastructure outlays, while cautioning that it’s “very premature” to predict how the world’s biggest economy will perform under Trump.

Lagarde said she’s increasingly concerned the UK is headed for a “hard” exit from the European Union. “All the noises, all the comments, all the little posturing here and there seem to indicate that we are still looking at a hard Brexit,” she said.

It’s likely negotiations on a new relationship with Europe will take more than two years, she said, adding that uncertainty over the talks is hanging over the British economy, in particular its financial sector.

Some countries also need to stay focused on their own re-

form drives at home, she said.

No matter how Italians vote in a referendum Sunday on the country’s political system, Italy needs substantial changes to reinvigorate growth, including measures to increase productivity and address bad loans in the banking sector, Lagarde said.

Whoever wins next year’s presidential election in France will have to tackle deep problems in the economy, including rigid labor and product markets, she said. France “needs to continue seriously in-depth reforms of its economy.”

The IMF forecasts the global economy will expand 3.1 percent this year before accelerating to 3.4 percent in 2017. Still, it has warned that rising political tensions over globalization are threatening to derail a world recovery that lacks a reliable growth engine. Bloomberg

ASIAN FEEL. LAS VEGAS, NV—A 1.25-ton glass dragon chandelier surrounded by glass orbs hangs from the ceiling as the centerpiece of Lucky

Dragon Hotel & Casino during the property’s grand opening celebration on December 3, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The resort, designed to give visitors an authentic Asian cultural and gambling experience, includes a nine-story hotel with 203 rooms, 27,500 square feet of casino space and five Asian-inspired restaurants. AFP

Opec deal may lead to surge in US shale NEW YORK―With this week’s deal to cut output, Opec is creating incentives for American shale producers to boost output just as the incoming Trump administration vows measures to promote US oil development.

The deal, announced Wednesday by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will cut the cartel’s output by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd).

Oil prices shot up on the announcement, which was more muscular than many analysts expected, boosting prices by nearly 10 percent Wednesday and lifting the US benchmark contract to above than $50 a barrel Thursday.

Opec’s planned production cuts are nearly the same amount US producers trimmed in the wake of a two-year skid in prices.

US output has fallen to 8.5 million a day, down from a peak of 9.6 million barrels a day in April 2015 following cutbacks in West Texas and other key shale-producing regions.

Some believe the Opec deal to boost prices could sow the seeds of its undoing as more US companies boost output in response, which in turn would push prices lower.

US “production could surprise to the upside,” Morgan Stanley said in a note Thursday. “Surprisingly, when asked about this possibility during the press conference it appeared the oil ministers were unconcerned.”

Morgan Stanley predicted it would take six to nine months for the price increase to prompt a supply response in the US, around the same time Opec producers also are The Opec meeting this week also came amid a sea change in US politics as the world’s biggest economy transitions to President-elect Donald Trump, who vowed in the campaign to free the petroleum industry from burdensome restrictions.

During the campaign, Trump promised to open new US lands to petroleum production, approve new pipelines, encourage offshore development and cut regulations on the industry.

That cocktail of domestic policies “could depress oil prices markedly given Trump’s promise,” Oxford Economics said in a research note.

Harold Hamm, the chief executive of shale producer Continental Resources who advised Trump on energy during the campaign, acknowledged the possibility the Opec deal could pose problems for US producers if they restore too much production. AFP

Donald Trump threats may not stop US offshoring of jobs

By Luc Olinga NEW YORK―President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to retaliate against US companies planning to shift operations overseas constitute a new risk for multinationals, but may not sway those already planning to offshore jobs.

Trump laid down the gauntlet on Thursday at a campaign-style rally after striking a deal with Carrier to keep about 1,100 jobs in Indiana in exchange for $7 million in state tax incentives over 10 years.

“Companies are not going to leave the United States any more without consequences.

Not going to happen,” Trump told the cheering crowd.

“They can leave from state to state, and negotiate deals with different states, but leaving the country will be very, very difficult.”

The president-elect did not offer details on how he planned to pressure companies to keep jobs in the United States, but one obvious lever includes the removal of government contracts.

That could make companies that work in defense, public works and public services especially vulnerable to retribution.

“Boeing, for example, would have to play ball if it wants its

government contracts renewed,” said one expert who requested anonymity.

Trump coupled the threat with a promise to make the US a better place for business by cutting taxes and streamlining regulations.

“There are a lot of plans already in place,” said Hal Sirkin, a manufacturing expert at the Boston Consulting Group.

“CEOs are following the news closely and trying to figure out what all of this could mean for their businesses.”

Will threats work?

Some companies said Trump’s broadside was not sufficient to compel a change in plans.

Caterpillar announced in March 2015 it plans to shutter a plant in Joliet, Illinois that makes oil pumps and valves, and move 230 jobs to Mexico.

“We are continuing to execute on the previously announced plan on the stated timeline,” said Matt Lavoie, a spokesman at Caterpillar.

Food giant Mondelez International also signaled it would proceed with plans to relocate hundreds of jobs from an Oreo cookie plant in Chicago to Mexico.

“We have not had any contact with the new administration,” said Mondelez spokeswoman Laurie Guzzinati, adding that the Chicago baker remains an

US President-elect Donald Trump arrives to attend a “Villains and Heroes” themed costume party on December 3, 2016 on Long Island, New York, reportedly hosted by some of his biggest donors. AFP

“important part of our manufacturing network” and that it continues to make Oreos at three US factories.

Not far from Trump’s victory celebration at Carrier in Indiana, the industrial companies Rexnord, CTS Corp. and Manitowoc Foodservice all plan to

shift activities overseas from the Indianapolis area.

Manitowoc opted to close a plant in Sellersburg, Indiana due to a decline in demand for sodadrink dispensers, which had been made there, a spokesman said. Most of the 87 jobs are being moved to Tijuana, Mexico.

“The wind down of the plant is proceeding according to our original schedule,” Manitowoc spokesman Rich Sheffer said.

“Yesterday’s speech did not include anything specific enough for us to reconsider our plans.”

Trump’s plans drew mixed reviews, with United Auto Work-

ers Union president Dennis Williams offering accolades.

“We should use this opportunity to start running a commercial: If it’s not built in America, don’t buy it,” Williams said.

But the Alliance for American Manufacturing, an industrylabor alliance, offered tempered praise. It noted that Friday’s jobs report showed a decline of 4,000 manufacturing jobs in November and called for a crackdown on “unsavory” policies of trade partners.

“While on balance, I believe this week’s Carrier deal was worth doing, it isn’t a practical job creation policy moving forward,” alliance president Scott Paul said.

Senator Bernie Saunders said Trump’s plans were a losing proposal, in part because Carrier will still transfer 1,000 jobs to Mexico. Trump failed to save all 2,100 jobs, as he promised, Saunders said.

Carrier “took Trump hostage and won,” Sanders said in an oped he wrote for The Washington Post.

Trump “endangered” other US jobs, Sanders said, “because he has signaled to every corporation in America that they can threaten to offshore jobs in exchange for business-friendly tax benefits and incentives.” AFP

QC govt explains property tax hike WILL there really be a 500-percent increase in real property taxes in Quezon City?

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and members of the city council behind the resolution to revise fair market values in the city will clear the air on Monday through a press conference at the Executive Lounge of the Legislative Building at Quezon City Hall.

Among the questions expected to be answered by Belmonte and Councilors Allan Reyes (Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means), Alexis Herrera and Raquel Malangen is if the increase in taxes will result in more revenue to help rehabilitate 12,000 drug addicts in QC. Other questions that could be answered are: Will the tax revision help build modern public hospitals? Will it finance the construction of an international convention center in this locality? Will it be used to finance special services to its citizens such as the seniors and PWDs? What are the measures being implemented to cushion the effect of the slight increase in property tax? and How does the QC fair market value (FMV) revision compare with other cities in Metro Manila?

On Wednesday, Belmonte, who presides over the city council, asked councilors to review an ordinance that imposes a .05-percent socialized housing tax on property owners.

Belmonte is batting for a thorough review of Ordinance No. SP-2095 of 2011 to determine if it is still reasonable to continue its implementation on top of the proposed market value adjustment in the land market values.

It has been a few years since we started imposing it to the property owners to raise funds for our socialized housing programs. Is it still prudent to continue implementing it? Did we not achieve our goal of collecting enough funds yet?” she asked.

The ordinance’s review would cushion the impact of the tax increase of property values, she said, and called on the 38-member city council to review the Socialized Housing Tax Ordinance.

Belmonte said she has talked to a lot of property owners who wanted the measure repealed.

“This is one of the mitigating measures we are considering.

Maybe, it would be a big help to the property owners if we’ll review the SHT ordinance first before we consider implementing the proposed revision of our fair market value,” she said.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Biz hub creates 15,000 jobs P

By Ferdie G. Domingo

ALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija—The city government needs to hire up to 15,000 call center agents to meet the demands of the P1.5 billion, new government center and business hub that is set to operate next month.

With two world-class business process outsourcing buildings, the hub is considered the biggest single public private partnership project in Nueva Ecija.

