Manila Standard - 2016 December 30 - Friday

DIES IN GRIEF.

Mary Frances “Debbie” Reynolds, an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian, dies a day after the death of daughter Carrie Fisher. AFP

Hollywood’s Golden Age star dies, 84 LOS ANGELES—Debbie Reynolds, the “Singin’ in the Rain” actress who tap-danced her way into American hearts as a star of Hollywood’s Golden Age, died Wednesday, grief-stricken over daughter Carrie Fisher’s death a day earlier.

The 84-year-old suffered a stroke at son Todd Fisher’s Beverly Hills home after telling him “I miss her so much, I want to be with Carrie,” he was quoted as tell-

ing celebrity news website TMZ. Reynolds was the girl-nextdoor lead of a string of hit musicals in the 1950s after being discovered by MGM studio bosses at a beauty contest in southern California, going on to earn an Oscar nomination for playing the title role in 1964’s “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

“We have lost a unique talent and a national treasure. Coming so close to the death of her

daughter, Carrie Fisher, this is truly a double tragedy,” Screen Actors Guild president Gabrielle Carteris said in a statement.

“Their imprint on our culture is profound, and they both will live on.”

Reynolds is best remembered as sweet but shy voice artist Kathy Selden in “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952) and holding her own despite being cast opposite tap-dancing superstar Gene Kelly,

who was more than twice her age.

Off-screen, she was known as the wronged party in one of Hollywood’s most notorious scandals, when her husband, singer Eddie Fisher, left her for her friend and fellow screen icon Elizabeth Taylor.

Reynolds’ daughter Carrie Fisher, who catapulted to worldwide stardom as rebel warrior Princess Leia in the original “Star Next page

Filipinos hopeful despite ‘menace’

By John Paolo Bencito VOL. XXX • NO. 321 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PRESIDENTIAL ASSURANCE. The President, giving live interviews three days to New Year’s Eve, says, among issues he discussed with broadcast journalists, he is not keen on declaring Martial Law despite persistent speculations that he might just do so while standing firm on his unrelenting campaign against illegal drugs.

Drug war: 39 hurt

EXPECT the brutal war against the illegal drug menace to continue in 2017 even as 95 percent of adult Filipinos said they will be entering the New Year with hope rather than with fear, the Palace said Thursday.

“The President is very careful that everything is done with regularity,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said, when asked about President Rodrigo Duterte’s plans.

The Palace spokesman said that educating the country about the depth and extent of the illegal drug menace will be a priority for the President next year.

Abella said the war on drugs has entered its second phase, which is treating it as a public health issue, with an education aspect to warn the youth about the dangers of drugs.

Duterte on Thursday apologized to Filipinos who became collateral damage of his bloody war on illegal drugs, but insisted there must be casualties in any war.

“I must admit that there were killings that were unintended, and I am sorry that there has to be a casualty,” the President said in an ANC television interview.

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Turf feud sparks twin Digong vows revenge against plotters blasts in Leyte—cops By John Paolo Bencito

By John Paolo Bencito, Mel Caspe, Florante S. Solmerin and Ronald O. Reyes

A

T LEAST 39 people have been injured in two separate bomb attacks, authorities said Thursday.

In the first incident, two bombs exploded late Wednesday in the central island of Leyte, wounding 33 people who were watching a boxing match in Hilongos, government officials said.

Another unexploded bomb was also found in the town, said Mayor Albert Villahermosa.

A bomb went off on a highway on the southern island of Mindanao barely an hour later, wounding six people, the military said.

“A lamppost was catapulted from the impact of the explosion,” said Lieutenant Colonel Edgar delos Reyes.

The blast in Aleosan, hundreds of kilometers south of Hilongos, was close to the site of a Christmas Eve church bombing that injured 13.

Police said it was too early to say if Wednesday’s bombings were connected or what the perpetrators’ motives might be.

But President Rodrigo Duterte said that the explosion in Hilongos, Leyte was the result of a “turf war” involving “Moro people” belonging to rival drug syndicates.

“There was an explosion in Leyte. It’s drug-related and they are having a turf war there,” Duterte said without elaborating.

The President ruled out the communist rebels because of an ongoing ceasefire, and said the New People’s Army has no record of bombing innocent people.

“It has nothing to do with the left or communists,” Duterte said of the latest bomb attack.

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday warned that he’s ready to fight back and give people plotting his ouster a bloody nose.

“Well, the Lord made a way to place me here, so it’s destiny. If I get to survive six months and one day, that’s part of my destiny.

That is your presidency in this planet,” Duterte told CNN Philippines in a live TV interview.

“If I am still around next year to host the Asean, that’s my destiny. I said, whatever the Lord wants for me, I’ll accept it. But if

you tell me, you’ll mess with me, I cannot say anything. But I could give you a bloody nose, really,” he added.

Duterte also reminded the United States and other critics of his bloody war on illegal drugs that he had to honor his contract with the people.

Rumors of a destabilization campaign swirled after blueprints for the President’s ouster, attributed to former US Ambassador Phillip Goldberg—whom Duterte had called an “annoying homosexual”--circulated.

Without referring to Goldberg

by name, Duterte called him America’s top spy in the country and said he was expelled from Bolivia for fomenting civil unrest there.

“The career officials at the same time, they do spying,” he said of American envoys. “They are really connected with the CIA. The ambassador of a country is the number one spy.”

“Goldberg started to dig under, to erode the foundation of the presidency and he was expelled [as a] persona non grata,” he said.

Duterte said he considers his ouster “a possiblity,” but said he

No second chances for Leni—Rody

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he isn’t giving any second chance to Vice President Leni Robredo, saying he would not give her another Cabinet post because their relationship was “incongruous.”

“At this time, I am not considering it,” Duterte said in a CNN Philippines interview, after being pressed if he would give the Vice President another chance to serve

in his government.

Duterte said it would be almost impossible to work with Robredo, who heads the Liberal Party, which he said is hatching plans to oust him.

“The problem is, things between us cannot be finished because there are people who cannot accept defeat,” Duterte told CNN Philippines.

Duterte said that while he openly welcomed the Vice President into his official family, he had

second thoughts about her after a series of demonstrations called for his ouster.

“The left would never demand my ouster, maybe not now but some other time. But the yellows, they want me out. Well, everything that I’m doing now is my campaign promise. War on drugs, the Marcos burial,” he said.

Robredo, who resigned as housing czar after being told to stop attending Cabinet meetings, has Next page

Rizal toyed with idea of federalism—Sueno

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte believes the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and other heroes of the Philippine Revolution sought a federal form of government for the country, the Interior Department said Thursday.

Rizal, whose life and works will be commemorated in his 120th death anniversary today, had published a perceptive essay, “Filipinas Dentro De Cien Años” (The Philippines a Century Hence) published in the revolutionary newspaper “La Solidari-

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he was still studying whether to approve the proposals to increase the pension of SSS members beginning January 2017 because of concerns over its effects on the pension system. Next page

By John Paolo Bencito

TRIAL PERFORMANCE. Members of the

Philippine Marines and the National Parks and Development Committee rehearse Thursday a flag raising scenario at the monument of Jose Rizal at the sprawling Luneta Park in preparation for his 120th death anniversary today observed nationwide. Norman Cruz

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Pension hike still up in air

UN ruling to be cited if China . . .

dad” in which he predicted that the Philippines, once freed from Spanish rule, “will probably adopt a federal republic.”

Historians assume that Rizal’s foretelling was influenced by his federalist mentor, Francisco Pi y Margall, who was the short-lived President of the First Spanish Republic in 1873.

About 127 years after Rizal’s essay, the Philippine government is seriously considering the shift to a federal state, with Duterte tasking the Interior Department to undertake a nationwide information and campaign

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does not fear what God will bring him.

The President, who has been criticized for his bloody war on drugs, told the Commission on Human Rights that any investigation against him will not prosper.

“CHR? They go nowhere,” he added.

On Thursday, Duterte said he is not keen on declaring Martial Law after Vice President Leni Robredo accused him of seeking one-man rule.

But Duterte said that he can only declare Martial Law in case of a foreign invasion. Next page

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thestandard.com.ph

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he will bring up the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea, which rejected China’s claims on the area, once China starts expropriating minerals out of the disputed waters.

“Yes, when the minerals are already being siphoned out,” Duterte said in a live television interview when asked about what specific Next page

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

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Shipping firm goes for all-out search-rescue STARLITE Ferries Inc., owner of the MV Starlite Atlantic that sank between Maricaban and Puerto Galera on Monday, Dec. 26, at the height of Typhoon “Nina,” is sparing no effort to assist in search and rescue operations.

Starlite Ferries executive vice president for Operations Glenn Tabanao said the shipping firm regularly provides relatives updates on its own search and rescue efforts as well as those launched by local government units, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, the Red Cross and volunteers.

Tabanao clarified that the ship captain is currently recuperating with his family. Once he has fully recovered from the ordeal, the shipping executive said he will make himself available to the appropriate fact-finding body.

The MV Starlite Atlantic was anchored at the Batangas sheltering area when the ship drifted away due to strong winds and big waves despite the valiant efforts by its 35-member crew to save the vessel. One female crew member died and 16 were rescued but 18 others remain missing.

The shipping firm reiterated that it is doing everything humanly possible to assist the families of the victims of the tragedy and is coordinating closely with all concerned LGUs, the Coast Guard and other agencies to assist the survivors in whatever way possible.

Typhoon “Nina” packed winds of up to 185 kph in the center and gusts of 215 kph as it passed through the archipelago.

Rizal...

From A1 on federalism in partnership with various supporters, local government units, civil society, grassroots and faith-based organizations.

“Rizal is a visionary, prolific Filipino, yet he is as human as we are. He was able to hone his potentials through perseverance and diligence. Any Filipino can also be a global Pinoy and be worth emulating

by Juans and Juanas,” Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said.

Sueno likewise urged Filipinos to be motivated by the life story and writings of the national hero.

“The values [Rizal] espoused are still relevant up to our time, such as citizen participation and participatory governance,” he added.

Sueno noted that in 1887, Rizal wrote about the lack of civic virtues among Filipinos in his novel “Noli Me Tangere.”

Juan Crisostomo Magsalin Ibarra, the protagonist in the novel that historians consider as Rizal’s alter ego, said: “I can concede that the government has no knowledge of the people, but I believe the people know less of the government.

There are useless officials, evil, if you like, but there are also good ones, and these are not able to accomplish anything because they encounter an inert mass, the population that takes little part in matters that concern them.”

Sueno likewise urged Filipino youth and citizenry to take time to read about Rizal and reflect on his work on today’s holiday.

“With the might of his ideas and writings, Rizal awakened and moved our ancestors toward reclaiming Filipino freedom and dignity. Aside from political thought, his extensive studies cover medicine, language, arts and so on. Rizal is a magnificent Filipino, and I believe that modern-day Filipinos can take much inspiration from him,” the Interior chief said.

“Rizal Day is a day of appreciating Rizal as a hero, an icon and a perfect example on how to be a Filipino,” he added in a memorandum circular to all local chief executives--provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, and barangay leaders.

News

Yolanda fund misuse probed

By John Paolo Bencito

received 86 percent or $330.8 million of that amount, Coloma noted.

About $26.9 million in cash and $28.5 million in non-cash donations were received by the National Government under President Aquino, Coloma added.

Duterte assigned presidential assistant Wendel Avisado to oversee the resettlement of families affected by “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan), which crushed central Philippines in 2013.

Avisado is watching over housing projects for “Yolanda” survivors, over a month after Duterte lamented the slow progress of housing assistance and shelter to the victims of the most powerful storm on Earth to hit land.

Duterte asked then-Housing Secretary and Vice President Leni Robredo and Presidential Assistant to the Visayas Michael Dino to see that Yolanda survivors were transferred to permanent shelters soon.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo also revealed in November that only P30 million was left from the billions in combined government and private donations.

Despite the Aquino administration’s release of P90 billion in “Yolanda” aid last year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is now seeking additional funding to be given to 200,000 people for emergency shelter assistance (ESA), Taguiwalo added.

‘Steal people’s money, I’ll kick you’

No...

From A1

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday warned government officials to expect him to be stricter and more unforgiving on corruption in the coming year.

“I’ll be more stricter―no corruption. I’ll really punch you in public, either I can slap or kick you if you use the money of the people. Do not use that, even a single centavo on the first whiff,” Duterte told ANC. “If you do that, the Cabinet secretary will have to let you

go. If you cannot control your people, go out of your post.”

In a speech before the village captains of Davao City this week, Duterte vowed to wage a relentless campaign against graft.

“I will be strict. For this New Year and the new years to come that I am President, I promise there will be no corruption. Let us make our promises a reality.

In my government, avoid corruption because I can’t help it if you get involved,” Duterte said.

“In my government, avoid corruption because I will not really help you. I will go after you instead.”

Duterte had earlier jested he would throw corrupt officials out of a helicopter, saying he had done it before and to a kidnapper.

“I will pick you up in a helicopter to Manila, and I will throw you out on the way,” Duterte said.

“I’ve done it before. Why would I not do it again?” John

Drug...

From A1

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo apologized Thursday for releasing the wrong information that 10 people had been killed in the blast.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Taguiwalo personally apologized to Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, who forwarded the news about the casualties to the Malacañang Press Corps.

“It was our regional director who reported to me about the bombing around 1 a.m. and we would like to apologize Secretary Abella because our initial report said there were 10 people dead. It’s not true. I was given wrong information. It’s my fault and not of our spokesperson,” Taguiwalo said.

Taguiwalo said the Leyte bombing has injured 34 persons, including 10 who were already released from hospitals.

The DSWD chief said the people hurt in the blasts in Leyte and Aleosan would automatically receive P5,000 in financial assistance from the government.

“The department will also shoulder all their hospital bills,” Taguiwalo said.

The Leyte bomb went off while about 500 people were watching an amateur boxing match at the town plaza at about 9 p.m. Wednesday.

An hour later, an improvised explosive device (IED) went off beside the national highway in Barangay Bagangan in Aleosan, North Cotabato.

The explosion injured six persons on board a 10-wheeler truck and damaged an electric post of the North Cotabato Electric Cooperative.

Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez expressed sympathy for the victims of the Hilongos bombing.

“We hold in our prayers those affected by this heinous crime while expressing our solidarity with the local government of Hilongos as it responds to the incident,” Romualdez said.

She also urged the residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals to the authorities.

In a statement, she urged the city police to heighten their visibility and put up a checkpoint in key areas. With AFP, PNA

openly criticized Duterte for his bloody war on drugs, particularly on the extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by the state, and his decision to proceed with burying the late former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Robredo also voiced suspicions that the President supported her rival for the vice presidency, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and wanted her replaced.

Marcos had earlier filed an electoral protest against Robredo before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal after losing to her in a close contest.

In the same interview, Duterte said his losing running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, would become Foreign secretary after Perfecto Yasay returns to the United States to fulfill his teaching obligations.

“Alan Cayetano will be coming in to take the post of Yasay,” Duterte said.

Duterte said he had no problem with reappointing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco, but said his hands were tied by a

two-term limit.

“I don’t have a problem with Tetangco, but I have a problem with the AMLC,” he said, referring to the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Robredo on Thursday denied that she was magnifying the threat of Martial Law under the Duterte administration.

“Vice President Leni Robredo did not intend to make it appear that President Duterte was going to declare Martial Law. President Duterte did that himself,” her statement read.

“Every time President Duterte has been called out on his comments, it is either dismissed as a joke or said to be taken out of context.”

Georgina Hernandez, Robredo’s spokesperson, said it was the President who was responsible in floating the idea of a return to martial law.

The camp of Robredo, however, said Duterte’s statement must be taken as a serious matter.

“The threat of Martial Law and the desire for a one-man rule can never be a laughing matter. Nor can the threat be exaggerated,” Hernandez said. With Rio N. Araja

don’t have to declare war against the Republic of the Philippines,” he said.

The Palace on Thursday said the recent bombings in Cotabato and Leyte won’t become excuses for Duterte to declare Martial Law. “These are not indicators [for declaring Martial Law],” presi-

dential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

“It’s an area of concern but not for alarm.”

Asked if the Palace received briefings from state forces about the bomb attacks, he said: “I’m sure they have heard about it. But we don’t have any reports regarding specifics.”

not be held criminally liable for the deaths of innocent civilians, he said.

Talk of a continuing bloody war on drugs came against the backdrop of a new survey showing 95 percent of Filipinos are entering the New Year with high hopes, while 5 percent said they will do so with fear.

In the latest Social Weather Stations survey of 1,500 Filipinos, hope is widespread in all areas: 97 percent in Balance Luzon, 95 percent in National Capital Region, 95 percent in Mindanao, and 92 percent in the Visayas.

Compared to last year, hopefulness for the New Year improved in provincial areas but hardly changed in Metro Manila.

Hopefulness for the New Year is high regardless of socio-economic class, with almost 99 percent of up-

per to middle classes ABC hopeful of the coming 2017, with only slightly higher compared to 95 percent among class D and 93 percent among very poor class E. New Year hope is slightly higher among those who expected a happy 2016 Christmas than among those who expected a sad Christmas.

Of the 73 percent who were expecting a happy 2016 Christmas, 96 percent also look forward to 2017 with hope.

Even among the 5 percent who were expecting a sad Christmas, 92 percent are hopeful of the coming year.

The Fourth Quarter SWS Survey, conducted from December 3-6, has sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages.

US [w]ould [have led] the way and stopped it right in the beginning.”

In July, an international tribunal in The Hague rejected China’s claims on the disputed islands and rebuked its activities in the South China Sea, including the construction of artificial lands there. Duterte said the only way to settle the territorial row with Beijing would be by enforcing the Hague court ruling legally or going to war with China.

Duterte had made a U-turn in foreign policy a few months ago when he made overtures toward long-time rival China and started berating traditional ally the United States.

He had previously played down the arbitration case, saying it would “take a back seat” during his talks in China in October.

Duterte likewise praised Beijing and said he wanted it to play a prominent role in the Philippine economy.

Duterte, who earlier said he was willing to share oil resources with China, told China to respect the Philippines as a country it shared economic bounties with.

“Wait a minute, I thought we [were] friends,” Duterte said, addressing China. “We share economic bounties, so how about us?”

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte had tasked Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo to investigate alleged irregularities committed by the previous administration in spending funds intended for victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” that ravaged the country more than three years ago.

“It is still being investigated

by Panelo, whatever is new,” Duterte said in a television interview when asked what he would do with officials of the previous administration, including former President Benigno Aquino III, who have been accused of misusing Yolanda funds.

Mindanao has been wracked by bombings and other forms of violence carried out by Muslim extremists who consider the region as their ancestral homeland, leading to separatist conflicts with the majority-Christian government.

Muslim extremists have also been blamed for bombings outside Mindanao, such as the discovery of a bomb near the US Embassy in Manila in November.

In the deadliest recent such attack, 15 people were killed in an explosion in President Duterte’s hometown of Davao in Mindanao in September.

Police Chief Inspector Alberto Renomeron said police recovered a cartridge from an 81 mm mortar and found another bomb in front of the Hilongos church.

CCTV installed in the area can help identify the suspects, he said.

Renomeron said three of the victims were in critical condition.

Digong...

From A1

He also said it was “useless” to declare martial law, because he could declare a state of lawlessness.

“Rebellion, insurrection?

That’s nothing. I said, you just declare war against them. You

Filipinos...

From A1 But in a separate interview, Duterte dismissed concerns that innocent lives are being lost.

“It’s a claim. If you can give me a lie, I could make it 10 times better,” Duterte said when asked to react to families seeking justice for their slain loved ones whom they claim to be innocent.

“It’s because they are fighting the authorities. They are committing crimes. They are ready to fight it out because of constant use of shabu,” he said.

The so-called collateral damage during police operations are just “normal,” and that government forces may

UN...

From A1 circumstance would prompt him to bring up the ruling. “[It’s a] question of money. ‘Wait a minute, I thought we [were] friends’,” he said.

“The wealth that comes out there, it is like [an] inheritance when your father and mother die, that is a mess.”

Asked if China’s man-made islands were a cause for concern for the country, the President said: “No, because if it really were a serious concern, the

Duterte, however, admitted it would be “hard to prove” officials under Aquino misused the aid funds and “difficult” to have them prosecuted.

“But it has to take you much time, if you just ponder on it.

You need to get accountants and everything, including [possible]

money laundering,” the President said. “[Panelo’s team is] still winding up, so if you intend to file a case, then get the lawyers of the Justice Department,” Duterte said. “[The goal is] to build a case, to get a conviction beyond reasonable doubt. The batting average of the prosecution is 30-70 for acquittal, so just create what would it be [needed for a conviction] if you have an affidavit,” he added.

In March, then-Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said records of the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub showed the Philippines received a total of $386.2 million in foreign aid.

Non-government organizations, multilateral agencies and others

Paolo Bencito

Pension...

From A1 “There’s a debate going on. [Budget Secretary Benjamin] Diokno and [Finance Secretary Sonny] Dominguez don’t want it because it will bankrupt the SSS,” Duterte said.

“I haven’t signed it. The two papers are there. I’ve been studying it,” he said referring to the proposals to increase the pension of SSS members.

But Duterte said he expressed his support for the increase during the presidential campaign.

“The problem is I promised the people, so we have to go somewhere.”

The Social Security System is set to implement a staggered P2,000 across-the-board increase in its monthly payments to member-pensioners now numbering 2.2 million.

The first tranche of P1,000 will be given starting in January 2017, and another P1,000 in January 2019.

Late last month, the Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises agreed to come up with a joint resolution with the House of Representatives for the increase.

That will grant a P1,000 increase

Hollywood’s...

From A1 Wars” trilogy, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, four days after suffering a heart attack on a transatlantic flight.

Media reports said Reynolds had been at her son’s house to discuss funeral arrangements.

Fans and fellow celebrities struggled to come to terms with another devastating blow so soon after Fisher’s death.

“Debbie Reynolds was one of the last of Hollywood Royalty. It breaks my heart that she is gone,” “Star Trek” actor William Shatner said on Twitter.

He added, referencing the long string of celebrity deaths this year: “I’d hoped that my grieving was done for 2016.”

“There is nothing harder than having to bury a child. Debbie died of a broken heart, but she’s with her daughter now,” tweeted Shatner’s “Star Trek” co-star turned social media personality George Takei.

“Dear Debbie Reynolds, I totally get it. Hug her so tight for all of us,” added “Charmed” and “Who’s the Boss” actress Alyssa Milano.

“I can’t remember a year ending with so many bold faced obituaries. Godspeed,” morning chat show host Al Roker said, posting photos of Reynolds, Fisher, singer George Michael and 1980s sitcom actor Alan Thicke―all of whom died this month.

Reynolds, who received a humani-

in the monthly pension in January and another P1,000 increase in 2022.

Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, vetoed a proposed measure from Congress increasing the pension of SSS members by P2,000, saying the SSS would not be able to handle the hike.

Dominguez, Diokno and National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Ernesto Pernia had earlier said that, without an accompanying “upward adjustment or restructuring of the [SSS] contribution rate,” the proposed pension hike would unduly jack up the unfunded liabilities of the SSS from P3.5 trillion to P5.9 trillion.

The three Cabinet secretaries have argued that since the government subsidy “only introduces undue fiscal burden to taxpayers,” then “the public must not be made to carry the burden of the increase which benefits only privately employed individuals.”

“We strongly recommend that any improvement in pension benefits be accompanied by an upward adjustment or restructuring of the contribution rate from employee members and their employers, as well as self-employed and voluntary members,” the officials said. tarian award at the Academy’s “Honorary Oscars” last year, was just 19 when she got her big break in “Singin’ in the Rain,” which celebrates Hollywood’s transition from the silent era into “talkies.”

Her 2013 autobiography “Unsinkable: A Memoir” detailed the highs and lows of her rocky personal life and a career which was still going strong into her 80s as she performed her one-woman stage show. “’Singin’ in the Rain’ and childbirth were the hardest things I ever had to do in my life,” she wrote in an earlier autobiography entitled “Debbie.”

Reynolds was known at one time as the foremost collector of Hollywood memorabilia. Taylor’s “Cleopatra” headdress and Marilyn Monroe’s billowing “Seven Year Itch” frock would become part of the 4,000-piece haul of costumes, props and furniture, most of which Reynolds eventually auctioned for more than $25 million.

Mary Frances Reynolds was born on April 1, 1932 in El Paso, Texas, the second child of railroad carpenter Raymond Francis Reynolds and his wife Maxine.

Now synonymous with tap, Reynolds had never danced professionally, according to the Internet Movie Database, when picked to star in “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Several more MGM musicals followed, with Reynolds typically cast as a wholesome young heroine, before she turned to more serious screen acting, as well as a career on Broadway. AFP

News

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DoLE officials’ hubbub delaying end of ‘endo’

HOLIDAY BLITZ. Passengers going to their respective provinces flock to provincial terminals in Cubao, Quezon City for the long ride on country roads to celebrate New Year’s Eve with kin and relatives. Manny Palmero

IN BRIEF Survey shows 50 percent satisfied with DU30 Cabinet PEOPLE’S trust in key government institutions remained high in the last three months of 2016, the latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed.

The latest survey, among 1,500 adults nationwide, found 50 percent of respondents satisfied with the performance of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet, with 17 percent dissatisfied and with 30 percent undecided.

Net satisfaction rating of the Duterte Cabinet slipped four points from +36 to a +32 this December, but nevertheless remained “good.”

Trust in the Senate remained highest with more than 63 percent satisfied and 15 percent dissatisfied, while 21 percent said that they were undecided.

The Senate likewise yielded a “good” +48 net satisfaction score, just four points lower from last quarter’s “very good” +52.

Trust in Congress remained “good” with 52 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied and 29 percent undecided while net satisfaction rating yielded a +36 from +38 the last quarter.

Some 56 percent of Filipinos, meanwhile, said they were satisfied with the Supreme Court, with 18 percent saying they were dissatisfied and 24 percent undecided.

John Paolo Bencito

Graft court allows Revilla to visit father for 4 days THE Sandiganbayan on Thursday allowed ex-Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to visit his sick father for humanitarian considerations for at least six hours every day from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1, 2017.

A Dec. 28 resolution gave Revilla the chance to leave Camp Crame in Quezon City, and see and visit former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. at St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

“As prayed for, accused Revilla is hereby authorized to visit his father at the St. Luke’s Medical Center, BGC, on Dec. 29, 2016 from 6 a.m. to 12 noon, and on Dec. 31, 2016 and Jan. 1, 2017 both from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.,” the order read.

Last Dec. 16, the anti-graft court allowed the younger Revilla to visit his father.

