Manila Standard - 2016 December 16 - Friday

Simbang Gabi must be raised for victims of violence, injustice

By Honor Blanco Cabie VOL. XXX • NO. 307 • 5 SECTIONS 24 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PREDOMINANTLY Christian Philippines, a nation of 105 million multi-ethnic people, begins tonight the celebrated nine-day Midnight Masses in Aglipayan and Catholic churches from Batanes down to the Christian towns in Mindanao.

Christians gather in their respective parishes to celebrate the

birth of Jesus, that moment, in the words of Roman Catholic Archbishop Diartmuid Martin “when the God who had existed before all ages took on human flesh for our salvation.”

Theologians say God took on human flesh and taught the believers what it meant to be human: the Christmas story getting past “a fascinating fairy tale: a wonderful story of simplicity set in the bleak and austere beauty of a cold winter’s night” nearly 8,800 kms away from this Land of the Morning.

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GOING OVER TO BETHLEHEM. At the start of the nine-day Midnight Masses in predominantly Christian Philippines Friday night, which end on Christmas eve, the faithful will be reminded of the simplicity yet again of shepherds who went to Jesus in a manger to encounter the world’s Redeemer—a scene refreshed in churches like the Minor Basilica (file photo) of the Black Nazarene, a prominent Roman Catholic Latin-rite basilica in Quiapo, Manila.

China boosting defenses Think tank claims Beijing arming reefs with missiles

W

ASHINGTON—New satellite imagery shows China has apparently installed “significant” defensive weapons on a series of artificial islands it built in the South China Sea, a US-based think tank said Wednesday.

Beijing has created seven islets in the Spratly Islands in recent years, built up from much smaller land protuberances and reefs.

Although Beijing has said it does not intend to militarize the contested waters of the South China Sea, ongoing satellite imagery has shown the installation of military equipment and longer runways.

The latest images, released by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, show a series of hexagonal structures now in place on each of the seven islets.

They appear to be large anti-

Du30 70th on Forbes’ most powerful list

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has landed in the 70th spot of Forbes Magazine’s Most Powerful People of 2016.

Duterte, the magazine said, has a “tendency to say what he thinks, no matter how raw,” a trait that “keeps him in the headlines.”

Forbes cited his election to the Philippine presidency “on the strength of a campaign that promised the swift execution of drug users and other criminals.” The magazine also mentioned his ongoing bloody war on crime and drugs that has already resulted in thousands of deaths since he took office in June.

The magazine took note

of Duterte’s “rather colorful speech”—including calling the Pope a “son of a whore,” threatening to leave the UN over “stupid” criticism, calling a US ambassador to the Philippines “gay,” calling US President Barack Obama a “son of a whore,” and comparing himself to Adolf Hitler.

A total of 74 people are on this

aircraft guns and close-in weapons systems, the AMTI said.

Such systems are designed to take out incoming missiles and enemy aircraft.

“These gun and probable CIWS emplacements show that Beijing is serious about defense of its artificial islands in case of an armed contingency in the South China Sea,” said AMTI, part of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Among other things, they would be the last line of defense

P20-m BI ‘bribe’ missing

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo THE Justice department said Thursday it will find out where the P20 million from the P50 million allegedly extorted by two Immigration officials from gaming tycoon Jack Lam had gone.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he had tasked the Bureau of Immigration to find out where the rest of the money went from Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles and former police chief superintendent Wally Sombero, Lam’s alleged middleman.

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MCC scraps 2nd PH grant over ‘concerns’

By Gabrielle H. Binaday THE Washington-based Millennium Challenge Corp. on Thursday removed the Philippines from the group of countries that are eligible for a second funding grant following concerns about the rule of law and civil liberties.

The MCC, an independent US government foreign aid agency, said its board of directors deferred a vote on reselecting the Philippines for a second round of infrastructure grants that it calls “compacts,” subject to a further review.

Although the MCC statement

did not specify what the concerns were, the US government has been critical of the rising number of summary executions in President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

In 2011, the MCC gave the Philippines $434 million to finance three projects on boosting revenue collection efforts, strengthening poor communities and developing national roads.

The country was then reselected to be eligible to develop a new set of projects with a new grant, which MCC said last October would focus on boosting agriculture and Next page competitiveness.

Kerwin under NBI ‘care’ ASEAN HOSPITALITY. President Rodrigo Duterte (right) shakes hands with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong prior to their meeting at the Istana presidential palace in Singapore Thursday, first day of the former’s two-day state visit in the global financial center. AFP/Pool

THE Philippines has not canceled its invitation to a United Nations special rapporteur to look into the alleged summary killings accompanying the government’s war on drugs, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said Thursday.

“We have not canceled it. It is up to [Agnes] Callamard to agree and comply with the conditions imposed by President [Rodrigo] Duterte in inviting her to visit the Philippines,” Yasay told reporters in Singapore.

But he said the government will withdraw its invitation if Callatwitter.com/ MlaStandard

mard fails to meet Duterte’s conditions.

“It is up to Callamard to agree and comply with the conditions imposed by President Duterte in inviting her to visit the Philippines,” Yasay said.

On the sidelines of Duterte’s state visit to Cambodia, Yasay

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said, Duterte agreed to welcome Callamard but asked for a “public debate” so he could air his side and ask questions.

“If they will not comply with the conditions of our President regarding their visit to the Philippines to validate their claims, then the trip will not push through.

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By Sandy Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

They cannot come here,” Yasay said.

Callamard earlier said her planned inquiry into the killings would be governed by the UN’s terms of reference despite Duterte’s conditions for the visit.

She said it was crucial that

THE National Bureau of Investigation late on Wednesday took into custody Kerwin Espinosa, the son of slain Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and a selfconfessed drug lord, an official said Thursday.

The Espinosas were both linked to the illegal drug trade by the Duterte administration.

“We confirm that Kerwin Espinosa is now under the custody of the NBI,” NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin told reporters

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Offer to UN on EJK probe still stands, Palace says

By John Paolo Bencito

year’s list, representing one person per 100-million people. Duterte is ranked number 70, and among the 11 new names on the list.

Duterte joins the likes of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has topped the list for the last four years, and US Presidentelect Donald Trump, who rose to second place in 2016 from 72nd place last year.

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MCC...

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“[The first] compact is a strong example of how the US and the Philippines worked together to unlock economic growth and lift people out of poverty,” the US Embassy said last October.

“A second compact would try to invest and leverage resources for significant impact on a more focused scope,” it had said.

Economic and Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the MCC decision was nothing to worry about.

“Well, I am not really worried… What is the MCC? In terms of value, it’s $430 million,” Pernia said.

Had the Philippines been chosen for the second tranche of grants, it would receive a smaller value for the continuation of programs and projects, he said.

“It’s really more symbolic in terms of the confidence of those behind the MCC, rather than... having real impact on the economy…. And [with] the amounts of investments that many countries are interested in putting in, I wouldn’t lose sleep over that,” Pernia said.

The US Embassy in Manila confirmed the Philippines’ exclusion from the grant.

The MCC, created by the US Congress in 2003 through the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003, partners only with countries that can show measurable support for a free and open political system with access to open markets. Only countries with proven track records in anti-corruption, civil liberties and the rule of law may partner with the MCC in crafting a development program unique to their local conditions.

In 2010, President Benigno Aquino III wrote a letter to President Barack Obama expressing the government’s commitment to MCC principles and commitment to implement the three projects under it.

The MCC Board approved a $434-million Philippine compact, intended to enable poor communities to develop smallscale projects.

MCC forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries, but only those committed to good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens.

With John Paolo Bencito

P20-m...

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Argosino and Robles on Tuesday surrendered only P30 million, an amount that was even short by P1,000.

“We don’t know where the rest of the money is. The NBI will find out,” Aguirre said in in a text message.

He made his statement even as Immigration employees on Thursday said Argosino and Robles were no longer welcome to the bureau.

An employees’ group said the two officials tainted the image of the bureau, which only recently received an ISO certification saying it had met international standards in terms of public service.

Argosino and Robles earlier claimed that Sombero took P2 million as his commission while P18 million went to Immigration’s intelligence division chief Charles Calima Jr., who has been ordered dismissed by Aguirre along with technical assistant for intelligence Edward Chan.

Aguirre has already recommended that Argosino and Robles be dismissed.

The two have insinuated that Calima took P18 million supposedly to be given to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente and newspaper columnist Ramon Tulfo, who exposed the extortion issue on December 10.

They said they gave Calima P18 million on December 9 after the latter told them that he knew what happened in the City of Dreams and that Sombero had ‘‘urreptitiously, secretly and maliciously’’ recorded his conversation with Argosino and Robles.

Sombero, Calima and Tulfo have all denied the allegations.

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Rebels evacuate Aleppo A

LEPPO, Syria—The evacuation of the last rebel-held areas of Syria’s Aleppo was set to begin on Thursday, with opposition fighters and civilians preparing to leave the city after years of fighting.

The rebel withdrawal will pave the way for President Bashar alAssad’s forces to reclaim complete control of Syria’s second city, handing the regime its biggest victory in more than five years of civil war.

More than a dozen empty buses and several ambulances moved towards a staging area in the south of the city where evacuees were expected to arrive and board the vehicles, an AFP correspondent said.

Syrian state television reported that at least 4,000 rebels and their families would be evacuated under

the plan.

“All the procedures for their evacuation are ready,” it said.

A first evacuation expected to take place on Wednesday morning fell apart, with artillery exchanges and resumed air strikes rocking the city until the early hours of Thursday.

But the agreement, brokered by Syrian regime ally Moscow and opposition supporter Ankara, was revived following fresh talks.

The defense ministry in Moscow said that Syrian authorities had guaranteed the safety of the rebels leaving

the city and confirmed preparations were under way.

It said the rebels would be evacuated towards the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib, a major opposition stronghold.

The Russian military said it was monitoring the operation with surveillance cameras and drones.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was asked to help in the evacuation of the wounded and had sent 10 ambulances and about 100 volunteers and staff from the Red Crescent to assist.

“The teams are on the spot,” said Ingy Sedky, the ICRC’s spokeswoman in Syria.

“Ambulances have started to move to the other side, crossing the front line to evacuate the wounded,” she told AFP. Rebel officials said the evacuees would leave via the district of Al-

Amiriyah, and then cross through the government-controlled area of Ramoussa on the southern outskirts of the city.

Earlier, Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a unit of doctors and other volunteers that are coordinating the evacuation of wounded people, said injured civilians and their families were already gathering at Al-Amiriyah.

Dbis said there were reports that regime forces had fired on an ambulance transporting the injured to Al-Amiriyah, wounding three people including a member of the White Helmets civil defense organization.

One of the wounded was initially reported to have died, he said, but later an AFP correspondent said the situation was unclear.

On Wednesday, cold and hungry civilians had gathered for the initial planned evacuation but were instead sent running through the

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CONQUEST OF RUINS. Syrian pro-government forces advance on the Jisr al-Haj neighborhood in Aleppo as opposition fighters and civilians prepared to leave Syria’s second-largest city after years of fighting. AFP

the immense powers vested in him by the Constitution with utmost responsibility to promote the From A1 well-being of the people,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.

Malacañang welcomed Duterte’s inclusion to “Much has been done in the first six months and the list, noting his huge influence “to promote the much more will be done in the succeeding months well-being of the people.” and years. After all, the President’s heart is in the “President Rodrigo Duterte was a reluctant right place, and he has only the interests of the presidential candidate who won the May 2016 Filipino people and the nation in his mind first and elections by a landslide. As President, he has used foremost,” he added.

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Kerwin...

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at the sidelines of a Christmas Party for the media at the NBI Headquarters in Manila on Thursday.

“He is in a secure facility inside the NBI. We subjected him to a physical and medical examination. He is stable. He is in good physical health,” Lavin said.

He said they took custody of Espinosa because of a court order.

“I do not know yet the arrangements with the court if there is a transfer of venue on the hearing.

But we were ordered to take him

Simbang Gabi...

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Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle reminded the Catholic faithful of the true essence of the Midnight Masses, saying these “are expressions of filial devotion that prepare the faithful as they receive Christ in their lives.”

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines itself underlined to the young Filipinos that they must “put God in their friendship” because the Midnight Masses were for worship and not for courtship.

CBCP president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas told Manila Standard’s Vito Barcelo “Christ is in everyone, in poverty and prosperity, in hunger and plenty, in storms and calamities.”

The Director of the Pasig Diocesan Youth Ministry, Fr. Joeffrey Brian Catuiran, pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, himself encouraged the youth to take advantage of the occasion to get more involved in the life of the Church.

Aglipayan and Catholic priests— from Gonzaga in Cagayan to Paoay

into custody,” Lavin said.

He said only Espinosa’s lawyer was allowed to visit him.

Espinosa, handcuffed and wearing a bullet-proof vest, was brought to the NBI almost a week after a Baybay, Leyte court ordered his transfer from the Philippine National Police’s Anti-illegal Drugs Group.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has said a court is still trying to determine if Espinosa could be admitted to the government’s Witness Protection Program.

Espinosa had been under the custody of the AIDG since his arrest in Abu Dhabi in October, months after President Rodrigo Duterte linked him and his fa-

ther, the late Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, to the illegal drug trade.

The Albuera mayor died after members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group served a search warrant on him while he was inside the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail and claimed he shot it out with the policemen.

The CIDG members involved are now under restrictive custody and facing investigation.

Kerwin claims that some of them were among those who received drug money from him.

He also claims to have contributed P8 million to then justice secretary Leila De Lima’s senatorial campaign, an allegation denied by the senator.

and Pinili in Ilocos Norte down to Muñoz City in Nueva Ecija, Binalonan in Pangasinan to Moncada and Gerona in Tarlac as well as Camalig in Albay and Minglanilla in Cebu— and the other Christian towns in the country—will intone yet once more the significance and message of the Midnight Masses which culminate on the eve of Christmas.

There will be those who talk of the simplicity the shepherds displayed, the first to go to Jesus in the manger and encounter, according to Christians, the world’s Redeemer, without even saying “transeamus usque Bethlehem.”

At the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, the parish priest Fr. Gervacio Evarola talked about the Holy Year of Mercy and Compassion, wishing everyone should be able to welcome into their lives the mercy of God that Jesus had given to the faithful.

To the point, the 62-year-old Evarola, who recently marked his 25th sacerdotal as a priest, was echoing the Pope’s message that the faithful “be merciful with our brothers and sisters so that we can allow peace to grow.”

Evarola himself, like other priests

the Manila Standard was able to talk with in the run up to the Midnight Masses, suggested the novena should be dedicated to victims of violence and their families— pointing to the extrajudicial killings in the country in nearly six months, with nearly 5,000 toll since President Rodrigo Duterte shifted gear in his drive against illegal drugs in July.

Priests, Aglipayans and Catholics, are one in saying while the Christmas story is captivatingly engrossing, there is something, the inroads of technology despite, that makes believers stop and think and realize that life is deeper than Yuletide’s commercialized portrayal.

And the cold winds from the Mongolian steppes, which have started to be felt in this tropical country in mid September, have been an apt reminder that before much too long the Church bells would start chiming the Midnight Masses.

In some streets of historic San Juan City, particularly Gilmore, Ortigas Avenue, Pinaglabanan and F. Blumentritt, including the square fronting the Agora Public Market, the colors have become a reminder

against cruise missiles launched by the United States or others against these soon-to-be-operational air bases.”

AMTI director and Southeast Asia expert Greg Poling said watching the Chinese military buildup was like seeing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle come together.

China now has air bases, radar and communications systems, naval facilities and defensive weaponry in place.

“I also would expect we will see anti-ship cruise missiles,” Poling said.

“You are beginning to have these interlocking rings of defense around these islands, [extending] China’s ability to project power to the south.”

The South China Sea issue has been brewing for years, with China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam making competing claims in waters with vital global shipping routes and what is believed to be significant oil and natural gas deposits.

Beijing’s territorial claims, based on controversial historical records, have also pitted it against the United States.

China paused land-reclamation efforts last year and began focusing on “infrastructure development” of the islets, according to a US Defense Department report in May. The United States insists China’s claims have no basis under international law, and the US military has conducted several “freedom of navigation” operations in which ships and planes have passed close to the sites Beijing claims.

Such missions have drawn howls of fury from China, which accuses Washington of provocation and increasing the

streets searching for shelter as the fighting resumed.

Russia accused the rebels of having violated the ceasefire while Turkey accused Assad’s regime and its supporters of blocking the evacuation.

Iran, another key Assad backer, was reported to have imposed new conditions on the agreement including the evacuation of some civilians from two Shiite-majority villages in northwestern Syria under rebel siege.

A source close to the regime with knowledge of the negotiations said the revived agreement now also involved the evacuation of sick and wounded residents of the two villages.

The new deal Thursday was announced a month to the day after pro-government forces launched a major new offensive to retake all of Aleppo, large parts of which had been in rebel hands since 2012. AFP

risk of a military mishap.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in July that there was no legal basis to China’s claims to nearly all of the South China Sea, a verdict Beijing dismissed.

AMTI said it began tracking in June and July the construction of identical hexagon-shaped structures to house weapons on Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs, where China has already completed military grade airstrips and installed radar.

“It now seems that these structures are an evolution of pointdefense fortifications already constructed at China’s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron reefs,” AMTI said on its website.

The installations call into question a pledge made by China’s president, Xi Jinping, not to militarize the disputed reefs in the South China Sea, a $5 trillion-a-year shipping route that the US has patrolled largely unchallenged since World War II. China’s claims to more than 80 percent of the waters were dismissed by an international tribunal in July. Beijing said it would ignore the ruling.

US President-elect Donald Trump has cited what he said was China’s effort to build a “massive fortress” in the South China Sea as one reason for taking a more confrontational approach to relations.

He listed the project in a Fox News interview while defending his decision to accept a call from the Taiwanese president, calling into question the US policy of recognizing Beijing as the capital of both the mainland and Taiwan.

“I don’t know why we have to be bound by a One-China policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade,” Trump said in the interview broadcast Sunday. AFP, Bloomberg

governments accept UN rules to ensure “the mission delivers on its outcomes to the benefit of all those involved.”

But Yasay accused Callamard of “prejudgment” over Duterte’s drug war. He said she should have requested to validate or

verify the alleged human rights violations in the country in the first place.

“Instead of doing that they just jumped into a conclusion, they based their arbitrary decision on media reports and then now, they want to come here.

What will be the purpose of coming here when they already made their judgment?” Yasay said.

that Yuletide indeed is here.

Christmas songs as well have taken the night atmosphere—like the song Joy to the World, whose lyrics were written in 1719 by English hymn writer and theologian Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

“Joy to the World, the Lord is come!/ Let earth receive her King;/ Let every heart prepare Him room,/ And Heaven and nature sing,/ And Heaven and nature sing,/ And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.”// Elsewhere in the city, the Tagalog Christmas song “Pasko Na Naman” is being sung by young boys and girls in front of lantern-decorated houses. ”Pasko na naman, o kay tulin ng araw./ Paskong nagdaan, tila ba kung kailan lang./ Ngayon ay Pasko, dapat pasalamatan./ Ngayon ay Pasko, tayo ay mag-awitan.”//(It’s Christmas once again, the days roll by fast./ The past Christmas, ‘twas like it had just passed by./ Now that it’s Christmas, only proper we give thanks./ Now that it’s Christmas, let’s sing carols.//) As in many other Christian towns of this Southeast Asian republic, discovered for Europe by Ferdinand

Magellan on March 16, 1521, San Juan City has its share of lanterns and carols in the run up to the celebration of Midnight Masses..

Exotic foods at home after the Midnight Mass or the Misa de Gallo, the mass of the Rooster— following nine successive night Masses in Church will enrich plates of Filipino homes.

On the front yards of the Catholic churches—like the Santuario del Sto. Cristo in Kabayanan and the St. John the Baptist Church near the city hall—and the other churches, rice cakes—the native bibingka and other home-made cakes and steaming cups of chocolate and coffee are sold to those attending the Masses.

Many say Yuletide in this country—one of only two predominantly Christian countries in Asia, the other being East Timor—is a mixture of Western and native Filipino traditions.

Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, sending Christmas cards, and singing carols have all been inherited from the cultures of the West although these have been adapted to fit the nature and character of the Christian Filipino.

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P3.35-t budget up for signature

By John Paolo Bencito

T

HE P3.35-trillion 2017 national budget is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature on December 22, with increased allocation for infrastructure development, free education for state universities and colleges, universal healthcare, rice allowance for the poor, free irrigation for farmers, subsistence allowance for prisoners, and pension for war veterans and centenarians.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said “significant change” should be expected in 2017 after both chambers of Congress ratified the P3.35 trillion national budget—the first under the Duterte administration.

“On behalf of the Department of Budget and Management, I

would like to commend the Senate for making the Filipino people the priority of this budget, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Loren Legarda especially, for her wisdom and her unparalleled dedication in ensuring that the People’s budget for 2017 truly responds to the needs

Roque: Kabayan Board composed of ‘Salo lackeys, not legitimate’

By Maricel V. Cruz KABAYAN party-list Rep. Harry L. Roque has said he does not recognize the “legality, legitimacy, and validity” of the group identifying itself as “Kabayan Party-list board.”

The board seeks to investigate him for his questioning of Ronnie Dayan during the House committee on justice investigation on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prison.

“I do not recognize the legality, legitimacy and validity of this so-called Board you purportedly head, as it was established merely to protect the interests of Ron Salo, who happens to be your BFF,” Roque said in a letter to Joshua Sebastian, a long-time associate of Salo who heads the board handpicked by the latter to investigate Roque.

The initials BFF, in current parlance, means “best friend forever.”

Sebastian sent a letter to Roque asking him to explain his alleged “malicious statements” against Salo.

Roque said he “will not dignify the charade of a proceeding” by explaining himself when Sebastian and his allies have not responded to his call that Kabayan investigate Salo for his involvement in the P3.8-billion motor vehicle license plates anomaly of the previous administration.

“I presume you and the other members of your so-called Board aren’t blind and deaf, so you should know that Ron Salo now stands charged in court for estafa by falsification of commercial documents and is facing complaints for plunder and graft and corruption before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice in connection with a P3.8-billion motor vehicle license plates anomaly during the past administration,” Roque said.

“This Ron Salo now facing criminal charges in court for a humungous act of graft and corruption is the same Ron Salo who shamelessly calls himself a preacher of the Christian gospel,” he added.

“Since you claim to be a pastor like Ron Salo, in the interest of ‘righteous leadership’ that you trumpet to be one of Kabayan’s founding values, you ought to know that defrauding government and inconveniencing so many Filipinos by way of a corruption-ridden government contract is an act of immorality that reaches the high heavens.”

Arroyo denies rumors she’d sub Speaker

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has denied rumors she would take the place of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as Speaker.

“It has come to my attention that rumors have been circulating that I will soon be replacing Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez,” Arroyo, a House deputy speaker, said.

Arroyo said: “I categorically deny that. I do not have any plans of taking his place.”

Alvarez, who first became a congressman in 1998, earlier denied rumors Arroyo was being groomed to replace him as Speaker.

“That is pure intrigue,” Alvarez earlier said, adding he would “rather stay as congressman.”

Arroyo earlier confirmed having met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang but did not disclose the details of the meeting.

Alvarez was appointed as Department of Transportation and Communications secretary during the Arroyo administration.

of those at the lowest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder,” said Diokno.

In particular, infrastructure gets the biggest chunk of the pie, with more than P850 billion to building roads, bridges, transport infrastructure, and other public works.

This will raise infrastructure spending to at least five percent of Gross Domestic Product to unlock the country’s growth potential.

Also reflected in the budget is the government’s strong support for human capital development, with an increased allotment of P8 billion for the Higher Education Support Fund that will grant scholarships to students enrolled in state universities and colleges.

The significant boost in the budget allocation for the Department of Education from P433 billion in 2016 to P544 billion for 2017 will be spent on capital outlays, along with an increased teachers’ cash or chalk allowance from P1,500 to P2,500 starting next year.

The Congress also approved

the funding for projects of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority such as Training for Work Scholarship Program/Livelihood and Training Provision for Drug Dependents, which offers drug users and dealers a means to change and uplift their lives through education and skills training.

Meanwhile, an additional P1.5 billion is allocated to the Department of Health’s program Doctors to the Barrios, while an upsurge of P3 billion is appropriated to health insurance, providing Filipinos access to a universal health care program.

This brings the total funding for the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance

Corp. at almost P150 billion for 2017.

Indigent patients, under the No Balance Billing policy, will receive completely free service from government hospitals while DOH Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers will be built in provinces that lack such facility through a P2.646 billion allocation.

An amount of P128.3 billion will fund the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s social protection services, one of which is the Conditional Cash Transfer with P78.2 billion.

Also provided is a monthly financial assistance, specifically, a rice allowance in the form of cash grants distributed to 4.4 million impoverished households.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Displeased donor

D

ONOR countries are not pleased at the way the Philippines is conducting its war on illegal drugs. With over half of the 5,000 killed in the campaign under questionable circumstances, donors are naturally alarmed over the rule of law in the Philippines.

Millennium Challenge Corp., an innovative and independent US foreign aid agency helping lead the fight against global poverty, has disqualified the Philippines from the list of countries that can

avail of a second grant following “concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.”

MCC enforces an unconventional set of criteria in approving funding assistance de-

signed to reduce global poverty. It measures a country’s commitment to democratic principles, including political rights and civil liberties.

Meeting these criteria is critical to passing MCC’s scorecard and obtaining funding from the agency.

Countries, through their partnership with MCC, should maintain their commitment to democratic rights. A significant policy reversal may prompt MCC

to issue a warning, suspend or terminate eligibility for aid.

The Philippines obviously failed to live up to the innovative standards of MCC. The Philippines applied for a second “compact” loan that would have focused on boosting agriculture and competitiveness to create a more significant impact on reducing poverty.

The Philippines should not belittle MCC’s grants. The agency in

2011 granted the country $434 million to finance three projects on boosting revenue collection efforts, strengthening poor communities and developing national roads for five years. The US Embassy lauded the first compact as “a strong example of how the US and the Philippines worked together to unlock economic growth and lift people out of poverty.”

MCC may not be the last donor to give the

Philippines a negative scorecard amid the brutal campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte against drug users and dealers, especially those carried out under suspicious conditions.

But the Philippines definitely lost MCC as a source of official development assistance after failing the mark in the agency’s civil liberties indicator. MCC has sent a clear message on the importance of democracy to good governance.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

How to choose self-help books

Testing Duterte LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES MAYBE some of those nameless bureaucrats at State decided to test if the potty-mouthed new leader of the Philippines is as tough as he says he is. Maybe they think that if they hit him where it hurts, by cutting off American aid to the Philippines, he’ll come running back to good ol’ Uncle Sam, the tried and tested dispenser of development assistance.

