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VOL. XXX • NO. 358 • 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

NDF INSISTS: FREE JAILED COMRADES

OMMUNIST leaders continued to demand the release of captured communist rebels even after staging surprise attacks on government forces and calling off a fivemonth-old ceasefire that was announced August last year.

Hours after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered government troops to prepare to resume counter-insurgency operations, chief National Democratic Front negotiator Fidel Agcaoili demanded that the government release about 400 captured communist rebels for peace talks to continue. “On the release and amnesty of political prisoners, the NDF main-

tains that this is a matter of justice and obligation under the [Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law signed in 1998 or CASER],” Agcaoili said. “Some of these political prisoners have languished in jail for more than 10 years without conviction, in violation of the right to speedy trial as provided for in the [Philip-

pine] constitution,” he said. Agcaoili noted that 14 of them have died in prison, 13 under the time of Benigno Aquino III and one under Duterte. “The NDFP has already proposed as early as October 2016 that the release and amnesty of all political prisoners can come after the signing of the CASER without prejudice to the early release of those who are sick, elderly, longterm detainees, women and innocent civilians on humanitarian grounds.” he said. Agcaoili blamed the breakdown of the ceasefire on the military which, he claimed, conducted operations during the truce. “On the other hand, the [New People’s Army] has maintained

strictly its own unilateral ceasefire, taking extraordinary measures to avoid encounters with AFP troops while remaining on active defense,” he said. But chief government negotiator, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the NDF should take “command responsibility” for the actions of the NPA. “There is a need for them to assume command responsibility [within their ranks],” Bello told state radio dzRB on Saturday. Bello stressed that the NDF should agree to a joint bilateral ceasefire following their own allegations that the military violated its own unilateral ceasefire, when they return to the negotiating table this Feb. 22 to 25. Turn to A2

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GADGETS / D3

PINOY MILLENNIAL MEN SHOP MORE ONLINE

WORLD / B4

TRUMP BAN SUFFERS SEVERE LEGAL BLOW

KILLED IN SERVICE. President Rodrigo Duterte condoles with the family of Lt. Miguel Victor Alejo who was killed in one of the New People’s Army's 15 surprise operations as they canceled the five-month-old ceasefire with the government. Malacañang Photo

SEARCH ON FOR TROOPS IN NPA ‘ATROCITIES’ SECURITY forces in Mindanao launched operations to locate five soldiers who were reported missing amid what they described as “atrocities” committed by the communist New People’s Army even before they called off the ceasefire on Feb. 1. The military and police launched the operations as the families of

the three soldiers who were killed in an NPA ambush in Bukidnon demanded justice for their slain loved ones, who were ambushed although they were unarmed and in civilian clothing. “Ang nagpatay kung kinsa man siya mas labaw ang mahitabo sa iya sa iyang gibuhat sa ako bana nga buotan kaayo [Whoever killed (my

husband), something worse will happen to him because he killed a good man],” said Almalou Yee, wife of Sgt. Owen Yee. Sgt. Yee left their base in Malaybalay, Bukidnon with Cpl. Pat Non and Cpl. Niño Christopher Talabor to get their subsistence allowance but were ambushed by NPA rebels. The bullet-riddled bodies of the

three were found later that day, with one cadaver bearing 27 gunshot wounds, another with 26 and the other one with 24. “These acts are not only violations of their own ceasefire declaration, that is still in effect, it is an utter disregard to international humanitarian law when they used Turn to A2

DENR URGED TO SHOW AUDIT REPORT By John Paolo Bencito MINING groups on Saturday urged Environment Secretary Regina Lopez to release the results of the review conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau which became her basis to order the closure of 21 mining operations in the country. In a statement, the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment

Association said that while it remains firm in its commitment to support responsible mining as espoused by the DENR secretary, Lopez should dispel speculations within the mining industry that the closure order was made without due process. “It appears that full details of the results of the Mining Audit is yet to be furnished to the concerned companies. The closures/ twitter.com/ MlaStandard

suspensions, if affirmed, will have far reaching effect especially in mining communities that play host to these mines—employees and their dependents, contractors, and mine-dependent small businesses will be the biggest losers,” the PMSEA said. “In the spirit of transparency and due process, the PMSEA exhorts the DENR to release the Turn to A2

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WATCHING 'BISING.' Weather forecaster Jori Loiz points to the location of Tropical Depression 'Bising' east of Mindanao on Saturday. Manny Palmero

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‘BISING’ CRUISES EASTERN SEABOARD

THE low-pressure area east of Mindanao developed into a tropical depression on Saturday and was named “Bising” while cruising over the waters along the country’s eastern seaboard and bringing some rains there before possibly moving away from Philippine landmass. “Latest available data indicate a low chance for ‘Bising’ to cross the country,” said weather forecaster Robb Gile of the state weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Gile said light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are possible in Mindanao, the Visayas as well as Luzon’s east-lying Bicol region and Quezon province as ‘Bising’ moves over waters bordering the eastern seaboard. "Bising" is also enhancing the prevailing northeast monsoon or amihan so the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao can experience strong to gale-force winds that can fan rough to very rough seas in those regions, Gile added. He said "Bising" may, however, recurve and head northeast away from the country once it nears Southern Luzon. In its Severe Weather Bulletin 3 Turn to A2

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NDF...

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“In a unilateral ceasefire, you don’t know the violations. And should there be any violations, who will act as referee,” he said. Among the contentious issues that they need to settle in crafting the guidelines for a joint bilateral ceasefire were the NPA’s collection of revolutionary taxes and their ransacking of schools, Bello said. “There is a need for a bilateral ceasefire agreement, so we know the parameters, and the definition of terms— things you can call out as violations to ceasefire,” he added. Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said it was the NPA who broke the peace. “The NPA had broken peace, ambushing soldiers at ease some of whom had just received wages when rebels shot and killed them viciously,” he said. “Some progress had already been made during the third round of peace talks in Rome, but apparently there is some disconnect between dissident leaders negotiating at the table and their forces on the ground,” Abella said. “It would be deeply regrettable that the otherwise positive developments now might have to be set aside,”he added.