The Dec. 28 decision was penned by Associate Justices Michael Frederick Musngi, Reynaldo Cruz and Roland Jurado.

Revilla is banned to use a mobile phone and any other electronic gadgets, including accessibility to Internet.

The anti-graft court also restricted Revilla to grant any media interview.

Revilla is facing plunder and graft charges for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam engineered by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

Rio Araja

DIFFERENCES between two top officials of the Labor Department are causing the delay of an executive order ending contractualization in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday.

“We’re talking about the endo now, there’s a ruckus there because the Undersecretary does not like it and Secretary Bello [was at the other side],” Duterte said, referring to Undersecretary Joel Maglungsod and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Duterte, who earlier expressed his intentions to end the practice of contractualization in the country, is set to sign an executive order prohibiting the practice of manpower agencies and cooperatives of supplying only labor.

Maglungsod, nominated by the communist National Democratic Front to be part of the government, had expressed belief the “win-win solution” being pushed by the employers’ sector would become a major obstacle to elimi-

nate contractualization—a move supported by Bello and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Bello had earlier released Department Order 30, seen to be a strict implementation of the law on contractualization or job contracts in the country.

DO 30 is set to replace the DO 18-A, or the rules implementing the Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code.

Meanwhile, the big labor group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said President Duterte breached his promise to millions of Filipino workers to stop “endo” and “contractualization” scheme with the proposed DO 30 which will only legalize contractualization.

“Workers do not deserve this odious holiday and year-ender present from the government,” the group’s spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said. John Paolo Bencito and Vito Barcelo

DSWD asks Duterte for add’l P614m for typhoon victims

By John Paolo Bencito and Anna Leah Gonzales

T

HE Social Welfare Department is asking President Rodrigo Duterte for an additional P614 million to help augment the assistance to be provided the budget for typhoon ‘‘Nina’’ victims.

“We need P614 million to augment for this relief assistance,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo told a Palace news briefing.

“We’re always being asked by the President, ‘Do you still have money?’ So right now, we are asking for additional money for Nina. This will augment our relief goods and we will be preparing a proposal [for] emergency shelter assistance.

So that will be requested from DBM [Department of Budget

and Management] because the books for 2016 will soon close,” she added.

Nina, which made landfall eight times during Christmas, affected over 813 barangays and 206,812 families.

In Bicol, the area most ravaged by the typhoon, 504 barangays were affected by the typhoon, according to Taguiwalo.

Albay suffered the brunt of the typhoon with over 100,000 families in 240 barangays affected.

Affected families in other ar-

eas: 5,105 families in 80 barangays in Mimaropa; 4,000 families in 161 barangays in Calabarzon with 2,866 of the affected families in 104 barangays in Quezon; and, six barangays in Marinduque.

A total P47.298 million worth of relief goods, meanwnhile, have been distributed by the DSWD and local government units.

In related developments: • The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said it was probing passenger ferry vessels’ damage to coral reefs in Oriental Mindoro.

During the onslaught of Nina, 11 identified commercial passenger ferry boats rammed into coral reefs in the nearby waters of Barangay Balatero, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

BFAR said the ferry boats: M/V Reina Olivia, M/V Ariana Gabrielle, LCT Anisha, Baleno 5, Baleno 7, Baleno 8, Oceanjet 10, Oceanjet 12, Starlight Blue Sea, Starlite Polaris, and M/V

Bernadette were seeking refuge from strong winds and massive waves when they rammed into the coral reefs damaging them.

The sea grasses where schools of fish and other marine resources were also swept.

• The National Irrigation Administration reported a P191.38 million worth of irrigation damage from the typhoon.

Administrator Peter Laviña said damage to irrigation facilities reached about P51.58 million for crops and P138.80 million for infra covering 7,748 hectares of lands and affecting 8,953 farmers.

• In Davao City, the City Council approved P11 million financial aid for Nina’s victims in Luzon areas struck by the super typhoon.

The financial assistance—for Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, and Calapan City in Mindoro—will be handed to the local government units by Davao

City’s Central Communication and Emergency Response Center chief Emmanuel Jaldon.

• Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Thursday criticized the Office of the Civil Defense National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and telecommunications firms over alleged failure to alert the public of the impact of Nina.

He expressed disappointment for the non-implementation of Republic Act 10639.

“NDRRMC claimed the telcos sent out disaster text alerts before and during typhoon Nina.

If this were so, how come many still complained they did not receive such message alerts? How many residents then, if at all, from those regions or even those with storm signals raised in their areas received by these so-called ‘ghost text alerts?’” he asked.

With Rio Araja, Pearl Gajunera and Vito Barcelo

House files criminal complaint vs Dayan with DoJ

By Rey Requejo LEADERS of the House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Department of Justice to indict Ronnie Dayan, former driver and lover of Senator Leila de Lima, for defying their summons in the earlier inquiry on illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

House leaders led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez filed against Dayan a similar criminal complaint for disobedience to summons of Congress under Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code they filed against De Lima earlier this month.

“Dayan’s failure to appear during the committee hearing on Oct. 6 and to respond to the show cause order without any legal excuse is disobedience to summons

lawfully issued by the House of Representatives in violation of the Revised Penal Code,” stated the three-page complaint filed by Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the House justice committee.

The complainants stressed Dayan was summoned by the House after several high-profile inmates testified he acted as “bagman” who collected millions of drug money from them at the NBP when De Lima was still secretary of Justice.

The House has sent subpoena to Dayan last Sept. 28 and Oct. 6 to attend the inquiry but he failed to do so, prompting the issuance of a contempt citation and arrest order against him.

Dayan was arrested last month and made to appear before the House committee.

During the hearing, he admitted De Lima advised him to snub the summons of the House and presented the senator’s exchange of text messages with his daughter as proof.

Umali stressed they did not include Dayan in the earlier complaint against De Lima because they awaited the results of his application for witness protection program coverage in DoJ. “We checked with the WPP and nothing happened there, so we proceeded with this case against him [Dayan],” he said.

The DoJ has resolved the earlier complaint against De Lima and filed the case before the Quezon City metropolitan trial court after finding probable cause in its summary resolution.

A case for violation of Article 150 of

the Revised Penal Code was filed against the embattled senator before the Quezon City metropolitan trial court.

The indictment of De Lima for a criminal offense came a year after she left her post as DoJ secretary to run in the senatorial poll last May. The case was filed last Dec.21 or just eight days after the House filed the complaint last Dec. 13.

Under the RPC, the offense charged against De Lima has a penalty of imprisonment from one month to six months and/or a fine ranging from P200 to P1,000.

Since the case involves light offense, no bail would be required of De Lima and that she would also not be arrested for it.

SC asked to restore separate votes in JBC

By Rey Requejo THE House of Representatives has appealed to the Supreme Court to restore its uninterruptible voting power in the Judicial and Bar Council for appointments in the judiciary and the office of the Ombudsman.

In a petition filed Thursday, House justice committee chairman and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali urged the SC to abandon its existing policy that limits the representation of both the Senate and House of Representatives in the JBC to only one voting in deliberations for shortlists in vacancies in the judiciary and Ombudsman.

It was the SC itself that cut the voting representations of the Senate and House from two to one in a 2012 ruling that granted the petition of the late former Solicitor General Frank Chavez.

The same SC decision, which already became final, has reduced the members of the constitutional body tasked to vet nominees to judicial posts from eight to seven.

Just like the position of previous leaders of the Senate and House in the previous administration whose joint appeal on the ruling was dismissed by the SC, Umali told the SC the seven-member composition of the JBC violates the Constitution insofar as it deprives Congress of fair representation in the council where two other co-equal branches of government have three members each.

The lawmaker cited as proof the deliberations of the JBC held last Dec. 2 and 9 for the two vacancies in the SC for the retirements this month of Associate Justices Jose Perez and Arturo Brion where the votes he submitted were not counted.

YULETIDE GIFTS. Philippine Constitution Association president Martin Romualdez distributes

Christmas goodies to 1,163 families living at the permanent housing for ‘Yolanda’ victims at North Hill Arbor in Tacloban City. Ver Noveno

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Abusing the budget

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte described the 2017 expenditure program as an “era of budget credibility” and vowed to protect it from abuse.

The General Appropriations Act, now reaching over P1 trillion, is a powerful tool that the government can use in furthering its socio-economic objectives, including generating jobs, reducing the poverty incidence, funding social welfare

Adelle Chua, Editor

programs and providing education.

Abusing the budget or deviating from its original purpose, however, will not accomplish Mr. Duterte’s socio-economic agenda.

The national budget has been abused in the past, especially by powerful

politicians seeking to perpetuate their term by financing pet projects just to please their constituents and assure their reelection.

Mr. Duterte knows well that certain quarters can sabotage the budget as it has been done in the past when it was vulnerable and open to abuse. He ordered all agency heads in his budget message “to exercise political will and avoid any trace of influence from

other branches of government in the implementation of programs, activities and projects.”

Agency and department executives may find it hard to resist pressure from politicians and other interest groups to tweak the expenditure program. But as their oath of office requires from them, government executives must toe the line or quit their job.

Mr. Duterte also reminded government

agencies that any increase in appropriations and new budgetary items should carry with them “corresponding increases in the respective outputs and improved outcomes of the agencies concerned,” and called on his fellow public servants to extend their full commitment “in making this budget a tool for genuine change.”

Government executives should treat the national budget as an in-

violable document after careful scrutiny by both houses of Congress. The budget, for one, laid out certain economic targets that must be met to keep the economy going. Veering away from these macro-economic assumptions or targets will have adverse consequences on the overall economic objectives. This could mean less job generation and government’s failure to make a dent in the fight against poverty.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

A moment of clarity

The Christmas days PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO CHRISTMAS is not over, although many think it is. In the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, we are in the midst of the Christmas Octave—an eight-day celebration of Christmas. So it is that in the Divine Office that priests, religious and lay persons pray—the official prayer of the Church—the psalms and canticles are those of Christmas Day. Christmas is far too rich in significance, far too profound to exhaust and mine in just 24 hours, hence the Octave. And although Christmas trees have been sprouting since September (the Philippines is known for its extended Christmases) and twinkling lights have sent electric bills soaring for many households for quite some time now, the Sea-

son of Christmas really started only with the Midnight Mass of December 24—and most parishes of the Philippines celebrate Midnight Masses well before midnight!—and will come to a close only with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Sunday after Epiphany, which is the Sunday after the New Year! Unfortunately, we mix up things in this country of many confusions: All Saints and All Souls, Lent and the Solemn Paschal Triduum, Advent and Christmas! Most are not comfortable greeting others “Merry Christmas” after December 25—feeling that the otherwise very cheerful and holy greeting has passed its due date! But we should go on greeting each other “Merry Christmas”. There are many things in this country we must bring to an end speedily, but Christmas is not one of them.

The day after December 25 is the memorial of St. Stephen, protomartyr of the Church—

and any thoughtful Christian will ask what sense there might be in marring the merry season with the remembrance of a a gruesome death—because Stephen was stoned, as Jews and Muslims stone heretics.

Christmas is for the thoughtful.

It is so easy to be sentimental about Christmas, and indeed, the Nativity Scene is idyllic, not only a poignant portrayal of an event in the rather distant past, but an ever-new, eternal invitation to tenderness. But kneeling in adoration before the manger should be the first step in a long journey that can take the faithful disciple to the

center of an angry rabble that will show neither consideration nor mercy, much less tenderness. He who lies so serenely, helpless in his infancy, will make demands on those who follow him, and these are not paltry at all!

On the 27th, the second day of the Octave, it is John, the Evangelist, who is remembered, and to one who listens attentively to the readings of the Mass, the connection should not be too difficult to grasp. The Gospel of the Day Mass of Christmas consists of the sublime words of the Prologue to John’s Gospel that soar in their theological insight and carry us to the height beyond all heights where the Word was, in the beginning, with God, and was God. Once more, we are taken beyond the the romance of Bethlehem to the recesses of the Mystery of the Incarnation—the reality of the Word-become-flesh.

He who cries like any child cries, whose laughter will echo

through the home in Nazareth like that of any growing child’s, whose words will mesmerize thousands, frighten leaders and shame hypocrites, challenge generations and ages of humankind is the very Word of God made flesh…Verbum caro factum!

There then follows the commemoration of that terrible affair of Herodian paranoia— the slaughter of the innocents.

But it is certainly wrong to be consumed with hatred for Herod or to be caught up in the debate about historicity. Karl Rahner once wrote of “anonymous Christians”, those who are not explicitly within the organization of the Church or who may not even know Jesus Christ, but who live the truth as it comes to them in their best lights and who are docile to the promptings of an honest conscience and who therefore revel in the light of Christ. The holy innocents could very well be such Turn to A5

IN 2007, Ramon S. Ang had a moment of clarity. For giant San Miguel Corp. to grow bigger and faster and help push economic growth, it couldn’t rely on the conglomerate’s three core products—beer, food, packaging.

RSA’s epiphany: SMC must diversify widely, clearly, and nimbly. For guidance, the vice chairman (since 1999) and president (since 2002) assembled a team of experts and analysts, nearly all of them young and experienced.

Then he took a look at the country’s development plan.

He found many inadequacies —infrastructure, energy and fuel, agriculture, manufacturing, to name some. And something scandalously glaring— the lack of or bad execution.

Then it dawned upon the engineer in RSA. SMC’s business is not just beer, not food, not packaging. It is development.

Development of the country.

And the prospect offered vast opportunities. Growth. Revenues. Profits.

And along with them, the opportunity for a company of San Miguel’s size and financial heft to backstop, if not lead the country’s progress into the 21st century.

Thus, SMC leap-frogged upon the competition and undertook the largest diversification ever in more than 120 years. (The company was founded in 1890). In so doing, Ang redefined two business clichés—game changer and first mover advantage.

SMC defined its two basic strategies this way: Enhance the value of its established core businesses through operational excellence, brand enhancement and improved product visibility. Diversify into industries that underpin the development and growth of the Philippine economy.

Excellence in its current businesses. Diversify into new businesses.

Its expansion and diversification of the past eight years have been so seamless and almost flawless they made SMC a markedly different company today—bigger, better, more resilient, more competitive, and hugely more profitable.

With its seismic shift to power generation, petroleum refining and marketing (Petron Corp.), and infrastructure, these three businesses by 2014 Turn to A5

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Opinion FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO

Contribution and pension adjustment formulas THE Social Security Act defines the amount of pension as the sum of P300 and the product of 2 percent of a member’s average monthly salary credit and his credited years of service.

Seemingly simple, it becomes complicated to a member as soon as he starts computing his AMSC and CYS, and applies to the resulting pension amount the guaranteed minimum provision.

The charter defines only the initial amount, and while it mandates the review and adjustment of pensions at least once every 4 years, it leaves out the exact date and amount of adjustment.

The pension adjustment provision is so vague it had consequently divided us as a nation on whether or not SSS should grant the now controversial P2,000 pension increase that former Representative Neri Colmenares proposed, Congress approved, but President Benigno Aquino III vetoed upon the advice of officials of the Social Security System.

Must government subsidize it or should workers and employers pay for it via additional contributions?

Pension professionals describe the SSS pension system as “defined-benefit,” which links weakly one’s pension amount to his actual contributions.

Consequently, some pensioners receive more than they had given, while others less.

The Government Service Insurance System, the military, police, judiciary, and Constitutional bodies also administer DB pension schemes with varying degrees of contribution sharing.

We seem comfortable with this type of pension. For instance, after we debated hotly the merits and demerits of the conditional cash transfer program to needy families and the P500 social pensions to indigent senior citizens, we eventually settled down and made them the centerpieces of our non-contributory public welfare programs where beneficiaries receive tax-funded benefits without having contributed anything.

In contrast, the scheme is called “defined-contribution” if an individual’s pension benefit is equated to his actual contributions and their earned investment income.

DC schemes include those of Pag-IBIG and similar provident funds of public and private institutions. Their members receive at retirement the exact equivalent of what they had contributed plus their investment earnings—no more, no less.

Participants of DC schemes know that they cannot demand benefit amounts that exceed what they had contributed.

Unlike them, SSS pensioners get back much more than what they had contributed.

To illustrate, those who had contributed P84 a month for 10 years would have paid a total of only P10,080, yet they are entitled to a monthly pension of P1,200. No matter how wisely their contributions had been invested, their accumulated value would never be enough to pay for even a year’s pensions.

Obviously, active members now pay for their pensions.

It’s true that the SSA man-

dates the adjustment of pensions, but only if the actuarial soundness of the reserves remained guaranteed and the same contribution rate were kept. It only allows pension adjustments if there are surplus funds in the reserves that are no longer needed.

SSS used to have such surplus funds when it granted 22 pension increases from 1980 to 2014, but not anymore as disclosed consistently by its responsible officials.

Thus, in plain and simple language, SSS officials could no longer adjust pensions even if they had already stagnated.

But pensions—like wages— should be periodically adjusted for inflation. The question is, how should it be funded?

Increasing the contribution rate is the most obvious way.

It is more preferred over increasing the maximum salary subject to contributions, which also raises future pension obligations.

Certainly, other events— sometimes, not even catastrophic—could occur and threaten the soundness of the pension reserves.

Even a stable economy could create a regime of low investment returns, and the loss in projected investment income would have to be compensated by a higher contribution rate.

The steady improvement in pensioners’ longevit y— especially if accompanied by declining rates in birth and labor force part ic i p a t io n — could also increase pension liabilities.

We must also consider the unfunded liabilities that were created by the recent increase to P40,000 of funeral benefits and the acceleration of coverage of highly-subsidized, low-income informal sector workers.

Unintentionally, perhaps, they were launched without prior actuarial studies. Nonetheless, they had added pressure to increase the rate of contribution and the cash flows of revenues and benefit payments would soon show this even without implementing any pension increase.

At the extreme side, a catastrophic event such as war or a worldwide economic crisis could wipe out SSS investments and force establishments to close down and lay off workers. Consequently, contribution collections and member loan repayments would drop considerably while benefit claims would soar.

Beyond doubt, they could only be mitigated by increasing contribution rate, which is the universal way of responding to them.

Yet the Social Security Act lacks in its provisions detailed formulas on how to adjust the contribution rate, pension amount, and other funding requirements. It’s therefore high time that these formulas be incorporated into it.

SSS would celebrate its 60th anniversary on Sept. 1, 2017 and members and pensioners would expect to hear from President Digong Duterte’s appointed officials that they had accomplished so much.

But what would they tell them if these enabling amendments haven’t been legislated by then—empty promises of undoable pension increases, again?

Must government subsidize it or should workers and employers pay for it via additional contributions?

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Scalia’s legacy on the US Supreme Court

By Noah Feldman IF THERE were to be a legal man of the year for 2016, it would have to be Antonin Scalia.

The justice died in February and has cast a long shadow over the whole year. His seat remains unfilled. His jurisprudence seems likely to be the touchstone for Donald Trump’s nominee.

Indeed, if Trump gets two or more Supreme Court picks, Scalia’s judicial legacy stands a chance of being vindicated rather than forgotten—which seemed almost unthinkable when he died. Scalia’s legacy is therefore poised to set the tone for future constitutional battles in a way not seen since the 1935 death of Oliver Wendell Holmes, another great dissenter.

When Scalia died, many commentators, myself included, noted that his originalist constitutional legacy consisted mostly of dissents. (His textualist statutory interpretation legacy was another matter. There Scalia wrote plenty of majority opinions and significantly influenced even liberal justices.)

At the time, Scalia’s passing also appeared to herald the end to originalism as a dominant constitutional doctrine. With nearly a year to go in the presidency of Barack Obama, it was assumed that Scalia would be replaced by a liberal or at least a moderate justice. The appointment would change the balance of the court to decisively liberal for the first time in more than a generation.

And if Hillary Clinton had been elected, as polls suggested she probably would be, the liberal court could have been assured for a generation to come with the replacement of as many as three more justices, all of Scalia’s approximate age.

What a difference 10 months can make. By blocking Judge Merrick Garland, the Republican Senate changed the rules of the confirmation game. The election of Trump means that Scalia will almost certainly be replaced by a justice who espouses some form of his originalism—and probably cites him as a judicial model, in the way Trump has done and probably all the judges on Trump’s list would.

And if one or more of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy or Stephen Breyer steps down while Trump is president and Republicans control the Senate, the generational transition on the court may be toward greater conservatism, not liberalism or stasis.

The consequences for Scalia’s legacy are enormous. Great judicial dissenters don’t just write to make a historical record of their beliefs. They hope for their dissenting opinions to be redeemed by later judicial majorities, to use a term coined by the legal scholar Richard Primus in a seminal 1998 article.

One of Primus’s examples of a redeemed dissent is that of Justice John Marshall Harlan (the first of two justices of the name) in the repulsive case of Plessy v. Ferguson, which held that the equal

protection clause wasn’t violated by the doctrine of “separate but equal” facilities for whites and blacks. Harlan wrote: “In view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens. There is no caste here.

Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens.”

The other greatest redeemed dissenter in the US constitutional tradition is Holmes. He saw his “clear and present danger” test for free speech vindicated, despite articulating it partly in dissent. And his dissent in Lochner v. New York, where he objected to the majority’s use of the liberty of contract to strike down a progressive law limiting bakers’ working hours, eventually became a basic principle of liberal jurisprudence.

Several of Scalia’s dissents now stand a real chance of being redeemed. Scalia argued repeatedly over the years that there was no fundamental constitutional right to an abortion. His dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, to take one example, asked rhetorically whether abortion was a “liberty protected by the Constitution of the United States” and answered bluntly that “I am sure it is not.” Scalia explained that he reached that conclusion “because of two simple facts: (1) the Constitution says absolutely nothing about it, and (2) the longstanding traditions of American society have permitted it to be legally proscribed.”

In the Casey dissent, Scalia

also pointed to his concurrence in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, in which he wrote that Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s “assertion that a ‘fundamental rule of judicial restraint’ requires us to avoid reconsidering Roe, cannot be taken seriously.”

On affirmative action, Scalia used Harlan’s color-blindness ideal to argue that racial preferences would violate the Constitution. He wrote: “To pursue the concept of racial entitlement— even for the most admirable and benign of purposes—is to reinforce and preserve for future mischief the way of thinking that produced race slavery, race privilege and race hatred. In the eyes of government, we are just one race here. It is American.”

Scalia’s most impassioned dissents came in connection with gay rights. It still seems unlikely that the court’s landmark decisions on the rights to gay sex and gay marriage will be overturned, given the court’s history of rights expansion. But it isn’t entirely unthinkable on a court dominated by Trump appointees chosen in the mold of Scalia.

Liberals lionized Holmes in his old age, and after his death they redeemed his opinions within a couple of decades.

Scalia’s redemption may come faster. Whether it does will depend on Trump’s appointments to the court. Regardless, the jurisprudential battles of the next decade are likely to continue to be fought on Scalia’s terms. That in itself is a surprising victory.

Bloomberg

The free-market case for climate science

By Paul J. Ferraro ARE you someone who has faith in the power of free markets?

Then you should naturally accept the evidence that human activity is bringing about climate change.

Free and competitive markets work efficiently in large part because they are phenomenal information aggregators, gathering and sorting facts about consumer preferences and business production costs, and guiding market participants to engage in actions that provide benefits to both sides.

Markets can easily help figure out the most efficient way to deliver coffee to people’s homes, for example, or to reduce air pollution in cities. Markets also determine which ideas succeed (the iPhone, for instance) and which ones fail (Kool Kardashian Kard).

Likewise, scientific ideas thrive or perish in a marketplace of their own. Whereas participants in an economic market are rewarded for delivering goods or services well, participants in the marketplace of scientific ideas get rewarded for overturning conventional thinking. This is because the scientific method works not by proving theories but by disproving them: Scientists

A moment...

From A4 had contributed 72 percent of total SMC sales revenues (63 percent in 2016). No other company in the Philippines, and perhaps in Asia, has done so massive a transformation in so short a time as has San Miguel.

SMC’s infrastructure business, conducted through San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), consists of toll roads South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway Stage 1 and 2, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Toll Expressway (TPLEX) and the just completed NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) and the ongoing Skyway Stage 3. SMC operates Boracay Airport which has a new 1.8-km runway. It will build the Mass Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), with a highway below it, to Bulacan.

Today, SMC is No. 1 beer, food, packaging, petroleum refining and marketing, power generation, and tollways. It is moving aggressively into mass transport, airports, coal, cement, hotels, resort and island development, even while expanding

The...

From A4 “anonymous Christians”, and it is in that vein that the Church honors their martyrdom. But this blooddrenched day in the calendar of the Church is the narrative explication of what John so succinctly says of

pose and test rival explanations, and ultimately, the concepts that are disproven fall away while those that aren’t prevail.

I myself have made a career of introducing such rival explanations in the field of environmental science. I’ve shown, for example, that the Endangered Species Act, when not accompanied by funding to help with species recovery, may put species in greater danger, not less. I’ve shown that the environmental and social impacts of national parks and reserves are much more modest than their proponents and opponents claim.

And I’ve described how attempts to conserve water by improving the efficiency of irrigation may in fact increase water use. In short, like most scientists, I am rewarded when I disconfirm, not when I confirm, a way of thinking.

Like any other market, the market for scientific ideas has imperfections and frictions, but it is characterized by competition and by free entry and exit —hallmarks of the idealized free market described in any introductory economics textbook.

It’s true that incumbent scientists, like incumbent businesses in all markets, try to set up barriers to new competitors. Review panels of incumbents vet new

ideas for academic journals and government research funding.

But in time such barriers are surmounted. Like those perfect markets in economics textbooks, scientific markets never leave “cash on the table”—they don’t leave good ideas unexploited, not for long. Eventually those ideas spread widely.

After more than 25 years, the idea that human activity has led to greater greenhouse-gas emissions and, thus, greater climate change has won out over competing theories to explain how the Earth’s climate system operates. Over time, the number of rival explanations has declined, rather than increased. And refinements to the dominant theory have strengthened, rather than weakened, the case for it.

At a meeting I recently attended, the chairman of a university’s department of Earth and planetary sciences announced that he would no longer hire scholars in climate science because “the science is done.” While important measurements and observations will continue, the theoretical questions at the frontier have been answered.

There’s reason to think the evidence for human-caused climate change is prevailing in the econom-

ic marketplace, as well: Property insurers and other profit-maximizing businesses with a substantial financial stake in the concept are taking actions that demonstrate they believe the evidence. They are working to create more accurate models of climate change and to price climate risk into insurance programs, even threatening lawsuits against actors who do not try to limit ongoing climate change.

As we say in economics, revealed preferences are more convincing than stated ones.

Fundamentally, the concept of human-caused climate change has won out because alternative views—including arguments that the theory is a hoax spread by anti-growth and anti-technology Jeremiahs—contradict what competitive markets are demonstrating.