The United States has started turning the screws on the Duterte administration by withholding a large aid package on concerns about the rule of law and civil liberties. The decision of the Millennium Challenge Corp., a US Congress-funded agency, to defer approval of a new multi-million-dollar aid package for the Philippines also

appears to be Washington’s way of finding out if President Rodrigo Duterte is really serious about embracing China and Russia and de-emphasizing the importance of traditional ties with our former colonial masters.

MCC was established by former President George W. Bush in 2004 “as a means of combating terrorism by funding development in poor nations under a strict neo-conservative freetrade model,” according to the American journalist Bill Conroy. The billion-dollar fund also fundamentally changed the way the US distributed aid to developing countries by making them compete for funds with others, using a set of criteria developed by “independent” groups such as the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank.

Only last year, MCC said it had unanimously agreed to give the Philippines a second grant “in recognition of the policies on good governance” of close US ally President Noynoy Aquino.

The announcement came ahead of the expiry last May of the first grant or “compact” of $434 million given to the Philippines, which was approved in 2010.

The US has started turning the screws on the Duterte administration by withholding a large aid package.

The first tranche of the MCC grant, worth $262 million, was spent for the Secondary National Roads Development Project to

improve access to markets and services for farmers, fishermen and small businessmen. A second installment of $120 million was earmarked for poverty reduction programs while the third, for $54.3 million, went to the computerization and streamlining of business processes of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Now, with Duterte in power and pursuing not only a bloody war against illegal drugs but also shifting the Philippines’ focus away from the US and towards American rivals China and Russia, the MCC said the renewal of the aid package will be “subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.” In other words, the US is challenging Duterte to a game of diplomatic “chicken,” in effect asking him to choose between the American way or the highway.

Prior to the MCC’s decision to defer the renewal of the Philippine aid compact, the US has been gamely declaring that there

will be no fundamental change in the relationship between Manila and Washington. This despite Duterte’s widely-reported cussing out of outgoing President Barack Obama, his opposition to the continued presence of US military forces in the Philippines and his apparent ill-will towards Americans in general.

The State Department noted that the new Philippine leader’s verbal anti-American broadsides have never escalated to formal diplomatic action. So perhaps the Americans have decided that it’s time to find out if Duterte’s actions can match his overheated rhetoric by cutting off the MCC aid. *** Of course, the Americans may also discover, as not a few Filipinos have, that Duterte seems to enjoy proving his detractors wrong and that he will not back down from a fight. Instead of driving the Philippines back into the heart of the American geopoTurn to A5

TODAY, I again yield my column space to my daughter Ivy Lopez Cabaltica’s article, a sequel to last Friday’s column which she also wrote.

Here is Ivy’s article: A productivity book should deliver its point quickly and not waste your time.

Productivity is always the goal in business and in life.

The essence of productivity is to accomplish your tasks with the least time, effort, and waste.

Inefficiency is the enemy.

Here’s how to assess if a selfhelp book can increase your productivity.

1. Who is the author? The best author is a notable businessman, leader, or proven talent. These high achievers have no time to write a book, so they hire a good writer to record their wisdom. The book jacket lists the author’s credentials. PhDs are very academic and theoretical while journalists and freelancers usually offer anecdotes and conclusions.

You want advice from a success you want to emulate.

2. What is the thesis? Scan the introduction to see how the book was conceived and how data was collected. Good authors tell you the point of the book in the introduction and table of contents.

3. What is the source? Firsthand accounts of productive people are best, followed by in-depth interviews of them.

Responsible studies conducted by the author can be helpful if novel. But observational reports of public figures and companies by unknown writers are speculative and useless.

4. How is it written? A productivity book should deliver its point quickly and not waste time. No one has time to read more than 250 pages, or endure dramatic prose. The best books give chapter summary or bullet points.

5. Can you scan through it? Most self-help books are thinly-veiled feature articles or collections of superficial interviews. Find a chapter that interests you and scan it. If you quickly reached the end without stopping to read slowly, maybe the book does not have Turn to A5

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Opinion Pinpointing the bubble in China’s real-estate market

By Noah Smith AMERICANS enjoy an unusual kind of security—their big, domestically focused economy isn’t very vulnerable to external shocks. But most people around the world don’t have that luxury: Their jobs, businesses and livelihoods are very sensitive to events in far-off lands, and the choices of leaders they don’t elect. Right now, much of the world is in danger from a potential recession in China.

China, which still is the biggest contributor to global growth, has been looking shaky for a couple of years now.

Growth is down from insanely fast to moderately fast. The stock market rose and crashed.

Liquidity problems have been common in the banking sector, and a lot of money has flowed out of the country. So far, through all of this turbulence, growth has managed to hold up —or at least it has, according to the official statistics.

But it’s the housing sector that will really make or break the country’s economic destiny.

Prices fell in 2014 and early 2015, and it looked as if the long-promised Chinese housing crash had finally arrived. But then prices recovered, as they did after another smaller fall in 2011 and 2012. Now they’re on the rise again:

of the ideas that people have been tossing around regarding China’s economy over the last decade, and puts them all together in one unified model.

And it reaches the same conclusion many industry people have arrived at—Chinese housing is in a bubble that will crash when the country’s rapid catch-up growth flames out.

But the strength of this model—its plausibility—is also its weakness. It’s built from conventional wisdom. That’s a valuable exercise, because it shows that all the various pieces of conventional wisdom fit together into one logically coherent story. But the theory hasn’t undergone a trial by fire yet—it hasn’t been tested against data. So if conventional wisdom is wrong, the theory’s prediction of a crash won’t come true.

Some other recent papers take a more agnostic view. Jing Wu, Joseph Gyourko and Yongheng Deng, for example, note that price-to-rent ratios are very high, meaning that small downward revisions in growth expectations could cause prices to fall a lot. But unlike Chen and Wen, they don’t have a model that predicts doom.

A more sanguine view is put forth by the prestigious team of Hanming Fang, Quanlin Gu, Wei Xiong and Li-An Zhou, in a paper called “Demystifying the

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

A5

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Creating more false pension hopes FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO THE bill that Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. recently submitted to the House of Representatives, increasing to P2,000 the P500 monthly social pension of indigent senior citizens who are 70 years old and above, is simply too ambitious and farfetched.

Still, it is bringing hope to the intended beneficiaries and their families. After all, they could dream about it and make it one of their many wishes for this Christmas season. Besides, six years has passed since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 that set its amount at P500.

That P500 has never been increased despite the mandate of Congress to review it every two years in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It is so small that it is now being disbursed as a quarterly stipend of P1,500 through door-to-door delivery, presumably at a cost that is high relative to the small value that is being delivered.

Anyone who is 60 years old or older and “frail, sickly or with disability, and without pension or permanent source of income, compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her basic needs” is qualified to receive this dole

from DSWD. This definition disqualified all SSS pensioners but nobody has questioned its inconsistency with the Social Security Act, which provides under Section 29 that “the establishment of the SSS shall not disqualify the members and employers from receiving such government assistance, financial or otherwise, as may be provided.”

Worse, DSWD—conveniently citing lack of funds—granted social pensions only to those who were 77 years old and older and it was only in 2015 when it lowered the qualifying age to 65 years old. Did DSWD ever possess the legislative power to amend ESCA? But as what ESCA mandated, President Digong’s new DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo will grant the social pensions to those 60 years old and above starting January 2017.

The number of social pension beneficiaries would then double to 2.4 million, and even exceed all SSS pensioners. Consequently, even at the same amount of P500, DSWD has to double to P17.94 billion its 2017 social pension budget.

What about Rep. Campos’s proposal? If it were to be applied to all indigent senior citizens, then it could quadruple this budget to P71.76 billion.

The amount exceeds, obviously, the required P56 billion funding for a similar P2,000 increase in the pensions of SSS, which former Rep. Neri Colmenares made so hot an issue in 2015 un-

til the presidential elections of 2016.

The Colmenares bill was passed almost unanimously by both houses of Congress, but President Benigno Aquino III vetoed it for fear of its financial consequences. On the other hand, then Mayor Digong and the other populist presidential aspirants—except PNoy’s anointed candidate—favored its approval.

Six months after President Digong’s ascent to the presidency, it is still in limbo. This time, its main oppositors are his newly-appointed SSS officials who do not agree to its immediate and full implementation.

Like their predecessors, they are convinced that its outright grant would bankrupt SSS by 2029. On the other hand, they have not even consulted their member employers and employees if they’d agree to raise their contributions.

Why don’t SSS officials explain that this is the universal funding method in increasing pensions? Fifty-nine years after its establishment, the SSS program has reached a state of equilibrium in its revenues and expenditures, and any increase in benefits would require a corresponding increase in contributions.

Instead, they talk about new investment strategies as if these would enable SSS to raise enough funds for the P2,000 pension increase. Of course, this only distracts everybody from seeking the right solution.

In fact, the Social Security Act has existing provisions that point where to get the financing of pension benefits. Sadly, they remain good on paper only and had never been resorted to.

Section 20, for instance, provides that “As the contribution of the Government to the operation of the SSS, Congress shall annually appropriate out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the necessary sum or sums to meet the estimated expenses of the SSS for each ensuing year.”

Whether SSS is in financial trouble or not, Government is thus supposed to appropriate funds for it.

Moreover, if SSS were made to give the P2,000 pension increase, then it could call on Government for additional funding under the same section “In addition to this contribution, Congress shall appropriate from time to time such sum or sums as may be needed to assure the maintenance of an adequate working balance of the funds of the SSS as disclosed by suitable periodic actuarial studies to be made of the operations of the SSS.” Indeed, we have enough laws to enable an increase in pensions.

But if we still insist in passing more—such as the Campos bill —but without the strong political will to implement them, then these new laws could only end up as mere promises that would create more false pension hopes.

Asia’s gambling binge Bloomberg editorial

If a true crash ever does come, it may well be catastrophic.

China doesn’t have well-developed stock markets, so households save a lot of their money, directly or indirectly, in housing and land. Much of the economy itself is based on real-estate development. Land also tends to be highly leveraged, and assetprices crashes that involve lots of debt tend to be devastating for growth. So Chinese housing prices are hanging like an economic Sword of Damocles over the head of the global economy.

Will the sword fall soon?

Everyone in the finance industry no doubt has an opinion on this very big question. Academic economists have looked at it too. It no surprise that different researchers have come to different answers.

Some economists—like many industry professionals—interpret the housing boom as a bubble.

Kaiji Chen and Yi Wen of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis have a model in which demand for housing as a savings vehicle kicks off expectations of rising prices that then become a selffulfilling prophecy. They write: In our model, current generations of entrepreneurs seek alternative stores of value for their rapidly growing wealth. In a financially underdeveloped economy with a limited supply of financial assets, housing becomes a natural investment option…This sustains a self-fulfilling growing housing bubble…Our theory also predicts that such a fast-growing housing bubble will lose steam… as surplus labor is exhausted in rural areas.

This is an interesting theory, because it draws together most

Testing...

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litical sphere of influence, Duterte may just decide to ratchet up the anti-US rhetoric and take his unabashed courtship of the Chinese and the Russians and his independent foreign policy to the next level.

Chinese Housing Boom.” These authors construct house price indices for Chinese cities, and they find that in most cities, price appreciation is being driven not by unrealistic expectations but by rapid income growth. Chinese people, they contend, are making more money, so they’re spending it on housing.

Yes, Chinese homebuyers are paying huge percentages of their income to buy property. But Fang et al. note that there’s no obvious reason to believe this behavior will stop any time soon. The authors are not very worried about a bubble or a financial crisis. They also note that Chinese homebuyers make large down payments, which means they’re less reliant on debt than their American and Japanese counterparts. “The Chinese boom,” they write, “is different in nature from the housing bubbles in the US and Japan.”

So which academic team is right? Is Chinese housing a bubble, or isn’t it? In fact, all three teams of authors make important points. But I think all three ignore the highly leveraged corporate sector. Homebuyers may not be borrowing like crazy, but realestate developers and many other companies have. If slowing economic growth causes households to pull back on their housing purchases, it could be companies, and the banks that lend to them, that are on the hook. Even if Chen and Wen are wrong, and the housing market isn’t a true bubble, a downturn could still wreak a lot of damage on the Chinese economy—and on all the economies around the world that are dependent on China.

So I think it does make sense to be concerned. Bloomberg The latest surveys, after all, have Duterte keeping his high trust rating among Filipinos, despite criticism of his campaign against illegal drugs. Never mind if the results of other polls show that Filipinos continue to hold the US in high regard and view other powers like China with a lot of suspicion.

AMID much protest, Japan’s lawmakers are considering a bill this week that would open their doors to opulent gambling houses. Analysts have dubbed it “manna from heaven” and the “holy grail.” Yet as any gambler will tell you, appeals to the divine are a sure sign of a weak hand. Japan’s casino project, like Asia’s gambling binge in general, is unlikely to end well.

The current vogue in the casino business is for “integrated resorts,” or multibilliondollar goliaths designed to lure out-of-towners and offer them a variety of ways to spend —shows, shopping, baroque dining—beyond gambling. This model generally makes casinos more profitable, less dependent on high rollers, and better able to withstand economic ebbs and flows.

For governments, too, it’s an appealing prospect. In theory, foreigners will drop their cash, boost the local economy and take their problems home with them. Developers can be prodded to improve local infrastructure and to include space for conferences and exhibitions. This is what Japan has in mind.

It’s a hard dynamic to sustain.

For one thing, the Asia-Pacific region is already brimming with such resorts, from Singapore to Saipan, Vietnam to Vladivostok. New ones are on the way in the Philippines and South Korea. Macau has some three dozen and counting. Studies show that increased regional competition can drive down revenue for established casinos, as you might expect, and drawing out-of-towners becomes much harder when they have options closer to home. As the US has lately learned, this leads to some very unhappy

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much to say. Valuable books are kept as a reference and continual guide. Its content should require careful reading and absorption.

6. Who recommended it?

Bestseller lists are meaningless and temporary and may just be due to novelty and lack of competition. Did someone you trust or admire recommend the book?

Was it mentioned several times in your business or circle? If an impressive person praised the book, it may be worth your time to read it.

As someone who devours self-help books, I can tell you that most of them are bulked Duterte has also consistently campaigned for improved economic and even military ties with the US’ rivals. His attempts to come up with a bilateral solution to the long-running dispute in the South China Sea and his plans to procure weapons and other military hardware from countries other than the US have

endings for areas that can’t compete.

Another problem is that many of these new resorts are pursuing the same customer: the Chinese tourist. With China’s economic growth sluggish and the yuan weakening, that’s not the sure bet it once was. The Chinese government is cracking down on foreign casino companies trying to recruit local gamblers. And it is keen to discourage capital flight, which means it may further tighten rules on spending overseas.

Even under the best conditions, moreover, casinos rarely live up to the hype. Although they can produce a short-term economic boost, on average the effect dies out quickly.

Taxing gambling might seem like a painless way to bolster budgets, but casinos can actually be a net drag on public revenue when social costs are factored in. What public income they do collect tends to be regressive. Without precautions, they can lead to

a host of other ills, including lower property values, increased problem gambling, higher bankruptcy rates and more crime.

Japan faces some distinctive risks of its own. Nearly five percent of its adult population is addicted to gambling, according to government figures, a much higher rate than in other rich countries. A strong yen may discourage foreign tourists, and slots and craps are unlikely to alleviate the country’s chronic lack of demand, especially if they simply draw revenue from ubiquitous pachinko parlors. Not incidentally, most of the Japanese public opposes the measure.

The best argument in favor of any casino is that gambling is fun. In many parts of Asia, it’s a way of life. If the public approves, and is fully informed about the social costs, it should be legal. But don’t be a sucker: The benefits of casinos are always oversold, just as the odds are always on the house.

up common sense guides. The principles of hard work, discipline, organization, prioritizing, goal-setting, and commitment are inherent in every success story.

Many remarkable people have not read a self-help book. Rather than offer specific techniques, a truly valuable book provides insights into the minds of great achievers.

Principles of Productivity 1. Write down your concrete goals with specific achievable steps and dates so you know that you are on course. You then make decisions quickly because you know if they align with your goals.

2. The Law of Attraction

brings your goals to fruition by obsessing about it, visualizing, and believing it can happen.

3. 80/20 Pareto Principle—20 percent of input produces 80 percent of results; concentrate on the productive 20 percent.

4. Parkinson’s Law—work expands to fill the time given for completion. Set a tight deadline to accomplish more tasks.

5. Do not multitask intellectual work, it divides your attention and slows you. Focus on one task, finish it quickly, then move on to the next.

6. Limit meetings, e-mails, social media, television, all digital distractions.

7. Do only what you do best.

Focus on your strengths and

led to comparisons with Josip Broz Tito, the Yugoslavian leader who famously played both the Russians and the Americans for the benefit of his countrymen.

But Duterte will need all the political skill that he has if he is to play with the big boys on the world stage. He cannot quail at the first sign of pressure from

any of the major geopolitical actors.

The Americans have fired a shot across Duterte’s bow with the deferment of the new MCC fund grant. It’s now up to the new guy from Davao to show if he deserves to sit at the same table as the Americans, the Chinese and the Russians.

outsource the rest so you don’t burn out.

8. Tackle the most challenging task first thing in the morning so you feel accomplished the rest of the day.

9. Concentrate on work for about 50 minutes, then stand up for about 15 minutes to rest your eyes, brain, and back. This will allow you to return to work refreshed and energized for greater performance and focus.

10. It’s important to balance work with pleasurable activities and fulfilling relationships.

It makes you a better person and you enjoy your life as you achieve success. biznewsasia@gmail.com

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

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Rody’s curses tire Filipinos PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte maintained his “very good” net public satisfaction rating this quarter but his harsh rhetoric against foreign allies and partners sparked concern among majority of Filipinos, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.

The fourth quarter survey with 1,500 respondents found 77 percent of Filipinos satisfied, with 10 percent still undecided and 13 percent who registered dissatisfaction with the President’s performance.

Duterte, however, got a “lower” net satisfaction rating of +63 classified as “very good,” down by 3 points from the +66 marks he got in his first 100 days in office.

Across geographical areas, the President’s satisfaction score suffered significantly in Mindanao, dropping 11 points from +85 to +74, but still remaining “excellent” and the best reading among all geographical areas.

Duterte’s habit of publicly cursing foreign officials whom he doesn’t like registered a strong distaste from the public, with 51 percent of respondents saying that his cussing could harm the Philippines’ relations with other countries or institutions.

News

BCDA to dissolve rail firm T

By Othel V. Campos

HE Bases Conversion and Development Authority may dissolve the North Luzon Railway Corp. as soon as Hong Kong arbitration case with Chinese contractor China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. is settled, the agency’s head said Thursday.

Newly-appointed BCDA president Vivencio Dizon said the BCDA subsidiary has done nothing to benefit the agency and has in fact been a losing proposition for the agency.

“We cannot move unless the

arbitration case is completed. I have authorized a due diligence on the company as well as financial audit with the end view in the near future to dissolve the company,” he told reporters in a year-end briefing in Makati City.

In the arbitration case pending in Hong Kong, China National Machinery asked for $316 million in compensation after then President Benigno Aquino nullified the contract midstream.

The Hong Kong arbitration court ruled the case in favor of the Chinese company asking the Philippine government to pay $216 million as compensation for the unfinished contract.

BCDA has so far paid $210 million, the arbitration is over the remaining $106 million claimed by the Chinese state firm.

On the other hand, the BCDA also filed a counter claim of $200 million for the inability of

the Chinese company to deliver the project based on the agreed timeline.

Dizon said the agency is still looking at the legal implications of the case and its impact on the project. BCDA is always in constant communication with the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel for new developments on the case and how to deal with the arbitration.

“The most important thing now is to make this project happen. This is the priority of the new government. We want financial closure on this project that we’ve inherited,” said Dizon.

MMDA removes traffic barriers

By Joel E. Zurbano

John Paolo Bencito

US approves sale of radar for frigates THE United States approved the sale of $25-million air defense radar for the two Hamilton-class frigates that it donated to the Philippines, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The DSCA said the Philippine government may possibly acquire through the US government’s Foreign Military Sale the AN/SPS-77 Sea Giraffe 3D Air Search Radars and related equipment, support, and training.

“The estimated cost is $25 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Dec. 12, 2016,” the DSCA article said.

“The AN/SPS-77 Air Search Radars will be used to provide an enhanced ability to detect and track air contacts.

The radars will be installed on two Hamilton-class cutters acquired through the Excess Defense Articles [EDA] program. The Philippines will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” DSCA said.

At present, the Philippine Navy has already three former Hamilton-class ships from the US Coast Guard: BRPs Gregorio del Pilar, Ramon Alcaraz and Andres Bonifacio. Florante S. Solmerin

The Northrail project is fully under the leadership of the Transportation Department with support from the Bases Agency.

The Transportation Department will undertake the Tutuban to Malolos phase of the rail project as well as the second phase from Malolos to Clark.

The Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. for Transportation and Urban Development has offered to conduct the feasibility study for the Malolos to Clark segment.

Russia and China also signified interest to undertake the feasibility study for the Malolos to Clark phase.

CHOSEN PEOPLE. Filipino and Israeli rescue workers conduct a drill at the Luneta Park in Manila after the Philippine Red Cross, led by Senator Richard Gordon, held workshops on multiple casualty emergencies with the Magen David Adom, or Red Star of David, Israel’s national emergency agency. Lino Santos

Ad space on LRT offered to marketers

By Darwin G. Amojelar LIGHT Rail Manila Corp., a consortium led by Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said it is bidding out marketing rights at Light Rail Transit Line 1 stations and sought proposals from public and private companies who want to take part in its Station Partnership Program.

Initially, LRMC will grant certain marketing rights at Edsa LRT1 station, including the right to integrate their brand identity into the name of the station.

This marketing initiative is being launched in tandem with the station refurbishment program currently under way across all 20 LRT-1 stations, from Baclaran to Roosevelt.

LRMC has engaged PHAR, an international marketing agency, to this program.

Under the agreement with LRMC, PHAR will assume responsibility of commercializing all non-fare box revenue across the entire LRT Line 1 from 2016 until 2026, which includes all forms of advertising, major brand partnerships, Wi-Fi, fiber optics, retail led solutions, naming rights, data and applications, automated teller machines and other category partnerships.

Currently, the LRT-1 line’s monthly ridership is 13.5 million, and Edsa accounts for 1.5 million monthly riders.

The revenue generated from this exercise will be used for

the upgrade of the Edsa LRT-1 station. This includes the rehabilitation of the roofing and flooring of the station, complete electrical overhaul, additional security measures and passenger conveniences, and introduction of a retail environment.

“Urban transport is a critical component of any metropolis and programs like this are the most exclusive type of initiatives available to marketers. It helps companies and brands demonstrate their willingness to invest in their cities’ development, while engaging with thousands of daily commuters, over several years,” Prem Bhatia, PHAR managing director, said.

“It has been successfully implemented in cities like Kuala

Lumpur, New York, Madrid, Philadelphia and New Delhi and we look forward to making it a reality in Manila,” he added.

The criteria under which companies can apply for the program include that it is a multi-year agreement, and restricted to businesses established in the Philippines, for at least two years.

LRMC is a joint venture company of Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., Ayala Corp.’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure’s Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) PTE Ltd. It has been awarded a 32-year concession to operate and maintain the LRT 1 including the Cavite extension.

STEEL fences and concrete delineators in a portion of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue will be removed to further improve traffic in Quezon City, the Metro Manila Development Authority announced on Thursday.

Instead, according to MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos, the steel fences and concrete delineators placed from the southbound Edsa Timog Avenue to P. Tuazon Boulevard will be replaced with plastic barrier.

“We will replace it so it can be removed at any time when it needed,” said Orbos.

Orbos said provincial buses going to South Luzon Expressway are also banned from plying Edsa Timog Avenue up to P. Tuazon Boulevard from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. until 10 a.m.

The MMDA has advised motorists and commuters to expect heavy traffic in the metropolis due to influx of shoppers and other holiday-related activities during the last two Fridays before Christmas Day. Noemie Recio, head of the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, said the agency will deploy more personnel to man the choke points on Edsa today (Dec. 16) and on Dec. 23, the last Fridays before Christmas Day when heavy traffic conditions are expected.

The seven major choke points along Edsa are Balintawak Market Road, Aurora Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe, Ayala Avenue and Taft Avenue.

Recio said traffic in the metropolis would remain heavy for the holidays, reaching a peak on that dates when people go last-minute shopping and attend various events.

“A lot of people are going out.

There are Christmas parties and reunions, and people from provinces are also going out to do shopping, attend events and visit friends and relatives in Metro Manila whole those from Metro Manila will go to the provinces to spend the holiday there,” she said.

DA bans import of Holland birds

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales Wageningen Bioveterinary Re- fected US territory.

ANOTHER PORK BARREL BUDGET. Senator Panfilo Lacson urged President Rodrigo Duterte to veto pork-like items in the 2017 national budget to prove that he wants to rid the government of corruption. Ey Acasio

THE Department of Agriculture recently issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Flevoland, the Netherlands.

Under Memorandum Order No. 29-16, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol ordered a temporary ban based on a report submitted by Dr. Christianne Bruschke, chief veterinary officer, Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Hague, Netherlands to the Office of Internationale Des Epizooties (OIE) that there has were outbreaks of the H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in Biddinghuizen, Flevoland, the Netherlands affecting fattening ducks as confirmed by

search, Lelystad.

The OIE is an inter-governmental organization that, among others, has functions of informing governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and of ways to control these diseases, of coordinating studies devoted to the surveillance and control of animal diseases and of harmonizing regulations to facilitate trade in animals and animal products.

“There is a need to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,” Piñol said.

Piñol ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary import clearances on the importation of poultry products from the af-

In addition, Piñol also instructed the DA’s veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors at all major ports to stop and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products (with the exception of heat-treated products) from the said area.

Piñol said, however, that frozen poultry meat with slaughterhouse/process date of 21 days prior to the HPAI outbreaks are allowed to enter the country subject to veterinary quarantine rules and regulations.

The Philippines, to this day, remains free from the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.

Piñol said the ban and other emergency measures were necessary to protect the health of the public and the local poultry population.

Sports Paragua remains ahead in chessfest GM Mark Paragua settled for a 31-move draw with eighth seed GM Kirill Stupak of Belarus in 31 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Game to keep his grip on the lead along with three others after the third round of the Philippine Sports Commission-Puregold International Chess Challenge at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel Wednesday night.

Paragua, now based in the United States, was riding the crest of two impressive wins, including one against countryman IM Oliver Dimakiling but failed to capitalize on a slight positional edge and agreed to a standoff with Stupak.

