Manila Standard - 2016 December 17 - Saturday

Singapore, Manila OK tough stand on narcotics PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Singaporea Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have agreed to adopt a tough approach against illegal drugs.

“The general consensus was both agreed [on] the methods that we have adopted, being tough in the fight against illegal drugs,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said in a press conference in Singapore.

“This toughness and the measures that will be taken must be taken in the context of the urgent priorities and needs on the ground, as is relevant to our own situation,” he added.

Yasay said this was also the same approach that President Duterte and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed upon during the Filipino leader’s state visit in Cambodia last December 13 and 14.

Yasay said President Duterte emphasized that his government’s Next page

LIGHTS APLENTY. Loads of stars and lights adorn the Las Piñas City Hall facade and grounds Friday night to celebrate the formal start of Yuletide. Mayor Imelda Aguilar and Vice Mayor Louie Bustamante formally opened the display with a program featuring popular Filipino entertainers. Norman Cruz

‘PH can’t stop China’ Govt: Sino militarization up to US, Europe to take action

By John Paolo Bencito

VOL. XXX • NO. 308 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Du30 ‘kill remarks’ roil White House

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE United States expressed alarm Friday over President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that he used to join police operations so that he could personally kill criminals when he was still Davao City mayor.

“Those comments are deeply troubling, and they certainly are at odds with the Philippine government’s stated com-

mitment to due process and rule of law,” said White House Press Secretary John Earnest in a press briefing in Washington D.C. At a forum on Monday, Duterte said that when he was still mayor of Davao City, he would join local police in operations so that he could “personally kill” criminals to set an example.

“In Davao I used to do it personally.

Just to show to the guys that, if I can

do it, why can’t you? And I [would] go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around and I would just patrol the streets... looking for trouble. I really sought out encounters so I could kill,” Duterte said at the Wallace Business Forum in Malacañang.

Although the American government supports Duterte’s war against drugs, Earnest said “basic universal human rights should still be respected.”

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OREIGN Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. admitted Friday that the Philippines cannot do anything about China’s move to militarize a series of contested artificial islands in the South China Sea.

“There is nothing that we can do about that now, whether or not it is being done for purposes of further militarizing these facilities that they have put up,” Yasay told journalists in Singapore.

“We cannot, we cannot stop China at this point... and saying do not put that up. We will continue to pursue peaceful means [by] which all of these can be prevented,” he added.

Yasay said the Philippines would toler-

ate Beijings actions so that there will be “no further actions that will heighten the tensions between the two countries,” particularly in the Scarborough Shoal.

“We will leave it at that. For the Philippines, we have our bilateral engagements with China... and our efforts have paid off. As you can see, our fishermen are allowed to... not allowed—But our fishermen now have free access, insofar as Scarborough Shoal is concerned,” Yasay said.

On Thursday, the US-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative showed new satellite imagery showing that China has installed “significant” defensive weapons in its 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 Next page

‘No to impositions on MCC grant’

By John Paolo Bencito FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay on Friday slammed Washington for allegedly placing “impositions” on the grants and assistance to countries like the Philippines.

He made the statement after the Millennium Challenge Corporation deferred its selection for a

second grant to the country worth over $400 million following concerns “about the rule of law and civil liberties” in the Philippines. “[It is] very clear to us [that] this imposition is simply being made so that... we first have to bow down to the impositions of conditions that they are making,” Yasay told reporters in Singapore.

“They cannot just simply come up with decisions in the grant or non-grant of this assistance on the basis of these unverified reports.”

Yasay made his statement even as the Finance Department reiterated that the Duterte administration was committed to the rule of law in curbing poverty and promoting a law-abiding society, following MCC’s decision.

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Ex-cop fires back, sues 2 BI deputies

THERE THEY RISE. Prices of highland vegetables from Benguet have started going through the roof with

the vegetable producing regions still reeking from the damage done by Typhoon ‘Lawin’ which impaired the agricultgure sector in the area. David Chan

UN insists on its own EJK probe terms

By John Paolo Bencito UNITED NATIONS Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings Agnes Callamard scored President Rodrigo Duterte for placing conditions on her visit to investigate the growing number of deaths in his bloody war on drugs.

In an e-mail interview, Callamard urged the Philippine government to reconsider its decision to place conditions on her investigation of summary executions.

“I have written to the government of the Philippines on December 15th to explain that these conditions are inconsistent with the Special Rapporteur Code of Conduct and Terms of Reference for country visits. I have highlighted in particular the principles of independence and confidentiality, which should guide my mission, and the necessity of building and maintaining trust with all stakeholders, precluding any public debates,” Callamard told Manila Standard.

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RETIRED police superintendent Wally Sombero on Friday filed a graft complaint against two officials of the Bureau of Immigration before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly extorting P50 million from a casino tycoon.

Sombero sued Immigration deputy commissioners Michael Robles and Al Argosino on the advice of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. “I was told to do what is right,” he said and claimed he was an asset of the Justice department.

He made his statement even as Immigration placed four former high-ranking Immigration officials and an ex-policeman under its Lookout Bulletin after they were linked to the attempt to extort P50 from Chinese casino tycoon Jack Lam. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered all Immigration officers in seaports and airports to stop former acting BI intelligence Chief

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COMES NOW COMPLAINANT. Wally Sombero, a former cop and alleged representative of gambling tycoon Jack Lam files Friday a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against two Bureau of Immigration officials—Associate Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles—who allegedly tried to extort money from Lam. Manny Palmero

P8-b grant frees SUCs of undergrad tuition

By John Paolo Bencito

UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

THE tuition in all the undergraduate programs of all State Universities and Colleges will be free following an additional P8.3 billion in funding granted to the Commission on Higher Edu-

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cation, its chairwoman Patricia Licuanan said Friday.

“For that P8 billion, that’s purely for tuition. That’s purely removed tuition from the student expenses,” Licuanan said in a TV interview.

“So now they can say that

it will be implemented to all SUCs [State Universities and Colleges]. There won’t be any tuition.”

But Licuanan said “It will be a bit of a challenge” to divide the P8.3-billion funding among all 113 SUCs nationwide. Next page

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News

Go, murder convict, freed T

HE Supreme Court has ordered the Bureau of Corrections to release convicted murderer Rolito Go because he completed serving his sentence three years ago.

The high court’s Third Division denied the bureau’s appeal seeking to stop a lower court’s ruling that Go was deemed to have completed his jail term after he was granted a colonist status commuting his life sentence to 30 years.

“Therefore, after crediting his preventive imprisonment of nine months and sixteen days, and the

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regular Good Conduct Time Allowance and Special Credit Time Allowance granted upon him, Go has completed serving his sentence of 30 years on Aug. 21, 2013,” the high court ruled.

Go, a construction magnate, was convicted for shooting to death De La Salle University graduate Eldon Maguan in a road rage incident in 1991. in the Philippines,” Earnest said.

“The United States strongly supports the idea of a thorough, credible and transparent investigation into these reports,” he added.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar played down Duterte’s remarks about going out to find criminals to kill, saying this was his way scaring criminals.

“You know very well the President, when he talks, he’s fierce.

But not everything should be taken literally. That’s the style of the President, to instill fear in the minds of criminals,” he said.

Vice President Leni Robredo expressed alarm, however, over Duterte’s statement, saying it encouraged a culture of impunity, especially among law enforcers. With John Paolo

“The United States stands with the people of the Philippines as they confront the drug problem that’s having a negative impact on the security situation in the country,” Earnest said.

Earnest said it is still “critically important” that the Philippines should observe and protect the basic universal rights of the Filipinos.

Since Duterte assumed office on July 1, some 5,000 suspected drug pushers and users have been killed in his bloody war on drugs.

“The United States continues to be concerned by the widespread reports of extrajudicial killings by or at the behest of government authorities Bencito, Rio N. Araja

The 25-year-old Maguan was driving along Wilson Street in Greenhills, San Juan, when he had a traffic altercation with Go. In 1993, the San Juan City Regional Trial Court found Go guilty of murder and sentenced him to life in prison or up to 40 years. He started serving his sentence on April 30, 1996, at the New Bilibid Prison.

In 2008 Go, along with 24 other inmates, were given a colonist status, which is given to an inmate who had served his sentence with good conduct for a period equivalent to one fifth of the maximum term of his

prison sentence. Such may also be awarded to an inmate whose known character and credit for work while serving time earned an assignment on trust basis for more than one year.

Part of the benefit of one with a colonist status is the automatic reduction of the life sentence to 30 years.

With his commuted sentence, on Jan. 30, 2014 Go pleaded for his release by filing a petition for habeas corpus. He said his original sentence which would expire on Jan. 31, 2022, had expired in August 2013 because of the deduction of proper allowances

for good conduct, colonist status and preventive imprisonment.

But the Bureau of Corrections opposed Go’s appeal saying his sentence had not expired and had not been commuted. It insisted that the grant of colonist status to Go did not carry with it the automatic commutation of his sentence because only the President had the power to commute a sentence.

But the lower court granted Gopetition for habeas corpus saying it was clear that once an inmate was granted a colonist status, his life sentence was commuted to 30 years. Rey E. Requejo

NEW UNDERSTANDING. Philippine Coast Guard commandant Commodore Joel Garcia shakes hands with Chinese coast guard deputy director general Yun De after they met in Manila on maritime cooperation. It was the first time the two agencies met officially. AFP

tough approach “had somehow immediately resulted in a positive impact.”

Since President Duterte waged an all-out war against illegal drug six months ago, more than 5,000 suspected drug pushers and users have been killed.

The tough approach, Yasay said, has prompted more than 900,000 pushers and users to surrender.

“The syndicates operating in illicit drugs have to a great extent been minimized,” Yasay said.

Yasay said the Singaporean leaders vowed to continue to be tough against illegal drugs.

“That is the reason why they have also continued to make sure

that anyone caught in the illicit drug trade with a minimum of certain amount of drugs will be subject to the death penalty,” he said.

In the Philippines, Congess is still debating whether to revive the death penalty against heinous and drug-related crimes.

Both the Philippines and Singapore have agreed to share information and technical assistance in terms of law enforcement against illegal drug activities.

The two countries have also agreed to share intelligence in the campaign against criminality and terrorism.

President Duterte was scheduled to arrive Friday night at the Davao International Airport from his two-day state visit in Singapore.

Earlier, Duterte expressed confidence that relations between the Philippines and Singapore would continue to improve.

“I say tonight we can and should look forward to a future of greater mutually beneficial collaboration,” he said in his toast during the state banquet hosted by Singapore President Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam on Thursday.

Duterte noted that his two-day state visit to Singapore sought to renew and reaffirm”the friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Singapore.

“Tonight, I say we are drawn even closer as partners and friends. We have reason to celebrate,” Duterte said, noting that ties between the two nations were formally established close to 50 years ago.

“We work closely on political issues, pursuing principled positions on the rule of law in the peaceful settlement of disputes,” he added.

In addition, he said the two nations both reaffirm and respect the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states.

The Philippines and Singapore, according to President Duterte, are committed to do their share in helping make the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [Asean] region “safe and secure” from traditional and emerging transnational threats.

In terms of improving growth, President Duterte said two-way trade and commerce will be further intensified. He added that opportunities are being broadened so both countries can attract increased investments.

Duterte also noted that the presence of 180,000 Filipinos in the city-state is reflective of the “enduring friendship” between the two nations. Employed as professionals, highly skilled workers and in the domestic services sector, they have contributed significantly to Singapore’s economy.

For his part, Tan said the two countries enjoy a robust friendship “anchored in a shared vision of peace, harmony, and prosperity for our countries and the region.”

He said that Singapore companies are keen to invest in the Philippines.

Singapore is the fourth largest trading partner of the Philippines with total trade amounting to $4.373 billion in the first half of 2016. PNA

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In a statement, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the Philippines had passed 13 out of the 20 country indicators in the latest MCC scorecard report published just last month, including control of corruption, rule of law and civil liberties.

Yasay said the United States, as a “friend” and the country’s traditional ally in the East, should help the Philippines “without conditions.”

On Thursday, the Washington-based MCC removed the Philippines from the group of countries eligible for a second funding grant that it calls “compacts,” “The Board also deferred a vote on the re-selection of the Philippines for compact development subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties,” the company said.

Although MCC’s statement did not specify what the concerns were, Washington has been highly critical of the rising number of the summary executions in Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

Yasay said the US only started raising the possibility of withholding aid when Duterte took office in June as a result of his bloody war on drugs.

Yasay urged MCC to “reconsider” its decision.

“We would hope that America would try to reconsider this.

This has always been our appeal to America. Treat us with mutual respect and treat us as a sovereign equal,” he said.

Callamard also stressed in her letter to the Philippine governmen that the special rapporteur’s code of conduct states that she will “not seek or accept any instructions from any government.”

The Philippine government specified “three preconditions” to Callamard before she can make a visit: A public debate between the President of the Philippines and the Special Rapporteur; That President Duterte have the opportunity to propound his own questions to whoever he deems appropriate, including the Special Rapporteur; and That the Special Rapporteur first takes an oath to confirm her intention to truthful.

“I urge the authorities to reconsider their three conditions, in view of the Code of Conduct and my letter to them. It is crucial for the effective implementation of any mission that the terms of references and code of conduct are fully accepted and respected by governments,” she said.

“These are essential guarantees which ensure that the mission delivers on its outcomes, to the benefit of all those involved. Allow me to reiterate that I remain deeply committed to undertake a visit to the Philippines to investigate the alleged extrajudicial executions in the context of the war on drugs,” she added.

The government had sent a letter of invitation to Callamard but set conditions for her visit.

“Since it is this administration that is maligned as being behind these extrajudicial killings, due process requires that the President

of the Philippine Republic, be given the opportunity to propound his own questions which have been nagging him for some time,” the letter signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

Duterte is “entitled to know the motive for the investigation, and why the focus is on the Philippines when there are other nations responsible for the death of innocent and defenseless individuals elsewhere in the world,” the letter stated.

Callamard, however, suggested in her letter that she would rather hold a standard private debriefing with the Philippine government at the end of her probe, which could be followed by a joint press conference with Duterte.

“This press briefing would be an opportunity for me to introduce briefly my preliminary findings and for the President to offer his own analysis, reply or rebuttal.

Such a format would exclude debate between us, but allow the President to make immediately public his initial reactions to my preliminary findings should he so choose, and for me to uphold the principles that must guide my mission.”

But Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay scored Callamard for concluding that killings in the war on drugs were state-sanctioned.

“I hope Ms. Callamard is not saying this because if she’s really concerned about confidentiality, well she already immediately announced her findings without even investigating first. So it is so hypocritical for her to say now that she’d like to come to the Philippines and investigate and preserve the confidentiality that she needs in arriving at the conclusions, when she in fact already made the conclusions and was not

very confidential in announcing the conclusions,” he said.

Yasay also blamed the UN rapporteur for the decision of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US funding agency, to stop giving development grants to the Philippines.

He said she should apologize for statements that have “damaged the country tremendously.”

“People had jumped into conclusions that extrajudicial killings have been perpetrated in the Philippines, that there is rampant violation and state-sponsored violation of human rights,” he added.

“In fact, this is one of the basis at which the United States had also made its decision insofar as certain assistance given to the Philippines is concerned.”

Yasay accused the UN rapporteur of breaking protocol when she allegedly jumping into a conclusion based on unverified media reports, “which is not consistent with the protocols established under the rules of her office and the protocols of the United Nations.”

A staunch critic of the administration, Senator Leila de Lima supported Callamard’s call for Duterte to drop his conditions for the UN rapporteur’s visit.

“It is imperative that Dr. Callamard and her delegation be allowed to discharge their duties effectively and unhampered to show to the world that we are still a nation that observes the rule of law, honors the dignity of life, respects the basic human rights, and remains committed to the democratic values of transparency and accountability,” said De Lima.

On Friday, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said the Church cannot be silent on how the government deals with the illegal drug trade.

Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle said the Church cannot condone “murdering people whether they are victims or not.”

“As long as one is alive, whoever he or she is, that life is sacred. I know that the big issue nowadays is the recent spate of killings—which, they say, afflicts even those not guilty, the innocent —but whether a person is guilty or not, life should be cared for and respected. And if a person is guilty, give him new life –the opportunity to rise from his old life,” Tagle said.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the Church grieves with the families, especially the poor, who have lost loved ones without due process of law.

“We cannot afford to keep silent. This is another way of terrorizing the people. But now is really the time to speak,” said Pabillo, who chairs the bishops’ Commission on the Laity.

The prelate called on the public to act now against human rights abuses and not wait for more bodies to pile up. With Vito Barcelo,

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“So we cannot spend the P8 billion on anything else except to compensate the schools except for the fact that they can no longer charge tuition,” Licuanan said.

“Logistically, it will be a little difficult. So how do you share, how do you divide up P8 billion among 113 SUCs? And that includes UP [University of the Philippines].

“What formula do you use?

The tuition of the school times the number of enrollees? These are the challenges, and we are

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military equipment and longer runways.

They appear to be large antiaircraft guns and close-in weapons systems, the AMTI said.

Despite these threats however, Yasay said that the issue about the militarization and the construction of permanent facilities by China “has already been passed upon by the arbitral tribunal and decision there is very clear.”

“We will move forward in the future insofar as pursuing the enforcement of the decision of the arbitral tribunal,” he added.

He said the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea was a major concern for the United States, Japan and the European Union.

“Let them take whatever action is necessary in the pursuit of their national interest... and we will leave it at that. For the Philippines, we have our bilateral engagements with China,” Yasay said.

He said the country would continue to engage China in other aspects of their relationship— trade, investments, people-topeople contact, cooperation, infrastructure development and other such assistance “that will have no strings attached.”

A leftist Duterte ally in the House, however, assailed China for its militarist actions.

“This is highly deplorable as it further militarizes an already militarized maritime zone. It raises the stakes for a potential regional dispute as US President-elect Donald Trump claimed he is ready to confront Beijing on territorial issues,” Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said.

What is worse though, Zarate said, is that the action was done despite President Xi Jinping’s pledge not to militarize the islands in the Spratly archipelago.

“There should be a stop to these militarist activities both from China and the US because it would be very disadvantageous to the region and its people if this situation escalates,” Zarate said.

With Maricel V. Cruz

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Charles Calima Jr. and his assistant, Police Colonel Edward Chan, and dismissed Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles and Sombero.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon called for a reorganization of Immigration in light of the corruption issues facing some of its officials.

He filed Senate Resolution 256 urging the Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization to look into the possible reorganization of the agency “in order to restore public confidence in our immigration controls.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson said there was no reason for him to believe the explanation of the two accused associate commissioners.

Sombero said he came forward to clear his name and to stop Argosino and Robles. He said the two even instructed him not to report the underthe-table deal with Aguirre.

He said Immigration’s intelligence chief Charles Calima helped him in the entrapment operation on Argosino and Robles during the payoff at the City of Dreams Casino Hotel in Parañaque City on Nov. 27.

He said he was able to document the extortion to back his allegation of extortion.

“They were caught accepting the money,” he said.

Sombero was accompanied by NBI agents to the Ombudsman.

He was the alleged middleman for Lam who was looking for a “godfather” to protect his illegal gambling operations. Rio N. Araja, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta working on it.”

Licuanan also said that, eventually, they hoped to come up with a formula that would give priority to the needy.

“That would be our initial preference, to kind of calibrate it in a way that those who need it more will get more,” Licuanan said.

“Free tuition will help tremendously. It will free the resources of families and students for the other costs.”

But Licuanan said that locally funded schools, colleges and universities and programs for Masters and Doctoral degrees and other school fees would not be included in the free tuition scheme.

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House panel Oks estate tax amnesty

By Maricel V. Cruz A HOUSE leader on Friday urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of a measure granting tax amnesty for all unpaid estate taxes.

Deputy Speaker and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo made the appeal following the House Committee on Ways and Means passage of House Bill 3010 that “resolves the triple deadlock we now have in non-compliance, low tax collection, and idle properties.”

“Even while dealing with bereavement, the heirs are faced with the obligations of complying with the filing of tax returns and substantial payments within a small window of time. This commonly results in non-compliance which, accordingly, leads to idle properties and low tax collection,” Quimbo, principal author of the measure, said.

Quimbo said the complicated scheme of filing the estate tax is also a disincentive for the heirs to comply.

The failure in filing estate tax within a time frame also subjects the taxpayer to penalties and interests under the NIRC, he added.

The estate tax amnesty bill provides for a lowering of the tax rate to six percent of the gross value of the property, making it equal to the current rate of tax on capital gains.

The proposed rate under the estate tax amnesty bill effectively lowers the current tax rate of 20 percent in the National Internal Revenue Code.

The heirs are also given a year from the passage of the law to avail of the amnesty.

Based on simulation of the rates in HB 3010, the tax rate for a net estate of P13,000,000 and below is even lower than capital gains tax.

After the bill’s passage last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means which he chaired during the 16th Congress is set to consolidate the two estate tax amnesty bills: HB 3010, also authored by Quimbo, and HB 1889, authored by deputy majority leader and Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr. Quimbo said: “I thank the Committee on Ways and Means, under chairman Dakila Cua, for their swift and decisive action on the estate tax amnesty bill.

LITURGICAL TRADITION. Some Filipino Catholics attend Friday the first of the nine Midnight Masses or the Misa de Gallo at San Agustin Church in Manila. The Mass is a liturgical rite, a central act of worship in the Catholic Church. Norman Cruz

DU30 must make public his medical records—Lacson

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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FTER saying he might not be able to finish his term, President Rodrigo Duterte should release his medical records, Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

Responding to the query if the President needed to make public his medical records after enumerating in public his ailments in a recent forum with businessmen, Lacson said the President should do it.

“It already came out; he already indicated it. All the more the public should be informed on the real health status of the President. If there is an ailment, he should say what this is,” said Lacson.

Lacson said the release of one’s health records depends on the person concerned but the case of the President might be different.

“Health is always an indi-

vidual responsibility. It is also a national concern. After all, he has a mandate whether we voted for him or not...he enjoys the mandate of the majority of those who voted. That’s why he is the president,” said Lacson.

“And it should be a national concern that the president should be healthy or not healthy or sick. But it is a personal responsibility of the individual concerned...we can be prepared to die but all of us don’t want to die,” Lacson added.

While Philippine laws are clear when it comes to succession of power, the senator said Duterte should be able to stay

until 2022 or the end of his term, as he has the people’s mandate.

Lacson said that while the country’s laws are clear on political succession “we should not be worried if something happens, that we might have a hiatus. But then he was the one people voted for and he should be there until the end of his term.”

The 71-year-old Duterte had often talked about his ailments even before he became president. He blames his illnesses on his vices when he was young.

During the campaign, he missed some events due to some health reasons, prompting other candidates to demand the release of his medical records.

Duterte had rejected such calls.

On December 2, Duterte told businessmen at a forum in Malacañang that he suffered from back pains, daily migraines, and Buerger’s disease, which leads to blockages in

blood vessels.

Buerger’s disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a rare disease of the arteries and veins in the arms and legs.