Rizza Lao, public relations officer and marketing consultant of Alloy MTD, the Malaysian conglomerate which financed the project, said the two BPOs that will start operating in January can together accommodate 5,000 call center agents.

“The BPOs will have three shifts so that’s a total of 15,000 call center agents,” Lao said, adding the demand for such type of employees is very high.

Lao said because of this demand, Mayor Adrianne Cuevas is having difficulty recruiting the required manpower for the mega project.

“In fact, only 20 percent of the required number of call center agents have so far been recruited by the city govern-

ment,” Lao said. “And to think that the city government even trained residents specifically for the call center work.”

Lao said Novo Ecijanos employed in call centers in other areas should seize the opportunity and go back home where they may find gainful employment in the twin call centers, which are being compared to the 20-hectare UP-Ayala Land Techno Hub along Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman in Quezon City.

Each call center agent, she added, stands to earn a minimum starting salary of P15,000 a month.

Lao accompanied Alloy MTD officials, led by MTD Philippines president Isaac David, in the ceremonial turn-over of the government center and business hub to the provincial government represented by Gov. Czarina

Umali and the city government led by Cuevas last Wednesday at a 3.4-hectare site in Barangay Singalat in this once laid-back provincial capital located 130 kilometers north of Manila.

A brainchild of Umali’s husband, former three-term governor Aurelio Umali and Cuevas, the hub started construction in 2015, and now consists of the five-story government center and a 75-room hotel, which will open on January 31.

The project is considered a “city within a city” with a onestop shop, and is adjacent to several structures already in place, such as the Provincial Capitol and City Hall, the new onion cold storage plant, the provincial convention center, the Eduardo L. Joson Memorial College and dormitory, a hotel, emergency

PINILI, Ilocos Norte—When the monsoon rains begin to sweep the Philippine archipelago, many farmers from up north in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan down to the hinterlands of Mindanao share a smile.

As abundant as the rains tumble down from June, soon after summer, bamboo shoots start to be plentiful, traditionally used as vegetable food among them and as well in other Southeast Asian countries.

A cultural quipster says that with bamboos in abundance, Filipinos can truly celebrate life.

Officials from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development say the demand at present in the world market for bamboo shoots is “increasing because of their nutritional and health benefits.”

The bamboo shoots – “rabong” in the north of the country and “labong” elsewhere, and described as the King of Forest Vegetables in Japan – have been a traditional vegetable in most parts of this archipelago of 105 million.

In China, the bamboo shoots have been considered a forest vegetable too for the past 2,500 years – delicious and rich in nutrients and ranking among the five most popular healthcare foods in the world.

Agriculture sources say modern research suggests the bamboo shoots have several medicinal

hospital, police station, state university and government offices.

Alloy MTD, the Kuala Lumpurbased conglomerate, built the facility in an area spanning 37,500 square meters in a joint venture with the provincial and city governments.

The BPO buildings are equipped with state-of-the-art air-conditioning facilities and mechanical systems and high speed internet connectivity through fiber optics, a major requirement by call center companies.

Umali said at the heart of the project is the government center, which will be occupied by national offices that are moving from Cabanatuan to Palayan City, part of efforts to consolidate all services, both national and local, in one location, to provide better service to the people.

Czech marks new tourist trails in Negros Occ. TALK about Czech marks on a hiking trail.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila, Mendel University, and Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center recently opened new tourist trails equipped with international marker systems at Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park in Negros Occidental.

With complete regard for its promotion of natural beauty, three color-coded trails using the colors of the Philippine flag were opened from Guintubdan to Buslugan Falls in red, to Oro Falls in yellow, and to Salas Park New Pavillion in blue.

The system is unified across several countries, but is entirely new to the Philippines.

Ladislav Havel, President of Mendel University, and Jan Vytopil, Deputy Head of Czech Embassy in Manila, opened the trail on November 23.

The Marker System installation project would not have been possible without the support of Carmelita Salas, the longest serving Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic whose family roots are in Negros, they said.

Vytopil said the marker system is the most widespread unified system on the world, and Havel stressed that the ease of marking “as well as its low cost, facilitates its use. The markers are basically just three

UNIFIED SIGNS. Mendel University president Ladislav Havel led the opening of the hiking trail equipped with international markets at Mt. Kanlaon.

Czech Embassy

stripes painted on surfaces along the trail.”

In Europe, where hiking is a popular pastime, the trails are usually marked by volunteers, the Czech officials noted.

The increase in inbound international tourists from Europe to the Philippines created the need to have a simple, economical, nationwide and unified system

of tourist markers, they added.

According to Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Jaroslav Olša Jr., the project “aims to let both domestic and foreign tourists explore the other beautiful but lesser known parts of the Philippines.”

The trail usually starts at an easily reachable public place, like a square or park entry,

where the initial guidepost is located with directions marked by colored arrows and distances.

The trail is then marked with basic markers.

Each basic marker is a rectangle sized 10 x 10 cm and consisting of three stripes: white-colorwhite. Four colors are used in between the two white stripes: red and blue to indicate longer

Pinoys ‘celebrate life’ with abundant bamboos

By Honor Blanco Cabie

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benefits, from cancer prevention and weight loss to improving appetite and digestion.

It is also low in sugar, and therefore can be used for treating hypertension, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, these sources say.

Japanese scientists recently discovered that bamboo shoots contain anti-cancer agents, and making them a regular part of the diet effectively eliminates the free radicals that can produce dangerous carcinogens.

They add that with the economic development and the improvement of people’s living standards, demand for natural foods, especially organic food, has greatly increased.

For instance, Moso bamboo does not contain toxic substances, and its products are made in strict accordance with the food safety standards, which makes it an ideal resource for natural foods.

Agriculture sources say the main nutrients in bamboo shoots are protein, amino acid, fat, sugar and inorganic salt.

They are rich in protein, containing between 1.49 and 4.04 grams (average 2.65g) per 100g of fresh bamboo shoots. The bamboo protein produces eight essential and two semi-essential amino acids.

Although the fat content is comparatively low (0.26 to 0.94 percent), it is still higher than in many other vegetables, and the shoots contain rich essential fatty acids.

The total sugar content, 2.5 percent on average, is lower than

KING OF FOREST VEGETABLES. Bamboo shoots, which are delicious and rich in nutrients, contain anticancer agents.

that in other vegetables. The water content is 90 percent or more.

According to PCAARRD, bamboo shoots offer what it calls “promising livelihood opportunities,” and, when mature, “can be extensively grown in a wide range of habitats from lowland to mountain forests in both dry and humid tropics, even on wastelands, swamps, and dry or regularly flooded river banks.”

PCAARRD sources say growing bamboos, which require less

effort and capital, can even be an export earner if cultivated and processed on a commercial scale.

They note that in the Philippines, where bamboo architecture can beautify even the posh residential landscape of some upscale subdivision, most of the commercial bamboo species grown primarily for pole production are also being harvested for their edible shoots.

In the Ilocos region, for instance, and even in the Cagayan

Valley, the Cordilleras, and the Ilokano-speaking parts of Central Luzon, “rabong” cooked with bamboo mushrooms, garlic bulbs and jute mallow leaves is a perennial delicacy that always flirts with the Ilocano palate.

Officials add bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significance in South Asia, South East Asia and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a versatile raw product.

and the most difficult trails, red for summit trails, yellow and green for the easier and interconnecting trails.

The color reference is used for ease of identification and forgoes any confusion with similar colors appearing repeatedly. The markers are ideally painted on fixed objects like trees or stones along the tourist paths.

Informal settlers get safe housing TO PROVIDE decent homes to thousands of informal settlers in Manila, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has partnered with the National Housing Authority to discuss measures to help those living in danger zones.

Following an initial meeting, Estrada said NHA general manager Marcelino Escalada has promised to extend housing assistance to informal settler families located along the railroad tracks, canals, rivers, and creeks and in garbage dumps.

“They’re looking at aiding informal settler families and they promised to help Manila,” Estrada said.

While no concrete plans have been finalized yet, Estrada said he and Escalada have discussed certain steps to be taken to “rescue” the hundreds of thousands of ISFs that live perilously along the banks of the creeks and other identified high-risk areas.

“Manila is a capital city and yet we have the most number of informal settlers,” the mayor lamented.

“It is our desire to come to the aid of those families living in such danger zones. After all, everyone has the right to adequate and safe housing and shelter.”

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

LGUs

33 small scale mining areas eyed B

AGUIO CITY—The Mines and Geosciences Bureau is studying 33 applications for Minahang Bayan or small-scale mining areas in several mineralrich areas in the Cordillera Autonomous Region before endorsing them to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for approval.

Engineer Fay W. Apil, MGBCAR regional director, said the applications have been sent to Environment Secretary Regina

Apayao and Abra, which have identified mineral-rich areas.

“The applicants will undergo the prescribed processes for the declaration of their desired areas as Minahang Bayan sites after the office of the Environment Secretary shall have granted them the green light to proceed with the processing of their pending applications,” Apil stressed.

Under the guidelines of Executive Order No. 79, applicants for MinaLopez for clearance.