Despite thia, Paragua has a firm hold on the lead along with Stupak, top seed GM Wang Hao of China and No. 4 GM Levan Pantsulaia, each owning 2.5 points this nine-round event sponsored by the PSC, Burlington, Marc Adventures Mining Inc. and Puregold.

Wang, who topped the first leg a few days back, bashed fellow Chinese WGM Lei Tingjie’s French Defense with a quick, merciless 23-move triumph while Pantsulaia downed opening-round sensation Hamed Nouri in 42 moves of a Queen’s Indian to zoom to the four-man tie at the top.

Breathing down the leaders’ necks was a big group of chessers with two points that included Filipinos GM Eugene Torre, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, GM Joey Antonio and GM Darwin Laylo.

Torre and Garcia battled to a 31move standoff of a quiet Slav duel, while Antonio and Laylo fought to a 30-move split of yet another Slav.

WIM Janelle Mae Frayna drew with Im Paulo Bersamina in 34 moves to stay on title course with 1.5 points.

Frayna is fresh from her sterling Olympiad, where she clinched the WGM and men’s IM title in the same biennial meet.

But for her to assume the titles, Frayna, currently rated 2320, would need to breach the 2400-rating mark.

A7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PH cagers bag EAGA gold medal

S

AMARINDA, Indonesia—The Philippine Team flourished in six sports, including in men’s basketball, where it won the gold, in the recently concluded 9th BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, PhilippinesEast Asian Growth Area) Friendship Games in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The focus area of Davao City, represented by the Holy Cross of Davao College, captured the nationals’ lone gold, demolishing South Sulawesi, 109-63, to avert a gold-medal shutout in the

weeklong tournament aimed to foster camaraderie and strong relationship among countries in the East Asian region.

Davao avenged its defeat against Sabah, Malaysia in

the last edition of the biennial games held in Labuan, Malaysia as the Crusaders swept the fournation meet.

The team, headed by City Mayor’s Office officer-incharge Mikey Aportadera, is composed of Joshua Aguilon, Harry Dumagan, Mark Brian Francisco, Kennith John Gudes, Bernard Gutierrez II, James Clarn Linares, Lean Vincent Martel, Harold John Nebria, Jhayston Oquias, Loid Prince Unson,Joromeo Yap, Christian Gonzales, Michael Jay Gonzaga

and Christian Ivan San Diego.

The Davao City’s tandem of Rex Paller of Jose Maria College and Jan Ashley Jacob of the University of Mindanao claimed the men’s beach volleyball bronze, defeating the tandem from South Sulawesi, 21-17, 21-16.

Abet Bernan, who mentored the city’s team that won the gold in Labuan, also coached Paller and Jacob.

The city’s sepak takraw team, composed of Paul Abenojar, Bryan Borras, Jayrix Fel Cabero,

Low Profile tops PCSO Gold Cup

PSC Commissioner Charles Maxey (first row, fifth from left) and Sports Development Division of the City Mayors Office officer-incharge Mikey Aportadera join members of the Davao City men’s basketball team after winning the lone gold medal for the Philippine Team in the recent 9th BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asian Growth Area) Friendship Games in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

South Korea debuts in Sydney-Hobart race SYDNEY—The skipper of South Korea’s first ever entry to the Sydney-Hobart blue water classic says he has been preparing for years but fears he is still not ready for the punishing yacht race.

“We have spent eight years getting ready for the race,” Kwangmin ‘Andrew’ Rho told reporters Thursday ahead of the December 26 start.

“We chartered a TP52 to practise on for five years,” he added of the local 52-footer Frantic after plans to buy a boat in Sydney fell through.

“Frankly, I am not ready,” Rho admitted. “We will be much better next week—I hope.”

Rho speaks from experience, having crewed in the 2015 race, which was hit by savage southerly winds, forcing dozens of boats to pull out.

“It was much harder than I expected,” he said.

Storms are a routine part of the event with six men dying, five boats sinking and 55 sailors rescued in 1998 when ferocious weather hit the fleet.

Rho said that while Korean sailors travel to compete in Japan and other Asian countries they mostly race inshore.

There is little offshore racing to gain experience, but efforts are under way to change that.

Among a dozen international entries, the Korea Ocean Sailing Club has renamed Frantic, which retired from last year’s race with a torn mainsail, as Sonic for the nation’s first tilt at the gruelling 628-nautical-mile event.

“We are under a lot of pressure,” Rho said, hoping for

clement weather for the sprint down Australia’s east coast and across the wild Bass Strait to Hobart.

“Every Korean will be looking at us.”

Team Korea is mostly from Seoul and Busan with some experience of America’s Cup sailing.

Line honours are forecast to go to eight-time winner Wild Oats from Australia.

Three other super-maxis will challenge for the fastest time among a field of more than 90 yachts. AFP

Manila, PSC, palace start Rizal complex sale talks

SOFTBALL TOURNEY. Marikina City Councilor Boy”Bolok” Santos, Marikina Sports

Center Sports Administrator Dr. Joselito Llabres, Special Assistant to the Mayor Ponchit Santos, ASAPHIL President and Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, ASAPHIL Executive Vice President Atty. Rolando Rivera and ASAPHIL Secretary General Dennis Nuevo are shown with participants of the Cebuana Lhuillier- Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines 18-and-Under National Women’s Softball Tournament during the opening day of the matches. Teams from Makati and Sta. Maria, Bulacan currently lead the standings of the tournament.

TALKS on the sale of the ageing Rizal Memorial Sports Complex have started.

But officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, the City of Manila and Malacanang are taking it slow and reviewing the documents that they have at hand.

Legal questions are being sorted and clarified first and this concerns the ownership of the complex, which was originally built 82 years ago in 1934.

“We’re not in a hurry to transfer ownership to Manila. We have to make sure that all documents are legal,” said PSC chairman William

“Butch” Ramirez during a meeting with representatives of the City of Manila and Malacanang.

Negotiations are expected to go on for at least a year.

Lawyer Jose Antonio Flaminiano represented the City of Manila during the talks with Ramirez, while Kim Uy was the legal counsel sent by Presidential Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Two years ago, talks on the sale of the RMSC was reopened when Joseph Estrada assumed office as Mayor of the City of Manila.

The 10-hectare property, which was originally owned by the Vito

Cruz family, was donated to the government way back in 1934. It is said to be worth around P10 billion.

Up to this time, ownership between the national government and the City of Manila will have to be determined.

Discussions on the sale of the property happened in previous years after the City of Manila, which was under Mayor Alfredo Lim at that time, signified its interest of selling it.

The facility was destroyed during World War II and was later reconstructed in 1953 and then renovated in 2011.

Peter Atencio

Murray, Kerber leave rivals playing catch-up PARIS—Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber emerged the standout players of 2016, deposing world number ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, while Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova were left with careers to rebuild.

Having lost the Australian Open and French Open finals to Djokovic, Murray thundered back in the second half of the year.

The 29-year-old Briton won a second Wimbledon, became the first man to clinch two Olympic singles gold medals and snatched Djokovic’s world number one spot, ending the year on a fivetitle, 24-match winning run.

“It’s taken a huge effort to get there but to repeat that again next year is going to be extremely difficult. I’m not going to be able to play at this level into my mid30s. The young guys are going to keep improving,” said Murray after dismantling lifetime rival

Jundy Puton, Dominic James Sagosoy, Nomar Sencio and Alion Ypon, also won two bronze medals in the regu event.

The focus area of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, meanwhile, won three silver medals for Team Philippines as Diana Mae Memoracion finished second in the 3,000 meter run, while the women’s and men’s team came out short for the gold in the 4x100 meter run. The 18-yearold Marquez also won a bronze medal in the women’s javelin throw.

Djokovic in the ATP World Tour Finals title match to confirm his end of year top ranking.

It’s no coincidence that Murray’s domination in the second half of 2016 came in tandem with his decision to rehire Ivan Lendl as part of his coaching team just before Wimbledon.

In stark contrast, by the end of 2016, Djokovic had separated from Boris Becker. It was a messy finale for the 29-yearold Serb who had completed the career Grand Slam with his maiden French Open crown in June.

His 12th major title allowed him to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time while he also became the first player to win $100 million in prize money.

The talk was of Djokovic becoming just the third man in history to compete the calendar Grand Slam and the first since 1969.

But his season imploded as a

third round loss at Wimbledon sparked an alarming slide -- he suffered a first round exit to the rejuvenated Juan Martin del Potro at the Rio Olympics and a lacklustre defeat to Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final.

Federer, the 17-time major winner, slumped to 16—his lowest ranking since 2001— and failed to win a title for the first time since 2000.

The Swiss, who will be 36 in August, skipped the French Open before a five-set loss to Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semi-finals pre-empted a withdrawal from the rest of the season to recover from a serious knee injury.

Nadal, the 14-time major winner, ended at nine in the world.

He shut down his season in October to rest the wrist injury which had forced him out of Roland Garros after two rounds, kept him sidelined from Wimbledon and almost torpedoed his

Olympics hopes.

As it was, the 30-year-old Spaniard made it to Rio, carried his nation’s flag at the opening ceremony and won doubles gold with his childhood friend Marc Lopez.

Nadal, however, is aware that a change is coming.

His fears were illustrated by 19-year-old Alexander Zverev becoming the first teenager to finish in the top 25 since Djokovic and Murray in 2006 while the colourful Nick Kyrgios, another of the ATP’s muchvaunted #NextGen of players, ended at a career-high 13.

Change coming “It’s an era of transition where two good generations combine together,” said Nadal.

In the women’s game, 28-yearold German left-hander Kerber bookended the Grand Slam season, winning the Australian and US Opens and knocking 35-year-old Williams off her top

spot after an 186-week reign.

Williams won a seventh Wimbledon to equal Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Slams but her season finished after a semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova at the US Open.

The great American, also beaten in the French Open final

by Garbine Muguruza, called time on 2016 to nurse a shoulder injury.

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka came off the tour in June after announcing she was pregnant while Sharapova failed a drugs test at the Australian Open.

Five-time major winner Sharapova subsequently had a two-year ban for testing positive for meldonium cut to 15 months and will be eligible to return in April.

If Sharapova, as well as an early season betting uproar, rocked tennis there were still as many feelgood stories. AFP

CARMONA—Mark Domingo played a waiting game with comebacking favorite Low Profile.

Low Profile, a five-year old stallion, raced for the first time in two months after suffering from an ailment at the end of a previous race, chasing down three leading bets in the last 400-meters to take the top honors in the 2016 PCSO Presidential Gold Cup Race recently at the San Lazaro Leisure Park race tracks.

The 30-year old Domingo first watched leading horse Skyway got pursued by Dewey Boulevard, Lakan and Hookshot for most of the 2,000-meter race.

Slowly, he and Low Profile moved their way up to the front from the outside, and was 4 lengths ahead of Skyway in the lead when they crossed the finish in 2 minutes and 7.4 seconds.

Skyway, with jockey AP Asuncion on top, was second, followed by Kanlaon, ridden by Val Dilema.

The win allowed Low Profile, owned by Ruben Dimacuha to make up for a fourthplace finish he had way back in October in the PCSO Anniversary Race.

“Nagkaproblema siya sa isang race. Naayos namin. Nag-adjust kami. Hindi namin masyado binigyan ng hard work sa practice,” said Domingo, an eight-year veteran.

Low Profile’s redemption from his loss to Kanlaon handed his owner and handlers the top purse of P3 million, while Skyway earned the second prize purse of P1 million. Kanlaon’s take was P500,000.

Trainer Conrado Vicente said Low Profile’s health suffered from the hot climate, which they experienced last October, with the stallion suffering from a nosebleed while being returned to the stable.

“Naayos na ito. Nu’ng hinahanda naming siya, maganda ang workout. Mabilis siya. Pero kailangan sumunod lang siya sa umpisa ng karera. Pero sa last 400, du’n ko nakita na mananalo siya sa takbo niya,” stated Vicente.

In other featured races that day, Sepfourteen of JA Guce took home the P1.5 million top prize in the Philracom Juvenile Championship Stakes Race.

Shooting Olympian Ong dies TWO-TIME Olympian and former national shooting champion Mariano “Tom” Ong died Wednesday after a heart attack.

He was 78.

Ong, father of long-time shooting titlist Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and a known industrialist being one of the pillars of Malabon Soap and Oil Industrial Co., Inc., makers of Spring Cooking Oil, was one of the first Filipinos to be awarded the Gold Masters Badge for shooting in the rapid fire event of the 1974 World Championships in Thun, Switzerland.

Ong, consistent national record-holder in the rapid fire event since 1972 until Tac surpassed his mark, competed in the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

In the 1992 Southeast Asian Games Shooting Association Championships, Ong, Tac Padilla and another son, Donald, won the gold medal for the rapid fire team event against the heavily favored Thailand shooters.

Since 1977 until his retirement in 1997, Ong and his two sons represented the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, winning various medals and awards in rapid fire competitions.

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

Sports

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

A8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

Koreans subdue Junior Volcanoes

By Peter Atencio THE no. 2 seeded Korean side dominated the Philippine Junior Volcanoes, 19-10, Wednesday night in the 2016 Under-19 Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament at the International School of Manila in BGC, Taguig.

The local side refused to down without a fight and rallied back from a scoreless first half behind Ryan Santos.

“We may not have gotten the result we wanted. But this team is competitive,” said assistant coach Jake Letts.

The Koreans were ahead, 12-0, at halftime when the Junior Volcanoes finally came to life in the second half.

Santos scored thrice in succession, first on a penalty shot with 4 minutes and 15 seconds into the half, 12-3.

He grounded the ball for a try point and the Junior Volcanoes moved closer, 5-12, some 8:34 into the half.

Then a conversion in the 9:50 mark brought Korea’s lead down to two, 10-12.

That’s when the Koreans turned the tables on the host team, with Minseon Hae scoring on a try for a 17-10 edge on the 19:42 mark.

Kimin Kim, who has nine points, then finished it with a conversion at 20:30.

The Koreans will meet the United Arab Emirates side in the finals on Saturday.

UAE rallied from 0-10 down in the first half to beat Singapore, 14-10.

Points scored by Jeremiah Kilicanasou and Max Johnson put UAE in a 4 p.m. finals match with Korea.

The Junior Volcanoes will take on Singapore at 2 p.m.

Houston Rockets point guard James Harden (13) glides to the hoop against three Sacramento Kings defenders during their game on December 14, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. AFP

Harden leads Rockets past Kings L

OS ANGELES—James Harden matched the franchise record for career tripledoubles to lead the Houston Rockets to a dominating 132-98 victory over the shorthanded Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Harden finished with 15 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds to post his 14th career triple-double and equal the mark set by NBA Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon.

Harden needed only 30 minutes to deliver his fifth triple-double of the season in front of a crowd of 15,000 at the Rockets’ Toyota

Center arena.

And the Rockets produced a season-high 40 assists on 50 field goals, their most since February 1995.

“Everybody is getting shots, everybody is scoring the basketball. Everybody is happy,” Harden said.

The Rockets improved to 19-7 on the season and won their eighth consecutive game.

Houston also flirted with the NBA record for three-pointers, hitting 22 of 42 from behind the arc while cruising to the win.

The Rockets extended their league record for consecutive games with at least 10 threepointers at the 7:13 mark of the second quarter on a three from Sam Dekker.

Forward Ryan Anderson led all five Houston starters in double figures with 22 points. He was four for seven from three-point

range while forward Trevor Ariza finished five-for-seven from beyond the arc.

Elsewhere in San Antonio, Texas, Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points as the San Antonio Spurs held on for a 108-101 win over the Boston Celtics at the AT&T Center arena.

Pau Gasol added 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Tony Parker had eight points in a twoand-a-half-minute stretch of the fourth quarter to help San Antonio withstand a Celtics comeback try.

Parker finished with 16 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter

the field and 13-of-23 from threepoint range.

Russell Westbrook tallied 27 points, six rebounds and five assists for Oklahoma City.

Enes Kanter added 19 points off the bench for the Thunder, who lost for the third time in four games.

In Memphis, Marc Gasol posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to power the Memphis Grizzlies to an easy 93-85 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers who played without their three stars LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. AFP

Philippine Open makes grand comeback in 2017

Jarin to coach Bulldogs FORMAL practices involving former San Beda coach Jamike Jarin and the National University Bulldogs men’s basketball team will start this January.

Jarin confirmed this a few days after he quit as chief mentor of the San Beda Red Lions.

“That’s going to be in January,” said Jarin.

The school is currently finalizing the details of Jarin’s new role with the Bulldogs.

Jarin took on his new job after Eric Altamirano tendered his resignation after six seasons two weeks ago.

He quit the team while plans were being finalized on plans to have the NU Bulldogs go into a rebuilding mode after their campaign in season 79 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament concluded.

Jarin coached the Red Lions when they won the season 92 National Collegiate Athletic Association title and the 2015 Fil-Oil Cup and PCCL crowns.

The Bulldogs won a UAAP crown for the first time in 60 years under Altamirano’s watch.

Disappointment over the result of their campaign in the past few seasons forced them to go a new direction next year.

NU ended their campaign with 53-77 loss to the Adamson Falcons, a fifth place finish and a 5-9 win-loss record.

Among the names being floated as a possible successor of Jarin with the Red Lions are Boyet Fernandez, Louie Alas and Jimmy Alapag.

Fernandez steered the Mendiola-based dribblers to the 2014 NCAA title before he left to coach NLEX in the PBA where he spent two seasons. Peter Atencio

as San Antonio improved to 20-5 on the season.

Manu Ginobili added 12 points and Dewayne Dedmon and Patty Mills had 10 each.

In Salt Lake City, Rodney Hood scored 25 points and Gordon Hayward added 17 to lead the Utah Jazz to a 109-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shelvin Mack added 15 points and five assists off the bench while Rudy Gobert notched his 16th double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Utah led from start to finish while shooting 58.3 percent from

Solaire Resort and Casino president/COO Thomas Arasi (right) joins hands with, from left: pros Miguel Tabuena and Frankie Miñoza, NGAP president Carlos Coscolluela, NGAP chairman Gigi Montinola, NGAP sec-gen Pepot Iñigo and PGTI general manager Colo Ventosa during yesterday’s launch of the 99th $350,000 Solaire Philippine Open at Solaire Eclipse.

SHELVED for the second time in the last four years, the Philippine Open makes a grand comeback in March 2017 with Solaire Resort and Casino coming in as the new sponsor and chief backer of the country’s premier golf championship.

The event, also Asia’s oldest National Open, will be played March 2-5 at the newly-refurbished The Country Club in Laguna with the local aces, led by former champions Miguel Tabuena, Angelo Que and Frankie Miñoza and local circuit’s Order of Merit champion Tony Lascuña, expected to slug it out with a crack international field.

However, the $350,000 event, which used to be the kickoff leg of the Asian Tour, will not be a part of the region’s premier circuit next year.

The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has guaranteed an elite cast of 120-130 international players to clash for top honors in the 72-hole championship, including the leading players on the Asian Tour.

Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters battle TNT KaTropa

By Jeric Lopez TWO teams in the middle and two in the bottom half plunge into action in hopes of improving their standing in the ongoing 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. TNT KaTropa and Phoenix, two teams tied in the middle with similar 2-2 cards, test each other’s mettle at 4:15 p.m. in the opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Right after, struggling squads Barangay Ginebra (12) and cellar-dweller Mahin-

dra Floodbuster (0-4) battle each other at 7 p.m. Both teams face a must-win situation to avoid being buried deeper in the ladder.

Through four games, the Tropang Texters and the Fuel Masters suffered the exact same fate.

They lost their opening assignments, won their next two before once again suffering defeats in their last assignments.

Now, they get to challenge each other to see who moves up in the upper echelon and who sinks down the lower draw.

TNT KaTropa was stunned by sister team Meralco, 98-87, last week while Phoenix suffered the same fate after it was demolished by Star, 123-79, in a lopsided affair last Saturday.

In the nightcap, the Gin Kings and the Floodbuster, both looking to avoid elimination, hope to gain their winning groove.

Ginebra was torched by GlobalPort, 91-84, last Sunday, while Mahindra came close to notching its first win before eventually bowing to defending champion San Miguel Beer, 94-91, also on the same day.

“The Philippine Open, with its great lore and history, will always be one of our premier golfing events and we are honored to be the title sponsor and chief backer of the Open that has lured the best and the brightest not only from the region but also from other parts of the world,” said Ricky Razon, chairman of Solaire operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp., PGTI, and port operator and International Container Terminal Services Inc. “It is a pleasure to sponsor not only the country’s premier championship but also Asia’s oldest National Open and we assure everyone that this is one Phl Open to remember,” said Solaire Resort and Casino president/COO Thomas Arasi during yesterday’s event launch at Solaire Eclipse.

“Golf in this part of the world has grown rapidly and the upcoming Open will surely benefit not only the Filipino players but also the rest of the international field as they continue to strive to improve.”

TNT KaTropa forward Ranidel De Ocampo (33) drives strong to the hoop against Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters center Mick Pennisi.

TNT and Phoenix clash at 4:15 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Shakey’s sizzles on debut

B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

B1

IN BRIEF

Japan rolls the dice on new casino law TOKYO—Japan passed a long-awaited bill to legalize casinos Thursday, Jiji Press reported, opening up a market seen as a potential global gaming powerhouse rivalling Asian titan Macau.

The controversial bill got through parliament in the early hours of Thursday morning despite a last-ditch opposition bid to stall it, after years of delays over worries about gambling addiction and organized crime.

Passage of the bill came on the last day of the current parliamentary session.

More legislation outlining details of so-called integrated resorts―which will feature hotel, retail, convention centre and entertainment venues including casinos―is required before any betting parlors can be built.

That makes it unlikely that Japan will have any in place before Tokyo hosts the 2020 Olympics.

But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his party are rolling the dice on casinos, hoping they will support tourism after the games, and pump some life into the world’s number three economy.

Supporters have said casinos could bring huge investment, with some analysts envisaging a $30 billion market, in a challenge to Macau’s once highrolling tables. AFP

World Bank raises PH growth forecast to 6.8% CUTTING RED TAPE. Twenty-five government agencies commit to eliminate red tape by revoking 1,062 rules and regulations that are deemed redundant and cumbersome. The

Project Repeal: Philippine Anti-Red Tape Challenge received 33,902 issuances from more than 70 agencies for review and possible repeal. Leading the 2nd Repeal Day are Finance undersecretary and anti-red Tape czar Gil Beltran (4th left), Senate trade committee chairman Juan Miguel Zubiri (center) and National Competitiveness Council (NCC) private Sector co-chairman Guillermo Luz (6th from right). They are joined by representatives from the government offices that participated in Project Repeal.

DENR shuts down 6 companies

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

T

he Environment Department said Thursday it cancelled the environmental compliance certificates of six companies for their alleged failure to meet some of the government conditions for their operations.

Environment Secretary Regina Lopez said in a news briefing the companies whose ECCs were cancelled wereCentury Communities Corp., AustralAsia Link Mining Corp., Ipilan Nickel Corp., Core Mining Corp., Lebach Mining Corp. and Donggwang Clark Corp.

Century Communities is the developer of the proposed 58-hectare Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System housing project in La Mesa dam.

Lopez said the proposed housing project would be located 24 meters above the water level.

“The DENR has decided to

adopt social justice. Social justice means that the use of the land benefits the greater majority and the common good. It is in our determination that we issue policy such as the use of the land contributes to the well being of our people,” Lopez said.

“If you have households and it rains, that waste will go down the water table which will eventually go down the water reservoir. The land is still in a protected area even if they already sold it so we decided to cancel the ECC. The cancellation will be effective immediately,” said Lopez.

Environment undersecretary for legal services Ipat Luna said

the ECC given to Century Communities was subject to a lot of conditions. “Some conditions are fulfilled while some were not. They need a permit from the DENR for tree cutting and we cannot give them that because of Republic Act 1336.

“Why keep the ECC alive if they are constricted to do the conditions. The ECC as a planning tool can be cancelled and changed. We see no future in the fulfillment of the conditions since we are constrained to that,” Ipat said.

The agency said Austral-Asia’s project was located between two heritage sites in Davao. “On one

side is a bonsai forest and the other side is a cove. We’ve sent our people there for a biodiversity. The people that live there are very unhappy about the mining that’s happening there. In the context of social justice and common good we are canceling it,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the ECCs of the other companies had lapsed. “We are also denying the ECC of Egerton Gold in Batangas because it is located in Verde passage which is the center of marine biodiversity of the planet. We told the company is not compatible with the current plans for tourism of the town,” Lopez said.

PH to ride out impact of Fed’s interest hike

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing December 15, 2016

8300 7840 7380

By Julito G. Rada

6920 6460 6000

6,855.31 73.03

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing DECEMBER 15, 2016 43.00 45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.960

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P49.870 LOW P49.960 AVERAGE P49.922 VOLUME 438.900M

P430.00-P661.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.40-P44.10 Unleaded Gasoline P25.75-P29.32 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

GBP TRAINING CENTER. Soon to rise within the power plant complex of Global Business Power Corp. in La Paz, Iloilo City is a state-of-the-art technical training center to be called GBP Training Institute. The institute is envisioned to be the country’s first and premiere training facility dedicated to foster study on the technological advancement in the power generation industry. Shown during the groundbreaking ceremony are (from left) GBP director Alfonso Uy, GBP president Rolando Bacani, GBP director James Go, Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Panay Energy Development Corp. chairman Jose Ma. Lim and Iloilo City vice mayor Jose Espinosa III.

ICTSI to build $30-m Ro-Ro hub in Cavite

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, December 15, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.8020

Japan

Yen

0.008538

0.4252

UK

Pound

1.255200

62.5115

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128884

6.4187

Switzerland

Franc

0.980392

48.8255

Canada

Dollar

0.753409

37.5213

Singapore

Dollar

0.695652

34.6449

Australia

Dollar

0.740900

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

132.1078

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266724

13.2834

Brunei

Dollar

0.693241

34.5248

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028105

1.3997

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5604

Euro

Euro

1.053300

52.4564

Korea

Won

0.000848

0.0422

China

Yuan

0.144781

7.2104

India

Rupee

0.014826

0.7384

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.225023

11.2066

New Zealand

Dollar

0.711400

35.4291

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031394

36.8983

1.5635 Source: PDS Bridge

THE World Bank on Thursday upgraded its 2016 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.8 percent from the previous estimate of 6.4 percent.

The Washington-based multilateral lender said it revised upward its projections for the Philippines as a part of its quarterly forecast exercise “considering recent trends.”

The Philippine economy expanded 7.1 percent in the third quarter, faster than the median expectations of 6.6 percent to 6.9 percent, bringing the average growth in the three quarters to 7 percent.

“Recent economic trends illustrate the high confidence among investors and consumers, and provide the foundation for a more optimistic outlook for the remainder of 2016 and for 2017,” said World Bank lead economist for the Philippines Birgit Hansl.