In the end, then, it is inconsistent to simultaneously accept that markets are powerful ways to allocate goods and services in the economy and also deny that human activity is causing substantial climate change. There’s room to argue over the economic implications of climate change or the best ways to mitigate and adapt to it, but the scientific consensus is no longer a matter of debate. Bloomberg

frenetically its core businesses— beer, food, packaging which are also market leaders.

SMC’s businesses have combined EBITDA value of P1,051 billion (P1 trillion), over five times the company’s stock market value. This is the dictum of the individual parts being more valuable than the parts combined.

Beer and Ginebra are worth P307 billion, Food P116 billion, Packaging P46 billion, Power P124 billion, Fuel and Oil P317 billion, and Infra P141 billion. And since then, the country’s premier conglomerates have followed in RSA’s footsteps.

Ayala also went into infra and power, as did the so-called MVP Group of Manuel V. Pangilinan, the PLDT CEO. George Ty of Metrobank also saw potential in power generation and has aggressively built up his portfolio of power plants.

“The best is yet to come,” smiles SMC president Ang. In 2015, SMC retained its position as the Philippines’ largest company in revenues with sales of P677.773 billion, down 13% from 2014 due to the decline in oil prices. Profits remained steady though at P28.993 billion, almost the same as 2014’s P28.57 billion. On a con-

solidated basis, SMC reported a net income in 2015 of P38.2 billion, 26% higher than in 2014. EBITDA reached P108.6 billion, 23% higher.

The topline 2015 numbers, say Ang and Chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. “offer a snapshot of how our company did in 2015. They, however, do not reflect the level of achievement we have attained in terms of priming the company for long-term growth.” “Our performance in 2015 illustrates how our company is better built to derive income from multiple revenue streams and make structural adjustments to maximize opportunities offered by the business environment,” said ECJ and RSA in their 2015 annual report to stockholders.

Indeed, in 2016, SMC was on track to chalk up profits of P51 billion, a seven-year high, and revenues of more than P700 billion.

Overcoming initial confusion about SMC’s frenetic moves, investors have begun to appreciate the strategic moves of Ramon Ang. From a 12-month low of P47.50 per share in December 2015, SMC shares have steadily risen, to a peak of P101.6 on Dec. 15, 2016, thus doubling the company’s market capitalization to P241 billion before

stabilizing at P220 billion at this writing.

The rise in market cap is a tribute to SMC’s strong performance in the first nine months of 2016. Operating income reached P73.2 billion, up 23%. Business showed double digit operating income growth rates— beer 19%, Ginebra 65%, Food 25%, packaging 12%, Petron 23%, power 18%. Infra showed 7% growth in operating income.

SMC’s P20 billion proposed bond issuance was given PRS Aaa, with a stable outlook.

SMC earned its triple A because of: (1) Ample cash flow generation that is seen to strengthen further as the company’s energy and infrastructure projects are completed; (2) Manageable and improving debt position, especially considering the capital-intensive nature of its recent projects in energy and infrastructure; (3) Adequate liquidity and financial flexibility; (4) Solid market position and substantial track record of its subsidiaries, backed by stable demand and boosted by an improving economy; (5) Seasoned management team with sound strategies.

the Word-become-flesh: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not”. It was because of Herod’s psychotic fear of the “Newborn King of the Jews” that he had the innocents slaughtered. Herod, the king of the Jews, did not want the newborn king of the Jews alive!

The martyrdom of the innocents

prophesied the martyrdom Jesus himself was to suffer, because, and that which many of his disciples would suffer become his kingdom is not of this world!

For all the glitz and the glitter, the cheer of Christmas carols and the endless feasts and treats, the greetings many times heartfelt, but

sometimes, regrettably trite, Christmas is for the thoughtful—as it is a call to prayerful thankfulness for the difference it has made to human history, and to my life and yours!

biznewsasia@gmail.com

rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

News

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Orbos: Extend MMFF

By Joel E. Zurbano ACTING Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Thomas Orbos said he will ask theater owners to extend the showing of the eight movie entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

“We are glad to hear that the people themselves are asking for the extension. We will write a formal letter address to theater owners to give consideration to give these movies additional days for the public to watch,” Orbos said.

The move, according to Orbos, was made to give the people, particularly overseas Filipino workers going home and balikbayans visiting their relatives this holiday season, a chance to enjoy the quality films.

This year’s movie festival will only run for 10 days, or until until Jan. 3. Last year, participating MMFF films were shown for two weeks.

“We want them to bring back the two-week running [showing] schedule. Initially, we agreed that it will be 10 days only and not nationwide but now the people are the once making the appeal. It is incumbent upon us to request to give additional days. As I was saying its not about the money, but what we can give our children later on,” Orbos said.

Officials of the MMFF executive committee said during the first day of showing on Christmas Day that the festival reached its gross revenue target.

“We have reassessed and set a new benchmark for this festival,” the committee said. “This as a real bonus as we have already achieved what we started out to in the first place, which is the cultural advancement through our Filipino films.”

“You cannot put a price at something which the future generations of Filipinos will find priceless and ageless,” the group added.

The committee said the top four earners were “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2,” “Die Beautiful,” “Seklusyon” and “Vince and Kath and James.”

Last year, the MMFF earned P1.020 billion, which is more than the P15 million in total revenues that the festival posted in 2014.

‘Solve Caloocan killings’

By Jun David

P

HILIPPINE National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa gave the Northern Police District chief and the Caloocan police 24 hours to solve the killing of seven civilians, including two minors and a pregnant women, in Caloocan City Wednesday night.

“If the case is not solved, I will must be done to give justice to the relieve those who should be re- children,” Dela Rosa said. lieved. Hopefully those who need The ultimatum will end at 9 a.m. to be arrested will be caught. All today (Friday).

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has convicted ex-Baganga mayor Gerry Morales of Davao Oriental over a questionable procurement of 11,000 pieces of deworming tablets worth P196,900.

Morales, along with former municipal officials Emeritos Jovilla, Francisco Jimenez and Reymundo Escamillan, were found

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF EMERGENCY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS 2015-2016 OF LEYTE V ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (LEYECO V) WITH AUTHORITY TO SECURE LOAN AND MOTION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, ERC CASE NO. 2016 -162 RC LEYTE V ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. (LEYECO V), Applicant. x------------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 18 August 2016, Leyte V Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO V) filed an Application (With Motion for the Issuance of Provisional Authority) seeking the Commission’s approval of its Emergency Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Projects for 2015-2016, with authority to secure loan.

LEYECO V alleged the following in its Application: I.

THE APPLICANT

1.

The applicant, LEYECO V is a non-stock, non-profit Electric Cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the Presidential Decree 269, as amended, with capacity to sue and be sued, with principal office address at San Pablo, Ormoc City, Leyte where it may be served with summons and other legal processes, represented in this instance by its General Manager, ENGR. JUANITO E. JORDA, JR., who is authorized to file this application per Board Resolution No.125 series of 2015 dated November 30, 2015, copy of which is hereto attached as “Annex A”.

Herein applicant is the exclusive franchise holder issued by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to operate an electric light and power services in the City of Ormoc and 11 municipalities in the 3rd & 4th Congressional Districts of Leyte Province. A copy of Applicant LEYECO V’s Certificate of Franchise is hereto attached as “Annex B”.

II.

THE ANTECEDENT FACTS

3.

Prior to this filing, applicant’s Capital Expenditure Projects under its 20112015 Distribution Development Plan (DDP) was approved by the Honourable Commission through ERC promulgated Decision dated April 13, 2015 under ERC Case No. 2011-136 RC.

4.

5.

The aforementioned ERC Decision has confirmed some of the CAPEX projects funded through National Electrification Administration (NEA) fund subsidy for Yolanda Recovery Rehabilitation Plan (YRRP); other proposed CAPEX projects were approved for acquisition and commissioning; and several projects were deferred; This Application covers the items of CAPEX projects 2011-2015 that though deferred by the Honourable Commission, but due to present existing circumstances, are badly needed to be acquired and commissioned on the year 2015 to 2016, details of which are as follows:

PROJECT PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2015 2016 CODE Network Projects (Substation Development Plan) (NP-SDP) NP-SDP-01 New 20M VA Ormoc Substation 18,900,000 23,000,303 New 10 M VA Palompon 13,200,000 28,334,303 Substation NP-SDP-02 Construction of 69kV Line for the 4,635,540 1,986,660 Proposed 10 M VA Palompon Substation Non-Network Project (NNP) NNP-01 Accounting 3,388,000 Computerization System NNP-02 Reliability Analysis Software 240,000 NNP-03 Short Circuit Analysis Software 356,000 TOTAL PROJECT COST 40,719,540 53,321,266 6.

Dayamla, 25; Ednel Santor, 22; and Kenneth Lim, 20. All were residents of Package 14, Barangay 176, Bagong Silang in Caloocan City.

Another victim, 18-year-old Edward Villanueva, is still fighting for his life at the Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

NPD Dir. Roberto Fajardo claimed one of the victims was involved in the illegal drug trade. He said the killing may have been a case of a drug-related feud.

One of four suspects has already been arrested, Fajardo said.

Ombudsman convicts former mayor for graft

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

2.

Dela Rosa, however, appealed to the media to stop conditioning the minds of the public that the police are behind the summary killings in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody antinarcotics war.

“Please stop insinuating to the public that this is the work of the police...This is a drug-related clash.

Let’s not poison the minds of the public,” he said.

The fatalities were identified as Angelito Soriano, 16; Jonel Segovia, 15; Sonny Espinosa, 20; Cristina Santor, 45; Analyn

TOTAL 41,900,303 41,534,303 6,622,200

3,388,000 240,000 356,000 94,040,806

On January 14, 2016 herein Applicant filed similar case before the Honorable Office of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) docketed as ERC Case No. 2016-004 RC. During the scheduled Public Hearing of the aforementioned case on August 9, 2016, the said ERC Case No. 2016-004 RC was ruled as non-compliant with the ERC Order dated 21 June 2016 with respect to jurisdictional requirement specifically on: “the publication of the Notice of Public Hearing in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, twice (2x) within two (2) successive weeks, the dates of publication not being less than seven (7) days apart, ...” Though Applicant LEYECO V made the publications in two (2) national newspapers; but, the dates of publications were only five (5) days apart, contrary to the directive of seven (7) days apart; and some certifications issued by LGUs have no seal mark. Despite the manifestations and appeal for reconsideration by herein Applicant, the ERC through its Hearing Officer ruled otherwise, dismissing the ERC Case No. 2016-004 RC for non-compliance to jurisdictional requirement.

However, the ERC Hearing Officer, in open court, had advised the Applicant LEYECO V to re-file the case the soonest possible time. Hence, herein Applicant LEYECO V is respectfully re-filing this similar case, as captioned above, for approval of its Emergency Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Projects 2015-2016 implementation, with Authority to Secure Loan and Motion for the Issuance of Provisional Authority.

III.

LEGAL BASIS FOR THE APPLICATION

7.

This emergency CAPEX Application is in compliance to Resolution No. 26, series of 2009, “A Resolution Amending the Rules for the Approval of Regulated Entities’ Capital Expenditure Projects” adopted by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) pursuant to Section 43 of the Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, in relation to ERC Resolution No. 20, series of 2010, which categorically provides that all capital expenditure projects shall be submitted for approval of the Honourable Commission prior to their implementation.

8.

Moreover, the prayer seeking for authority to secure loan from the Honourable Commission, to finance the aforementioned Emergency CAPEX, is being filed pursuant to the power of ERC mandated under Section 20, parag. (g) of the Commonwealth Act Bo. 146, known as The Public Service Law.

IV.

STATEMENT OF FACTS OF LEYECO V’s DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

9.

Though LEYECO V’s Distribution System was devastated by super typhoon Yolanda last November 8, 2013, most of its facilities were already restored through the help of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) under its Yolanda Restoration and Rehabilitation Program (YRRP).

guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The four were slapped with a jail term of six to 10 years as well as perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

They were also ordered to pay the government P196,900 in civil liability.

The Ombudsman prosecutors were able to prove that the accused connived with one another and acted

with evident bad faith in procuring 110 boxes of deworming tablets in the guise of an emergency purchase to circumvent the law on competitive public bidding.

Earlier, Morales was also convicted by the Sandiganbayan over the irregular purchase of oil and grease.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan ordered a 90-day suspension on Zamboanga City Water District general

manager Leonardo Rey Vazquez; department manager Lovell Abad, and division managers Teotimo Reyes Jr., Arnulfo Alfonso, Rodrigo Vega and Fernando Camba.

In 2015, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Vazquez for the rigged bidding of the Pasonanca-Sta. Maria Line rehabilitation project, and the delay and failure to conduct post-qualification proceedings.

10. And on April 13, 2015, the ERC granted the go signal to herein Applicant LEYECO V to proceed with the acquisition and implementation of some of its proposed 2011-2015 CAPEX projects, re: reclosers; power capacitor; renovation of engineering building; procurement of service utility vehicles; procurement of hydraulic boom trucks; procurement of tools and equipment. However, other proposed 2011-2015 CAPEX projects were deferred and suggested to be included in the next CAPEX proposal for 2016-2020.

24. It bears to repeat that this instant Application is being filed ahead of the regular CAPEX timeline, for the same is considered ‘Emergency CAPEX’ which must be implemented starting this year 2015 and must be finished on 2016; otherwise, LEYECO V Substations in Ormoc and in Tabango will be overloaded. Further delay on the implementation of this line-up “Emergency CAPEX’ will result to frequent power interruptions and non-accommodation of new consumers into the system.

11. At present, some households and establishments which were affected by super typhoon Yolanda, have now re-applied for power connections to LEYECO V’s distribution system, and consequently power demands are rapidly increasing within the franchise area of LEYECO V. Please see LEYECO V System Energy (kWh) Sales Forecast in 2016 to 2028, “Annex C”.

25. Considering the foregoing, Applicant respectfully prays that while the instant application is pending, it be granted a provisional authority to proceed in securing a loan for the acquisition and commissioning of the proposed ‘Emergency CAPEX’, pursuant to Rule 14, Section 3 of ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure.

26. In support to this request for provisional authority pending final approval of the instant Application, a judicial affidavit of LEYECO V’s Planning & Energy Trading Division Head is hereto attached and made integral part of this application and marked as “Annex X”.

12. Recent assessment and evaluation of LEYECO V’s existing loading and available substation capacity showed that its 20MVA Substation in Ormoc City is critically loaded up to 95.70% this year 2015. The situation of the power transformer is at the critical level, wherein at any time soon, it could be busted considering the growing demand in Ormoc City. Moreover, the Tabango Substation which has a present load of 66.17% will surely exceed the 70% loading criterion come 2016. Please see Substation Capacity Analysis, “Annex D”.

13. Hence, to avoid power interruptions and accommodate rapidly increasing power demands from existing and new consumers, the aforementioned proposed Emergency CAPEX Network Projects are needed and must be implemented this 2015-2016.

14. On the other hand, LEYECO V is at present encountering difficulties in restoring its computerization system, after the same was struck and destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda on November 8, 2013. In fact, Applicant is relying at present on its old and almost obsolete 1998 Manual Accounting System. Thus, the proposed procurement of Accounting Computerized System Software & Hardware.

15. Since then, LEYECO V has no reliability software that can be used to simulate its system performance. Manual assessment of its system’s reliability was so tedious considering that LEYECO V distribution line is composed of thousands of nodes. Thus, the proposed acquisition of ‘Reliability Analysis Software’ will enable the Applicant to accurately simulate its system’s reliability performance and comply its multi-year CAPEX application within the timeline.

IX. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTS 27. In support of this Application, LEYECO V has hereto submit attached documents for ERC evaluation, and are being made integral parts hereof, to wit: ANNEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N 0 P Q

16. Likewise, LEYECO V has no short circuit analysis software that can be used to simulate its system’s safety performance. Again, the proposed acquisition of ‘Short Circuit Analysis Software’ would enable the Applicant to accurately do simulation test and processes, and readily comply its multi-year CAPEX preparation.

V.

R S

URGENCY OF THE PROPOSED CAPEX 2015-2016 ACQUISITION

17. The instant Application requesting immediate acquisition and commissioning of aforementioned ‘Emergency CAPEX Projects 2015-2016’ is actually a remedial action/solution proposed by applicant, LEYECO V to avert impending busting of its Ormoc City Sub-Station due to overloading, which at present already exceeds the 70% capacity limit. Likewise, the proposal if granted will avoid the overloading of LEYECO V’s Palompon Sub-Station, and maintain compliance of performance standard criteria required under Philippine Distribution Code (PDC) and the safety standards of the Philippine Electrical Code (PDC).

T U V w X Y

18. The proposed Non-Network projects are equally urgent for acquisition and implementation, for LEYECO V to improve its service efficiency and to accurately simulate its complicated Distribution System. The same are necessary in the preparation of LEYECO V’s multi-year CAPEX projects and in periodic evaluation & analysis of its Distribution System.

X.

VI. INDICATIVE RATE IMPACT 19. Applicant LEYECO V has existing Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditure (RFSC) at a rate of P0.2904 per kWh. Computing the RFSC for the year 2015, the total revenue expected to be earned at 95% collection efficiency is PhP44,153,287.20. Obviously, this revenue is not enough to finance the said ‘Emergency CAPEX’ requirement, more so that Applicant is still recovering from the devastation brought about by super typhoon Yolanda. However, proceeds of the RFSC starting the year 2015 can be used in financing the annual amortization of a loan. As such, the projected cash inflow for the years 2015 to 2021 are as follows: Simulation of RFSC Revenue Vs Debt Servicing Cash INFLOW RFSC Sub Total Collection Efficiency (%) Net Cash Flow

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

44,153,287.20 45,760,070.40 47,563,454.40

49,367,128.80

51,170,222.40

52,973,606.40 54,777,280.80

44,153,287.20 45,760,070.40 47,563,454.40 95% 97% 98%

49,367,128.80 99%

51,170,222.40 99%

52,973,606.40 54,777,280.80 99% 99%

41,945,622.84 44,387,268.29 46,612,185.31

48,873,457.51

50,658,520.18

52,443,870.34 54,229,507.99

Cash 2015 2016 2017 OUTFLOW DEBT SERVICING 20,016,460.50 48,724,501.76 37,586,162.54 Current CAPEX 1 555,992.55 2,236,189.81 3,474,288.41 Others 293,727.99 CAPEX2 5,661,969.59 CAPEX 3 ERC Capex 305,396.55 399,909.49 Approval Fees Sub Total 21,171,577.59 51,360,601.06 46,722,420.53

2018

.2019

2020

NATURE OF DOCUMENT Board Resolution No. 125 series of 2015 dated November 30, 2015 A copy of LEYECO V’s Certificate of Franchise LEYECO V System Energy (kWh) Sales Forecast in 2015 to 2028 Substation Capacity Analysis Palompon Substation Lot Justification Accounting Computerization System Total Estimated Cost Accounting Computerization Software Proposal Reliability Analysis Software Proposal Reliability Software Economic Analysis Short Circuit Analysis Software Proposal Short Circuit Analysis Software Economic Analysis ERC Decision dated April 13, 2015 on LEYECO V CAPEX 2011-2015 under ERC Case no. 2011-136 RC Authority to Secure Loan for Emergency CAPEX 2015-2016 Copy of Audited Financial Statement including notes for test year 2013 Copy of Audited Financial Statement including notes for test year 2014 Letter of Approval of Lending Institution from where loan is to be secured.

Details or Specification of the equipment projects and/or items to be purchased/built and their estimated cost to which the proceeds of the loan will be utilized.

Bases/Reasonableness of the estimated cost per project/equipment Amortization Schedule showing principal and interest payments of loan and the exchange rate at the time of payment Detailed schedule of Utilization (Annual RF/MCC Utilization - Test year and prior 2 years) Computation of indicative rate impact of the projects Computation of Financial Ratios (test year and projected years of payment of loans). Justifications, study, computation and benefits resulting from securing loans NEA Loan Profile 2014 to present Judicial Affidavits in support of the prayer for Provisional Authority General Assembly Resolution No. 01, Series of 2016. Authorizing the LEYECO V Management to Secure Loan for Emergency CAPEX 2015-2016 in the amount of Php94,040,806.00

COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING REQUIREMENTS 28. Applicant LEYECO V has duly complied with pre-filing requirements mandated under Rule 3, Section 4 (e) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the EPIRA, and as required in Section 2, Rule 6, of ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, by furnishing copies of the Application together with its supporting annexes to the Sangguniang Bayans of 11 municipalities in 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts of the Province of Leyte; in Sangguniang Panlungsod of Ormoc City; and in Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Province of Leyte. It likewise published the Application in its entirety in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Leyte, where the franchise area of Applicant LEYECO V is located. Proof pre-filing compliance are hereto attached as “Annex Z - onwards” and made as integral part hereof.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, PREMISES considered, it is most respectfully and humbly prayed of this Honorable Commission that pending evaluation and hearing, PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY be issued to Applicant LEYECO V, authorizing it to secure loan from NEA of the needed funding for the immediate implementation of identified EMERGENCY CAPEX, and that after due notice and hearing, the instant APPLICATION BE DULY APPROVED.

2021

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

34,415,120.31 7,032,465.89

33,809,815.60 6,753,705.89

33,049,716.28 32,872,153.16 6,497,509.21 6,243,559.59

5,661,969.59 7,410,519.02

5,661,969.59 7,410,519.02

54,520,074.80

53,636,010.09

0 20,774,045.25 (6,973,332.77) (110,235.22) (5,646,617.29) Add: 20,774,045.25 13,800,712.48 13,690,477.26 Previous years Balance Accumulated 13,800,712.48 13,690,477.26 8,043,859.97 balance

(2,977,489.91) 8,043,859.97

(175,843.75) 5,066,370.05

2,041,306.64 4,890,526.30

5,066,370.05

4,890,526.30

6,931,832.94

5,661,969.59 7,410,519.02

5,661,969.59 7,410,519.02

52,619,714.09 52,188,201.36

20. With the above simulation WHICH RESULTED TO AN ACCUMULATED RFSC BALANCE OF Php 6.9M, the current RFSC in the amount of Php0.2904 is still considered to be enough and sufficient to finance both the existing and forecasted loan payment. Thus, LEYECO V WILL NOT REQUEST additional RFSC for this proposal.

VII. REQUEST FOR AUTHORITY TO SECURE LOAN 21. The total fund requirement of this instant ‘Emergency CAPEX’ 2015-2016 in the amount of Ninety Four Million Forty Thousand Eight Hundred Six Peso (PHP94,040,806) will be sought from financing program of the National Electrification Administration (NEA). Applicant LEYECO V has existing approved credit line from NEA, and the aforementioned fund requirement was applied for loan at interest rate of 6.5 % per annum for a loan term period of ten (10) years with grace period of one (1) year. The loanable amount will be released by NEA in two (2) tranches (2015 & 2016).

22. Considering the urgency of this matter, Applicant LEYECO V has already started the bidding of the above-listed equipment under ‘Emergency CAPEX’. In fact, the land where the Sub-Station will be established was already negotiated and secured. Hence, LEYECO V is respectfully praying for the Honourable Commission to likewise give the needed ‘Authority to Secure Loan’ upon approval of this ‘Emergency CAPEX Application’. Please see attached write-up on ‘Authority to Secure Loan’ marked as “Annex M” and supporting documents marked as “Annexes N to W”.

VIII. MOTION FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 23. All the foregoing allegations are repleaded by reference in support of the instant Motion for the issuance of provisional authority.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 18 January 2017 at one o’clock in the afternoon (1:00 P.M.), at LEYECO V’s principal office at Brgy. San Pablo, Ormoc City, Leyte.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: i. ii. iii.

The petitioner’s name and address; The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1) The name and address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing.

Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairman JOSE VICENTE B. SALAZAR, and the Honorable Commissioners ALFREDO J. NON, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, and GERONIMO D. STA. ANA, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 8th day of December 2016 at Pasig City.

ATTY. NATHAN J. MARASIGAN Chief of Staff Office of the Chairman and CEO Standard – Dec. 30, 2016 & Jan. 6, 2017

Sports

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Former no. 1 Ivanovic retires

P

ARIS—Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic on Wednesday announced her retirement from tennis, admitting that the physical toll of the circuit had proved too much.

The 29-year-old Serbian held the top spot for 12 weeks in 2008, the season when she claimed her sole Grand Slam success by winning the French Open.

“I’ve decided to retire from professional tennis,” announced Ivanovic after a 13-year career.

“It has been a difficult decision, but there’s so much to celebrate.”

The Serb added: “I was ranked number one in the world and won Roland Garros in 2008. I’ve seen the highs I never dreamt of achieving.

“I won 15 WTA Tour singles titles, I played in three Grand Slam finals and a Fed Cup final and played so many memorable matches.

“But seeing those ‘highs’ in any professional sport requires top physical form and it’s well known that I’ve been hampered by injury.

“I can only play if I can perform up to my own high standard and I can no longer do that so it’s time to move on.”

Ivanovic’s last outing was a first-round loss at the US Open in September, a result that saw her drop out of the top 50 for the first times since 2010.

She announced at the time that she had taken the decision to stop playing until 2017 on medical advice over a recurring wrist injury,

with a problematic toe also needing surgery.

WTA chairman Steve Simon called Ivanovic a “true champion and a great ambassador for the sport of women’s tennis”.

“She has contributed greatly to the entire sport, both in her home country of Serbia and across the globe,” Simon said.

“She will certainly be missed on our tour as she is not only one of a very select few that achieved the WTA No 1 ranking but is also one of the most respected players on Tour.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s Nick

Kyrgios said Saturday he was ready for scrutiny at next month’s Australian Open, as the volatile star prepares for his comeback after a playing ban.

The controversial 21-year-old said his forced hiatus from tennis —when a meltdown at the Shanghai Masters in October resulted in an initial eight-week suspension— has proved a blessing.

A condition of the ATP reducing the ban to three weeks meant Kyrgios has been seeing a sports psychologist to prepare him for the new tennis season.

“I needed to shut down really

after a very long and tough year,” Kyrgios told Fairfax Media on Saturday.

He added he was now focusing on “managing my schedule and time better to help with physical and mental freshness”.

Kyrgios knows he will be in the spotlight at his home Grand Slam tournament and he is working to ensure the media pressure does not derail his campaign.

“Look, the added media interest is never easy and it’s something that I haven’t fully got my head around or got used to, but what can I do?” Kyrgios said.