2 HURT IN SAYYAF BLAST IN BASILAN

AMBOANGA CITY—Two people, including a soldier, were wounded while a town mayor was unscathed in a roadside bombing on Saturday in the municipality of Tuburan, Basilan province. Senior Insp. Said Omar Ismael, Tuburan police chief, disclosed the incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. Saturday, in Sitio Sawiti, Barangay Calut (not Barangay Duga-a as earlier reported), Tuburan, Basilan. Ismael identified the wounded soldier as Cpl. Christian Ibarreta

of the Army’s 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion and Misuari Jamiri, the driver of Tuburan Mayor Durie Kallahal. Jamiri was transported by speed boat from Basilan to this city for medical treatment. Col. Cirilo Donato, Army’s 104th

Infantry Brigade commander, said Kallahal was unscathed since he disembarked before his vehicle tripped on an improvised explosive device fashioned out as a landmine. The pick-up type vehicle of Kallahal was riddled with shrapnel holes and its left rear tire was blown off as a result of the roadside bomb explosion. Ismael said that Kallahal accompanied by 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion troops went to Sitio Sawiti, Barangay Calut to inspect the blast site where a bomb exploded

around 10:15 a.m. Saturday. Ismael said no one was either killed or wounded in the 10:15 a.m. incident since the bomb exploded in a vacant lot. At that time, Kallahal and the troops of the Army’s 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion were conducting medical outreach mission in downtown Tuburan. Both the military and police authorities said the roadside bombing was the handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf Group since Kallahal is known to be fighting against the bandit group in his town. PNA

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excessive force on the bodies of three soldiers they earlier abducted,” said Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla. “The NPA perpetrated acts that are completely unnecessary to the already fallen soldiers,” Padilla said. “Even before they announced the withdrawal of their ceasefire, they already conducted a series of atrocities against government forces beginning last Sunday,” he added. Based from reports on the ground, the NPAs have conducted 18 attacks since Jan. 15 this year. These include three abduction cases involving three soldiers in separate incidents in Surigao del Norte and Sultan Kudarat. But the Cotabato regional police said they have intensified intelligence operations to locate two of the three soldiers abducted by communist rebels on Wednesday. “We maintain our support for the Philippine Army in Columbio and in Sultan Kudarat,” said Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr. An Army intelligence officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the two soldiers—Sgt. Solaiman Calocop and Private 1st Class Samuel Garay of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion— are believed to be kept at the border of Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur, particularly in the mountains of Kiblawan, Davao del Sur where the New People’s Army have a strong presence. The soldiers were on board a motorbike when they were flagged down on Wednesday by some 15 NPA rebels in Barangay Telefas, Columbio. Initial information showed the two infantrymen were from the battalion headquarters in Makilala, North Cotabato and were heading to their base in Barangay Telefas, hours after the communists canceled the ceasefire. Meanwhile, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año has said the military has more than sufficient forces to meet rebel groups in Eastern Mindanao. “We have enough forces. We will assess everything before we make any troop movement or any adjustment,” he said when asked whether there is a need for more forces after President Rodrigo Duterte canceled the government ceasefire in the wake of unprovoked NPA attacks.

SECURITY UPDATE. Officers of the military’s Western Mindanao Command listen to President Rodrigo Duterte as he leaves instructions about security matters after the inauguration of an irrigation project in M’lang, North Cotabato. Malacañang Photo

SOLON PUSHES CUT IN DEPLOYMENT OF MAIDS THE government should discourage the deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) to countries where they are not adequately protected by the “rule of law,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said over the weekend. “As it is, our HSWs abroad are already susceptible to abuse, not only because their skills are easy to replace, but also because they live in virtual isolation with their employers. If we continue to send them to work in countries where the rule of law is perceived to be weak, they become even more exposed to potential harm,” Pimentel warned. The Jan. 25 hanging of Filipino

'BISING' ... From A1 released Saturday morning, Pagasa located "Bising" at some 515 km. east of Hinatuan in Mindanao’s Surigao del Sur province as of 10 a.m. Saturday. "Bising" was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 45 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. Gile noted that "Bising" may move northwestwards at 11 kph, slower than its earlier speed of 13 kph. Pagasa forecast ‘Bising’ to be already outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday (Feb. 9). “We’re however not discounting the possibility of ‘Bising’ dissipating while inside PAR,” Gile noted. Gile, however, said that seas off northern and central Luzon may become rough to very rough—and dangerous to sailing—as tropical depression "Bising" nears these areas and enhances the prevailing northeast monsoon or amihan. “Such scenario is possible, particularly if ‘Bising’ persists as a tropical depression,” Gile said. He said amihan continues to prevail

HSW Jakatia Pawa in Kuwait has put the spotlight on the Philippines’ export of labor, especially low-skilled HSWs. Pawa, a native of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, was put to death for the 2007 murder of her Kuwaiti employer’s 22-year-old daughter. But Pawa’s family claims that the 41-year-old widow and mother of two was a victim of miscarriage of justice, and that she was framed up by her employer. Up until her execution, Pawa had maintained that her employer’s daughter, who was stabbed to death, had been “arranged” to marry somebody, but was caught hav-

ing sex with another man. “It was a very shameful violation, considering that the family is prominent and wealthy. They killed the daughter but blamed Jakatia,” said ACTS OFW Party-list Rep. Aniceto John Bertiz. There are a number of countries that host many Filipino HSWs, and have good reputations of adhering strictly to the rule of law, according to Pimentel. “In these countries, when the employee is victimized, the abuser gets punished. This has helped to deter ill-treatment, so our HSWs enjoy a large degree of protection from the rule of law,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said the Philippine government should lessen the overseas deployment of low-skilled workers such as HSWs, and concentrate instead on the placement of professionals and other high-skilled workers that the country has ample supplies of. “We have many Filipino nurses and midwives from Mindanao who provide home care services for the sick and elderly in the Middle East. They too live with their employers, but we seldom come across cases of mistreatment. They are well taken care of by their employers. This is because their skills are very difficult to replace,” Pimentel said.

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in Luzon but the winds it brings to the island’s northern and central areas are not strong enough to fan rough to very rough seas. “Winds there can reach strong to gale-force intensity if ‘Bising’ enhances the amihan enough,” he noted. ‘Bising’ is also enhancing the ‘amihan’ so eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao can experience strong to gale-force winds that can fan rough to very rough seas in these regions, he continued. On Saturday, Pagasa said such winds may also fan waves up to 4.5 meters high. “Fishing boats and other small sea craft are advised not to venture out into sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” PAGASA added in its gale warning 41 released Saturday, citing danger in waters off the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. ‘Bising’ is the first tropical cyclone in the country this month. PNA

results of the mining audit to clear any doubts and air of suspicions,” the group added. The PMSEA is an organization of mining companies, quarries, cement plants, suppliers, service contractors, professional organizations and government agencies which that promote occupational safety, improved health standards and environmental protection in mining-related operations. Mining groups raised their concern after Lopez refused to present the recommendations made by the MGB that led her to order the closure of 21 mining operations in the country and the suspension of five others. Following Lopez’s decision, only 12 mining firms passed the mining audit that started seven months ago. During her press conference last Thursday, Lopez refused when asked if they could get a copy of the MGB’s recommendations on mining operations.