“The economy’s strong performance in October and November, and continued policy commitment to an increase in public infrastructure spending are expected to carry the economy’s growth momentum over to 20172018,” he said.

The World Bank also revised upwards its 2017 growth projection for the Philippine economy to 6.9 percent from its October estimate of 6.2 percent. In 2018, the economy is expected to expand 7 percent.

The bank said the growth in capital investment would remain the Philippine economy’s primary growth engine. Gabrielle H. Binaday

PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Thursday it will build a common-user barge and rollon roll-off terminal in Cavite province to reduce the volume of trucks plying Metro Manila roads.

ICTSI submitted an unsolicited proposal to the government to build Cavite Gateway Terminal within a six-hectare property in Tanza, Cavite.

ICTSI senior vice president for Asia-Pacific region and Manila International Container Terminal head Christian Gonzales said the investment in a barge

and Ro-Ro terminal would cost upwards of $30 million for phase 1.

Phase 1 of the project is designed to support a total output of 115,000 twenty-foot equivalent units per year, or equal to about 140,000 fewer truck trips plying city roads annually.

Gonzales said the project was expected to start by first quarter of 2017, or once the government approved the project and issued certain permits.

He said construction of the project would take seven months.

Harbor Star, the barge operator for the CGT, will deploy 150 TEU barges.

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the latest move of the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates by 25 basis points would not have a significant impact on financial markets, including the Philippines.

“Because market has fully expected the 25bp hike, the market reactions so far [stronger US dollar, lower stocks and higher US treasury yields] are not unexpected. What will be spoken of more today is the Fed dot plot, which shows a more ‘hawkish’ Fed than market first expected,” Tetangco said in a text message to reporters.

“But even then, the market would likely not dwell too much on that because market also knows that those dots do change over time,” Tetangco said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III expressed optimism the

country’s solid macroeconomic fundamentals along with the President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s infrastructure buildup strategy would create enough fiscal and monetary buffers for the Philippines to ride out external shocks such as the latest move by the Fed. The Fed on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time in a year, and only the second time since the 2008 financial crisis. The Fed also hinted of three additional rate increase next year, higher than the previous expectations of two rate hikes.

Fed chief Janet Yellen said “growth is a touch stronger, unemployment is a shade lower” as she announced a 0.25-percent increase in the benchmark rate to 0.50 percent to 0.75 percent. The previous rate increase happened in December 2015 when the benchmark rate was lifted from near-zero for seven years since the crisis.

October remittances drop 3% to $2.1b MONEY sent home by Filipinos working overseas fell 3 percent in October to $2.1 billion from $2.16 billion a year ago, as the currencies of most host countries fell against the US dollar and amid stiffer competition in the supply of seafarers.

Data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed the October remittances were the lowest in three months.

Bangko Sentral said despite the October slump, cash remittances in the first 10 months still rose 4 percent to $22.124 billion from $21.266 billion a year ago.

Cash remittances from seabased workers declined 11.1 percent in October while those from land-based workers fell 0.6 percent. “Stiffer competition in the

supply of seafarers, particularly from East Asia and Eastern Europe, has contributed to the declining trend in sea-based remittances,” it said.

“The lower US dollar value of remittances in October may also be partly due to the depreciation of major host countries’ currencies vis-à-vis the US dollar, such as the pound sterling and the euro,” it said.

Remittances from the United Kingdom dropped 5.9 percent in October even as the volume of remittances in original currency (pound) increased 16.5 percent.

Meanwhile, personal remittances, which include non-cash items, also fell to a three-month low of $2.326 billion, down 2.8 percent from $2.392 billion a year

ago. Despite the decline, personal remittances in the first 10 months grew 3.9 percent to $24.434 billion from $23.514 billion a year earlier.

Personal remittances from landbased workers with work contracts of one year or more amounted to $19 billion while those from seabased and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year totaled $5.1 billion.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo earlier said remittances would continue to be stable in the coming months.

Guinigundo said a factor that could contribute to the stability of remittances would be the development of new markets, aside from the Middle Eastern countries.

Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks, peso plunge on Fed interest hike B

Jollibee selling stake in US firm for $1.6m

By Jenniffer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said Thursday it will fully divest from Chow Fun Holdings LLC, the developer and owner of USbased restaurant chain Jinja Bar and Bistro for $1.6 million.

Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the divestment in Chow Fun was a part of a plan to concentrate its resources on building larger businesses.

Jollibee through whollyowned subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte Ltd. has an 80.55-percent equity in Chow Fun which currently operates three restaurants in New Mexico, two in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe. Jollibee initially acquired a 12-percent equity share in Chow

Fun in 2008 and increased it to 80.55 percent on March 31, 2011.

The fast-food giant currently operates 83 stores in the United States, including 34 Jollibee stores, 33 Red Ribbon branches and 16 Chowking outlets.

It also has a 40-percent ownership in Smashburger which has a total of 378 stores, mostly located in the United States.

This marked the second divestment made by Jollibee this week. Jollibee said Tuesday it sold its entire stake in restaurant chain San Pin Wang in China for RMB 90 million as part of a strategy to concentrate its resources on businesses with greater potential.

Share price of Jollibee dropped 1.9 percent Thursday to P206.

OTH the peso and the local stocks tumbled Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve raised its interest rate by 25 basis points and signaled a steeper path for borrowing costs.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, retreated 73 points, or 1.1 percent, to close at 6,855.31. It was also down 1.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, lost 40 points, or 1 percent, to settle at 4,161.35, on a value turnover of P8.7 billion. Losers outnumbered gain-

ers, 117 to 66, while 40 issues were unchanged.

All six sectoral indices fell, while eight of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by newly listed Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. which climbed 7.5 percent on its debut to close at P12.16.

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. rose 2.6 percent to P74,

while D&L Industries Inc. gained 2.4 percent to P11.96.

The peso slid 0.5 percent Thursday to close at 49.96 against the US dollar, near an eight-year low. The dollar surged against its peers after the Federal Reserve indicated it will likely embark on a steeper path of interest rate hikes over the next year.

Investors were sent scurrying on the prospect of tighter borrowing costs as the Federal Reserve positions itself for an expected jump in inflation if Donald Trump makes good on promises to ramp up infrastructure spending and slash taxes.

While the decision to lift rates had been a certainty, a plan to hike

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.6 243,000 47.95 8,000 89.5 2,706,790 3.8 39,000 111.4 5,636,810 1.64 1,329,000 38 5,700 16.22 218,600 19 289,500 819 1,340 0.61 17,205,000 73.95 2,447,740 0.76 29,000 14.1 52,700 55.7 33,880 254 40 115.2 120 90.2 6,000 35.2 128,000 202 331,650 1,700 170 74.5 69,460 1.28 73,000

859,800 382,495 239,913,487 147,960 630,062,846 2,118,730 216,610 3,546,274 5,499,124 1,083,260 10,644,670 181,274,961 22,040 743,160 1,883,795.50 10,100 13,840 547,470 4,505,600 66,454,833 289,450 5,164,732.50 93,380

353,980 14,109,714.50 -236,509,579 -7,940 -3,513,444 -2,196,124 -5,502,010 -58,934,014.50 814,040 -266,870 -3,143,360 4,568,174 -8,500 -104,630.50 -

42.65 4.18 0.87 1.35 18.82 0.2 91.25 11.5 16.9 140.7 22.1 20 57.9 93 118 1.9 7.17 12.1 11.44 6.1 7.18 5.3 21.95 67.9 16.8 6.04 1.68 206 2.8 3.57 29.5 25 14.8 258 0.244 5.05 3.3 9.96 3.15 2.04 5.7 1.34 67.9 5.05 232 4.69 11.66 4.63 0.14 1.48 157.1 4.35 1.59 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 42.65 863,700 4.27 230,000 0.89 189,000 1.35 186,000 19.28 29,300 0.2 50,000 91.25 10 11.74 9,572,500 17.22 472,900 140.7 10 23.15 385,900 21 1,800 59 1,173,680 95.9 230 119.9 110 1.9 21,000 7.18 1,833,600 12.1 22,400 11.96 7,907,300 6.18 323,300 7.2 28,100 5.34 8,918,500 22.05 1,553,400 68 133,780 16.8 13,200 6.08 661,400 1.71 128,000 206 589,500 2.8 58,000 3.57 1,000 29.8 1,270,900 25.3 100,400 15.04 744,100 258 261,370 0.244 70,000 5.05 24,200 3.33 97,000 10.2 1,051,800 3.34 2,000 2.04 180,000 5.75 1,800 1.35 150,000 68.25 912,230 5.05 259,600 232 50,140 4.75 64,000 12.1 49,585,200 4.65 105,000 0.141 5,510,000 1.52 129,000 158.1 1,940,310 4.62 12,000 1.6 2,398,000 1.06 216,000

37,495,035 982,890 166,750 253,850 559,850 10,000 912.5 112,526,332 8,117,480 1,407 8,833,390 37,260 68,657,224.50 21,776.50 13,114 40,430 13,606,386 271,302 93,922,712 1,989,071 202,346 47,665,853 34,270,080 9,093,135 221,760 4,005,577 216,090 122,573,260 162,400 3,570 37,744,945 2,542,895 11,216,574 68,032,180 17,250 122,210 323,470 10,661,160 6,490 367,400 10,300 205,390 62,190,496.50 1,311,504 11,632,484 303,100 601,798,366 488,050 772,570 191,190 307,412,515 54,330 3,849,450 231,050

-19,393,115 511,300.00 20,924,664 150,448 1,787 -1,200 -7,948 40,612,720.00 -922,600 -133,209 3,444,576 1,317,315.00 -249,400.50 -168,000 1,815,000 -83,306,582 -17,577,425 2,115,185 2,358,448 -21,065,994 46,620 1,738,332 36,720 -32,370 51,790,771.00 814,060 -1,113,600 99,160 -23,676,708 -42,207,564 -1,872,100 -

0.54 74.75 12.76 1.21 5.95 0.325 735 8.46 13.54 1,249 6.1 70 5.04 1.42 7.8 13.38 0.47 6.6 0.038 1.21 1.94 101.6 660.5 1.19 262 0.29 0.18

0.47 73 12.52 1.11 5.95 0.32 694 8.32 13.3 1,222 6.1 68.15 5.04 1.35 7.62 13.06 0.47 6.3 0.037 1.21 1.91 96 638 1.18 259.8 0.285 0.171

HOLDING FIRMS 0.53 60,090,000 73.1 667,970 12.7 3,162,400 1.21 3,000 5.95 8,800 0.325 500,000 732 422,020 8.38 265,500 13.48 6,211,300 1,230 54,560 6.1 4,651,400 69 1,793,900 5.04 2,000 1.35 9,861,000 7.62 319,100 13.2 6,157,300 0.47 50,000 6.6 10,483,100 0.038 3,400,000 1.21 69,000 1.91 302,000 100.5 1,117,900 651 359,970 1.19 122,000 262 7,300 0.29 230,000 0.171 260,000

30,465,150 49,058,522.50 40,122,002 3,430 52,360 162,150 306,305,940 2,222,466 83,585,058 67,132,150 28,373,540 123,850,190.50 10,080 13,633,470 2,459,545 81,539,038 23,500 68,185,068 127,700 83,490 578,880 111,467,625.50 232,935,215 144,680 1,908,516 66,450 46,710

53,000 -23,818,374 -17,747,154 90,236,575 506,956 -30,664,202 -14,204,525 -9,150 -42,763,279.50 -162,826 13,726,622 -13,646,577 38,945,734 36,370,585 -

7.1 1.13 6.23 2.12 0.52 32.05 3.09 5.12 0.59 1.13 1.46 0.152 0.57 38.4 0.7 1.7 1.02 1.27 3.56

6.92 1.09 6.18 2.1 0.46 31.6 3.01 4.92 0.57 1.06 1.37 0.152 0.55 37.4 0.68 1.69 0.99 1.26 3.48

1,062,461 460,310 79,951 139,250 18,950,200 302,416,105 2,620,450 95,920 5,655,770 208,660 1,727,640 54,720 2,389,010 15,655,685 716,240 26,643,190 2,845,290 466,820 123,271,960

536,500 -30,900 242,600 -158,812,315 364,970 1,795,510.00 -11,200 493,000 -171,000.00 -6,606,285 -417,020 -2,945,630 832,000 -31,483,170

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.37 47.5 89 3.88 113.5 1.5 38.05 16.48 19.1 810 0.63 74 0.76 14.04 54.7 252 116 92 35.2 200.8 1,700 73.6 1.29

3.7 47.95 89.9 3.88 113.6 1.66 38.05 16.48 19.1 819 0.65 75 0.76 14.2 55.8 254 116 92 35.2 202 1,710 74.6 1.29

3.37 47.5 87.45 3.76 111 1.43 38 16.22 18.92 800 0.6 73 0.76 14.04 54.7 252 115.2 90.2 35.2 199.2 1,700 73.6 1.27

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

43.95 4.23 0.9 1.36 19 0.2 91.25 11.68 17.18 140.7 23.15 20 57.9 93.05 120 1.93 7.17 12.12 11.62 6.15 7.29 5.35 22.15 67.95 16.8 6.09 1.69 210 2.8 3.57 29.9 25 14.8 262.8 0.255 5.05 3.4 10.38 3.15 2.04 5.75 1.4 68.1 5.06 232.2 4.72 12 4.63 0.141 1.49 159.7 4.69 1.62 1.07

44.1 4.4 0.9 1.38 19.5 0.2 91.25 11.84 17.22 140.7 23.15 21.4 59.85 95.95 120 1.93 7.5 12.12 12.06 6.25 7.29 5.38 22.2 68.05 16.8 6.13 1.71 212.4 2.8 3.57 29.9 25.4 15.1 262.8 0.255 5.05 3.4 10.38 3.34 2.05 5.75 1.4 68.25 5.1 232.2 4.75 12.36 4.75 0.143 1.52 159.9 4.69 1.65 1.07

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

0.47 74.75 12.62 1.11 5.95 0.32 715 8.33 13.46 1,225 6.1 70 5.04 1.4 7.79 13.3 0.47 6.42 0.038 1.21 1.94 99.8 644 1.18 261.6 0.29 0.18

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD

6.92 1.09 6.18 2.11 0.48 32.05 3.09 5 0.58 1.09 1.43 0.152 0.57 38.4 0.69 1.7 1.01 1.27 3.51

PROPERTY 7.07 1.1 6.23 2.12 0.48 31.75 3.04 5.12 0.58 1.08 1.42 0.152 0.57 37.4 0.68 1.7 1 1.26 3.5

VOLUME

150,400 419,000 12,900 66,000 38,450,000 9,495,300 862,000 19,000 9,846,000 191,000 1,210,000 360,000 4,254,000 414,700 1,053,000 15,676,000 2,833,000 370,000 35,120,000

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.147 0.25 3.17 31.1 27.2 1.56 3.29 28.7 1.18 6.31 0.89 5.05

0.147 0.25 3.26 31.1 27.2 1.56 3.29 29 1.2 7 0.9 5.05

0.14 0.25 3.16 31 26.3 1.56 3.2 27.8 1.16 6.31 0.89 4.91

0.141 0.25 3.26 31 26.35 1.56 3.29 27.95 1.18 7 0.9 5.01

9,330,000 270,000 486,000 4,100 751,100 18,000 11,000 15,702,400 1,655,000 9,300 21,000 5,324,100

1,327,580 67,500 1,568,610 127,380 19,884,940 28,080 35,920 441,472,970 1,947,780 64,827 18,890 26,591,407

-7,620,370 -91,218,335 -700 -14,400,117

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

7.6 44.6 1.37 0.5 0.046 5.3 6.2 0.07 2.67 92.1 9.92 7.5 990 1,426 6.15 15.28 16.26 2.17 14.86 70.6 11.36 9.09 0.203 1.34 12.6 4.99 2.44 3.96 3.65 18 2.54 5.11 3.09 8.02 135.8 12.8 1,339 1.16 0.455 39.65 75 5.39 2.62 0.96 3.33 0.335

7.6 44.6 1.37 0.5 0.049 5.68 6.2 0.072 2.69 94 9.92 7.5 1,000 1,438 6.17 15.7 16.26 2.21 15.4 72.25 12 9.09 0.206 1.36 13.4 5.01 2.46 4.01 3.71 19.48 2.58 5.11 3.09 8.75 136.1 12.8 1,339 1.17 0.46 39.65 75 5.44 2.65 0.99 3.34 0.355

7.6 44.1 1.34 0.5 0.044 5.3 5.98 0.068 2.58 90.1 9.92 7.4 990 1,400 6.15 15.22 16.18 2.08 14.86 70.45 11.36 9.09 0.197 1.33 12.6 4.97 2.4 3.9 3.62 18 2.47 5.11 3.09 8.02 135.8 12.54 1,310 1.15 0.445 38.9 72.15 5.3 2.55 0.95 3.31 0.335

SERVICES 7.6 44.1 1.34 0.5 0.047 5.67 6.08 0.07 2.6 93.4 9.92 7.5 1,000 1,429 6.17 15.26 16.18 2.18 15 71.5 12 9.09 0.206 1.34 13.4 5 2.45 3.91 3.69 19.48 2.55 5.11 3.09 8.75 136 12.64 1,318 1.15 0.45 39.6 74 5.44 2.62 0.96 3.31 0.355

100 15,200 42,000 176,000 305,200,000 23,900 1,856,400 44,310,000 3,856,000 104,540 1,400 162,100 2,140 32,565 26,400 113,800 3,400 3,327,000 3,800 521,230 1,200 470,600 28,660,000 234,000 1,200 212,900 264,000 996,000 7,364,000 1,000 420,000 1,600 1,000 2,070,000 2,100 810,900 111,295 5,253,000 3,000,000 420,400 984,390 74,100 737,000 5,532,000 1,272,000 370,000

760 673,720 56,320 88,000 14,080,900 127,643 11,293,736 3,072,190 10,068,680 9,744,635.50 13,888 1,208,106 2,139,900 46,578,925 162,668 1,749,396 55,038 7,111,610 56,742 37,227,194.50 13,696 4,277,754 5,825,800 313,750 15,696 1,063,545 639,960 3,913,410 27,228,590 19,332 1,058,210 8,176 3,090 18,061,400 285,288 10,238,764 146,769,610 6,063,810 1,348,700 16,479,575 72,334,877.50 400,920 1,904,660 5,331,720 4,214,980 130,750

-3,000 -5,079,336 -17,120 2,078,048 3,144,225 -12,252,169.50 -20,600 -152,645 -1,706,060 -20,940,380 -20,480 -17,500,000 -20,370 1,199,170 28,806,665 270,850 180,500 -1,362,975 34,543,111 -48,910 1,799,710 -2,537,550 -

24,100 452,410 629,530 20,373 2,250 127,470 279,500 840,200 354,524 21,278,250 14,000 688,020 2,438,150 14,610,390 8,246,813 833,410 761,650 12,100 319,040 3,560,400 9,609,592 20,000,150 135,524,579 8,780 165,000

-190,600 62,470 -17,275,200 -199,480 -1,006,088.00 -408,736 -35,920 -3,295,886 -

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

0.0035 2.8 4.95 9.63 2.25 2.49 0.55 0.485 12.9 3.58 0.28 0.196 0.197 2.28 8.25 3.06 1.3 0.011 4.18 0.012 8.4 3.67 131.5 3 0.0083

0.0035 2.86 4.97 10.38 2.25 2.5 0.56 0.49 13.32 3.64 0.285 0.198 0.2 2.57 8.25 3.06 1.3 0.011 4.18 0.013 8.59 3.67 131.7 3 0.0083

0.0034 2.8 4.83 9.63 2.25 2.49 0.55 0.475 12.88 3.5 0.275 0.196 0.195 2.25 7.93 2.97 1.23 0.011 4 0.012 8.39 3.44 130.5 2.89 0.0081

MINING & OIL 0.0035 7,000,000 2.8 161,000 4.88 128,000 10.38 2,100 2.25 1,000 2.5 51,000 0.56 500,000 0.485 1,740,000 13.18 27,200 3.59 5,995,000 0.28 50,000 0.196 3,500,000 0.2 12,490,000 2.48 6,022,000 8.02 1,020,600 3.01 280,000 1.24 612,000 0.011 1,100,000 4 79,000 0.013 285,200,000 8.5 1,131,300 3.45 5,717,000 131.5 1,032,310 2.89 3,000 0.0082 20,000,000

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FPH PREF C GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2I

44.6 102.8 104.1 505 1,015 1,020 112.4 1,200 78 80.6 77.5 78.5

44.6 102.8 104.1 505 1,015 1,020 112.4 1,200 78 80.6 78.75 78.5

43.9 102.7 104 505 1,015 1,020 112.4 1,160 78 80.55 77.5 78.5

PREFERRED 44.4 15,500 102.7 2,000 104.1 19,930 505 2,000 1,015 200 1,020 3,360 112.4 89,050 1,160 75 78 20 80.55 18,010 78.75 1,800 78.5 1,950

689,110 205,500 2,072,944 1,010,000 203,000 3,427,200 10,009,220 87,600 1,560 1,450,755.50 140,500 153,075

392,245 -

LR WARRANT

2.4

2.42

2.39

WARRANTS 2.41 28,000

67,300

-

9,224,630 363,200 20,044,408

9,640 -3,863,446

1,039,890

57,050

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS XURPAS

2.57 3.35 9.27

2.57 3.35 9.5

2.39 3.17 9.12

FIRST METRO ETF

114.8

114.8

113.4

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

30,854,765

INDUSTRIAL

348,823,060

HOLDING FIRMS

110,732,661

PROPERTY

154,420,878

SERVICES

419,395,224

MINING & OIL

354,255,221

GRAND TOTAL

1,424,501,170

2.43 3.25 9.3

SME

3,728,000 114,000 2,167,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113.6 9,140

VALUE 1,677.57 (down) 7.42 1,155,492,831.33 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,748.72 (down) 131.44 4,545,880,574.855 HOLDING FIRMS 7,037.96 (down) 25.68 1,273,330,600.304 PROPERTY 3,041.51 (down) 71.16 SERVICES 1,281.89 (down) 6.92 1,000,903,531.72 MINING & OIL 12,103.01 (down) 117.40 474,252,000.664 PSEI 6,855.31 (down) 73.03 220,826,432.64 All Shares Index 4,161.35 (down) 40.02 8,701,361,486.605 Gainers: 66; Losers: 117; Unchanged: 40; Total: 223

them three times rather than the expected twice jolted trading floors.

The news sent the dollar soaring well past 117 yen and its highest level since February, while it also bulldozed other currencies, particularly higher-yielding, riskier, units and those of emerging market nations.

“This is flat out hawkish, and the US dollar is reacting accordingly,” Stephen Innes, senior trader at Oanda, said in a note.

“I thought we would be calling [Fed chief Janet Yellen’s] bluff this morning, as the market had expected at most a subtle shift in Fed language.

“However, the Fed’s forward guidance is in reaction to Trumpflation as Dr Yellen did little to quell the markets’ pent up view that both growth and inflation will accelerate in 2017.”

In Asian trade the greenback pushed towards 118 yen and jumped more than one percent against the Australian and Canadian dollar while their New Zealand counterpart was almost two percent down. The Mexican peso also tumbled.

The dollar was also up 0.7 percent on the South Korean won and 0.6 percent versus Indonesia’s rupiah. The Thai baht, Malaysian ringgit and Singapore dollar also suffered heavy losses.

In her post-announcement conference, Yellen said the rise was a reflection of “the confidence we have in the progress that the economy has made and our judgment that that progress will continue”.

However, the upbeat outlook for the key driver of global growth was unable to comfort Asian traders worried about a flood of cash out of their own economies as dealers look for better returns in the US. With AFP, Bloomberg

Shakey’s IPO sizzles on debut SHAKEYS Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. sizzled on its debut at the Philippines Stock Exchange, as it climbed 7.5 percent despite the market’s steep decline on US Federal Reserve’s rate hike.

SPAVI opened at a high of P12.36 from an initial public offering price of P11.26 before closing at P12.10 Thursday, making it the most actively traded stock and one of the top advancers for the day.

SPAVI president and chief executive Vicente Gregorio said in an interview following the listing ceremony the company planned to have 250 to 300 stores over the next three to five years.

Gregorio said the company would end 2016 with a total of 184 stores and would open 20 new stores in 2017.

Gregorio said after 2017, the company planned to open an average to 12 to 15 stores annually. Average investment for a store is P20 million, he said.

He said while the company is the leading full service pizza chain in the country with more 26-percent market share, it still has great expansion opportunities outside Metro Manila, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Gregorio said by next year, the company would also have its first store outside the Philippines.

SPAVI, owned by the Po family, is making its foray overseas next year. Gregorio said the first store overseas was expected to open in Kuwait in the first half of 2017.

SPAVI signed a franchise agreement with Kuwaiti partners, involving the opening of 10 Shakey’s stores over the next seven years.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Motoring

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

B3

Nissan takes ‘dirt art’ back on exhibit road DIRT art practitioner JC Vargas takes the Nissan Navara back on the exhibit road, this time at The Block, SM North Edsa.

From December 15 to December 21, mall goers and shoppers can see Vargas’ one-of-a-kind artwork done on the surface of the Nissan Navara pickup, using Fuller’s earth to simulate mud.

They can also have their pictures taken with the vehicle, or if they’re lucky, together with the artist himself.

“I wanted to show just how well the Nissan Navara can tackle both worlds: the city streets, and the rough countryside roads alike,” Vargas explained.

“It can be used anywhere, whether off-road or in the urban setting.” As a pickup that is built for both worlds, the Nissan Navara is equally at home in the city and the countryside, which is reflected in Vargas’ artistic approach.

The Nissan Navara is available in

both regular and sport variants at all Nissan dealerships nationwide. For more details, visit nissan.ph.

About Nissan Philippines, Inc. Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) is the sole national sales company of Nissan in the Philippines. Since it began operations in 2014, NPI has become one of the fastest growing automotive companies in the Philippines, closing Fiscal Year 2015 with a 62% growth versus the previous Fiscal Year. NPI has also spearheaded the aggressive expansion of its dealership network, signing 11 new dealers in addition to the existing 28 Nissan dealerships which can be found in key cities nationwide.

NPI is committed to delivering Innovation that Excites to the Philippines market, through the introduction of new and exciting vehicles, innovative customer programs, and excellent customer service.

Ride of the Millennials O

ne of the hottest things in outdoor gear wasn’t a new drone or motorized skateboard. The tech tastemakers—from Outside Magazine to Gear Patrol—collectively drooled over a recreational vehicle. That’s right, an “RV” —specifically the Airstream Basecamp, a $35,000 teardrop of aluminum that can be towed behind a Subaru.