In Buerger’s disease, a person’s blood vessels become inflamed, swollen and can be blocked with blood clots (thrombi).

This eventually damages or destroys skin tissues and may lead to infection and gangrene.

Buerger’s disease usually first shows in a person’s hands and feet and may eventually affect larger areas of the arms and legs.

Virtually everyone diagnosed with Buerger’s disease smokes cigarettes or uses other forms of tobacco, such as chewing tobacco.

Quitting all forms of tobacco is the only way to stop Buerger’s disease. For those who don’t quit, amputation of all or part of a limb is sometimes necessary, according to medical experts.

Rehabilitation of govt PH denounces Istanbul bombings projects near complete By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

By John Paolo Bencito MORE than three years after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Central Visayas, the rehabilitation of damaged key government infrastructures under the Bohol Earthquake Assistance project of the Interior department is almost complete.

DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno said of the 1,076 projects under the BEA program, 908 or 84.39 percent are completed, 132 (12.27 percent) are under implementation, 31 (2.88 percent) are on procurement stage, 2 (0.19 percent) have approved initial document, and the remaining 3 (0.28 percent) are under preparation of initial document.

“I am happy to note the lives of our kababayans mostly in Bohol and some in Cebu are now back to normal with the rehabilitated key government facilities in the respective localities,” Sueno said, adding by the end of 2017 all BEA projects shall have been completed.

The BEA Project covers the reconstruction, repair and rehabilitation of various barangay facilities (barangay hall, day care center, barangay health station), bridges, civic centers, markets, municipal buildings, and water supply systems in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu, two of the severely affected provinces during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013.

THE Philippine government has denounced the twin bombings in Istanbul, Turkey which killed at least 44 people and injured 166 others.

No Filipino was reported involved in the attack, the Dept. of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“The Philippines condemns the latest terror attack in the strongest possible terms,” the statement said, adding the DFA was expressing its sympathy to families affected by the bombing.

The Embassy in Istanbul issued an advisory urging them to avoid going to public places or crowded areas like shopping malls, public transportation terminals, parks, areas where political

parties are gathering, police and military installations, and embassies against ISIS, among others.

“All Filipinos were also advised to be vigilant at all times and stay indoors if they have nothing important to do outside their homes, offices or schools,” the embassy said.

The explosions occurred in a heavily attended football game at the Besiktas Vodafone Arena.

The first bomb was detonated by a remotecontrolled car bomb; shortly afterward, a suicide bomber initiated the second blast at Macka Park, less than a mile from the first explosion site.

According to Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, 30 police officers were among the 44 dead.

Floirendo pledges cash to House Xmas party

By Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tony Boy” Floirendo denied silencing the opposition bloc by pledging cash money to the House of Representatives’ Christmas Party on Thursday night.

In a statement to the media, Floirendo admitted he pledged money on their Christmas party, but stopped short of saying how much he gave for the

raffle prizes.

He said he did not find anything wrong in making the pledge which happened on the eve of his birthday.

“It was a happy gathering,” Floirendo said. “It was also an opportunity for us to unify the House and to strengthen our cooperation and fellowship despite political differences.”

Reports have surfaced that Floirendo donated P1 million for their raffle prizes.

LATEST ADDITION. Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (left) and Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Hospital President Juliette Gomez-Romualdez (middle) as well as Fr. Kim Margallo of the Our Lady of Parish Church (right) cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the new RTR Oncology Hematology Unit of the RTR Hospital in Tacloban City. Ver Noveno

IN BRIEF Pichay faces graft, grave misconduct complaint SURIGAO del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. is facing a graft and grave misconduct complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for conspiracy to illegally mine, transport and sell nickel ores from ancestral domains.

Datu James Biol and Datu Renante Baklas of the Manobo and Mamanwa tribes, respectively, also included in the complaint Pichay’s mining partner Cesar Detera, former Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno, MGB assistant director Leo Uykieng, MGB Caraga regional director Alilio Ensomo, Ador Patino of MGB Surigao City, Fe Ligtas, Teofranco Mallari, Lolita Bolayog, Allan Plaza and Jose Salve Cabiling.

The charges arose when Pichay and the other accused were alleged to have gained control of the Claver Mineral Development Corp. in the ancestral lands in Barangay Cagdianao in Claver.

The mining firm allegedly evicted the indigenous peoples of the Mamanwa tribe, who were reportedly “physically dragged out” from their ancestral lands after a lower court ruled in favor of company in a case filed against the mining operations in Barangay Cagdianao.

Rio Araja

Faithful told of dress code during Mass THE Catholic Church reminded the faithful to observe the proper dress code, saying they must adore the Lord in proper dress when attending Mass.

Some 50 years ago, veils were once required for women who attend Catholic church masses while men in very presentable Sunday dress, according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

“Jeans and t-shirts came to be the norm. Most Filipino women lost the veil and dresses gave way to more casual pants suits and even shorts for women which is unthinkable in previous years,” the CBCP said.

Fr. Carmelo Arada of Manila Archdiocese Commission on Liturgy said certain decorum must always be observed for liturgical functions.

“Going to Mass in the parish and going to Mass in the malls must be celebrated with the same disposition, including the attire.

Dress properly,” said the priest.

“Masses are celebrated always with dignity, with solemnity, and with devotion,” he told church reporters.

Arada said pushing for the observance of proper attire during the Simbang Gabi Masses in malls was to ensure it would not just be an “extra feature” of commercial establishments. Vito Barcelo

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Opinion

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Visiting neighbors

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte left earlier this week for a visit to Cambodia and Singapore, where he spoke with his counterparts regarding security and trade. The Philippines will be chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year.

In Cambodia, Mr. Duterte was given a warm reception especially given his perceived antiWestern position. What was supposed to be just an official visit was elevated to a state visit upon invitation

from the king.

In Singapore, Mr. Duterte said: “We are championing diversity and making sure the dialogue between religions and faiths forms the backdrop of a peaceful society.”

He also affirmed his respect for the independence and noninterference in the internal affairs of states.

Mr. Duterte said he would be going around the region to talk to his counterparts about their views on Asean policy on various issues vis a vis the positions of the rest of the world.

The country’s impending chairmanship of Asean gains extra significance given the region’s

integration, the heightened security challenges, and differing approaches to dealing with the other countries of the world.

Mr. Duterte will have to step up to the challenge. He has shown, on numerous occasions, that he could veer away from his controversial, foul-mouthed ways and behave in a manner that is respectable to many and appalling to none.

We understand that he sometimes has to resort

to creative means to drive home his point especially on national matters—but on this regional role, he should take no chances.

That the President is doing the rounds of our Asean neighbors can only redound to the common good, We just have to remember that regional and global interests are complex and far-reaching—there are no “good guys” and “bad guys.” Leadership here needs a sober mind and steady hand.

MAIL MATTERS

Accusations against Russia outrageous

Robredo’s self-inflicted injuries HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA VICE President Leni Robredo’s ouster from the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte was inevitable. She did not belong there, period.

Every freshman law student knows that under the doctrine of qualified political agency, members of the Cabinet are the alter egos of the president. Unless reversed by the president himself, or unless a law mandates otherwise, official acts and decisions of Cabinet members are deemed official acts and decisions of the president. The unwritten rule, of course, is that members of the Cabinet are not allowed to maintain any view that is repugnant to the president’s.

From the start, Robredo never comported herself as genuine alter ego of President Duterte.

Robredo openly shared and continues to share the misplaced sentiment of opposition politi-

cians that extrajudicial killings have become rampant in the country and that Duterte and his top men in the Philippine National Police are, in all likelihood, responsible for the same.

As a lawyer, Robredo is expected to know that there is nothing illegal when policemen kill a suspected drug lord who exchanges gunfire with lawmen rather than surrender to them. The ensuing deaths may not be expressly authorized by the courts—and may thus be considered “extrajudicial” in a sense—but the result is nonetheless authorized by the law.

President Duterte has not hidden his displeasure towards the outgoing secretary general of the United Nations for what the latter has been saying regarding the law and order situation in the Philippines. This notwithstanding, Robredo was seen engaging the UN chief in a very friendly banter at an international housing summit recently held in South America. It was almost as if Robredo thought nothing about the President’s views about

the outgoing UN leadership.

On some other occasions, Robredo met with the news media and scored the President for almost anything—from his speeches to the subjects of his press conferences.

How Robredo has been com-

The more glaring anomaly is that Robredo belongs to the Liberal Party, the political party openly opposed to President Duterte. From the way Senator Leila de Lima, a top LP political stooge, has been bashing Duterte in the news media, the LP seems determined to pursue the ouster of Duterte from the presidency.

It does not end there, of course, because as vice president, RoHow Robredo bredo is Duterte’s successor to Malacañang. That, by itself, alhas been ready creates a conflict of intercomporting est situation for Robredo. From this observation alone, it may be herself in the argued that Robredo’s departure from the Duterte Cabinet was public eye is long overdue. not how a Robredo supporters will insist that the Vice President has president’s alter the right to speak up, being the ego is expected to second highest elective official of the land. That’s true, but only behave. if Robredo was simply the vice president devoid of any political portfolio. They conveniently forgot that Robredo was also a member of the Cabinet and, porting herself in the public eye therefore, expected to align her is not how a president’s alter ego public persona with that of the is expected to behave.

President. If Robredo can’t live

with that, then her resignation from the Cabinet is necessary.

After all, Robredo was never coerced into accepting a position in the Duterte Cabinet in the first place.

After Robredo finally resigned from the Duterte Cabinet last week, she assumed the titular leadership of the LP and declared it the opposition party.

She added that Duterte will finish his six-year term as president because the LP has no plans of taking him down from office.

Her announcements are, however, self-serving.

Robredo’s resignation from the Cabinet did not catapult her to the leadership of the LP. She has been the LP’s pointman ever since the LP political machinery resigned itself, days after the May 2016 elections, to the fact that no amount of computer fraud can overtake Duterte’s insurmountable lead over Mar Roxas, the LP presidential candidate. Robredo inevitably had to be the LP titular head because as vice president, she currently Turn to A5

I WOULD like to refer to the article “UK Advises Duterte vs Russia Policy” by Ms. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan. It came out in your esteemed newspaper on November 25, 2016. I cannot help commenting on a number of groundless and outrageous accusations towards Russia.

First of all, H.E. Ambassador Asif Ahmad says, that “Afghanistan was invaded

by Russia, and al-Qaeda was born out of that conflict.” May I remind that the rise of radical groups in Afghanistan and Islamism in the region was fueled throughout 1980s by the US and its allies to confront the USSR forces. That is for the Western countries, who gave full support to Mujahideens.

The far-reaching consequences have been truly devastating for the whole world, including the Philippines as well, which among others turned to be victims of the terrorist groups bred by the Western sponsors.

The Soviet troops, on the other hand, entered Afghanistan in December 1979 upon the official request of the country’s only government. That was certainly a tragic mistake, as the USSR eventually got involved into the civil war under the slogans of socialist revolution (which in fact had no preconditions to happen). The mistake had to be corrected 10 years later – in February 1989 after it cost over 13,000 lives of Soviet troops, and billions of dollars spent on industrial and agricultural infrastructure, later on ruined by the Taliban Movement. The subsequent NATO engagement gave boost to one single sector - heroin production, which skyrocketed in the middle 2000s according to UNODC official statistics.

Artificial export of socialist model is same useless and dangerous as attempts to export democracy into the countries with no proper preconditions.

Our country has learnt this lesson, but the Western states do not seem. However, there is still one important lesson, they managed to learn: democracy cannot be exported to the countries possessing advanced anti-aircraft defense systems.

Al-Qaeda’s emergence was no immaculate conception, as it is frequently portrayed in the West. It first appeared in 1988 with Osama bin Laden being its top second personality. The actual parents are the US and Turn to A5

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Opinion

THERE is a reason why the one could clearly see the motive government has chosen to adopt of the opposition. stern measures in resolving Notably, safeguarding human problems that confront the na- rights today has given way to the tion particularly if it concerns demands for stricter security in the peace and stability in our so- countries plagued by terrorist ciety. This we assume because threats and against the cartel of every time the government illegal drug syndicates. Nobody enunciates a specific policy, the wants to come out and question opposition, as usual, would jus- the limitations to their freedom tify its position that it violates for verily they could be mistaken the individual freedom, and of- as one of them. The added power ten, would attempt to hold high given to the State is now recogthe banner of democracy to vali- nized because of the greater dandate that indeed they constitute ger of terrorism than the inconthe majority. venience in going through the However, many of us over- meticulous process of observing looked that democracy is not the rights of the individual. about the rights of the people Sadly enough, the opposition but more of a process to make has consistently failed to delinethe exercise of our rights opera- ate their role in questioning the tional, which is to validate the government forgetting that they rule of the majority. Such is de- have their duty of contributing signed to maintain order. positively to our people. They Prior to the existence of gov- cannot be classified as belongernments in what Thomas Hob- ing to the opposition, but obbes called the “state of nature,” structionists for clearly their men were absolutely free. The aim is to regain political power. concept of government came They refuse to accept that the about because of the need to election of Duterte as President mediate the overlapping exer- includes the giving to him the cise of individual freedom that mandate to solve the problem of each seeks to be accommodated illegal drugs which many see as in a given society. uncontrollably proliferating.

Thus, when people instituted This explains why the camthe concept of government, they paign against illegal drugs has consequently placed limitations partly influenced the administo their own freedom. Hence- tration to reintroduce death penforth, the original concept of alty. On this score, the opposidemocracy came into being as tion and the Church failed to a form of limitations that must understand that our abolition of undergo the process of being death penalty is an admission of approved by the majority. The our failure to deter criminality. institutionaliIt is even illogzation of that ical to say that process then as Christians came to be we should stop known as the the practice of This explains “rule of law.” executing conWhen men why the campaign victs who combegan to recmitted heinous ognize the against illegal crimes. necessity of They could installing a drugs has partly not even recall process, it was influenced the that execuan acknowltions of criminals preceded edgment that administration to advent of they can no reintroduce death the Ch r ist ia n it y. longer exerRather, varicise their free- penalty. ous forms of dom as they torture, punwish.

From ishments and thereon we execution renow recognize that the freedom of the indi- lated to religious beliefs such as vidual has no value if it is not heresy, blasphemy, paganism, approximated with the rights of idolatry, witchcraft, etc. were others. Let alone, no individual conceived by the evil mind of would voluntarily surrender a those pretending to be holierpart of his freedom to an ab- than-thou exemplified by the stract State without a guarantee new crimes were added into the that the government upon which penal code.

If we look back, we can say he surrendered his freedom could secure his existence. In that those crimes are remnants other words, democracy or the of the old medieval practice rule of the majority is a condi- when people began to question tion sine qua non to make that the infallibility of the dogma and of the Papacy. Religious bigotry system work.

To make ourselves clear, when reached our shores much that the the opposition insists in ques- friars also dominated the secular tioning the campaign against il- functions of the State. Many Fililegal drugs to justify their cry for pinos were executed as heretics human rights violation, they in for practicing their old religion. truth wanted to derail the prin- It was a deadly combination becipal program of the administra- cause crimes against religion tion. In that they want to make were equated as crimes against President Duterte unpopular, the State.

Today, the local hypocrites hoping it could trigger his ouster.

They surmised that the cam- are influenced by the European paign could result in the viola- Union requiring states to abolish tion of human rights, and they death penalty. Again, the opposition by sheer ignorance or duexpected that to happen.

The campaign at times is plicity wants to adopt this policy harsh and violent but one has to ignoring the truth that most take a balanced perspective of European states today, either as resolving the problem and ac- member of NATO or by unilatcept whatever price it will take erally action to preserve their to save a large portion of our economic interest in their forpopulation from being hooked mer colonies, continue to wage into illegal drugs. How govern- war and commit widespread ments will be able to confront genocide, plunder, and wanton this problem of such magnitude destruction of properties in Afis one that undoubtedly requires rica, which reason why Europe is experiencing an unprecedented a strong political will.

In their attempt to stop this, deluge of immigrants.

The Liberal Party and their the Liberal Party through Senator Leila de Lima sought the kingmakers made up of the intervention of the UN and the oligarchy, the clerics and the US. But the senator with such imperialists continue follow a questionable reputation failed this line of wanting to abrogate to anticipate that what she did death penalty, and see it as more was to induce other countries to important than in giving priorintervene and violate our sover- ity to the more pressing probeignty and independence. This lem of hunger and poverty. By explains why President Duterte abolishing death penalty they sharply reacted because her hope to present themselves as brokers in Washington are just Christians and compassion in eager to intervene on the pre- contrast to what they depict as text that the issue is about the one engaged in the systematic extrajudicial killings and not on execution of drug suspects. enforcement of the campaign rpkapunan@gmail.com against illegal drugs. In that,

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Hope and love fiercely

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Seeing it differently

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

EAGLE EYES TONY LA VIÑA THE ancient city of Aleppo, Syria is in the news this week; cries of help of Bana, the sevenyear-old girl tweeting about the fate of her city and many others, are unheeded. Nearer us, there is another massacre going on unabated, the killing of the poor, supposedly of drug pushers and users but nobody really knows because it is all done arbitrarily and definitely without any kind of process, due or not. Because of this, the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation Board was reported to have “deferred” a vote on the re-selection of the Philippines for compact development, “subject to a further review of concerns around rule of law and civil liberties.”

Of course, the hypocrisy rankles, knowing that Syria is where it is now among others because the United States, Russia and other powers have failed to rise against their own narrow, geopolitical interests. It also is hypocritical now that the victory of Donald Trump in the US elections has engendered the rise of overt racial, ethnic and religious discrimination in the land of the supposedly free.

And worst things are coming to the Philippines, in terms of human rights, with the death penalty about to be restored.

Of course, it will be mainly the poor that will be shot, hanged, and poisoned, because only those without the best lawyers money could buy and without the fraternity brothers and other connections, are imposed the ultimate penalty. The rich and the connected—they are almost always able to escape accountability in this land. And as we are seeing with the police officers implicated with the killing

Accusations...

From A4

its allies including the UK, who armed and trained al-Qaeda as a tool against USSR. After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, then President Mohammad Najubullah had been able to run the country for 3 more years, and could have stayed in power even longer, unless Moscow cut its supplies following Western advice, which gave Taliban green light to take over the country’s capital Kabul in 1992. Nonsocialist and ideology-free secular state fell down at the feet of medieval-style radicals. The West created Al-Qaeda, no longer needed by its former masters, then bloodily came out in 1993 with the bombing of the New York World Trade Center.

Let’s also remember that as soon as the conflict began in Syria, and it began long before we became involved, terrorists appeared there and began receiving arms supplies.

Attempts were made to train these terrorists and set them against the Government of al-Assad. This continues today because these groups are the most effective fighting units and some think that it is possible to make use of them and then sort them out later. But this is an illusion. It won’t work, and this is the problem.”

Ambassador Asif Ahmad says, “what is spawned by Russian aggression in Afghanistan, we are paying the price for it today in Mindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Manila”, he directly points at Russia as the source of the terrorist threat to the Philippines. This is a ridiculous, ungrounded libel statement. He must have forgotten the role of Britain in 2003 invasion of Iraq, whereas Mr. Tony Blair, then UK Prime Minister, was one of the key proponents of toppling Bagdad’s legitimate Government, allegedly for stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.

At the end, US led troops found no trace of WMD, and the very reason to start the war was simply buried in oblivion. Apparently, the British Prime Minister was lying about the WMD. In addition to the inhuman tragedy of a regional scale, loss of hundreds of thousands lives; a ter-

Robredo’s...

From A4

holds the highest elective office

among the LP politicians.

As for the six-year term of President Duterte, suffice it to say that the matter of whether Duterte will finish his term or not does not depend on the alleged decision of the LP not to oust him from office.

Robredo’s statement on behalf of the LP uses pretty hefty language for a political party that does not even control the House of Repre-

of Mayor Rolando Espinosa and what we might see with the fraternity brothers of the President implicated in the Bureau of Immigration corruption scandal, why will it be any different now?

Last Monday, December 12, Fr. Sergio Su, SJ, a scientist who loves philosophy, and a wise and holy priest, ended our Manila Observatory Christmas party mass with an unexpected gesture, a silent protest as he called it. He said he found it scandalous that the Church has not spoken effectively about the massacre of the poor. He then asked us to be silent for ten minutes, to mediate on that, and at the end, he walked out without a word.

It was good to be reminded of that, even as we in the Observatory, the oldest of it kind in the Philippines, celebrated also, through service awards, milestones of colleagues in their work with us. As I have been telling people, we must go on doing the good things we are doing even as the killing is happening around us and there is turmoil in the world. We should hold our breath because things will pass; we must record what is happening and hold people accountable—those who kill, those order others to kill, and the cheerleaders of death—later with what they have done and the hateful words they have expressed. But the most important thing is still to do the right thing.

As concerned as I am with the Duterte government’s actions on human rights, the Marcos burial, and its anti-democratic tendencies, I think is it still important to support the administration for the good things it is doing. I have never seen our politics in a zerosum way. That is why I continue to support the government’s peace initiatives, the anti-poverty and social justice programs, and environmental decisions.

In one of his Advent homilies, Pope Francis reminds us

that “when we are in darkness and difficulty the smile doesn’t come, but there is the hope that teaches us to smile on that path to find God.” But to smile, to borrow a phrase from a friend, one must fiercely hope. Quoting Isaiah, Pope Francis exhorts us to be comforted and to comfort others. Isaiah “speaks to our hearts today to tell us that God forgets our sins and comforts us if we entrust ourselves to Him with a humble and repentant heart”. With such hearts, God “will bring down the walls of evil, will fill the holes of our omissions, will flatten the bumps of pride and vanity, and will pave the way for our meeting with him.”

In my Christmas message to my colleagues at the Manila Observatory, I talked about how difficult it was to celebrate Christmas this year. How do you rejoice before such tragedy and uncertainty? Fortunately, we had our Christmas celebration on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. That gave me the opportunity to reflect on how God always chooses to appear first before the poor. That’s why the Madonna chose Juan Diego, a poor peasant and not a haciendero or a Don in Mexico. That’s why the Holy Family was guided to a stable and a straw manger and not a comfortable room in an inn. That’s why the angels of the Lord called the anawim—the shepherds and the poorest of the poor, the weakest of the weakest—to come and be the first to behold the infant Jesus first.

I shared the Ignatian contemplation on the Trinitarian conversation about the incarnation, how the Father, the Son, and the Advocate empathize with the suffering of humanity and decided to send the Son to become like us so that we may all be saved. In the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatous, we are asked to contemplate upon

the Trinity “looking upon our world: men and women being born and being laid to rest, some getting married and others getting divorced, the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the happy and the sad, so many people aimless, despairing, hateful, and killing, so many undernourished, sick, and dying, so many struggling with life and blind to any meaning. With God, I can hear people laughing and crying, some shouting and screaming, some praying, others cursing.”

(Translation/version of Fr. Daniel Fleming, SJ).