“I’m gonna think about it, because if I don’t agree with it then I’m not gonna give it to you. Because I don’t agree with it, so why will I give it to you? If it’s not resonant with the principles on which DENR runs, and it’s not consonant with my own observations of my going [to mining sites], why will I give it to you if I don’t agree with it,” Lopez was quoted by online news site Rappler. “I don’t have to have you privy to the processes on which I make my decisions. What I’m sharing with you are the principles on which I stand by, and I truly hope you share the same principles because you’re Filipino.” “I’m not going to show you…because I don’t want anything complicated, and I don’t want to rock the boat. Just leave it already, I’ve made my decision and accept it. That’s what you write about, don’t try to make things complicated.” Lopez insisted that she still calls the shots in the end and that the MGB re-

port would be shown only to President Rodrigo Duterte. “I’m under no obligation to let you know what’s happening,” she told reporters. “If the President asks me, I am under obligation to give it to him.” The Philippine Nickel Industry Association meanwhile, lamented Lopez’ decision to proceed with the suspension and closure of majority of the operating mines in the country, saying that all of its member-companies have complied with existing mining and environment laws. “Knowing that our member-companies are compliant with existing laws and operate with the highest industry standards, we are deeply disappointed with this recent development,” the PNIA said. “PNIA assures all stakeholders of the nickel industry, especially our workers and beneficiary host communities, that we will seek clarification with DENR on this matter and exhaust all avenues to save our industry.”

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ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGES TO BE BUILT By Joel E. Zurbano

LIGHTNING RALLY. Members of a militant group stage Saturday a lightning rally in front of the US Embassy in Manila, telling off President Donald Trump for, among others, his ban on nationals of seven countries to enter the US of A because he has tagged them producers of terrorists. Norman Cruz

HOUSE PUSHES FOR PHILRUBBER BOARD

HE House committee on agriculture and food has approved the creation of a technical working group that will finalize the bill seeking to create a Philippine Rubber Industry Development Board. Officials said this would be responsible mainly for the promotion, development and growth of the rubber industry by improving its quality and productivity, and expanding its markets. The TWG creation was agreed upon during a recent hearing of the committee chaired by Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr. (Party-list, ANAC IP). The TWG shall be headed by Rep. Isagani Amatong (3rd District, Zamboanga del Norte) who is also the author of the proposal embodied in House Bill 2912. Panganiban said the proposed PhilRubber shall be an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry and would require an initial funding of P200 million. Panganiban stressed the proposed PhilRubber should not duplicate the functions of the existing Philippine Rubber Research Institute created under Republic Act 10089 and the Philippine Rubber Industry Development Authority being proposed under House Bill 4064, now pending at the committee on government reorganization. Amatong gave an assurance the PhilRubber would not duplicate or

be in conflict with the functions of other agencies. Director Sitti Amina Jain of the DTI National Rubber Industry Cluster Coordinator explained the difference between RA 10089 and HB 2912. “RA 10089 is centered on the upstream or concentrated mainly on rubber production while the PhilRubber under HB 2912 will serve as an umbrella organization that would protect and promote the rubber industry as a whole, from production down to manufacturing then to exporting,” said Jain. Jain added the PhilRubber would oversee the implementation of programs and projects to ensure the rubber industry would grow not just on the upstream (production) but as well as downstream which consists of rubber processing manufacturing and marketing. Pursuant to RA 10089, an advisory board was created composed of representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Research, Bureau of Plant Industry, Philippine Rubber Research Institute, and a representative each from the sectors of rubber producers and processors.

The advisory board is mandated to develop policies and programs aimed at improving the state of technologies needed for the rubber industry to meet global standards for competitiveness and product quality. Meanwhile, Rep. Makmod Mending Jr. (Party-list-Amin) said his House Bill 4064, now pending at the committee on government reorganization, was seeking to create a Philippine Rubber Industry Development Authority to address all concerns of the rubber industry and make it more competitive in the world market. It will act as an executive office and will also regulate the industry because right now the price of rubber is being manipulated. Under Amatong’s HB 2912, the PhilRubber shall be composed of the secretaries of DTI, DA, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of the Interior and Local Government; Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; President/ CEO of the Land Bank of the Philippines; two representatives from the Academe; two representatives from the Philippine Rubber Industries Association., Inc.; two representatives from the National Lumber Processors; two representatives from the Small Holders Association;

and two representatives from the Federation of Rubber Cooperatives. The representatives from the Academe; Rubber Association, Rubber Processors, Small Holders Association and Federation of Rubber Cooperatives shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the DTI secretary and shall serve in the PhilRubber for three years reckoned from the date of appointment . The representatives may be reappointed by the President for another term. The Philippines is a known rubber-producing country but has contributed only a dismal one percent of the world’s rubber supply, according to Amatong. The absence of an industryfocused government support, compounded by the lack of testing facilities both in government and private sectors greatly contributed to its low quality, less productive and good access to the market. Amatong said the demand for natural rubber in the world market was steadily progressing. In 2013 alone, the expected volume of the world’s demand for natural rubber reached up to 11.3 million metric tons. To date, the IMF has projected the demand to reach 11.9 million. By 2020, the IMF predicts the market to reach 15.4 million metric tons.

3 TAKE OATH AS NEW PHILHEALTH DIRECTORS

THREE medical doctors have taken their oath as the newest members of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Drs. Celestina Ma. Jude P. De la Serna, Joan Cristine Reina Liban-Lareza and Hildegardes C. Dineros were sworn into office Friday by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, who also chairs the PhilHealth Board. The oathtaking was held at the PhilHealth Head Office in Pasig City. De la Serna, who replaces Jane M.N. Sta. Ana as the appointive member representing overseas Filipino migrant workers, obtained her doctor of medicine degree from the De la Salle University in Dasmariñas, Cavite in 1989. She worked at the De la Serna Clinic, a private health clinic based in Bohol from 2002-2003, before becoming the Chief of Hospital of Maribojoc Community

Hospital for two years. Lareza, a doctor of medicine graduate of the Far Eastern University– Nicanor Reyes Foundation’s Institute of Medicine, chaired the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Qualimed in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. A consultant at Nuvotek, Inc.; consultant and sonologist of Qualimed Trinoma and MyHealth Clinic; and sonologist at Klinika ng Bata at Matanda, all in Quezon City, she is an appointive member representing health care providers. Dineros, a surgeon who finished his medical degree from the University of Sto. Tomas, performs basic and advanced laparoscopic procedures, surgical endoscopy and general surgical procedures, and is also into bariatric, metabolic, general and cancer surgery.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS. Drs. Celestina Ma. Jude P. de la Serna, Joan Cristine Reina Liban-Lareza and Hildegardes C. Dineros pose for a photo opportunity after taking their oath as the newest members of the Board of Directors of PhilHealth, created in 1995 to implement universal health coverage in the Philippines.