Russia blasts New York Times’ doping report MOSCOW—Russia on Wednesday blasted a report in The New York Times that officials have acknowledged a massive sports doping conspiracy, reiterating claims there was no government involvement.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that the acting director general of Russia’s scandal-mired national anti-doping agency had “for the first time” conceded officials conducted the programme to cheat.

“It was an institutional conspiracy,” Anna Antseliovich was reported as telling the US newspaper in an article datelined from Moscow.

Antseliovich and others interviewed continued to reject the characterization of the doping scheme as “state-sponsored”, telling the Times that top government officials were not involved.

But Moscow later slammed the article, with anti-doping agency RUSADA insisting that Antseliovich’s words were “distorted and taken out of context”.

The New York Times reporter “took these words out of context, creating the impression that RUSADA’s leadership had admitted to an institutional system of a doping cover-up in Russia”, the agency said in a statement.

“We want to underline that RUSADA does not and cannot have the authority to admit or deny such facts,” it said.

In a later interview with a Moscow radio station, Antseliovich also said her remarks had been “taken out of context and widely reinterpreted”.

However, the US newspaper stood by its account with the writer of the story, Rebecca Ruiz, saying the quotes were correct.

Richard McLaren said in a new report for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) this month that more than 1,000 Russian athletes in some 30 sports took part in a plan for Moscow sports ministry officials to use banned drugs at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the 2012 London Summer Games and other global events.

Russia has admitted that it had a problem with doping but insists that there is no proof there was a stateorchestrated programme to cheat, a dogged denial that critics say means Moscow will never tackle the issue.

The Kremlin repeated earlier rejections of allegations of state involvement in doping, while also casting doubt on the latest report in The New York Times. AFP

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, serving the ball to France’s Oceane Dodin during their women’s first round match at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris, announced her retirement from tennis. The 29-year-old Serbian held the top spot for 12 weeks in 2008, the season when she claimed her sole Grand Slam success by winning the French Open. AFP

Turf Company turns over golf carts to Praverda Verde Pacers’ coach, THE Turf Company, one of the country’s leading and most trusted distributors of irrigation systems, precision mowing equipment, golf cars and other utility vehicles, recently turned over 75 units of Texas Eagle 2-seater electric EG2028K01 golf carts to Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club.

The 400-hectare world-class golf course is considered one of the best in the country with slopping long fairways with big undulating and challenging greens. It joined the roster of The Turf Company prestigious roster of clients made up of the country’s renowned and upsacale golf courses.

Texas Eagle, exclusively distributed by The Turf Company, boasts the finest golf, utility and transportation vehicles in the industry preferred by industry leaders.

Aside from providing end-to-end solutions, The Turf Company is also

George fined for criticizing NBA referees

Photo shows (seated from left) Robert Aniado, leader cart attendant; Michael Retuya, cart attendant; Joseph Carpio, head marshall; Roland Miranda cart technician; standing (from left) Redge Nieva, sales engineer, The Turf Company; Lyn Dabu, front office clerk representing Myra morales, golf operations manager and Joven Cunanan, front office clerk.

proud of its excellent after-sales service and reliable technical support.

The Turf Company is located at 9622 Kamagong St., San Antonio Village,

Makati City. For inquiries, please call (+632)8908017 loc. 109 or send a message to mobile numbers 0917536466 3/09328827802/09162417801. You may

also email at sales@turfcom.net.ph., rscasequin@turfcom.net.ph and rmnieva@turfcom.net.ph Visit its website: www.theturfcompany.com.ph

Jamaica’s Bolt to focus on 100m in swansong season LOS ANGELES—Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt plans to concentrate on the 100 metres in the 2017 season which will bring the curtain down on a glorious career in which he has captured nine Olympic gold medals.

“Right now, it’s my last season and I have to just go out there and enjoy,” Bolt told Jamaica-based The Gleaner newspaper.

“I think we have done the bulk of the work over the 10 years we have been working,

so now it’s my last season.

“The focus is on the 100m, and I will just be trying to enjoy the season, not too much stress,” he added.

The 30-year-old Bolt dominated the sprint events over an unprecedented span of years,

winning the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meter relay at three consecutive Olympic Games.

He is also the record holder in the 100 metres (9.58sec) and 200 metres (19.19), and has won 11 world titles.

Bolt says he plans to keep busy in 2017 and compete in plenty of track meets.

“It’s all about my fans. I think they always show me a lot of love, and I am just going to go out there for them and do my best as always,” Bolt said. AFP

Shakey’s V-League renamed Philippine V-League SPORTS CENTER REUEL VIDAL THEY finally did it.

I read at tiebreakertimes.com that Sports Vision will rename Shakey’s V-League (SVL) to Philippine V-League starting next year.

According to the report Sports Vision president Ricky Palou said the league will change its name effective during its 14th season which unreels in March, 2017. He added that the name change is actually just one of the many changes to be made by the league that started it all.

This news hasn’t made as much noise (yet) as it deserves but this is like a shot fired across the bow of the Philippine Super Liga.

This means the PVL can now

entertain big corporations because it will do away with the self-limiting name of the league to a name which welcomes everyone.

A giant corporation like Petron will likely not join a league named after a fast-food company, regardless of how successful and prestigious it is, but it will not be averse to joining a national volleyball league.

Another important development is that PVL will start its 2017 season in March with the importspiced Reinforced Conference instead of launching the season with the Open Conference which has been its practice these past years.

Now personally I think this is a great marketing strategy.

While competition is probably most emotional when the schoolbased UAAP and NCAA teams are at the forefront you have to admit that the casual fans are most attracted to watch when the lily-white, blonde, long-legged, beautiful (mostly) foreign imports take the floor.

As in basketball parlance the PVL will start with its first five. In this case the conference with the bigger-than-life imports from the Americas, Thailand maybe European countries. The Open Conference will follow in July.

The Sports Vision president said they want the Collegiate Conference to be held close to the start of the UAAP and NCAA, which are usually held late in the year.

This not only benefits the PVL but also benefits the school teams because it will help them prepare for their school’s regular competition.

A great example of this is the San Beda Lady Red Spikers. San Beda’s ladies team has never even made it to the Final Four of the NCAA. In the present NCAA competition the San Beda ladies squad is a legitimate title contender after competition in the SVL prepared them for the NCAA wars.

Another welcome development is that there will be competition

for men. The Spikers’ Turf male competition will be integrated into the regular calendar in 2017.

Palou said the men’s league has shown a lot of promise and that Sports Vision will definitely keep it in the annual calendar.

Finally, for me the most welcome development is that Shakey’s will remain as presenting or a major sponsor. This is good news indeed because after all, the partnership between Shakey’s and Sports Vision has been successful for more than a decade.

From the “Shakey’s V-League” into “V-League Presented by Shakey’s.” Pwede. *** The biggest asset of the PVL is its track record of success and excellence over the years. With the name change I expect the league to become even bigger than ever before.

While Shakey’s provided the league stability with its sponsorship it also meant that big corpora-

tions like Petron or RC Cola will probably not be joining anytime soon because of the league’s name.

Like an armor the name Shakey’s V-League protected and provided stability. But it also limited any potential for growth. With the name change to Philippine V-League I expect big corporations to now join the league that started it all.

The second biggest asset of PVL I believe is the tie-up with ABS-CBN with V-league games broadcast over the network’s S+A free channel.

Not only does ABS-CBN provide excellent coverage they also have the marketing expertise and clout to promote their programs so that they don’t only get maximum viewership but they are also able to take full advantage of all opportunities to gain sponsors.

They just have to find a way to fit the PVL games in between the UAAP and NCAA basketball and volleyball games.

NEW YORK—The NBA fined Indiana Pacers forward Paul George and head coach Nate McMillan on Wednesday over their comments criticizing league officials in the wake of the team’s loss to Chicago on Monday.

George, who was fined $15,000, was anticipating such a move even as he voice his frustration after the game.

“I’ve been fined multiple times,” George said, but went on to say he believes the Pacers don’t get the benefit of the doubt on foul calls.

“Since I’ve been in this jersey we’ve always fought this battle,” George said. “Maybe the league has teams they like so they can give them the benefit of the doubt. We’re the little brother of the league. We’re definitely the little brother of the league.”

George finished the game with 14 points, but he and McMillan were both irked that the Pacers star went to the free throw line just once.

“They’ve got to give us more respect,” a steamed McMillan said after the game in remarks that brought a $10,000 f ine.

“Paul shot one free throw the entire game, played 39 minutes. This is the second game where he’s getting a lot of grabbing, a lot of holding.

“They (opponents) are getting away with a lot of grabbing on Paul. They (officials) have got to call the game both ways.”

The fines were announced in a statement Wednesday from NBA executive vice president Kiki VanDeWeghe. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS

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

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

A8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

Sports

Corpus, partner wrest control

YUTO Katsuragawa bucked a bogey opening and a doublebogey finish with a cluster of birdies to fire a three-under 65 while partner Carl Corpus carded a 70 as they pooled a 135 in aggregate play to grab the lead in the second round of the NGAP National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in QC yesterday.

Counting their 66 in the four-ball Wednesday, Corpus and Katsuragawa assembled a 201 for a four-shot lead over Ryan Monsalve (74) and Lanz Uy (67), who combined for a 141 and a 205 heading to the final round of the 54-hole championship where play shifts to two-ball foursome in the event sponsored by the PLDT Group, the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart and Metro Pacific Investment Corp.

Ira Alido and Paolo Wong, who sizzled with a 62 in the first round, struggled in the aggregate format with the former limping with a 74 and the latter carding a 73 for a 147.

They slid to third at 209.

Gab Manotoc shot a 71 while Jelbert Gamolo hobbled with a 74 for a 145 and 210 for fourth and the Magcalayo

brothers – Jolo (75) and Jonas (73) – assembled a 212 after a 148. Raymart Tolentino (74) and Carlo Villaroman (78) stood at 216 after a 152 in the tournament held as part of the National Amateur Golf Tour and hosted by CAGC. Carlo Gatmaytan (73) and Tomi Arejola (78) carded a 151 for a 221 in a tie with the Paqo Barro (82)-Joseph Orbito (74) pair, who shot a 156, while Bianca Pagdanganan (74) and Diana Araneta (83) made 157 for a 222 followed by Harmie Constantino (74) and Gabriel Macalaguim (81), who had a 223 after a 155.

Katsuragawa, spearhead of Manila Southwoods in its various club title runs, including the recent Fil-Am Championship in Baguio, stumbled with a bogey on the first hole but fought back with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4. He dropped a shot on the sixth but birdied Nos. 8 and 9.

He sustained the momentum at the back and hit two more birdies on Nos. 10 and 12, dropped a shot on the next but recovered with birdies on Nos. 14 and 17 before holing out with a 7 after missing the green and three-putted.

Yuto Katsuragawa (left) and Carl Corpus wait for their turn to putt on No. 3.

Women sports take a hit in SEAG

By Peter Atencio

T

WO of the country’s top female athletes, multi-titled boxer Josie Gabuco and weightlifter and Olympic silver medallist Hidilyn Diaz, won’t see action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Rousey

Rousey out to reclaim UFC title LOS ANGELES—Mixed martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey will seek to reclaim the bantamweight title when she steps into the octagon for the first time in more than a year to battle Amanda Nunes in Las Vegas.

The 29-year-old from Los Angeles has not fought since she was pummelled to an upset defeat by Holly Holm in 2015.

Following the loss, Rousey went into seclusion and kept a low profile in the build up to the Nunes fight by declining to do interviews.

“I am very focussed and I know how I am going to stop her. I can’t wait,” Nunes, of Brazil, told the Los Angeles Times.

The Holm loss also shattered the mystique that Rousey had developed during the 12 straight wins that kickstarted her career.

Friday’s UFC women’s contest will be just the 14th of her career while Nunes has fought 17 times, including four losses.

Rousey, a former Olympic judo medallist, is one of MMA’s biggest stars who has helped widen the sport’s global appeal.

So it is no surprise that her return after a protracted absence has created a huge buzz with organizers predicting record pay per view buys.

She was battered by Holm when the two met in Melbourne in November 2015 in what is seen as the biggest upset in women’s MMA history.

Rousey’s rise through the ranks of MMA earned her comparisons to Mike Tyson’s emergence in boxing’s heavyweight division during the 1980s, with the fighter generating excitement after a string of whirlwind knockouts.

However, unlike Tyson, who had fought 37 times before suffering his first loss, Rousey had fought just a dozen times as her boxing inexperience was woefully apparent when she was beaten by Holm. AFP

This is because Malaysian organizers have excluded many women’s events in the coming biennial meet set Aug. 19 to 31.

Amateur Boxing Alliances of the Philippines Executive Director Ed Picson expressed his dis-

appointment on this development and so did Philippine Weightlifting Association vice president Bong Atilano.

“We are very disappointed with this decision by the Malaysian organizers na tanggalin ang women’s

boxing in the SEA Games calendar.

We were hoping that they would reconsider,” said Picson.

The 28-year-old Gabuco has won gold medals in the last four editions of the SEA Games, with the first two in the pinweight class, and the last two in the lightflyweight category.

On the other hand, the 25-yearold Diaz will miss the games for the second straight time after winning the 58-kg silver in the 2013 edition in Myanmar.

Men’s and women’s weightlifting were not included in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games. But, in the 2017 edition, it will make a come-

back in the men’s division, with six events on tap.

Atilano said that with Diaz out of contention in the games, Olympian Nestor Colonia is the only one left whom they can expect to win a gold in the 56 kg side.

“Nestor Colonia has a good chance. But now, we are looking at a younger set of athletes to represent the country. Our athletes are getting old,” said Atilano.

Meanwhile, the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines won’t be able to send a younger set of cyclists to the Games after organizers reportedly imposed an age limit of 19 years old and above.

Organizers have calendared six weight categories in boxing, namely 49 kgs, 52kgs, 56 kgs, the 64 kgs, the 75 kgs and the 81 kgs.

In weightlifting, the listed categories are 56kgs, 62kgs, 69 kgs, 77kgs and +77 kgs.

Last July, the SEA Games Federation Council gave its final approval and endorsed the Local Organizing Committee’s proposal of having a total of 38 sports and 405 events to be contested for the biennial Games.

The Council, in its meeting chaired by President Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar, unanimously approved the proposal.

Butler’s 40, buzzer-beater lift Chicago past Brooklyn CHICAGO—Jimmy Butler’s 40 points included the first buzzerbeating game-winner of his career, but the Chicago Bulls forward said Wednesday’s lastgasp heroics weren’t his dream scenario.

“I hope it never comes down to that, to tell you the truth,” Butler said after the Bulls edged the Brooklyn Nets 101-99.

“I just want to win by a couple possessions so there are no nerves running through anybody.”

Nevertheless, he embraced the moment, draining a 20-foot jump shot over Nets forward Bojan Bogdanovic to seal the victory.

His 40 points—on 14 of 29 shooting—matches his season high. Butler also pulled down 11 rebounds for his fourth doubledouble of the season.

“He was phenomenal, obviously,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “He put the team on his shoulders. He willed them to

the finish line. He hit every one of them. He took the ball to the middle with ball screens, and we let him go to work. He made the right play time and time again.”

After trailing by seven with three minutes remaining, Chicago stormed home to notch their second straight win.

Butler scored nine points in the final 2:24 as Chicago finished the game on an 11-2 run.

The Bulls finished without Dwyane Wade on the floor after the veteran guard departed early in the fourth quarter with a migraine headache.

Wade finished with 16 points, and in a post-game interview asked television camera crews not to use their bright lights.

“I had a headache before the game,” Wade said. “I took a fall in the second half. I didn’t hit my head, but I guess the way my body jerked and reacted kind of triggered my headache back.

I lost a little vision in my eye. I

came out on the court, I couldn’t see the rim.”

Center Brook Lopez led the Nets with 33 points and Brooklyn led for most of the fourth quarter.

Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson defended his decision not to double-team Butler on the final possession.

“We were going to play him straight up,” Atkinson said. “If we were scripting something up, that’s the type of shot (we would like), a highly contested two with a pretty tall guy on him. I thought it was pretty good defense.”

Butler had returned to the game after rolling his ankle with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

“It hurt for a little bit,” Butler said. “It still hurts for a little bit now. But I wanted to play.

I knew ‘D-Wade’ was in the back, so I had to insert myself back into the lineup and made a couple shots.” AFP

The Chicago Bulls mob Jimmy Butler after he made the game-winner against the Brooklyn Nets at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. AFP

Oconer still chasing his first-ever Ronda PH crown WITH a brand new start and renewed vigor, George Luis Oconer seeks to claim his first ever LBC Ronda Pilipinas title when the 2017 edition unfolds on Feb. 4 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Riding for newcomer Go for Gold team, the 24-year-old Oconer showed his real intent by sweeping both the qualifying races in Subic last November and Bacolod City early this month that should make him one of the big favorites to win the sixth edition of the country’s biggest cycling race.

“I’m focused and determined on finally winning it this year because I feel I’m more matured now,” said Oconer, whose closest brush to winning it all came in 2015 when

he finished behind two-time LBC Ronda champion Santy Barnachea, in Filipino.

Oconer, whose father Norberto is a former two-time Olympian cyclist, said he’s happy with the team, skippered by Ronnel Hualda and bannered by Boots Ryan Cayubit and Ronald Lomotos, among others, he has right now.

“I like my team because we have a combination of youth and experience,” said Oconer.

Oconer though will have a mountain to climb as he is expected to face formidable challenges that are expected to come from a Navy-Standard Insurance team that has dominated the three-leg edition this year.

A top purse worth P1 million prize awaits the champion courtesy of presentor LBC and its major sponsors Mitsubishi, Petron, ASG Group, Dans360 and Donen with sanctions from PhlCycling under its president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

The Lloyd Lucien Reynante-captained Navy squad has reigned supreme in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao legs with Jan Paul Morales and Ronald Oranza sharing honors with the former winning two and the latter one.

But Oconer is just focused on one thing—victory.

“If I race intelligently, I will have a

strong chance,” said Oconer.

Other former champions of Ronda were Santy Barnachea (first and fifth editions), Mark Galedo (second), Irish Valenzuala (third) and Reimon Lapaza (fourth).

The main race starts on Feb. 4 with two stages in Ilocos Sur and will pass by Angeles (Feb. 8), Subic (Feb. 9), Lucena, Quezon (Feb. 12), Pili, Camarines Norte (Feb. 14 and 16), Daet (Feb. 17), Paseo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (Feb. 19), Tagaytay and Batangas (Feb. 20), Calamba and Antipolo (Feb. 21), Bacolod, Don Salvador and San Carlos (Feb. 28) before wrapping up with a pair of stages in Iloilo City (March 3 and 4).

MPIC unit to start Calax construction B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

B1

IN BRIEF

The Philippine Stock Exchange marks the last trading day of 2016 with a hornblowing ceremony in Makati City.

The 30-company benchmark index of PSE ended in the red Thursday and lost 1.6 percent this year.

Shown attending the ceremony are (from left) PSE director Alejandro Yu, assistant vice president and head for corporate planning and investor relations John Benette Mamanguion, Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines chief operating officer Renae Rubio, IGC Securities Inc. president Ismael Cruz, PSE chairman Jose Pardo, president and chief executive Hans Sicat and chief operating officer Roel Refran.

Manny Palmero

Govt wants Malaya plant to run in Q1 THE Energy Department ordered the operator of the 620-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant in Rizal province to run the facility during the 20-day maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan.

The Malampaya facility will be shut down from Jan. 28 to Feb. 16, which is expected to affect power supply and electricity prices.

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said aside from the Malaya power plant, the agency was also studying running the 100-MW Avion open cycle natural gas-fired power plants in Batangas.

Fuentebella, however, said the Malaya power plant might not run on full load or only about 70 percent.

“For Avion, they are undergoing commercial testing for running under diesel. I have not gotten the feedback,” he said.

Fuentebella said the Malampaya gas project which powers three power plants in Batangas with a combined capacity of 2,700 MW was spared by typhoon Nina.

He said all materials needed for the maintenance were delivered “so as far, as we’re concerned, on schedule all activities with regard to Malampaya maintenance shutdown.” Alena Mae S. Flores

BoI approves P10-b Tondo housing project

Stocks, peso declined in 2016

S

TOCKS ended 2016 trading in the red, following overnight losses on Wall Street as investors closed out a volatile year for financial markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 5 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 6,840.64 Thursday. The bellwether was also down 1.6 percent this year.

The broader all-share index gained 5 points, or 0.1 percent, to settle at 4,156.07, on a value turnover of P6.3 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 117 to 74, while 50 issues were unchanged.

Eight of the 20 most active stocks closed higher Thursday,

led by GT Capital Holdings Inc., the investment company of tycoon George Ty which climbed 3.3 percent to P1,270 and conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. which rose 2.5 percent to P6.66. Restaurant operator Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. gained 1.8 percent to P11.50.

The peso slightly gained Thursday to end the year at 49.72 against the US dollar, still near a decade low. The local currency depreciated 5.7 percent in

2016.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks were mixed, with Japanese shares slumping while Chinese equities erased earlier declines.

Tokyo followed Wall Street lower Thursday and oil edged down from recent highs as Toshiba’s stock plunged for the third straight day.

The Dow receded after nearing the historic 20,000 benchmark with shares of some banks falling more than one percent after the stock prices had won outsized gains in the rally seen since US election day.

Tokyo saw the biggest fall in Asia-Pacific Thursday with Japanese stocks down one percent but other major markets were also lower with Hong Kong, Shang-

hai, Sydney, Singapore and Seoul all giving up ground.

Japanese shares were heading for their biggest drop in more than a month while Sydney was down from its highest level recorded since August 2015, after Australian stocks advanced by one percent Wednesday as traders returned from the Christmas break.

The yen climbed against the dollar and both main oil contracts fell, ending crude’s nine-day winning streak, after an industry report was believed to show US crude stockpiles climbed last week, Bloomberg reported.

On Wall Street, investors sold equities at the fastest rate since before Donald Trump’s surprise election victory in November,

paring a post-election rally. The dollar had risen since the billionaire’s win on speculation he will boost public spending.

“A market riding on expectations toward a Trump presidency is coming to a close, and we’re starting to focus on reality,” said Mitsushige Akino, an executive officer at Ichiyoshi Investment Management in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News.

“I expect investors to take a more nervous stance toward US economic indicators from here on.”

In Tokyo, Toshiba plunged for the third straight day and was trading almost 20 percent lower two hours after the opening bell, after falling more than 25 percent earlier.

THE Board of Investments approved the application of Tondo Holdings Corp. for a P10.18-billion project under the preferred list of economic and low-cost housing of the Investment Priorities Plan.

“The inclusive growth strategy in the Duterte administration’s 10-point socio-economic agenda will boost the lower income class and join a rapidly expanding middle class segment of the population. This project will go a long way towards addressing the big demand for affordable housing among the rising middle class,” said Trade undersecretary and BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo.

He said more housing projects would mean more jobs being generated not only in the construction segment but also among suppliers.

The “Urban Deca Homes Manila” is ongoing and is expected to be operational by January 2017 providing up to 819 jobs.

The project involves the development of 85,000 square meters in Vitas Street, Tondo, Manila into thirteen 13-story buildings with a total capacity of 13,212 units.

Othel V. Campos

7840

Okada secures license, starts casino operations

7380

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing December 29, 2016

8300

6920 6460 6000

6,840.64 5.80

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing DECEMBER 29, 2016 43.00 45.40 46.60 47.80

P49.720

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P49.700 LOW P49.815 AVERAGE P49.769 VOLUME 286.996M

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

OPRICES IL TODAY

GOZON JOINS ENERGY. FLG Management and Development Corp., the holding company of the Gozon family, and Freyfil Corp., one of the largest construction companies in the Philippines, sign a joint venture agreement to develop renewable energy projects in the country. The joint venture company, Henric Capital Inc., will construct hydro power plants in Kalinga province. Shown during the ceremonial signing are (from left) Freyfil senior vice president for finance Sonny Samia, Freyfil Corp. owner Eric Cruz, FLGMDC chairman Felipe Gozon, FLGMDC business development head Joselito Abrogar and Freyfil general counsel Peter Castillo.

OKADA Manila, the country’s largest integrated casino and resort, said it will officially commence its casino operations today, after securing a provisional casino license from regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Okada Manila said in a statement the grand opening would also take place by the end of February 2017.

“Okada Manila will continue its preview period by officially launching casino operations on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m,, local time. This follows the approval and issuance of a notice to commence casino operations from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. on Dec. 21,” Okada Manila said in a statement Thursday.

“As Okada Manila’s preview

period continues, the opening of the hotel and additional restaurants will be announced in the coming weeks with the grand opening taking place end of February 2017,” it said.

The $2.4-billion Okada Manila is being developed by Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment Inc., the Philippine subsidiary of Universal Entertainment owned by Japanese gaming and pachinko mogul Kazuo Okada.

Okada said Wednesday he hoped to make the Philippines “the next Hawaii” as he looks to expand his business there.

In addition to Manila, Okada said he was also exploring the possibility of operating resorts on the Philippine islands of Palawan and Boracay, both major tourist attractions, in a bid to tap the lucrative Chinese market.

Govt hikes first-quarter Lopez asks miners to fund development borrowing cap to P180b By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

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

By Gabrielle H. Bnaday

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, December 29, 2016

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.8130

Japan

Yen

0.008533

0.4251

UK

Pound

1.222000

60.8715

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128906

6.4212

Switzerland

Franc

0.972479

48.4421

Canada

Dollar

0.737790

36.7515

Singapore

Dollar

0.689655

34.3538

Australia

Dollar

0.718200

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654703

132.2387

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

13.2806

Brunei

Dollar

0.687285

34.2357

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.027781

1.3839

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5634

Euro

Euro

1.040700

51.8404

Korea

Won

0.000825

0.0411

China

Yuan

0.143761

7.1612

India

Rupee

0.014660

0.7303

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.223214

11.1190

New Zealand

Dollar

0.691800

34.4606

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030845

35.7757

1.5365 Source: PDS Bridge

THE government increased the domestic borrowing cap for the first quarter of 2017 to P180 billion to support the growth in public expenditures.

The Bureau of Treasury said in a notice posted in its web site it adjusted the borrowing ceiling for the first quarter to P180 billion from P135 billion.

National Treasurer Tan said in a text message the increase in the overall volume was in lieu of the anticipated rise in expenditure growth in the coming years to support government infrastructure and social programs.

“Even this year, we have observed a marked improvement of the disbursement rate for these programs and expect such to continue. With a larger budget and a wider deficit next year, we are adjusting our periodic borrowing requirement accordingly,” Tan said.

The borrowings will be coursed through the auction of treasury bills and bonds in January to March 2017 to finance next year’s budget deficit target of 3 percent of the economy or P478.1 billion.