Apil said the Minahang Bayan hang Bayan areas are required to go applications came from Benguet, through the free and prior informed Kalinga, Mountain Province, consent process under the guide-

lines of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Owing to the tedious requirements under the existing guidelines, rules and regulations for addressing the concerns of sustainable livelihood for small-scale miners, and the preservation and protection of the state of environment, it was better for the Minahang Bayan applicants to go through the process now, Apil said.

Aside from having to secure the consent of the affected indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities in their domain, Mi-

nahang Bayan applicants are also required to secure the consent of private individuals who own the lands that will be affected by their small-scale mining operations.

Minahang Bayan applications must go through Lopez’s office twice, the first one for seeking clearance for the mining application and the second one for the applications to be submitted to the Secretary for approval, Apil said.

This happens after the applicants shall have complied with all the pertinent requirements that will guarantee the operation

of the Minahang Bayan sites in the different provinces.

Establishing Minahang Bayan areas in various parts of the country will help in regulating the illegal operations of smallscale miners in the different mineral-rich areas, said Apil.

It would also help in scaling up the efforts of government to preserve and protect the environment and generate more income of the State from the exploitation, use and development of its natural resources within the domain of IPs and ICCs nationwide. Dexter A. See

Beauty queen to help tourism

IN COMMAND. General Raul F. Farnacio, Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in the Eastern Visayas, calls on his troops to join the effort to end violence against women in a ceremony at the 8ID headquarters at Camp General Vicente Lukban in Catbalogan City, Samar. Mel Caspe

Health National Museum features Sagada weaving caravan finishes rounds LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The “I Love Pangasinan” Kalusugan Karavan recently visited Balangay in Urbiztondo town, benefitting hundreds of residents, as the mobile health caravan launched by the province led by Gov. Amado I. Espino III wrapped up its November schedule.

Pangasinan First Lady Karina Padua-Espino told residents during the caravan’s 12th leg held at Balangay Elementary School that the provincial government is unwavering in its vision to make Pangasinan “the home of the healthiest Fiipinos.”

The Provincial Health Office which supervises the Kalusugan Karavan, remains keen and inspired in bringing health services closer to barangays, Espino added.

“We shall visit all barangays in Pangasinan to bring the Kalusugan Karavan,” said Espino, who thanked the Urbiztondo local government and the Balangay barangay council for their warm reception.

Espino also led the distribution of rolls of olyset net or insecticidetreated nets to school administration; Gerry cans, hyposol and insecticide to barangay officials; sanitation hygiene kits to pregnant women; school supplies and slippers to school children; and tokens to senior citizens.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat namin kay Governor Espino at dinala nya dito ang health caravan na nakatulong sa aking mga ka-barangay,” Captain Herlando Arambulo of Balangay said.

Urbiztondo Mayor Martin Raul Sison II also checked on the free-of-charge services offered to the residents: medical and dental check-up (which include tooth extraction), maternal health services, chest x-ray and sputum test. Dexter A. See

BONTOC, Mountain Province— The National Museum of the Philippines will feature the weaving industry of the Municipality of Sagada in the form of a video documentary to promote its locally made hand crafted textiles.

The Provincial Government of Mountain Province, in partnership with MAPPCO, is optimistic this activity of the National Museum will help boost pro-

motional and awareness efforts for the masterful creations of weaving products that made this northern Philippine province known for.

This is part of the National Museum and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda’s advocacy and support to local weavers following the recent celebration of the Museums and Galleries and Indigenous People’s Month.

Researchers from the National

Museum of the Philippines recently visited leading Sagada weaving businesses for validation and documentation.

These weavers include, Sagada Weaving, Sagada Sunrise and Katagowan Weaving.

They were accompanied by representatives of the Provincial Government of Mountain Province, a local weaver, Isabel Masliyan of Sagada Sunrise and Mountain Province Arts and Craft

Producers, Food Processors and Consolidators Organization president, Winifred G. Cue. Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council Focal Person, Brenda R. Tabbang said that these kinds of opportunities are important in showcasing Sagada’s potential as a major supplier of locally designed and handcrafted weaving products. Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY—Reigning Miss International Kylie Versoza will actively help in promoting not only the tourist destinations in this city but also Baguio’s local delicacies to the different parts of the world.

Versoza, who received a hero’s welcome through a wellattended motorcade around the city’s central business district area, said Baguio being a center of trade and commerce in Northern Luzon also serves as the home of sumptuous Ilocano and Cordillera delicacies, which people from the different parts of the world will surely love.

“We are grateful to our city officials and residents for the warm welcome that they accorded us. I am proud to be a home-grown Baguio resident,” Versoza stressed.

Tourists want to visit a certain place because of the presence of good food, the beauty titlist said, and Baguio is one of the places that is well known for good food, being adjacent to Benguet, the source of highland vegetables in the country.

Versoza expressed confidence that the 24 contestants of the Miss Universe beauty pageant who will visit the city next year “will surely love the good food that will be served to them by the local organizers.”

She proposed that the beauty pageant contestants be provided with the local delicacies—such as pinakbet with bagnet, chicharon, and other native Cordillera food— for them to appreciate and help spread word of Baguio as an ideal tourist destination. Dexter A. See

NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.

A four-storey building with 12 classrooms adds to the list of completed infrastructure projects for schools constructed by the local government of Muntinlupa.

Rep. Ruffy Biazon and Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the inauguration of the new building as a Senior High School facility in Muntinlupa Science High School, Tunasan on Friday.

Ilocos offering athletic scholarships next year TO PROVIDE more educational opportunities to Ilocano youth, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte will be offering “Sirib” athletic scholarships starting school year 2017-2018.

Through Provincial Ordinance No. 005-2016 sponsored

by Senior Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc, about 50 athletes will be added to the province’s scholarship program

beneficiaries.

“We’re happy to provide another opportunity for our youth that are not only academic or community-oriented, also now with sports. I hope it will encourage youth to play sports and become scholars,” Manotoc said.

Under the program, underprivileged yet deserving youth athletes will be able to continue their studies until college while

enhancing their skills and talents in their respective fields.

Elementary and high school scholars will be given P6,000 per school year while college scholars will receive P31,300 for two semesters.

Beneficiaries will be chosen based on their athletic performances, need for financial assistance, and willingness to finish their studies.

Manotoc added that out-ofschool youth are encouraged to avail of the scholarships.

Each beneficiary must maintain at least 80 percent grade average without failing grades. He or she must also render at least 30 hours of community service to the province.

Next year, the first provincewide summer youth sports program will be held to promote

overall wellness, “encourage Ilocano youth to start playing sports and become active, as well as discover potential athlete beneficiaries of the Sirib athletic scholarship,” said Manotoc.

The provincial government also offers Sirib Academic Scholarship, Sirib Young Leaders Scholarship, and Sirib Community Leaders Scholarship through the Ilocos Norte Youth Office.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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IN BRIEF Body parts from plane recovered JAKARTA―Authorities have recovered body parts and debris in waters where an Indonesian plane carrying police went missing, officials said Sunday, raising fears over the fate of the flight’s passengers and crew.

The M28 Skytruck plane carrying 13 people lost contact with air traffic control Saturday during a flight from Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Belitung province to Batam in the Riau Islands province in western Indonesia.

Airplane seats and suitcases along with body parts were recovered by fishermen off Riau Islands Saturday afternoon rescue officials told AFP. “We sent three body bags last night, the body parts were not intact... they are now in the Bhayangkara hospital in Batam,” said Bambang Soelistyo, the head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency.

He added that search and rescue efforts would continue for another week.

Indonesia has a poor aviation safety record and has experienced several air disasters recently. AFP

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

Italians voting for change R

OME―Italians went to the polls Sunday in a constitutional referendum on which reformist Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has staked his future.

Whatever the outcome of a vote being anxiously watched in capitals across Europe and carefully scrutinised on trading floors around the world, it will lead to change.

If the centre-left Renzi’s proposals to streamline a 68-year-old parliamentary system are voted down, he has vowed to resign.

That would usher in a period of political uncertainty and potential economic turmoil for the country and its European Union allies.

The most apocalyptic scenarios involve a crisis of investor confidence causing the failure of a rescue scheme for Italy’s most indebted banks, triggering a broader crisis across the eurozone.

But markets last week, while jittery, appeared to have discounted that risk.

If Renzi wins, the country’s youngest ever prime minister will be energised in his bid to transform Italy.

Critics say Italy will have been deprived of democratic checks and balances put in place in the aftermath of World War II following the disastrous rule of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

Victory for Renzi will mean a new mandate to pursue reforms he sees as key to unshackling Italy’s creativity from the influence of a self-serving political caste that has exploited institutional weakness to stymie change.

“If we miss this chance it won’t come back for 20 years,” he warned voters before campaigning was suspended at midnight on Friday.

Italians appear to realise how much is at stake.

Voters, who have been known to head to the beach rather than the ballot box when less important referendums have fallen on a sunny day, have spent weeks passionately embracing the pros and cons of the proposed reforms.

A bumper turnout looks like the only prediction anyone can make with any certainty, as polls have been banned since November 18.

Up until then the “No” camp was leading comfortably -- but with a quarter of the electorate undecided, Renzi is counting on a silent majority of shy reformers to pull off a surprise turnaround.