MORE pedestrian footbridges will be built in the National Capital Region to prevent jaywalking and road accident, which contribute to the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis. This month, according to the advisory released by the Metro Manila Development Authority-Public Information Office, the agency is scheduled to construct three footbridges in Quezon City. Two of them will be built along East Avenue: one in front of the Social Security System Main Building and the other at the corner of V. Luna Road near National Statistics Office building. Both projects are scheduled to be completed on July 12. Another footbridge will be constructed at the corner of Timog Avenue corner Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, set to be finished by Aug. 11. The MMDA came up with the footbridge project in close coordination with local government units and the private sector to prevent incidents of jaywalking and to discipline the public to cross the road only at designated places. MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said jaywalking along the major thoroughfares and streets was one of the contributory factors to the traffic problems and road accidents in Metro Manila. Orbos said his agency was fully implementing the Anti-Jaywalking policy after observing that undisciplined pedestrians openly disregard pedestrian lanes and warning signage. He earlier ordered his men from the Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group to intensify the implementation of the policy.

ANTI-GRAFT COURT ASKED TO RECONSIDER THE camp of former Vice President Jejomar Binay is asking the Sandiganbayan to reconsider its decision denying the motion to raffle the criminal case filed against him in connection with the alleged overpriced parking building in Makati City. In a 13-page resolution issued last Tuesday, the anti-graft court’s Third Division denied for lack of merit Binay’s motion to raffle off the cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in July 2016. Binay was charged with four counts of graft, nine counts of falsification of public documents and one count of malversation over the alleged rigged bidding and overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building II when he was city mayor. The Sandiganbayan en banc consolidated the cases against the former vice president and his son, former Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay. But Binay’s legal counsel Daniel Subido clarified it was not the en banc that decided to consolidate the case of the former vice president with the case of his son without the required raffle. He said the decision to consolidate was made by the Raffle Committee. “We are merely asking that the same rules be applied to the Binays instead of being the exception. We will seek reconsideration of the order denying our motion to raffle,” Subido said. Subido said instead of conducting a raffle, the committee directly consolidated the case against the former vice president with the case filed against his son now pending before the Third Division. “Considering there was no raffle to begin with, our motion for reconsideration will still be filed with the Third Division,” he added. The Third Division is the same division that refused to inhibit itself from another case filed against Binay’s wife and Elenita. “As it is, practically all cases against the Binay family, even if the alleged bases of the complaints are different, are all pending in one division,” he said. Elenita Binay had earlier reiterated her appeal for Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang to inhibit herself from hearing the case. Joel E. Zurbano

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 Francis S. Lagniton, Issue Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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‘BIG C’ CLAIMS 56K PINOYS EACH YEAR

T LEAST 56,600 Filipinos die of cancer every year, with slightly more men succumbing to the disease than women. Lung cancer claims one in every four men, and breast cancer downs nearly 28 percent of women suffering from the disease. This is what the latest World Health Organization statistics revealed as the globe marked World Cancer Day on Saturday. The Big C is the third-leading cause of death in the Philippines after coronary heart disease and stroke, according to the WHO’s latest country profile in 2014. It adds to the nearly nine million people worldwide who passed away from the disease in 2015. Some 14 million new cancers are diagnosed each year, the WHO added—a number expected to swell to 21 million by 2030. As the global cost of treatment skyrockets, measures to prevent people getting cancer in the first place are an increasingly important focus in seeking to limit the expected explosion. “The way things will evolve over, let’s

say the next 20 years, are very dramatic; many countries [will have] probably twice as many cancers,” said Christopher Wild, director of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. “That’s particularly true for countries with limited resources, the low and middle-income countries,” he told AFP. With less access to diagnosis and treatment, these countries already bear two-thirds of the world’s annual 8.8 million cancer deaths, IARC data showed. In 2015, governments and patients spent $107 billion (about P5.35 trillion) on cancer drugs—an increase of 11.5 percent from 2014, according to the Global Oncology Trend Report of the IMS Institute. The figure was expected to grow to $150 billion by 2020, it said, a rise

driven largely by the expense of newer, more specialised drugs to which just a minority of patients have access. “Treating our way out of the cancer problem is not realistic,” Wild told AFP on the eve of Saturday’s World Cancer Day. With prevention, on the other hand, as much as a third of cancers can be avoided today, according to the WHO. In the Philippines, men with the disease are most likely to fall to lung, liver, prostate and colorectal cancer and leukemia, the world agency revealed in its Cancer Country Profile three years ago. Filipinas with breast cancer outnumbered those suffering from cervical cancer almost three to one, while others suffered from cervical, colorectal, lung and ovarian cancer, the WHO data added. The biggest risk factor for cancer in the Philippines and the world is current tobacco smoking, the agency added, with males almost five times at risk of developing the disease than females. Public enemy number one is tobacco, which “will kill a billion people in the world in the 21st century,” said Thierry Philip, president of the Institut Curie

cancer research center in Paris. Of these, 100 million will be in China alone.

‘We know the causes’

While prevention can save millions of lives much more cheaply than treatment, it remains an underfunded, much-neglected weapon in the anticancer arsenal, experts say. Cervical cancer, in turn, can be avoided by vaccinating against the human papilloma virus (HPV). Regular screening can pick up pre-cancerous lesions, which can be treated before developing into full-blown disease. Physical inactivity, obesity and heavy drinking are risks factors for all sorts of cancer, while eating too much red and preserved meat can lead to cancer of the colon, says the WHO. Too much sun, easily avoided by wearing a hat or seeking out the shade, causes melanoma. Vaccination prevents Hepatitis B infection, which can lead to cancer, and basic, good hygiene can thwart the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori, which boosts the risk of stomach cancer. AFP

DILG EYES GRANT FOR LGU WATER EQUIPMENT By John Paolo Bencito THE Interior Department announced Saturday it is discussing a $200-million grant with the South Korean government to assist local government units with “poor-quality” water sources. The grant is expected to help the LGUs purify salt water and even canal water in high volumes with equipment that can be purchased through a soft loan, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said. “If our agreement with South Korea would push through, the equipment will help communities in far-flung areas where access to clean drinking water remains a challenge,” Sueno said. The South Korean government expressed its willingness to help LGUs with poor access to water in a recent meeting, he added. Epimaco Densing III, Interior Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs, said the assistance will complement the department’s efforts to provide LGUs with easy access to potable water through their Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat or Salintubig project. A technical working group will soon be created to discuss the specifications of the water-purifying equipment and its suitability to the needs of the LGUs, Densing added. LGUs provide most households in the Philippines either directly, through a city or municipal engineering department, or through water districts around the country. Some 8.4 million families have no access to clean drinking water, according to a joint report by the World Health Organization and the United Nations in 2015.