The aerodynamic, riveted pod comes with one massive panoramic window, solar power, Italian cabinetry, and a Bose Bluetooth speaker system. It’s an RV made for Instagram, not cousin Eddie, and it’s been in high demand since hitting dealerships in September.

“It’s really kind of an online phenomenon,” said Bob Martin, chief executive of Airstream parent Thor Industries. “Our social media hits have been incredible.”

The Basecamp and a crowd of models like it have pushed an already brisk business to historic highs. Americans are expected to buy about 420,000 homes-onwheels by the end of the year, more than since Gerald Ford

was president (That was the mid1970s, millennials). The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association expects sales to increase by another 4.4 percent next year. In short, the mood was giddy last week when the country’s RV dealers gathered for their annual trade show in Louisville, Ky., to check out the newest models and place orders for the spring.

“We thought it would be a good year,” said RVIA spokesman Kevin Broom. “We just didn’t expect it to be this good.”

To be sure, the buying boom is not entirely a surprise. An RV is a rolling, bear-proof embodiment of consumer confidence, and as such the industry accelerates or brakes in step with broader econ-

omy. In 2016, the road has been wide-open: the unemployment rate has drifted to record lows, gas prices are languishing, and the stock market has surged to unforeseen heights. Even a contentious, nerve-wracking presidential election and its unprecedented aftermath did little to keep people out of dealerships.

RV-makers, perhaps emboldened by their brisk business, pushed their advantage with a flurry of new rigs, generally smaller and lighter than the monster coaches they used to build.

The idea was to draw new customers rather than coasting on Baby Boomers. “There’s kind of been a shift and we’re noticing younger buyers,” said Martin.

“We’re starting to get the frontend of millennials and we’re strong now with Gen Xers. These people don’t want a huge unit.”

Travel with us, drive with us, eat with us.

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Sign Up The RV boom, however, isn’t all product related. There’s some marketing in the mix as well.

Thor has a new online campaign

Lipa City dealership added to Honda’s growing family

L to R: Dr. Mike A. Tan (President, ANC Group); Mr. Jesuito Hernandez (Lot Owner); Toshio Kuwahara (President and General Manager, Hondo Cars Philippines, Inc.); Mr. Anthony N. Cheng (Chairman, ANC Group); Ms. Cindy Sexon (General Manager, Honda ANC Group)

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Hondaís automobile business unit in the Philippines opens its 35th full-service dealership, Honda Cars Lipa City (HCLC). The dealership, located atAyala Highway, Brgy. Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas is the first dealer in the Philippines to apply the new Visual Identity, which enabled the Honda dealers perceived to be advanced, futuristic, and modernly elegant. To see the line-up of Honda vehicles displayed, HCLC showroom is open every Monday to Sunday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. To further extend help

and assistance to availed Honda cars, the service facility is open every Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Modernly designed to provide a comfortable ambiance to customers, the showroom can accommodate up to 5 vehicles for display.

HCLC has well-trained sales consultants to serve the clients as part of Hondaís commitment to provide quality service to the Filipinos.

Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for the Batanguenos, HCLC is also available to serve its customers with their availed Honda cars through

the help of skillful technicians devoted in providing world-class services.

Dedicated in continuously providing utmost customer satisfaction in the city of Lipa, HCLC will surely provide a unique experience that will make customers go back and trust Honda.î said Anthony N. Cheng, Chairman of ANC Group. Honda Cars Lipa City will be another center of excellence that would continue to showcase the impeccable service system Honda Cars Philippines Inc. persistently offers, which revolves around customer satisfaction.

full of kids and dirtbikes and climbing gear. The company has also dubbed a class of its vehicles “RUV,” which stands for “Recreational Utility Vehicle.” There’s not much “utility” to the machines: they can’t drive offroad, for example. But the naming gimmick has struck a chord with dealers and younger customers. “These small products are the next evolution for tent campers,” Martin said. “We call it soft rugged.”

Winnebago Industries, meanwhile, has focused its marketing on tail-gating fans and soccer moms. CEO Michael Happe said the strategy is paying off. The av-

erage age of an RV owner in the U.S. is now 45, down from 48 just five years ago, according to the RV trade group. In the same period, the share of RV owners with children living at home surged from 39 percent to 48 percent.

“The industry, at large, is trying to make these products more versatile,” Happe explained. “If you go to an SEC football game, you’re going to see a tremendous amount of RVs.” Not only are these companies making smaller RVs, but they’re making them lighter, swapping out wood frames for stronger, slimmer plastic composites and replacing

old appliance lines with more efficient units. “Even vehicles that are the same size live bigger now,” said Broom. “Think about a big-screen TV—you no longer need room for the tube these days.”

The trimming down has coincided with an overall surge in sales for trucks and SUVs. Almost 90 percent of U.S. RVs are “towable,” which is to say they don’t have an engine or steering wheel. A decade ago, those rigs would require pickup-type power.

Today, a small SUV will haul many of them, which is precisely what millions of Americans happen to be driving. Bloomberg

rage or shop. CTEK’s patrons are usually showrooms, car collectors, fleet operators and car/ motorbike enthusiasts who want to maximize or prolong their battery life,” says Gen Tiu of CTEK Philippines.

The CTEK’s line of car chargers include all the safety features such as insulated, spark-resistant

clamp and an automated charging feature that is programmed to prevent overloading your batteries, and the charger will automatically sense when the maximum charge has been delivered, then stop supplying power. The CTEK charger also features a reverse polarity warning light that turns on if you have placed the clamps on the incorrect battery post. One of the best features of the CTEK car battery charger is its ability to charge nearly every battery type available. This includes the common acid-lead batteries found in most automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts, lawn mower and boats, and can also charge deep-cycle, gel-cell and automated glass mat, or AGM batteries.

Because this battery booster automatically analyzes the charge and type of battery you connect it to, you can charge the batteries of your vehicle without worrying about using an incorrect setting or overcharging your battery.

Prolong battery life with CTEK GIVE your hubby the perfect Christmas gift this Christmas with a CTEK car battery charger. Designed and engineered for charging accuracy and compact usage, this 12V charger comes equipped with an intelligent micro processing unit that utilizes four different modes for charging and an overarching, automated, 8-stage recharging sequence.

“While it is not truly equipped to be portable, the small, compact size of the CTEK car charger makes it easy to store and even install permanently in your ga-

5 truck firms cited for safety excellence

The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), builder and concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), recognized five companies for their company operational excellence in the recently concluded 2016 NLEXcellence Safety Awards held at

The Manila Hotel. The NLEXcellence Safety Awards is a prestigious annual awards program that fete bus and trucking companies that practice the highest standards of road safety.

Awardees in the Company Operational Excellence are recognized for their operational policies that ensurethe safety of their drivers and their f leet. Shown in photo are MNTC assistant vice president for marketing Grace Ayento (left) and MNTC chief finance officer Theresa Wells (right) with the awardees Ferdinand Correa and Brian Correa of Correa Trucking, Rhodora Lomeda and Marionito Lomeda of RVL Movers, Ariel Mendez of Golden Shine International Freight, Melissa Pineda and Angelito Pineda, Jr. of JA Global Logistics, andRobert Rejano and Jon Tengco of Baliwag Transit.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Edi tor DIN O DIREC TO III A ss t . Edi tor

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

Motoring

A customized D-Max and MU-X were crowd drawers of the event

Isuzu is truck of the year Isuzu’s 4x4 event highlights the features of this year’s CoTY Truck of the Year, the D-Max

Rich crop of awards for Mitsubishi PH MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) bags four awards at the recent 2016 Car of the Year (COTY) and Truck of the Year (TOTY) - Philippines. An awards night was held last November 21 at the Rockwell East Tower in Makati City to proclaim the vehicles that bested in their particular categories out of the total of 72 entries. After rigorous tests conducted by the members of Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI), the Montero Sport GT 2.4D 4WD AT, Montero Sport GLS 2.4D 2WD AT, Pajero GLS 3.2 Di-D 4WD AT, Strada GT 4WD AT dominated their respective categories and were declared as the winners.

2.4 liter 4N15 diesel is now Euro 4 compliant and is now cleaner, more powerful and more efficient. Compared to traditional diesel engines, the 4N15 engine boasts of a low compression ratio, thus reducing fuel consumption, smoke and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions as well as maximizing the output of the Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT). Meanwhile, the new Pajero features a more robust 3.2 Liter 4 in-Line 16 –Valve DOHC Diesel engine which is now complemented with a Variable Geometry Turbocharger or VGT. Apart from their highly efficient and powerful engines what makes these models truly award-winning are their best in

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

T

HE country’s diesel authority, Isuzu Philippines Corporation, capped another fruitful year by bagging this year’s Truck of the Year and bringing to Manila its off-road extravaganza. Members of the Car Awards Group Inc voted the Isuzu D-Max 3.0 as the 2016 Truck of the Year, beating perennial best seller Ford and Toyota.

CAGI President Robby Consunji said that the Truck of the Year and Car of the Year Awards are not “simply a show of hands or popularity contest,” and that winners are determined by employing “stringent testing methods” to determine the best of the best. “It’s the only award in the country that is based on instrumented tests to gather evidence of real-world acceleration, braking, and handling performance.

After the number-crunching by KPMG R.G. Manabat& Co., this data-driven, unbiased program

ensures an accurate representation of an outstanding vehicle on category and overall basis,” Consunji added.

“Ever since its introduction, the current Isuzu D-MAX has always possessed the Isuzu brand’s core qualities of reliability, durability and fuel-efficiency. But the pick-up goes further by also being well-appointed in terms of convenience and safety features, as well as exterior design and equipment. This combination makes it a complete package for consumers looking for value and

style in a vehicle. The Isuzu DMAX having now won the 2016 Truck of the Year – Philippines is without doubt a testament to this, and we at Isuzu Philippines Corporation is extremely honored by this recognition,” states IPC President Hajime Koso.

Off road weekend After successfully staging three provincial legs of its popular four-wheel driving demonstrations, IPC returned to Manila for its last instalment this year.

Held last November 25 to 27 at the sprawling grounds of the SM Fairview, Isuzu staged the 4x4 Playground which offered offroad driving enthusiasts and mall goers a chance to check out the capabilities of Isuzu vehicles at tackling extreme terrain. ”The urbane and sophisticated exterior styling of the Isuzu mu-X and Isuzu D-MAX, especially with their latest upgrades, may lead many people to overlook the fact that these two models’ 4x4 variants are highly capable vehicles that can take on any terrain and obstacle. By letting con-

sumers witness and experience first-hand these capabilities in a controlled environment, like in the Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground, we can better inform them of the unmatched qualities of Isuzu vehicles,” stated IPC Senior Vice President Arthur Balmadrid during the opening ceremonies.

Making the outdoor activities more exciting were games held every two hours that guests played onstage, display booths that showed off an accessorized D-Max and MU-X variant, customized by the country’s top tuners such as Black Rhino wheels, Rhino Rack, PIAA, Sonax and Overland Ph. Apart from the thrills provided in the 4x4 Action Playground and by the other activities, more attractions were made available for the public inside the SM Fairview mall, which were held from November 23 to 26. Guests who inquired on Isuzu models were given the chance to play Pachinko and the slot machine, where they received prizes. A giant Jengga was also put up for all guests to enjoy.

Tamiya, Blade forge partnership Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III MMPC Awards Best 2WD SUV - Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS 2.4D 2WD AT Best 4WD SUV - Mitsubishi Montero Sport GT 2.4D 4WD AT Best Premium SUV - Pajero GLS 3.2 Di-D 4WD AT Best 4WD Pick-up Truck Strada GT 4WD AT Coveting the category awards were models that are among Mitsubishi’s bestsellers. The all new Montero Sport is the first in its class to have an 8-Speed automatic transmission with Sports Mode which is designed for quick sprints, relaxed highway cruising and best of all excellent fuel efficiency. Both the Montero Sport and Strada GT are fitted with the world’s first clean diesel engine equipped with Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) technology. The new

class amenities and safety features.

These recent recognitions validate the world-class quality and the value for money of the vehicles that MMPC offers to the Philippine market. COTY and TOTY are organized by the Car Awards Group. Inc. (CAGI).

It is among the prestigious and highly anticipated awarding event by the local automotive industry. CAGI annually conducts consumer-oriented testing to give recognition to outstanding new models available in the local automotive market.

Eligible vehicles are subjected to a qualitative and technical tests to fully scrutinize the most deserving vehicle to win the award. After the technical and qualitative tests done by CAGI, the data were handled by the internationally renowned auditing firm, KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. to ensure that all winners are indeed deserving of the awards.

FANS and enthusiasts of Tamiya 4WD and plastic model kits have reason to celebrate Christmas early this year. In its bid to bring the Tamiya brand closer to to a much wider spectrum of the target market, Tamiya Ph forged a partnership with the country’s largest automotive retail store Blade Auto Center. “Staring this month, Tamiya will be available in Blade stores in SM, Robinson’s and Ayala Malls nationwide. Blade will allocate a Tamiya corner inside Blade outlets containing plastic model kits, paints, 4WD

scale cars and modeling tools,” reveals Justin Uy, co-distributor of Tamiya in the Philippines.

Tamiya is a manufacturer of plastic model kits, radio controlled cars, battery- and solar-powered educational models, sailboat and airplane models, acrylic and enamel model paints, and various modeling tools and supplies. With Blade’s chain of retail outlets in SM and Robinson’s malls around the country, Tamiya would be a welcome addition to their consumer product line.

“This is an opportunity for hobbyists to gain more access to the Tamiya brand anywhere around the country,” says Robertson Sy

Tamiya 4WD is a popular product of the famed Japanese toy maker.

Tamiya can now be purchased in Blade outlets (from left) Albert Go, Marketing Head of Blade; Justin Uy, Co-distributor for Tamiya Ph; Robertson Sy Tan, President of Blade; and Fanny Dychiao, COO of Blade.

Tan of Blade Auto Center.

Aside from its line of plastic model kits and tools, Tamiya will be aggressively pushing the mini 4WD in all Blade outlets.

The Mini 4WD is a miniature model within the mini scale of between 1/20 (1:20) to 1/48 (1:48) scale. This mini sports utility is easy to assemble and use, and powered by a AA battery that requires no remote control. All four (4) wheels are direct-drive, thus “4WD” for 4-wheel drive, as opposed to “AWD” or All-wheel drive. Horizontal side rollers guide the vehicle against the vertical walls of the un-banked track for steering, providing very fast speeds up to 65 km/H (40 mph) on the track. “We are excited about this partnership and I am sure that it will expose the hobby to more people,” adds Uy.

Also present at the launch were mini 4WD enthusiasts and hobbyists who traded parts and raced at an indoor track set-up by Tamiya. The Tamiya product launch was held at Blade’s corporate office and showroom along Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

Established in 2004, Blade Auto Center is the largest chain of car accessories shops in the country with over 35 stores nationwide.

Known as the alternative venue to “Banawe”, a popular car accessories and parts area in Quezon City, Blade is a convenient alternative due to its location, whose stores are strategically spread nationwide in all SM and Robinson’s malls. As an automotive lifestyle store, Blade offers everything you need to accessorize your ride, from audio, video, detailing products, dash cameras and motor oils among others.

Baguio hunts teen’s killers

BAGUIO CITY—The City Government here has offered a P100,000 cash reward for whoever could help police investigators arrest the three knife-wielding individuals who brutally murdered a 16-year-old student of the Pines City National High School on Tuesday morning along Labsan Street in Kayang Extension.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the reward will be taken from the savings of the local government to help resolve immediate one of the city’s most celebrated crimes and has again tainted the city’s peace and order campaign.

“We are saddened by the brutal murder of an innocent young student, who was simply on his way to school at the time of the commission of the crime. We appeal to possible witnesses to help our investigators ascertain the identity of the suspects so they will be made to answer for the crime they committed,” Domogan stressed.

The Baguio City Police Office, despite its sudden change of leadership, needs to work double time to solve this case, the mayor added.

Kenneth Pacheco Velasco, a Grade 10 student of PCNHS, decided to take a shorter route to school when he was waylaid by the knife-wielding suspects, who allegedly took his cellphone, tablet and P200 in pocket money before stabbing him at least 40 times, mostly on his neck, that caused his death.

Velasco’s parents described him as a responsible individual who helps with the household chores and vowed to be the breadwinner of the family once he finished his studies, considering his father is still recovering from a stroke.

Domogan underscored the cooperation of the public in such cases as important because witnesses must provide investigators with the proper descriptions of the suspects that could guide them to their arrest.

The mayor could not understand why the suspects killed the student “when their primary intention was to take his personal belongings and valuables.”

The incident created fear among students making use of the shorter route leading to the PCNHS, Domogan said, thus barangay officials and law enforcers must make sure of the constant presence of uniformed and non-uniformed policemen in the area. Dexter A. See

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

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LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

FANTASTIC FIGURES. The local government of Tabaco City presents a fantasy-inspired display this Christmas, converting City Hall into a medieval castle, with fortress-like stone gates and arched walkways at the entrance of the city plaza, and 9-foot soldier figures guarding the ‘magical’ kingdom. Cinderella’s carriage has Santa Claus as the driver, and pedicabs or ‘padyaks,’ instead of reindeer, drawing the carriage. Tabaco City is known as the ‘padyak’ capital of the Philippines.

Manila barangays get P28.25m

By Sandy Araneta

T

HE city of Manila recently released another P28.25 million in supplemental budgets to its barangays as Mayor Joseph Estrada promised to increase their funds through the new reclamation projects rising in the city, particularly the Solar City venture that would generate billions in additional revenue.

In a recent speech where he distributed checks to 70 barangay officials, Estrada said he is “working hard to effect inclusive growth” for the previously bankrupt city by supporting ventures such as the multibillion-peso Solar City project at Manila Bay that will bring more jobs to the people.

“This will provide a lot of

jobs and huge income for the city government,” Estrada said.

“With huge revenue, we can do a lot of projects.”

Referring to the benefits the Solar City project would bring, Estrada pointed out: “’Di naman sa akin napupunta, kundi sa inyong mga barangay chairman at mga residente (This is

not for me, but for you, barangay chairmen and your residents).”

“This is why we should be thankful to President Duterte.

He approved all these three reclamation projects,” he added.

Solar City, planned to be a state-of-the-art tourism, commercial, and residential district, is projected to generate up to P17 billion in taxes every year on top of the P10 billion in real property taxes for the city government.

Manila’s annual income averages P8 billion, “so this is like doubling our yearly income,” Estrada added.

The project is expected to generate 100,000 jobs during its construction phase and up to 500,000 more once it becomes operational, which Estrada believes would help Manila’s un-

employment situation.

With Duterte’s approval of the project, Estrada said the city is almost finished processing the documentary requirements and clearances of Manila Goldcoast Development Corp., which won the joint contract to develop Solar City back in 1991.

The project is on top of the planned expansion of the Manila Harbour Centre in Tondo, which also has the support of Malacañang. The port expansion, a joint venture agreement of Manila and R-II Builders Inc., also requires the reclamation of 50 more hectares of Manila Bay. Recently, the city released about P300 million to different batches of barangay chairmen as their supplemental budget for 2016.

In releasing the supplemental budget, Estrada said he is confident the barangay chairmen will use the additional funds to carry out programs and projects that would directly benefit their constituents in the communities.

After wiping out the city’s P5.5-billion debt left by the previous administration and securing enough funds through improved revenue collection and updated tax rates, Estrada doubled the aggregate budget allocation for the 896 barangays from P950 million in 2014 to P1.96 billion in 2015.

The budget hike allowed the barangays to implement their own projects, mostly on crime prevention, emergency and disaster response and the improvement of health care services and facilities.

Albay solon recounts economic gains under Duterte Giant Lantern Festival unwraps WITH 2016 about to close, what positive prospects can Filipinos look forward to next year and the years ahead?

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, a noted economist, said Filipinos have good reasons to be optimistic based on the “significant positive gains” registered by the national economy during the first six months of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

The Albay lawmaker has identified the positive economic events of 2016 under Duterte. First on his list was the “peaceful, orderly and democratic transition of power following Duterte’s landslide victory last May 2016 elections. Investors

hate uncertainty,” he said.

Duterte garnered 16.6 million votes in the last elections, beating his closest rival by over six million votes, Salceda noted. “The outcome cemented the stunning populist victory, founded on his promise to eradicate crime and corruption. It brought back people’s belief in good governance, and restored investors’ confidence,” he added.

Second is Duterte’s “empowered Cabinet of solutions-driven practitioners and economic managers” that include Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Socioeconomic Planning Sec-

QC gains disaster risk reduction plum QUEZON City was recently adjudged the best disaster risk reduction management council among highly-urbanized cities in Metro Manila.

The Metro Manila Risk Reduction and Management Council conferred the Gawad Kalasag to the city, with City Administrator Aldrin C. Cuña representing Mayor Herbert Bautista during the awarding ceremony held last Friday at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila.

In accepting the award, Cuña said the Gawad Kalasag “shall serve as a challenge for Quezon City to step up its efforts in promoting human security and in the strengthening the city’s coping capabilities and resiliency, especially in times of calamities.”

“Our next goal is to get the national award,” Cuña said, who

also received a plaque of recognition and a check for P100,000 for the city.

QC’s Department of Public Order and Safety was also named the second-best government emergency management team in the urban category, while Barangay Sto. Cristo was named as having the best disaster risk reduction committee in the barangay level.

Melencio M. Castelo Elementary School along Batasan Road likewise bagged top honors among public schools in the region.

Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Susana Cruz, Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Director Ma. Lourdes Agustin and Manuel Gonzales of the Metro Manila Development Authority handed out the awards.

retary Ernesto Pernia.

“This team of battle-tested men hauled from both government and the private sector has shown a decisive posture early on, and gives Duterte’s economic team and clarity of purpose and doable objectives,” he pointed out.

Third is the “formation of supermajorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, the closest to a government of national unity,” and a viable response to Duterte’s pledge of clean government, which is the popular public clamor.

Fourth on Salceda’s list was the “demonstrated seriousness” of the President’s dynamic Cabinet, which “hit the ground running with 10 full

Cabinet meetings and two Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council consultations in the first five months. This means faster and better results,” he stressed.

Fifth, the lawmaker said, are the peace talks and indefinite ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, started in the first months of the Duterte regime, compared to the years of preparation by former administrations.

Sixth is the huge business potential from Duterte’s China pivot and the forging of an independent foreign policy, all in one instance, “debunking long held myths about

PH-US relations, and highlighting a promising PH-China’s partnership.”

Seventh is the Philippines’ registered fastest economic growth in Asia and the resurgence of the country’s manufacturing industry.

The country posted a 7.1 percent on-year July-September hike—its most robust growth pace in three years, Salceda noted.

The figure surpassed the 6.7-percent median growth estimate of 15 economists survey by Bloomberg and matched an estimated 1.2-percent GDP rise against the previous quarter. It also stacked favorably against China’s third quarter growth rate of 6.7 percent and Vietnam’s 6.4 percent.

COWERING IN SHAME. Police Chief Supt.

Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District director, on Tuesday interrogates SPO2 Helen Banguel, PO1 Mayet Eblahan and Anamarie Acopio, who hide their faces after being charged with robbery and extortion while being assigned at Police Station 3 in Barangay Talipapa. Manny Palmero

By Romeo Dizon CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—An estimated 50,000 people, mostly local and foreign tourists, are expected to witness the original Giant Lantern Festival of 2016 slated on December 17 at Robinsons Mall here.

Copied but never equaled, the annual festival of lights and sounds is more interesting this year as Barangay Dolores is gunning for a grand slam after it was declared first-prize winner in the 2014 and 2015 festivals, organizers said. Nine other entries “are working very hard” to get the top prize.

Apart from Dolores, nine other barangays joined this year’s Giant Lantern festival: Sta. Lucia, San Nicolas, Sto. Niño, Del Pilar, Calulut, Sindalan, San Jose, Telabastagan and San Juan.

The serious contenders are barangays Telabastagan, Del Pilar and Santa Lucia, whose entries have used anywhere from 13,500 to 80,000 light bulbs and are reportedly supported by mall operators and businessman.

Rolando Quiambao, a veteran of several festivals, said the secret of winning is on the color and the play of the lantern’s rotor. “Even if the play is good but if the color is very poor, nothing will happen,” he said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippines

switches or sectionalizer, fault current indicators, and tree wire and line markers; and (vi)Typhoon Failure Containment for 69kv and 13.8 kV lines.

San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

8.3. The “Rotten Poles and Transformer Replacement” Project, which involves the replacement of rotten poles with steel poles together with distribution transformers with pole top hardware and accessories in order to protect the public from the hazards posed by the possible collapse of said rotten poles. This project at the same time aims to maintain reliability and reduce service interruptions due to dilapidated poles and overloaded transformers.

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2016, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, ERC CASE NO. 2016-171 RC DAVAO LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, INC. (DLPC), Applicants. x-----------------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Application permanent.

Other reliefs just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

8.4. The “New Application” Project, which involves securing additional transformers, poles, wires, line hardware and other distribution apparatus needed for providing service to new applicants. This project enables DLPC to effectively cater and supply new applicants with their energy requirements.

8.5. The “Rural Electrification” Project, which relates to the new line extension to rural areas with transformer additions and capacitor or voltage regulator installations. This project will contribute in providing reliable and continuous supply to the areas in need within DLPC’s Franchise Area.

On the other hand, DLPC alleged the following in its Supplemental Application: 1.

DLPC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with office address at C. Bangoy Sr. St., Davao City. It is the grantee of a legislative franchise under Republic Act No. 8960 to operate the electric light and power distribution system in the Cities of Davao and Panabo, and in the Municipalities of Carmen, Sto. Tomas and Braulio Dujali, Province of Davao del Norte (the “Franchise Area”).

2.

On 15 September 2016, DLPC filed an Application dated 9 August 2016 for the Approval of its Capital Expenditure Projects for calendar year (CY) 2016. However, there is a need to include an additional CAPEX Project to Applicant’s CY 2016 CAPEX Projects to adequately and reliably serve the power requirements of the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT). As such, DLPC now submits an additional project to its CY 2016 CAPEX Projects.

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 15 September 2016, Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. (DLPC) filed an Application seeking the Commission’s approval of DLPC’s capital expenditure projects for calendar year 2016, including therein, a prayer for grant of provisional authority.

Subsequently, on 11 November 2016, DLPC filed a Motion for Leave to file a Supplement to the Application dated 09 August 2016 attaching therewith a Supplemental Application. In the Supplemental Application, DLPC sought the Commission’s approval for the construction of a new switching station to serve the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT).

In the Application, DLPC alleged the following: 1.