After the Brexit and Donald Trump victories, populism has been a factor, and the Five Star Movement led by comic Beppe Grillo would see a “No” vote as its stepping stone to government.

But the campaign has also sent many voters back to their high school textbooks to reconsider the merits of a much-loved constitution, producing an invigorating national discussion that has recalled Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum more than the rhetorically-charged Brexit or US presidential debates.

Renzi wants to drastically scale back the size and powers of the parliamentary second chamber, the Senate.

Under his proposed reform, a body of 315 directly-elected and five lifetime lawmakers will become one with only 100 members, mostly nominated by the regions.

The body would also be stripped of most of its powers to block and revise legislation, and to unseat governments. AFP

Ex-astronaut Buzz Aldrin recovering CHRISTCHURCH―Retired US astronaut and the second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, was recovering after his medical evacuation from Antarctica but is not yet able to return home, his manager Christina Korp said Sunday.

“He still has some congestion in his lungs so has been advised not to take the long flight home to the States and to rest in New Zealand while it clears up,” Korp said in a statement.

Aldrin, 86, was evacuated to a hospital in Christchurch on Friday after experiencing health problems while on a trip to the South Pole.

“He now holds the record as the oldest person to reach the South Pole He’ll be insufferable now,” Korp quipped in a tweet.

Aldrin said his primary interest in visiting the South Pole was to experience and study conditions similar to life on Mars and to speak to National Science Foundation staff based in Antarctica. AFP

Trump sends dismissive tweet WASHINGTON―Presidentelect Donald Trump sent a dismissive tweet in response to a comedy sketch that mocked his penchant for sending tweets.

Trump again lambasted the show “Saturday Night Live,” on which he is played by actor Alec Baldwin.

But whereas on other occasions Trump has tweeted his criticism the next morning, this time he fired away before the show ended.

“Just tried watching Saturday Night Live - unwatchable! Totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just can’t get any worse. Sad,” Trump wrote.

In the latest sketch, Trump is gently chided by aides for sending retweets, one from a high school student, during a national security briefing.

Actress Kate McKinnon’s Kellyanne Conway, a Trump strategist, said the president-elect tweets a lot to “to distract the media from his business conflicts and all the very scary people in his cabinet.” AFP

Nine bodies recovered from Oakland blaze OAKLAND―Some of the people unaccounted for in the devastating fire in a warehouse near San Francisco have been found alive, authorities said Saturday.

Dozens of people were still reported missing after the blaze engulfed a two-story warehouse in Oakland as a concert was underway there late Friday.

Nine bodies have been recovered. Up to 40 people are still feared dead in the fire as workers picked through the rickety warehouse, which was used by artists and musicians.

Firefighters withdrew from the building to shore it up when part of the fragile structure and some of the walls began to move.

Sergeant Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s department said at a news conference that about two dozen people who were reported missing had been located. AFP

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PREMIERE. Actress Reese Witherspoon attends the Universal Studio premiere of ‘Sing’ in Los Angeles on December 3, 2016. AFP

‘Suu Kyi must stop Rohingya genocide’ KUALA LUMPUR―Aung San Suu Kyi must step in to prevent the “genocide” of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Malaysia’s prime minister said Sunday as he mocked the Nobel laureate for her inaction.

Addressing a 5,000-strong rally in Kuala Lumpur, Najib Razak said the Myanmar government must stop the bloody crackdown in its far west that has sent thousands of Rohingya fleeing, many with stories of rape, torture and murder.

“What’s the use of Aung San Suu Kyi having a Nobel prize?” Najib asked a raucous crowd.

“We want to tell Aung San Suu Kyi, enough is enough... We must and we will defend Muslims and Islam,” he said as supporters chanted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greater”).

“We want the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) to act.

“Please do something. The UN do something. The world cannot sit and watch

genocide taking place,” said Najib.

More than 10,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in recent weeks, the United Nations said on Wednesday, escaping a bloody army crackdown in the north of Rakhine state.

Arrivals in Bangladesh have told AFP horrifying stories of gang rape, torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar’s security forces.

Myanmar has denied allegations of abuse, but has also banned foreign journalists and independent investigators from the area.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has recently upped its criticism of Myanmar for its handling of the crisis.

Last month it summoned the Myanmar ambassador, while around 500 Malaysians and Rohingya marched to the embassy in the Malaysian capital carrying banners denouncing the “genocide.”

A senior minister has called on ASEAN, the ten-country Southeast Asia bloc, to

Relatives of fire victims anxious OAKLAND―Fire crews in California worked into the night Saturday sifting through the remains of a warehouse gutted by a blaze during a rave party, with officials saying they fear the death toll could reach 40.

Relatives of dozens of people missing in the Friday night blaze in Oakland near San Francisco continued their anxious wait for news. Nine people are confirmed dead so far.

The rickety two-story warehouse was used by artists as a living and work space but had no license for this, officials said, nor for the electronic dance party under way when the blaze broke out. The cause was not yet known.

Firefighters said the building seemed to have no sprinklers or smoke detectors.

Orange flames shot through the roof as the fire burned for hours and thick smoke billowed into the

sky. The roof collapsed onto the second floor, which officials said was connected to the ground floor only by a makeshift system of wooden pallets.

Firefighters had to pull out of the building to shore it up when part of the fragile structure and some of the walls began to move.

Sergeant Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s department told an evening news conference that about two dozen people who were reported missing had been located.

But at least two dozen more remain missing, he said.

“We don’t know how far into the process we are, because we don’t absolutely have a number of people that we know are deceased inside of there,” he said.

An official at his office, who declined to be named, said early Sunday the death toll could rise to 40 or even higher. AFP

review Myanmar’s membership, while a strongly worded statement from the foreign ministry Saturday accused Myanmar of engaging in “ethnic cleansing.”

But analysts said Sunday the issue is a convenient smokescreen for Najib, who is fighting allegations he took part in the looting of billions of dollars of public cash through state fund 1MDB. Both he and the fund deny any wrongdoing.

James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, told AFP that Najib “is there (at the rally) to boost his standing as an Islamic leader,” with a general election looming.

“Najib is looking for anything to make him look good and the Rohingya issue is simply a tool,” said Bridget Welsh, a Malaysia politics expert with Turkey’s Ipek University. AFP She added that if Najib’s government really cared for the Rohingya, they would “reexamine their own treatment of the

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD IN RE: APPLICATION FOR) ORIGINAL AUTHORITY) TO OPERATE AS AN) INTERNATIONAL AND) DOMESTIC AIRFREIGHT) FORWARDER ) ) AAI LOGISTICS CARGO ) EXPRESS INC., ) Applicant. ) x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - x

CAB CASE NO. EP-2102-16

NOTICE OF HEARING Pursuant to the provision of Republic Act No. 776, as amended, Notice is hereby given that AAI LOGISTICS CARGO EXPRESS, INC. has applied with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) an application for original authority to operate as an International and Domestic Airfreight Forwarder. The application shall be given due course by this Board within five (5) working days from completion of all requirements.

Parties opposed to the granting of this application must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence within ten (10) working days from publication hereof, furnishing a copy of the same to the applicant, and if any so desire, appear before the Board. Failure on the part of any interested party to register its opposition on time shall be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard. Thereupon, the Board shall act upon the application on the basis of the records and documentary evidence presented by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or testimonial evidence.

The applicant is required to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general Circulation, and/or have copy thereof sent to existing airfreight forwarders either by personal service or registered mail with return card at least ten (10) workings days from complete submission of the documentary requirements by applicant.

Let a copy of the application and this Notice be posted in CAB Bulletin Board beginning this day.

November 28, 2016 Pasay City, Philippines

ATTY. MARIA CECILIA C.PAGUIRIGAN Chief, Air Carrier Accounts and Field Audit Division

(MS-DEC. 5 & 12, 2016)

Republic of the Philippines Deportment of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

Markets and Securities Regulation Department IN THE MATTER OF

: : SHAKEY’S PIZZA : ASIA VENTURES INC. : - Registrantx: - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - - - - --x :

SEC MSRD Order No.40 Series of2016 Registration of Common Shares (Initial Public Offering)

ORDER OF REGISTRATION Upon consideration of the Registration Statement and other papers and documents attached thereto which were filed on behalf of SHAKEY’S PIZZA ASIA VENTURES INC., the Commission, resolved in its meeting of 18 November 2016 to render effective the same for the registration of One Billion Five Hundred Thirty One Million Three Hundred Twenty One Thousand Fifty Three (1,531,321,053) Common Shares, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 8 and 12 of the Securities Regulation Code.

The shares are broken down as follows: Primary Offering (To be offered and sold by way of Initial 104,000,000 common shares Public Offering unissued shares)

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP11.26 per share

Secondary Offering 202,000,000 (To be offered and sold by way of Initial common share Public Offering, issued shares)

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP11.26 per share

Over-allotment Option 46,000,000 (To be offered and sold pursuant to the common share Over-allot Option, issued shares) Issued and Outstanding Shares (Not included in the Offer and the Over- 1,179,321,053 Allotment Option)

At an initial public offering price of up to PhP11.26 per share

Total

With par value of One Peso (PhP1.00) per share

1,531,321,053

In this regard and after determining that the company has complied with the required submissions as directed in the Pre-Effective Letter issued on 21 November 2016, the subject Registration Statement is now rendered effective.