CUSTOMS NABS SMUGGLED RICE WORTH P20M By Vito Barcelo A cancer patient receives radiation treatment at a government cancer hospital in Agartala, the capital of the northeastern state of Tripura in India on Friday, on the eve of World Cancer Day. AFP

EX-VICE GOV FACES GRAFT RAPS OVER IRA SCAM By Sara D. Fabunan FORMER Cagayan vice governor Leonides Fausto and two others are facing graft and estafa charges over a scam involving P6.6 million worth of barangay shares from the Internal Revenue Allotment of the province, the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement. Ombudsman Conchita Morales said she found probable cause to charge Fausto, Eulalie Taguiam-Fausto, assistant vice president and branch head of the Tuguegarao City

branch of Land Bank of the Philippines, and Ricardo Cabacungan Jr., executive assistant of the Office of the Vice Governor, for estafa and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The Ombudsman said the respondents were found committing irregularities in disbursing 206 checks totaling P6,606,324.90 in IRAs of several barangays in Cagayan. Fausto was found guilty after he said he can facilitate the

immediate lease of the barangays’ IRA “if each and every barangay will issue blank checks in his favor,” the Ombudsman statement said. “Such representation constituted the real and moving cause for the barangay officials to issue blank checks, and induce a majority of the barangay officials of the five municipalities to issue blank checks,” Morales said. The scheme to divest the barangays of their IRA could not be accomplished in full “if it were not for the involvement of Caba-

cungan and Taguiam-Fausto,”the Ombudsman added. She said Cabacungan accomplished the necessary details of almost all of the blank checks issued, including their supposed supporting documents. Taguiam-Fausto, meanwhile, identified the payees of the questioned checks who affixed their signatures at the back of the checks and received the amounts, the Ombudsman added. “All in all, their overt acts essentially contributed in the ex-

ecution in the grand scheme of diversting the barangays of their funds,” Morales said in an approved joint resolution. Section 3(e) of RA 3019 provides that public officials “are prohibited to cause any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or give any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence.”

MORE WOES FOR FIRM IN CAVITE FIRE LABOR Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III on Saturday said the government is looking into possible violations of occupational safety and health standards of the Japanese company involved in a big Cavite factory fire. “I already gave an order to Undersecretary [Joel] Maglungsod and to the directors of the OSHC [Occupational Safety and Health Center] and the Bureau of Work Standards to look into their possible non-compliance to the occupational safety and health standards,” Bello told state radio dzRB.

The fire that hit the factory in the Cavite Economic Zone in General Trias town was put out on Friday afternoon, 46 hours after it broke out on Wednesday night. Authorities are now investigating the blaze that razed the three-story building of House Technologies Inc. to ashes, which injured 126 workers. Bello said at least 30 workers are still confined at the Divine Grace Medical Center and 14 at the General Trias Medical Center. Two workers are in critical condition at Divine Grace, he added.

Bello assured the injured workers of financial and livelihood assistance worth P30,000, plus a 10-day emergency employment program for the displaced workers, from DoLE. “I have already assured our Calabarzon regional director to give immediate assistance to those injured, including groceries so they won’t go hungry,” he said. “We can give them livelihood projects and at the same time, make available the emergency employment program,” Bello added. John Paolo Bencito

RECOGNITION. A participant in the Motorcycle and Small Engine Servicing Training receives his certificate from Senator Cynthia A. Villar (second from left) during the Recognition Day held at the Villar SIPAG Training Center in Las Piñas City. Top Choice Training Institute and Assessment Center Inc. conducted the Villar SIPAG-backed program.

CUSTOMS authorities seized more than 8,000 bags of smuggled rice worth at least P20 million in a recent raid on a warehouse at Cresda Ville Subdivision in Barangay San Juan, Taytay, Rizal. Bureau of Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon said the rice was illegally imported without the required permits from the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority. “The raid was in unison with our heightened efforts to stop all forms of agricultural smuggling, as provided in Republic Act 10845 (the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016) and in full compliance with the policy of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Inter-Agency Task Force,” Faeldon said. The task force is composed of officers from Customs, NFA, DA, and Office of the Cabinet Secretary under the Office of the President. Faeldon said the bureau will file smuggling charges against the owner of the rice. “We are tightly looking into this case as one of the incidents that economic sabotage charges will be filed at the Department of Justice, should evidence warrant it.” BoC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Neil L. Estrella identified the warehouse owner as Bernadette Ang. “We are currently tracing the point of origin of the seized rice, since Ms. Ang has not presented import documents that will justify the legality of the importation into the country,” Estrella said. He said the raid was fully coordinated and supported by representatives of the DA, the National Bureau of Investigation, and officials of the barangay. The warehouse was padlocked and is now under the watch of BoC agents.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Opinion

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EDITORIAL

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

PUSSYHATS, POLITICS, AND POWER

THE INDEPENDENT

NEARLY half a million women marched in protest against Donald J. Trump in Washington, D.C., in a crowd estimated to be three times bigger than those who attended his inauguration as US president. The women sported rectangular yarn beanies in many shades of pink, making the march in DC and 600 other solidarity marches in cities around the world, even Antarctica, a sea of pink, “a unique collective visual statement,” according to thepussyhatproject.com. The headgear has cat-ear shaped protuberances on either side of the head. It is called a “pussyhat,” a play on another word for “cat” and in reference to the female genitalia and Trump’s infamous sexist remark on grabbing women by theirs. While considered vulgar by conservatives, the deliberate use of the word is an attempt to reclaim the term as a means of empowerment, in much the same way women use “bitch” to refer to themselves and friends in a positive manner. The pussyhat, worn by millions and seen on mass media around the world, has become a symbol of female defiance and the struggle for women’s rights. But unlike another headgear that also became a symbol, but of of conservatism and Christian fundamentalism—Trump’s Make America Great Again red trucker hat— pussyhats were not bought nor sold for profit nor to raise funds, but were made by volunteers and given away for free at the various march venues. Under “The Pussyhat Project,” co-founded by Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman, women marchers and sympathizers to the cause are encouraged to make their own hats and for others by knitting, crocheting, or sewing them in shades of pink yarn and fabric. Patterns were provided for free, and experienced yarnsmiths came up with their own designs. Pink was chosen as the color because “it is considered a very female color representing caring, compassion, and love—all qualities that have been derided as weak but are actually STRONG.” The play to make the pussyhat a symbol of the Women’s March and what it stands for is so successful that one glance at the artifact, today or in the future, will immediately place the event and the sentiment in its proper historical and cultural context. Similarly, the “brain hat”—likewise a knitted or crocheted yarn cap but with the addition of loopy, cord-like yarn strands to represent brains—is being touted as the symbol of the March for Science on April 22, Earth Day, in cities around the US and perhaps the world. At this event, scientists and other likeminded folk will march in protest against Trump’s climate-change denialism, muzzling of scientific government agencies including national parks from issuing public communications, and his administration’s other anti-science