The government plans to sell 91-, 182-, and 364-day debt papers on Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Feb. 15, Mar 1, Mar 15, and Mar 29.

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Regina Lopez asked large-scale miners to review their social development and management programs and adopt a more effective “sustainable integrated area development” approach to ensure that their operations bring sustained economic and social benefits to their host communities.

Lopez, in a recent dialog with community relations officers of some of the country’s biggest mining companies, expressed hope the mining companies would take a hard look at SIAD approach as a key to strengthening the SDMP. “What I want to do with the SDMP fund is for the DENR [Department of Environment

and Natural Resources] to jointly manage it with the mining companies and the community. I want to use their funds in the area development approach for more impact,” Lopez said.

Lopez said she wanted to use the fund to improve the productivity of the area.

“I want it to be used to achieve area development, not as dole out, but for improving the productivity of the area,” she said.

Among those present in the meeting were CROs of OceanaGold Philippines, Philex Mining Corp., FCF Minerals, Holcim Philippines and Lafarge-Holcim Aggregates Inc. The CROs are the mining firms’ frontliners, conducting consultations with communities affected

by their operations.

The dialog was the first of a series of nationwide consultations with mining stakeholders being conducted by DENR as it is currently in the process of reviewing the guidelines on the formulation and implementation of SDMPs by mining firms.

SDMPs are provided for in DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-21, which is the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Lopez said a revision of the SDMP guidelines was necessary to address some concerns about the implementation of certain programs, including lack of community counterpart and weak coordination with local development plans, thus resulting in wastage of SDMP funds.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

MPIC unit to start Calax construction A

Vista Land gets P5.2-b funding for ’17 capex

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. secured a P5.15-billion long-term debt to finance next year’s programmed capital spending and repay existing obligations.

Vista Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it obtained 10-year corporate notes worth P5.15 billion at a fixed-rate of 6.1879 percent per annum.

The property developer mandated China Bank Capital Corp. as the lead arranger.

Brittany Corp., Crown Asia Properties Inc., Camella Homes Inc., Communities Philippines Inc., Vista Residences Inc. and Starmalls Inc. are the subsidiary guarantors.

“The proceeds of the facil-

ity will be used to pre-fund the company’s 2017 capital expenditures and refinance its existing indebtedness, and for other general corporate purposes,” Vista Land said.

Vista Land, through whollyowned offshore unit, raised $125 million in January this year from issuance of new debt notes due 2022.

Vista Land is one the leading integrated property developers in the country with presence in about 95 cities and municipalities across 36 provinces.

The company is currently focused on creating integrated urban developments combining lifestyle retail, prime office space, university town, healthcare, themed residential developments and leisure components.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

UNIT of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. plans to start the construction of the P34.5-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway in the first quarter of 2017, ahead of the original schedule.

Based on MPCala Holdings Inc.’s project timeline, the construction of the Laguna segment of Calax is scheduled in the first quarter of 2017, earlier than the original target of July next year.

Construction of the rest of the project sections will start by the

third quarter of 2017.

MPCala tapped DMCI Consunj Inc. to construct the Laguna side of the project, while Leighton Holdings of Australia will build the Cavite side.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2019, also earlier

than the original target of 2020, while operations and maintenance would be from 2020 to 2050.

Calax, one of the largest publicprivate partnership projects, involves the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a fourlane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway.

The P34.5-billion expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at the SLEx-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

Aside from Calax, the Metro Pacific group is currently constructing Segment 10 of North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link, a 5.6-km elevated ex-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.49 43,000 47.95 19,800 88.8 1,730,080 3.79 3,000 112.1 1,068,840 1.35 70,000 38 142,700 9.99 500 16.1 1,200 18.54 152,300 6.6 21,300 0.73 706,000 780 10 0.57 1,619,000 72.6 1,545,320 0.77 115,000 14.36 42,300 24.7 1,400 54.6 124,250 238.4 15,680 145 1,510 90 530 33.55 172,800 190 737,570 1,631 405 74.6 93,680

146,470 948,630 153,639,430 11,370 119,600,125 95,700 5,422,700 4,995 19,320 2,817,368 140,877 515,340 7,800 923,680 112,463,302 88,580 606,112 32,220 6,781,218 3,752,962 217,630 47,510 5,802,140 140,792,848 661,465 6,991,723.50

354,585 3,104,622.50 30,315,571 -744,334.00 -26,912,110 -449,605 2,382 -1,642,830.00 -36,303,823 -267,264.50

41.7 4.52 0.81 1.23 19.54 0.185 97 11.1 16.08 142 22.5 57 90 121 1.85 6.39 11.88 11.1 6.12 7 5.05 21.35 67.6 12.7 16.5 6.03 1.54 194 74.95 2.58 28.1 24.15 14.66 263.2 5.1 3.24 9.82 3.42 11.62 2.12 5.64 1.36 69.2 4.96 225 4.9 2.61 11.2 4.54 0.14 1.42 161.3 4.6 1.34

INDUSTRIAL 41.7 3,266,400 4.6 1,686,000 0.85 248,000 1.23 217,000 19.6 15,000 0.195 1,110,000 97 20 11.1 5,629,200 16.18 1,211,000 142 250 22.9 318,800 58 910 90 340 121 590 1.85 882,000 6.47 95,100 12.9 230,600 11.4 4,121,000 6.12 244,200 7 2,438,800 5.15 8,196,500 22 3,756,300 67.9 158,070 12.7 2,000 16.5 179,800 6.08 138,400 1.58 117,000 194 615,820 74.95 10 2.58 10,000 29 2,342,800 25 351,500 14.8 923,600 265 152,480 5.1 4,200 3.24 779,000 9.95 628,200 4 384,000 11.8 21,000 2.13 2,008,000 5.64 42,300 1.37 207,000 69.8 1,469,530 5 12,500 231 11,600 5.1 851,000 2.75 19,000 11.5 10,836,500 4.59 16,000 0.14 300,000 1.42 40,000 163.5 869,640 4.6 1,000 1.36 2,282,000

137,110,715 7,714,520 204,440 271,130 295,110 206,440 1,955 63,221,292 19,559,248 35,740 7,266,185 52,340 31,315.50 76,870 1,639,030 608,845 2,878,970 46,606,730 1,512,996 17,075,166 42,168,841 81,597,510 10,721,183.50 25,400 2,966,700 840,087 183,720 121,486,452 749.5 25,800 67,517,615 8,787,415 13,686,600 40,462,802 21,588 2,527,060 6,234,258 1,465,190 245,800 4,280,280 238,684 285,530 102,663,776.50 62,332 2,665,592 4,247,000 50,850 124,937,164 73,240 42,000 56,820 141,958,774 4,600 3,137,010

-37,982,020 4,433,220 2,540 -1,940 -3,694,180 -799,860 -228,000 9,280 647 3,370,176 116,159 -16,289,037 18,789,992.00 -27,479,315 -2,264,555.50 -2,948,550 613,658 -4,825,154 -18,829,835 -7,314,915 2,108,760 -3,961,936 439,200 -127,925 11,620 1,706,440 -666 79,733,902 1,107,720 -497,112 58,005,146 -6,900.00

0.46 71.25 12.88 1.2 6 0.31 734 8.54 13.28 8.24 5.75 7.5 0.19 1,284 5.8 69.15 4.3 1.22 7.8 12.88 0.48 6.68 3.49 0.038 1.91 2.62 97 2.5 656 0.83 1.22 262 0.285 0.194 0.25

0.415 70 12.52 1.2 5.95 0.29 729 8.45 12.74 7.95 5.59 5.21 0.18 1,240 5.55 67.65 4.15 1.12 7.63 12.56 0.45 6.3 3.35 0.037 1.9 2.62 92.3 2.5 636.5 0.83 1.21 257 0.275 0.193 0.249

HOLDING FIRMS 0.415 50,430,000 70.8 1,732,590 12.78 3,461,100 1.2 1,000 6 54,600 0.31 850,000 730.5 366,710 8.5 2,194,000 13.26 5,157,500 8.24 27,100 5.75 323,600 7.5 10,500 0.19 150,000 1,270 140,995 5.55 29,200 67.65 3,013,880 4.3 15,000 1.12 10,656,000 7.8 1,526,700 12.56 3,057,800 0.48 170,000 6.66 51,067,500 3.49 29,000 0.038 3,900,000 1.9 788,000 2.62 2,000 92.3 363,040 2.5 1,000 655 450,410 0.83 5,000 1.22 102,000 262 22,070 0.285 180,000 0.194 70,000 0.249 20,000

21,847,150 122,760,072 44,189,308 1,200 327,595 253,500 268,059,445 18,539,594 68,221,660 222,207 1,840,930 73,810 27,100 178,982,645 162,344 206,656,677 62,940 12,267,380 11,862,919 38,865,948 77,300 336,689,353 99,200 144,500 1,499,790 5,240 34,271,751.50 2,500 292,677,350 4,150 124,030 5,776,414 51,000 13,520 4,990

-6,637,496.50 -11,158,506 94,188,995 361,660 17,129,164 88,125,350 79,184,916.50 118,470.00 -4,284,170 -36,150,694 39,230,192 5,077,057 -110,163,105 -

7.6 1.04 6.98 2.35 0.43 32 3.22 4.9 0.56 1.08 1.38 0.159 0.57 39.75 1.55 1 1.25 3.64 0.132

7.5 1.02 6.98 2.09 0.4 31.3 3.09 4.9 0.54 1.05 1.25 0.153 0.55 38.25 1.53 0.99 1.25 3.51 0.128

PROPERTY 7.51 170,600 1.04 138,000 6.98 100 2.35 1,016,000 0.4 6,080,000 32 10,400,700 3.2 7,285,000 4.9 4,600 0.55 1,475,000 1.05 27,000 1.36 1,726,000 0.156 3,460,000 0.56 672,000 38.4 729,700 1.53 5,024,000 1 3,812,000 1.25 10,000 3.57 27,628,000 0.129 4,250,000

1,281,449 141,940 698 2,268,470 2,504,550 330,929,905 23,197,170 22,540 812,980 28,470 2,294,120 539,850 373,930 28,467,520 7,752,980 3,778,540 12,500 98,955,350 552,070

-68,472 414,100 6,425,450 -390,900 -215,050 24,150 96,325 -3,279,550 -42,275,310 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.4 47.9 88.95 3.79 112 1.36 38.2 9.99 16.1 18.44 6.95 0.69 780 0.57 72.8 0.77 14.22 22.45 54.5 239.2 133 89 33.8 193 1,635 75

3.53 47.95 89.1 3.79 112.1 1.4 38.2 9.99 16.1 18.54 6.95 0.73 780 0.58 73.15 0.8 14.36 24.7 54.7 239.8 145 90 33.8 196 1,635 75

3.4 47.5 88.55 3.79 111 1.34 38 9.99 16.1 18.4 6.6 0.69 780 0.57 72.6 0.77 14.22 22.45 54.5 238 133 89 33.55 190 1,631 74.6

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

43.5 4.63 0.83 1.25 20.2 0.185 98.5 11.28 16.14 150 22.8 58 92.95 149 1.86 6.39 11.94 11.18 6.25 7.25 5.1 21.5 67.8 12.7 16.5 6.08 1.56 199.3 74.95 2.58 28.15 24.15 14.66 269 5.24 3.24 10 3.42 11.62 2.15 5.64 1.37 69.2 5 225 4.9 2.61 11.3 4.54 0.14 1.42 165 4.6 1.35

43.5 4.65 0.85 1.27 20.3 0.195 98.5 11.3 16.36 150 22.9 58 93 149 1.89 6.47 12.98 11.4 6.29 7.25 5.17 22 68 12.7 16.5 6.08 1.58 200.4 74.95 2.58 29 25 14.9 269 5.24 3.3 10 4 11.8 2.15 5.66 1.4 70 5 231 5.1 2.75 11.68 4.59 0.14 1.44 165 4.6 1.41

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

0.42 70.9 12.7 1.2 6 0.29 733 8.52 12.74 7.95 5.59 7 0.18 1,240 5.8 69.15 4.15 1.17 7.72 12.7 0.465 6.5 3.49 0.038 1.91 2.62 95.8 2.5 656 0.83 1.21 261.8 0.275 0.193 0.25

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

7.6 1.03 6.98 2.09 0.405 31.65 3.13 4.9 0.56 1.05 1.35 0.154 0.56 38.5 1.54 0.99 1.25 3.53 0.132

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.25 0.39 3.29 30 25.1 1.51 3.25 28.3 1.07 6.95 0.87 4.85

0.28 0.415 3.38 30 26.3 1.56 3.27 28.35 1.09 6.95 0.89 4.95

0.25 0.39 3.29 30 25.1 1.51 3.25 27.95 1.06 6.95 0.86 4.85

0.28 0.415 3.38 30 26 1.56 3.27 28.35 1.09 6.95 0.86 4.95

150,000 550,000 1,183,000 900 2,331,800 145,000 9,000 14,429,000 4,602,000 1,000 1,434,000 7,391,000

40,000 219,350 3,943,360 27,000 60,509,780 223,130 29,270 407,736,350 4,936,190 6,950 1,251,180 36,331,480

-67,500 -17,286,585 21,260 23,540,710 -10,516,670

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

7.6 44.4 1.35 0.04 5.6 6.05 0.063 2.26 93 8.5 1,484 6.17 15.92 2.67 15.3 100 71 0.009 12.48 9.09 0.205 1.3 15.7 4.01 2.39 2 3.85 4.01 2.43 11.24 5.15 8.99 135 10.46 1,375 1.16 0.455 38.15 72.9 5.78 2.55 0.97 1.71 3.47 0.345

7.65 44.4 1.42 0.043 6.3 6.17 0.064 2.3 93.2 8.8 1,509 6.27 17 2.76 15.5 100 71.95 0.0091 12.48 9.09 0.21 1.31 15.88 4.02 2.41 2 3.87 4.05 2.54 11.24 5.16 9.89 135 10.8 1,382 1.17 0.475 39 74.45 5.85 2.6 1 1.89 3.53 0.345

7.6 43.5 1.35 0.04 5.6 6.02 0.062 2.25 92.1 8.2 1,479 6.13 15.68 2.63 14.6 100 70.05 0.0089 12.48 9 0.205 1.29 15.04 3.95 2.39 2 3.76 3.96 2.43 11.24 4.95 8.5 135 10.4 1,352 1.15 0.445 38 72.9 5.75 2.54 0.97 1.71 3.29 0.345

SERVICES 7.64 22,000 43.8 64,300 1.36 246,000 0.042 47,600,000 6.3 42,000 6.15 2,428,100 0.063 7,620,000 2.26 6,135,000 93 253,890 8.34 472,600 1,509 100,755 6.27 311,600 17 1,146,700 2.65 3,175,000 15.48 7,700 100 10 71.95 1,112,510 0.009 25,000,000 12.48 100 9.05 475,000 0.206 14,310,000 1.31 476,000 15.88 200,900 3.96 943,000 2.41 11,000 2 1,000 3.78 6,347,000 4.05 10,019,000 2.49 1,661,000 11.24 4,000 5.16 8,600 9.89 8,600 135 5,823,480 10.6 808,000 1,365 125,615 1.17 4,812,000 0.46 3,260,000 39 1,070,200 74.25 1,303,910 5.75 571,300 2.55 1,227,000 0.97 7,371,000 1.89 10,000 3.29 3,876,000 0.345 10,000

168,059 2,818,690 332,620 1,939,600 244,390 14,876,229 479,070 13,909,720 23,603,411 4,115,057 151,014,775 1,915,805 19,445,352 8,491,130 115,000 1,000 79,829,363.50 225,100 1,248 4,299,330 2,965,600 617,540 3,144,884 3,764,520 26,310 2,000 24,073,380 40,473,330 4,127,940 44,960 44,009 82,132 786,169,800 8,516,278 171,468,575 5,622,090 1,513,750 41,634,775 96,395,194.50 3,302,053 3,138,210 7,270,080 18,710 13,093,890 3,450

-1,950,647 1,240 4,440,420 9,193,867 36,160,290 39,770 -8,030 24,005,556.50 1,248 -20,800 50,226 431,010 -17,250,870 -5,178,450 -281,880 -6,744 98,550 50,569,850 22,230 -79,050 9,000,625 13,992,955 -112,900 -48,740 1,860,910 15,120 -953,260 -

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

0.0033 2.7 5.06 2.23 2.18 0.49 0.465 12.5 2.86 0.26 0.195 0.199 0.011 0.012 2.37 7.8 2.85 0.5 1.03 0.011 4.02 0.012 8.62 3.35 130.5 0.0083

0.0033 2.73 5.08 2.23 2.32 0.55 0.465 12.7 3 0.26 0.196 0.2 0.011 0.012 2.45 7.98 2.85 0.5 1.07 0.011 4.15 0.012 8.69 3.35 130.5 0.0083

0.0032 2.62 4.96 2.1 2.15 0.49 0.45 12.26 2.82 0.255 0.195 0.199 0.011 0.012 2.37 7.7 2.73 0.5 1.03 0.011 4 0.012 8.55 3.3 129.4 0.0083

MINING & OIL 0.0032 142,000,000 2.62 160,000 4.99 150,800 2.23 274,000 2.32 64,000 0.55 60,000 0.45 1,090,000 12.38 32,800 2.86 5,975,000 0.26 310,000 0.196 2,540,000 0.2 30,000 0.011 20,500,000 0.012 13,600,000 2.43 263,000 7.98 2,367,900 2.83 8,000 0.5 50,000 1.06 168,000 0.011 200,000 4.15 23,000 0.012 10,000,000 8.6 1,379,000 3.31 767,000 130 800,990 0.0083 4,000,000

455,400 422,450 755,330 603,780 139,280 32,100 494,250 407,334 17,329,160 80,550 496,850 5,990 225,500 163,200 633,650 18,747,494 22,640 25,000 177,880 2,200 92,630 120,000 11,841,582 2,543,410 104,056,734 33,200

2,730 -92,495 -104,640 -1,566,930 -687,120 368,277.00 397,820 30,533,667 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

44 526 103 104 540 5.9 1,016 1,020 1.04 110.1 1,043 115 2.4 80.9 78.2 79.5 77.1 78

44 543 103 104.5 540 5.9 1,016 1,030 1.04 110.1 1,045 115 2.4 80.9 78.2 79.5 77.1 78

43.85 526 102.6 103.7 540 5.85 1,016 1,020 1.04 110.1 1,043 115 2.4 80.3 78.2 79.5 77.1 78

PREFERRED 44 291,900 543 40 102.6 550 103.7 8,100 540 10 5.85 1,704,000 1,016 5 1,020 3,810 1.04 7,000 110.1 840 1,045 120 115 750 2.4 1,000 80.4 13,270 78.2 18,500 79.5 50 77.1 2,880 78 150

12,843,585 21,210 56,470 845,570 5,400 10,024,830 5,080 3,914,000 7,280 92,484 125,380 86,250 2,400 1,065,713 1,446,700 3,975 222,048 11,700

3,515,585 7,259 5,400 -10,001,250 92,484 -

LR WARRANT

2.13

2.13

2.06

WARRANTS 2.1 298,000

619,990

-359.9999

1,477,059 6,987,000 141,670 35,196,511

54,740 2,741,040 -14,845,663

NAME

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

9.11 3.78 2.84 7.55

FIRST METRO ETF 112.8

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SME

9.2 4.52 2.84 7.99

9 3.78 2.83 7.51

113.1

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 111.9 113 4,870

SHARES

8,428,418 59,446,811 140,683,715

PROPERTY

106,189,224

SERVICES

162,809,315

MINING & OIL

206,822,132

GRAND TOTAL

690,681,899

9.1 4.39 2.84 7.99

161,600 1,619,000 50,000 4,466,600

549,675

-

VALUE 1,655.54 (down) 7.32 562,551,668.37 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,650.20 (down) 73.64 1,092,376,385.14 HOLDING FIRMS 6,992.09 (down) 5.55 1,865,470,725.98 PROPERTY 3,066.46 (up) 21.45 SERVICES 1,302.86 (up) 12.39 1,020,151,098.07 MINING & OIL 11,857.76 (up) 2.63 1,568,898,479.235 PSEI 6,840.64 (down) 5.80 159,926,071.85 All Shares Index 4,156.07 (up) 5.90 6,313,727,728.64 Gainers: 117; Losers: 74; Unchanged: 50; Total: 241

pressway costing P10.5 billion and running from Valenzuela City to C3 in Caloocan City. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017.

Other MPIC’s projects are the P2.6-billion Segment 2 and 3 of NLEx Road-Widening Project to accommodate growing traffic, which started on March 9.

The project will expand the existing two-lane portion of NLEx between Sta. Rita and San Fernando to three lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides, while the current one-lane stretch between Dau and Sta. Ines will be expanded to two lanes in each direction.

TRB also issued a conditional notice to proceed with the construction of the C5 Link Expressway, part of the existing Cavitex network and a P10-billion project spanning 7.6 kilometers to link C-5 Road in Taugig to R-1 (Coastal) Expressway. Construction is expected to start by the first quarter of 2017 upon approval of the final engineering design.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. also signed a joint venture agreement with the city of Cebu and the municipality of Cordova in April 2016 to build the P27.9-billion CebuCordova Bridge project. The 8.25-km bridge project, set to be completed by 2020, will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova.

The group is also building an elevated expressway to connect the northern and southern toll road systems at a cost of P18 billion.

BDO unit named one of world’s best banks GLOBAL Finance magazine named BDO Private Bank one of the world’s best private banks for continuously providing the diverse investment and financial needs of high net-worth clients.

BDOPB is a wholly owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank the largest bank in the Philippines.

“With unprecedented wealth accruing to individuals worldwide, the number of millionaires and billionaires is growing in every region of the world,” Joseph Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, said in a statement.

“Although often viewed as a monolithic group, in truth the wealthy have diverse needs—whether preserving inherited wealth or managing riches gained through entrepreneurship,” he said.

Giarraputo said the annual World’s Best Private Banks Awards help high net-worth investors choose wisely among the myriad private banks with different strengths in wealth advisory services, to identify the firms most likely to understand their individual needs and deliver on the highest level of client service.

Global Finance said it selected the winners making use of entry submissions, market research, input from industry analysts and executives and other users of private banking services.

The winners will officially be honored during the dinner ceremony for the second annual World’s Best Private Banks Awards to be held in New York on Feb. 7.

A full report on the selections will appear in the December issue of Global Finance.

Motoring

Isuzu PH technicians clinch I1GP top spots F ILIPINO talent shone once more on the global stage. The team fielded

by Isuzu Philippines Corporation to the 11th Isuzu World Technical Competition — known as the I1 Grand Prix (GP) — secured the leading spots in the event’s categories.

The I1GP is where technicians coming from the different Isuzu subsidiaries and operations worldwide converge so they could showcase their skills and capabilities. Following a competition format, I1GP allows participants to directly measure their performance on a level playing field against their best peers from around the world.

During the event’s leg held on November 3 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, the Philippine contingent scored 207 points to hold off the challenge posed by the homegrown team to clinch the second spot in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Division.

Thailand managed a score of 199 points, settling for third place, while Indonesia topped the division with a score of 227 points.

Composing the IPC group that competed in the LCV class were team coach Bong Corocoto, IPC Assistant Section Head for Technical Service, and technicians Jumar Venano from Isuzu Pasig and Charlie Belano from Isuzu Alabang.

3rd Place in CV Division (held in Japan)

At the I1GP competitions held on December 1 at the Isuzu Monozukuri Training Center in Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, the IPC contingent successfully stepped up to the last podium spot with a score of 123 points in the event’s Commercial Vehicle (CV) Division. The Filipino team landed behind those from Colombia, which scored 128 points, and Indonesia, who had 158 points.

The Philippine team that competed in the CV division were comprised of technicians Crispin Maldonado of Isuzu Pasig and Erwin Cartagena of Isuzu Cabanatuan. Serving as coach was IPC Assistant Section Head for Training Nap Marquez.

“The performance of the Isuzu Philippines technicians at the 11th Isuzu World Technical Competition should erase any doubt re-

garding the competence of the IPC workforce — these people are definitely world-class. While the results reveal that there is room for improvement, the consistency that Team IPC has demonstrated in this global annual competition also shows that the training IPC technicians receive is capable of setting the standards for Isuzu’s international operations,” IPC President Hajime Koso said.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

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Solar highway – A road paved with good intentions FRANCE on Thursday inaugurated the world’s first “solar highway”, a road paved with solar panels providing enough energy to power the street lights of the small Normandy town of Tourouvre.

The one-kilometre (half-mile) “Wattway” covered with 2,800 square metres (30,000 square feet) of resin-coated solar panels was hooked up to the local power grid as Environment Minister Segolene Royal looked on.

“This new use of solar energy takes advantage of large swathes of road infrastructure already in use... to produce electricity without taking up new real estate,” Royal said in a statement.

The minister announced a fouryear “plan for the national deployment of solar highways” with initial projects in western Brittany and southern Marseille.

An average of 2,000 cars use the road in Tourouvre each day, testing the resistance of the panels for the project carried out by French civil engineering firm Colas, a subsidiary of construction giant Bouygues.

The idea, which is also under exploration in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, is that roadways are occupied by cars only around 20 percent of the time, providing vast expanses of surface to soak up the sun’s rays.

Colas says that in theory France could become energy independ-

ent by paving only a quarter of its million kilometres of roads with solar panels.

Sceptics are waiting to see whether the panels can withstand the ravages of time and weather, as well as the beating they will take from big trucks.

Solar panels installed on a 70-metre stretch of a cycling lane north of Amsterdam experienced some damage last winter but the problem has been resolved, the project’s company TNO said.

The Wattway project, which has received a state subsidy of five million euros (dollars), began with four pilot sites around France, in parking lots or in front of public buildings, on much smaller surfaces of between 50 and 100 square metres each.

One drawback of the system is that solar panels are more effective when angled towards the sun, typically on slanted rooftops, than when they are laid flat.

And the cost question is far from being resolved. Each kilowatt-peak -- the unit of measure for solar energy -- generated by Wattway currently costs 17 euros, compared with 1.30 euros for a major rooftop installation.

But Colas hopes to make the cost competitive by 2020, noting that the cost of producing solar energy decreased by 60 percent between 2009 and 2015 according to a French renewable energy association, SER. AFP

Wattway soaks up the sun’s rays to power the street lights.

MNTC boosts road safety campaign THE Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), concessionaire and operator of the NorthLuzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, recently organized the first NLEX-SCTEX Fun Drive and Safety Forum aimed at upholding safe driving practices on the integratedexpressways.