Let a Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale be issued in favor of subject company authorizing the sale and distribution of the aforementioned securities.

Let this Order be published at the expense of the Issuer in a newspaper of general circulation and uploaded in its website within two (2) business days from its issuance. The corporation is hereby directed to furnish the Commission with a copy of the affidavit of publication of this Order.

SO ORDERED. EDSA. Mandaluyong City, Philippines, December 1, 2016.

(MS-DEC. 5, 2016)

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

World

Raul vows to uphold brother’s revolution S ANTIAGO DE CUBA―Cuban President Raul Castro pledged Saturday to uphold his brother Fidel’s socialist revolution at a massive rally in honor of the communist icon before his burial.

Tens of thousands of flag-waving supporters recited the oath with Raul Castro at the Revolution Plaza of Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of Fidel’s guerrilla struggle.

“He demonstrated that yes we could, yes we can, yes we will overcome any obstacle, threat, turbulence in our firm resolve to build socialism in Cuba,” he said.

“In front of Fidel’s remains ... we swear to defend the fatherland and socialism,” said Castro, who took over when his brother fell ill in 2006.

“Fidel! Fidel! Until victory, always!” Castro said at the evening rally attended by a few foreign leaders, including Cuba’s leftist

Latin American allies from Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua, but also figures such as Argentine football legend Diego Maradona.

Capping a nine-day mourning period, Castro’s ashes will be interred on Sunday during a “simple” ceremony at Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, near the mausoleum of 19th-century independence hero Jose Marti, his brother said.

But Castro said that before dying at the age of 90 on November 25, his brother requested that no monuments or statues be erected in his honor, and that no streets or buildings be named after him.

Legislation will be presented at the next national assembly, which meets later in December, to fulfill

his dying wish, Castro said.

“The leader of the revolution rejected any manifestation of a cult of personality,” Raul Castro said.

While he was an omnipresent figure in the lives of Cubans after taking power in 1959, Fidel Castro always opposed the construction of statues of his likeness and no streets or buildings are named after him in the country.

Castro’s death has fueled speculation over the direction the country may take without the man who ruled for almost half a century and left behind a divisive legacy.

Tearful supporters have cheered him for the free education and health care he developed on the island, while detractors call him a brutal dictator who imprisoned dissidents and ran the economy into the ground.

After Fidel is laid to rest, all eyes will turn to Raul Castro’s next move.

While he pledged to defend the socialist revolution, the president

has implemented modest economic reforms, vowed to step down in 2018 and restored diplomatic ties with the United States.

“No longer under the shadow of his older brother, Raul may now feel freer to pursue the modest economic reforms he initiated in the last decade,” said Jorge Duany, director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Castro has been hailed in almost religious terms since his death, with the communist party newspaper Granma calling him the “eternal comandante.”

A convoy carrying a cedar urn containing his ashes had arrived in Santiago earlier in the day following a four-day, 900-kilometer (560-mile) funeral procession across the country.

Children in school uniforms, veterans in military fatigues and entire families waved Cuba’s flags and chanted “Fidel!” to greet the “caravan of freedom.” AFP

Vietnam split over mourning for Castro HANOI―Flags flew at half mast in government buildings in communist Vietnam Sunday, as the country marked a day of national mourning for Fidel Castro -- an honor of the highest accord that has divided public opinion.

Cuba’s revolutionary leader Castro died last week at age 90, prompting an outpouring of grief in Vietnam where officials hailed him as a communist brother and comrade.

The Cuban embassy in Hanoi has filled with flowers from mourners since his death.

On Sunday, state offices across the country flew blackribboned flags at half-mast while authorities called on entertainment venues to suspend activities for the day.

But the national day of mourning -- afforded in the past only to the most senior Vietnamese politicians or war heros -- has not been universally welcomed.

“He is not Vietnamese. We owe him for his support, but a day of national mourning is a bit too much,” 25-year-old office worker Nguyen Luu Huong told AFP. “It’s ridiculous,” businessman Hoang Bau added. “I am sure many Vietnamese do not care about it.”

Vietnam is an authoritarian state where people are cautious about speaking out in public against the government.

On social media, where many Vietnamese feel less constrained, disapproving comments abounded.

“There is no laws for the Communist Party to ask the nation to mourn a foreigner, whoever that person is,” said activist Le Dung.

“I do not support this decision at all,” he told AFP. In contrast, state-run media was filled with supportive comments saying a day of mourning for Castro was appropriate given he was one of the earliest and most steadfast supporters of Ho Chi Minh’s communist revolution in Vietnam.

“Fidel Castro has been very devoted to our Vietnam, so a day of national mourning for him is worthy,” wrote reader Bui Ta Vinh on the website of Tuoi Tre newspaper.

Cuba and Vietnam maintained strong ties even after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, despite the 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles) that separates the two countries. AFP

LAUNCHING. Mariah Carey and Cydnee Black attend M.A.C Cosmetics Mariah Carey Beauty Icon Launch at Baccarat Hotel on December 3, 2016, in New York City. AFP

US woman claims gang-rape in Delhi NEW DELHI―A US woman has told police she was gang-raped at a top hotel in the Indian capital during a visit earlier this year -- the latest in a series of alleged sexual assaults against tourists.

Delhi police launched a formal investigation Saturday after receiving a direct complaint from the woman, who is in the United States and had initially contacted them through an email by a USbased NGO. “The police have registered a case of rape and will now verify all aspects of the woman’s complaint,” Joint Commissioner of police Mukesh Meena told AFP. “We had received the email (from the US-based NGO) earlier but could register a case only after getting a direct complaint from the woman late Saturday,” the officer added.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj urged police to “bring guilty to book” after initial media reports of the incident.

“I have also asked Indian Ambassador in US to contact the victim and assure her that we will not spare the guilty,” she tweeted on Saturday.

Local media reports, citing police

sources, said the woman had travelled to India in April but cut her visit short after the alleged crime.

The woman has complained that her local tour guide, who had access to her room, gave her a spiked bottle of water and raped her with four other acquaintances inside her hotel room.

“She said that after having water from the bottle, she started feeling dizzy. Then four other men... entered the room and locked it,” a report in the Sunday Times of India said.

Police are now verifying the woman’s timeline and tracking the suspects, including by checking security camera footage from the hotel.

Sexual attacks on tourists in India are widespread, with several western countries warning visitors about the risk.

A 35-year-old Japanese tourist was raped in southern India last month.

Last year a Japanese woman was drugged and raped by a tourist guide in the western city of Jaipur, less than a month after six men gang-raped a 22-year-old Japanese tourist in the eastern city of Kolkata. AFP

Syrian refugees cope with day-to-day life GRAND OPENING. A 1.25-ton glass dragon chandelier surrounded by glass orbs hangs from the ceil-

ing as the centerpiece of Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino during the property’s grand opening celebration on December 3, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The resort, designed to give visitors an authentic Asian cultural and gambling experience, includes a nine-story hotel with 203 rooms, 27,500 square feet of casino space and five Asian-inspired restaurants. AFP

Homeless dine out for free in Madrid MADRID―It is early evening at a restaurant in central Madrid and Jose Silva sits down for a meal of rice, meatballs and vegetables as waiters flit from one table to another.

All very normal, except for one crucial detail: Silva, 42, cannot afford to pay.

He lives rough under the platform of a cable car station in Madrid’s sprawling Casa del Campo park, one of dozens of homeless people who have started dining for free at the “Robin Hood” restaurant that opened this week.

The project is the brainchild of the “Messengers of Peace” association, led by Angel Garcia, a 79-year-old rebel priest with a thick head of white hair and kind-

ly smile known for his charity work and alternative church.

By day, the restaurant charges regular customers for breakfast and lunch with an 11-euro ($11.7) menu, subsidising the same meal for the homeless at night, even if the association will likely have to step in with some funds.

Garcia has plans for three more such eateries in Madrid and other parts of Spain, where one in five people live close to the poverty line after a devastating economic crisis.

“It’s really good,” says Silva as he cuts up his meatballs, sporting a “GAP” sweatshirt he got as a handout -- a welcome improvement, he adds, from the cold sandwich he usually has for dinner at the nearby Catholic church of

Father Angel, as Garcia is known.

Once finished, he walks out of the warm eatery with its interior brick wall and chandeliers, back into the December cold.

As he leaves, others enter the 50-seat restaurant, some parking their trolleys in front of the bar at the entrance before sitting at tables with white tablecloths and red napkins.

“It’s about giving more dignity to the people who need it,” Garcia tells AFP days before the restaurant opening, sitting dressed in a smart suit in his San Anton Church in Chueca, the capital’s gay district.

Next to him, homeless or cashstrapped men and women drink hot coffee and munch on pastries for breakfast. AFP

LAVAL, Canada―Welcomed with open arms -- some even received coats from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself -- the Syrian refugees who arrived in Canada a year ago are now facing their share of difficulties.

Among them, 50-year-old Fahed Fattouh came with his wife and their two children after they fled the war-battered city of Aleppo via Beirut in 2012.