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But it does not mean he must shut them out—or any adverse opinion from anywhere—either. This latest observation from Amnesty I nte r n at i o n a l i s j u s t another example. In an article in its web site, AI said Mr. Duterte is waging a murderous war on the poor. Immediately, a slew of denials and criticism ensued. We do not believe the President is impervious to feedback . He has modified or softened his stand, for instance, on the fate that awaited journalists. After implying that murdered mediamen deserve what befell them for being corrupt, the President soon made

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says he pursues an independent foreign policy. This means we will not be beholden to anybody, and no country will dictate to us what we should or should not do. This explains the venom with which the President speaks of those who criticize the manner he is carrying out his war on illegal d r u g s. B a s i c a l l y, t h e message is “It’s none of your business.” Fair enough. A national leader must be able to do what he or she deems fit without any intervention, much less pressure, from anybody from outside. Not fellow leaders, not the foreign

press, not international non-government organizations. It’s a free world—nobody can stop them from thinking or saying what they do. Our President has, on numerous occasions, shown his maverick side. He does not feel the need to remain in the good graces of the United States or the United Nations. He does not care much for foreign aid. He slams adverse observations from foreign organizations.

distinctions between real advocates, paid hacks and rotten ones. His suspension of Oplan Tokhang last week over public outrage over reported nefarious activities of the police also shows he listens to public pulse. And just because the pulse comes from outside does not mean he must reject them outright. T h e Pr e s i d e n t m u s t acknowledge the attacks are not personal. The critics are just doing their jobs. And if he is doing his job as he is supposed to—no inadequacies and no excesses, then there is no reason he should not carry on.

Turn to B2

CONSIGNED TO SILENCE LONG STORY SHORT ADELLE CHUA

TWO 15-year-olds were on their way home one evening. It was later than usual because they came from the wake of their friend’s brother after school. One of the girls was seated beside a thin, elderly man who had on his lap a plastic bag of rice.

She felt something brush against her chest. She was horrified to see the man’s right hand wandering over it. She looked at the man and asked: “Tatay, hindi po ba kayo nahihiya sa ginagawa nyo?” (Aren’t you ashamed of your behavior?)

The man muttered some words angrily. The girl could not make out what he was saying although his tone implied he was denying doing anything out of the ordinary. He clutched his bag of rice more tightly and glared at the girl.

The girl, shaking, pulled her friend’s shirt sleeve even as it was not quite their stop yet. When she got home she immediately took a bath in an attempt to wash away the memory of everything that had taken place. Turn to B2

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SCIENCE EDUCATION IS VALUES EDUCATION

PUSSYHATS...

From A1

policies and sentiments. However, the brain hat is more difficult to make than the pussyhat. Whether it will be as popular as the pussyhat will be known in the future. How do we interpret this phenomenon of making a personal, wearable, shareable, symbol of protest, that will last for years if not decades, unlike other protest artifacts such as signs, posters, and placards? In one word—craftivism. In her groundbreaking book The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine, psychotherapist Rozsika Parker declares that women’s work has been marginalized for centuries, ever since the arts were hierarchically divided into fine arts and craft. (Although in my opinion this would not quite apply to Japanese and Chinese art, where kimono-making, fabric dyeing, weaving, embroidery, and other textile creations and manipulations were just as much art as craft and practiced by men as well as and women). In the West, “the movement to break down boundaries between different forms of creative expression, which gathered pace in the 1970s, has undoubtedly intensified,” Parker said in 2010. This movement was concomitant to the rise of feminism and the taking back of textile craft in a statement of female power. From being instruments of domestic oppression, sewing, embroider y, knitting, and other traditionally “feminine” crafts were now used as a means of creative selfexpression and as a way to make cultural and political statements that brought the concept of femaleness to the fore, with the particular issue of the moment to be articulated against the context of women and their concerns. This gave rise to the term “craftivism”—a “social process of collective empowerment, action, expression, and negotiation. In craftivism, engaging in the social, performative, and critical discourse around the work is central to its production and dissemination.” The creation of pussyhats comes under this banner because it is social (it is made with and for others), it is performative (upon donning it the wearer becomes ‘protester’ and acts as such), and critical (it is a visual statement for women’s rights and against Trump). It empowers both maker and wearer, it drives to action and expression by the very act of wearing it, and the mere sight of it may be interpreted as a negotiation for the results desired by the marchers. “Has the pen or pencil dipped so deep in the blood of the human race as the needle?” (Olive Schreiner, 1926), and, we might add, the knitting needles and the crochet hooks? During this time of turmoil and uncertainty, craftivism becomes, more than ever, an accessible means to reiterate human concerns and to communicate female struggle against oppression of all types through the creation of artifacts that act as messageconveying symbols. How powerful and empowering this is. It’s time to learn how to knit and crochet! Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. Follow her on Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

CONSIGNED...

From A1

*** Yet another girl, with yet another friend, were in yet another jeepney. They were seated near the entrance. It was the rush hour, so some male passengers took the risk of riding “sabit” style. The girl was jolted by her friend’s nudging her arm. “Why,” she asked, but the friend would not speak. Tilting her head to the right she saw that the “sabit” man had unzipped his pants and was playing with his genitals. The two girls shouted together: “Para po!” and practically jumped out of the vehicle. One of them later remarked: “Why did we not think of pushing that pervert out of the jeep?” *** And then, on a bus traversing Edsa one summer afternoon, a girl was traveling home from a workshop she was attending. She was tired, and was on the verge of dozing off when she felt