DLPC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with office address at C. Bangoy Sr. St., Davao City. It is the grantee of a legislative franchise under Republic Act No. 8960 to operate the electric light and power distribution system in the Cities of Davao and Panabo, and in the Municipalities of Carmen, Sto. Tomas and Braulio Dujali, Province of Davao del Norte (the “Franchise Area”). DLPC may be served with orders and other processes of the Honorable Commission through its undersigned counsel at the address indicated below. rd

2.

DLPC’s Third Regulatory Period (3 RP) covers the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2018. However DLPC must still undergo the reset process and is currently awaiting the final rules to govern the filing of its 3rd RP reset application.

3.

This notwithstanding, Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (“EPIRA”), under Section 23 thereof, obligates a distribution utility, such as DLPC, to provide distribution services and connections to its system for any end-user within its franchise area consistent with the distribution code. Further, distribution utilities share in the objective of the EPIRA to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power.1 4.

Thus, for DLPC to pursue its mandate under its franchise and the EPIRA, it is necessary for DLPC to continuously invest in the improvement of its system and services to better serve its customers.

5.

As such, DLPC, in pursuit of its duty to better serve its customers, and in accordance with Section 20 (b) of Commonwealth Act No. 1462, hereby applies for the approval of the Honorable Commission to implement its Capital Expenditure Projects (CAPEX), which for Calendar Year (“CY”) 2016.

6.

DLPC’s 2016 CAPEX program is categorized as follows: a. b. c. d.

Substation Projects; Upgrading of Distribution Lines Projects; Other Network Projects; and Non-Network Projects.

8.6. The “Substation Rehabilitation and Maintenance” Project, which involves the replacement of defective, non-SCADA, non-recording and old meters, relays and annunciators. The replacement will enable DLPC to remotely control relays through SCADA. Further, the additional data recording feature enables event logging for post-fault analysis. There will likewise be installation of additional CCTVs in DLPC’s substations. Furthermore, old oil circuit breakers will be replaced with new SF6 circuit breakers, old and defective 69kV and 15kV disconnect switches will be replaced with new ones and construction of new control room will be undertaken to accommodate protection and control requirements. A shift will likewise be made from runto-failure mode of maintenance to condition-based maintenance. Lastly, critical spare inventory for major equipment will be undertaken especially to those items that have long acquisition lead times.

9.

“Other Networks Projects” are listed in Table 1. A major component under this category is the “Installation and Replacement of Residential Meters” Project, which involves the installation of new electronic meters and also the replacement of defective or electromechanical meters, including accessories, for residential consumers. This pro-active service maintenance program aims to shorten the continuing meter replacement from 20 years into 6 years. In this manner, the end-consumers are not inconvenienced by the existing reactive approach as regards meter replacement.

7.1.1. This project is connected to the following complementary projects: 7.1.1.1. The 138 kV Line New DRA from NGCP Bunawan to DRA Substation Project, which involves the construction and installation of a new 1.8 km, 138kV, singlecircuit #795 MCM ACSR subtransmission line from NGCPBunawan to Don Ramon (DRA) substation, together with the necessary accessories. This project will aid in providing capacity and reliability on the 138 kV supply of the DRA substation, especially when the 100MVA additional capacity becomes operational. Notably, this new line will increase the transmission capacity for the DRA substation, which will aid in avoiding overloading of the existing line.

7.1.1.2. The 69kV Line New DRA1 from DRA Substation to Panacan (Landmark GOABS) Project involves the construction and installation of a 69 kV line, poles, line accessories, disconnection switches and other materials and equipment from the Panacan (Landmark GOABS) to DRA substation. This project is necessary to provide much needed capacity for a looping system between ERA and DRA substations. Without this in place, the ERA-DRA loop system between the two substations will not be realized and will negatively impact the supply continuity of the served area.

7.2. The New Panabo Substation Project involves the construction of an indoor type, 25 MVA, 4 feeder, 69/13.8 kV substation in the Panabo area. This project is essential as this will answer for the load growth in Panabo City.

7.2.1. This project is related to the following complementary projects: 7.2.1.1. The 13.8 kV Line New, PBO1, New Panabo Substation take off to Panabo Bus Terminal Project relates to the construction and installation of a feeder, poles, and associated materials and equipment, for the proposed New Panabo Substation. This new feeder will be interconnected with Bunawan Feeder 2.

4.

The estimated cost of the New Switching Station, DICT project is Php42,677,480.25.

5.

Below is the list of Applicant’s CY 2016-= CAPEX Projects including the New Switching Station, DICT project. With the inclusion of this project, the total estimated cost of DLPC’s 2016 CAPEX is now Php1, 222,740,671.25.

PROJECT SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

10.1.

The “Repairs and Expansion of Office Buildings, Equipment and Utilities” Project pertains to the expansion, construction and repairs undertaken of office, office utilities, health, safety and security systems together with the acquisition of associated furniture and fixtures. This project is for the purpose of providing safe, healthy and ambient working environment to DLPC’s employees and visiting customers.

PROJECT SUMMARY COST

SUBSTATION PROJECTS Php94,790,016

New Panabo S/S

Php94,489,000

In-Out , R.Castillo Substation (1st Phase)

Php36,938,000

New Switching Station, HOLCIM

Php50,068,955

UPGRADING OF DISTRIBUTION LINES New Lines Project

Php203,304,330

138kV Line New DRA from NGCP Bunawan to DRA substation

Php17,338,398

69kV Line New DRA1 fr DRA Ss to Panacan (Landmark GOABS)

Php53,220,925

69kV Line New DRA2 fr Ilang Highway to Holcim Switching Station

Php4,556,132

69kV Line New, DRA4, Steel Asia to Bunawan Public Market

Php3,870,244

69kV Line New,ERA2, RCastillo Ss In and Out Line

Php1,036,328

69kV Line New, Puan Switching Station Take Off

Php2,454,499

13.8kV Line New, MAT 4 to Crossing Langub

Php1,078,048

13.8kV Line New, PBO1, New Panabo Ss Take off to Panabo Bus Terminal

Php955,461

13.8kV Line New, PBO2, New Panabo Ss Take off to UM Highway

Php472,097

13.8kV Line New, RCA5, fr Holy Cross of Agdao to Agdao flyover

Php1,322,617

13.8kV Line New, Tug 4 from Tugbok Ss to Calinan downtown

Php8,887,275

Php36,938,000

New Switching Station, HOLCIM

Php50,068,955

New Lines Project

Php203,304,330

138kV Line New DRA from NGCP Bunawan to DRA substation

Php17,338,398

69kV Line New DRA1 fr DRA Ss to Panacan (Landmark GOABS)

Php53,220,925

69kV Line New DRA2 fr Ilang Highway to Holcim Switching Station

Php4,556,132

69kV Line New, DRA4, Steel Asia to Bunawan Public Market

Php3,870,244

69kV Line New,ERA2, RCastillo Ss In and Out Line

Php1,036,328

Php100,000,000

Line Upgrade

Php12,608,627

69kV Line Upgrade, Era 1, Roxas 3-way GOABS to P. Reyes S/s

Php1,326,932

69kV Line Upgrade, Era 2, Citi Hardware Bajada to Pampanga S/s

Php7,002,258

69kV Line Upgrade, STA 1, from Sta. Ana S/S to Davao Central Warehouse

Php1,007,750

13.8kV Line Upgrade, TAD2, from TAD S/S to PN 0775876

Php2,538,879

Php594,456

13.8kV Line New, Maa 4 from Jade Valley to Juliville

Php2,454,499

13.8kV Line New, MAT 4 to Crossing Langub

Php1,078,048

13.8kV Line New, PBO1, New Panabo Ss Take off to Panabo Bus Terminal

Php955,461

13.8kV Line New, PBO2, New Panabo Ss Take off to UM Highway

Php472,097

13.8kV Line New, RCA5, fr Holy Cross of Agdao to Agdao flyover

Php1,322,617

13.8kV Line New, Tug 4 from Tugbok Ss to Calinan downtown

Php8,887,275

13.8kV Underground Distribution System (2nd of 5 phases)

Php100,000,000

Line Upgrade

Php12,608,627

69kV Line Upgrade, Era 1, Roxas 3-way GOABS to P. Reyes S/s

Php1,326,932

69kV Line Upgrade, Era 2, Citi Hardware Bajada to Pampanga S/s

Php7,002,258

69kV Line Upgrade, STA 1, from Sta. Ana S/S to Davao Central Warehouse

Php1,007,750

13.8kV Line Upgrade, TAD2, from TAD S/S to PN 0775876

Php2,538,879 Php732,808

Line Rehabilitation/Maintenance

Php57,489,398

Line Reclosers

Php18,277,792

Emergency

Php8,771,935

Rotten Pole and Transformer Replacement

Php31,109,885

Voltage Correction

Php12,045,213

New Application

Php141,071,275

Rural Electrification

Php32,044,532

Subdivision Electrification

Php7,760,805

Substation Rehabilitation and Maintenance

13.8kV Underground Distribution System (2nd of 5 phases)

13.8kV Line Upgrade, Tad 4, Route to Camiling

Php94,489,000

In-Out , R.Castillo Substation (1st Phase)

13.8kV Line Upgrade, Tad 4, Route to Camiling

Php594,456

13.8kV Line New, Maa 4 from Jade Valley to Juliville

Php94,790,016

New Panabo S/S

69kV Line New, Puan Switching Station Take Off

11. The total estimated cost of DLPC’s CY 2016 CAPEX is Php 1,180,063,191.00 and the complete list of DLPC’s 2016 CAPEX, together with its estimated cost, is as follows:

Substation upgrade, DRA S/S, additional 100 MVA

Substation upgrade, DRA S/S, additional 100 MVA

UPGRADING OF DISTRIBUTION LINES

10.2.

The “Computer Equipment” Project is for the implementation of the Human Capital Management (HCM), Meter Data Management (MDM) and replacement of old computer units and other related IT related equipment. HCM is critical to the delivery of safe and efficient service to the customers. The HCM optimizes the DLPC workforce to provide efficient, cost-effective services in order to respond quickly to changing business needs. The HCM ensures that the DLPC workforce is highly competent and well-prepared. The MDM serves as the data repository and date mart for the planned Automatic Meter Reading/Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMR/ AMI). This goes hand in hand with the aim of DLPC to replace the electromechanical meters to electronic smart meters. Lastly, old and obsolete computer units and other related IT equipment will be replaced in order to mitigate the risk of systems failure which may lead to disruption of services.

DESCRIPTION

COST

SUBSTATION PROJECTS

10. The projects under the category “Non-Network Projects” are likewise listed in Table 1. The major components of this category are:

7.

The CAPEX projects under the category of Substation Projects are as follows: 7.1. The Additional 100 MVA, DRA Substation Upgrade Project involves the purchase and installation of an outdoor type, 100 MVA, 138/69kV three phase transformer, associated breakers and equipment.

This project is necessary as the current 2 x 50 MVA power transformers in the DRA Substation will soon reach critical levels. The said project will provide additional capacity and will aid in carrying the incoming load growth in the northern part of DLPC’s franchise area.

3.

This additional CAPEX project is named the “New Switching Station, DICT” project. It involves the construction of an SF6 type power circuit breaker forming a ring bus configuration at DICT compound. The project includes the purchase and installation of 3 units SF6 type power circuit breaker, current and voltage transformers, construction of fence, gate, canal and other civil works.

The project is necessary as the SF6 power circuit breaker will serve as a circuit interrupter at the connection point of the customer, a compliance to Philippine Distribution Code (PDC). The ring bus configuration which composed of 3 units SF6 power circuit breaker and other electrical equipment is a feature that is beneficial to the end-user and distributor. In case one of the sources is interrupted, the customer can still be served by other incoming sources. Also, in the event of fault at the load side of DICT, system reliability will not be compromised.

Php34,541,432

OTHER NETWORK CAPEX Street Lights and Signal Systems

Php14,495,008

Installation, Replacement and Maintenance of Industrial and Commercial Meters

Php23,751,917

Installation and Replacement of Residential Meters

Php170,051,439

NON-NETWORK CAPEX Telecommunication

Php732,808

Php16,961,096

Tools and Work Equipment

Php11,810,120

Transportation

Php10,599,000

Acquisition of Land - For New Binugao Substation which construction will start in 2017 and additional area for Victoria Substation which upgrading and re-configuration will also start in 2017

Php16,840,000

Php57,489,398

Buildings and Improvement, Office Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures and Miscellaneous Equipment

Php52,405,352

Line Rehabilitation/Maintenance Line Reclosers

Php18,277,792

Computer Equipment (Software & Hardware)

Php35,355,914

Emergency

Php8,771,935

NETWORK REQUIREMENTS- SUBSTATION PROJECTS

7.2.1.2. The 13.8 kV Line New, PBO2, New Panabo Substation take off to UM Highway Project involves the construction and installation of a feeder, poles, and associated materials and equipment. It intends to tie up Panabo and San Vicente substations to cater load transfers between the two substations.

Rotten Pole and Transformer Replacement

Php31,109,885

New Switching Station, DICT

Voltage Correction

Php12,045,213

TOTAL

New Application

Php141,071,275

Rural Electrification

Php32,044,532

7.2.2. Without these complementary projects, the risk exists that a large number of customers will experience power interruption during contingency situations affecting Bunawan, San Vicente and Panabo, or during scheduled maintenance undertakings.

Substation Rehabilitation and Maintenance

7.3. The New Switching Station-Holcim Project involves the construction of structures and installation of In and Out ring bus breakers, switches, controls and other equipment in the proposed Holcim Swithching Station. This Project will enable related substations to receive power supply from two sources in a loop through SCADA remote operation. Through this, the automatic switching of sources during switching scenarios is achieved and the outage duration of Holcim and adjacent substations will be minimal.

7.3.1. This project is connected to the complementary 69kV Line New-DRA2 From Ilang Highway to Holcim Switching Station Project, which involves the installation of a 69 kV line, poles, and associated materials and equipment. This complementary line project is a pre-requisite in completing the 69kV loop for the Industrial North Area served by the DRA substation. This 69kV Line New project will provide additional incoming 69kV source for HOLCIM and other customers connected in the 69kV loop. Without this project, there is a risk that Holcim, and other customers connected to the loop, will have no access to supply in the event that the NGCP-Bunawan is in contingency situations or during scheduled maintenance activity.

7.4. The R. Castillo Substation In-Out Project involves the construction of structures and installation of In and Out ring bus breakers, controls and other equipment in the proposed R. Castllo Substation. This project will enable related substations to receive power supply from two sources in a loop through SCADA remote operation. With the project in place, the automatic switching of sources during switching scenarios is achieved and the outage duration of the R. Castillo Substation during fault conditions will be minimal.

7.4.1. This project is related to the complementary 69kV Line New ERA to R. Castillo Project, which involves the installation of a 69 kV line, poles, and associated materials and equipment. This complementary line project is intended to supplement the intended utilization of the proposed In-Out breaker scheme for the R.Castilo.

8.

As regards the “Upgrading of Distribution Lines Projects” category of the 2016 CAPEX program, these projects involve the rehabilitation or upgrade of existing lines, poles and equipment, and/or installation of new lines, poles and associated equipment in various areas within DLPC’s Franchise Area. The projects under this category are necessary to boost the reliability and flexibility of the system by providing additional line capacity between the interconnected substation and feeder system of DLPC. Further, the projects herein will provide additional safety to customers by re-conductoring the existing bundled line construction that traverses private properties to a single wire upgraded rating capacity modified to avoid line hazard and obstruction. The projects under this category is listed in Table 1, including the complementary projects of the aforementioned Substation Projects.

The major components of this category are: 8.1. The “13.8kV Underground Distribution System – 2nd of 5 phases” Project, which basically involves the conversion of overhead lines, located in the downtown area, to an underground distribution system. This project is aimed at minimizing safety hazards contributed by power and communication overhead distribution lines. This is a continuation of Phase 1, covering the seat of local government of Davao City.

8.2. “Line Rehabilitation/ Maintenance,” which involves (i) Replacement of old wooden or dilapidated 138kV structures and fixtures; (ii) Replacement or relocation of various 69kV structures and fixtures, with wires and accessories, including those works upon the request of the Department of Public Works and Highway; (iii) Replacement of various primary and secondary structures and fixtures with wires and accessories for maintenance; (iv) Conversion or Upgrade of various rural distribution line structures and fixtures with wires and accessories; (v) Installation of new and replacement of leaking insulators and arresters, load break

Subdivision Electrification

Php7,760,805 Php34,541,432

OTHER NETWORK CAPEX Street Lights and Signal Systems

Php14,495,008

Installation, Replacement and Maintenance of Industrial and Commercial Meters

Php23,751,917

Installation and Replacement of Residential Meters

Php170,051,439

Table 1: 2016 CAPEX Projects 6.

The detailed justification, technical analysis, economic analysis and alternatives considered, for the New Switching Station, DICT are discussed in detail in Annex “A” hereof.

7.

The proposed CAPEX for CY 2016, including the New Switching Station, DICT project will not have a direct impact on the current rates of DLPC until included by the Honorable Commission as part of DLPC’s Regulatory Asset Base in the next applicable Regulatory Period.

PRAYER

NON-NETWORK CAPEX Telecommunication

Php16,961,096

Tools and Work Equipment

Php11,810,120

Transportation

Php10,599,000

Acquisition of Land - For New Binugao Substation which construction will start in 2017 and additional area for Victoria Substation which upgrading and re-configuration will also start in 2017

Php16,840,000

Buildings and Improvement, Office Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures and Miscellaneous Equipment

Php52,405,352

Computer Equipment (Software & Hardware) TOTAL

Php35,355,914 Php 1,180,063,191.00

Table 1: 2016 CAPEX Projects 12. The detailed justifications, technical analysis, economic analysis and alternatives considered, if availing, for DLPC’s CAPEX program for CY 2016 are discussed in detail in Annex “A” of this Application.

WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that the Honorable Commission approve the DLPC’s Capital Expenditure Projects for Calendar Year 2016, including the New Switching Station, DICT project.

Other reliefs just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application and Supplemental Application for determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-Trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 05 January 2017 at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.), at the Energy Regulatory Commission Mindanao Field Office, Mintrade Building, Monteverde Avenue corner Sales Street, Davao City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: i. ii.

13. The proposed CAPEX for CY 2016 will not have a direct impact on the current rates of DLPC until approved by the Honorable Commission as part of DLPC’s Regulatory Asset Base in the next applicable Regulatory Period.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 14. Public interest and necessity requires the immediate implementation, without delay, of the subject CAPEX projects. The loading and reliability constraints of the current substations are reaching critical levels, necessitating the upgrade and/or construction of the relevant substations. Aside from these, in the event that the CAPEX projects are not immediately implemented, the consumers may suffer from prolonged power interruptions and additional load coming from existing and new customers may likewise not be accommodated.

These negative consequences, which are detrimental not only to the economy of the areas covered by DLPC, but also to the livelihood and everyday lives of the consumers may be mitigated by the immediate approval of the DLPC 2016 CAPEX projects.

Php42,677,480.25 Php 1,222,740,671.25

iii.

The petitioner’s name and address; The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicants rest their case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure.

No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

15. Thus, pending final approval, there is an urgent need for a provisional authority for DLPC to immediately implement its proposed 2016 CAPEX projects.

In support of the prayer for the grant of a provisional authority, attached as Annex “B” is the Judicial Affidavit of Mr. Reynold B. Felix, Assistant Vice President of DLPC for Engineering-Support.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application and Supplemental Application may request from Applicants that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and Supplemental Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and Supplemental Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

16. The foregoing CAPEX for CY 2016 are indispensable for the systematic and economic expansion and rehabilitation of DLPC’s distribution facilities and ensuring compliance with safety, performance and regulatory requirements. The benefit arising from these CAPEX projects will ultimately redound to the endconsumers of DLPC in terms of continuous, reliable and efficient power supply.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAPTARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 1st day of December 2016 at Pasig City.

PRAYER ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, DLPC respectfully prays that this Honorable Commission: 1.

Pending trial on the merits, immediately issue a PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY authorizing DLPC to implement its Capital Expenditure Projects (CAPEX) for Calendar Year (“CY”) 2016.

2.

After due hearing, render judgment making the approval of the

1 2

Section 2 (b) of the EPIRA. Public Service Act. (MS-DEC. 16 & 23, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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TODAY

IN BRIEF Beijing issues first pollution red alert BEIJING―Beijing issued its first air pollution red alert for 2016 Thursday, as choking smog is expected to cover the city and surrounding areas in north China during the next five days.

From 8 pm on Friday, half of Beijing’s private cars will be ordered off the road, with an oddeven number plate system in force, according to a notice posted on the official website of the Beijing municipal government.

Construction sites will be closed, and some industrial plants and enterprises will limit or stop production, the notice added.

The alert came on a rare blue sky day in the city.

“Enterprises and public institutions can adjust office time or ask employees to telecommute,” the notice said.

“Kindergartens, primary and middle schools can work on flexible teaching schedules or close.”

AFP

Liquor shops on highways ordered shut NEW DELHI―India’s top court Thursday ordered the shutdown of all liquor shops along state and national highways, in a bid to reduce drunk driving in a country where road accidents kill 17 people every hour.

The Supreme Court directed authorities to stop granting licenses to highway liquor shops with immediate effect and said all existing registrations would be canceled by March 31, 2017, setting a deadline of April 1 for their closure. “(There should be) no liquor vends on national and state highways,” Chief Justice T.S. Thakur said.

Thakur also ordered the removal of all liquor banners and advertisements from such routes and said any shops selling alcohol must be located at least 500 meters away from highways.

Nearly 150,000 people were killed in Indian road accidents in 2015 -- a figure that amounts to around 400 a day and 17 every hour -- according to the ministry of road transport and highways. AFP

Vietnam says Trump to boost ties HANOI―US President-elect Donald Trump has reassured Vietnam over future ties, according to the communist nation, which is set to lose out if he honors a vow to ditch a major trade deal.

In a phone call on Wednesday with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Trump “affirmed the wish to cooperate with Vietnam to strengthen bilateral ties”.

The Vietnamese leader congratulated Trump on his November election win and said he honors the “friendly and cooperative” ties with Washington, according to a statement posted on the Vietnam government website.

“The two leaders exchanged ideas and measures to promote Vietnam-US economic, commercial and investment relations in the future,” the statement added.

Ties between the former foes have warmed steadily since the end of the Vietnam War, especially under outgoing president Barack Obama who has championed a so-called pivot to Asia policy. AFP

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

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A year after, Germany frets over integration COLOGNE―It’s been nearly a year since Cologne’s now infamous New Year’s Eve, when a wave of sexual assaults by migrant men horrified Germany.

But standing in the shadow of the west German city’s imposing cathedral, on the same square where the attacks happened, students Sarah and Laura say the aftershocks are still being felt.

“Since then, all refugees are viewed with suspicion. That’s too bad, but that’s how it is,” 25-yearold Sarah told AFP, bundled up against the winter chill with a thick woolly scarf.

Her friend Laura, 20, nods and says the events had shaken her own sense of safety. “It happened and you can’t forget that. There’s a lot more hatred against foreigners now.”

The assaults, which made global headlines, triggered a backlash against Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door refugee policy and heightened concerns about how to integrate a record number of mostly Muslim newcomers into German society.

As the country readies for a general election in 2017, the shadow of Cologne looms large, with

the ruling parties toughening their stance on migration.

Hundreds of women that night described running a gauntlet of theft, groping and lewd insults in a crush of mainly Arab and north African men. Other German cities reported similar incidents during their end of year festivities.

Cologne police reports later revealed that of some 1,200 complaints filed about the incidents, over 500 were for sexual assault.

Most of the perpetrators were never caught.

For Merkel, who had won praise for opening Germany’s borders to

Cartoonists find Donald Trump ripe for comedy N Manila

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TODAY

EW YORK―Between his wild gesticulating, linguistic tics, sweeping crest of hair and a complexion that suggests a weakness for tanning beds, US president-elect Donald Trump is a ripe target for comedy.

But many cartoonists, actors and comedians are grappling with how to strike the right tone in lampooning the divisive Republican.

Editorial cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher said that the artist in him sees his work as “playing a role of national therapy.”

“When you’re the artist, it is exhilarating because there’s a rich vein of material,” he said.

But “as a journalist, this is going to be unchartered waters. We just finished eight years of no drama Obama and this is going to be melodrama Trump.

“You find it upsetting; you find it destructive.”

Kallaugher -- whose work runs in The Economist and The Baltimore Sun newspaper -- has in the past depicted the real estate tycoon as a menacing animal in both publications.

But now that Trump is ascending to the presidency, “you have to be more nuanced,” the political cartoonist said.

“You attack his policies; his buffoonery,” Kallaugher said.

“You try to kill him with a thousand cuts rather than a single axe to the head.”

While many stateside comedians have entered a period of introspection following the election, caricaturists abroad are also looking to pinpoint the right balance in representing the bombastic reality show host who will now lead a global superpower.

“It’s almost too easy,” said French cartoonist Plantu, whose drawings appear daily in the Le Monde newspaper.

“What is good for caricaturists is never good for democracy.”

Marc Rosenthal, a contributor

to the New Yorker magazine and illustrator of the book “A Child’s First Book of Trump,” said that he finds it “very frightening the way things are going.”

“But I’m a big believer in humor as a defense against bad things.”

In the first book Rosenthal illustrated, which was written by author and comedian Michael Ian Black, Trump is depicted as a shapeless orange figure akin to a sweet potato.

Rosenthal will likely stick with the same physical representation of the incoming head of state in the pair’s second book, slated for a 2017 release.

But the illustrator said he hopes to get serious on “the dangerous right wing stuff.”

“Now there’s a lot more real things to write about,” he said.

“It’s time to get more pointed and direct in criticism of him, not just poke fun at his orangeness or his personality.”

On the sketch comedy “Saturday Night Live” the business tycoon is impersonated by actor Alec Baldwin, who has channeled the president-elect’s strained squint and pouty, twitching lips in his role. AFP

those fleeing conflict and persecution, it was a nightmare start to the year.

Her popularity plummeted as the anxiety that had been bubbling about the refugee influx burst into the open, leading to angry protests and a surge in support for the antiIslam, anti-migrant AfD party.

“The events on New Year’s Eve did not lead to a paradigm shift on their own, but they accelerated a trend that was already happening,” said Claus-Ulrich Proelss, director of the Cologne Refugee Council aid group.

“The mood changed complete-

ly,” added Syrian Sakher al-Mohamad, 27, who set up a campaign called Syrians Against Sexism after the assaults “to show solidarity with German women”.

Under fire, Merkel moved to toughen asylum laws, vowing to speed up deportations and tighten rules for family reunification.

“The political reflex was a blanket punishment for refugees and asylum seekers,” said Proelss.