Through the years of operating the expressways, MNTC has received dozens of requests toallow and assist fun drives of various car and motorcycle clubs to traverse the expressway to goto different destinations in north Luzon.“In coming up with the NLEX-SCTEX Fun Drive and Safety Forum, we do not onlyaccommodate these high speed sports vehicles in the expressways but we also make them ourambassadors in promoting road safety,” said Glenn Campos, AVP for Technical OperationsManagement of MNTC.

2nd Place in LCV Division (held in Thailand)

Held at the NLEX Shell of Asia, the event featured more than 30 super cars and over 20 superbikes in collaboration with Cars & Coffee president, Darf Mercado and Any Time All the Time(ATAT) motorcycle club president, Marc de Joya.

Other than Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porches, a McLaren, aLotus and a Maserati wowed the crowd. For the super bikes line up, there were Ducati’s, BMW’s and HarleyDavidson’s.

Also headlining the event was a seminar on basic road safety in a high speed expressway asprovided by the Automobile Association of the Philippines’ Cynthia Reyes, Manager for Advocacies and Government Liaison.The NLEX-SCTEX Fun Drive and Safety Forum was also made possible with the support ofPilipinas Shell, Easytrip, Grantrail Cycles, Maynilad and Bridgestone tires.

Car vending machines: Special coins required IF brick-and-mortar stores fear Amazon and e-commerce as a threat to their existence, used car dealers may be terrified by the newest development in their industry: a car vending machine.

Yes, it’s real. And no, you can’t shake it to get a free one.

Online used car retailer Carvana opened its newest “vending machine” last week in Houston, where the gleaming, glass-encased structure sits right off a busy freeway.

The eight-storey automated garage—three levels higher than the first version which debuted in Nashville a year ago—holds 30 cars.

It dispenses used vehicles in four delivery bays, but only to customers who have the special coin to make it work—which they receive after completing an online purchase.

This is a marketing gimmick, of course.

But the company believes it could prove a valuable part of the strategy to win customers over by completely overhauling the dreaded process of buying a used car, something notoriously difficult and plagued by the fear of sales people taking advantage of prospective buyers.

“Our view of what we are trying to do is make the experience a high quality one that customers love,” Carvana co-founder and CEO Ernie Garcia told AFP. The goal, he said, is “to make car buying fun.”

He said the founders did not start out planning to be an online site, but aimed to rethink the car buying transaction from start to finish and find ways to “differentiate economically, through the entire pipeline.”

No dealerships The first step was to take a page out of Amazon’s book and get rid of dealerships, which Garcia says adds $400 to the price of a car.

Another $1,400 goes to pay sales personnel.

Carvana, which launched in 2013 and is now in 21 markets after adding 12 this year, stores its cars far outside cities in areas where rent is cheap.

The company says this year it saved customers more than $1,400 on average on purchase prices compared to the Kelley Blue Book suggested price, the industry standard.

The typical concern for customers buying a used car is whether they can trust that the vehicle is safe and reliable, and whether they are paying too much.

And even in the best of cases,

the process can take several hours of paperwork to complete a purchase through a traditional dealer.

Carvana offers online comparison shopping, refurbished vehicles, financing options and trade-ins all on its web portal, and Garcia says the fastest purchase was completed in seven minutes.

The company also provides free delivery as soon as the next day, or pickup at one of the vending machines.

Delivery costs $150, so Garcia says the vending machine is another way for Carvana to trim costs.

However, as part of the new service they are offering $200 to buyers who prefer to fly to Houston to pick up from the vending machine, and transportation from the airport.

Easy returns, growing revenue The company also offers a sev-

en-day test drive period, which allows customers the possibility of a full refund.

“There is a lot of evidence that an easy-to-use return policy is a way to improve the car-buying experience,” said Garcia, who compared the policy to online shoe retailer Zappos, which overcame skepticism about buying shoes without trying them on with its painless return policy.

He said about half of the customers who return cars switch to another vehicle.

“It’s very clear from the customer response that what we’re doing works,” Garcia said.

Carvana’s revenues more than doubled this year to $350 million from $150 million in 2015, and just $40 million in 2014. The first year of operation saw just $4 million in business.

And the firm this summer raised another $160 million in funding, bringing the total to $460 million.

The Blockbuster curse?

Carvana is not the first company to try to rethink the used car buying experience. There are many other online options, and CarMax became a big disrupter with its no-haggle pricing, easy trade-ins and reputation for straight-dealing.

But CarMax also uses traditional dealerships, frequently in areas where other car dealers are located.

Could the vending machine upend the sales model and make CarMax go the way of Blockbuster?

The once-ubiquitous video rental stores collapsed quickly after the arrival of DVD delivery service Netflix and online streaming. AFP

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

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

Motoring

Concept cars with potential

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

W

ITH a few days left before we usher in the new year, car enthusiasts are looking forward to an exciting 2017 as manufacturers roll out their products meant to excite and add more sizzle in the highly competitive car industry. Here are a few top choices that we feel will stir up some excitement and keep the cash registers ringing.

audio system set it apart In the domestic market, Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP) is mum about the introduction of this latest version of its top selling variant. If and when they decide to bring this all-new version Corolla, expect a custom version probably by dressed up by the guys at TRD or Gazoo at its launch.

Hyundai is set to raise the bar of performance with its new “N” line performance line of flagship performance cars which is reflected on its wild RN30. Based on the new Hyundai i30, but with numerous body enhancements, including high tech headlights, a floating fender on each wheel, side splitters, and a large rear spoiler extending as a roof canopy propped up by a center fin. The car has been lowered 84 mm (over 3 inches) compared to the i30, and rests on 19 inch alloy wheels. The interior features racing bucket seats with harnesses surrounded by an integrated roll cage.

It drew a lot of attention at the Paris Motor Show as it showcased its powerplant, a turbocharged 2 liter inline-4 producing a full 375 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque.

RN30 is the latest in a succession of high-performance sports con-

cepts that point towards the future of N production models, furthering the ‘N’ model characteristics first seen in the Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, RM15 and RM16 concepts. All N performance models draw on Hyundai’s successful motorsport experiences and demonstrate Hyundai’s desire to put thrilling driver experiences at the heart of new car developments.

The i30N model will soon be available next year, making our passion for high-performance driving accessible to everyone.

All N models are developed by passionate experts in Namyang, the heart of Hyundai Motor’s global R&D network – then pushed to their limits at Nürburgring, the world’s most challenging race track. The N logo represents the chicane of a race track – where the balance of cars is proven rigorously

Honda CRZ RR by Mugen

Toyota Corolla (New Gen) Toyota has sold over 40 million Corollas since the nameplate was introduced in 1966.

For the car’s 50th anniversary, the company partnered with Jeremy Lookofsky of Cartel Customs to produce this radical caustom. This car started off as a 4 foor sedan, and now it’s a 2 door hardtop coupe. Two-tone paint, Sparco seats, and a JBL

Hyundai RN30

Volkswagen Passat GT Concept Expected to make its appearance at the Automobility in Los Angeles, this Passat GT concept was penned at the at the Volkswagen North American engineering hub in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is largely based on a a cosmetic upgrade which gives the car a more aggressive profile, with over 20 design changes from the standard Passat. Noteworthy changes include a black honeycomb grille framed top and bottom by a red accent line, similar to the Golf GTI. Other changes include black window surrounds, roof, and trunk spoiler, as well as smoked

taillights and LED headlights.

The interior showcases carbon fiber trim on the instrument panel and door trim, as well as duotone black and gray seating, and piano black console trim.

The GT is lowered 0.6 inches over large 19” Tornado wheels covering red-painted brake calipers.

Power comes from a 3.6 liter FSI VR6 producing 280 hp backed up a 6-speed DSG dualclutch automatic transmission.

The engine benefits with reduced backpressure from a dual trapezoidal exhaust and a sport muffler.

Volkswagen Jetta chosen as luxury fleet of Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort

The ceremonial turnover of Volkswagen Jetta cars was represented by (from left) Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa General Manager Renè D. Egle, Volkswagen Cebu Branch Manager Ren Dumaraos, and Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. President Louie Banson.

The lackluster sales performance of Honda’s CRZ might just get a much needed shot in the arm if ever they decide to bring in limited quantities of this special MUGEN Variant. Although built for show purposes only, The CR-Z MUGEN RR aims to demonstrate MUGEN’s capabilities in terms of function, style, performance and agility.

The CR-Z MUGEN RR has been created with many bespoke prototype parts, several of which are created in carbon fibre, including the bonnet, passenger doors and rear tailgate. Other features unique to the car include a full length carbon-fibre underbody, a

twin central-exit exhaust, vented front bumpers and race-developed suspension. Orange 4-piston monobloc brake calipers and forged 18-inch alloy wheels both complement the vibrant Valencia Orange Pearl exterior paint work.

Inside the car, the seats are clad in MUGEN-branded colourcoded leather/Alcantara. The addition of a race-developed information screen has the ability to record chassis and engine data as well as housing a Satellite navigation and audio system. This high tech kit will monitor the car over two laps to “learn” a circuit and then record lap data and vehicle tracking using GPS.

FOLLOWING Makati ShangriLa’s delivery of its all-new luxury fleet of Volkswagen Passat and Jetta units just a few months ago, Shangri La’s Mactan Resort & Spa also received its new fleet of Jetta as part of its efforts to upgrade and expand its existing vehicles to cater to its more discerning guests.

The purchase of Jetta cars was arranged through Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. (NCLPI), the same premium transport provider for several of the Philippines’ 5-star hotels, in partnership with Volkswagen Philippines, the exclusive country distributor of Volkswagen cars. NCLPI, whose motto “Premium service for premium people,” is among the best-known car rental brands in the Philippines, with 24 years of unequalled service to its distinguished clientele.

The ceremonial turnover was represented by Volkswagen Cebu Branch Manager Ren Dumaraos, NCLPI President Louie Banson and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa General Manager Renè D. Egle.

The Jetta, Volkswagen Philippines’ best-selling sedan in 2016, is

known for its premium comfortable ride, spacious legroom and cargo, 5-star Euro NCAP safety features, highly efficient turbo diesel engine, and elegant design—ideal qualities for Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa’s guests availing of the resort’s private car service who are mostly international holidaymakers and leisure travellers.

The Shangri-La brand name is renowned globally for its rich tradition of innovation and personalized service from the heart. These remarkable standards inspired Shangri-La to select Volkswagen, which delivers the same promise of worldclass service and workmanship that embodies the perfect combination.

The sprawling 13-hectare Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa received its 5-star accreditation from the Department of Tourism this October, right after the department rolled out its new star-rating system. The only resort in Cebu to receive such a rating, it has also been included among the “Top Resorts in Asia” and among the “Top 50 Best Resorts in the World” in the recently released 29th Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

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Current Biñan Mayor Arman Dimaguila (right) was vice mayor to his predecessor Len Alonte-Naguiat (left), who ran for and won the city’s lone congressional district in the May elections.

Shaped like the number 7, Biñan has 24 barangays, all classified as urban villages.

A glimpse into Mayor Arman’s life ATTY. Walfredo R. Dimaguila Jr. better known as “Arman,” comes from humble beginnings. Born to Walfredo Dimaguila Sr., the former municipal electrician of Biñan, and Feliciana Reyes, a full-time homemaker and a laundrywoman, Arman is the sixth of 10 children.

To help his parents earn a living, Arman grew up selling pan de sal before going to school. Yet his perseverance paid off: he graduated as class valedictorian from Malaban Elementary School in 1985. In high school, despite being disqualified from the honor roll because he was a transferee, Arman still brought home multiple medals and awards.

Poverty did not hinder Arman from going to college. To finance his studies, he worked as a utility man and a security

guard. But soon, politics beckoned: he was elected as the first Sangguniang Kabataan chairman in his area, and was named San Luis Most Outstanding Youth in the Province of Laguna in 1993.

Continuing to juggle work and studies, Arman graduated cum laude in Political Science from Lyceum of the Philippines University.

He then worked as a tax specialist at the National Tax Research Center during the day, and went to Lyceum’s College of law at night.

Becoming a full-fledged lawyer in 1998, Arman championed the cause of laborers and women in his private practice. He also became a professor at different colleges and universities, sharing his expertise in economics, Turn to C2

MAYOR ARMAN DIMAGUILA JR.

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His First 100 Days in Service of Biñan

HE City of Biñan in Laguna has seen great strides since its cityhood in 2010, and its progress continues under new Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr., who assumed office on July 1. In his first 100 days of service, Mayor Arman, with the help of Vice Mayor Angelo “Gel” Alonte, the City Council and other city officials, has served Biñan’s residents with the following projects and programs:

Financial Assistance to Students. Sharing the advocacy of the national government, the City Government of Biñan handed out P13 million in financial assistance to 1,300 qualified

Plaza Rizal, where a statue of the national hero Jose Rizal stands, is the center of commerce and trade of Biñan.

incoming senior high school students in both public and private schools. Biñan was the only local government unit in the country that made this initiative, earning Mayor Arman a recog-

constructed to be given free of charge to qualified applicants in Biñan. Since July 5, 2016, 81 caskets have been distributed.

The New City Command, Control and Communications Center. Wanting an inclusive peace and order in the city, Mayor Arman completed the command center with CCTV cameras for authorities to see real-time events and immediately respond to parts of Biñan where police nition from the Department of assistance is needed.

Police Substations. Twelve Education in an education sumvirtual police stations were built mit on July 27, 2016.

‘Lingap sa Mahirap.’ A pro- in select entry and exit points of gram for the city’s underpriviTurn to C2 leged, 52 caskets were initially

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LGUs

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

BIÑAN: THE CITY OF LIFE

Vibrant, Historic, and Progressive U

NLESS they live in Laguna province, most Filipinos’ first encounter with the City of Binan is through the history books. Most record the fact that Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, first came to the town in June of 1869 with his elder brother Paciano to stay at their aunt’s house near the town proper.

Biñan’s new City Hall in Barangay Zapote reflects its status as a component city since 2010.

In Binan, Rizal received his first formal education from Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz, who after 18 months of teaching the brilliant young man advised Rizal to continue his education in Manila.

The rest as they say is history, and today – Rizal Day, celebrated to mark the anniversary of the national hero’s execution at the hands of Spanish authorities in 1896 – Plaza Rizal stands at the center of Binan as a lasting reminder of the town’s link to his life and legacy.

A plaque of recognition was also bestowed on the house of Rizal’s aunt where he stayed.

Sitting 34 kilometers south of the city of Manila, Binan boasts of numerous banking institutions across its borders, fastgrowing commercial establishments, the Laguna Technopark and the Laguna International Industrial Park, among other economic drivers.

The city also has the largest public market in the province and in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region. It also has the largest waterpark in the country in the 7.5-hectare Splash Island, which is part of the bigger 561-hectare Southwoods Ecocentrum estate.

This area will become a selfBinan at present contained residential and business • Binan’s population as of the 2015 The hero would probably be district that offers a “live-workcensus is 333,028, making it the proud of present-day Binan, La- play-learn” lifestyle. fourth-most-populous city or muguna’s third-largest in terms of nicipality in Laguna after Calamba, population after Rizal’s native Here are other notable San Pedro and Santa Rosa.

Calamba and Santa Rosa, as it was facts about Binan: • Binan has 24 barangays, all the country’s richest municipality • Shaped like a number 7, before assuming cityhood in 2010. Binan’s total land area is 43.5 classified as urban, with BaranWith a large suburban resi- square kilometers and is the gay San Francisco the largest in dential community, sprawling second city or town in Laguna terms of land area and Barangay industrial estates and export if you’re coming from Manila. Casile the smallest.

• Spanish Captain Juan de processing zones, Binan leaned It is bounded by San Pedro City on its proximity to Metro Manila in the north, Santa Rosa City in Salcedo discovered and founded and its position as a commercial the south, the town of Carmona Biñan in June 1571, one month hub of Laguna to fuel its steady in Cavite in the west and Laguna after Miguel López de Legazpi established Manila, when he execonomic progress. de Bay to the east.

The bust of Jose Rizal inside a special room in the Biñan City Museum.

plored Laguna de Bay, the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines and second-largest in Asia.

• Binan as its own town emerged in 1688 when the seat of the provincial government of the Provincia de la Laguna de Bay was moved from Bay to Pagsanjan, separating it from Tabuco (now the city of Cabuyao).

• Binan became a city in 2010 through Republic Act 9740, which was ratified by its residents in a plebiscite on February 2, 2010 under the leadership

of then-Mayor Marlyn “Len” B. Alonte-Naguiat, now the city’s Representative in Congress.

• Binan gained its own congressional district on March 27, 2015 when then-President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act 10658, separating the city from the first district of Laguna.

• The city is known for “Puto Binan,” a pancake made from rice flour topped with cheese or butter. Residents say the best makers of Puto Binan are in Ba-

rangay San Vicente.

• Binan’s Barangays Dela Paz and Malaban host several skilled shoemakers and slipper manufacturers, and Barangay Platero has well-known “sombrero” or hat makers.

• Despite its cityhood, Binan still has about 220 rice farmers, 240 vegetable farmers, and about 25,000 fishermen, who take their produce every week to the public market in front of Plaza Rizal.

Photos by Sonny Espiritu

The Alonte Sports Arena hosts big sporting and civic events.

A map of Biñan decorates a lake behind the new City Hall.

The First...

From C1 the city where they are most needed, with 160 volunteer city marshals manning them, ready to respond to any event. Each substation is equipped with effective radio communication devices, free WiFi, and CCTV monitors, is manned by two police officers and at least seven city marshals who are trained for radio operation, investigation, disaster response, intelligence gathering, and traffic management.

A Complete Package of Service Vehicles. Mayor Arman personally chose the following vehicles to award to concerned offices: two firetrucks, two garbage compactors, 11 motorcycles for police substations, six Hyundai cars for police patrols, and two specially-designed tricycles for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Regional ‘Oplan Tokhang’ Conference.

On July 30, 2016, Philippine National Police Director Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa rallied all drug surrenderers from Calabarzon into Biñan’s Alonte Sports Arena, where Rep. Len Alonte and Mayor Arman actively took part in. Around 200 drug surrenderers from the city are currently under the watch of PNP-Biñan.

A glimpse...

From C1

business law and taxation.

With the urging of then-Mayor Arthur Alonte, Arman joined mainstream politics by winning a seat on Biñan’s municipal council in 2001, placing eighth in the elections. As councilor, he authored an ordinance for a scholarship program that benefited the town’s poor but deserving students. The present Polytechnic University of the Philippines Biñan Campus proved to be a fulfilment of his vision.

Arman’s star kept rising, and in 2010 he was elected Vice Mayor. His office focused on strengthening the legislative procedures of the City Council and attending to Biñan’s drug dependents and prisoners.

His free notarial services have become well-known in and outside of Biñan, even as he spearheaded the creation of the Health Assistance Program for Indigents (HAPI) Family Card, the Magna Carta for Senior Citizens and for Persons with Disabilities

Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship. For the first time, the Philippines and the city hosted a prestigious and elite Asian league like the AWCVC, which was held at the Alonte Sports Arena from September 3 to 11, 2016. Rep. Len Alonte graced the opening ceremony.

Renovation of Ospital ng Biñan. Remodeling of the community hospital is almost finished, with a refurbished façade, lobby, mortuary and comfort rooms, and four additional wards, one dedicated to patients with tuberculosis and other communicable diseases.

The city also purchased new X-ray and dialysis machines, and the construction of the new twostorey outpatient department is underway.

BPLO Inspection. For three weeks starting Sept. 6, 2016, the City Business Permit and Licensing Office headed by Mr. Rene Manabat went around Biñan to see if all business establishments, from sari-sari stores to multinational corporations, complied with the city’s standards and requirements to operate. The BPLO formed 30 teams to do the rigid inspection, with each team carrying three members.

Residents of Biñan can expect more programs for their benefit under Mayor Dimaguila and his “Serbisyong Arman” advocacy for the next two-plus years of his term.

“Sa Lungsod ng Biñan, Mamamayan ay Maaasahan.” among his flagship projects.

Though not a populist, his signature program called “Serbisyong Arman” made him a familiar and popular figure in Biñan. By creating Serbisyong Arman Rescue Group, the city’s residents received assistance for accidents, fires, flooding, evacuations and other calamities, with Arman personally involved in the operations.

Sharing his active public service with his wife Lourdes, Arman incorporated Go Forward Foundation in 2011. Together with its volunteers, the foundation regularly performs cleft palate and cataract operations, bloodletting, mobile dental and medical missions, and nutrition programs. His free bus service has travelled thousands of miles, bringing students, senior citizens and patients from Biñan to everywhere.

The May 9 elections added another milestone to Arman’s life: he became the 16th mayor of Biñan as a municipality and its second as a city with a lone congressional district.

With the lawyer and public servant in charge, this young city has a bright future ahead of it.

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IN BRIEF Oman joins anti-terror coalition RIYADH―Oman, which generally stays neutral in the face of regional disputes, has joined a Saudi-led military coalition aimed at “fighting terrorism,” official media in Riyadh said Thursday.

The Gulf sultanate, which maintains good ties with rival powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia, becomes the 41st nation in the alliance announced last year by the Saudi defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The official SPA agency said Mohammed received a message from his Omani counterpart praising Saudi efforts in showing “leadership in the Islamic military coalition in fighting terrorism”.

Oman is one of the few Arab states not to have joined a Saudiled military coalition battling rebels in Yemen and has hosted several rounds of talks aimed at ending the conflict raging there since March 2015.

Little information has been provided on the anti-extremist alliance since Riyadh announced its formation in December 2015.

AFP

HK police trained on ceremony HONG KONG―Nearly 20 years after Hong Kong was returned to China, the British army is back -this timea to train the city’s police force on crucial matters of pomp and ceremony.

Four British army personnel drilled Hong Kong police officers on ceremonial standards, the first such arrangement since the former British colony was handed back to Beijing in 1997, reports said.

“The army’s school of ceremony were invited to help smarten up the Hong Kong police force,” British army broadcaster Forces TV said in a December 22 report.

Hong Kong’s police force was established in 1844, just a few years after Hong Kong became a British colony.

The force in the now semiautonomous Chinese city still adheres to British ceremonial traditions -- and boasts one of Asia’s best bagpipe bands.

British army officers supervised Hong Kong police officers as they marched in formation with the sound of bagpipes filling the air, video footage on Forces TV showed.

“We were asked what we could do to improve our police officers on professionalism... why don’t we just invite the instructors... to have their skills and their teaching methods delivered in Hong Kong,” police inspector Ka Lok told Forces TV. Hong Kong police were unable to immediately comment on the training arrangement when contacted by AFP Thursday.

The training comes as the city’s police force struggles to repair its image, which was tarnished by what many considered a heavy-handed approach to policing mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014. AFP

Australia seizes a ton of cocaine SYDNEY―A major cocaine ring has been dismantled in joint operations with Tahiti, Australian police said Thursday, with a record 1.1 tons of cocaine worth hundreds of millions of dollars seized.

Police listed 600 kilograms of cocaine intercepted by the French navy off Tahiti, 500 kilograms seized on Christmas Day in Sydney and 32 kilograms of heroin in Fiji -- all destined for the Australian market.

“The size of that seizure collectively -- 1.1 tonnes -- makes it the largest cocaine seizure in Australian law enforcement history,” said Australian Federal Police acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Sheehan.

The street value of the cocaine, shipped from South America to the South Pacific, was estimated at A$360 million (US$260 million).

“The criminal syndicate that we have dismantled over the past few days was a robust, resilient and determined syndicate,” he said.

“It’s a significant hit... the entire group has been taken out,” added NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins.

AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

C3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

China returns to baby boom B EIJING―As soon as China abandoned its one-child policy a year ago, Zheng Xiaoyu and her husband started trying for a sibling for their nine-year-old son.

Their efforts bore fruit with another boy―one of a million extra births this year.

“The traditional Chinese thinking is that more children bring more blessings,” Zheng said, recovering from the birth at a luxury convalescent home in Beijing.

For years the couple dreamed of a second child to keep them company in their twilight years.

“Neither me nor my husband is the only child in our families. We grew up in the company of our siblings,” she said.

“Before the change, we questioned why we couldn’t have a second child, why they had to limit everyone’s desire to have children.”

Since the late 1970s, strict measures in the world’s most populous country restricted most couples to only a single child, with fines for violators and even forced abortions.

Zheng and her husband were

employees of state-owned enterprises and faced losing their jobs if they violated the ban.

Officials say it was a key contributor to China’s economic boom.

But concerns over an aging population, gender imbalances and a shrinking workforce pushed authorities to end the restriction and allow all couples a second child from January 1.

Now China is undergoing a minor baby boom, with almost one million more newborns expected this year, National Health and Family Planning Commission deputy director Wang Pei’an said according to official media reports.

More than 17.5 million births were expected in 2016, he told a conference in November -- which would reverse a decline last year and be the highest figure since 2000.

But while the end of the onechild policy swayed Zheng and

Afghan women take control with bee cooperatives YAKAWLANG, Afghanistan―”I make my money for me,” declares Afghan beekeeper Jamila pointing emphatically at her chest.

Her small honey-making business provides not only an income, but a sense of pride.

In the mountainous central province of Bamiyan, one of the country’s least developed but most liberal regions, beekeeping complements its only other commercial crop, potatoes, and gives rural women the chance to become entrepreneurs.

Four beekeeping cooperatives have been set up here in recent years, backed by NGOs and foreign aid. Starting from scratch, they now employ around 400 people, half of them women, and produce 14 tonnes of honey a year.

The district of Yakawlang, around 100 kilometers from the famous giant Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban, sits around 2,600 metres (8,500 feet) above sea-level. Residents are worried the arrival of winter will kill off their bees.

Bundled up tightly, they walk for more than an hour in the snow to fill their pots with honey and fix labels on them, though few know how to read.

Jamila got her start a year ago thanks to her neighbor, Siamui, a pioneer of the cooperative five years ago who gave her her first colony.

“It was in April and I remember that day perfectly. I was so happy: when I was done with my housework, I could spend the whole day watching my bees and how they work!” she confesses, making the other women around her laugh.

This cooperative has collected about 400 kilograms of honey this year, according to its supervisor Habitullah Noori. Each kilo fetches 800 Afghanis in Bamiyan and 1,000 in Kabul -- about $15.

Jamila is a grandmother whose children have left the home; Siamui is raising eight of her own; Siddiqa, an orphan, takes care of four brothers and sisters.

Each of them maintains one to four hives on average -- the few thousand Afghanis earned supplements their household incomes.

“I can pay for the bus when I want to visit my daughter, I can buy her chocolate,” says Jamila.

“I can buy notepads for the kids,” adds Halima, who is in her twenties with two children.