By Pecier Decierdo THERE is an ongoing crisis plaguing the relationship between science, politics, and people. Although it has been going on for quite some time now, recent developments reveal that it is in full swing, endangering the very future of our species. If we are to respond to this crisis, we have to remember that educating the public about science is not a matter of handing down esoteric wisdom to the ignorant masses. Instead, the focus of teaching science should not be on teaching facts; it should be on the teaching of values. While scientists and their activities still enjoy a great deal of public prestige and respect, a considerable fraction of the public have a hard time telling the difference between actual scientific findings and disinformation, between claims supported by facts and those supported by so-called “alternative facts.” This is a big problem in a democratic republic where the opinions of the people have an impact on how the country is governed, whether it is in the choosing of elected officials or in pressuring those officials to govern in certain ways. If those opinions are not based on sound evidence, how can we, the electorate, come up with democratic solutions to our common problems? Where do science and science education come in this discussion? It’s in the fact that many of the issues we face today have a scientific component. To name just a few, there’s our collective response to climate change, heavy traffic and urban gridlock, disaster risk reduction and management, slow internet connections, and reproductive health policies. But issues that are not obviously science-

related involve gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence to inform political and civic decisions. To give an example, when we ask about the social impact and effectiveness of the government’s so-called war on drugs, we are asking a question in which robust evidence can play an important role. Since gathering, analyzing, and interpreting evidence are critical parts of the methods of science, those methods play a very important role in almost every issue facing the world today. Given the important role science and its methods play in the issues facing us, how can we begin to solve them if disinformation campaigns mounted by those who wish to mislead the public are very effective at confusing the electorate about what’s really true? To make things worse, many of us are trapped in our social bubbles where the only information (or disinformation) that reaches us are the ones that agree with what we already believe in, and where information that challenges our worldview are often ignored, forgotten, misunderstood, or quickly rejected (“That can’t be true!”). The lack of consensus on what counts as fact and on which sources count as credible makes broader discussions almost impossible. The different sides of the debate end up just shouting at each other. Add to all of these the growing mistrust of experts and elites. The public is eager to “shake things up” and usher in much-needed change in the system, sometimes at the expense of the checks and balances that made the previous system slow but less prone to abuse. And who can blame the public when the elites have failed them for the longest time? With all of these problems jamming the

channels that were designed to connect the scientists with the public and the policy makers, how are we to inform the public in such a way that they can put positive pressure on a democratically-elected government? This brings me back to my answer at the start of this article. We have to remember that science education is a kind of values education. Foremost of these values are intellectual honesty and intellectual humility. A public that holds these values have an appreciation of the imperfection and incompleteness of human knowledge, an appreciation that helps in distinguishing confident charlatans from cautious scientists. Another value of science is critical thinking. There are experts in science, but there are no authorities. Even the experts must defend their views, because no ideas are considered sacred. Everything can be questioned and criticizes, and only those that survive criticism are considered valuable. Imagine a society that holds this value. Better yet, imagine how such a society will solve its problems. To name but a few more, there’s curiosity, generosity in the sharing of knowledge, the desire to innovate and improve the lives of people, and the collaborative spirit. Without these values, science would not be possible. Without them, democracy would fail. The values of science are also the values of democracy. Hence, if we are to strengthen the link between science, politics, and the public, we must realize that we cannot do it by hurling facts. We can only do it by convincing people of the value of our values. Decierdo is resident astronomer and physicist for The Mind Museum.

A SLICE OF DANTE’S HELL By Andrej Isakovic BELGRADE—It’s a dark world. You step inside and it takes time for your eyes to adjust. You see people on blankets. They look like corpses. You see shadows moving around. The smell is overpowering. For a moment you think that everyone inside is dead. I’ve covered plenty of stories on refugees and migrants but never have I seen conditions as deplorable as those of the hundreds of young men who are living in an abandoned warehouse behind a train station in Belgrade. They have been here since the summer. Even though Europe has closed its borders, they keep coming, hoping to cross. And since the onset of the winter, always harsh in the Balkans, their conditions have been in the spotlight again. Around 1,000 of them live here. They’re mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Those who got here first managed to grab small rooms, probably former offices, which are protected from the cold on three sides. The rest freeze in the middle, where the cold comes from everywhere. They spread blankets and cartons, wrap another blanket over their head and wait for the time to pass. The first thing that hits

a hand brushing her thigh. She looked at her seatmate, a man who looked like he was in his mid 30s, carrying a backpack. It seemed he was on his way to, or home from, work. Now this girl is feisty, so she flung her pouch at him and cursed him. “Manyak!” she shouted, attracting the attention of all the other passengers. “P*ina mo, lumayas ka dito...tingnan nyo po yan manyak po yan!” The man stood up and alighted on the next stop. But she was not so feisty, after all. When the girl got off on her stop and met up with her mother at a coffee shop near their home, she burst into tears. *** This week we heard about a college student who found herself in a similar situation inside a UV Express van. The circumstances are as told by her brother on his Facebook account. The entire issue, especially the school’s resolution of the case, is now the subject of talk on social media, but here I prefer to zero in on how she dealt with her abuser.

you when you come here is the smell. There is no proper sanitation. The smell of human feces and urine is all around. There are two broken pipes of running water. The men try to wash themselves, but there is only so much that they can do. On top of that, they don’t have proper heat. In recent days, they got a few heaters. But they mostly burn things to keep warm. Often they burn plastic. You know what that smells like. And how dangerous that is. They burn everything they can and often the smoke is black and noxious. The smoke turns their faces dark, so they look like coal miners. “No one leaves his house unless his house is the mouth of a shark.” This sentence is written in English on the wall of the warehouse. When I ask them why they left their homes, most say because they wanted to find a better life in European countries. Some are afraid of Islamists back home. When you show up with a camera around your neck, the vast majority of them—90 percent— are totally friendly. They approach you, or they don’t mind at all if you approach them. The majority sees the media as a way for the world to see what is happening to them and

How should one react to abuse? The first reac tion was denial. Perhaps he was not really touching her. Perhaps he, too, was sleepy and not aware of where his hands were. And then, self-doubt. The girl did not want to make a scene inside the vehicle. Maybe they would think she was presumptuous for saying he was making a pass at her. In the end, the girl took a photo—a blurred one, she insisted to her brother—and posted it on Twitter, telling other commuters to be careful when they take public transportation. Alas, some people did recognize the fellow in the photo, and it reached the authorities of the school where, it turns out, both of them were enrolled.

Mohamed Darwich, a 17-year-old migrant from Afghanistan in January 2017, when nighttime temperatures dropped to -15 Celsius. the few that refuse to have their picture taken seem to be afraid that someone back home may recognize them. They generally welcome you with a smile and they are open to talk to you. Many times they ask you to join them for a cup of tea, or to share a meal that they are preparing for themselves. I always ask before I take a picture. Some of them don’t want to be bothered, but they’re not aggressive about it. A guy will put a scarf on his face and I’ll say no worries, I won’t take a picture of you. I’ve been photographing them

on and off since November. Most of them stayed here, refusing to go to official refugee camps set up by NGOs and the Serbian government because they feared being stuck in the camps. Or expelled. But over the past few weeks, as conditions have gotten worse and the media have reported on them, the government stepped up efforts to have them voluntarily leave for camps. About a third of them complied with the government request. A third ran away when they saw the buses. And a third is still here. AFP

After an investigation, the girl was found guilty of falsely accusing another student of wrongdoing and was made to apologize to the very boy she said touched her. *** But how should someone react to abuse? It is easy for people to say she should have done this, or said that. Slap the jerk, shame him, curse him to the high heavens as Feisty Girl did above. Call on the attention of the other passengers to do the same. Grab him by the collar and drag him to the police station. And why take pictures when the unwelcome hand was where it should not be? If at all, should not the picture have been shown to school authorities instead of being posted online? Perhaps her pants were too tight? These questions and suggestions are precisely why the culture of victim blaming persists even in a society that claims to be modern or progressive.