The public mood in Germany turned darker over the summer, after an ax attack on a train and a suicide bombing at a music festival left 15 people injured. AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that TONDO HOLDINGS CORPORATION with office address at 32nd Floor, Tower One, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue, Makati City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-cost Housing Project (Urban Deca Homes Manila) with a capacity of 13,212 economic and low-cost housing units on a non-pioneer status, with project site located at Vista St., Tondo, Manila.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

RESERVEYOUR ADSPACENOW! email us at advertise@ the standard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547 NOTICE This is to inform the public that I have filled a petition for change of first name from Aurelio to Armando P. Marquez in accordance to R.A. 9048 at the LCRO of Manila as per Doc. No. 5, Page No. 2; Book No. 1; Series of 2016 , office of Atty.

Mae L. Bentulan with attorney’s no. 59120. ((MS-DEC. 16 & 23, 2016)

(MS-DEC. 16, 2016)

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10879 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MIMAROPA ACT” 1.0 PURPOSE This Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) is issued pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 10879 or the MIMAROPA Act, which lapsed into law on 17 July 2016.

Specifically, Section 5 of RA 10879 provides that “Within sixty days from the approval of the Act, the National Economic and Development Authority, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government shall formulate and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the establishment of the regional center.”

2.0 DEFINITION OF TERMS a)

Regional Center - refers to a local government unit that serves as the center of regional government operations and is generally accessible to the provinces in the region. It is typically characterized by the presence of urban facilities and services such as commercial establishments, financial institutions, medical centers, universities, telecommunication facilities, housing subdivisions, ports, airports and other transportation services.

b)

Regional Government Center (RGC) - refers to the site within the regional center where regional government offices and other government instrumentalities shall be located.

c)

Regional Government Office (RGO) - refers to a regional office of a national government agency/department.

This includes regional line agency, bureau, office, district office and any other distinct unit of a national government agency/department.

3.0 ESTABLISHMENT OF CALAPAN CITY AS THE REGIONAL CENTER OF MIMAROPA Calapan City is hereby designated as the regional center of MIMAROPA, consistent with Executive Order No. 682, s. 2007 entitled “Designating Calapan City as the Regional Center of Region IV-B, Otherwise Referred to as the MIMAROPA Region.” Furthermore, Regional Development Council (RDC)-MIMAROPA passed Resolution 035-1962011, dated 7 April 2011, entitled “Respectfully Recommending to His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III, the Full Implementation of Executive Order No. 682, Specifically on the Relocation of All Regional Line Agencies to the MIMAROPA Regional Government Center” and Resolution 028-15-2009 dated 2 July 2009, entitled “Resolution Urging the Secretaries and Heads of Other National Line Agencies to Effect the Full Transfer of Their Respective Regional Offices for MIMAROPA to Calapan City in Accordance with Executive Order No. 682.” Furthermore, a 2015 study by the NEDA Regional Office-MIMAROPA found Calapan City as the appropriate regional center given its accessibility and the presence of services and facilities.

In line with the above, all RGOs for MIMAROPA shall establish their offices in Calapan City.

4.0 REGIONAL GOVERNMENT CENTER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Within one (1) month from the effectivity of this IRR, the MIMAROPA RDC shall create an RGC Management Committee.

4.1 Functions. The RGC Management Committee shall have the following functions: a) b) c) d)

Identify the site of the RGC; Cause the preparation of a master plan for the RGC; Oversee all activities regarding the establishment of the RGC; Facilitate the transfer of RGOs particularly those that require the movement of heavy equipment (e.g., Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH) and the establishment of large storage facilities (e.g., Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD); Review proposals for projects and activities related to the RGC development and operations, and report the same to the RDC; In exceptional cases, recommend actions regarding RGOs’ proposals to locate outside the RGC;

e) f)

4.2 Composition. The RDC shall determine the composition of the RGC Management Committee. As host city of the RGC, Calapan City shall be a member of the Committee.

4.3 Chair and Secretariat. The RDC shall designate the chair of the RGC Management Committee and its secretariat.

5.0 PREPARATION OF TRANSFER PLANS OF REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES 5.1

5.2

All MIMAROPA RGOs that have not yet established their offices in Calapan City shall prepare their transfer plans containing, among others, the activities, logistical arrangement, timetables and budgetary requirements. The transfer plans shall be submitted to the respective heads of agencies, for their approval, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this IRR. The transfer plan shall have the following minimum contents: a)

Timetables for the establishment of regional offices: i. All RGOs shall relocate to Calapan City within eighteen months (18) from the issuance of this IRR. Thus,

by May 2018, all RGOs shall have established their offices in Calapan City; ii. RGOs may, prior to their full transfer, establish regional satellite offices in Calapan City. Regional satellite offices shall be manned by not less than thirty percent (30%) of their current regional office personnel in order to adequately deliver the key mandates of the Office; iii. For RGOs that have space and/or building requirements other than office spaces, such as DPWH for their heavy equipment and DSWD for their relief goods, the concerned RGOs shall be given an additional six (6) months for the transfer of such equipment and supplies and the establishment of the appropriate facilities, provided that there are available logistics ready for use and disposition.

b)

Contracts of lease and disposal of property RGOs with contracts of lease in their current office locations shall terminate the same in accordance with law.

Records, unserviceable property and equipment shall also be disposed of accordingly.

c)

Office and Physical Resources RGOs shall include in their transfer plans their proposed office location and other physical resources requirements.

5.3 Agencies may amend their transfer plans upon completion and approval of the RGC master plan.

6.0 BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS 6.1

Subject to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) rules and availability of funds, the following budgetary requirements for the transfer of MIMAROPA RGOs shall be provided: a) For Concerned Personnel i. One-time relocation allowance for payment of rentals and utilities, etc.; ii. Hauling allowance for each employee to cover the shipment of personal belongings; iii.One-time transportation allowance from point of origin to Calapan City. b) For Office Requirements i. Rental cost for office space or building, if no budget for this is currently allocated; ii. Cost of hauling of office equipment and properties from current office to Calapan City; iii.Cost of other physical resources such as furniture and equipment, as deemed necessary.

6.2 Budget Source a) For calendar year (CY) 2017 – In the absence of a provision in the RGOs’ budgets for the establishment of a satellite office and/or full transfer, their budgetary requirements shall be sourced from the budget of the departments/agencies concerned subject to the provisions of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and other DBM issuances on augmentation and/or realignment of savings. Requests for additional funds, realignment or use of savings shall be made to DBM for evaluation and recommendation to the approving authority.

Official’s wife jailed for taking bribes BEIJING―The wife of a Chinese official has been jailed for taking bribes from vaccine manufacturers, a court said Thursday, in a case with echoes of a major scandal that rocked China earlier this year.

The sixty-year-old woman, surnamed Guo, received a three-year sentence for soliciting 1.5 million yuan ($216,000) in bribes from five Chinese vaccine companies, according to a ruling from the Number One Beijing Intermediate People’s Court.

She is the wife of a former employee of the Chinese Food and Drug Administration, who the court documents said was complicit in the scheme.

Guo was taken into custody in April 2015 and charged with accepting bribes in relation to four biotech firms’ efforts to obtain government permits for a variety of vaccines, including those for SARS and avian flu. AFP

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For agencies that have no separate regional offices for MIMAROPA, the agency central offices shall provide the necessary budget for the operations and manpower requirements in establishing the RGOs in MIMAROPA, subject to GAA provisions and DBM issuances as mentioned above. b) For CY 2018 – The budget for the agencies’ transfer shall be included in their respective budget proposals for CY 2018.

Agencies that do not have a separate regional office for MIMAROPA, may likewise propose, for CY 2018, the creation of a separate office for MIMAROPA including the budgetary requirements for the new plantilla positions. c) For succeeding years, RGOs shall include in their budget proposals their respective requirements for the MIMAROPA regional office until such time that these have been included on a regular basis.

6.3 As part of the RDC annual budget review, the RGOs’ proposed budgets for the establishment of the regional offices as specified under item 6.1 shall be endorsed by the MIMAROPA RDC. 6.4 DBM and Agency Central Offices shall facilitate the approval of the respective budgets of their RGOs for CY 2018 onwards, which shall include rent/lease of a regional office in Calapan City pending the development of the RGC, subject to budget preparation rules and procedures that may adopted by DBM in its Budget Call for FY 2018.

6.5 Budget for the RGC The RGC Management Committee shall submit to the RDC its proposed maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) budget and its estimates for the preparation of the RGC master plan.

The initial MOOE requirements of the RGC Management Committee shall be provided by the MIMAROPA RDC until such time that its budget is institutionalized or made regular.

7.0 ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES 7.1 Agencies may issue internal guidelines on the establishment of their regional offices, consistent with this IRR. 7.2 The RDC shall issue additional guidelines on the implementation of the RGC Master Plan to include site development, lot acquisition, maintenance and operation, as well the responsibilities of RGOs. 8.0 SEPARABILITY CLAUSE If, for any reason, any section or provision of this IRR is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such other sections or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

9.0 EFFECTIVITY This Implementing Rules and Regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Done this 6th day of December 2016.

Approved:

PERFORMANCE. Singer Wynonna Judd performs during “A Wynonna & The Big Noise Christmas” event at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on December 14, 2016 in Nashville. AFP

ERNESTO M. PERNIA Secretary National Economic and Development Authority

ISMAEL D. SUENO Secretary Department of the Interior and Local Government

(MS-DEC. 16, 2016)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

AI creeping into people’s daily lives

World

THE DEADLINE NEARS. Young Israeli settlers pray in the settlement outpost of Amona, which was established in 1997, in the occupied West Bank on December 15, 2016. Residents of the wildcat Jewish settlement rejected a proposal to leave voluntarily, raising fears of violence as an evacuation deadline nears. The Amona outpost, home to some 40 families, is under a High Court order to be evacuated by December 25 since it was found to have been built on private Palestinian land. AFP

Putin, Abe to try to reach deal on islands NAGATO, Japan―Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Japan on Thursday for a hot spring summit aimed at reaching a deal over a group of small islands that have prevented the countries from formally ending their World War II hostilities.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hosting Putin in his ancestral city of Nagato in hopes of achieving a breakthrough over the territory off Japan’s northern coast seized by Soviet troops in 1945.

The four islands are known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, and the dispute has been a thorn in relations for more than seven decades.

Abe would like to seal a deal as soon as possible as Japanese former residents are aging and dwindling in number.

Despite months of preparation, the outlook is not good, with both sides recently damping down expectations of major progress.

“I want to go into this summit with determination to end the issue in my generation,” Abe told former residents earlier this week, suggesting an agreement remains distant.

Putin, a judo fan who is making his first visit to Japan in more than a decade, said he wanted to end the “anachronism” of the two countries not having a World War II peace treaty.

“But how to do this is a difficult question,” he told Japanese media.

Putin arrived at the airport in the city of Ube, where he was met by Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida.

His arrival, about three hours later than originally anticipated, was shown live on Japanese television.

Earlier in the day, Abe told reporters of his expectations for the meeting ahead of his departure for Nagato.

“I hope to spend time to negotiate in a quiet atmosphere at night,” he said.

His comment was an apparent reference to the renowned hot springs in western Japan, where a heavy security presence has been put in place.

For Abe, the issue is also a “legacy” from his late father Shintaro, who took the lead in negotiations with Moscow as a foreign minister but died in 1991

SAN FRANCISCO―Mark Zuckerberg envisions a software system inspired by the “Iron Man” character Jarvis as a virtual butler managing his household.

The Facebook founder’s dream is about artificial intelligence, which is slowly but surely creeping into our daily lives, no longer just science fiction.

Artificial intelligence or AI is getting a foothold in people’s homes, starting with the Amazon devices like its Echo speaker which links to a personal assistant “Alexa” to answer questions and control connected devices such as appliances or light bulbs.

Analyst Carolina Milanesi of the research firm Creative Strategies said that “2016 was the year about raising awareness, and exposing consumers to the idea of AI in a more mass market way.”

Milanesi said it may take time for the technology to fulfill its potential, noting that companies need “a strong hook” to bring large numbers of consumers into this world.

Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimates that Amazon has sold more than five million of its connected speakers such as Echo since 2014, in a market now heating up with competition from Google Home, and others likely in development.

Google meanwhile is also using its AI prowess to make smartphones smarter -- its Allo messenger can, for example, suggest a meeting or deliver relevant information during a conversation.

Among other tech giants Apple has been quietly ramping up the capabilities of its Siri digital assistant and Facebook its Messenger platform.

AI is also the key “driver” for autonomous vehicles, around which Google, Uber, automakers and others have expanded efforts in the past year.

And Amazon is seeking to put AI to work in the supermarket -- testing a system without cash registers or lines, where consumers simply grab their products and go, and have a bill tallied by artificial intelligence.

Stanford University AI researcher Alexandre Alahi, said he sees a future “where intelligent machines are omnipresent in our daily lives.” AFP

HRW: Turkey stifling media A NKARA―Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Turkey of “silencing” independent media in its bid to prevent scrutiny or criticism of its huge crackdown following the failed July coup.

In a report, the US-based rights watchdog said Turkey’s “assault” on critical journalism had accelerated since the attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- but said it began several years earlier and had steadily “sharpened” since 2014.

HRW said journalists it spoke to described “the stifling atmosphere in which they work and about the rapidly shrinking space for reporting on issues the government does not want covered.”

The Turkish government insists it does not attack the press or journalists, often saying there is no problem with press freedom. The Turkish authorities had no immediate reaction to the report.

Since mid-July, 140 media outlets and 29 publishing houses had been shut down under regulations imposed under a post-coup state of emergency, leaving over 2,500 journalists and media workers unemployed, HRW said.

The state of emergency was renewed for another three months in October.

Just one of the emergency decrees involved the closure of 131 media outlets over alleged links to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara has accused of ordering the putsch.

Gulen, who lives in selfimposed exile in Pennsylvania, strongly denies the charges.

The rights group said Ankara’s crackdown did not only affect those with alleged links to the coup-plotters, but also proKurdish media and independent

voices critical of the government.

Some 14 such media outlets have been shut down “effectively wiping out all media with a following among the Kurdish minority in Turkey,” the report said.

Accusing the government of using the criminal justice system as a tool against the media, HRW gave the example of the October arrests of 12 senior staff of the opposition daily Cumhuriyet, including its editor-in-chief.

They are accused of committing crimes on behalf of Kurdish militants and Gulen’s followers.

HRW also flagged physical attacks on journalists, accusing the government of interfering with editorial independence and pressuring outlets to sack critical journalists.

“Keeping 148 journalists and media workers in jail and closing down 169 media and publishing outlets under the state of emergency shows how Turkey is deliberately flouting basic principles of human rights and rule of law central to democracy,” said HRW’s Europe and Central Asia director Hugh Williamson.

HRW spoke to 61 journalists, editors, lawyers and press freedom activists as well reviewing court documents relating to the prosecution and jailing of journalists and media workers.

The report comes after Reporters Without Borders said this week Turkey had become the “world’s biggest prison for the media profession” leading to the increase in overall detentions of journalists worldwide. AFP

PREMIERE. Actress Jennifer Lawrence attends the premiere of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Passengers’ at the Regency Village Theater on December 14, 2016, in Westwood, California. AFP

Queens is now a must for New York foodies NEW YORK―Foodies are flocking to Queens, the New York borough that has long lived in the shadow of glitzy Manhattan, as it emerges as a treasure trove of good eats.

From gastropubs popping up all over the place, to Michelin-starred cuisine, the hot new food scene reflects the steady gentrification in the area.

People in the know are trekking

across the East River to explore this new culinary hub.

Something changed in Queens one evening in October 2015 when Lady Gaga, wearing a pink dress, walked down the street in the Astoria neighborhood to attend the opening of The Pomeroy, a hip restaurant run by a childhood friend, chef Bo O’Connor.

Her appearance helped New Yorkers realize that Queens had erased its

image of humdrum suburbia.

Astoria -- the Queens neighborhood closest to Manhattan -- is at the cutting edge of this movement.

“A new restaurant and bar is opening almost every month,” said Dixie Roberts, a freelance journalist who works for the website “We Heart Astoria” and lives close to The Pomeroy.

“Five years ago, there wasn’t that many places,” said O’Connor.

“This area definitely hadn’t developed. But in the past two and a half years, it’s really been incredible.”

Gastropubs -- a British import -are cropping up along main streets and often sport a similar look: a bar, minimalist decor, designer tables and chairs, intimate lighting and parquet floors.

The food is changing too, with new restaurants trying to offer something different to the options

traditionally available in the area.

“The menu you see here you won’t actually find anywhere else in Queens. Everybody else in Queens is serving the same exact traditional cuisine,” said Sonny Solomon, owner of an Indian place called Kurry Qulture.

He used to be affiliated with Devi and Tulsi, Indian restaurants in Manhattan that earned Michelin stars. AFP

Life

Shopping at Rustan's is made more wonderful with its holiday decors

SHOPPING

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

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The most wonderful time of the year at Rustan’s

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HERE is no holiday that is met with more joy and love than Christmas, especially in the Philippines where the season officially starts months before the actual day. This 2016 is no different, and Rustan’s gives you more reasons to get excited with its wide array of luxury gifts and goodies. Avoid the Christmas rush and shop to your heart’s content at the premier shopping destination that is Rustan’s.

Rustan’s welcomes the Yuletide season with a grand unveiling of their iconic windows along Ayala Avenue.

A display of majestic and fanciful Christmas decors interspersed with fashion, it is the first for Rustan’s to do a grand reveal of such, which made their annual Christmas affair even more meaningful this 2016.

Rustan’s aims to create an out-of-the-box visual design to stir people’s imagination of a magical world of Christmas.

Reminiscent of Cirque de Soleil, the windows capture an enchanting display of whimsical scenes dressed in festive holiday colors of red, green and blue, matched with the sparkles of gold and silver.

ENCHANTING. Premier shopping destination Rustan's presents its majestic window display along Ayala Avenue featuring whimsical scenes dressed in festive holiday colors of red, green and blue, and sparkles of silver and gold.

Old Navy’s Holiday Collection

Shirred blouse, midrise pixie pants and ballet flats

Buffalo shirt jacket and snowflake crew

AT Old Navy, Happy is going viral. The best way to be happy this season? Bundle up in all things bright, shiny and cozy.

Warm + Fuzzy Happy

Calling all snow angels and happy campers. Get ready to ward off icy temperatures in Arctic-worthy layers, from brightly colored technical parkas and puffers to fuzzy Fair Isle sweaters.

For women, more is better with intricate embroideries, lustrous shine, romantic heirloom prints, and geometric-patterned cardicoats. For the guys, sherpa-lined shirt jackets and supremely comfortable built-in Flex with stretch are versatile, all weather staples.

Denim jacket and skirt Flannel top and slim stretch denim

Young boys and girls will surely love this cool lineup of toys available at Toy Kingdom

world.

Toys inspired by blockbuster movies—Star Wars Rogue One, Transformers, Power Rangers, and Cars will top any young boy’s list; as will remote control cars and helicopters.

Have fun playing Santa as you complete the list of Top Toys available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in SM Stores and Toy Kingdom Stores in most SM Supermalls.

Party Happy

For holiday shindigs, there’s the easy-going opulent cool attitude of ‘60s and ‘70s rock ‘n’ rollers: pants in ornate brocades, hints of lustrous metallics, lush velvet, romantic old-world frills, and saturated jewel tones. For the guys, think dressed-up minus the fuss: wool coats and chinos casually layered with smart denim, and plaid. Party people, shine on.

Old Navy is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Estancia at Capitol Commons, Glorietta 3, Shangri-La Plaid Happy Plaza Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Papa’s got a bright new plaid. and SM Megamall.

The essential holiday shirt pattern is reimagined in dresses, sweatVisit facebook.com/oldnavyPH, ers, coats, puffer vests and cold- or follow @oldnavyph on Isstaweather accessories. Rounding gram for more information.

Toy Kingdom’s top toys for Christmas ‘TIS that time of year when kids are making their Christmas wish list, and there’s no other way to play Santa in a big way with Top Toys from Toy Kingdom, the amazing toy superstore.

There are the gift sets from well-loved brands—Barbie, My Little Pony, Powerpuff Girls, and Shopkins—that will bring a big smile to little girls; as well as techie stuff like virtual reality glasses that will transport kids of all ages to another

out the pops of plaid are Fair Isle sweaters knit with an explosion of optimistic colors and metallic yarns. Go bright, or go home.

Life

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

HOLIDAY GIFTS

Lifewear from Uniqlo

Gifts for Dad

Uniqlo’s Dry Pique Polo, designed for optimum comfort, is the ideal gift for dads everywhere. The Dry Pique Polo has quick-drying properties that wicks sweat easily. It comes in a variety of designs and colors and can be paired with Uniqlo’s premium Italian Leather Belt for a simple, classic style.

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HIS Holiday season, Uniqlo continues to make Filipino’s life better with a full line-up of LifeWear items that are perfect gifts for every member of your family.

Gifts for Mom

Uniqlo’s Easy-care Rayon Blouse is soft, light and airy.

Its fabric stays wrinkle-free even after washing, perfect for moms who are always on the go. Worn over pieces from the Comfort Beauty Collection, Wireless Bra and Ultra Seamless Shorts, paired with a 2-Way Stole, moms will definitely look stylish while staying comfortable.

Gifts for Kuya (brother)

Uniqlo’s Cargo Easy Shorts, which features an elastic-waist shorts that are best worn for active scenarios, is the perfect gift for an active Kuya. Pair it with a Packaged Dry Color Tshirt and short socks to achieve that cool, casual style.

Gifts for Ate (older sister)

Uniqlo’s Women Drape Pants, which feature a feminine drape design and an elastic waist and cuffs, are great for a trendy Ate. Pair it with Cropped Pocket Shirt for a casual, everyday look.

Gifts for your Barkada (friends)

Uniqlo’s Star Wars UT and Coke UT available for both men and women make great gifts for your friends. Celebrate your barkada Christmas party in these specially designed shirts for the ultimate squad selfie.

Gifts for Bunso (youngest sibling)

Uniqlo’s Girls Peanuts Graphic T-shirt from the UT Collection and Boys Easy Shorts which feature an elastic-waist best for children who love playing, are perfect for the cute kids of the family. With a wide variety of sizes that will accommodate infants, toddlers and pre-teens, these make an affordable gift.

Christmas is just around the corner!

DO you ever get excited whenever you hear Christmas jingles once the “ber” months kick in? If you just answered yes to that, you’re in luck because SM Home is just as excited as you are and they are here to help you decorate your place just the way you like it.

Bond with your families as you set up and decorate your own Christmas trees and homes. If you want something different this Christmas, try going for a White Christmas theme and choose from Railey Tree, Grand Tree or Roman Tree. But if you feel that sticking to the tradition will bring your families closer, you can always choose from Yana Tree, Richie Tree, Yam Tree and Gab Tree.

For the kids and the young-at-heart,

the Santa and Snowmen plushies collection are all the rage. Pile up on these Christmas buddies and see your family’s faces light up and bring back memories of a good old childhood memory.

If you’re going for a classier set this year, look at all the glass and metallic Christmas tree decors that the SM Home Store carries.

Whatever mood you’re trying to have at home this year, visit any SM Home Store for their Christmas 2016 Collection and for other home pieces that are suitable for you.

Visit www.smhome.com.ph, Follow @ smhome on Instagram, @SMHome_ph on Twitter and sm_home on Snapchat for more information.

Christmas will be sweet and merry with these decors from the SM Home Store

For more updates, visit Uniqlo Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo. com/ph and social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo. ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ uniqlophofficial).

Explore your creativity with Lomo’Instant WITH the rise of the digital age, the world can get a little too fast-paced at times. Photos and selfies taken in a few clicks and immediately uploaded online can all too easily be forgotten with a slew of new photos. Sometimes, it feels good to have something tangible, something to help capture the moment and help remind you where you are today.

Lomography, a type film photography that utilizes creative and experimental techniques such as cross processing and multiple exposure, appeals to this. It allows one to express one’s self freely.

Lomo’Instant, lomography’s first and most advanced instant camera, is now available in the Philippines.

The brand recently revamped their original cameras and came out with three designs: the Lomo’Instant Wide Black, the Lomo’Instant Sanremo, and the Lomo’Instant White.

All three help hone one’s creativity through presenting the experimental features found in lomography while at the same time, having the perks of an Instant Camera—getting your photos in just a few moments.

Lomo’Instant helps push the boundaries for creativity. It is the perfectly sized Instant Camera to take wherever you go, because it offers more control than you get with any other Instant Camera.

With the Lomo’Instant Wide Black (P9,850), users are allowed full control over their instant creations. The camera not only features manual exposure settings, but also comes with a Fully Programmatic Shutter to help one catch perfectly exposed photos. Long exposures, multiple exposures, and color-

Lomo’Instant Sanremo camera features a built-in wide angle lens and works with multiple lens attachments like fish eye, portrait and close-up.

flashed exposures can be achieved through this camera.

The retro-chic Lomo’Instant Sanremo (P8,650) stands out in its classy brown design. What makes this camera unique is its built-in wide-angle lens which is compatible with the multiple lens attachments that it comes with: a Fisheye Lens, a Portrait Lens, and a Close-Up Lens. The camera allows one to shoot enchanting, one-of-a-kind photos.

Lastly, the Lomo’Instant White (P5,550) comes in a sleek, simple design. Like the previous camera, it

allows one to shoot in the auto flash shooting mode or to switch to the two different manual shooting modes, opening up all kinds of experimental shooting possibilities. This makes it flexible, adjusting to users who want to take amazing instant photos on the go, and to those who have more time to play with their camera.

All lomography products are available exclusively at Digital Walker Trinoma, Shangri-la Plaza, Eastwood Mall, Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 5 and Powerplant Mall.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

PEOPLE ...are talking about Angel Locsin Is she the best actress of her generation?

The Inding-Indie Short Film Festival believes she is. During the film fest’s third edition held last Saturday, Angel was named “Best Actress of the Decade” relegating her contemporaries as just television and movie talents. The Kapamilya star, on the other hand, took to Instagram to share the recognition with her million fans and thank them for their unwavering support.

Anne Curtis is the face of Swiss Miss in the Philippines

ANNE CURTIS

First international chocolate powder drink brand endorser

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NNE Curtis still proves she’s Philippine showbiz’s top celebrity.

Recently, she was named first endorser of the world-famous chocolate powder drink brand, Swiss Miss.

Curtis is widely recognized for her numerous titles – in-demand actress, host, recording artist, platinum record awardee, philanthropist, award-winning endorser, and princess of all media whose daily activities on social media are followed by millions of fans. Swiss Miss has definitely selected a highly influential personality to represent their brand.

“We couldn’t have chosen a better endorser for Swiss Miss than Anne Curtis,” said Cathy Castro, Swiss Miss Asia marketing manager. ”Anne Curtis embodies the Swiss Miss brand very well. She is sophisticated, elegant and assertive. We’re so pleased to have her as part of the Swiss Miss family.”