Daniel Ruff, SJ comments on the Trinity’s response to seeing us: The Father, Son and Advocate decided to incarnate the Divine Word, the second Person.

“God the Son will take human flesh as Jesus of Nazareth and become Emmanuel, ‘God with us.’ The Trinity’s plan is the mystery of the Incarnation the very reason for the Advent and Christmas seasons.”

We are saved. The poor is saved. This is the assurance of Christmas.

We may not see that now; the poor, which is all of us but in a very special way today particularly those who live in neighborhoods that are being assaulted every night by masked men, may not see that now. And that is what we are being called to - if we see that, if we truly believe that, then the best gift we can give ourselves and others this Christmas is to make Christ present to others: to the poor being killed; to family members who might need more attention in this season; and to friends and colleagues who would be helped by more kindness and presence.

This Christmas, there is only one answer to death and despair: let us all fiercely hope, and, yes, love.

rific precedent of severe violation of the international law was created, undermining the global security system as a whole. This appeared to be the Western-style alternative to the Middle East “dictators”, while none of them, even the West-friendly regimes, current or previous, can be called to any extent democratic.

This has been the way ISIS was born - radicalism filled the vacuum of power in Iraq as the sovereign state was completely destroyed.

Following the logic of Ambassador Asif Ahmad, this is indeed rather clear signal to those, who build relationship with the UK. The US and UK led invasion of Iraq resulted in the unprecedented surge of international terrorism, and this is the price the world has been paying for thirteen years.

Ambassador Ahmad says, ‘the bombings in Aleppo are entirely Russian”. These are pure lies. There is a lot of speculation* around the situation in Eastern Aleppo, but no actual evidence against Russia has ever been provided.

Western media try to imply that that the main damage to civilian population and infrastructure is caused by air strikes. That is deliberate disinformation: much more damage is incurred by the shelling coming from the side of terrorists occupying Eastern Aleppo with bombs of indiscriminate destructive power. Hundreds of people die from “hell fire” and mortar fire of terrorists every day in Western Aleppo.

The strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces have been carried out onto the targets away from the residential areas - mainly on convoys with terrorists and ammunition that try to fight their way into the city.

Furthermore, the airstrikes have been so far suspended for about a month and a half.

Aleppo is no single integrated city.

Its two thirds remain under the government forces control, while its one third is still in the hands of terrorists.

Western media mourn over the terrorists, whereas hundreds of civilians, who could flee the city via humanitarian corridors, keep dying every day, being used as human shield.

Moreover, Western Aleppo seems completely forgotten, as if there is no war at all. The terrorists are moderately called “rebels’

by the Western media. This is a favorite strategy of the Western media: alarming on certain facts, and concealing others, introducing fake news with exaggerations, and forgetting it after a while having no proof to show. What is believed in the West to be unquestionable and indisputable is a one-room flat in London where a certain UK subject of Syrian descent lives and single-handedly runs an organization called the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Let me reiterate, he is based in London but is cited most frequently of all.

There are only Russian journalists on the frontline between the Western and the Eastern parts of Aleppo. Western reporters never appear there; they prefer to quote the aforementioned Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and various anonymous witnesses, who deserve zero credibility.

On September 19, a UN aid convoy came under attack near Aleppo, Russia demanded an investigation while US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that an investigation could probably be conducted but they knew who had done it—the Syrian army or Russia, and in any case, Russia is to blame.

The anti-Russian media hysteria stopped on October 12, 2016 when Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the VTB forum “Russia is calling”, claiming that one of the terrorists groups had been responsible for the attack. “We see what’s happening, - he said. - It’s just baseless accusation that Russia is the cause of all mortal sins.

But we know who attacked this humanitarian convoy. This was one of the terrorist groups. And we know that the US is well aware of this. But they prefer to blame Russia. This won’t help”.

Bells are tolling for those who have been killed in Aleppo. Bells should also be tolling for those now losing their lives in Mosul and its vicinity with around 1 million of civilians. The operation in Mosul is getting underway now.

As far as I know, the terrorists have already shot more than 200 people in the hope of stopping the offensive on the town. Let’s not forget this. And in Afghanistan?

Whole wedding parties of 120

people were wiped out with a single airstrike. A single strike! Have we forgotten this? And what about what’s happening in Yemen? And what about children and elderly people, murdered under fire of Ukrainian artillery, in the Southeast of Ukraine? Weren’t they human beings? Didn’t they have human rights? Let the bells toll for all of these innocent victims.

We keep hearing Aleppo, Aleppo, Aleppo. But what is the issue here?

Do we leave the nest of terrorists in place there, or do we squeeze them out, doing our best to minimize and avoid civilian casualties? If it is better to not go in at all, then the offensive against Mosul shouldn’t go ahead at all either. Let’s just leave everything as it is. Let’s leave Raqqa alone too. Our Western partners keep saying, “We need to take back Raqqa and eliminate the nest of terrorists there”. But there are civilians in Raqqa too. So, should we not fight the terrorists at all? And when they take hostages in towns, should we just leave them be?

The more victorious are the forces of the legitimate Syrian Government, the more lies come out in media. Russian Aerospace Forces only hit terrorists’ bases.

All the targets are thoroughly verified.

Western countries possess enough satellites to track the airstrikes, and prove, or disapprove official statements of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. However, they just resort to hysteria in social networks.

Whereas, Russia’s requests to conduct an impartial investigation remain unanswered.

Finally, the statement contain a sort of advice to the Philippine government how to develop its relations with Russia. What is the UK’s business within the Russian- Philippine bilateral relations? Our country will never tolerate if a third state interferes into our relations with our partners. It is highly doubtful that anyone needs British instructions or advice of a kind. These statements have gone far beyond diplomatic etiquette, and only look as a reflex of mentorship.

sentatives, which has the exclusive power to initiate impeachment proceedings against a sitting president.

Right now, Robredo may be the titular head of the LP but that is not going to be a walk in the park for the next five and a half years.

Other than her lackluster threeyear quiet stint at the House of Representatives (and her celebrated use of a public bus to and from Bicol), Robredo has no real political track record to speak of to justify her obvious desire to become the

next president. It is for this reason that LP veterans like ex-President Benigno Aquino III and ex-Senator Mar Roxas will breathe down on Robredo’s neck each time the LP finds an opportunity to embarrass Duterte.

This ultimately raises the question—can Robredo stand on her own without the LP? She can’t, because she was virtually an outsider to the party for the entire duration of her adult life. This also means that when Robredo speaks, she speaks for the likes of Aquino

III and Roxas, and other oligarchs like them.

More revolting for Robredo should be the idea of being the face and voice of the LP itself. The historical record confirms that the LP is the same political party, through President Manuel Roxas (Mar’s grandfather) that gave the Americans parity rights and the military bases. It was also under the LP, through President Aquino III, when the Hacienda Luisita, owned by the Aquino family, remained virtually exempted from land reform.

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ILYA PERENKOV Press Attaché Embassy of the Russian Federation

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Cops start probe of ‘CIDG 20’

By Francisco Tuyay

T

HE Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police started on Friday its investigation of the 20 policemen, led by Superintendent Marvin Marcos, of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group who were tagged in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. in Leyte last month.

“We had a preliminary conference,” said lawyer Shella Castillo, head of the IAS. “We will resume it on January 10 because there are a lot of documents of the prosecution and with the other parties and there are also lawyers,” Castillo said.

Castillo said the conference aims to determine the potential administrative and criminal liabilities of the 20 police officers, who were implicated in the killing of Espinosa who was shot dead inside the Leyte sub-provincial jail

in Baybay City, also in Leyte.

Castillo said the IAS officially received the case last December 12 and she expects its resolution to come out by February. “For the interest of justice, we have to go with the due process,” she added.

Marcos and his comrades were present during the conference and were properly accompanied by lawyers.

The preliminary conference itself was cencerned mainly by the marking of evidence from both sides and stipulations of admissions of both parties to limit the issues to be tackled.

Castillo said that after the projected January 10 resumption, the pre-conference will be terminated

and parties will be given 15 days each to submit their respective position papers. “Expect the resolution after the submission of their position papers,” Castillo said.

The Senate Committee on Public Order chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson investigated the killing of Espinosa Sr. Suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa who appeared on the investigation of his father’s mysterious death branded the case as a “badly written script.”

The younger Espinosa, who was transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation on orders of a Leyte court, denied allegations by Albuera municipal police station head Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido that his affidavit, dragging several

poloce officials in the illegal drug trade, was ready made.

Kerwin stressed that his affidavit was legally taken with lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office and the proceedings were documented by audio and video recordings.

“Espenido alleged that my affidavit is ready made is absolutely false,” Espinosa said in his statement issued by her lawyer Lani Villarino.

Meanwhile, suspected “drug queen” Lovely Adam Impal, the alleged supplier of illegal drugs of Kerwin Espinosa was allowed to leave Camp Crame premises.

Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro, director of the PNP-AIDG, said Impal was permitted to leave

IN BRIEF

AmCham elects new officers for 2017 THE American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines announced Friday its new set of officers, led by Marriott Hotel general manager Bruce Winton.

Winton will succeed incumbent president Rick Santos, chairman, chief executive officer and founder of CBRE Philippines.

Santos will serve as first vice president next year while Dow Chemical Pacific Ltd. country director Roberto Batungbacal will be the chamber’s second vice president.

Santos and Batungbacal will replace Quezon Power (Philippines) Ltd. Co. managing director Frank Thiel and Convergys Philippines chairman Marife Zamora as the first and second vice president, respectively.

AmCham’s treasurer next year will be Chevron Philippines general manager Peter Morris.

Lawyer Aileen Tolosa-Lerma of the Romulo, Mabanta, Buenaventura, Sayoc & Delos Angeles Law Office will remain corporate secretary while Ebb Hinchcliffe will be executive director of the business group.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim will also hold the position of honorary chairman of AmCham next year.

AmCham serves the interests of Philippine and American businesses through the participation of members in promoting their long-term objectives, while contributing to the civic and economic development in the country.

5 arrested in drug bust

PASKO SA INTRAMUROS. Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo (right) accompanies Miss Universe candidates as they shop at Christmas booths at Intramuros, Manila where there are now nightly special events throughout the Christmas season.

MMDA earns P20m from citations

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority earned about P20 million in additional revenue since it began implementing last April the so-called No Contact Apprehension Policy against motorists violating traffic rules and regulations in Metro Manila.

Based on the latest report released by the agency’s Public Information Office, the highest number of apprehended motorists was made in August when 9,735 drivers were caught violating MMDA traffic rules.

More than 40,000 motorists were apprehended in nine months, the

MMDA report stated.

The month of July was recorded with the second highest number of apprehensions with 5,542 followed by the month of June with 4,271.

The policy was first implemented during the time of then MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando in 2007 but the agency discontinue the practice following numerous complaint from motorists who claimed they were penalized without their knowledge.

The Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s governing board and policy-making body, in 2002 approved Resolution 02-49 citing the

need to improve the system of apprehending traffic violators without any contact with traffic enforcers through the use of digital cameras.

“Physical contact between the traffic enforcer and the driver during apprehension is an open invitation for graft and corruption,” the MMC cited this as one of the reasons in coming up with the resolution.

Under the new MMC resolution, the MMDA sends summons or notices to the vehicle’s owners or operators to identify the driver of the vehicle during the time the violation that was captured by the CCTV camera.

The notice which will be sent to

the owner or operator contains the date, time, location and traffic violation. It also contains a statement that the motorist has the right to contest before the MMDA-Traffic Adjudication Division within seven days upon receipt of the summons.

Within 15 days from receipt of the adverse TAD resolution, the driver may still file a motion for reconsideration. If the MR is denied, the driver may further file an appeal before the Office of the Chairman where the decision shall be final and executory.

The driver will not be able to renew the vehicle registration until the fines are settled.

Designers asked not to intrigue pageant

By Sandy Araneta THE Department of Tourism on Friday urged local fashion designers in Davao to spare the Miss Universe delegates, organizers and foreign visitors from the controversy arising from the engagement of a non-Mindanaoan couturier to do the clothes for a pre-pageant fashion show.

DOT officials earlier approved of the fashion show conceptualized by couturier Rene Salud to feature Mindanao’s indigenous weavers and their fabrics, however, this was cancelled last Wednesday because of the controversy.

A member of a Davao City designers’ group sought an audience with the Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo but she was part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s entourage in a state visit to Cambodia so the local designers took to social media to ventilate their demands.

“To avoid controversy and spare our visitors from unnecessary intrigue that doesn’t serve the interest of the greater good, we’ve decided to cancel the fashion show in Davao City. We, at DOT, are concerned in promoting our dollar-earning tourism industry and not anyone’s personal interest,” Tourism Undersecretary Kat de Castro urged.

A group of Davao-based fash-

Camp Crame last week days after she voluntarily yielded to PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa last December 5.

“She is not here [Camp Crame] any more, and what we know is that she is with her family right now,” said Ferro.

“Unfortunately, she has no warrant of arrest, there was no case filed against her so we have no authority or legal basis to detain her and we respect her decision to surrender,” added Ferro.

Impal was tagged by Rolando Espinosa Jr., alias Kerwin, as among his suppliers of illegal drugs. Espinosa said that he was introduced to Impal by slain drug lord Jeffrey Diaz, alias Jaguar.

ion designers released a statement on Tuesday, criticizing the decision of the Miss Universe pageant hosting committee to hand over the privilege of dressing up some of the candidates for a side event to be held in the city to a “nonMindananoan” designer.

The Davao Fashion and Design Council Foundation Inc. said it was disappointed to learn that Salud will be the one to head the fashion show, which was to be held at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on January 19.

“Call it proper and befitting, the Mindanaoan designers have all the rights and benefits to best represent the distinctive fashion and style of Mindanao, in the first place,” the group said, adding that they felt insulted with the committee’s proposal to have them dress up local models instead.

“DFDCFI will continue to uphold its stand and will use all its resources and capacity to have this issue properly addressed by the Miss Universe committee, at the soonest. Should it not be, this turn of events will continue to become a blunder for local pride of place, where the President himself is coming from,” it said.

The group’s stand is backed

by Alfonso “Boy” Guinoo, the region’s widely recognized fashion czar.

THE Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group of the Pampanga police arrested Friday morning five members of a notorious drug group during a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Jose, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino said.

Aquino said the operation that happened at around 8 a.m. and supported by some police units have recovered from the suspects who belonged to the group 14 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu.

Aquino identified the arrested suspects as Manuel Manarang y Sapno, 47; Frank Manarang y Sapno, 45,; Consorcia Manarang y Quiambao, 42, all three are residents of P8 Barangay San Jose, City of San Fernando; Gerson Nugoy y Aragon, 20, of P14 Mansgold, Barangay Sta. Lucia, CSF; and Mark Alegre y Alcantara, 31, of P4 Brgy. San Felipe, Zambales.

Florante Solmerin

Rice trucks hijacked TWO truckloads of 600 sacks of rice were hijacked while another truck was torched by armed men believed to be rebels in two separate incidents this week in Compostela Valley, a military report reaching Camp Aguinaldo on Friday said.

On December 15, at around 7:40 p.m., unidentified armed men stopped at gunpoint the driver and helper of a forward truck and then torched it in the boundary of Sitios Tugop and Siranganan in Barangay Kingking in Pantukan town.

As of Friday, the military said intelligence reports indicates that the two hijacked trucks were allegedly brought to Barangay Calabcab in Maco town. Florante Solmerin

BoC seize P40-m rice

CHRISTMAS CRUSH. The number of passengers going through the country’s airports has increased over the past few days as Filipinos all over the world arrived for their traditional Christmas vacation with their families. Eric Apolonio

SOME P40 million worth smuggled Vietnamese rice were confiscated by the Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Port.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon ordered the seizure of 26 container vans of Vietnam rice which were declared as glutinous supplies but were later discovered to contain illegally imported rice.

The rice shipments arrived last November 7 and 13 from Vietnam but were placed on alert status after spurious documents were used to release the rice shipments. Vito Barcelo

Uber, Grab urged to control Xmas taxi fares THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board appealed to transport network companies not to impose exorbitant fare hikes amid the expected increase in demand for their services during the holiday season.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III reiterated that the application for new franchises by transport network services, such as Uber and Grab, is still suspended pending review of existing guidelines amid reports of price surges when demand for rides exceeds the number of vehicles.

DOTC Department Order No. 2015-11

allows TNVS to determine their fares in line with efforts to encourage innovation in public transportation in order to increase mobility on major thoroughfares, boost travel time, improve the quality, sustainability and reliability of public transport services, and respond to the needs of the modern commuter.

The LTFRB chairman stated that Uber and Grab can submit their respective proposals on their rates and that the agency will determine if they are reasonable for the commuters.

“Transport network companies have stated that they are willing to submit to

a level of regulation that includes the price and fare mechanism,” Delgra stated in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the launch of ‘Oplan Isnabero’ as he challenged these companies to demonstrate their commitment to providing affordable and quality services for the benefit of passengers.

Meanwhile, Uber and Grab explained that their price surges are responsive to supply and demand for their services.

Uber said fare price surge only happens when demand is high and there are insufficient cars in the area.

But as more cars are deployed on the

roads, rates will go back to normal.

For its part, Grab stated that fare movements depend on several factors such as passenger demand, app usage, road conditions and traffic.

Operators of taxis and public utility vehicles have opposed the emergence of ride sharing apps citing they need to comply with certain requirements such as franchises, insurance coverage, among others, to be issued license plates and be treated as a common carrier.

Moreover, they have complained over price surging as they are not allowed to apply it. PNA

Sports

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Crawford sentenced to 90-day jail term

CORDILLERA GIRLS ARE CHAMPS. OLTOS, the sports apparel line from OrangeLEAD Corp., sponsored the Cordillera Region Football Association team in the recently concluded Alaska Cup held at the Alabang Golf and Country Club in Ayala-Alabang Village. The girls from CRFA travelled all the way from Baguio the night before the event. Organizers arranged all 30 participating teams, divided them into five groups with six teams per group.

CRFA competed and ended victorious. Members of the team are (front row, from left) Merolie Magomag, Regina Aliping, Kara Isobel Alinsug [Team Captain], Rowan Bungay, Nicole Calsie, Lorjane Aludos, Erica Kuengan, (second row, from left) Rachel Gasigas [Coach], Richelle Pagaspas, Aliya Malit, Kayla Dalisay, Jenny Rose Mendoza, Kyla Politchay and Robert Haack [Team Manager]. To know more about OLTOS and OrangeLEAD Corp., send an email to orangeleadcorp@gmail.com or call (632) 3595453, (63) 917 3519970 for more details.

LOS ANGELES—Unbeaten superlightweight world champion Terence Crawford, five days removed from his latest title defense, was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Thursday over a disturbance at a Nebraska car repair shop.

Judge Marcena Hendrix, telling Crawford that he was not above the law, also ordered the 29-year-old champion to serve two years’ probation and 120 hours of community service. He must undergo random drug and alcohol tests and pay the owner of the body shop $6,000 in restitution.

Crawford is expected to serve about 53 days of his jail sentence, based on sentencing guidelines.

“You’ve continued to act as if you are above the law, and you are not,” Hendrix told Crawford, according to the newspa-

Dubs rout undermanned NY

L

OS ANGELES—Klay Thompson scored a game-high 25 points as the Golden State Warriors posted their fifth straight victory over the shorthanded New York Knicks with a 103-90 win on Thursday.

JaVale McGee made the most of a rare start by tallying 17 points for the Warriors who improved to a league best 23-4 with the win.

The Warriors remarkably recorded assists on every basket until the streak was broken late in the third period by a driving hoop by reserve guard Ian Clark.

The 41 total assists gave Golden State at least 30 in 19 of

their 27 games this season. No other NBA team has reached 30 more than four times.

“We had great flow and trust in each other,” said Thompson.

Kevin Durant finished just shy of a triple-double with 15 points and a gamehigh 14 rebounds to go with eight assists. Draymond Green grabbed 11 rebounds and had five points, while Stephen Curry finished with

a season-low eight points and eight assists.

The Knicks were missing stars Carmelo Anthony (bruised right shoulder) and Derrick Rose (sore lower back).

Reserves Justin Holiday (15) and Ron Baker (13) were the leading scorers for the Knicks, who fell to 2-2 on a five-game Western swing that began with a pair of wins.

Anthony and Rose are both questionable for the trip finale Saturday in Denver.

Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard and Pau Gasol scored 18 points apiece and the San Antonio Spurs used a 21-3 run in the fourth quarter to put away the host Phoenix Suns 107-92.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 14 points and seven rebounds for San Antonio, which won 14 of 15 road games this season.

The Spurs hadn’t played on the road since absorbing their lone loss, 95-91 against Chicago Bulls on December 8. Leonard and Gasol grabbed 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.

Devin Booker had 17 points and Eric Bledsoe added 14 for Phoenix, which hung with San Antonio for three quarters before falling victim to the decisive run.

‘Keep coming’ “We have such a deep group; we don’t play our

Veteran NBA court reporter Sager dies LOS ANGELES—Craig Sager, the popular broadcaster whose NBA sideline reports were an integral part of the game for a legion of basketball fans, has died at the age of 65, Turner Sports network said Thursday.

Sager had waged a public battle with cancer over the past two years after he was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014.

The cancer went into remission after a bone marrow transplant but returned in March 2015.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that teams will be observing a moment of silence in Sager’s memory prior to games.

“I—along with the entire NBA family—am deeply saddened by the passing of Craig Sager,” Silver said in a statement.

“Craig was as vital to the NBA as the players and coaches.”

Sager, with his penchant for loudly patterned jackets and pointed questions, was instantly recognizable as he roamed the sidelines for Turner’s NBA broadcasts on its TNT network for more than 20 years—crossing swords with notoriously taciturn San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and others.

“Craig chronicled some of the most memorable moments in league history and was a ubiquitous presence with his splashy suits and equally colorful personality,” Silver said, praising Sager’s “insightful reporting”. AFP

guys a lot of minutes so we’re able to sustain our effort for the whole game,” Gasol said.

“When teams ramp it up and make their runs and even get ahead, it’s hard for them to sustain that.

“Our second halves and our fourth quarters are strong because we keep coming until we break the game open.”

In Milwaukee, Australian Matthew Dellavedova drained a three-pointer that restored a double-digit lead with 94 seconds left as the Bucks held off a late charge by the Chicago Bulls to win 108-97. AFP John Sy (right), president of Mighty Sports Apparel, shakes hands with Gerard Cantada of Cantada Sports Center and PVF after signing the agreement making Mighty Sports Apparel the title sponsor of this Sunday’s under-18 beach volleyball event at the Cantada Sports Center in Taguig City—The Mighty Sports Apparel High School Beach Volleyball Challenge. With them is Mighty Sports Apparel’s Michelle Murriel. Top high school teams under 18 years olf from Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, National Univetrsity, Rizal Technological University, Xavier School, University of Perpetual Help Laguna and teams from Paranaque have been invited and are expected to see action in both boys’ and girls’ divisions. Competition will be three on three. This is part of PVF’s grassroots development program.