They made it to Canada on an airlift organized by the government in December 2015, some of the 35,000 Syrians who have resettled here over the past year.

The family has been making ends meet until now thanks to financial aid from Fattouh’s brother-in-law, who has lived in Quebec for 25 years.

A urologist and forensic pathologist by training, Fattouh has had to start again from scratch.

“I have 25 years’ experience but I can’t work,” he says. “I don’t know what to do.”

As the family’s sponsor, the brother-in-law made a commitment to the government to cover his relatives’ needs for a year. The

cost of housing, food and administrative services comes to around about Can$30,000 ($22,600).

Fattouh, his wife Jouli and their two children -- 11-year-old Sparta and 8-year-old Adeeb -- live in a furnished apartment in Laval, in the suburbs north of Montreal.

“Canada is the only country in the world that permits its citizens to adopt refugees,” says Stephan Reichhold, director of a coalition of around 100 groups that help immigrants resettle in Quebec.

For many of them, he added, the thirteenth month -- when they must start to fend for themselves -- is a source of profound financial anxiety.

Not for Fattouh, however, who is counting on his brother-inlaw’s continued generosity.

“Money is important, but it is okay,” he says.

His biggest problem is finding work.

To practice medicine in his new home country, he would have to retake at least five years of medical school and then pass three exams because the Quebec medical bar does not recognize his degrees. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

FOOD

D1

LIKE A ROYALTY. Steveston’s bestselling Princess Pizza made of light, fluffy crust and topped with tiger prawns. crab meat, cheese, shrimp, essence of pernod, and tomato salsa.

L

IKE hamburger and fries, pizza has become a favorite food among Filipinos. Through the years, Filipinos’ taste buds have become so accustomed to pizza’s standard flavors, like Hawaiian, ham and cheese, and pepperoni.

Sadly, with those flavors in the menu of most pizza restaurants, having one for lunch or dinner has become a ho-hum, ordinary experience.

That was before Steveston Pizza came to the Philippines in 2013. The artisanal pizzeria came from Vancouver, Canada.

There guests enjoy the crafted pizzas bursting with quality and flavor.

“Steveston Pizza does not create ordinary pizzas. Our pizzas are not made but are crafted. Our ingredients are chosen in such a way that together they produce a harmony of flavors and it is almost a re-imagining of what a pizza may taste like,” says Richard Go, owner of Steveston Pizza Philippines.

Indeed, Steveston Pizza has elevated the humble and ordinary pizza into a work of art, so says, Go. Guests know the difference between an ordinary pizza and a Steveston pizza with just one look and a quick bite.

“The pizza crust is light, fluffy and chewy, not thin, crunchy or crispy; it is neither thick, starchy nor gummy. All our ingredients are fresh and of the utmost quality. For example, our pineapples are always fresh and never canned,” he says.

Steveston Pizza has become a destination in itself. There are unique and delicious pizza flavors, currently more than 30. Guests experience the flavors of the world under one roof.

Among the best-sellers are the Princess Pizza, which has tiger prawns, crab meat, cheese, shrimp, essence of pernod and tomato salsa, and the C2 pizza, which features prosciutto ham, brie, semi-dried roma tomatoes and a dollop of roasted garlic mousse.

ELEVATING PIZZA

into a work of art

The Canadian pizza label offers the C0 pizza in the Philippines, which has smoked in-house salmon, fresh spinach, golden baked tomatoes, and sour cream dressing.

There is also the C0 pizza, which has smoked in-house salmon, fresh spinach, golden baked potatoes, and a sour cream dressing.

Indeed, a mere glance at the ingredients is enough to let people know that these pizzas are no joke.

Other delicious offerings include: Elements: water, fire, earth, wind; Colors: black, blue, green, pink, orange; Journeys: Canadian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Hawaiian, Mediterranean,

French, Italian; and All-time Favorite: the Caveman.

“Our guests love the Caveman because of its generous all-meat toppings and the Japanese for its unique flavor profile.

The blue pizza featuring Stilton blue cheese mousse is also notable. Even if you are not a blue cheese fan, you will love our blue pizza,” Go stresses.

Steveston Pizza Philippines is the first international franchisee of the original Steveston Pizza in Vancouver, Canada.

Located in the picturesque fishing village of Steveston, the pizza house is considered by locals and tourists as one of the main attractions in the area.

Go, who frequents Vancouver, says he fell in love with the pizzas the first time he tasted them. Steveston Pizza in Canada owner Nader Hatami is a celebrated chef who created the original recipes awarded as the Best Pizza by the Richmond Review from 2008 to 2015. Various international publications hail Hatami’s pizzas as

Breakfast and lunch at Starbucks STARBUCKS makes meals more delectable with signature pairings comprising of f lavorful food and beverage combinations available at all branches nationwide.

For breakfast, Starbucks offers irresistible croissant sandwiches – Spanish Chorizo, Egg and Fontina Cheese, and Turkey Ham, Egg White and Emmental Cheese. Savory and filling, these sandwiches and also the pastries in the stores are best paired with a cup of brewed coffee. Now you have something perfect to start your day.

In addition, Starbucks’ brewed coffee can also be paired with the Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal, a hearty serving of oatmeal with dried fruit and organic agave syrup in the morning. Now, breakfast signature pairings also include the appetizing Chocolate Twist.

For lunch, pair tasty sandwiches and savory dishes with the Featured Tall Iced Shaken Tea. For the much-needed quick lunch in between meetings, try the Chicken Salad on Croissant Baguette, and the Beef Pastrami layered

with Monterey Jack Cheese on Croissant Baguette. With more time, you can also enjoy Spinach Lasagna and Chicken Cannelloni with Iced Shaken Tea. Starbucks signature breakfast pairings are available at a special bundled price from store opening to 10 a.m. only, while the signature lunch pairings are also available at a special bundled price from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. only.

For more information about the Signature Pairings, please visit www.starbucks.ph/promo/starbucks-signaturepairings.

Start your day right with the perfect pair of Starbucks’s brewed coffee and Perfect Oatmeal

Coffee and other Starbucks drinks go well with (from left) Spanish Chorizo sandwich, Turkey Ham, Chicken Cannelloni, Chicken Salad, and Spinach Lasagna.

“pure poetry,” with “ingredients that sing freshness,” and that his “pizzas are not made but crafted.”

Steveston Pizza is known for creating the most expensive pizza in the world that is commercially available.

The pizza, which costs $450, features lobster thermidor and black Alaskan cod with a side of Russian Osetra caviar and must be ordered a day ahead.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Hatami has recently introduced the Seenay pizza that costs $850 and consists of a medley of tiger prawns, lobster ratatouille, smoked steelhead, Russian Osetra caviar and is snowed with Italian white truffles.

Go stresses that these creations emphasize Steveston Pizza’s willingness to innovate and push the boundaries of what a pizza can be. He assures his clients, though, that Steveston Pizza is quite affordable despite the quality and exotic nature of its ingredients and amount of effort it takes to create.

All pizzas come in 12 slices and prices range from P350 to P1,899.

For a decadent slice of the C2 pizza that features prosciutto, you only have to pay P120. The classic cheese pizza, which is elegant in its simplicity, is less than P30 per slice.

Guests can also be assured of the quality of the pizzas since Hatami constantly makes the trip from Vancouver to Manila to ensure that his rigorous standards are being maintained.

Go says they are mulling expansion plans and are open for franchising in other ASEAN countries.

For now, he is inviting food lovers to try Steveston Pizza at U.P. Town Center, the Corinthian Gardens Clubhouse, and Circuit Lane in Makati.

“The best pizza of Canada is here in town,” he says.

Life

D2

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Make your pasta

P

al dente

ASTA has played a major role in Filipinos’ lives, now part of daily meals and also a popular choice at gatherings.

Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta, the only Artisan Quality Italian Pasta brand in the country, has been pioneering this gastronomic celebration of National Pasta month for three years now. This year, the celebration highlighted an exciting challenge among Mercato Centrale food vendors as they participated in the Doña Elena Al Dente Ultimate Pasta Challenge where they featured their originally crafted meal combinations of their specialty dishes and Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta.

All food enthusiasts were able to witness an epic and pasta-licious culinary cook-off on Oct. 14, at the Mercato Centrale, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Pasta connoisseurs were invited to purchase a Pasta Passport with a minimal purchase of P100.

The passport served as their exclusive pass to enjoy free Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta products and appreciate the entertainment band and program hosted by the radio and TV host, Jamie Fournier.

Passport holders of the event were also able to taste and vote for the best pasta dish from the eight pasta-licious dish entries of the Ultimate Pasta Challenge participants and five beautifully

designed pasta artwork from the Pasta Art competition.

“This culinary gathering highlights the universal love for pasta. We aim to bring more people to appreciate pasta and into recognizing how this dish has been part of our lives. It also allows us to present to our Filipino consumers a variety of dishes that they can enjoy Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta with. We will continue bringing them great-tasting authentic Italian pasta,” says Rachelle Chang, product associate.

Made with 100 percent durum wheat semolina, Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta is crafted with bronze dies, which leave rough ridges on the pasta, helping sauces cling better thus making it more flavorful. It is available in five variants – Fusilli, Spaghetti, Fettuccine, Penne Rigate, and Lasagna.

“Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta and Fly Ace Corporation, together with our event partners, are extremely honored to initiate celebrating Pasta Month in the country. And now, on our third year, we continue our vision to bring not just great-tasting pasta but the world’s best food and beverages to Filipino households,” Fly Ace Corporation General Manager Ramon Daez concludes.

The Roman Colosseum made of pasta takes the top prize at Dona Elena’s Pasta Art competition

Guests witness an epic culinary cook-off during the Pasta Month

Pasta Art winners

B ITES

St. Therese MTC College’s Roy Tabocolde and Greegy Cabarrubias are the grand winners of the Tinapay Natin Bread Baking Contest

Lung Hin’s 6-course set menu

Lung Hin Authentic specials

Iloilo students are ‘Tinapay Natin’ champs WITH their flavorful baked creations and compelling bread stories, budding bakers Roy Tabocolde and Greegy Cabarrubias from Iloilo’s St. Therese MTC College—La Fiesta were declared grand winners of the Tinapay Natin Pinoy Bread Baking Competition’s Grand Finals on Oct. 13 at Treston International College Tabocolde and Cabarrubias bagged P50,000 in cash plus the exclusive chance to have their bread creations distributed in over 150 Max’s Corner Bakery branches nationwide.

The Tinapay Natin Pinoy Bread Baking Competition, an initiative of Pilmico and Max’s Corner Bakery inspired by the massive success of last year’s Mahalin Pagkaing Atin movement, aims to also inspire more young Filipinos to carry on the craft of Pinoy bread-making.

Decadent favorites and a surprise twist For their original bread entries, Tabocolde and Cabarrubias placed the spotlight on two well-loved Filipino breads: pastel, a popular pasalubong in Cagayan de Oro; and ensaymada, which is a traditional favorite in Bulacan and Pampanga.

Their breads, named Cagayan Pastel and Ensaymada Royale, proved supreme with their fluffier crumb, surprise filling and rich toppings.

For the last competition round, Tabocolde and Cabarrubias created their Sesame Streusel Roll as their third original bread. This reinvention combined the Cinnamon Roll and the Ilonggo butterscotch.

On bagging the top prize, the winners had this to say, “It was very nervewracking to bake during a competition and we weren’t really expecting to win.

But, we concentrated on our entries and put our hearts into baking them.”

Molding the future of our local bread culture For Pilmico and Max’s Corner Bakery, the competition was not only an

CHINESE Executive Chef, Raymond Yeung, is bringing authentic specials to the table to make every occasion more enjoyable. Now, you can have a business lunch or a family gathering with Lung Hin’s Executive Set Menus, and Family Lauriat Menus.

The six-course set menu starta at P1,488 per person. You can choose from two sets and discover the complex flavor of the diverse and thrilling world of Chinese cuisine. Braised Pork Tendon with Black Mushroom in Oyster Sauce and Steamed Grouper Fillet with Eggplant and Preserved Vegetables, are some of the tasty dishes to try for Set A. Set B includes Wok-fried US Beef Rib with Fresh

Mushroom in Black Pepper Sauce, Deep Fried Chicken with Pickled Ginger Plum Sauce, and more.

Family Lauriat menus for family gatherings start P28,880 for 10 persons. It can be Deep Fried Lapu Lapu with Mango Sliced and Sweet Chili Sauce, or the Sautéed Shrimp and Pacific Clam with Garden Green in Oyster Sauce, the dishes in the two Lauriat Menus to choose from will surely showcase authentic dishes with a unique twist.

Lung Hin is located at the 44th floor of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.

To know more about Lung Hin and the other signature dining outlets of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, visit www.marcopolohotels.com.

New bakery products

BREAD WINNERS. Two of Tabocolde and Cabarrubias’s winning baked goods Cagayan Pastel and Sesame Streusel Roll

opportunity for our young bakers to showcase their skills and creativity, but also to help share the progress as the winners were able to choose a beneficiary school.

“We want to give local producers better opportunities by bringing the livelihood to them,” said Norie Bermudez, Pilmico vice president for Sales. “Our hope is for these young bakers who joined the competition to serve as our ambassadors of bread culture in every bite.”

As a restaurant that’s considered a cornerstone of local dining, Max’s has aligned with Pilmico’s goal to inspire creation and promote a better love for food.

Carolyn Trota-Salud, president and director of Max’s Group of Companies, said, “We also believe that it is Max’s role to help promote local talent, as well as ensure that Filipino products will have world-class flavor that can compete globally.”

Gardenia Bakeries continue to delight Filipinos with its delectable breads that evoke a distinct taste, softness, aroma, freshness and nutritive value. And now, Gardenia carries on that tradition by introducing new and delicious breads.

The new Gardenia California Raisin Buns and the latest colorful bunch of your favorite Gardenia Twiggies will surely make your day truly special, whether at home, in school or at work.

Fantastic in its softness and gratifying in taste, Gardenia California Raisins Buns are wonderfullysoft, great-tasting buns studded with succulent California raisins that will surely delight your senses in every bite.

Make snacking a colorful and enjoyable experience with the new flavors of Gardenia Twiggies. With the launch of the new exciting variants of Twiggies, Gardenia also communicates the importance of teaching the kids to channel and develop their emotions and characteristics that can help them live life to the fullest with a ‘Color your Day’ campaign. Each colorful and delectable Twiggies represents a feeling or experience.

The Twiggies Yellow cake is a perfect match for you while enjoying and sharing unforgettable moments with kids, as the vibrant color yellow signifies happiness.

Let kids explore places they’ve never been before, and don’t forget

Gardenia’s Twiggies and Raisin Buns

to bring the new Gardenia ChocoBrown cake – loaded with chocolaty goodness and packed with Vitamins B1, B2 and B3 that can make you more active for a fun day ahead! It also contains Iron and Vitamin A. The brown color of the Twiggies Choco-Brown cake transcends a strong impression and is associated with being brave.

And to add more color to kids’ daily activities, Gardenia Twiggies Pink Cake is here! It is jam-packed with Tutti Fruity flavor and also a good source of vitamins like Iron and Vitamin B3. Indeed, a perfect token of colorful love as the color pink also means being sweet, nice and playful.

For more information about Gardenia California Raisin Bun and Gardenia Twiggies, visit www.gardenia.com.ph

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

Vic Sotto thinks ‘Enteng Kabisote’ will bring good tidings before Christmas

‘BY THE SEA WITH ILI’ on AFC

Celebrity Chef and Food Hero winner Ili Sulaiman takes viewers to a gastronomical adventure in an exclusive series on Asian Food Channel

R

IDE the waves with Food Hero 2015’s winner, Ili Sulaiman, as she sets sail to six coastal cities in Asia, fishing out mouth-watering seafood dishes amid stunning beach locations. Watch her learn each city’s unique cooking methods and how she recreates them with a fresh perspective. The exclusive six-episode series by Asian Food Channel, By The Sea with Ili, served seafood lovers in a weekly 30-minute bite-sized portions, Thursdays, 10 p.m. on Asian Food Channel (AFC) seen on SkyCable ch. 22 and ch. 248 for HD, Dream Satellite TV ch. 27, Cignal ch. 26 and Destiny Cable ch. 71 and ch. 22 for Digital.

FILIPINO-AMERICAN filmmaker Anthony Diaz V breaks into the popular Sundance film festival with his film Break.

“Sundance is the most prestigious film festival in the world,” says Anthony, “if your goal is for your film to get global recognition. Also, most film buyers and distributors attend Sundance more than any other international film festival. So if you are accepted into Sundance, it’s the closest to you hitting a home run.”

The brainchild of Robert Redford, Sundance has become the hub of independents in the US and the rest of the world. Anthony says, “The first major influence was Robert Rodriguez. The movement he created in the indie movie scene was amazing at that time. He proved that it wasn’t impossible to make a movie if you had the desire and the creativity and quite frankly the ignorance of not knowing it can’t be done. My recent favorite is Ben Affleck (Argo and Gone Girl) who writes, directs, and acts in the project’s he produces.”

Movies have always played a major role in Anthony’s life from his childhood up until he went to the University of Las Vegas Film School (UNLV). He graduated with high honors with a Bachelors Degree in Film at age 20, making him the youngest graduate in the program’s history. His passion for film guided him as he embarked on his earliest short films that include Delusion showcased at the UNLV Film Festival and Forgotten Heroes, a film about the effects of the war in Afghanistan to a US military family.

It earned rave reception and has played at various movie festivals and is under

Sulaiman said, “Not only do I get the chance to unearth stories behind all the flavorsome dishes from each city, I also get to taste it! The most rewarding part of this production was experiencing the warmth and sincerity extended by the local fishermen, street vendors to the chefs that I had the privilege to meet. I hope viewers get to experience that through the show and enjoy it as much as I had in hosting it.”