For widowed Marzia, the honey is key to her very survival. She hails from the village Qatakhan, 30 minutes from Yakawlang. It was an area overrun by the Taliban in early 2000, with many of its residents butchered after one commander instructed his charges “to kill everyone, even the dogs and chickens”.

Her husband was pulled out of his mosque and shot dead on January 19 that year.

She keeps four hives, explaining: “Earlier I started farming, sewing, reaping weeds in the mountains. My brother assisted me but I was mostly on my own.

“Now with the honey I can support my family, I am my own boss.”

“When you invest $100 in the first year you will make $100 in the next,” says Daud Mosavi, director of agricultural programmes for New Zealand’s foreign aid agency in Bamiyan.

Further down the hill, Fatima and her daughters, wearing beekepers hats and visors, adjust the honeycombs in their beehives on the slopes of Qatakhan. Her husband, Ahmad Hossaini, is helping his wife by bringing the bees their sugar.

“It’s the first time we’ve worked together!” he smiles.

“When they get a revenue for the first time it helps to establish their position better in the household”, especially girls who are otherwise seen as potential burdens on their families, explains Sadia Fatimie, a consultant for international institutions.

Fifteen years after the fall of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan remains a harsh place for women: in 2016, only 10 percent of salaried female employees worked outside the agricultural sector, earning 30 percent less than their male counterparts.

In the countryside, they constitute an ignored, exhausted and poorly paid workforce.

“Only 34 percent of women in this country say they are allowed to spend the money which they earn,” emphasizes Fatimie. AFP

her husband, it is unclear how much it contributed to this year’s baby boom.

Previous statistics show the increase was concentrated in the first half of the year, before the new policy could have an effect. And 2016 is the lunar year of the monkey -- considered a particularly auspicious zodiac sign to be born under.

In pajamas and slippers, Zheng was recovering at the gated Xiyuege Center, or “Lucky Month Home”, in Beijing, where Porsche and Lexus cars line the parking lot.

It is a modern take on the 2,000-year-old practice of postpartum confinement or“zuoyezi” -- literally “sitting the month” -- in which new mothers stay in bed, keep warm and avoid certain foods.

Traditionally they do not exercise, expose themselves to draughts of any kind, or bathe.

There is no evidence for traditional claims that the practice will prevent diseases such as arthritis later in life.

But the 75-room Xiyuege Centre offers what nurses, managers and promotional materials all describe as “scientific” accom-

RESERVE YOURADSPACE NOW!

Notice of Loss Stock Certificate

paniments to confinement: spa ond pregnancies more than double facilities where women can lie on this year, estimated Zheng Hui, a heated bed of jade, consume six the nurse managing infant care for specially calibrated meals a day VIP mothers, who pay more than to boost breast milk production $1,000 a day for their stays. while shedding pounds, and enjoy The oldest woman she had cared round-the-clock specialist care. for was a 44-year-old, whose first Such institutions in recent years child was already an undergraduhave turned the custom into a lu- ate at college. crative industry, now set to boom “It’s very clear that this year even further. demand has gone up drastically.

There were more than 760 such Customers are booking further centers across the country gener- and further in advance,” said Hou ating revenues of approximately Yanran, marketing manager of Xi4.2 billion yuan ($605 million) yuege which plans to open a third two years ago, according to web- branch in the capital. AFP site China Industry Information.

Women were calling to reserve It projected that sector turnover spots a mere month into their pregwould more than double to 11 bil- nancies, she said. lion yuan by 2019.

The long-term impact of the new The Xiyuege Center has seen family planning rules remains unclients CYAN recovering from theirYELLOW sec- clear.

AFP MAGENTA BLACK REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 165 MARIKINA CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION/APPLICATION FOR FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP NAT. CASE NO. 16-0016-MK MANPREET KAUR PABLA (also known as DAISY KAUR PABLA) Petitioner x-------------------------------------------------x

ORDER In today’s hearing on the Motion to Reset filed by the counsel for the petitioner, Atty. Rassel A. Dinglasan manifested that the reason why a second Motion to Reset was filed is because as per information provided to him the Bureau of Printing, the first available printing of Official Gazette will be on January 16, 2017 and pursuant to the law it requires that the same be set at least six (6) months after the last publication. Finding the merit in the Motion to Reset, the same is hereby granted. Let the initial hearing of this petition be reset to August 24, 2017 at 8:30 A.M. as prayed for.

SO ORDERED.

Notice is hereby given that Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. Stock Cert. No. 18312 for 1,000 shares with par value of P1.00, issued to Arellano J. Quan was lost.

If no contest is received, a new stock cert. will be issued.

Affidavit of Loss of the said stock certificate was executed under Notary Public Atty.

Crisanto Pascual, Jr. at Bacoor, Cavite Doc. No. 228 Page No. 46 Book No. VIII Series of 2016.

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(MS-DEC. 30,2016, JAN. 6 & 13, 2017

Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT City of Makati Branch 60 IN RE: PETITION FOR RECONSTITUTION OF THE ORIGINAL COPY OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 217906,

Marikina City, this 24th day of November, 2016.

(Sgd.) ACEREY C. PACHECO Judge Copy Furnished: Atty. Rassel A. Dinglasan Counsel for the Petitioner Manpreet Kaur Pabla Petitioner Office of the Solicitor General Local Civil Registry, Marikina City Philippine Statistics Authority (NSO)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 165 MARIKINA CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION/APPLICATION FOR FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP NAT. CASE NO. 16-0016-MK MANPREET KAUR PABLA (also known as DAISY KAUR PABLA) Petitioner x-------------------------------------------------x

ORDER Acting on the Motion to Reset Hearing filed by the petitioner through counsel on November 7, 2016, finding the merit thereof, the same is granted. The hearing set on February 9, 2017 is hereby cancelled and reset to June 29, 2017 at 8:30 A.M. SO ORDERED.

R-MKT-16-02667-LR

SPOUSES RICHARD O. AFATEN AND MIRIAM ANDREA C. ESPIRITU-AFATEN, Petitioners. x---------------------------------x ORDER Petioners SPOUSES RICHARD O. AFATEN AND MIRIAM ANDREA C. ESPIRITU-AFATEN filed this PETITION which the Court received on November 14, 2016 for the reconstitution of the Original Copy of Transfer Certificate of Title No. 217906 registered in the name of Cynthia Espiritu married to Jose Marie De Castro, Dulce C. Espiritu, Belinda C. Espiritu, Edwin C. Espiritu and Petitioner Miriam Andrea C. Espiritu-Afaten of the Makati City Register of Deeds.

Attached the PETITION were the following: 1) Photocopy of the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 217906 (Annex “A”, Expediente pp. 6 to 7); 2) Photocopy of the Declaration of Real Property (Annex “B”) pp. 8 to 10); 3) Certification from the Office of the Barangay Captain, Barangay Bangkal, Makati City (Annex “C” pp.12); 4) Deed of Absolute Sale dated April 25, 2016 (Annex “D” pp.12 to 14) and 5) Certification from tha Land Registration Authority dated August 30, 2016 (Annex “E”).

Finding the PETITION to be sufficient in form and substance, this Court hereby: (a) sets the case for hearing on February 21, 2017 at 8:30 in the morning. (b) orders Petitioner (1) to serve within twenty four (24) hours from receipt of this Order, copies of the PETITION and its annexes, to the Office of the Prosecutor, City of Makati, the Administrator, Land Registration Authority, East Avenue, Quezon City, the Register of Deeds of Makati, 5th Floor New Makati City Hall Bldg., Poblacion, Makati City; and (2) to show proof of said service to this Court. (c) orders all persons interested in this PETITON (1) to appear on said date and time before this Court-Regional Trial Court, Branch 60, City of Makati; (2) to show cause, if any, why the PETITION should not be granted; (d) orders the Branch Clerk of Court to furnish copies of this Order to the Petitioners, the counsel, the City Prosecutor of Makati, the Land Registration Authority and the Register of Deeds of Makati.

Pursuant to OCA Circular No. (108-2010, “Guidelines for the Temporary Replacements of Clerks of Court in the Handling Case/s from which they are Disqualified under Section 1, Rule 137 of the Rules of Court, as amended,” in relation to A.M. No-08-4-1-SC, the counsel of the Petitioner, is hereby ordered to file on or before the presentation of jurisdictional facts a written manifestation under oath, whether or not he or his clients are related to the Branch Clerk of Court, stating therein the degree of relationship by affinity or consanguinity.

Let the PETITIONER at her expense, publish this ORDER once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the intended hearing on February 21, 2017, in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen in a raffle to be conducted by the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, City of Makati.

Moreover, Linda B. Fallorin, designated Process Server to this Court is hereby directed to post this ORDER at the Bulletin Board of the Makati Hall, the Regional Trial Court, City of Makati, 11th Floor New Makati City Hall Bldg., Bulletin Board, and the Barangay Hall of bangkal, City of Makati.

The Court Process Server is directed to submit proof of posting to this Court within five (5) days after completion thereof.

SO ORDERED. Given in chambers on November 22, 2016.

HON. CEZAR L. AGANON Presiding Judge

Marikina City, this 10th day of November, 2016.

(Sgd.) ACEREY C. PACHECO Judge Copy Furnished: Atty. Rassel A. Dinglasan Counsel for the Petitioner Manpreet Kaur Pabla Petitioner Office of the Solicitor General Local Civil Registry, Marikina City Philippine Statistics Authority (NSO)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 165 MARIKINA CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION/APPLICATION FOR FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP NAT. CASE NO. 16-0013-MK MANPREET KAUR PABLA (Also known as DAISY KAUR PABLA) Petitioner, x-------------------------------------------------x

1.

Petitioner is MANPREET KAUR PABLA, an Indian national, single, fondly called DAISY by her friends, a bona fide resident of the Philippines, specifically residing at No. 4 (40) Ephesian Street, Oro Vista Subdivision, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, where she may be served with copies of pleadings, motion, summons, orders, resolutions, judgment, decisions and other court processes; 2.

She was born in Chandigarh, India on 28 December 1984, and is now 31 years old. Copy of her authenticated Certificate of Birth is hereto attached as Annex “A” to form part thereof; 3.

Her personal description is: racial color Indian; complexion, brown; height, 165.1 cm.; weight, 54 kg.; color of hair, black; color of eyes, black; other visible distinctive marks scar on the chin. Copies of her two (2) photographs is hereto attached as Annexes “B” and “C” to form parts hereof; 4.

Prior to petitioner’s transfer to No. 4 (40) Ephesian Street, Oro Vista Subdivision, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, she and her parents were living at No. 20-E Agricultores Street, Sto. Niño, Marikina City from 1985 to June 1994; 5.

She migrated to the Philippines from Del-Delhi, India, when she was barely 5 month old, via AF-AIR FRANCE through the passport of her mother, Jagdish Kaur, and arrived at the port of Manila on or about 26 May 1985 as shown by the Certification issued by the Bureau of Immigration which shows her lawful entry for permanent residence in the Philippines.

Copies of the Certification issued by the Bureau of Immigration and Alien Certificate of Registration as Annexes “D” and “E” to form parts hereof; 6.

Although petitioner entered the Philippines under her mother’s passport, she was allowed to use the surname PABLA because it is allowed under Indian law. Subsequently, her parents used the same surname, PABLA. Copies of petitioner’s parents Marriage Certificate, Passports and pertinent portion thereof, Alien Certificates of Registration and Affidavits of Publication are hereto attached as Annexes “F”, “G”, “H”, “I”, “J”, “K” and “L” to form parts hereof; 7.

She took and finished her Elementary and Secondary Educations at Infant Jesus Academy situated at Russet Street, Rancho Estate IV, Marikina City, where Philippine history, government and civics are being taught and one of the requirement to finished the course. Copies of her True Copy of Grades for Elementary and High School issued by Infant Jesus Academy are hereto attached as Annexes “M” and “N” to form parts hereof; 8.

She also studied and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima University situated in MacArthur Highway, Marulas, Valenzuela City, where Philippine history, government and civics are likewise being taught and one of the requirements to finished the course. Copies of her Official Transcript of Records and Diploma issued by Our Lady Fatima University are hereto attached as Annexes “O” and “P” to form parts hereof; 9.

Petitioner continuously resides in the Philippines since she arrived on 26 May 1985, and never left the Philippines, except for short vacations and tours, to wit: Date of Departure 4 April 1989 27 March 1996 6 April 1998 6 April 2004 9 March 2007 16 November 2010

Copies of petitioner’s travel record issued by the Bureau of Immigration and pertinent portion of her Passport are hereto attaché as Annexes “Q” and “R” to form part hereof.

10. Petitioner is not an anarchist, polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; 11. She has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude nor is she suffering from any mental alienation or incurable contagious disease.

Copies of her Barangay Clearance, NBI Clearance, Police Clearance, Court Clearance, Fiscal (Prosecutor’s) Clearance and Bureau of Immigration Clearance are hereto attached as Annexes “S”, “T”, “U”, “W” and “X”; 12. One year prior to the filing of the instant petition, petitioner had filed and submitted to the Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines her verified declaration of intention to become a Filipino citizen in compliance with Section 5 of Commonwealth Act No. 473, as amended. Copy of the said document duly received by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), through its Docket Management Service, on 17 August 2015, with file No. 6660, as well as the Official Receipt issued by the OSG, are hereto attached as Annexes “Y” and “Z” to form parts hereof; 13. Petitioner is willing, upon being admitted to Philippine citizenship, renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly India, of which at this time she is a citizen or subject; 14. Thus, petitioner practically grew up in the Philippines and was raised as a Filipino and have mingled socially with the Filipinos and she have learned to love and embrace the customs, traditions, and ideals of the Filipinos, and she believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitutions; 15. Petitioner is a person of good moral character, good repute and morally irreproachable. Copies the Affidavits of Vice Mayor JOSE FABIAN I. CADIZ, Filipino citizen, a resident of Marikina City, Philippines, with postal address at Office of the Vice Mayor, Legislative Building, Marikina Cityhall, Brgy. Sta. Elena, Marikina City, and KARL VINCENT B. ALMENARIO, Filipino citizen, with postal address at No. 69 Santan Street, San Isidro Village, Concepcion 1, Marikina City, attesting to petitioner’s good moral character, good repute and irreproachable morality and she is a resident of the Philippines since her childhood and has all the qualifications and none of the dis-qualifications are hereto attached as Annexes “AA” and “BB” to form part hereof; 16. Petitioner possesses all the qualifications for the grant of Filipino citizenship, being not less than 21 years of age, has been residing in the Philippines continuously for more than ten (10) years, of good moral character, believes in the principle underlying the Philippine Constitution, conducted herself in a proper and irreproachable manner during her entire residence in the Philippines, never been convicted nor charge criminally, owner of a real property in the Philippines worth not less than five hundred thousand pesos, studied in schools where Philippine history, government and civics are taught as part of the school curriculum during her entire residence in the Phillippines, socially mingled with Filipinos and able to speak and write Pilipino and English, and none of any of its disqualifications.

Copy of the Certificate of Condominium Title is hereto attached as Annex “CC” to form part hereof; WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully unto to the Honorable Court to grant the petitioner FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP and all the rights, duties, responsibilities and obligations appertaining thereto.

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

22 August 2016, Makati City, Philippines.

(Sgd.) ATTY. RASSEL A. DINGLASAN

ORDER Before this Court is a verified Petition for Naturalization filed by petitioner MANPREET KAUR PABLA, through counsel Atty. Rassel A. Dinglasan. Petitioner alleged that she is an Indian national, single, fondly called Daisy by her friends, a bona fide resident of the Philippines, residing at No. 4 (40) Ephesian Street, Oro Vista Subdivision, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, where she may be served with copies of pleadings, motion, summons, orders, resolution, judgment, decisions and other court processes. Petitioner was born in Chandigarh, India on December 28, 1984, and is now 31 years old. Petitioner’s personal description is Indian racial color; brown complexion, brown; 165.1 cm. height; 54 kg. weight; black hair color; black eye color with other visible distinctive marks scar on the chin. Prior to petitioner’s transfer to NO. 4 (40) Ephesian Street, Oro Vista Subdivision, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, petitioner and her parents were living at No. 20-E Agricultores Street, Sto. Niño, Marikina City from 1985 to June 1994. Petitioner migrated to the Philippines from Del-Delhi, India when she was barely 5 months old, via Af-Air France through the passport of her mother, Jagdish Kaur, and arrived at the port of Manila on or about May 26, 1985 as shown by the Certification issued by the Bureau of Immigration indicating lawful entry for permanent residence in the Philippines. Petitioner entered the Philippines under her mother’s passport, she was allowed to use the surname PABLA because it is allowed under Indian Law. Subsequently, her parents used the same surname, PABLA. Petitioner took and finished her elementary and secondary educations at Infant Jesus Academy situated at Russet Street, Rancho IV, Marikina City, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and one of the requirements to finish the course. Petitioner also studied and graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Our Lady of Fatima University situated in MacArthur Highway, Marulas, Valenzuela City, where Philippine History, government and civics are likewise being taught and one of the requirements to finish the course. Petitioner continuously resides in the Philippines since she arrived on May 26, 1985 and never left the Philippines, except for short vacations and tour, to wit: Date of Departure April 4, 1989 March 27, 1996 April 6, 1998 April 6, 2004 March 9, 2007 Nov. 16, 2010

Date of Return to the Philippines May 8, 1990 May 27, 1996 May 31, 1998 June 11, 2004 March 12, 2007 Nov. 23, 2010

Petitioner is not an anarchist, polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. Petitioner has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude nor is she suffering from any mental alienation or incurable contagious disease. Petitioner had filed and submitted to the Office of the Solicitor General of the Philippines her verified declaration of intention to become a Filipino citizen in compliance with Section 5 of Commonwealth Act No. 473, as amended. Petitioner is willing, upon being admitted to Philippine citizenship, renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potente, state, or sovereignty, and particularly India, of which at this time she is citizen or subject. Petitioner practically grew up in the Philippine and was raised as a Filipino and have mingled socially with the Filipinos and she have learned to love and embrace the customs, traditions, and ideals of the Filipinos, and she believes in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. Petitioner is a person of good moral character, good repute and morally irreproachable. Petitioner declares that she possesses all the qualifications for the grant of Filipino citizenship, being not less than 21 years of age, has been residing in the Philippines continuously for more than ten (10) years, of good moral character, believes in the principle underlying the Philippine Constitution, conducted herself in a proper and irreproachable manner during her entire residence in the Philippines, never been convicted nor charge criminally, owner of a real property in the Philippines worth not less than five hundred thousand pesos, studied in school were Philippine history, government and civics are taught as part of the school curriculum during her entire residence in the Philippines, socially mingled with Filipinos and able to speak and write Pilipino and English, and none of any disqualifications. Petitioner prays that the Court grant her Filipino citizenship and all the rights, duties and responsibilities and obligations appertaining thereto.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that the said petition will be heard by this Court sitting at the 3rd floor, Justice Hall Building, Marikina City on February 9, 2017 at 8:30 A.M. at which place, date and time, all interested persons are hereby cited to appear and to show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

Date of Return to Philippines 8 May 1990 27 May 1996 31 May 1998 11 June 2004 12 March 2007 23 November 2010

Counsel for the Petitioner Unit 441 Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower, 2210 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City IBP Lifetime Membership No. 04338 Quezon City Chapter PTR No. A-2966337; 4 MAY 2016; Taguig City; Roll No. 43756 MCLE Compliance No. V-0022609 Issued on 29 June 2016 VERIFICATION / CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, MANPREET KAUR PABLA, also known as Daisy K. Pabla, is of legal age, Indian citizen, single, and with residence and postal address at No. 4 (40) Ephesian Street, Oro Vista Subdivision, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby deposes and says, that: 1.

I am the petitioner in the above-entitled case; 2.

I have caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing petition and the allegations contained therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and/or based on available authentic records; 3.

I hereby certify that I have not commenced any action or petition involving the same issue in any court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency and to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or petition is pending therein, and if I should thereafter learn that the same or similar action or petition has been filed or pending, I shall report such fact to this Honorable Court within five (5) days from knowledge thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby affix my signature this AUG. 20, 2016 day of ________ 2016 in CITY OF MAKATI.

(Sgd.) Manpreet K. Pabla (a.k.a. Daisy K. Pabla) Petitioner SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me, in the CITY OF MAKATI, this AUG. 30, 2016 day of ______ 2016 the affiant to me her Philippine Bureau of Immigration Alien Certificate of Registration No. E304907 Cert. of Res. ICR-248162 issued on 04-0202012 and valid until 04-02-2017.

Doc. No. SI Page No. 13 Book No. XII Series of 2016.

Copy furnished: Office of the Solicitor General Of the Philippines Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village Makati City

ANNEXES ANNEX “A”

ANNEX “B” ANNEX “C” ANNEX “D”

ANNEX “F” ANNEX “G”

ANNEX “I-1”

ANNEX “G-1”

ANNEX “J”

ANNEX “E”

ANNEX “H”

ANNEX “I”

ANNEX “K” ANNEX “L” ANNEX “M” ANNEX “N”

Let this Order be published, at the expense of the petitioner, for three (3) consecutive weeks in the Official Gazette and in a newspaper of general circulation, and a general notice of hearing posted in a public and conspicuous place where petitioner’s residence is located.

Petitioner is likewise directed to cause the service of this Order together with the copy of the petition and its annexes to the Office of the Solicitor General. Let a copy of this Order be sent to the Local Civil Registry of Marikina City, the petitioner and her counsel.

ANNEX “O” ANNEX “O-1”

ANNEX “P”

ANNEX “Q” ANNEX “Q-1”

SO ORDERED. Marikina City, this 3rd day of October, 2016.

(Sgd.) ACEREY C. PACHECO Judge Copy Furnished: Atty. Rassel A. Dinglasan Counsel for the Petitioiner Manpreet Kaur Pabla Petitioner Office of the Solicitor General Local Civil Registry, Marikina City OCC-RTC, Marikina City Philippine Statistics Authority (NSO)

ANNEX “R” ANNEX “S” ANNEX “T” ANNEX “U” ANNEX “V” ANNEX “W”

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 165 MARIKINA CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION/APPLICATION FOR FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP

ANNEX “X” ANNEX “Y” ANNEX “Y-1” ANNEX “Y-2” ANNEX “Z”

ANNEX “AA” TO “AA-4”

ANNEX “BB” TO “BB-5

NAT. CASE NO. 16-0013-MK MANPREET KAUR PABLA (also known as DAISY KAUR PABLA) Petitioner x-------------------------------------------------x

ANNEX “BB” TO “BB-5

ANNEX “CC” ANNEX “CC-1”

PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION ((MS-DEC. 23 / 30, 2016/ JAN. 6, 2017)

COMES NOW, the petitioner, through the undersigned counsel, and unto this Honorable Court, most respectfully avers that:

(MS-Dec. 23, 30, 2016 & Jan. 6, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

World

Ringing in new year with colorful undies S ANTIAGO―Yellow underwear is flying off the shelves these days in the Chilean capital Santiago, where tradition holds that it brings prosperity and love if you wear it on New Year’s Eve. That’s just one of many colorful New Year’s rituals in Latin America, where some spend the evening walking around with a suitcase, others put potatoes under the bed and still others throw buckets of water out the window.

“The yellow underwear is for love, luck, money and so that this year will go well for everyone,” says Gladys Leal, a saleswoman at a lingerie stand in Santiago’s Meiggs neighborhood.

This time of year, she specializes in yellow undergarments in all shapes and sizes, for women and men alike.

But there’s a catch, says her colleague, Jesica Silva: “The underwear has to be given as a gift

to bring luck.”

Yellow, she says, “represents the golden rays of abundance and prosperity.”

Some even say the undies should be worn inside-out to guarantee a year full of passion.

“Beyond yellow lingerie, the tradition is more tied to the color itself,” says Chilean writer Hector Velis-Meza, author of a book called “The Secret History of Christmas and New Year’s.”

Yellow is seen in Latin America as a symbol of the sun, an eternal light, he says.

Chile is not the only country that adheres to the tradition.

It also exists in Mexico, Peru and Ecuador, with slight varia-

tions. Some say you should wear red undies for love, yellow for money.

In Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, pink is the color of choice.

And in Venezuela, revelers are supposed to wear only new clothes -- a tall order this year as the oncebooming oil exporter struggles through an economic crisis.

For some, it is indispensable to welcome the New Year by eating lentils.

For others, it’s 12 grapes -- one at each strike of the clock at midnight, a tradition inhered from Spain.

In many countries, revelers ring in the new year by walking around the neighborhood with a suitcase, a ritual meant to guarantee a year of journeys.

In Uruguay, people often throw buckets of water out the window to wipe the slate clean for the new year.

Some throw their old calendars, too.

In Brazil, many people dress in white and make offerings to Yemanja, the goddess of the sea in the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomble.

Thousands of people swarm the beaches of Rio de Janeiro each year to launch makeshift boats with flowers and other gifts for Yemanja, seeking love, happiness or money.

Colombians meanwhile put potatoes under their beds to bring good luck.

And in Peru and Ecuador, revelers burn in effigy politicians and others they loved to hate in the outgoing year.

The custom has its roots in ancient indigenous practices in the Andes mountains.

But for the most part, the region’s rituals have their origins in European traditions imported by Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors, says Velis-Meza.

That is the case for both the grapes and the lentils. AFP

SOUVENIR. This undated file photo shows US actor Gene Kelly, who

died on February 2 at the age of 83 at his home in Beverly Hills, California, with actress Debbie Reynolds from the movie ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’

Debbie Reynolds, the ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ actress who tap-danced her way into American hearts as a star of Hollywood’s Golden Age, died on December 28, 2016, grief-stricken over daughter Carrie Fisher’s death a day earlier. The 84-year-old suffered a stroke at son Todd Fisher’s Beverly Hills home after telling him “I miss her so much, I want to be with Carrie,” he was quoted as telling celebrity news website TMZ. AFP

Taiwan’s ex-agents told: Don’t visit China

Teenage blogger seeks US asylum

TAIPEI―A top Taiwanese intelligence official on Thursday urged the island’s former agents not to travel to China, citing safety risks as the relations with Beijing grow increasingly tense.

Kuo Chung-hsin, deputy director of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, told reporters in parliament that “the current atmosphere is not suitable” for former and retired intelligence officers to visit China.

“China has no statute of limitations on (prosecuting) our intelligence units and will question you whenever they have an issue with you and exercise their power of the state. So how can we ensure the safety of our people?”

His comments followed reports in Taiwanese media that the bureau sent out notices earlier this month to warn former employees against traveling to China after some complained of being questioned and harassed during their visit to the mainland.