Bacolod leads softball quarterfinalists REMAINING undefeated, Bacolod is currently on top of the quarterfinal standings of the Cebuana Lhuillier-ASAPHIL 18-Under National Women’s Softball Championship at the Sto. Nino Softball Field and the Barangka Softball Field in Marikina City.

The team managed to maintain a streak of four wins after defeating Manila, 3-2, and Makati, 7-3.

Also unbeaten are teams representing Sta. Maria, Bulacan and Tanauan, both with 3 wins.

Meanwhile, Makati, one of the leading teams during the start of the matches, suffered its first loss after earning two wins.

Other teams battling it out

“It has been an exciting tournament so far with every team giving its best to outdo the competition. There’s a great amount of potential this season, which reaffirms my belief that softball is a sport that Filipinos can really excel in. I know the matches will only get even more thrilling as we approach the semifinals,” said ASAPHIL President and Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.

The 10-day tournament is expected to produce top playThe 10-day tournament is expected to produce top players that ers that would qualify and would qualify and compete in the Junior Women’s Softball World Championship (age 19-and-under) slated on July 24 to 30, 2017 in compete in the Junior Women’s Softball World ChamClearwater Florida. pionship (age 19-and-under) for the semifinals Saturday are Association of Manila, Das- slated on July 24 to 30, 2017 in the International Little League marinas, Rizal, and Manila.

Clearwater Florida.

Zambales Sports Complex offered as athletes’ training center

By Peter Atencio A SPORTS complex in Iba, Zambales could become an alternate venue to train national athletes.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco said this after he and officials of the POC

and heads of several national sports associations paid a visit to the Zambales Sports Complex.

The Governor of Zambales, Amor Deles, is offering the use of the facilities to the POC and the NSAs, which are getting ready to prepare national athletes for the 2017 and 2019

Southeast Asian Games.

Cojuangco said the POC is looking for other places to bring athletes for training, now that the government is planning to sell the ageing Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“Dito magte-train ang mga atleta ng mga NSAs na interesado. Nagsisiguro lang tayo

dahil mukhang mawawala na ang Rizal Memorial,” said Cojuangco.

He added that even with the RMSC gone, athletes can still train in Baguio and at the Philsports Complex in Pasig.

Talks on the sale of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex were restarted last Thursday.

Officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, the City of Manila and Malacanang sat down to discuss the legalities of the possible sale.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said they will have to take it slow as legal questions are being sorted out and clarified first.

per Omaha World-Herald.

Crawford was in court for the sentencing just five days after his technical knockout of John Molina in Omaha.

The victory took Crawford’s record to 30-0 with 21 wins inside the distance.

Crawford had been convicted on two of three misdemeanor charges of property damage and disorderly conduct in an incident at the Omaha body shop in April, which had completed a $2,500 paint job and other work on a 1984 Chevrolet.

Crawford complained that the work was poor and refused to pay the balance owed on the work.

On April 14 he and some friends visited the shop and said they were taking the car, doing an estimated $3,300 worth of damage to a hydraulic lift. AFP

Arcilla eyes Palawan net title sweep at Dagitab JOHNNY Arcilla hopes to cap another banner season as he guns for a sweep of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Open titles in the Dagitab Festival firing off today at the City of Naga Tennis Club in Cebu.

Arcilla has lorded it over the elite men’s field by ruling the first three of four premier events on the PPS-PEPP calendar, including a masterful 6-2, 6-3 romp over fellow Davis Cup campaigner and long-time rival PJ Tierro in the Pintaflores Festival Open in San Carlos City last month. He had earlier edged Tierro in four to keep the Olivarez Cup crown for the third time in four years last August then held off Leander Lazaro, 7-5, 6-1, to retain the Tunafest Open diadem in Gen. Santos City last Sept.

Keen competition is also seen in the women’s side of the event serving as the final leg of this year’s 45-stage PPS-PEPP circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger with top seed Clarice Patrimonio shooting for a third straight Open crown after topping the TunaFest and Pintaflores Open, both over Khim Iglupas.

“It has been another great year for Philippine tennis as far as development and providing exposure for our young aspiring players are concerned,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “The PPS-PEPP circuit will continue to promote the sport and give our players, particularly the youth, the venue where they could hone their talent and skills and gain ranking points.”

But while Arcilla remains the top favorite to score a repeat and complete another sweep of the Open plums, Tierro, Lazaro and the 29 other players in the 32man draw are raring to foil his bid in the five-day tournament sanctioned by Philta and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger But Iglupas, who first overwhelmed Patrimonio in the Olivarez Cup, and the 14 others in the roster are also out to foil not only Patrimonio’s bid but also that of Iglupas, a recent Phinma International winner.

Also on tap is the mixed doubles with the top two pairs of Tierro-Patrimonio and Arcilla-Iglupas tipped to clash for the championship.

Others competing in the men’s side are No. 3 Vicente Anasta, Fritz Verdad, Ronard Joven, Bryan Otico and John Altiche along with Mark Alcoseba, Jose Maria Pague, Jan Seno, Dave Mosqueda, Roel Capangpangan, Venz Alforque, Marcen Gonzales and Kim Saraza.

Young Shaira Rivera, toughened up by her stint in the recent Phinma International, is also expected to figure prominently in the women’s side along with Erika Manduriao, Melanie Dizon, Chloe Saraza, Aileen Rogan and Audrey Calma.

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

Laylo, Bersamino stay alive in Subic

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

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

Sports TNT’s Troy Rosario is confronted by two Phoenix Petroleum defenders in a PBA Philippine Cup game won by the Texters, 117-98.

Texters blast Fuel Masters by 19 pts, live up to billing T

By Reuel Vidal

HEY’RE back.

TNT KaTropa signified its return to title contention in the 2016-2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup with a decisive 117-98 victory over the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters, yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jason Castro led a blazing TNT run as he converted a fastbreak layup to push his team to an imposing 26-point advantage, 84-58, late in the third quarter.

TNT eventually held a 21-point, 90-69, lead after the third period.

They were never seriously

threatened after as TNT even added to that advantage in the fourth quarter. Mo Tautuaa converted a pair of free throws to push TNT to a 28-point, 105-77 lead with 6:20 left to play.

With the victory, TNT KaTropa (3 wins, 2 losses) climbed into a tie

at fourth place with the Blackwater Elite (3-2).

More importantly, the resounding victory served as a reminder of the powerhouse status of the squad which was picked as among the pre-season favorites this conference.

Leading the standings are the San Miguel Beermen (3-1), the GlobalPort Batang Pier (31) and the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters (3-1).

Tied at sixth spot are the Alaska Aces (2-2), the Star Hotshots (2-2) and the Meralco Bolts (2-2) ). Bringing up the rear are Phoenix (2-3), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (1-2), the NLEX Road Warriors (1-3) and the Mahindra Floodbuster (0-4).

TNT KaTropa enjoyed a six point, 28-22, advantage at the end of the first quarter after free throws by Jason Castro and Kelly Williams pushed them ahead.

TNT hiked their lead to 18 big points early in the second period.

Troy Rosario and Castro drained a pair of free throws. Mo Tautuaa received a pass from Castro and pivoted inside the paint to score from underneath. Castro converted two free throws. Ryan Reyes then scooted in for a layup to push TNT ahead, 42-24.

Phoenix cut the gap to 15 markers, 42-27, after free throws

by Prince Caperal and Matthew Wright. But Williams converted a pair of jumpshots to lead another 6-0 TNT run as KaTropa led by

21 points, 48-27, late in the second period.

JC Intal and Simon Enciso converted back-to-back baskets to end the second period to cut the TNT lead to 15 points, 60-45, at halftime.

TNT KaTropa put some distance between the two teams early in the third period. Tautuaa scored on a layup followed by a steal and a fastbreak layup by Matt Ganuelas Rosser as TNT extended its lead back up to 22 points, 73-51, late in the third period.

Jason Castro led another TNT run late in the third as he converted a fastbreak layup to push his team to a 26-point advantage, 8458, late in the third quarter. TNT eventually held a 21-point, 90-69, advantage after the third period.

Jr Volcanoes turn sights on Singaporeans after setback THE Philippines was outmuscled by an experienced and well advanced Korea on Wednesday night in their semifinal battle.

The Filipinos now turn their attention to finish the year on a high against Southeast Asian neighbor Singapore.

The young Volcanoes, after a gutsy performance, will field a similar roster with one noticeable change --Vice Captain Rhys Jacob Mackley will move back to his favored position at scrum half to make room for the return of Gabriel Lingan.

Lingan was a late withdrawal two hours before Wednesday’s semifinal match.

A known playmaker and gen-

eral for the Philippines, he will be a boost for the home team for their bronze-medal play off.

“It was unfortunate for us to lose Gabe so close to kick off for game 1, he is an experienced team member of this squad and will no doubt be a leader for Saturday’s final game. We trained with Gabe all week leading up to Korea so to have him back for the final is a blessing. Gabe brings a wealth of experience into the playmaker’s role, the coaching staff and his team mates are happy to see him return to the starting side” said assistant coach and current Philippine Volcano, Jake Robrigado Letts.

After both teams’ perfor-

mances from Wednesday, the Philippines with a home ground advantage are likely to go in as favorites.

Man of the match Francis Glen Serafica will be looking for a repeat performance with his bone-crushing defense and strong attacking runs.

Team captain Kai Ledesma Stroem will be expected to once again lead from the front.

The 2016 Transcom Shield, an annual international rugby fixture between the Philippine National Men’s Development Team and the Hong Kong Senior Warriors, has been scheduled as a pregame curtain raiser before the Jr. Volcanoes.

The First Pacific U19 national rugby team, the Jr. Volcanoes, face a tough ask in their final match of the U19 Asia Rugby Division 1 championships.

Transformers try to stay clean

The Transformers, led by former pro Marlou Aquino (13), are unbeaten after six games in Group B.

THE Bureau of Customs Transformers take on the MMDA Black Wolves with the goal of keeping their unblemished record intact in the UNTV Cup this season The Transformers, headed

by Coach Kenneth Duremdes, battle the Black Wolves at 3:30 p.m. this Sunday at the University of Makati gym.

“We will prepare hard kasi sayang itong record namin, hard work at kailangan namin itong ituloy,” said Duremdes.

The Transformers are unbeaten after six games in Group B. On the other hand, the MMDA Black Wolves

have a 4-3 record.

“Number one sa kabilang bracket ‘yan, hopefully kumonekta ‘yung defense namin, ‘yun ang hinahabol ko sa game na ‘yun,” said MMDA Head Coach Mandeville Martires, In other match, the PNP Responders fight the BFP Firefighters at 2 p.m., while the Judiciary Magis meet the Malacanang Kamaos at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon calls on other government agencies to take part in this league of public servants.

Games on Sunday

(University of Makati Gym) 2 p.m. PNP Responders vs BFP Firefighters 3:30 p.m. BOC Transformers vs MMDA Black Wolves 5 p.m. Judiciary Magis vs Malacañang Kamao

“Second round na tayo, pasalamat kami nakapasok kami dun. Hindi kami natalo sa first round. I also encourage the other government agencies to participate para mas masaya. Thirteen pa lang tayo, gawin nating 20 ‘yan mas maganda,” said Faeldon. “Of course, sa mga supporters ng UNTV Cup, please continue to support it this is a very nice public service.”

GM Darwin Laylo and IM Paulo Bersamina pulled off emphatic wins to breathe life to the the host country’s sinking campaign even as firstleg winner GM Wang Hao of China stayed on top after five rounds of the Philippine Sports Commission-Puregold International Chess Challenge at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel Thursday night.

Laylo turned back upsetconscious Raja Harshit of India in 51 moves of a Queen’s Indian Defense, while Bersamina overcame Catherine Secopito in 53 moves of a Budapest to move in a pack at seventh with three points.

That group included GMs Mark Paragua and Joey Antonio, who halved the point with Russian GM Anton Demchenko in 37 moves of a Trompovsky and eighth pick GM Kirill Stupak of Belarus in 60 moves of a French Defense, respectively.

Wang trounced No. 4 GM Levan Pantsulaia in 41 moves of a razor-sharp Siclian duel to firm his grip of the solo lead with 4.5 points in this nine-round event sponsored by the PSC, Burlington, Marc Adventures Mining Inc. and Puregold.

No. 6 GM Vladislav Kovalev of Belarus edged IM Abhimanyu Puranik of India in 77 moves of a Ruy Lopez to zoom to solo second with four points.

Pantsulaia slid to a share of third with WGM Lei Tingjie of China, third seed GM Boris Savchenko of Russia and No. 7 GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia.

Lei defeated ninth seed GM Eugene Torre in 41 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Torre Attack; Savchenko smashed IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia in 67 moves of a Gruenfeld; and Gagunashvili downed IM Tran Tuan Minh of Vietnam in 90 moves of a Nimzo-Indian showdown.

Hopkins battles Smith in final bout LOS ANGELES—Former world champion Bernard Hopkins will call time on his 28year boxing career on Saturday, taking on Joe Smith in his farewell bout at the Forum in Los Angeles.

The 51-year-old American, a multiple world champion at middleweight and light-heavyweight, climbs into the ring for his 65th fight—one he swears will be his last regardless of the outcome.

Hopkins, nicknamed “The Executioner”, will attempt to improve his record from its current 55-7-2, with 32 knockouts, against Smith, a journeyman who still works as a builder and carries a union card and boasts a ring record of 22-1 with 18 knockouts.

“A lot of people will focus on my age, the history of my run in the sport, the titles, etc... but I’m focused on one thing— knocking Joe Smith out,” Hopkins said of his opponent, who was born in 1989—roughly three months after his professional debut.

Hopkins fought some of the biggest names of his generation during his remarkable career, including bouts against Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad and Joe Cazalghe.

He has not fought since a defeat on points to Russia’s Sergey Kovalev in November 2014, when the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization lightheavyweight titles were on the line.

Smith’s only career defeat was a fourth-round knockout in 2010. Although his resume features few big names, Hopkins says Smith’s aggressive style makes him a worthy opponent for his final fight.

“This is something that’s important to me, to end it my way and go up against not a cream puff,” Hopkins said. AFP

Basic drilling in Mabini B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

B1

Mizuho of Japan eyes infra projects

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing December 16, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

6,850.71 4.60

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing DECEMBER 16, 2016 43.00

CEBU-CATICLAN ROUTE. A special cake is cut Friday at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to mark Philippine Airlines’ inaugural Cebu-

Caticlan flight. The daily service using the 76-seater Q400 aircraft proceeds from Caticlan to Clark. Shown (from left) are PAL Visayas area head Reyani Romano, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. chief executive adviser Andrew Acquaah Harrison, PAL senior vice president Nicky Gozon, PAL president Jaime Bautista, Capt. Dodgie Monteza, Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, first officer Stephen Toring and PAL senior assistant VPHarry Inoferio.

GMA on the block again, says Gozon

By Darwin G. Amojelar

45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.920

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P49.840 LOW P49.950 AVERAGE P49.902 VOLUME 347.200M

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

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, December 16, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9220

Japan

Yen

0.008465

0.4226

UK

Pound

1.242900

62.0481

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128868

6.4333

Switzerland

Franc

0.970780

48.4633

Canada

Dollar

0.749513

37.4172

Singapore

Dollar

0.692857

34.5888

Australia

Dollar

0.735400

36.7126

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

132.4226

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266695

13.3139

Brunei

Dollar

0.690465

34.4694

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.027949

1.3953

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5931

Euro

Euro

1.041600

51.9988

Korea

Won

0.000844

0.0421

China

Yuan

0.143930

7.1853

India

Rupee

0.014735

0.7356

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224115

11.1883

New Zealand

Dollar

0.703000

35.0952

Taiwan

Dollar

0.031341

1.5646 Source: PDS Bridge

G

MA Network Inc. said its owners are ready to entertain suitors next year after two failed negotiations with businessmen Ramon Ang and Manuel Pangilinan, who had both expressed interest to acquire a minority stake in the broadcast network.

“I’ll be open next year. If the price is right, the price is the most important criterion. We are willing to sell all,” GMA chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon told reporters on Thursday night.

The Gozon, Jimenez and Duavit families own a combined 79 percent of the network, which airs on Channel 7 on free TV. Majority shareholders of the

FILIPINO fashion retail brand Rusty Lopez opened its newest store in Jakarta on Thursday, featuring comfortable sandals and casuals made from Marikina, the Philippines’ shoe capital, according to a recent report of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade and Investment Center–Jakarta.

The outlet in Sogo Lippo Mall Puri located in the St. Moritz Central Business District is the brand’s ninth outlet following the opening of stores in Seibu Grand Indonesia, Sogo Emporium Pluit, Sogo Central Park, Sogo Alam Sutera, Lotte Shopping Avenue, Metro Plaza

more than one year of negotiations.

Majority shareholders of the broadcaster earlier agreed to sell about 30 percent of the company to Ang. The agreement was announced after Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. ended a third round of talks with the broadcaster.

Ang, who had planed to invest in GMA Network in a personal capacity, offered to acquire at least 30 percent of the network for P10.809 per share. Ang’s offer was higher than the P9 offered by the PLDT Group.

Gozon said GMA was on track to meet the net income target of over P3.5 billion.

“For 2017, profit guidance is around P3 billion, but not as high as 2016,” he added.

BSP lowers balance of payments surplus target

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas revised downward the balance of payments surplus target this year to $500 million from the previous assumption of $2 billion due to the lower global growth outlook and uncertainty in the US Federal Reserve policy tightening.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a briefing Friday the central bank also considered the possible impact of US President Donald Trump’s policies on the global trade, reduced concerns on Chi-

Local brand Rusty Lopez opens 9th outlet in Jakarta

By Othel V. Campos

broadcaster earlier agreed to sell about 30 percent of the company to Ang, but the negotiations were scuttled after more than one year of talks.

Talks with the group of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. also did not push through due to price and regulatory issues.

When asked why the owners want to sell majority shares

of the network, Gozon said they were getting old and wanted to fund a new business.

Gozon said he recently bought a cargo vessel that would be used for the shipment of virgin oil and coconut water products.

Ang earlier accused the owners of GMA of abruptly terminating the plan to sell a minority stake in the broadcast company while talks were ongoing, after the network blamed him for the failed negotiations.

GMA Network vice president for corporate communications Angela Javier Cruz said the Jimenez, Duavit and Gozon groups had not abruptly terminated the negotiations.

Cruz said the owners of the network were constrained to terminate the negotiations after

Senayan, Metro Gandaria City and Metro Taman Anggrek.

Philippine commercial attaché to Indonesia Alma Argayoso said sales of the newest collection during the opening were brisk. The other stores also received positive feedback.

“It is exciting to bring to the Indonesian market the Philippines’ world-famous Marikina-made shoes. This affirms our belief on the potential of fashion retail products in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy,” Argayoso said.

The first overseas store of Rusty Lopez opened in Jakarta on March 6, 2016 at the Seibu Department Store of Grand Indonesia Mall and featured selected designs suited to the Indonesian market.

na’s near-term prospects, gradual recovery in oil prices and favorable domestic growth prospects.

Latest data from Bangko Sentral showed that the BoP surplus in the first 10 months declined to $1.46 billion from $1.64 billion.

The BoP surplus is expected to improve to $1 billion in 2017.

“The last quarter of 2016 is particularly challenging. There are lots of unexpected developments in the financial markets... some are unexpected. That is why there are region-wide depreciation in currencies,” Guinigundo said.

Current account, which is one

of the major components of the balance of payments, is now expected to reach a surplus of $2.5 billion, significantly lower than the previous target of $5.8 billion for the year.

The balance of payments summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world, with a deficit indicating foreign exchange payments outstripping receipts and a surplus the reverse.

Persistent surpluses help build up the country’s gross international reserves, an ample supply of which helps prop up the peso vis-à-vis the US dollar and keep

domestic inflation at bay.

However, foreign direct investments are expected to post a higher net inflow of $6.7 billion, higher than the previous target of $6.3 billion. FDI net inflow as of the first nine months stood at $5.9 billion.

Registered foreign portfolio investments or hot money are expected to post a net outflow of $1.1 billion this year, the same target made in May 2016.

The BSP also reduced the gross international reserves target to $83.7 billion from the $84.8-billion assumption made in May this year.

BEST IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. Ayala land Inc. president and chief executive officer Bernard Vincent Dy (left) receives the “Best in Sector: Real Estate” award at the 2016 IR Magazine Awards and Conference held on December 1, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand.

With him is Stock Exchange of Thailand president Kesara Manchusree. Ayala Land topped other Asian companies in the prestigious competition. It also ranked among the top five companies in the Best Overall Category.

THE Finance Department on Friday said Mizuho Bank Ltd. of Japan has expressed interest to invest in the Philippines, especially in infrastructure projects.

Mizuho, the retail and corporate banking unit of the Mizuho Financial Group, one of the biggest financial services companies in Japan with total assets of approximately $1.64 trillion in 2014, relayed the interest in a recent meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III..

“We want to expand our business here, and we ask for your support,” said Mizuho Bank president and chief executive officer Nobuhide Hayashi.

Dominguez urged Hayashi to focus on infrastructure, an area where the Philippines plans to invest heavily to fill the gap left behind by previous administrations.

Hayashi said Mizuho Bank was “very interested in infrastructure” as part of its plans of expanding its business in the Philippines.

He said Mizuho Bank was aware of one of the Philippines’ major infrastructure projects, including Philippine National Railways’ North South Commuter Railway Project in Luzon.

The project will be funded with development assistance loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The initial phase of the project involves a 38-kilometer elevated commuter rail from Tutuban, Manila, to Malolos, Bulacan.

Jica has also been providing assistance to the Philippines in improving the country’s security capabilities.

IN BRIEF Bourse okays BDO’s stock rights offering

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest lender controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, is expected to start shortly its P60-billion worth of stock rights offering after securing regulatory approval from the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas cleared the issuance on Nov. 23, 2016.

BDO said it would use the proceeds from the stock rights offering to support the bank’s medium-term growth objectives amid the country’s favorable macroeconomic prospects and provide a comfortable buffer over higher capital requirements with the forthcoming imposition of the domestic systemically important bank surcharge.

Domestic systemically important banks are those lenders whose distress or disorderly failure would cause significant disruptions to the wider financial system and the economy. The Bangko Sentral completed the determination of these banks following the framework released in October 2014.

Julito G. Rada

No methanol in fuel product, says Shell

PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. on Friday said the fuel products of its station in Marulas, Valenzuela City tested negative for methanol.

The Energy Department in a random inspection early this month found that a Shell station in Marulas, Valenzuela City, carried a product that contained methanol.

“The DoE, following tests undertaken at its laboratory, announced that the products taken from the said Shell station tested negative for methanol,” Shell said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Friday.

The company said it was committed to provide quality products that meet Philippine National Standards.

The department earlier found 46 gasoline station with methanol blend ranging from 1 to 16 percent per volume during a series of inspections.