In a grand reveal fit for the high-profile star, Anne descended down the steps of Venice Grand Canal Mall in Mckinley, Taguig City and invited guests to indulge in the

newest Swiss Miss Chocolate Hazelnut.

The newest Swiss Miss flavor combines premium, imported cocoa and real milk with the aroma and flavor of roasted, buttery hazelnuts with silky, creamy, frothy milk chocolate. It has a right balance of creaminess and sweetness.

With Anne’s in-demand status, it can be difficult to find the time to pause and indulge. That is why she stresses the importance of giving one’s self a reward for hard-won victories.

“I really believe that every achievement – whether it’s as small as getting through one of my regular work days or as big as reaching a career milestone – deserves a reward.

For me, a reward is something that’s sweet and indulgent so Swiss Miss is the perfect treat that I can easily reward myself with, and now it comes in my newest favorite flavor – Chocolate Hazelnut!” she said.

Like Anne, you can experience la dolce vita by enjoying life’s little pleasures and rewarding yourself for the little wins with Swiss Miss Chocolate Hazelnut.

Swiss Miss Chocolate Hazelnut is now available in leading stores and supermarkets nationwide. For more updates, follow Swiss Miss Philippines on Facebook and Instagram @SwissMissPH.

Sandara Park Even if 2NE1 is no longer together, Filipinos still continue supporting the “Pambansang Krung Krung.” A testament to her being the brightest Korean star in town, her solo performance during the finale of Boy Band Superstar trended on Twitter and the video of her performance went viral on YouTube shortly after the show ended.

Her fans will support her all the way whatever she does or decides to do as a solo artist.

Maine Mendoza Some say her star is fading but her supporters say otherwise. And to show that they are right, and that they are big in numbers, they trooped to a mall in Quezon City where the Dubsmash Queen was having a show. As a result, Maine’s brief tour caused commotion and traffic congestion in the area. You know, something that only happens when superstars arrive. If only Maine had a regular show other than Kalyeserye, then it would be easy for her to silence her detractors.

...are not talking about Ogie Alcasid Over the weekend, the singersongwriter was officially introduced as a Kapamilya. Although he’s already appeared in several Kapamilya shows in the past few weeks, it’s only now that Ogie’s change of network was formalized. The 49-year-old OPM singer is joining the rest of other Kapuso singers who recently joined the Kapamilya network in a show where washed out stars make their initial appearance.

Cesar Montano He’s been appointed to head the country’s Tourism Promotion Board.

As the COO, his duty is to promote the Philippines domestically and internationally. Although we don’t know yet if Cesar would stop doing movies and TV shows since he’s got a few projects underway, one thing we are very sure of.

If he couldn’t promote his own movies, how could he promote effectively the country’s tourism?

The Filharmonic excited to collaborate with Smart Launchpad winners The three will fly to Los Angeles, California early WHEN singers MJ Labenia and Lesha Litonjua and vlogger Tops Unay were declared the top three winners next year for a shoot/collaboration with The Filharmonic, of Smart Launchpad, a search for the country’s most a vocal group composed of six Filipino-Americans.

The a capella group competed in NBC’s hit musical promising content creators, one of their prizes was a chance for a collaboration with international YouTube competition, made the semi-finals and joined The SingOff national tour. stars.

The Filharmonic, “This was one of the consisting of VJ reasons why I joined Rosales, Joe Caigoy, Smart Launchpad.

Trace Gaynor, Barry The chance at a Fortgang, Jules Cruz collaboration with and Niko Del Rey, YouTube superstars is was featured in the just so exciting,” said Universal Pictures hit Litonjua during the movie, Pitch Perfect 2. awarding ceremonies S m a r t held at First Pacific Communications Leadership Academy, was overwhelmed Antipolo City. by the success of the The three were chosen competition and plans from 100 finalists out of to stage the competition 1,537 entries from all again next year. over the Philippines.

Fil-American vocal group The Filharmonic

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Friday, December 16, 2016

ACROSS 1 “In” thing 4 Girl from Baja 9 Tobacco plug 13 Back when 14 English seaside resorts 15 Wet thoroughly 16 Ice Age elephants 18 Bach instrument 19 Rapiers 20 Has a quarrel with (2 wds.)

22 Last course 25 Festive log 26 Hit the sack 28 Spiral in space 32 B-movie pistol 35 Long for 37 Ms. Zellweger 38 DeMille genre 40 Ice cream and root beer 42 Zest 43 Poet Conrad — 45 Fountain treats 47 Earmark 48 Came down hard 50 Thigh bone 52 Leaf source 54 Goes back over 58 Cutting in two 62 Hold dear

63 Move on 64 Where mollusks zonk out (2 wds.)

67 Curly coifs 68 Sidekick 69 Zeta follower 70 Rockies, briefly 71 Big laughs 72 Untold centuries DOWN 1 Illustrious 2 Slack-jawed 3 Rx amounts 4 One way to follow 5 Laid low 6 Rite answer (2 wds.)

7 Meeting, for short 8 Ore analysis 9 Victorian underwear 10 Sci-fi award 11 Hairy twin 12 What — wrong?

15 Sand — 17 Harper of “Tender Mercies” 21 Strain, as an engine 23 Coral habitat

24 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 36

Wild ducks Evidence GP expertise Warrior princess Burglar of yore Duffel filler Samoa’s capital “Kon- —” Auto-safety advocate 39 Peso fractions 41 Unlikely to bite 44 The jitters 46 Polls 49 Roman gods

51 Caboose’s place 53 Tennyson’s “— Arden” 55 “The Zoo Story” penner 56 Because of (2 wds.)

57 Family car 58 Chowder morsel 59 Not right 60 Make a salary 61 Pita sandwich 65 Great Lake locks 66 HBO alternative

Kris Aquino People will no longer see her on TV unless she has a special guest appearance or interview that normally involves, well, her life and her ongoing struggle to be part of the mainstream media. Kris, instead, will be seen by her fans doing a series of shows that can be viewed online via Facebook Live.

We heard networks are a bit reluctant in giving Kris the media mileage she is asking for. Now it can be said, Kris is no longer a queen, not even of social media.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

The country's lone superstar returns to MMFF with 'Kabisera,' a timely and relevant sociopolitical drama about a family dealing with hooded people who are involved in extra-judicial killings

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HE chair at the end of a table, normally ISAH V. RED referred to as ‘kabisera’ has been a symbolic of power at home. The ‘head of the house’ usually sits there and watches the banter of the entire family while sharing food and happy stories. Fate could however throw uncertainties.

A happy dining could just end up a long memory from the past. Honor, trust and loyalty are some of the values that are tested with this newest MMFF entry as it exposes imperfections that reign the lives of the Filipinos today, and how in the end we all stand up for what’s right and what is more important to us.

“Ang pamilya ang pinakaimportanteng kayamanan na mayroon ang Pilipino. Sa bagong hakbang ng MMFF ngayon na magbigay ng higit na makabuluhang pelikula sa industrya, naisip namin bakit di tayo gumawa ng storyang malapit talaga sa puso ng bawat Pinoy. We’re talking about value and and what’s more valuable for us Pinoys than the family?”, said director Real Florido when asked why he and the producers of the film chose this plot for their first Metro Manila Film Festival project. Inspired by a true story, this newest treat for 2016 became even bigger by brilliantly putting together big names in the industry —Gawad Urian Best Actors, Ricky Davao and Jason Abalos, Urian Best Supporting Actor Menggie Cobbarubias, QCinema Best Actor, JC de Vera, MMFF Best Supporting Actor Victor Neri, Sinag Maynila Best Actress Ces Quesada, Cine Filipino Best Actor Karl Medina, and Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actress Perla Bautista.

What is getting everyone excited about this film is the fact that we are once again about to be blown away by the one and only Grand Dame of Asian Cinema, Ms. Nora Aunor as she comes back to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Actor and producer, RJ Agustin is also in the cast together with Ronwaldo Martin (brother of Coco Martin), Kiko Matos, and Alex San Agustin.

People behind the scenes are also composed of names in the industry who have likewise won prestigious awards from both local and international award-giving bodies— cinematographer, Topel Lee; production designer Mark Sabas; musical scorer, Vince De Jesus and editor Tara Illenberger, to name a few. The cast and crew admitted that the pressure for this year’s festival is higher as they are expected to fulfill the responsibility of answering to the public’s hunger for more content and value. The public has demanded that they be given something more than the usual kind of plot and entertainment.

They wanted something more heartfelt and relevant and Kabisera hopes to deliver just that.

“Inaanyayahan namin ang publiko na umupo sa mga sinehan ngayong pasko bilang simbolo ng pagtayo para sa pelikulang Pilipino. We are inviting them na umupo sa Kabisera, manood kasama ang mga mahal sa buhay, bilang pagtayo para sa kanilang Pamilya,” says RJ Augustin.

Nora Aunor, during the press conference recently, said, “Natutuwa ako at naibabalik na nga ang mga pelikulang may kabuluhan sa Metro Manila Film Festival. Ang ‘Kabisera’ ay isang napapanahon na pelikula at sana tangkilikin ng mga manunuod ang ganitong klase ng pelikula.”

Aunor is the focal point of the film that deals with small-town politics and how corruption breaks the ties that bond each and every family.

The cast and crew are also scheduled to tour nationwide, visiting remarkable families who have been the inspirations for the film’s plot, from different parts of the country as they campaign for the movie. For a list of activities you may check Kabisera’s social network portals www.

RnB singer Jay-R hits the red carpet premiere of 'The Bounce Back' at the TLC Chinese Theater in Los Angeles

facebook.com/kabisera or visit the website www. firestartersmanila.com/kabisera.

Kabisera hits cinemas on Dec. 25. *** King of RnB Jay-R has just added another feather on his cap.

His single, “L-O-V-E,” from Elevated, his most recent album, was chosen to be included in the soundtrack, The Bounce Back, starring Shemar Moore, Bill Bellamy and Nadine Velazquez.

“It’s a dream come true for me. Any artist would love to be in a soundtrack that’s part of a Hollywood movie,” exclaimed the ASAP Soul Sessionist crowd favorite.

“Yes, this is the first time my music will be part of a Hollywood movie.”

Jay-R flew to Los Angeles to attend the movie’s red carpet screening held at the TCL Chinese Theater, Hollywood Blvd. on Dec. 6.

Asked how the song caught the attention of Ray Brown, the movie’s producer, Jay-R explains, “I had no idea that they were eyeing my song for the movie. They just saw that ‘L-O-V-E’ was perfect for the scene in the movie. There wasn’t any audition. They just chose and scored the movie with music they saw fit for the film.”

Despite his personal triumph, Jay-R gives due credit to his U.S.-based producer friends for giving his single the much-needed push.

While in the US, apart from walking the red carpet, Jay-R also hoped to do a promotional music video for the movie, and record new tunes with his

L.A.-based producers and writers.

Will this personal triumph soon pave the way for new career opportunities for Jay-R as a composer/songwriter?

“Yes, I would love for my music to be part of local teleseryes and local movies. That would be great,” he adds. *** Snooky Serna noted the difference in prosthetics when she was just starting in the movies and now that she is playing a character with a face distorted by acid.

In Hahamakin ang Lahat, she plays a woman who lives with a distorted cheek after the character played by Eula Valdez threw acid on her face.

“It’s not always easy to have it on, kahit nung bata pa ko. Mabigat kasi e. Kasi ako parang na linya ako sa mga fantasy films—Blusang Itim, Rosa Mistica, Madonna: Ang Babaeng Ahas and the likes. Ngayon, nakakatuwa, nagevolve na rin. Nag-level up na siya. Kasi noon ‘di ba dusa! No offense naman doon sa mga gumagawa noon. Magagaling sila. Iconic na sila. But now, feel ko lang talaga ang difference.” *** Glaiza de Castro won the Best Actress award at the Gawad Filipino Awards. Similarly, Encantadia co-star John Arcilla snagged the Best Actor while the primetime soap won Best Fantaserye.

The fans of the two actors were not surprised as they have proved their competence in acting in previous outings. Arcilla plays Hagorn and De Castro is Pirenna, his daughter with Mine-a.

Glaiza de Castro shows off her Gawad Filipino trophies for the role she plays in 'Encantadia'

GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon

BIZ ASIA

recognizes Kapuso top guns SEVERAL GMA Network executives were recognized by BizNews Asia (BNA), the country’s largest and most influential business and news magazine, during its 15th Anniversary celebration on Nov. 25.

GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon was an awardee for Visionary Management Excellence, marking his third time to receive such recognition. Gozon was also a recipient of the Visionary Management Excellence Award in 2013 and 2015.

In 2011, Gozon was named Tycoon of the Decade by BNA and was bestowed the Platinum Business Icon Award in 2012 and the Entrepreneurship Excellence Award in 2014.

Gozon was among BNA’s Power 100 from 2003 to 2010.

Other Kapuso officers recognized by BNA this year are GMA EVP and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong and RGMA (Radio GMA) President and GMA News Pillar Mike C. Enriquez.

Yalong, who was named ING-FINEX CFO of the Year for 2013, was a recipient of the BNA award for Financial Management.

Meanwhile, Enriquez, a multi-awarded broadcast journalist, was the lone awardee for Broadcast Excellence. Enriquez was given the same distinction in 2014.

The awarding ceremony, led by BizNews Asia publisher Tony Lopez, was held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel.

Celebrating

Christmas Gianna Maniego, Editor

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

What’s on your

Noche Buena table?

No Noche Buena feast is complete without the ham

By Ma. Glaiza Lee

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ELEBRATING the Yuletide season is not really about the beautiful, colorful decorations you hang around the house or the presents underneath the Christmas tree.

When we think back on Christmases past, what we would most likely remember is not what were in the stockings, or what was in that big box we received from our Ninongs and Ninangs. What we would remember is spending time with the people that we love – pulling the crackers, playing board games, singing carols, laughing with people over silly, but funny antics etc.

Out of all these wonderful and warm memories, the one that probably sticks the most in our memory is the food we all partake at Christmas time.

We remember the warmth of our mother’s cooking—the delicious aromas wafting in the air and the inevitable stories associated with them.

Suffice it to say, in every gathering especially on Christmas Day, food plays an important role.

Filipinos are known for their love of food, and Christmas is no exception. Food is – and will always be – the centerpiece of any Pinoy celebration. It represents the idea of coming together and creating good memories.

Come Christmas time, food favorites are prepared and secret family recipes are shared.

For Filipinos, there are staples that will always be present at the Noche Buena table.

Christmas favourites Christmas is never complete without the ham, which is always paired with queso de bola, the sweet and salty cheese that is usually covered in bright red wax. The best Christmas ham must be tender, sweet and savory, and comes with that special glaze.

Another dish that always makes an appearance at the Noche Buena table is the Lengua Estofado, a Spanishinfluenced dish that never fails to satisfy the Filipino palate.

It is cooked using ox tongue, stewed in rich sauce until tender. Those who have a lot of time to prepare include the paella in their Yuletide spread.

This Spanish dish symbolizes the grandness and richness of the season.

Who could forget the smoky goodness of grilled food?

Filipinos are big fans of grilled pork and chicken barbecue and are liable to make a beeline for any Noche Buena table that serves them. Grilled seafood such as Rellenong Bangus and mussels, are also crowd favourites.

Perhaps the most prominent dish of them all is the Lechon.

People go gaga over this dish, (which calls for a whole pig to be roasted on an open charcoal pit) and its crispy, crunchy skin.

After the party, left-overs can be turned into lechon paksiw.

For those who do not have any roasting pits available or do not have a lot of time to cook, there’s Lechon Belly (which, unlike the traditional lechon, is roasted in an oven and is easier to cook.)

Noodles for long life Of course, there should be a noodle dish, or two. There is the pancit, which comes in different kinds, for long life.

For children, sweet spaghetti styled a la Jollibee is a perennial crowd pleaser. Those who prefer a more “adult” pasta dish opt for Creamy Carbonara Pasta or Pasta in Truffle Oil.

The Lechon is the star of the Noche Buena table

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

Celebrating Christmas

Bata has been the pioneer of innovative footwear for more than 120 years.

Bata combines style and comfort in every pair

Global brand BATA opens shoe store at Sm Megamall B ATA, the global brand that has been a pioneer of innovative footwear for more than 120 years, launches its first store in the Philippines in partnership with SM Retail at the 3rd Level of SM Megamall Building B.

The T & A Bata Shoe Company was registered in Zin, Czechoslovakia by the siblings Tomas, Anna, and Antonin Bata in 1894. Innovative from the very beginning, it’s all about century old traditions of a oneman cobbler’s workshop.

Since that time, Bata has been at the forefront of innovation not only in the production and design of new styles, but in the creation of business models that permit a quick response to the ever changing wants and needs of our customers.

As a result, Bata enjoys a long history as a leading manufacturer and retailer of quality footwear, and proudly serves some one million customers each day. With more than 30,000 employees, 5,000 international retail stores, and a presence in over 70 countries, Bata is positioned to deliver an unparalleled combination of selection, quality, and service to customers around the globe.

The interiors of the new Bata store at SM Megamall are bright, open, friendly and inviting retail spaces that give customers an exciting and convenient shopping experience.

The store showcases Bata’s Every Shoe for Every Occasion.

These are comfortable and trendy footwear, versatile products to suit each occasion that are easy to maintain. Bata is also known for its contemporary styles and quality products at affordable products.

The SM Megamall store also highlights the different Bata brands like Ambassador, which offers a wide range of footwear for men in lace up and slip ons for formal occasions.

There is also the Power brand designed in Canada with style, technological features, comfort and durability for athletic and sports enthusiasts; and Weinbrenner, ‘strong shoes’ built to suit the true outdoor personalities, which carries the true essence of nature, travel, leisure, and casual time out.

Bata has also brands for the younger market like North Star, a sports casual footwear and accessories brand for the youth market inspired by world trends and young people’s versatility.

There is also Bubblegummers for kids, fun Treats for Feet that brings safety, comfort, softness and flexibility to each step.

The Bata Store is located at the 3rd Level of the SM Megamall’s Building B.

There’s safety and comfort in each step in these Bata shoes for little boys.

Celebrating Christmas What’s...

From E1 Salad is always a part of the menu in every Filipino celebration. Among the most popular are Buko, Chicken Macaroni and Fruit Salad.

One cannot mention Noche Buena without bringing up Chicken Macaroni Salad. This savoury noodle dish is quite easy to prepare – just mix macaroni noodle, chicken strip and mayonnaise. For more flavors, add ham, carrots and pineapple. This salad is good as a complement to any meat dish or on its own. It can even be turned into a dessert by adding fruit cocktails and condensed milk.

The Buko Salad is also a staple of any holiday table among Filipinos, because it is easy to prepare and is the perfect end to any meal.

Another star of the Noche Buena table is the Leche Flan. This custard confection is made of egg yolk, sugar and milk.

Those who want to go traditional also add Bibingka and Puto Bumbong to the menu.

(For first timers who would like to try preparing these dishes themselves, check our Recipe Box for some of the recipes.)

Whatever you are having for the Noche Buena, there is nothing that spells Christmas more than having a meal with your loved ones.

RECIPE BOX:

Creamy Lengua Estofado

Ingredients: 1 1/4 kilo whole pork pigue, with fat and skin removed For curing: ¾ liter Water ¼ tbsp Iodized Fine Salt ½ cup Sugar 1/16 tsp Salitre (or ⅛ tsp praque powder)

For roasting: 2 tbsps brown sugar 1/4 cup yellow mustard

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Stir in sugar, milk, and fruit cocktail. Pour into 7”x7” pan. Top with peanuts. Cover and chill until set. Top with marshmallows before serving.

Christmas Ham

For cooking: ½ cup beer 4 pcs cloves ¾ cup brown sugar ½ tsp peppercorn 2 pcs laurel ½ cup pineapple juice 2 pouches pineapple tidbits

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

½ cup cooked ham, diced ½ cup pineapple tidbits, drained and diced 1 cup cooked chicken breast, diced 1 tbsp sugar Cooking procedure: Cook the macaroni according to directions. Set aside and let it cool.

In a separate bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients.

Add the mayonnaise and the cooked salad macaroni.

Mix well.

Season to taste. Chill before serving.

Cooking procedure: For curing: Boil water. Add salt, sugar and salitre. Mix well until dissolved. Let it cool, then Strain.

Place pork in a bowl. Inject the mixture into the meat, then massage. Place it in a covered plastic container, along with the excess curing mixture. Refrigerate overnight. Don’t forget to turn meat, about four times.

Ingredients: 1 1/4 tbsps unflavored gelatin For cooking: 1/2 cup fruit cocktail syrup Drain meat. Discard the curing mixture. Inject meat 1 tbsp sugar with pineapple juice.

7 cups all-purpose cream Combine all the cooking ingredients in a bowl.

2 tbsps toasted unsalted cashew (you can also use peaPlace pork and cooking mixture in a pan together. nuts) coarsely chopped Cover and simmer over low heat for 40 minutes, turning 1/2 cup chocolate-toasted twisted marsmallows, cut once.

1/2 -inch thick 1 can Fruit Cocktail, drained (but reserve the syrup) For roasting: Pre-heat oven to 350ºF. Cooking procedure: Drain the meat, but reserve stock. Coat meat with musMix gelatin and reserved fruit cocktail syrup. Stir untard, then pat brown sugar. Score the meat. Transfer the til well-blended. Heat until gelatin is dissolved. Remove meat to a roasting pan. Bake for 40 minutes (or turbo from flame. NOTE: Make sure to dissolve the gelatin in broiler at 375ºF for 20 minutes). cold liquid before heating to make sure that the gelatin is evenly dissolved.

For the glaze: Simmer stock until thickened. You can also add cornstarch to make it thick. Serve the glaze with ham.

Ingredients: 1 pc whole ox tongue, cleaned water to cover for first boil ½ cup calamansi juice ¼ cup oil 4 pcs white onions, chopped 6 cloves garlic, chopped 1 tbsp tomato paste 2-3 cups water 2 pcs. bay leaves 1 cup vinegar ½ cup soy sauce 1 tsp. black peppercorns 1 cup button mushrooms, sliced ½ cup green olives 4 tbsp Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise 3 pcs. potatoes, sliced into wedges and fried (optional)

Rocky Road Fruit Gelatin

Macaroni Salad Ingredients: 700 ml mayonnaise 400 g salad macaroni 1/3 cup carrots, minced 2 tbsps onions, minced ½ cup pickle relish, drained

Cooking procedure: Immerse ox tongue in a pot of water and bring to a boil. Remove the tongue and discard the water.

Put water again in the pot, just enough to cover the ox tongue. Add calamansi juice and let it boil. Reduce heat.

Let it simmer for about 2 to 3 hours, or until the tongue is tender.

Remove the tongue from the pot and let it cool. Discard the water. Remove the skin of the tongue with a knife, then slice it into 1/2-inch thick pieces crosswise.

In a separate pot, sauté onion and garlic in oil until fragrant. Add tomato paste and sauté for another minute.

Add water, bay leaves, vinegar, soy sauce, pepper, and ox tongue. Mix well. Let this simmer until ox tongue is very tender.

Add green olives and simmer for another 6-8 minutes.

Add mayonnaise, mix well and let simmer over very low heat until sauce is creamy thick. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve.

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Celebrating Christmas

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

T

OP management executives from Enchanted Kingdom (EK) and GMA Network recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement engaging GMA Network as a Founding Partner in efforts to promote the theme park’s latest and largest attraction in 21 years, Agila: The EKsperience.

Agila: The EKsperience is the country’s first and only Flying Theater featuring patented motion theater technology that simulates the sensation of flying like an eagle, and presents on a massive 544-square meter movie screen a six-minute multi-sensory film showcasing the breathtaking beauty of the Philippines. This magical flight takes off from an iconic ninestorey glass encased building at Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Agila aims to support local tourism, inspire national pride in the beautiful landscapes of our country, and foster a sense of responsible stewardship of the Philippine’s rich natural heritage.

By supporting Enchanted Kingdom as Founding Partner in promoting the best of the Filipino and the Philippines, GMA brings to life its official mission to be “one in heart with every Filipino” The landmark partnership agreement between Enchanted Kingdom and GMA Network was signed by EK’s Chairman and President Mario O. Mamon and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Cynthia R. Mamon, and GMA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon and Executive Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Felipe S. Yalong.

Mamon describes the attraction as “very specialized”.

The EKsperience

New Enchanted Kingdom attraction promotes tourism country fits very well with what we are trying to achieve with this landmark project.”

Atty.

Gozon shares, “Enchanted Kingdom has always been a valued partner. We even have our company outings there, because I feel it is a worldclass destination and one that promotes the Filipino value of togetherness with family and friends. Their newest attraction, Agila: The EKsperience highlights the Philippine Eagle, which is a unique national treasure, and one that awe must work together to protect. a” Agila:The EKsperience will open this December 2016. For more information you may visit www.enchantedkingdom.ph.

He adds, “There’s nothing like it that has ever been done in the local amusement industry.

It will have motion simulation seats; a total of 105 in all, and on a giant screen you will see how beautiful the Philippines is; so it is a nice attraction, not only for foreign tourists but also educational to our

domestic tourists.”

He says that GMA was the first company that EK approached for a partnership towards the promotion of their most exciting attraction to date. “We felt that the Kapuso Network is an industry leader and that their advocacy for the environment and love for

From left to right: Eldar the Wizard, EK COO Dr. Cynthia R. Mamon, EK Chairman and President Mario O.Mamon, GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, and Princess Victoria

ROBIN and MARIEL PADILLA add glitter to Hotel Sogo’s new ad campaign

“D

ahil Mahal Kita” the new advertising campaign of Hotel Sogo gained more attraction with the help of their new ambassadors, Robin and Mariel Padilla. The campaign is designed to reinforce that the hotel offers not just service but also love, comfort and relaxation. The advertisements will run across print, television, radio, billboard and social-media outlets.

“Dahil Mahal Kita” Campaign conveys that our hotel is a special place that serves people with love and respect—giving high quality service, accommodation and at the same time giving back to the society” says Gus Corpus, Chief Executive Officer of Hotel Sogo. Through its quality standard cleanliness and innovations, Hotel Sogo remains the largest hotel chain in the Philippines.

“The best way to convey this genuine emotion of love to the public is through a real-life married couple Robin and Mariel Padilla. The campaign is about

experiencing ultimate care, comfort and love with your loved ones in Hotel Sogo”, added Sue Geminiano, Marketing Manager of Hotel Sogo.

The campaign extends into social media with behind the scenes videos; it features sweet and adorable scenes of Robin and Mariel Padilla. Join them and spread love on twitter using the hashtag #DahilMahalKita.

To find out more about this and other Hotel Sogo events and promos, like / follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/ hotelsogo), Twitter (#hotelsogo) and Instagram (@hotelsogo).