Seafood is widely consumed around the world and Asia alone has more than 100 different types of unique seafood. Even within Asia, the preparation and cooking styles vary widely

‘BREAK’ into Sundance

Fil-Am actor and budding director Anthony Diaz V on the set of his 'Break' film which will be part of the Sundance Film Festival in 2017

consideration to be showcased at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. With Break, Anthony feels that it is the perfect vehicle for his full-length feature debut. Mixing elements of crime, drama, love story and action, Anthony stars and directs from a script, which he also wrote under his own production company called Kaizen Studios. With his gym-honed physique, killer smile, arresting screen presence, and seductive alto, Anthony slips into the role of Johnny easily like he

was born to play it. Johnny is a JapaneseAmerican young man who gets involved with the underworld elements in Tokyo while dealing with the weight of being an outsider trying to fit into Japanese society.

The film’s technical aspects are polished and the storytelling is gripping, managing to draw us into this alienated young man’s world and psyche.

Break has had a successful private screening in Tokyo with over 500 people in April.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, December 5, 2016

ACROSS 1 Low-lying clouds 5 Blocks 9 Parka closer 13 “Run — Run” 14 Ekberg or Loos 16 Hoop’s place 17 Not narrow (hyph.)

19 Walkie-talkie word 20 WNW opposite 21 — — carte 22 Letter answerer (2 wds.)

24 Average guys 25 Aloha token 26 On a plane 29 Kind of fair 33 Welsh dog 34 Horse color 35 Lab weight 37 Pair in Scotland 38 Two-door car 39 See — — glance 40 Firms up 42 Grain bristles 43 Angle on a gem 45 Kin 47 Lawyer’s customer 48 Comic-strip bark 49 Pitcher Nolan — 50 Loose talk 53 40-cup brewer

to best cater to local taste and preference.

Traverse with Ili to coastal cities such as Da Nang, Phuket and Terengganu, as she meets the locals from different walks of lives. Be enthralled by the stories of these individuals ranging from a deep-sea diving fisherman, Thailand’s ‘Culinary Champion’ and even a sea gypsy! In each episode, take in the gastronomical goodness and watch how Ili whips up dishes inspired by cooking methods and local seafood, whilst staying true to and incorporating the rich history of that unique city.

54 Ump’s cousin 57 Nope opposite 58 “Icicle” in a cave 61 Penny — 62 Port in a storm 63 Telemarketing concern 64 M, to Einstein 65 Deli sandwich 66 Cabbage cousin DOWN 1 Polar bear perch 2 Uh-oh!

3 Great merriment 4 Kyoto honorific 5 Put a parachute to use 6 Freud and Pavlova 7 Eliminate 8 Tread 9 Inclined 10 Exploding star 11 Hockey’s “Bootnose” — 12 — capita 15 “Sweet” girl of song 18 Kiwi language 23 Bridal notice word 24 Ruin a nylon 26 Circus routines 27 Shady nook

28 Take the podium 29 Dive, as a whale 30 Puts the lid on 31 Hunger for 32 Gobbled up 34 Misty of “Hee Haw” 36 Soda fountain treat 38 Hushpuppy go-with 41 Lowers prices 43 Alps’ Mont — 44 Munich single

46 “— Gratia Artis” 47 — de Bergerac 49 Desk-drawer item 50 — Lee Nolin of “Baywatch” 51 Feel one’s — 52 Nile creator god 54 Costa — 55 Etc. cousin (2 wds.)

56 Woman, legally 57 Orange root 59 Hail, to Caesar 60 For shame!

ASKED about the non-inclusion of his supposedly entry Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, Vic Sotto averred: “Honestly, I have mixed feelings regarding this. It’s like for the first time in so many years, the MMFF has no entry that would cater to the younger crop of viewers, particularly children.

For the past years, I always fielded an entry to the annual film fest and many of these were Enteng Kabisote sequels. So now, I feel it’s an abnormal Christmas for me.

“Everyone knows that when the Yuletide season comes, the public expects to watch light and entertaining stuff like Enteng Kabisote. It’s the time of year when families get to bond together and going to the cinema is one activity they don’t miss. That’s the reason why I felt sad that they won’t be able to watch our offering on Christmas Day itself as traditionally happens. But we opened earlier instead on Nov. 30 to make our loyal followers happy. At least, their Christmas gift was given to them way ahead of time, so to speak.”

Was he hurt with the fact that the MMFF selection committee didn’t consider his movie to be part of the Magic 8?

“Well, let’s just say that I respect their taste in choosing the entries that made the cut. If they say their basis was quality, I’d like to believe that it’s something relative…that we all have different perceptions and definitions when it comes to this. I can only speak for myself. When I do movies, like this Enteng series, we see to it that it’s of the highest quality story, technical, acting and execution-wise. But as I’ve said, people would always have varying definitions of quality.”

Despite this development, Vic believes that something good will still come out of it.

“Yes! I see it as a blessing in disguise. Given our Nov. 30 showing, we’ll have longer showing time. Who knows, if the public will really support us, we might even reach Christmas and even New Year, right?” he stated.

Enteng Kabisote will always have a special place in Bosing’s heart.

“I think that’s understandable since it’s the project where I started as a producer. It paved the way for me to learn the ins and outs of movie production.

Imagine this latest Enteng offering is our 10th big screen installation already, a proof that we were really able to make an indelible mark in the hearts of the moviegoing public. They love the char-

acter so much that it has become part of their year-end tradition. For me, such triumph is priceless!”

With Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers now making a big killing at the tills, the showbiz icon wishes that all eight entries in this year’s MMFF will also perform well at the box-office.

“Oh yes! I wish them all the luck! We cannot deny the fact that the annual film festival is able to help various industry organizations like the Optical Media Board (OMB), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Movie Workers’ Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) to name some so hopefully, the 8 entries rake in money to continue extending aid to said groups.”

Considering the experience he had this year, will he still join future MMFF editions?

“Well, let’s see. It would depend on their rulings,” Vic ended. ******** Paolo Ballesteros doesn’t want to entertain the issue pitting him against Vice Ganda. Kibitzers say it could’ve been a good match had the latter’s Super Parental Guardians made it to the Magic 8 of this year’s MMFF where the former’s Die Beautiful is in contention. According to some, he even has an edge over Vice since his project won for him the Best Actor trophy in the recently-concluded Tokyo International Film Festival.

“This early, I want to say that there’s no competition between me and Vice. We’re friends in real life and I admire his comic skills.

I was able to watch the trailer of his film with Coco (Martin) and it’s hilarious. It would all depend on the viewers who have their respective choices. As for me, I’m happy that I have work. That’s what’s important,” he says.

Although he is disappointed as well that his other supposedly entry Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers didn’t qualify in this year’s MMFF, the talented actorhost admits the situation became favourable for him.

“At least, I can focus in the promotion of just one movie.

I won’t have any difficulty in choosing in which float I would ride during the Parade of Stars, right?”

Besides, according to Paolo, Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers is a sure fire box-office hit.

“Many people are waiting for its commercial exhibition. Our Nov. 30 play date is just perfect.

Since it’s a holiday, the kids, accompanied by their parents and siblings can enjoy watching the film as early as 8 in the morning.

It’s just like Christmas Day,” he states.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016

STAR-STUDDED Christmas lighting

ceremony at Greenhills

T

HE stars came out to sparkle and shine at the Promenade and Theater Mall when over a thousand small and big lanterns were lit, one by one, at the traditional Christmas Lighting Ceremony.

Encantadia star Sanya Lopez, Destiny Rose’s Ken Chan, heartthrob Hiro Peralta, hunk Jak Roberto, model Mac Manicad, and Tirso Cruz III along with Carla Martinez, Carla Abelllana, Donita Rose, and actordirector Gina Alajar pressed the button that switched on the lights and lanterns.

John Nite, of the now defunct, Walang Tulugan with the late German Moreno was the host for the night.

In the past, German Moreno, or just Kuya Germs to us, glammed up the Promenade Christmas ritual by bringing along showbiz friends. This time, his friends (or mga alaga) carried on the

tradition on his behalf.

Music Museum Group, Inc. President Precy M. Florentino said she will be forever grateful to Kuya Germs for his heartfelt support for the Promenade, Theater Mall, Greenhills Cinemas and the Music Museum. “Every year, he’d help to make Christmas here shine with a lot of stars. This year, I know he is still very much with us because all the stars seem to have come out tonight.

We hope that our Christmas atmosphere here provides a sense of peace and happiness for everyone.”

The Christmas lighting ceremony kicked off Christmas festivities at

Kapuso stars (from left) Mac Manicad, Sanya Lopez, Hiro Peralta, Jak Roberto and John Nite add sparkle to the stunning Christmas light display at the Promenade in Greenhills

Promenade and Theater Mall starting with the annual Christmas Bazaar called “Fashion +Toys = Christmas Joy,” Thursday to Sunday until Dec. 11 and daily from Dec. 15 to 22.

Fom Dec. 17 to 18, the Hanyang SM Wind Band from Seoul, Korea perfroms at the Promenade Al Fresco from 6 to 8 p.m. prior to that Santa Claus will go around the Promenade

from 4 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 only and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 18. Kids can have selfies with Santa at the very special Santa’s Corner.

Allan Gonzales, The Promenade’s resident pianist, at the piano to fill the atmosphere with holiday tunes.

For more information, visit www. music museum.com.ph. Also, like the Music Museum Group on Facebook.