Alena Mae S. Flores

B2

Business

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks down; GT Capital slips T HE stock market slipped Friday on weak remittances from migrant Filipino workers in October and indications from the US Fed of more interest rate increases.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 4.60 points, or 0.07 percent, to 6,850.71 on a value turnover of P9.6 billion. Losers edged gainers, 94 to 83, with 43 issues unchanged.

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

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has interests in water and electricity distribution, toll roads and hospitals, decreased 4.6 percent to P6.30, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty dropped 1.6 percent to P1,210.

Ayala Land Inc. lost 0.6 percent to P31.55, while sister unit Globe Telecom Inc. fell 0.2 percent to P1,426. Rival PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, gained 2.4 percent to P1,350.

The US dollar, meanwhile, held its gains against most other currencies in Asia on Friday following the Federal Reserve’s interest rate call, while the unit’s surge against the yen provided fresh impetus to Japanese stocks.

The US central bank’s hike Wednesday and its indication of three more next year—instead of the expected two—has lit a fire under the greenback, sending it to 14-year highs against the euro with ana-

lysts saying it could soon hit parity.

The yen’s retreat—it has lost almost a fifth of its value since Trump’s election— has sent Tokyo’s Nikkei index to one-year highs and on Friday chalked up a ninth successive gain, adding 0.7 percent. The index has risen six percent since December 5.

Other regional markets were mostly up after suffering hefty losses on Thursday.

Shanghai ended 0.2 percent higher and Seoul added 0.3 percent. Sydney eased 0.1 percent and Hong Kong was flat.

However, among emerging markets there were losses in, Taipei, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

The dollar has been on a roll since Donald Trump was elected president on November 8, promising huge spending on infrastructure, tax cuts and deregulation.

That has also sent US equity markets to record highs this month.

However, the prospect of higher borrowing costs has rattled trading floors in Asia, with emerging market stocks and currencies suffering as dealers pull out looking for better returns in the US, where 10-year Treasury yields are at two-year highs.

In afternoon trade the euro was at $1.0436, having fallen to $1.0367 in New York, its lowest level since early 2003 and heading towards the $1.00 mark for the first time since 2002.

“While the parity party invitations remain on hold, the writing is all but on the wall for the euro to succumb to the surging dollar,” Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA, said in a commentary.

He added the first quarter of 2017 was shaping up to be a “political hotbed” with the fallout from Brexit continuing and a “wave of highly contentious elections.”

With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.7 294,000 47.95 17,500 89.6 1,369,310 3.84 14,000 111 3,497,980 1.6 3,187,000 38.15 83,900 8.2 3,400 16.16 166,400 18.9 343,800 7 700 0.66 150,000 825 90 0.61 4,573,000 73.5 1,781,190 0.78 179,000 54.55 74,420 253 190 35.2 134,600 199 539,200 1,705 440 74.55 80,360

1,086,640 835,820 122,591,681 52,720 388,374,248 5,344,940 3,195,160 27,880 2,689,024 6,503,864 4,900 100,030 74,500 2,790,770 131,324,492 138,150 4,060,567 48,070 4,737,310 107,319,933 750,200 5,990,845

234,635 -6,460,525 -57,891,779 -157,800 2,556,050 -2,682,560 -1,109,174 -8,300 -1,355,420 -22,209,175.50 2,165,824 -3,203,300 -37,468,555 231,919.50

42.7 4.16 0.86 1.29 18.02 0.194 11.58 17 23.2 20.05 58.5 130 1.9 6.89 12 11.7 5.95 6.98 5.1 22.05 67.75 16.04 6.05 1.68 205 2.7 25 29.75 24.4 14.92 257.4 0.24 3.33 10.12 3.34 11.52 2.03 5.7 1.34 68.1 5.05 231 4.72 11.78 4.55 0.141 1.5 158.1 4.61 1.51

INDUSTRIAL 43 1,050,200 4.25 378,000 0.89 607,000 1.29 1,623,000 18.78 45,500 0.2 160,000 11.74 59,457,000 17 4,707,200 23.2 203,000 21.4 1,500 58.5 9,750 138 480 1.9 109,000 6.91 996,600 12.42 5,300 11.94 2,182,000 6.05 1,813,300 6.98 1,233,600 5.11 23,852,500 22.15 752,300 68 62,770 16.04 700 6.06 31,800 1.69 96,000 205 634,910 2.7 20,000 26.95 4,000 29.95 1,069,400 24.5 362,200 14.92 6,038,900 257.4 2,987,620 0.24 320,000 3.36 89,000 10.28 1,719,200 3.68 580,000 11.52 300 2.04 5,152,000 5.7 39,100 1.35 92,000 70 2,222,490 5.05 360,000 231 5,710 4.78 244,000 12.24 21,287,500 4.55 78,000 0.143 760,000 1.5 69,000 159.5 1,950,120 4.65 7,000 1.52 2,973,000

45,202,265 1,590,260 527,640 2,128,800 837,944 31,450 697,446,640 80,073,758 4,709,600 31,640 570,375 65,695 207,100 6,973,085 63,988 25,788,328 11,204,469 8,618,962 122,228,068 16,656,915 4,262,853 11,228 192,673 162,780 130,591,988 55,270 101,395 31,987,655 8,891,295 90,703,016 769,580,732 77,000 299,070 17,585,760 2,038,430 3,456 10,511,930 222,875 123,670 154,301,653 1,818,530 1,320,498 1,167,540 257,122,106 357,650 108,050 103,520 311,325,035 32,350 4,588,740

-10,559,190 258,310 -1,134,400 165,047,422 -66,789,894 411,840 10,955,698 -5,392,025 -7,600,682 -57,472,555 11,107,730 127,528.50 44,788 -101,422,998 -11,017,965 -7,186,030 15,045,936 -473,466,220.00 46,590 4,359,182 5,065,050 -32,250 122,953,448.50 1,207,455 722,860 344,960 10,634,378 -63,954,291 155,000

0.57 74 12.9 6 0.355 0.355 732 8.83 13.6 8.14 5.5 1,248 69.9 1.4 7.8 13.36 6.58 0.038 1.24 1.91 100.4 651 0.83 1.2 262 0.29 0.195

0.52 72.15 12.64 5.95 0.31 0.315 714 8.33 12.9 8.14 4.78 1,210 68.6 1.34 7.62 12.7 6.3 0.037 1.16 1.91 99 633 0.83 1.19 259 0.29 0.189

HOLDING FIRMS 0.52 36,113,000 74 1,266,120 12.9 4,871,600 5.95 12,000 0.32 7,870,000 0.32 860,000 732 346,690 8.83 2,087,900 12.9 8,867,900 8.14 100 5.5 20,000 1,210 136,815 69.25 1,943,060 1.35 3,251,000 7.8 1,210,300 12.7 7,334,900 6.3 39,924,500 0.037 59,000,000 1.24 18,000 1.91 2,000 100 345,320 651 275,160 0.83 5,000 1.2 122,000 262 11,890 0.29 310,000 0.195 60,000

19,750,390 93,388,305.50 62,195,680 71,500 2,631,450 288,700 253,024,530 18,063,634 117,362,152 814 97,150 167,403,125 134,419,910.50 4,439,370 9,430,470 96,262,608 252,877,903 2,183,300 21,160 3,820 34,569,458 177,412,230 4,150 146,370 3,102,810 89,900 11,440

222,840.00 -7,587,969.50 -12,966,158 56,397,555 10,424,357 7,686,736 -32,511,475 -11,497,658 27,000 -3,331,766 -2,355,762 -70,478,943 3,800 14,536,279.50 -28,261,790 25,920 -

7.3 1.13 2.15 0.5 32.25 3.1 4.92 0.57 1.17 1.52 0.155 0.57 37.95 0.69 0.145 1.72 1.01 1.28 3.55 0.144 3.28 31 26.35

7 1.09 2.1 0.465 31.55 3.03 4.92 0.55 1.07 1.4 0.152 0.55 36.2 0.68 0.145 1.7 0.99 1.26 3.47 0.139 3.22 31 25.85

PROPERTY 7.3 488,900 1.12 133,000 2.12 135,000 0.465 23,110,000 31.55 41,287,900 3.08 801,000 4.92 2,000 0.56 18,022,000 1.08 355,000 1.45 5,837,000 0.154 480,000 0.56 3,741,000 37.6 529,300 0.69 20,000 0.145 40,000 1.71 2,864,000 1 1,111,000 1.27 431,000 3.47 27,176,000 0.139 10,000,000 3.26 112,000 31 3,300 25.9 2,466,600

3,533,358 149,010 285,090 10,971,500 1,306,516,920 2,471,180 9,840 10,157,800 400,390 8,632,300 73,090 2,091,560 19,588,910 13,650 5,800 4,897,730 1,109,150 545,580 95,021,510 1,403,740 365,140 102,300 63,956,610

3,236,840 -136,500 516,500 -238,390,160 1,190,180 2,724,120.00 -8,960 -224,000 4,650 -1,419,600 -1,625,670.00 13,650 5,800 1,754,690 -49,433,640 -25,666,655

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 3.38 ASIA UNITED 48 BANK PH ISLANDS 90.95 BDO LEASING 3.76 BDO UNIBANK 111.4 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.64 CHINABANK 37.8 CITYSTATE BANK 8.2 COL FINANCIAL 16.16 EAST WEST BANK 18.96 FILIPINO FUND 7 FIRST ABACUS 0.68 MANULIFE 830 MEDCO HLDG 0.61 METROBANK 74 NTL REINSURANCE 0.77 PHIL NATL BANK 55.7 PHIL STOCK EXCH 253 RCBC 35.1 SECURITY BANK 201 SUN LIFE 1,705 UNION BANK 74.5

3.86 48 90.95 3.84 112.5 1.75 38.15 8.2 16.16 19 7 0.68 830 0.62 74.35 0.78 55.7 253 35.2 201 1,705 75

3.38 47.7 88.8 3.76 110.3 1.55 37.75 8.2 16.16 18.9 7 0.66 825 0.6 73.5 0.77 54.5 253 35.1 198 1,705 74.4

ABOITIZ POWER 42.7 AGRINURTURE 4.26 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.87 ALSONS CONS 1.35 ASIABEST GROUP 19.1 BASIC ENERGY 0.195 CEMEX HLDG 11.8 CENTURY FOOD 17 CIRTEK HLDG 23.2 CNTRL AZUCARERA21 CONCEPCION 58.5 CONCRETE B 130 CROWN ASIA 1.9 DAVINCI CAPITAL 7.18 DEL MONTE 12.1 DNL INDUS 11.96 EEI CORP 6.22 EMPERADOR 7.16 ENERGY DEVT 5.32 FIRST GEN 22.2 FIRST PHIL HLDG 68 HOLCIM 16.04 INTEGRATED MICR 6.06 IONICS 1.74 JOLLIBEE 207 LMG CHEMICALS 2.82 MACAY HLDG 25 MANILA WATER 30 MAXS GROUP 25.3 MEGAWIDE 15.04 MERALCO 260.4 MG HLDG 0.25 PEPSI COLA 3.4 PETRON 10.2 PHIL H2O 3.49 PHINMA 11.52 PHINMA ENERGY 2.05 PHX PETROLEUM 5.7 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.35 PILIPINAS SHELL 68.25 PRYCE CORP 5.06 PUREFOODS 233.6 RFM CORP 4.75 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.16 SPC POWER 4.65 SWIFT FOODS 0.142 TKC METALS 1.5 UNIV ROBINA 159 VICTORIAS 4.61 VITARICH 1.6

43.9 4.26 0.9 1.37 19.1 0.2 11.8 17.1 23.2 21.4 58.5 138 1.9 7.18 12.42 11.96 6.28 7.23 5.32 22.45 68 16.04 6.1 1.74 209 2.89 27.1 30 25.3 15.1 262 0.25 3.4 10.28 3.77 11.52 2.05 5.75 1.35 70 5.07 233.6 4.82 12.26 4.65 0.143 1.51 161 4.65 1.6

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS

0.55 73.1 12.8 6 0.325 0.34 728 8.4 13.5 8.14 4.78 1,248 69.65 1.35 7.62 13.22 6.58 0.038 1.18 1.91 100.4 633 0.83 1.2 261.6 0.29 0.189

8990 HLDG 7 A BROWN 1.12 ARANETA PROP 2.13 ARTHALAND CORP 0.48 AYALA LAND 31.85 BELLE CORP 3.03 CEBU HLDG 4.92 CENTURY PROP 0.57 CITY AND LAND 1.07 CITYLAND DEVT 1.4 CROWN EQUITIES 0.155 CYBER BAY 0.56 DOUBLEDRAGON 37.2 EMPIRE EAST 0.68 EVER GOTESCO 0.145 FILINVEST LAND 1.7 GLOBAL ESTATE 1 IRC PROP 1.27 MEGAWORLD 3.55 MRC ALLIED 0.144 PRIMEX CORP 3.26 PTFC REDEV CORP 31 ROBINSONS LAND 26.35

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

1.57 3.22 28.8 1.18 0.92 5.01

1.57 3.21 28 1.15 0.92 4.82

1.57 3.21 28.8 1.16 0.92 5.01

10,000 144,000 8,675,500 2,700,000 67,000 19,807,400

15,700 462,740 247,787,375 3,139,470 61,640 98,390,588

-446,690 34,568,595 -8,120.00 -32,188,880

2GO GROUP 7.65 ABS CBN 44.1 ACESITE HOTEL 1.34 APC GROUP 0.5 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.048 ASIAN TERMINALS 10.52 BERJAYA 5.5 BLOOMBERRY 6.04 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.07 CALATA CORP 2.6 CEBU AIR 93.6 DFNN INC 7.36 GLOBE TELECOM 1,438 GMA NETWORK 6.17 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.22 GRAND PLAZA 16.18 HARBOR STAR 2.21 IMPERIAL A 15 INTL CONTAINER 73 IP EGAME 0.0093 IPEOPLE 11.4 IPM HLDG 9.09 ISLAND INFO 0.209 ISM COMM 1.34 LBC EXPRESS 13.5 LEISURE AND RES 5 LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.02 MACROASIA 2.43 MELCO CROWN 3.93 METRO RETAIL 3.7 MLA BRDCASTING 19.8 NOW CORP 2.54 PAL HLDG 5.2 PAXYS 3.09 PHIL SEVEN CORP 136.1 PHILWEB 12.6 PLDT 1,340 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.16 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.445 PUREGOLD 39 ROBINSONS RTL 73 SBS PHIL CORP 5.45 SSI GROUP 2.64 STI HLDG 0.97 TRAVELLERS 3.32

7.65 44.5 1.34 0.5 0.05 10.52 5.54 6.18 0.071 2.63 97 7.54 1,446 6.18 15.34 16.18 2.3 15.76 73.45 0.0093 11.4 9.09 0.218 1.35 14.78 5.18 1.03 2.47 3.99 3.7 21 2.55 5.29 3.09 136.1 13.14 1,352 1.16 0.45 39.05 73 5.45 2.66 0.99 3.36

7.43 44.1 1.34 0.5 0.045 10.52 5.5 5.92 0.068 2.53 91.4 7.3 1,426 6.14 15.06 16 2.19 15 69.8 0.0093 11.4 9.08 0.207 1.34 13.5 5 1.02 2.43 3.76 3.64 17.88 2.48 5.2 2.58 135.1 12.5 1,335 1.14 0.435 38 71.05 5.4 2.63 0.96 3.32

SERVICES 7.44 37,000 44.25 5,200 1.34 1,000 0.5 567,000 0.046 211,600,000 10.52 10,000 5.54 6,700 6.03 4,142,900 0.07 13,030,000 2.53 3,551,000 97 314,290 7.5 126,900 1,426 370,560 6.15 984,700 15.34 66,800 16 53,000 2.23 3,958,000 15.02 14,300 69.8 3,757,830 0.0093 5,000,000 11.4 3,900 9.08 473,000 0.209 57,700,000 1.34 24,000 14.46 105,200 5.05 71,900 1.03 20,000 2.46 82,000 3.92 6,816,000 3.65 6,544,000 17.92 5,300 2.48 874,000 5.29 1,600 2.93 11,000 135.1 70 12.5 1,319,300 1,350 529,625 1.16 6,299,000 0.435 2,580,000 38 1,866,700 71.05 1,173,530 5.4 44,800 2.65 325,000 0.96 5,157,000 3.35 154,000

275,484 230,925 1,340 283,500 9,929,300 105,200 36,862 24,938,559 904,600 9,101,610 29,548,852 941,043 530,249,075 6,054,448 1,016,078 857,274 8,849,530 214,766 262,919,590 46,500 44,460 4,294,860 12,298,170 32,170 1,522,152 365,421 20,440 201,060 26,395,870 24,165,880 105,910 2,186,510 8,374 30,270 9,467 16,840,028 713,855,740 7,263,820 1,131,750 71,657,245 83,897,200 243,705 859,960 4,988,750 514,140

-10,786,298 700 41,460 10,622,212 12,103,015 8,800 -93,688,989.50 -18,450 -51,800 -10,050,280 -19,868,760 1,296,858 111,675,965 -161,710.00 44,000 -28,537,990 5,183,914 -18,500 2,468,320 -49,950

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

0.0034 2.75 4.89 9.63 2.14 0.55 0.485 12.98 3.55 0.275 0.195 0.196 0.012 0.012 2.5 8.09 3.01 1.24 0.012 4 0.012 8.6 3.4 131.5 2.88 0.0082

0.0036 2.78 5.03 10.38 2.14 0.57 0.55 13.18 3.59 0.285 0.196 0.196 0.012 0.013 2.68 8.18 3.06 1.3 0.012 4.17 0.013 8.71 3.41 131.8 2.88 0.0088

0.0034 2.75 4.89 9.62 2.14 0.55 0.485 12.6 3.43 0.275 0.193 0.195 0.011 0.012 2.37 7.8 3 1.23 0.011 4 0.012 8.5 3.33 131 2.88 0.0082

MINING & OIL 0.0035 395,000,000 2.78 91,000 5 74,000 10.38 3,600 2.14 4,000 0.56 476,000 0.51 22,300,000 13.1 10,400 3.45 3,906,000 0.28 360,000 0.193 7,160,000 0.195 6,300,000 0.011 33,700,000 0.013 213,000,000 2.61 12,341,000 8.14 2,792,400 3.03 67,000 1.3 478,000 0.011 29,600,000 4.17 49,000 0.013 19,600,000 8.71 1,891,400 3.34 3,449,000 131.5 480,310 2.88 3,000 0.0084 10,000,000

1,382,900 250,910 369,190 34,955 8,560 267,010 11,551,750 132,216 13,622,020 99,250 1,394,650 1,228,950 398,700 2,651,000 31,843,110 22,610,036 201,680 604,000 340,400 196,930 244,600 16,352,210 11,619,940 63,171,966 8,640 84,800

2,592 2,677,450 -1,460 5,329,152 30,000 -3,840 12,164,970 1,181,520 -755,073 -

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

44.5 103 104.1 113 5.95 1,020 1,028 112.4 105 2.4 80 80 78 77.5 78

44.6 103 104.8 113 5.95 1,025 1,030 112.4 105 2.4 80 81 78 77.5 78.5

43.95 101.5 104 113 5.88 1,020 1,028 112.4 105 2.4 80 80 78 77.15 78

PREFERRED 44.5 108,000 101.5 165,170 104 10,030 113 100 5.94 1,617,400 1,025 1,000 1,030 14,000 112.4 47,500 105 20,000 2.4 11,000 80 680 81 397,360 78 105,200 77.5 88,100 78.5 150,000

4,802,480 16,881,531 1,046,025 11,300 9,608,612 1,023,000 14,413,900 5,339,000 2,100,000 26,400 54,400 32,162,067 8,205,600 6,825,650 11,774,550

3,477,235 -2,624,893 -51,500 -5,339,000 97,650 4,999,800 462,900 11,774,550

LR WARRANT

2.4

2.5

2.4

WARRANTS 2.4 127,000

311,920

-

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

2.45 3.29 2.88 9.4

2.49 3.29 2.88 9.47

2.3 3.12 2.88 9.3

SME 2.3 3.21 2.88 9.35

7,431,530 197,470 5,760 7,433,406

9,240 3,290 -1,732,204

113.8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 113.5 113.6 4,230

480,679

-

NAME

OPEN

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

1.57 3.22 28.05 1.16 0.92 4.96

MS FIRST METRO ETF 113.5

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

16,490,825

INDUSTRIAL

150,812,772

HOLDING FIRMS

177,022,429

PROPERTY

179,531,130

SERVICES

344,205,209

MINING & OIL

764,372,496

GRAND TOTAL

1,636,443,309

3,146,000 63,000 2,000 791,200

VALUE 1,670.78 (down) 6.79 788,070,219.80 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,721.59 (down) 27.13 2,949,073,981.98 HOLDING FIRMS 7,016.52 (up) 21.44 1,523,769,174.42 PROPERTY 3,068.22 (up) 26.71 1,279.73 (down) 2.16 2,127,249,616.39 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,132.71 (up) 29.70 1,970,140,350.694 PSEI 6,850.71 (down) 4.60 180,724,274.773 All Shares Index 4,159.42 (down) 1.93 9,554,581,230.75 Gainers: 83; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 43; Total: 220

Basic bares Mabini drilling

By Alena Mae S. Flores BASIC Energy Corp. and Phinma Energy Corp., formerly Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp., are expected to reach the target drilling depth of the Mabini geothermal project in the first quarter of next year.

Basic Energy disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange it started drilling on the San Teodoro, Mabini, Batangas geothermal prospect and reached a depth of 660 meters on Dec. 5.

It said it would conduct core drilling operations until the target depth of 1,500 meters is reached.

“Setting the casing at 660 m allows the Mabini consortium to move to the last hole section. Based on the current timeline, the target depth of 1,500 meters in accordance with the work commitment to the DoE (Department of Energy) will be reached within the year,” Basic Energy senior vice president Anthony Cuaycong said.

Basic Energy started drilling operations in June. Basic Energy is currently drilling the first well in geothermal service contract no. 8 located in the Calumpan Peninsula.

The Mabini prospect covers 3,841 hectares.

“The well is projected to validate the geothermal resource that would be capable of fueling a 25-MW power plant,” the company said.

Basic owns 75 percent of the service contract while Phinma Energy holds 25 percent.

Nokia, Smart complete 5G tests SMART Communications Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PLDT Inc., and Nokia have completed the testing of 5G technology in the country.

Nokia and Smart, have achieved 5G speeds of 2.5 Gigabits per second (Gbps) using 100 MHz with latency of just 1 millisecond for the first time in the Philippines over a ‘live’ network.

With its capability to deliver extremely high speeds coupled with low latency, 5G opens up exciting possibilities for Internet of Things (IoT) applications for Filipinos, particularly in healthcare and smart cities.

Nokia Manila Technology Center and Smart’s innovation team will collaborate to conduct joint 5G research for the development of 5G technology.

The 5G demo was conducted at Nokia Manila Technology Center in Quezon City, one of its global research and development powerhouses for 5G technology.