“There are apparent risks and safety concerns concerning our national security, the protection of secrets, and the safety of our colleagues. The bureau advises that it is not suitable to enter China [including Hong Kong and Macau] at the present stage,” local media cited the notice as saying.

Taiwan and China have spied on each other ever since they split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. Beijing still regards the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Taiwan’s defense minister Feng Shih-kuan on Tuesday called for increased vigilance in the face of growing threats from China after Beijing’s sole aircraft carrier and a flotilla of other warships passed south of the island in an exercise earlier this week.

The navy drill is seen as a show of strength by Beijing as its relations worsen with Taiwan and the United States, following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump.

Last year, Taipei and Beijing exchanged jailed spies for the first time ahead of a historic summit between Taiwan’s then president Ma Ying-jeou and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November. AFP

SINGAPORE―A Singaporean teenager who became notorious for profanity-laced attacks on the city’s revered late leader Lee Kuan Yew is seeking political asylum in the US, his lawyers said Thursday.

Amos Yee, 18, a filmmaker turned activist who has been repeatedly jailed in Singapore for his controversial videos, has been detained by US authorities since he arrived at Chicago’s airport early December.

“Soon his case will be referred to an immigration judge for a hearing on his eligibility for asylum,” Yee’s lawyers Grossman Law said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Yee will have to undergo a “Credible Fear Interview” when US officials will determine whether he risks persecution or torture in Singapore, his lawyer Sandra Grossman told the South China Morning Post.

Yee was in high spirits despite being detained and was seeking US asylum because America is a “safe space” where free speech is not policed, Melissa Chen, a USbased Singaporean who has been helping Yee with his asylum bid, said in a Facebook post.

Yee’s mother Mary Toh confirmed his detention and US asylum bid, adding: “the matter is now with his lawyers”.

Singapore’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said that Yee was a “classic political dissident” who deserved asylum.

Singapore “has subjected Amos Yee to a sustained pattern of persecution, including intimidation, arrest and imprisonment, for publicly expressing his views on politics and religion,” Robertson said in a statement.

Yee, who won a film-making award at 13, posted an expletiveladen video in March 2015 attacking Lee amid an outpouring of grief over the founding prime minister’s death that same week.

In the eight-minute video, Yee compared Lee to Jesus, saying “they are both power-hungry and malicious but deceive others into thinking they are compassionate and kind”.

He was jailed for four weeks for hurting the religious feelings of Christians and for posting an obscene image of Lee and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He served 50 days, including penalties for violating bail conditions. AFP

GOTCHA! A bullfighter is rammed by a bull in the ring of bulls of Zapote in Costa Rica, San Jose, on December 28, 2016. AFP

Poland to buy art collection for 2-b euros WARSAW―Poland’s culture ministry is expected Thursday to buy a private art collection worth two billion euros that includes Leonardo da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine”.

The 15th-century portrait of a young woman holding a white ermine, a kind of short-tailed weasel, is one of just four known paintings of women by the Renaissance master. Another is the Mona Lisa.

After announcing it was in

talks to buy the collection earlier this month, the ministry released a statement saying it would “sign an agreement regarding the final settlement of the status” of the works on Thursday.

Currently owned by the Princes Czartoryski Foundation and housed at the National Museum in the southern city of Krakow, the collection numbers thousands of items.

In addition to the da Vinci, which is insured for about 350

million euros ($365 million), its other big names include a Rembrandt and drawings by Renoir.

Princess Izabela Czartoryska founded the collection in 1801 to preserve Polish and European works while her country was partitioned by neighbors Austria, Prussia and Russia.

The culture ministry has said it wants to ensure the collection never leaves Poland, which is a possibility as long as it is owned by the foundation, whose 76-year-

old president, Prince Adam Karol Czartoryski, lives abroad.

The small oil painting on wood is believed to depict Cecilia Gallerani, the teenage mistress of Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan and one of da Vinci’s patrons.

Bought by the Czartoryski family in Italy in 1798 and taken to Poland, the portrait was looted by the invading Nazi Germans in 1939 but restituted after the war. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

SHOPPING

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HARMONY. According to Princess Lim Fernandez, feng shui is all about harmony and balance—when things are balanced, everything goes smoothly

Understanding ‘FENG SHUI’ with Princess Lim Fernandez

By Bernadette Lunas

Photos by Sonny Espiritu

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RINCESS LIM FERNANDEZ used to be a skeptic about feng shui. In fact, she admitted not understanding what the items were for her mom, Baby, used to put in their house.

Welcome the Year of the Rooster on a lucky and harmonious note with the help of tips from Princess Lim Fernandez

But things changed when she saw the good things that have happened to them with the help of revered late feng shui master Paul Lau Tak Lun. “We used to go to Paul to consult him for our family business. He’d go to the house, fix everything and after that, things will really change. So I kinda got curious,” Princess shared with Manila Standard.

She related how she would meet master Paul and talk to him because she felt that “there was something in him.”

“I talked to him and he really indulged me and explained to me. [That was when I realized] there was some sense to it.”

It was during those conversations that Princess learned more about feng shui and Master Paul eventually offered her to be his master apprentice.

She related that the heir-less feng shui master looked at her chart and told her that he did intend to pass on his knowledge to her.

“I was resisting at that time because I planned to be a banker and move to New York,” Princess recalled.

Princess graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Engineering. She is also a member of Mensa, an international society of individuals with high IQ.

But a deal was offered: Paul would teach her and when the time came that he passed on, and she still wanted to be banker she could go ahead.

“Suffice it to say, I never became a banker.”

Princess started her career in Geomancy in 1997 and today she has emerged and established herself as an inimitable feng shui expert.

In 1998, master Paul, Princess and her mother founded the Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony at Makati Shangri-La Hotel. It has since moved to Mandarin Oriental Hotel in 2001 and to its current home at New World Makati Hotel.

Harmony, because according to the Filipino-Chinese feng shui consultant, attaining for harmony is the way to get lucky.

Princess said feng shui’s general basis is balance and harmony. As she puts it, “when things are balanced, everything goes smoothly. When things are harmonious, everything goes smoothly. And that’s luck.”

The shop offers select feng shui items and other related objects. According to its website, many of items are unique to the shop since they were specially made and handcrafted based on original designs using only the finest, authentic and traditional materials.

This also where Princess meets with

GETAWAY glamour is the theme of the Resort 2017 Michael Kors Collection advertising campaign, shot by Mario Testino.

“Destination dressing is the best of all worlds,” says Michael Kors.

“This collection is about clothes for the slopes, the city and the beach; dressing that combines high-impact glamour and t-shirt ease. We released just a few images of the collection when we showed it to editors in June, so I’m excited that my customers are about to see something that is fresh and new.”

For the Michael Kors Collection, Testino shot Anja Rubik seated in the back of a vintage speedboat, with the sun on her skin and the water sparkling behind her. The clothes and accessories, with their effortless silhouettes, luxurious fabrics and geometric details like grommets and rings, capture the clean, easy mood of the season.

The ads for Michael Kors celebrate the lights, glamour and excitement of the holidays. Models Taylor Hill and Emmy Rappe were photographed by Testino amidst the energy and opulence of Las Vegas,

Michael Kors’ Resort 2017 campaign

her clients.

Much like her master, Princess makes the practice of feng shui more accessible. In the age where self-diagnosis has become the norm, she’s aware that anybody can read a book and apply that knowledge, regardless if it’s right or otherwise.

“My role is I interpret it. (The important thing is) how you get the message across that would help them,” she said.

When she was younger, she never

thought that this would be something she’d be doing.

“As you grow older, you think of how you can make a little spot, leave a mark in the world. To have a purpose in life,” mused Princess.

Back when she was starting, Princess helped a distraught widow who had little money to spend on feng shui items. When she came back a year later, Princess recalled, the woman was better and happier.

“It was then when I thought that this is how I can leave a mark.”

Part of Princess’s effort to support the feng shui community is through her feng shui lucky diary, which she publishes annually. The book serves as an infallible daily guide for practitioners.

Watch out for Manila Standard’s Chinese New Year special featuring tips from feng shui expert Princess Lim Fernandez.

Go places in Michael Kors's latest collection that features stylish and comfortable clothes for the slopes, the city and the beach.

highlighting the season’s rich colors, luxe textures and irresistible shine.

The global campaign debuted in September, with ads r unning in the winter issues of Vogue, Van-

ity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle and Marie Claire in the US, Europe and Asia Pacif ic. In total, the Resort print advertising campaign will reach 37 countries across the

Americas, Europe and Asia. The images will also appear in digital outlets, as well as social media platforms and traditional outdoor media placement.

In the Philippines, Michael Kors is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Life

D2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Clueless on what to give?

Daiso Japan shares gift-giving ideas

T

HIS season of giftgiving, put a little more thought on your shopping list and get loved ones something they actually want and would use. Finding the perfect gift for the right person might seem challenging but wrapping up items that suit their personality is a good rule of thumb.

How to start? Jot down all the names of the people you’ll give gifts to. Then beside their names, write a word or two that best describes that person. This will be your cheat sheet when buying presents. To save on time hopping from one store to the next, shop at Daiso Japan where they have a wide selection of cute, practical and useful merchandise at affordable prices, which have been neatly organized in sections for different personality types.

There will always be that kikay friend in the group who adores makeup and takes vanity seriously. A whole bunch of cosmetics, beauty implements and hair accessories offered under Daiso Japan’s Beautyholics display are perfect stocking fillers. There are makeup brushes in

Versatile boxes for someone who’s fond of organizing—or needs to get rid of his many clutter

Give the friend who loves to create crafts with these boxes and art goodies that can help him with his next project

different sizes and tips, false eyelashes which can be stored in an eyelash case can also be bought at the store, trendy nail top coats in glossy and matte finish are also available, leather pouches and an assortment of cosmetics – from mascara and blush pots to eye shadow palettes and lipsticks.

If you have a co-parent in school or a goddaughter who loves crafting, they

will be delighted to receive fresh supplies from the store’s Crafter aisle filled with pretty paper products such as stationeries, memo pads and sticky notes as well as colorful washi tapes, craft punchers and storage boxes in exuberant patterns.

For the person on your list who loves to whip up something delicious from the pantry, head over to the Foodie section which is teeming with kitchen tools, baking equipment and cooking accessories. Get them to be inspired with new dishes by gifting them with these prezzies: portable hand mixers, wide assortment of baking pans and cake molds, biscuit-shaped stamp sets, cute cookie cutters, and colorful spatulas and cutlery sets.

What to give your BFF or boss who’s always traveling? The choices are ample at Daiso Japan. Pick up travel essentials such as eye masks, travel organizers that can hold anything from cosmetics, clothes, toiletries and footwear, and inflatable neck pillows. To make their jaunt more comfortable, slip in a pair of fluffy foldable slippers.

For nephews and nieces, gadget accessories and trappings are always appreciated. Browse through Daiso’s

Cute earphones, earphones cases and cord organizers for the tech savvy loved one

Tech-Savvy shelves for quirky contraptions which nicely complement most gadgets. Best buys include trendy earphones and earplugs, earphones cases, cord organizers in cute animal shapes, and a USB LED lamp that can be plugged in a laptop.

With prices starting at P88, you can shop for all the names on your list at Daiso Japan and be assured that you’ll find the right gift for each of them.

Daiso Japan has 56 stores nationwide through Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., which holds the exclusive sub-license to sell authentic Daiso merchandise from Japan, and operates the legitimate Daiso Japan store concept in the Philippines.

Follow Daiso on Facebook and Twitter @DaisoJapanPH and @daisophilippines on Instagram.

Your friend would always remember you whenever she travels when you give her these functional travel essentials

Begin your giving journey with CBTL’s 2017 Giving Journal AS CHRISTMAS season closes and a new year draws near, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf reminds us that life is not about what we amass for ourselves, but about how we can share our gifts, talents and time with others.

Customers can begin their Giving Journey by collecting stamps for the 2017 Giving Journal in all The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores.

Each stamp card consists of 12 circles with corresponding purchased drink assignments. All 12 stamps must be accumulated in one stamp card to claim the journal.

A box of CBTL capsules earns the customer two stamps, while any CBTL Single Serve Beverage System purchase automatically allows a customer to claim the 2017 Giving Journal.

Available in four colors—rose, purple, gray and turquoise, the Giving Journal is a useful planner and a medium for generosity where you can begin writing the beautiful story of your own Giving Journey.

Through the 2017 Giving Journal, you empower scholars by giving them gift of education through the Real LIFE Foundation, the Giving Journal’s beneficiary since 2011. By supporting their educational needs, you bring them one step closer to achieving their goals, enabling their dreams to take flight.

Begin your Giving Journey by giving the gift of education this holiday season.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s 2017 Giving Journal gives the gift of education to underprivileged scholars of Real LIFE Foundation

For more information on the 2017 Giving Journal, visit www.coffeebean. com.ph, like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Philippines) on Facebook, follow @CBTLPH @BREWPH on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to brewyourbestyear.com.

Touch mobile banking from Citi Philippines CLIENTS of Citi Philippines can now use their fingerprints to access Citi Mobile App for a range of banking services anywhere and anytime.

The country’s largest foreign bank recently announced the launch of Touch ID Sensor authentication service for its clients in the country, to be performed via its Citi Mobile App on the iOS platform with iPhone 5s or later models.

With this latest innovation, clients can log on to the mobile banking app on their iPhone devices with their unique fingerprints and enjoy a faster, more convenient and secure mobile banking experience.

This is the latest addition to Citi’s biometrics authentication offering, following the launch of voice biometrics authentication in October this year.

Clients can choose to activate the Touch ID Sensor function when they log on to the latest version of Citi Mobile App. From there, they can manage their mobile banking accounts simply by logging on with their fingerprints, and perform basic banking functions such as account balance inquiry, funds transfer and bills payment.

Citi Philippines launches its Touch ID Sensor authentication service which allows clients

Visit www.citibank.com.ph more information.

for to log on to Citi Mobile App using their fingerprints

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

A

Becca Godinez BACK AT THE SOLAIRE

FTER being away from the Philippine for 31 years, LAbased singer-actress Becca Godinez is returning to Manila to welcome the Year of the Rooster with a night of fun music.

She will belt out retro numbers, perform some bossa and even sing her hit songs.

Becca loves to revisit past ditties and will reminisce on melodies that have inspired her through the years in Solaire Resort and Casino’s A Dazzling 2017 Welcome on Dec. 31 at The Eclipse.

“After the success of my show at the Eclipse last August, I am coming back to perform the New Year show and I can’t wait!” Becca said. This time, she will be staging a whole new show with the retro band, Highway 54. There have been several long-distance exchanges with Highway 54’s 54 lead singer, Queenie de CastroAgustin and Becca is excited.

“It’s going to be a blast!”

Becca enjoys parallel careers in both music and theater. She starred in Flipzoids, Flipzoids an awardwinning off-Broadway play about how three immigrant Filipinos seek a sense of belonging and identity in America. Becca played Aying, an old woman who refused to abandon any of the culture and tradition of her

80s songstress Becca Godinez returns home for a New Year concert

ALDEN RICHARDS

ABS-CBN wins big in 2016 Araw Values Advertising Foundation

as Bounty Fresh newest endorser FILIPINO homemakers show their love for their families by cooking only the best ingredients into the most delicious meals. And when it comes to chicken dishes, moms use only the freshest, cleanest, and superior-quality poultry products like Bounty Fresh Chicken.

Helping bring the brand and its “Laking Farmfresh” poultry products closer to the hearts of moms and the entire family is the Philippines’ Pambansang Bae, Alden Richards, who partners with Bounty for Bounty Fresh Chicken’s #AldeniablyFarmfresh campaign.

As the newest endorser of Bounty Fresh Chicken, Alden embodies the very qualities that set Bounty Fresh “Laking Farmfresh” chickens apart from the rest—all-natural, quality freshness that brings more love and excitement to Filipino homes.

“We’re happy to have Alden on board as he is the ideal personification of the brand. We believe that with his good credibility and reputation as an actor and as an endorser, we will be able to remind moms to add more love to cooking by using the freshest and safest ingredients and that eating Farmfresh products will make them and their families feel fresh and healthy,” said Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. President and General Manager

Ronald Ricaforte Mascariñas.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity to share, among our beloved Filipino mothers, Bounty Fresh ‘Laking Farmfresh’ chickens,” said Richards. “With this product, moms can definitely showcase their love for their families by cooking not only delicious chicken meals, but ones that are clean, healthy, and superior in quality.”

Certified “Laking Farmfresh” Bounty Fresh “Laking Farmfresh” chickens are raised in “malinis, maluwag, and maaliwalas” farms and plants that meet the highest standards of food quality and safety to assure millions of Filipino consumers of clean and healthy Bounty Fresh chickens.

With the new tandem of Bounty Fresh and Alden Richards, clean, fresh, and superiorquality “Laking Farmfresh” chickens are brought closer to Filipino households.

Furthermore, moms are bound to fall in love with whipping-up delicious chicken meals to the delight of the entire family.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Friday, December 30, 2016

ACROSS 1 Battery word 5 Appraised 10 Baseball’s Ty — 14 Constantly 15 Robin of balladry 16 Alice’s chronicler 17 Handed over 18 Accord maker 19 Bulrush or cattail 20 Rap sheet info 22 Lavish 24 Muscle quivers 27 Promising 28 Doubt 32 Powerful magnate 36 Admiral’s org.

37 Hypnotized 39 Ekberg of films 40 Inning enders 42 Cut some slack 44 Chemist’s weight 45 Dainty pastries 47 Placid 49 Before, to bards 50 Kayak owner, maybe 51 Dazzling 53 Mare’s offspring 56 Vanquish a dragon 57 Foot soldiers,

slangily 61 Publicity 65 Shampoo additive 66 Emulates Galen 69 Melville work 70 Char 71 City, canal, and lake 72 Mexican lad 73 Coal scuttles 74 “Blowin’ in the Wind” singer 75 Look diligently DOWN 1 Lyra’s bright star 2 Almond-shaped 3 Strauss of blue jeans 4 Buys a round 5 Go team!

6 Uproar 7 Astronaut’s ade 8 Fluffy quilt 9 Sink unclogger 10 Toting 11 Layered cookie 12 Roquefort hue 13 Hunks’ assets 21 In — (as found) 23 Is, in Madrid 25 Theater 26 Malt-shop orders 28 Sales rep’s goal

29 Customary 30 — nous 31 Wasps’ homes 33 Bushed 34 Video-game pioneer 35 Put the finger on 38 Enjoys, as benefits 41 Sausage makers 43 Herb in a pickle 46 Portico 48 Like Beethoven 52 Quick-dry

homeland. The phenomenal play was first staged in 2012 in L.A. then later on mounted at Music Museum in 2014 with Becca as its producer and lead actor.

“By God’s grace, I was cast in Flipzoids in Los Angeles and was onstage for a month at the LATC in downtown Los Angeles. The blessing was not just in working with a phenomenal cast but also being directed by one of the most respected theatre directors in L.A., Jon Lawrence Rivera. The icing on the cake was acceptance and great reviews by the L.A. theatre critics. With all that under my belt, Jon and I decided Filipino audience had to experience this beautifully written dramedy. Somehow my brain went tilt and I decided to bring the entire production to Manila,” she added.

Returning to the Philippine stage has always been a dream for the multi-talented performer even as she continues her 43-year career as a singer, actress, songwriter, director and producer. She revealed, “The most recent feather on my cap is that I was offered artist management by FullHouse Asia. They are a great group of talented and dedicated folks and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2017.”

“Aside from live shows, there are plans for me to continue to act – maybe even in a teleserye or something TV related.’’

“We are also digging into my other love, songwriting, not just for me but for other artists.

There are plans for a Valentine shows and I am especially excited over the possibility of being a part of Repertory Philippines’ 50th anniversary in June,” she continued.

“For now the excitement is in staging the New Year show, which promises to be a great celebration.”

For tickets, or for more information on A Dazzling 2017 Welcome under the Solaire Holiday Treasures, visit www.solaireresort.com or for reservations please call 888 8888.

fabrics 54 Throbbed 55 Distrustful 57 Pinch of salt 58 Dairy-case buy 59 Spur on 60 Lift anchor 62 Gigi’s friend 63 Orange road marker 64 Flake 67 Tract of open ground 68 Nine-digit ID

ABS-CBN’s values-centric campaigns earned accolades at the 10th Araw Values Advertising Awards recently held at the Dolphy Theater in the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.

ABS-CBN took home five Silver and four Bronze awards in the in the Advocacy Communications category, and one Silver award in the Branded Communications category. The awards are anchored by the seven cornerstone values of the Ad Foundation, the organizing body of Araw Values Awards.

The company won silver for the documentary, Mga Kuwento ng Paglalakbay by Choose Philippines for promoting Love of Country and Respect for National Customs and Traditions; the multimedia campaign “PopeTYSM” for promoting Love of God and Respect for Religious Beliefs. Meanwhile, the TV plug “Aral ng EDSA” and the ABSCBN Summer station ID “Halalan,” which encouraged responsible voting, both won for espousing Commitment to Truth, Honest, and

Integrity.

ABS-CBN Global’s 2015 station ID “Galing ng Filipino,” which showcases Filipino greatness all over the world, also won a silver for promoting Love of Country and Respect for National Customs and Traditions in the Branded Communications category.

The DZMM election campaign, “PamilyaSerye,” won a bronze for championing Commitment to Truth, Honesty, and Integrity. The TV plug “ABS-CBN EDSA Susan Quimpo Interview” also received a bronze award, for its emphasis on Respect and Care for Life and Dignity and the Rights of All. The ABS-CBN Sports + Action received a bronze award for its “Pusong Palaban ng Lahing Pilipino” station ID for promoting Love of Country and Respect for National Customs and Traditions, along with the TV plug, “ABS-CBN EDSA Heroes Confetti.”

The Araw Values Awards is among the flagship projects of the Ad Foundation of the Philippines that is meant to “promote and inculcate positive Filipino Values for social changes along national development goals and encourage Values Advertising within the industry.”

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

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HE year 2015, as we previously reported, definitely belonged to AlDub for hogging much more space in media, social media as well as public attention. But 2016, was an entirely different ballgame. We had a more diverse showbiz landscape not dominated by a single love team.

As we welcome the New Year, we are listing down the newsmakers of 2016 from the world of show business.

Alden Richards He had a concert in London in October. It was sold out. Thousands of his Filipino fans flocked to Troxy in Stepney East London to watch the Kapuso star live in the flesh. This concert was just one of the shows Alden staged sans his onscreen partner, Maine Mendoza, whose career (according to some kibitzers) is close to stagnation. But what really made 2016 his biggest year yet? This is the same year when he received a Diamond Record award for his album Wish I May. The album was certified by PARI (Philippine Association of Record Industry) after it sold more than 150,000 physical copies. This recognition put the showbiz golden boy as the biggest recording artist of the year.

What

PEOPLE

talked about in

2016 Liza Soberano It’s hard to argue when people call her the face of 2016 for looking effortlessly beautiful in every angle. In fact, even Pia Wurtzbach admires her beauty. No other local celebrity broke the Internet this year for just looking pretty. Liza did it several times, most memorable of which was her sensational look at the 10th Star Magic Ball in October. In an interview with Manila Standard, Liza said she doesn’t want people to remember her for just being someone with a pretty face. She wants them to see what’s between her ears, too. Little did many people know, Liza is actually a geek.

Twitter trending topics, and made competing progrmas, including the one-year-old FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, eat dust. Encantadia posted a 26.1 percent TV ratings, which is the highest primetime premiere in 2016.

Jessy Mendiola Last summer in Boracay, the 24-year-old Kapamilya star made headlines when a photo of her in a red bikini circulated on the web.

In what supposed to be just a fun photo that celebrates her being comfortable in her own skin elicited a barrage of hate comments with trolls calling her fat and her photo deceitful. Two months later, Jessy felt vindicated when FHM, via on online poll, declared her as the sexiest woman in the land after receiving more than half a million votes. But controversy on body shaming didn’t stop there.

Her name was then dragged into the Luis Manzano-Angel Locsin split with fans creating social media memes just to call her names.

Pia Wurtzbach In a month’s time, the Philippines’ third Miss Universe will relinquish her crown. Now, looking back at her entire year as Miss Universe, Pia was able to prove that she deserved the title. The confidently beautiful with a heart beauty queen has been travelling the world spreading awareness on well-meaning causes including cyber bullying and aids awareness. And because of her being the “best Miss Universe ever,” Pia will still do a lot of work for MUO even after her reign.

Pangako Sa ‘Yo People anticipated the premiere of the Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo-starrer series playing the star-crossed lovers Angelo Buenavista and Yna Macaspac. The series, which ended in February, made history in 2016 for registering the highest rating for a primetime TV show finale. The remake of the classic series posted 27.5 percent ratings according to AGB Neilsen and 44.7 percent according to TNS Kantar. It was the only time that the two ratings provider agreed on something.

Star Cinema Once again, ABS-CBN’s film production arm has proven that it’s the only home of commercially successful films. The production outfit produced a total of 11 films this year and only one of which didn’t breach the P100-million mark in terms of box office receipt.

It’s most recent offering, My Super Parental Guardians, is now considered as the biggest film of 2016 after it grossed more than P400 million at the tills. Previous record holder was Barcelona: A Love Untold, which Star Cinema released in September.

Jaclyn Jose Her “As is, Where is” method of acting, which we learned from Eugene Domingo in Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, proved to be a hit at Cannes Film Festival. Her gritty portrayal of a drug-dealing matriarch in Ma’Rosa, an indie film helmed by Brillante Mendoza, helped Jaclyn become the first Filipino to win the Best Actress award in the prestigious film event.

Encantadia The return of the immensely popular fantasy show on the small screen was one big TV event. On July 18, when the “requel” of Encantadia premiered, two generations of TV viewers were glued in front of their TV sets. The pilot was very successful. It topped the

James Reid He is a walking example of a perfect transformation. From a lanky lad when he joined PBB Teens, James sports a muscular physique now that looks desirable in every angle. And this physical change put the 23-year-old Kapamilya star in a league all his own. Apart from being a platinum recording artist, a certified box office actor, James also a sought-after product endorser. He is the top choice of high profile brands making him one if not the top celebrity endorser of the year.

German Moreno A showbiz pillar passed on in 2016 but the Master Showman’s passing was the most talked about when the entire showbiz mourned.

Kuya Germs died on Jan. 8 at the age of 82. He was known as a star builder in his youth-oriented show in the 1980s called That’s Entertainment for aspiring actors, dancers, and singers. He also initiated the “Walk of Fame” in Eastwood, Quezon City, which is the local counterpart of the “Walk of Fame” in Hollywood, USA to recognize artists, broadcasters, singers and others who made significant contributions to the showbiz industry.