Nokia is at the forefront of 5G research and standardization, and its R&D centers across the globe including the Manila facility, are helping to bring the company’s 5G vision closer to reality.

With extremely low latency, 5G will enable a huge number of new use cases, such as remote surgery, realtime responsive robots for automated industrial production, virtual and augmented reality and autonomous driving.

“We are excited to work with Nokia in conducting cutting-edge research and development for 5G,” PLDT and Smart chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan,said.

“This is a key part of our efforts to transform the PLDT and Smart network into the country’s most future-ready data infrastructure delivering a wide range of gigabit digital solutions,” he added.

Home / Design

B3

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DAVAO, BAGUIO HUBS. FWD Life Philippines recently opened its Davao and Baguio “business hubs”, in line with the company’s nationwide expansion. FWD has business hubs nationwide with offices in Cebu,

Cagayan de Oro, and four (4) in Metro Manila. FWD Philippines president and chief executive officer Peter Grimes (Seen in the middle of photo) led the opening ceremonies of the FWD Davao hub located at the city’s business district near Abreeza Mall. Joining him were (from left to right) Rozanne Parungo, chief human resources officer; and KK Loo, vice president for agency development. FWD also opened its Baguio hub at the 4/F DBP Building along Session Road.

BUCOLIC CAVITE. In an age

YOLANDA-HIT COMMUNITY GETS BOOST. Some 300 families belonging to Villa de Tacloban Homeowner’s Association (HOA) will be relocating to Brgy. Cabalawan in Tacloban City, Leyte, after the Social Housing Finance Corporation’s (SHFC) Community Mortgage Program (CMP) dished out loans for land acquisition, site development, and house construction.The project, which is expected to be completed in seven months, will replicate the Post-Yolanda Support for Safer Homes and Settlements project of SHFC, and UN Habitat Philippines for Yolanda victims in Capiz and Iloilo, which successfully built 660 core shelters. SHFC President Ma. Ana Oliveros said that they support and implement housing innovations to ensure faster delivery of services to the poor, especially those hit by calamities. Shown here are members of the partner agencies during the ground-breaking event.

GOODBYE, TERMITES.

Real estate developer CitiHomes recently tapped Jardine Distribution Inc, a home solutions provider, to conduct soil treatment, using Protek 25%, in all their subdivision projects. CitiHomes decided to go with Protek 25% because of its premium termiticide concentrate which eliminates termites. The developer specializes in transforming idle land into residential and commercial subdivisions Jardine Distribution, Inc. is engaged in the marketing and distribution of agricultural products, applied construction materials and home pest solutions.

when city living has become complex, owning a property at Ara Vista Village, Picar Development’s sprawling 50-hectare community in General Trias in Cavite, is a welcome respite. Only a few hours away from Manila, the development gives families an escape from the bustle of the city. The drive to and from home is quite an experience with peaceful views of fields and quaint structures, and less traffic and pollution to contend with.

At the village, there is a seamless fusion of technology and nature’s bounty. Ara Vista is the first Telepolis in the Philippines, which translates to easy Wi-Fi access in strategic areas all over the village.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

TAKING THE PLUNGE.

A house is your castle, especially when built on solid ground.

SHOPPING FOR A HOME? W

HETHER you’re buying your firstever piece of property or upgrading one’s starter unit, there’s nothing like seeing the result of all that hard work. Sure, it may seem stressful and, if you’re a first-timer, definitely overwhelming. But the pride and accomplishment that comes with it makes it all worth it.

With developments emerging in various areas all across the country, there are many opportunities and options for buying that dream house.

But before you take the plunge, there are a few decision points you’re going to have to make: Condo or House?

What kind of home do you want? How will you use it?

What’s your price range? Shop around. You don’t want to commit to the first house you see just because it looks like you can afford it, the broker is your tita, or

someone just told you: “Hey, you haven’t used your PAG-IBIG loan yet, and this development can fix it for you!” Are you a single professional, a yuppie couple with no children yet, someone with a growing family who needs space for rambunctious children and a couple of big dogs? Or are you just buying to invest, for a second (vacation) home, or an empty-nester looking to liquidate that big house and settle in a smaller place where everything is more convenient?

Location Property is priced according to area. A small home in Fairview, Cavite or Valenzuela, for instance, can end up much less expensive compared to a condominium unit one-fourth (1/4th) the size in the CBD area.

If you are looking for the convenience of spending less time commuting to and from work, you will have to pay for the premium. Being located near the big business districts and commercial centers make condominiums units a popular choice for newlywed couples and young professionals because of the convenience they offer. If you’re looking for property that you mean to rent out, they might

be the better option.

But judging locations can be tricky. Not all property in the CBD (or even in that up-and-coming suburban location) are created alike.

The property brochure you’re given may show you the site, plus all the conveniences in the area, but what they don’t show is the traffic on the streets, and whether the area can get congested due to high volume of vehicles, especially during rush hour. This is why you need to actually see the unit, preferably during rush hour, to give you an idea how much time you’ll spend traveling.

Saturday may also be a good day to drop by – traffic is much worse on Saturdays everywhere.

Other things to check: flooding is not an issue in the area, it’s position on the fault-line map and how much the utilities such as phone, internet and cellphone signals, water and electricity, have been set up.

Restrictions Many subdivisions have homeowner associations that restrict things you can do. These include heights of buildings, as well as small business use (check first if you’re planning to put up a sari-sari store, renting portions out or taking care of animals), as well as where to park,

and more.

Condominiums are governed by a deed of even more restrictions. Most developers may prohibit the use of LPG, pets, areas the house-help can go and pass, among others. Also, if you plan to rent out the place, you need to know whether the deed of restriction requires you to course the leasing through an appointed exclusive lessor. Its best to ask your broker to provide a copy of the master deed and restrictions of the projects you are interested in.

Cash or home loan?

And from whom?

For those who want to pay in cash, make sure you can negotiate the best discounts. For people who prefer to pay in installments, there are various types of payment schemes available.

The first consideration when choosing a payment plan is your cash position, and income. You can visit your bank, and they can give you the details you’ll need before you purchase a house or condo unit.

They will also work with you on setting a reasonable budget for your income.

Other top of mind stuff Downpayment.

You’ve probably seen those ads and posters for really lowdownpayment schemes and nodownpayment schemes. Sounds good, right? Not quite. The lower the downpayment, the higher the monthly amortization that you will need to pay. Lower down payments also mean having lower equity in your home. If something comes up and you have to sell, having too little equity can mean you’ll still owe money after taxes and other closing costs.

offered by some developers also need thinking through. Ask your broker to break down your installment scheme, and to give you a list of the amounts that you should pay every month and every year.

Other Costs Your responsibilities as a property owner does not end after putting down the initial payments, and moving in. There are other payments you will need to make– insurance and related taxes every year, association dues Amortization (homeowners and condo), plus Those low monthly amortizations of course, upkeep. Your broker

NEW SYNERGY. Property developer Ortigas & Co. celebrated its 85th anniversary this year, with partnerships with the SM and Ayala groups. The company behind Greenhills Shopping Center, Capitol Commons, Frontera Verde, and Circulo Verde, is planning improvements to unlock the potential of its different parcels. The developer’s 52-hectare landbank is currently under review, and with SM and Ayala’s backing, it is eyeing new retail and residential strategies. Greenhills Shopping Center is under a multi-phase, multi-billion peso redevelopment. Viridian, the 53-storey luxury residential condominium at the heart of Greenhills, is set to welcome residents late this year. On the retail front, the popular Greenhills ‘tiangge’ will be coupled with a department store to serve customers’ shopping needs.

Capitol Commons, Ortigas & Co.’s mixed-use hub which now stands in the former Rizal Provincial Capitol, also has several developments underway.

Rockwell Primaries previews Tower One, 53 Benitez Rockwell Primaries recently gave the media a peek of units at 53 Benitez, the company’s first condominium project in New Manila.

“We understand the value that customers put on our brand. With 53 Benitez, we are offering customers affordable premium units that fit their family’s needs,” said Malou Pineda, senior vice president, Rockwell Primaries.

53 Benitez has unique design innovations, including floating corridors and bridge ways to ensure the abundance of lighting and ventilation.

FINISH WITH APLOMB. 53 Benitez in New Manila will feature two towers, each with seven residential floors and unit options of 2 or 3-bedrooms.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

C1

LARGE LANTERN. Several men carry a big lantern along the road in Sto. Domingo, Barangay Manresa, Quezon City, entering the last fortnight before Christmas. Andrew Rabulan

Mayor denies Iligan name-shaming

By Bobby Lagsa

C

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia is not responsible for name-shaming two of the city’s former lawmakers, whom President Rodrigo Duterte also mentioned and alleged as illegal drug protectors, the mayor’s spokesman said.

Regencia’s spokesman Jose Pan- to have former mayor and Contoja said the mayor “has no motive” gressman Lawrence Cruz and ex-

Rep. Vicente Belmonte included in the President’s narco-list, and even challenged both men to file legal action against Duterte for implicating them in the region’s illegal drug activities.

Belmonte, who accused Regencia as the mastermind of a plot to kill him in 2014, used to represent the city’s lone congressional district.

Pantoja said there is no truth to the allegation that Regencia and IliganCity police director

Senior Superintendent Leon Roy Ga provided Duterte the names of Cruz and Belmonte.

In his speech before business leaders on Monday, Duterte mentioned “Representative Vicente” and “Mayor Lawrence” as just two of the political figures involved in the illegal drug trade in Northern Mindanao.

Duterte also said his exposé would eventually lead to the prosecution of the two former officials.

In an interview on Love Radio-Iligan on Tuesday, Cruz said he was the “Lawrence” being alluded to by the President, but denied he is a drug protector.

“I just want the people to know that [the accusation] is not true. I am innocent. Even if I must undergo a drug test today, I will test negative,” Cruz was quoted as saying.

Now that Duterte has mentioned his name, Cruz said he is

V’zuela opens P1.2-b housing

5 Makati barangays most child-friendly

By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Makati has recognized five barangays as most childfriendly communities in the city.

Mayor Abigail Binay, concurrent chairman of the Local Council for the Protection of Children, awarded and congratulated officials of the winning barangays who continue their efforts to promote the rights and welfare of children.

This year’s winners are Barangays Poblacion, Guadalupe Viejo, South Cembo, Kasilawan, and San Lorenzo Village.

“I salute the leaders of these winning barangays for their extraordinary efforts in support of our vision of a

truly Child-Friendly Makati.

May you carry on with your laudable initiatives, and inspire the other barangays to replicate them,” Binay said.

Each of the winning barangays received P200,000 cash prize and a plaque of recognition declaring the barangays as “Most ChildFriendly Barangay of Makati for 2016.”

Poblacion headed by chairman Benhur Cr uz won in Categor y A, while Guadalupe Viejo chaired

by Dennis Almario topped Categor y B. The other winners were South Cembo under Carlo Papa, Categor y C; Kasilawan chaired by K ristine Mae Casal-Reyes, Categor y D; and San Lorenzo Village led by Er nesto Moya, Categor y E.

TARGET PRACTICE. Police Chief Supt. Valfrie G. Tabian joins Laguna Provincial Director Senior Supt. Joel

Pernito and media participant Roselle Aquino in trying out the newly installed firing range at the Laguna Provincial Police Office in Camp Heneral Paciano Rizal at Bagong Bayan in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Roy Tomandao

Japanese surgeons teach skills to QC counterparts JAPANESE surgeons are bringing in some of the latest laparoscopic techniques to Quezon City.

The doctors, who also form part of the Vocational Training Team from Rotary District 2760 of Aichi, Japan, are scheduled to supervise their local coun-

terparts from the Quezon City General Hospital and Medical Center on how these techniques can be applied to patients who suffer from hernias, gall stones and gastrointestinal tumors.

Up to 15 patients, who are confined at the QCGH and covered by the Quezon City government’s

medical assistance program, are among those qualified to undergo the surgical procedure, which will be done for free.

Mayor Herbert Bautista led city government officials in welcoming the Japanese delegation composed of Hiroki Takahashi, team leader and professor of gastroen-

terological surgery of the Nagoya City University Hospital; Hiroki Takashi, an associate professor of gastroenterological surgery of the Nagoya City University Hospital; Nobohuri Haruki, chief of division of gastroenterological surgery of the Toyota Memorial Hospital; Takafumi Sato, doctor

of medical science at the NCUH; Atsushi Niwa, a medical engineer; and Sumiko Kosehira, a registered nurse, both also from NCUH. QCGH medical director Dr. Josephine Sabando said private hospitals usually charge about P100,000 to P200,000 for a laparoscopy.

Quezon City police get 50 more patrol vehicles

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government on Friday donated an additional 50 mobile patrol vehicles for the Quezon City Police District to boost its mobility and improve its response time.

The 36-member city council passed a

afraid of ending up like Rolando Espinosa, the mayor of Albuera, Leyte who was killed by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group inside his cell at the Baybay, Leyte subprovincial jail last month.

Cruz fears that his house will be raided and searched, and if law enforcers find nothing, they will resort to “planting” illegal drugs, and then later killed, he said.

resolution to allocate P41.85 million and authorize Mayor Herbert Bautista to procure the vehicles.

Of the 50 new patrol cars, five have already been turned over to the QCPD during its 77th founding anniversary.

Bautista described the city’s donation as timely and vital considering the city

had several important assets that needed to be secure.

Apart from the additional patrol cars, the mayor said the city government will also buy 500 Glock pistols, 500 bulletproof vests, 150 motorcycles and anticybercrime equipment.

He bared plans to procure equip-

ment that will boost the intelligence gathering system of the QCPD the National Capital Region Police Office.Since Bautista assumed office in 2010, Quezon City has already invested over P145 million to acquire additional vehicles and equipment for the city police.

AS A gift of the Valenzuela City government to its informal settlers this Christmas season, Mayor Rex Gatchalian has awarded new houses to about 864 families at the Disiplina Village in Bignay, a joint project of the national gover nment and Valenzuela Cty. The P1.2-billion housing project for the informal settlers is “the country’s biggest in-city relocation project as of now,” the mayor said.

Vice President Leni Robrero, the former chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, and representatives from other national government agencies and private organizations were among the guests.

The DVB is a joint undertaking between the city government and the National Housing Authority aimed at relocating informal settler families who are occupying danger zones, the mayor said.

This community served as the “grandest testament of Valenzuela’s commitment to achieve its self-imposed goal of having ‘Zero-ISFs along Waterways in Valenzuela,’” Gatchalian said.

With a total land area of 111, 293 square meters, about 88,000 sqm of Disiplina Village has been utilized, the mayor said. A total of 3,834 Valenzuelano informal settlers are the target of this housing program, he added. Jun David

C2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

LGUs

Mayor: Hasten Baguio death probes

By Dexter A. See

B

AGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan has ordered the Baguio City Police Office to hasten its investigation into recent deaths in the city related to extrajudicial killings and the government’s aggressive anti-drug campaign, saying he wants to “prevent unwarranted conclusions from the public” on these events.

Since the Duterte administration launched its drive against illegal drugs, 30 deaths have been recorded in the city, four from

legitimate police operations and 26 “deaths under investigation” as described by the police, Domogan said.

The deaths under investigation were largely alleged drug pushers from the different barangays of the city, the mayor said.

“We do not want the government’s anti-drug campaign to be tainted with allegations on suspected extrajudicial killings, that is why the police should come out with results of their investigations on the alleged deaths under investigation to allay the fears of the public that individuals suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade could just be killed anytime,” Domogan stressed.

Several months had lapsed but

the BCPO has not yet submitted detailed reports on the real cause of the deaths, which happened amid government’s efforts to curb the illegal drug trade nationwide.

Domogan said local police were recently reminded to come out with constant updates on the status of the deaths under investigation to negate the impression of some quarters that the slain ones were victims of extrajudicial killings.

“That will have a serious negative impact to the government’s desire to rid the country on the proliferation of illegal drugs that tend to compromise the bright

future of the youth,” he said.

He admitted these deaths “could be one of the downsides of the government’s anti-drug campaign” if the police cannot handle the situation properly. Thus, law enforcers need to come out with the details of these cases, the mayor said.

The government’s anti-drug campaign has improved the city’s peace and order situation, Domogan said, because of the significant reduction of other crimes around the city over the past several months.

Law enforcers still need to be vigilant because “there

might be some individuals and groups, especially the drug groups,” who might take advantage of the situation and take the law into their own hands by assassinating their rivals in the trade and then blame the police as responsible for such incidents, the mayor added.

The fears of the people can only be allayed “once there will be positive results on the reported deaths under investigation, to send a clear message that the police is still in control of the situation and that individuals wanting to take advantage of the situation have no chance of doing so.”

P’sinan farmers get rice aid packs LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— Around 2,000 farmers of the third and fourth district of this province recently received supplemental subsidized certified palay seeds and fertilizer package from the provincial government.

Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III led the agricultural aid pack distribution ceremony at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist field station in Sta. Barbara town.

Pangasinan is the third top rice-producing province in the Philippines. Farmer beneficiaries hailed from the towns of Bayambang, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara and City of San Carlos in the third district and Manaoag, Mangaldan, San Fabian and San Jacinto in the fourth district.

“This is an augmentation to the earlier 23,900 agri-relief given to our farmers through the help of the Department of Agriculture through DA Regional Director Valentin Perdido for those areas with farmers who are planting this latter part of the year,” Espino said.

The ongoing distribution is part of the agro-industrial program of Pangasinan that Espino vowed to sustain to raise the quality of life of the local farmers. Dexter A. See

CULTURAL MASTER. Lilia Pasib, 38, from Lamlifew, Malungon, Sarangani demonstrates the making of the Mabal Tabih, the traditional handweaving of the Blaan tribe, in the recent Munato Festival. She is now regarded as a cultural master who will pass her weaving skills to the next generation to keep this Blaan tradition alive at the Lamlifew Village Museum, the country’s first village-based cultural museum. Pasib is a student of 84-year-old Fu Gusiye Buan, the last Blaan master weaver in Malungon.

BRIEF Mining done with ‘utmost responsibility’ IN 3 state college

TUBA, Benguet—Mining is a major catalyst for countryside development if done with “utmost responsibility” despite reported negative impacts to the environment, Philex Mining Corp. president and chief executive officer Engr. Eulalio B. Austin Jr. said Thursday.

Economic activities in remote villages have greatly improved due to sufficient sources of livelihood provided by the

presence of the mines, Austin said in a recent meeting with town officials.

While it is true that mining currently contributes only 0.5 to 0.7 percent to the country’s annual gross domestic product, Austin said the industry contributes in spurring rural development because of the implementation of the social development and management program projects of companies, among other

benefits to communities.

Responsible mining operations also provide opportunities for the children to achieve quality basic and higher education, make available reliable health services, generates jobs, and provides livelihood opportunities for miners and the members of their families, he added.

“While it is true that we totally change the status of the land use

in the mine site, we are mandated by law to restore the minedout areas close to their original state for other future productive uses,” Austin stressed.

The Philex executive assured concerned stakeholders that the company “will continue to be an icon of responsible mining” because it has already done it in its Padcal mines and will do the same for upcoming projects in Visayas and Mindanao. Dexter A. See

School-in-a-bag gifts for Bukidnon schools ST. ISIDORE High School is a Catholic school in a remote agricultural village called Zamboanguita in Bukidnon. It is situated more than 50 kilometers from the nearest city, Malaybalay, and almost 140 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro City.

Getting access to technology that can aid learning is difficult here. But with the help of generous sponsors, the students— some of whom belong to lumad tribes—can now use digital tools and content to enhance their education.

An executive of mobile operator Smart Communications, Debbie Tan, used her budget for Christmas gifts to donate a School-in-a-Bag to St. Isidore High School. Launched early this year by Smart, the Schoolin-a-Bag is a backpack containing a solar panel for electricity, a laptop, tablet, mobile phone, pocket Wi-Fi with starter load, LED TV, and digital learning modules.

The School-in-a-Bag is one of Smart’s initiatives under its umbrella corporate social responsibility program, Smart Communities. This aims to use technology to develop different social sectors, including education.

“We are truly grateful for this early Christmas gift to our school. With the School-in-aBag program, our students and teachers here in Zamboanguita

are able to expand their horizon of knowledge. Our lessons become more relevant and interesting,” said the school director, Fr. Ernald M. Andal, S.J. “As in all gifts, we receive it with a responsibility to share its benefits to the bigger community. We hope to strengthen a culture that sees technology not just as a vital tool for today’s academic instruction, but as a link for those in the peripheries to reach out to the center and vice-versa,” Andal added.

In 2016, Smart has donated 10 School-in-a-Bag units to remote schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It hopes to get people and organizations to add to this number via sponsorships. One Schoolin-a-Bag unit costs P100,000.

This already includes the devices, learning modules aligned with the K-12 curriculum, training for the teachers, and delivery of the unit. Each bag will benefit hundreds of students in its expected working life span of five years.

“Right now, there are 3,000 schools in the Philippines— serving more than a million students—without electricity.

There are still a lot of Filipino students who have not seen, much more used, a television, computer, or tablet that could help enhance their learning,” said Smart public affairs senior manager Stephanie Orlino.

employees axed

BONTOC, Mountain Province—The Civil Service Commission en banc has upheld the dismissal from government service of three more employees of the staterun Mountain Province State Polytechnic College for grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and insubordination.

A dozen MPSPC faculty members had participated in a mass action that tried to topple the administration of former college president Dr. Nieves A. Dacyon on July 1, 2011.

In a 6-page resolution denying the motion for reconsideration of Dan Evert C. Sokoken Sr., Eric F. Fulangen and Brueckner B. Aswigue, the CSC also upheld accessory penalties against them. These include the cancellation of their eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefit (except terminal leave credits and personal contributions to the Government Service Insurance System, if any), perpetual disqualification from holding public office and barred from taking civil service examination.

Dexter A. See

Swindler stopped at Alfonso market

CITY ART. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the British Council of the Philippines have teamed up for ‘Art for Urban Change,’ a project that aims to make cities more livable and creative. Seen in these photos (clockwise from top left) are Leeroy New’s artwork at the Escolta pumping station; Nicholas Thomas, British Council Country Director and Julia Nebrija, Assistant Manager of MMDA, signing the partnership at the First United Building; Janno Aboneja, Leeroy New’s collaborator, talking about the pumping station artwork; and the works of students from six Marikina public schools on display at the ground level of First United Building for the second year of the Rivers of the World in the Philippines.

ALFONSO, Cavite—A suspected swindler and his live-in partner were arrested by the police and public market personnel here after posing as a rice dealer and trying to run off with P3,200 in cash.

Mark Columbino, a vegetable vendor, and Gemma Velasquez, 31, both residents of Mangaldan, Pangasinan, were detained after trying to dupe Michael Abierta, 31, and Manuel Marimat, 42, vendors at the Alfonso market. Benjamin Chavez

World

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

Venezuela stuck in currency limbo C

ARACAS―Venezuelans lined up Thursday to deposit 100-unit banknotes before they turned worthless, but replacement bills had yet to arrive, increasing the cash chaos in the country with the world’s highest inflation.

Some frustrated customers received expiring 100-bolivar notes when they withdrew money at ATMs, then immediately had to line up again to re-deposit them.

Venezuelans are stuck in currency limbo after President Nicolas Maduro ordered the 100-bolivar note -- the largest denomination, currently worth about three US cents -- removed from circulation in 72 hours.

The government announced late Thursday that Venezuela’s borders with Colombia and Brazil -- closed to fight “mafias” allegedly hoarding the notes—will stay shut three more days.

The Thursday deadline was supposed to coincide with the launch of a 500-bolivar bill, the first in a new series of banknotes that will eventually be issued in denominations of up to 20,000 bolivars.

But with the new bills yet to arrive in the

capital Caracas by midday, Venezuelans were left facing economic chaos.

“I don’t get the joke,” office worker Yarelis Carrero said. “When you withdraw cash at the ATMs, they give you 100-bolivar bills.

And you can’t get the new ones inside the bank, either.”

She woke up early to get rid of her expiring banknotes only to discover that the bills meant to replace them were nowhere to be found.

From Friday, Venezuelans will be able to exchange 100-bolivar bills only at one of the central bank’s two headquarters buildings.

Maduro, who has presided over an unraveling of Venezuela’s oil-rich economy, said the 100-bolivar note had to be killed because “mafias” were hoarding it abroad in what he called a US-backed plot to destabilize Venezuela.

In response, he sealed the borders with Colombia and Brazil, where he says much of the hoarding is happening. Now those frontiers will stay shut until Sunday.

That led to pandemonium on the border, as foreigners rushed home and Venezuelans found themselves cut off from precious supplies of food, medicine and basic goods that are in desperately short supply in Venezuela.

Central bank chief Nelson Merentes promised last week that “millions and millions” of new bank notes were on their way.

The new bills -- which are being printed abroad -- were originally meant to circulate alongside the old ones during a transition period.

But Maduro axed that plan when he issued his decree against the 100-bolivar note Sunday. AFP

Oscar winner vows to tell untold stories KARACHI―Pakistan’s double-Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy has hailed new legislation outlawing the crime of “honor killings” as a turning point in the long-battle on violence against women, as she sets her sights on conquering her country’s silver screen.

The filmmaker cast a spotlight on the issue with her documentary ‘A Girl In The River: The Price of Forgiveness’ -- which bagged an Academy Award earlier this year.

“It is very good in the case of honor killing we finally have a legislation that is stronger,” she says In October, Pakistan’s government passed legislation aimed at closing loopholes that allowed the perpetrators of such killings, often relatives of the victim, to walk free after they are pardoned by another member of their family.

Now a pardon can only save a killer from the death penalty, but not from life imprisonment.

Critics contend that loopholes in the new law remain. For instance, if a killer claims a motive other than ‘honor’ to justify their act, the blood money pardon law may still apply.

There are around 1000 ‘honor’ killings per year in Pakistan, but Chinoy remains hopeful the tide is shifting, especially in the wake of wide-

spread revulsion over the murder of a social-media starlet by her brother.

“It is not going to end tomorrow, but at least the process has started to send the men into jail who kill under the pretext of honor,” she tells AFP ahead of the premiere of her her new animated film “3 Bahadur” part two (Three brave warriors), which follows three children superheroes.

If her pride is evident, it is unsurprising -- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif originally announced the bill following a screening in the capital of Chinoy’s Oscar-winning film.

Many observers believe the weight of international pressure was a catalyst in the government’s decision to move a bill that was initially tabled three years ago.

Another turning point for Chinoy was the murder of social media starlet Qandeel Baloch -- who shot to fame for her provocative selfies and videos that were praised by fans for daring to challenge the country’s strict social norms on how women should conduct themselves.

In July, Baloch was strangled by her brother who later said he had found her “intolerable” -- but the police took the rare step of making themselves “complainants” in the case so the family could not invoke the law of pardon even if they were pressured into doing so.AFP

Roberts to go on television

EVACUATION. A member of the Syrian government forces watches during an evacuation operation of Syrian rebel fighters and civilians from an opposition-held area of Aleppo towards rebel-held territory in the west of Aleppo’s province.

IN BRIEF No deal between Abe, Putin TOKYO―Russia and Japan on Friday signaled there was no resolution after a two-day summit to a decades-long territorial dispute that has blocked them from achieving a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks in Abe’s ancestral hometown and in Tokyo in the latest attempt to secure a deal since Japan and the former Soviet Union began discussions in 1956.

“It would be naive to think we can solve this problem in an hour,” Putin said at a joint press conference with Abe. “But it is undoubtedly necessary to look for a solution.”

Abe concurred, but said the effort would continue.

“Concluding a peace treaty that has not been concluded in more than 70 years is not easy,” he said.

“I think we as the two leaders were able to show our sincere determination toward signing a peace treaty, although there lies a difficult path ahead.”

The Soviet Union seized four islands off Japan’s northern coast in 1945 in the closing days of the war.

The dispute over the islands, known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, has prevented the two sides from fully putting the conflict behind them. AFP

All eyes onTrump over Mars PARIS―The year 2016 has seen a rekindling of the human desire to conquer Mars, with public and private interests openly vying to take the first step on the Red Planet, possibly with a stopover on the Moon.

Space-faring nations are mostly united in viewing Mars as the next frontier with many still pooling their money and expertise to make the dream a reality, despite souring relations between them.

But the election of Donald Trump -- with inevitable impacts on science policy, budgets and diplomatic relations -- has cast doubts on the future of space exploration.

Space bosses and investors are waiting on tenterhooks for the US president-elect to spell out his plans for NASA -- and to see whether the future will be one of cooperation or competition.

On the campaign trail in the space industry state of Florida, Trump said in October he wanted to “free Nasa from the restriction of serving primarily as a logistics agency for low-orbit activity”.

He did not go into details, but low-orbit programs include the International Space Station (ISS), the Hubble Space Telescope and Earth-observation satellites.

Among them are NASA science orbiters for climate monitoring, a program Trump has also threatened to stifle.

He told crowds in Sanford that NASA’s core mission will be space exploration, and promised: “America will lead the way into the stars”. AFP

LOS ANGELES―Hollywood actress Julia Roberts is the latest star planning to head to the small screen, reports said Thursday.

Roberts will play the lead in a series based on the recently released novel “Today Will Be Different” by the US author Maria Semple, according to entertainment news site The Hollywood Reporter.

The book centers on the artist Eleanor Flood who wakes up one morning only to embark on a day filled with unexpected twists.

Semple will write the television adaptation of her novel, and is also slated to serve as one of the show’s executive producers.

“I’m giddy that Eleanor Flood will be brought to life by Julia Roberts,” Semple told The Hollywood Reporter.

“This will be a fun ride!”

The 49-year-old Roberts -- who recently starred in the Jodie Foster-directed thriller “Money Monster” alongside George Clooney -- last worked in television while costarring in the 2014 HBO movie “The Normal Heart.”

She also had previous guest appearances on shows including “Murphy Brown” and “Law and Order.”

Roberts became an international star in 1990 for her lead role in the movie “Pretty Woman.”

She is only the latest in a string of Hollywood stars to make the jump to television.

Meryl Streep, for example, is reportedly looking to produce and act in a TV adaptation of the novel “The Nix,” and Julianne Moore and Robert de Niro are to star in an Amazon series. AFP

Mexico scrambles to save smallest porpoise MEXICO CITY―Mexican authorities and scientists are scrambling to save the world’s smallest porpoise, the vaquita marina, from extinction, capturing illegal “ghost” fishing nets while hoping to make specimens reproduce in captivity.

The environment ministry said Thursday that the navy, conservation groups and fishermen removed 103 nets between October 10 and December 7 in the upper Gulf of California.

The vaquita’s population has dropped under 60 despite the government’s deployment of navy ships in April 2015 to prevent illegal fishing with nets that accidentally ensnare the porpoise.

Three drones joined the campaign in July,

armed with high-resolution cameras to spot illegal activities in the Gulf area also known as the Sea of Cortez.

The vaquita has died in gillnets used to illegally catch a large fish known as the totoaba, which is also endangered.

Fishermen capture the totoaba for its swim bladder, which is dried and sold to smugglers, who then ship them to China, where it can for tens of thousands of dollars on the black market and is eaten in soup.

Of the 103 nets removed during 21 days, 24 were between 80 and 500 meters long and meant to catch totoaba, shark and other fish.

A local fishing organization, the World Wild-

life Fund, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the navy participated in the removal of ghost nets in an area covering 11,814 kilometers (7,340 miles).

“The goal of this ambitious program, which the authorities plan to continue in an uninterrupted manner, is to eliminate abandoned fishing nets and prevent the vaquita marina from being accidentally trapped in them,” the environment ministry said.

The porpoise’s population dropped from 200 in 2012 to fewer than 100 in 2014 and some 60 in late 2015, according to the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA), a global group of scientists. AFP

PROTEST. Demonstrators clash with police during a protest in front of the National Congress in Brasilia on December 13, 2016.

Brazil’s Senate approved Tuesday a 20-year freeze on government spending billed as the centerpiece of austerity reforms aimed at restoring economic health to the troubled Latin American giant. AFP

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

FOOL MOON RISING. A full moon is seen rising over the Re Island Bridge in Rivedoux. AFP

Japan, Russia strike deals TOKYO―Japan and Russia on Friday struck economic deals to build confidence towards a peace treaty to formally end World War II that has been prevented by a spat over Russian-occupied islands claimed by Tokyo.

The second and final day of talks in Tokyo comes after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Vladimir Putin met Thursday in Abe’s ancestral hometown in western Japan in the hopes of achieving a breakthrough.

But despite a “frank” exchange of views the leaders announced no major headway on a peace treaty, though they did make progress on ways to cooperate economically, including in the contested area.

Abe, speaking at a luncheon with Putin, said they had agreed on “more than 60 projects” in economic-related areas, with details to be announced at a news conference later in the day.

“I believe there are a wide range of areas where Japan and Russia have not exercised our fullest potential, despite the fact that we are neighboring nations,” Abe said.

Putin said business ties were a way to build confidence.

“Our work together on the economic front will help us create a foundation to improve relations,” he said. AFP

‘US will retaliate against Russia’ W ASHINGTON―Barack Obama on Thursday said the United States would retaliate against Russian hacking after the White House accused Vladimir Putin of direct involvement in cyber attacks designed to influence the US election.

The outgoing US president’s remarks dramatically upped the stakes in a dispute between the world’s leading nuclear powers

over interference that may have swayed last month’s tight election in which Republican billionaire Donald Trump defeated Democrat

Hillary Clinton.

“I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections that we need to take action,” Obama told NPR radio.

“And we will, at a time and place of our own choosing.”

Pointing the finger at the Russian president over meddling in the election also puts the White House on a collision course with Trump, who has become increasingly isolated in questioning Russian

involvement in hacks of Democratic Party emails that appeared to have slowed the momentum of Clinton’s campaign.

Obama is expected to be peppered with questions about the dispute and any subsequent action when he holds a news conference Friday at 2:15 pm (1915 GMT) before leaving for a vacation in Hawaii.

“I don’t think things happen in the Russian government of this consequence without Vladimir Putin knowing about it,” one of

his top advisers, Ben Rhodes, said earlier Thursday.

“Everything we know about how Russia operates and how Putin controls that government would suggest that, again, when you’re talking about a significant cyber intrusion like this, we’re talking about the highest levels of government,” he told MSNBC television.

“And ultimately, Vladimir Putin is the official responsible for the actions of the Russian government.”

Much more needed to beat IS WASHINGTON―If the Islamic State group is to be defeated and prevented from reappearing under some new guise, the root causes behind its birth and growth must be addressed, American experts say.

In the face of an uprising that has catalyzed and channeled anger, frustrations and resentments of a significant part of the Sunni world, a uniquely military response will never suffice, however impressive its gains on the ground, according to terror experts.

And yet the underlying problems in many parts of the Arab world -- starting with chaos, poor governance and poverty -- run deep. With places like the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo descending into chaos, no easy solutions are in sight.

Widespread new unrest in dire proportions seems a near certainty, and only an extraordinary campaign of ideological pushback might eventually provide relief, said experts Wednesday during an annual conference in Washington on terrorism.

“With the new US administration coming, there is an instinctive, ‘We got to be tougher,’” former CIA chief Michael Hayden said at the conference, sponsored by the Jamestown Foundation think tank. “But if it was about our ability to kill people, we’d have been done 14 years ago.”

“We can’t kill our way out of this,” he said. “If we do nothing except get tougher, we’ll have to get tougher multiple times in the future,” he added. AFP

White House spokesman Josh Earnest echoed his comments, saying the decision by US intelligence agencies in October to blame “Russia’s senior-most officials” was not meant to be “particularly subtle.”

Trump caused outrage in July by suggesting that Russia find 30,000 missing emails related to Clinton’s use of a private server when she was secretary of state. Surrogates dismissed it as a joke, but he repeated his call on Twitter. AFP

IN BRIEF Putin: Next deal should be ceasefire

ONSTAGE. Musician Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Spain seeks to shorten long working day MADRID―Spain wants to put an end to its distinctive and grueling work day which hurts productivity -- and it may move the country’s clocks back by one hour to the same time zone as London’s to do so.

Labor Minister Fatima Banez vowed Monday to seek a “national pact” to bring Spain’s working day into line with the rest of Europe and make it easier to achieve a work-life balance.

“We want our workdays to finish at six o’clock and to achieve this we will work towards striking a deal with representatives from both companies and trade unions,” she told parliament.

While working hours in Spain vary greatly, a typical day runs

from 9 am until 7 pm or 8 pm -or even later -- with a late afternoon lunch break lasting up to two hours.

The long midday break was used in the past by many Spaniards to go home for lunch followed by a short nap, or siesta.

But surveys suggest that, at least in cities, people live so far from their offices that few have the time to head home for a snooze.

This schedule means many Spanish workers return from lunch at around 5 pm -- when their counterparts in Germany and other northern European countries are already preparing to go home for the day.

To cater to after-work shoppers small grocery stores stay open

until 9 pm, dinner is served late and popular prime-time television shows run until midnight.

One in four Spaniards goes to bed after midnight, according to the Sociological Research Center or CIS. Since Spaniards sleep less than their European counterparts they are less concentrated at work, not as productive and have more accidents, said professor Nuria Chinchilla, director of the International Center for Work and Family at Spain’s IESE Business School.

Their schedules also take a toll on family life, added Chinchilla, a member of the National Commission for the Rationalisation of Spanish Schedules, a non-profit group campaigning to change

work hours.

“We don’t have enough children or energy to help them,” she said, in a reference to Spain’s low birthrate -- the second lowest in the European Union -- and the high school dropout rate.

Contrary to popular belief, cultuaral norms are not responsible for Spain’s quirky rhythms, said Jos Collin, a Belgian entrepreneur who carried out a study on the issue for the commission which he presented to parliament.

Instead they began in the aftermath of Spain’s 1936-39 Civil War when many people were forced to work two jobs to make ends meet -- an official job until 3 pm and another in the afternoon, he added. AFP

TOKYO―Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the next stage in ending Syria’s bloody civil war will be getting all sides to agree to a nationwide ceasefire, as thousands of civilians and rebels poured out of Aleppo.

“The next step (after Aleppo) will be to reach agreement on a complete ceasefire across all of Syria,” Putin said on an official visit to Japan.

“We are actively negotiating with members of the armed opposition, with the mediation of Turkey.”

He added that the parties are proposing fresh peace talks, possibly in the Kazakh capital Astana.

Putin’s comments came ahead of the UN Security Council meeting Friday to discuss the crisis in the Syrian city of Aleppo in response to a request by France, which is calling for international observers to be sent to monitor the situation and ensure aid deliveries. AFP

India accused of hitting school van MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan― Pakistan on Friday accused India of hitting a school van in the disputed Kashmir region, killing the driver and wounding eight schoolchildren.

The incident occurred at Mohra village in Nakyal sector of Pakistani-administered Kashmir where officials said shelling by Indian troops was continuing.

“A shell fired by Indian troops hit a school van at LoC (Line of Control) in Nakyal sector, The van driver has been martyred and eight children wounded,” Zeeshan Haider, a senior government official told AFP. AFP

Life

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ORACAY, with its pristine beaches and fun activities, is the perfect place to spend time with loved ones on Christmas and New Year. Considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world, it is the place you can be whether you want to relax by the beach, taste scrumptious food or experience exhilarating activities.

Here are six reasons spending Christmas and New Year in Boracay is de rigueur: Bask in the sun at the beach. What’s a more perfect way to spend Christmas and New Year in Boracay than bask in the sunshine? Whether you want to sunbathe, play volleyball or Frisbee, or just lounge around in a beach bed, Boracay is the place to be.

Go on thrilling adventures. Are you a thrill-seeker? Get your dose of adrenaline with Boracay’s exciting activities like parasailing, jet skiing, windsurfing, cliff diving or reverse bungee jumping.

Experience Boracay nightlife. In addition to its natural beauty, Boracay is also known for its vibrant nightlife.

You can choose from various nightlife venues in Boracay like bars, clubs and lounges with live music.

Try Boracay’s famous Mongolian Grill. Boracay’s famous Mongolian Grill is found at Sun Villa Beachfront, between Stations 1 and 2. Definitely, your Boracay vacation wouldn’t be complete without feasting on yummy food at Mongolian Grill eat-all-youcan buffet.

Taste the flavors of Asia at Sun Asian Kitchen. Whether you want Spicy Crabs, Chicken Curry or Laksa, you can satisfy your craving for Asian cuisine as well as Filipino specialties at The Sun Asian Kitchen. In addition to their sumptuous dishes, you’ll love the homey atmosphere of the restaurant as well.

Get a massage at SunSpa. After a long day filled with fun activities in Boracay, pamper and soothe your tired body, mind and spirit with relaxing massages and other spa treatments at the SunSpa. Located at both Sun Villa Beachfront and Sun Villa Hilltop, SunSpa offers a wide array of massages and other beauty services that match your rejuvenating needs.

Sun Resorts Boracay has three charming resorts: Sun Villa Beachfront, Sun Villa Hilltop and Sun Garden Hilltop.

For more information, visit www.boracaysunresorts.com.ph. For inquiries and reservations, email info@boracaysunresorts.com.ph or call (02) 813-1338 / 893-7293 or (036) 288-4410 / 2881306.

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

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BORACAY HOLIDAY. Summer is not the only time for the beach, as you can also spend the most wonderful time of Christmas and New Year on an island paradise.

6 REASONS

to spend Christmas and New Year in Boracay It’s a festive Christmas at Filinvest City

Relax and welcome the 2017 in Quezon City’s mid-scale businessman’s hotel

Celebrate the New Year at B Hotel

START 2017 with a bang at the B Hotel QC with a countdown to the New Year with the 2017 New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31.

The program features the nostalgic sounds of the band Kudos Loves Eighties at the Lobby Café at 8 p.m. for only P1,800 for adults and P1,000 for children ages 6 to 12.

Tickets are available at the front desk and seat reservations are on a first-to-purchase basis.

The B Hotel QC is metro’s only mid-scale businessman’s hotel and is turning a year old. To celebrate this momentous milestone, guests are invited to end this stressful year with a much-deserved respite at the ultra chic hotel. For those who want to take a long-awaited break from the everyday stresses of life, book a room with Reservations or Front Office with stay dates until June 30, 2017 to en-

joy a host of facilities, including a luxurious stay at the Superior Rooms, buffet breakfast, 10 percent discount at the Pastry Corner, Mezzanine Bar, Johnny’s Steak & Grill, and Lobby Café, 20 percent discount on signature haircut at Jing Monis and M Barbers Salon, a complimentary anniversary gift from B Hotel QC, and a chance to win an overnight stay at The Bellevue Manila in a signature deluxe room.

Guests only need to pay P3,624 for an overnight stay for two and a breakfast buffet for four, and P7,124 for a three-day/two-night stay for two and a breakfast buffet for four.

For inquiries or ticket reservations, call B Hotel QC at tel. no. (02) 9905000, email info@thebhotelqc.com, or visit www.bhotelqc.com.

THE spirit of Christmas is intense at Filinvest City, the bustling Central Business District south of Metro Manila. It provides the best holiday experience with an array of festive activities for everyone to enjoy.

Home to landmarks such as the Festival Supermall, Crimson Hotel, and the Festival Mall River Park, the pedestrian-friendly CBD will have something for everyone to feel the holiday celebrations—from festive decorations to Christmas shopping and gustatory delights.

Christmas decorations adorning the city’s streets spread the holiday cheer at Filinvest City, as well as the much-awaited Christmas Light Show at the River Park in Festival Mall, which runs all throughout the holiday season.

Aside from the Christmas Light Show, visitors are treated to concerts and other family entertainment like Repertory Philippines’ Hansel and Gretel at Festival Mall, Ballet Philippines Pas De Deux, The Voice of the South Grand Finals, and Yuletide Melodies at Westgate featuring award-winning chamber choir, Kammerchor. You can also frolic and play the Eskimo way at Crimson Hotel’s Crimson Wonderland showcasing a giant Christmas tree and other holiday attractions.

Of course, the season is not complete without food. Families and friends gathering together to celebrate Christmas can enjoy a wide selection of yuletide fares at Filinvest City’s hotels such as Crimson, Acacia and Bellevue. Filinvest City’s premier clubhouse, Palm’s Country Club is also opening The Continental for guests looking for an ultimate dining experience, With Christmas being the busiest shopping season, Festival Mall can serve as your shopping destination for presents, holiday fashion, and other Christmas items to help you feel the holiday spirit.

“Christmas is once again upon us, and through the various holiday shows and activities at Filinvest City, we hope to bring everyone together to make the yuletide season even more memorable,” said Filinvest Executive Vice President Catherine A. Ilagan.

Indeed, more than the colorful lights, blinking decors, and gift-giving, Christmas becomes more meaningful as it gathers friends and families together to bond and create wonderful memories.

And all that is happening at Filinvest City!

The streets of Filinvest City come to life with festive Christmas decorations

Life

D2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

A Taste Of ‘Legendary’ Hospitality

Huma Island Resort and Spa is a deluxe property located on a remote islet in Busuanga, Palawan

L

EGEND says that when the galleon trade was at its peak, a ship from the Middle East sailed the Seven Seas, laden with exotic herbs, spices, tobacco and textiles. The ship was named MERCURY RISING Huma, captained by a flamboyant

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO sailor named Ibrahim.

Well known for his penchant for adventure, and his collection of rare and exquisite treasures from his travels, he was the most popular ship captain in the routes connecting Asia to the Middle East.

On a dangerous voyage from India, the ship and its captain disappeared in the stormy seas, and down went all the luxurious goods, vintage wines, rare spices and herbs. Some said the storm sank the ship, while others said pirates captured the ship and killed everyone on board.

Yet, there was also talk that a shipwrecked traveler lived alone on an uninhabited islet in Palawan and tribesman from the neighboring islands enjoyed visiting him because he would share with them the valuable treasures and luxurious items he had. They knew him as “a man of great means.”

Because of his generosity, his islet was always a center for celebrations, until he

died. The man’s identity was never established, but what is interesting is that the tribesmen who befriended him have been calling the islet, Huma, the name of the once mighty ship.

The present-day Huma Island Resort and Spa is a 5-star de luxe property on a remote islet in Busuanga, Palawan.

Offering breathtaking views, a luxurious lifestyle and an unspoiled underwater marine life, this private island resort prides itself with being able to offer 64 over-water villas and 17 beach villas, each with individual bathtubs and jacuzzis.

The property is an unparalleled holiday destination because of its powdery white sand beaches and lush rainforest landscape. The dozen sunken Japanese warships and planes within the area have made it one of the best diving sites in the world.

The best way to get there is via a private

From left: Louisa Al Chaer, Chef Elias Al Chaer, Honorary Consul to Lebanon Joseph Assad and Department of Tourism Regional Director Marie Venus Tan cutting the ceremonial ribbon at the opening of Huma Mediterranean Cuisine

Attractive belly dancers welcomed guests during the restaurant’s opening

seaplane, which passengers can take from Manila Bay direct to the resort. If they prefer to spend less on transportation, there are commercial flights to Busuanga, from where they travel by land for 1.5 hour to Sagrada Port, followed by a 30-minute boat ride to the resort.

The husband-and-wife team who owns Huma Island Resort and Spa, Dr. Hamad Al Tuwaijri and Louisa Al Chaer, decided to expand the reach of their prized resort’s hospitality by being able to offer simple, fresh and natural dishes to the local clientele. This prompted them to invest in and open a chain of Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurants in the country.

After the success of their first culinary venture, the Al Fairuz Lebanese Cuisine in SM City Clark, they opened recently their first fine dining restaurant in the country, the Huma Mediterranean Cuisine in S Maison at Conrad Manila.

The new restaurant serves healthy Mediterranean cuisine, using authentic and fresh spices prepared according to age-old tradition by its culinary team of Lebanese chefs headed by Executive Chef Elias Al Chaer, who is also the owner’s son. Chef Elias has had 35 years of solid culinary experience in

various restaurants in the Middle East and Scandinavia, after graduating from a culinary school in Lebanon.

On opening day, the restaurant served us, guests, a sample of their wide selection of delectable items on their menu— Hummus (chickpeas, tahini, lemon and olive oil), Moutabal (grilled eggplant, sesame seeds paste, tahini, lemon and olive oil), Batata Harra (potatoes, red pepper, coriander, chili and garlic fried in olive oil), WarahInab (rice mixed with vegetables, rolled, wrapped in vine leaves boiled in water, salt spices, lemon and olive oil), and Musakhan Chicken (mixture of minced chicken meat in tomato sauce and béchamel sauce).

I also enjoyed the main course of

Ouzi Dajaj (baked chicken, basmati rice, pine nuts, Mediterranean spices) and Fish Trabulsiye (grilled fish with Mediterranean spices).

With the newly opened restaurant gaining ground and on its way to another success story, the owners have finalized plans for more of their Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurants to open in SM Dasmarinas, SM Manila, SM BF Paranaque and SM Cebu.

From the looks of it, Huma, the galleon in the legend, never got lost. It just veered away temporarily from its usual route but is now back on track, ready to share with us its exotic brand of hospitality and cuisine.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com

YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE While playing in the backyard, Little Johnny kills a honeybee. His father sees him killing the honeybee and angrily says, “No honey for you for one month!”

Later that afternoon, Johnny’s dad catches him tearing the wings off a butterfly. “That’s it! No butter for you for one month!” says his dad. Later that evening, as Johnny’s mother cooks dinner, a cockroach run across the kitchen floor. She jumps and stomps on it, and then looks up to find Little Johnny and her husband watching her. Little Johnny looks at his father and says, “Are you going to tell her, Dad, or do you want me to?”

Vanilla Air to fly to Cebu THE Department of Tourism (DoT) on Thursday clinched an important business deal that would further open central Visayas to the Japanese market.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo facilitated the agreement with Vanilla Air in a meeting at the Palace Imperial in Tokyo to mount direct flights between Narita and Cebu, the first Japanese air carrier to fly directly from Tokyo outside Manila.

“We are elated over Vanilla Air’s report that all seats on the Narita-Cebu flight are all sold out, long even before its launch on Dec. 25. The entry of this first Japanese airline to provide nonstop service to Cebu is a welcome development since it has been branded as the ‘vacation destination’ of Japanese tourists. Furthermore, this new route will fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision to bring economic growth and development to Visayas by establishing Cebu as a major international gateway,” she told Vanilla Air President Katsuya Goto in a meeting at sidelines of President Duterte’s recent visit to Tokyo.

The tourism chief likewise proposed to the Japanese low-cost carrier to explore the possibility of a Tokyo-Davao route via Cebu. She said, “With Davao considered as little Tokyo, Vanilla Air is assured that consumer interest would be huge.”

DoT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Jr., who represents the tourism chief at the Civil Aviation Board (CAB), assured Mr. Katsuya that he would help expedite Vanilla Air’s Foreign Carriers Air Permit (FACP), a prerequisite for all international air carriers planning to operate on a new route in a foreign country.

Vanilla Air will be competing with Philippine Airlines (PAL) in the regular direct service between Cebu and Narita beginning Dec. 25. PAL operates two round-trip flights daily, while Cebu Pacific flies four round-trip flights a week.

The Tokyo (Narita)-Cebu route will have a market launch at the Shinjuku train station, known for having the busiest foot traffic in Tokyo, which the DoT also committed to support in a bid to cement Cebu’s brand as the ‘vacation

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo (center) exchanges gifts with Vanilla Air President Katsuya Goto (fifth from left) during a meeting to launch the Japanese airline’s Tokyo (Narita)-Cebu direct flight, beginning this month.

destination’ of Japanese tourists. DoT’s Katsuya expressed his anticipation for Tokyo Office will also host a media and this new international direct flight, as blogger familiarization trip to Cebu in it keeps a stronghold of its stake in All February 2017.

Nippon Air (ANA) Holdings. Citing the

ease of putting together group tours and individual packages and its direct internet sales, Vanilla Air aims for 80 percent seating capacities on the Cebu flights.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

Artista wannabe’s dream goes pffft

FLAGSHIP NEWSCAST. ABS-CBN executives Eugenio Lopez III and Ging Reyes (second and third from left) congratulate the country's longest-running English news program, which initially aired in November 1966 on ABS-CBN. The 'World Tonight' is home to some of the most respected journalists like Ces Oreña-Drilon and former Senator Orly Mercado (first from left and first from right).

50 years of ‘The World Tonight,’ ANC LEADERSHIP AWARDS LAUNCHED

A

NC, the ABS-CBN News Channel celebrated the 50th year of its flagship newscast The World Tonight (TWT) and launched the ANC Leadership Awards on Dec. 7 to cap its 20th anniversary celebration this year.

The country’s first 24/7 cable news channel marked these two milestones at the 2nd ANC X event held at 8 Rockwell Center, Rockwell Drive, Makati City attended by members of the business community led

by ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III and ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak.

The longest-running television news program in the Philippines, TWT is regarded as the gold standard in local newscasts, having covered the most important events in our nation’s history and having served as a home to some of the most iconic and respected Filipino journalists including Tina Monzon-Palma, Sen. Loren Legarda, former Sen. Orly Mercado, Dyan Castillejo, Ces Oreña-Drilon, and the late Angelo Castro, Jr. ABS-CBN Integrated News & Current Affairs Head Ging Reyes, executive producer of TWT after Martial Law, led the tribute featured in a documentary on ANC soon.

Noting how the media landscape has changed in half a century, Reyes

said the ABS-CBN news organization has remained solid and constant in terms of strength, dedication, resilience, and adherence to its journalistic canons, which is evident in TWT, now anchored by the likes of Tony Velasquez, Teddy Locsin, Jr., TJ Manotoc, Cathy Yang, and Tina Monzon-Palma.

After commemorating this huge milestone in Philippine news, the night’s emcee, Headstart anchor Karen Davila, showed a teaser of the new ANC Station ID and announced the launch of the ANC Leadership Awards (ANCLA).

ANCLA aims to honor visionary leaders who can be emulated by the next generation and will also shine the spotlight on up and coming leaders 45 years and below, who have the ability to make contributions in the realms of business and public service. Awardees must display a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit, and values like business excellence, unity, nationalism, and integrity, all of which ANC also stands for.

“ANC X” is an ANC event in partnership with Metro Society magazine that provides a venue for the nation’s decision-makers and movers and shakers to gather, establish connections, exchange ideas, and discuss the important issues in the country and in the world.

An industry pioneer committed to innovation and excellence in delivering news and information to Filipinos worldwide, ANC has served as a reliable and credible partner to Philippine business leaders in the past 20 years. With “ANC X,” the multi-awarded news organization is able to stay true again to its motto of “Your Partner, Your Channel.”

Martin Yan back on TV A FAMILIAR name in Asian households, Chef Martin Yan returns to AFC in January as he serves up two decades’ worth of insider knowledge and kitchen tricks on Martin Yan’s Asian Favorites.

Over the years, Chef Yan has journeyed across Asia, meeting chefs, home-cooks and locals from all walks of life, getting inspiration from their stories and family recipes. This eight-episode series features over 30 dishes influenced by Chef Yan’s 20 years of experience and extensive travels, bringing out the distinct local flavors from 6 cities – Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and

the Philippines.

“I’ve been hosting food shows for more than 35 years and I never get sick of it! I’m a strong advocate of Asian cuisine and making it easy to replicate has been my lifelong mission. I’m glad this show will allow me to showcase how one can use a simple food staple, and produce many different variations!” said Martin Yan. Warm your hearts and kitchens with homecooked dishes from Chef Yan ranging from Fish Head Noodle Soup, Good Fortune Prawns to Chicken Eggplant Green Curry.

In each episode, Chef Yan picks a food staple

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, December 17, 2016

ACROSS 1 Steady 5 Hindu class 10 Coarse file 14 — E. Coyote 15 Wing 16 Is, to Pedro 17 Congers 18 Dutch export 19 In vogue 20 De-bugging activity 22 Familiar toast 24 Mae West role 25 School founded in 1440 26 Infrequently 29 Big exam 33 Chopin piece 34 “Miami Vice” cop 36 — Beta Kappa 37 Yes, in Yokohama 38 Dangerous woman 39 — vous plait 40 Comic-strip prince 41 Ocean fish 42 Cherry center 44 Honcho (2 wds.)

47 Oxford’s river 48 “Tomb Raider” heroine 49 NATO turf

50 53 58 59 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

Arcane Dazzling Way out Oblige Villain in “Othello” Sell cheap Bronco snagger Malamute’s load Hot tubs Swamp critter Deli sandwich

DOWN 1 Pasture moms 2 Regard 3 La senorita 4 Got cozy 5 Shrewdly 6 By and by 7 Tight-fitting 8 Mr. Koppel 9 Unjust demand 10 Like yesterday 11 Queens stadium 12 Recipe direction 13 Felt boots 21 Piece of linoleum 23 Mortar trough 25 Show host 26 Fix up an old house 27 Video-game pioneer 28 Feeling regret

30 — salts 31 German white wine 32 Treadmill units 34 Gaucho’s rope 35 Vex 38 Cheating on wages 42 Elisabeth of “Leaving Las Vegas” 43 Blacken 45 Noisy gulps 46 Sci-fi computer 47 Person with

many bills Probabilities — d’etat Very deep sleep Difficult position 100 centavos Cartoon chipmunk 56 Disney CEO Bob — 57 Dull-witted one 60 Kiwi’s extinct cousin 50 51 52 53 54 55

or cuisine as a theme and prepares a selection of dishes, bringing out the strong flavors and cooking methods from each city.

Catch special guest appearances from Datuk Fazley Yaakob and Chef Hoang Minh Nhat as they collaborate with Chef Yan and share their special ingredients and techniques.

Martin Yan’s Asian Favorites is presented

by Panasonic and co-sponsored by Dr. Thanh Herbal Tea premiering on Jan. 5 at 9 p.m. on Asian Food Channel available on Cignal Ch 62, Destiny Cable Ch 71 (Analog)/ Ch 22 (Digital), Dream Satellite TV Ch 27, SkyCable Ch 22 (Analog)/Ch 248 (HD)

WHILE almost everybody is in celebratory mood this holidays, this “artista hopeful” is reported to crying profusely after his dream to be part of an all-male group went into pffft.

A reliable source said the “artista hopeful” was promised a sure slot in the contest that he joined.

The one who gave such promise is an alleged topnotch insider, who according to the same source was the one who “adopted” the artista hopeful since day one.

Being “adopted” means the artista hopeful was housed in the topnotch insider’s place and pampered with luxury stuff and other things.

The catch though is, according to our source, no one else is living in the said house except for an old lady-housemate who cleans and cooks for the ward and for the topnotch insider whenever he comes to sleep over?

Could that be the reason why this artista hopeful is crying so hard because, says our source, he was “feeling naloko o naisahan siya?” ***** “Best friend for life,” that’s what John Lloyd Cruz calls ex-gf Angelica Panganiban.

According to Lloydie, he wants to maintain good “friendly” relations because he feels they become more comfortable with it.

Since their break-up a year ago, there has been no report of them being involved with any other person and yet they do not deny reports being sighted in various occasions together, the most recent was at the ABS-CBN Christmas Special event in Araneta Coliseum last Tuesday.

“I only wanted to enjoy my being single. The enlightenment I am now discovering is something that makes me happier and a more peace-loving individual. I guess, Anjs (Angelica) also enjoys it although I heard, she also said she is ready na to raise (a) family,” said Lloydie.

“All of us want to make the most of it. Sabi nga, you only live once. But being enlightened to things, to life and everything about it is a very special and endearing journey.

Masarap lang siyang i-discover, e-enjoy at namnamin,” he added.

When asked about possible reconciliation with Angelica whom he describes as a very strong woman and reliable best friend for many years, Lloydie shared, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves right now. I think this is not the right time to talk about that.”

Lloydie planned to spend Christmas holidays somewhere else but recent developments on the Metro Manila Film Festival Jury-membership stopped him. He normally would spend Christmas with his family and friends and visits his favorite charity institutions, among the more noble things he has been engaged with for the past years.

But since he is invited to be part of the MMFF Jury, he is more than thrilled. “I am very excited to be part of the MMFF jury this year. It’s very exciting kaya dito lang ako.

I’m going to be here. Gusto ko maranasan ‘yung Pasko na kasama ‘yung Philippine cinema.” ***** Speaking of spending Christmas, there is one place on Pasong Tamo St. corner Don Bosco St. in Makati City that we were in recently.

It’s called Lucky Rainbow Hongkong Seafood Restaurant, where Edu Manzano is a part owner.

Buddies Allan Almazar and Neal Gonzales (my classmate from UP College of Mass Communication Masscom) invited us for a sumptuous lunch with papa Jobert Sucaldito and some members of entertainment media.

Mind you folks, it is indeed one of the best (if not the best) Chinese restaurants that we have tried their specialties include Siao Long Pao, Ha Kaw, Sio Mai, Shrimp Rice roll and Beancurd Roll; Seafood Specialties such as Steamed Lapu-Lapu with special Soy sauce, rock lobster superior sauce with noodle, salted egg crab and steamed live suahe.

Peking Roasted Duck is one of their famous dishes, savored for its thin and crispy skin often eaten with pancakes and sweet bean sauce.

We also tried the Portuguese rice and Avalon rice, which are both heavenly in taste. The chefs who are all from Macau are very keen on making sure the authenticity of Chinese food tastes.

Should you wish to try it, just visit their branch in Makati or on Banawe in Quezon City.

The restaurant also accepts reservations and catering for various occasions such as wedding, birthday, seminars, meetings, press conferences and, yes, Christmas parties.

The exact location is at 2224 Patriarch Bldg., Pasong Tamo cor Don Bosco Sts., Makati City, with numbers 47813-85 and 751-81-83.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

ISAH V. RED

INDAY IS A KAPUSO. Davao City

T

OMORROW, GMA Davao airs Byaheng DO30, the newest magazine show that trains the spotlight on the most-talked about city in the country this year, Davao.

At the helm of the show is Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, The show takes a closer look at the projects and programs of Davao City under her watch, with each episode giving viewers access to the process of accomplishing her administration’s goals for Dabawenyos.

The new TV show is a spinoff of “Byaheng Du30”—the 30-day caravan composed of 30 volunteers organized by Mayor Inday and her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman Duterte.

The caravan was utilized during the campaign for the candidacy of now President Rodrigo Duterte.

Byaheng DO30 also sees the return of Mayor Inday as a Kapuso. The incumbent mayor was one of the segments hosts of GMA Davao morning program Una Ka Bai. “I am happy to be back here in GMA and to work on a project that I have started months ago,” shares Mayor Inday.

“This time, with Byaheng DO30, we wish to show our programs and plans for Davao and the Dabawenyos—how we intend to bring basic services to the communities through our projects and how we hope to bring development and meaningful change to the lives of the people and to our entire city.”

GMA Regional TV Department Officer-inCharge Oliver Amoroso also expressed his excitement over this reunion. “Mayor Inday has been a loyal Kapuso ever since. We are glad that she is back via Byaheng DO30.

GMA will support any

Mayor Inday Duterte returns to GMA Davao and hosts a magazine show that takes a closer look at the initiatives and projects she spearheaded in the city.

‘Byaheng DO30’ WITH MAYOR INDAY DUTERTE ROLLS ON

Thailand based Pinay teacher Eunice Novio-Cordova with 'Day Off' host Janine Gutierrez

From left: Maricel Laxa, Regine Velasquez, Alice Dixson and Teri Gian

endeavor that promotes the best in and of the regions, especially Davao, to all Filipinos and we believe that this show perfectly complements this goal,” he says.

“We are all excited of this new program since this will further put Davao on the map as one of the premier hubs in the country,” says GMA Davao Station Manager.

The latest Kapuso show will capture the 30 major projects and programs Mayor Inday intends to accomplish in three years—thus, DO30. All these projects and programs respond to the 10 priority sectors, which include poverty alleviation; infrastructure development; solid waste management; health; education; agriculture; tourism; transportation planning and traffic management; peace and order; and disaster risk and mitigation.

Furthermore, Byaheng DO30 will give the public updates on the activities of various city departments. The program will also highlight and explain the ordinances of the Davao City

council led by Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

A window to the City of Davao, Byaheng DO30 will provide viewers a glimpse of some of the note-worthy places, products, and industries that have contributed to the local economic growth, bringing fame and pride to Dabawenyos in the process.

Mayor Inday will also feature exceptional individuals who have made an impact in the local community to become sources of inspiration among Dabawenyos.

Byaheng DO30 kicks off its adventures at 8 a.m. tomorrow and will air every Sunday thereafter on GMA Davao. *** It’s going to be an extraordinary celebration today as Day Off goes to Thailand for its 11th anniversary special.

Kicking off the special anniversary celebration, Day Off gives a family getaway to an exemplary and hardworking female Filipino English teacher in Thailand.

Eunice Novio-Cordova has been teaching for six years at

Vongchavalitkul University in Korat, Thailand. Apart from being an English teacher, she is also a university researcher, writer, and part of a non-government organization helping other OFWs. With all these workloads, Eunice still longs for something—to fulfill her motherhood duties. As hard as it seems, her goal of giving a good future to her daughter Kitty makes her strive even harder.

Since Eunice can’t attend her daughter Kitty’s 18th birthday in the Philippines, a combined advance Christmas and birthday celebration on a Grand River cruise will be given to the hard-working mom. How will

she react when she sees her daughter in person?

Together with Dasuri Choi, Eunice and Kitty will visit Thailand’s biggest tourist destinations such as the Wat Pho Temple, the Wat Inn Temple, the floating market, and the elephant village.

Meanwhile, Kapuso actress Janine Gutierrez will be the one doing Eunice’s duty for the day. She’ll try the traditional and virtual teaching methods used in Thailand in teaching Eunice’s students. Will her charm and teaching skills be enough for the Thai pupils?

Believe in the magic of Christmas on the 11th Anniversary Special of Day Off, 6:15 p.m. on GMA News TV today. *** Do you miss your BFF now that Christmas is just around the corner?

BFFs Alice Dixson and Maricel Laxa visit the Songbird today.

Regine Velasquez-Alcasid can’t help but be on a throwback mode with her chatty neighbors that will lead to “laglagan and bukingan.”

If you’re wondering what you would serve your guests on Christmas Eve’s Noche Buena, Regine has an idea.

Just watch Sarap Diva today before Eat Bulaga on GMA 7. *** For this today’s continuing ‘Yummy’ episode, Gandang Ricky Reyes Todo na Toh (GRR TNT), gives us mouthwatering season.

Christmas in the Philippines is never without the yummy bibingka and puto bumbong, which is associated with Simbang Gabi that began yesterday.

Check out Kuya Jun’s Bakeshop which makes parol cakes with different designs and flavors.

The Du30 Cabinet Spouses Association in partnership with the Metro Manila Mayor’s Spouses Foundation launches 4R Home (Reform, Recharge, Re-educate, Re-integrate) Program, for Filipino indigent drug dependents that voluntarily surrendered and cannot afford rehab center fees. 4R Home will help them go through reformation to become productive citizens again.

Meanwhile, hair problems will be solved in all Gandang Ricky Reyes Salons with the following treatments: Regold for kinky hairs, SoftWave for dull hair and natural wigs for hair loss.

Pursue your passion in beauty, learn from the best and enroll at the Ricky Reyes Learning Institute (RRLI) with branches in Manila, Cubao, Anonas and Fairview.

All these and more, 9 to 10 a.m. today with host Ricky Reyes in GRR TNT on GMA News TV.

GRR TNT host Ricky Reyes

Pia Cayetano on Modern Living TV’s season finale FOR Modern Living TV’s season finale, Stephanie Zubiri and Bianca Gonzalez get up close and personal with extraordinary woman Pia Cayetano.

Discover how this amazing former senator and current Taguig City congresswoman and advocate for women and children’s right, triathlete and mom has definitely raised the bar for multi-tasking women.

Want to know how to make the most out of your family bonding time? A young family welcomes us into their family room and shares ideas on making each bonding time a more enjoyable and memorable experience.

Also in this week’s episode, take a glimpse of the two state-of-the-art properties in the country

'Modern Living TV' hosts Bianca Gonzales and Stephanie Zubiri

as Modern Living TV visits Century Properties, the first independent property and facility management company to introduce international standards to the local market; and SMDC‘s Grass Residences, a high-rise structure with amenities that fit your everyday luxurious lifestyle.

Every episode of Modern Living TV features the latest eye candy in the form of breathtaking living spaces and other elements of modern living.

Don’t miss Modern Living TV’s latest episode!

Now on its 6th season, hosted by Stephanie Zubiri and Bianca Gonzalez, every Saturday on ANC at 6:00 p.m., with replays on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Modern Living TV is the first lifestyle TV show by a news media organization.