Nobody will ever know what it feels like to be abused unless one has experienced it. Whatever goes through the mind of the abused, and whatever she decides to do out of impulse, fear or intimidation—she has her reasons. After all, in such situations, the mind is likely to go blank. The only way we can arm ourselves —our daughters and our sisters and perhaps even our sons and brothers— against predators in all shapes and sizes, is to contemplate the scenario beforehand. What should they do if this happens? Why should they not cower? Why should they not entertain the thought they are, even at the slightest degree, to blame? Why should not the word “victim” carry the stigma of being weak or stupid? Only then can we give these predators, and the dangerous thinking that enables them, what they deserve. adellechua@gmail.com

World YEMEN TRIBESMEN KILL 13 AL-QAEDA FIGHTERS ADEN, Yemen—Yemeni tribesmen on Saturday killed 13 Al-Qaeda fighters who had slipped back into a southern town hours after pulling out in the face of street protests, a security official said. The jihadists had reemerged during the night and sought to take control of public buildings in the Abyan province town of Loder, the official said. They met with fierce resistance from armed residents and withdrew after gun battles lasting two hours. Loder was one of three towns in Abyan province that Al-Qaeda fighters entered on Thursday. They withdrew from two of them on Friday in the face of warnings of resistance from local tribes. Yemen’s powerful and heavily armed tribes play a leading role in the country’s politics and frequently determine local allegiances. Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of nearly two years of fighting between government forces and Shiite rebels who control the capital Sanaa to entrench its presence in swathes of the south. AFP

BEIJING TO US: STOP DESTABILIZING EAST ASIA BEIJING—China warned the United States Saturday not to destabilise East Asia after Donald Trump’s new defence secretary said an island chain claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing was covered by a US-Japan military accord. The Senkaku islands, known in China as the Diaoyus, sit in rich fishing grounds and are at the centre of a festering row between Tokyo and Beijing, which claims they have been part of Chinese territory for centuries. “The Diaoyu Island and its adjacent islets have been an inherent part of Chinese territory since ancient times, which is a unchangeable historical fact,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, according to the official news agency Xinhua. “We urge the US side to take a responsible attitude, stop making wrong remarks... and avoid making the issue more complicated and bringing instability to the regional situation”. Speaking in Tokyo at the tail end of a visit to East Asia, new US Defense Secretary James Mattis said the islands were subject to a long-standing treaty between Washington and Tokyo. “I made clear that our long-standing policy on the Senkaku Islands stands –- the US will continue to recognise Japanese administration of the islands,” Mattis said. “And as such Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty applies.” Article 5 commits the United States to defend Japan or territories it administers against any attack. AFP

UN LIFTS SANCTIONS ON NOTORIOUS AFGHAN WARLORD KABUL—The UN Security Council has lifted sanctions on the notorious Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, previously branded “a global terrorist” and accused of widespread human rights abuses. The move follows a landmark peace deal between Hekmatyar’s insurgent group Hezb-i-Islami (HIG) and the Afghan government in September last year, guaranteeing his amnesty and security despite protests by human rights groups. It was the first such agreement since the Taliban launched their insurgency in 2001, paving the way for the former prime minister’s political comeback after nearly two decades in hiding. The accord was praised by many foreign governments, including the United States, as a step towards peace in Afghanistan. A statement on the UNSC’s website said an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo targeting Hekmatyar no longer applied. Diplomatic sources said only Russia had opposed the move, though France was initially reluctant because of Hezbe-Islami’s involvement in an ambush northeast of Kabul that cost the lives of 10 French soldiers in August 2008. Hekmatyar was designated by the US as a “global terrorist” in 2003. AFP

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE HAZARDOUS LIVES OF CHINA’S RICH B

EIJING, China—The mysterious case of a billionaire who went missing from Hong Kong last week, reportedly abducted by mainland security agents, has underscored the precarious lives of China’s ultra rich. Local media say financier Xiao Jianhua was last seen at his apartment in Hong Kong’s Four Seasons hotel and is under investigation in connection with China’s 2015 stocks crash. There is no shortage of examples of other tycoons who have met a similar fate in a country that has the largest number of billionaires in the world: 594, according to the latest ranking of the magazine Hurun. In China, company chiefs need the backing of the Communist Party to get rich, but they also need it to survive. It is a relationship that – when the

political winds change – can leave them out to dry, experts say. “Chinese businessmen know their country, and they all know that they must have the support of the authorities,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor at the Baptist University of Hong Kong. “Every day, local Communist Party officials receive gifts from company bosses... who need protection.” Without this support, a businessman might have to pay more taxes, for example, “because taxation is very arbitrary in China,” said Willy Lam, a political scientist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “If you don’t have official protec-

tion, it’s possible that your business might be wiped out, for whatever capricious reasons.” There has been widespread speculation that Xiao’s disappearance was part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, which some critics believe has been used to target his political opponents. The campaign was launched after Xi took power in 2012 and has brought down government officials and corporate executives. “There is always the risk of being dragged into the fall of a politician when he is prosecuted for corruption,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan. “If your protector is doing OK then you make a lot of money,” said Mr. Lam. But if he’s arrested “this may suddenly become a big disadvantage. So it’s a double-edged sword”. There has been no shortage of examples in recent years. In addition to Xiao Jianhua who

is believed to be close to Xi’s family, a real estate kingpin, Guo Wengui, who had strong political connections, has fled abroad. Several of his supporters who were at the top of the state hierarchy have since fallen in the anti-corruption purge. The billionaire Xu Ming, who is close to former top-ranking leader Bo Xilai (a political rival of Xi), died in prison at the end of 2015. Others, who had disappeared, resurfaced after claiming to have “cooperated with investigations.” “In China, a joke says that if your name appears in the list of the 100 richest people in the country, then you should be careful because many of these people have been arrested for tax evasion or economic crimes,” said Willy Lam. “Until what happened to Xiao Jianhua... many of these top business people thought that Hong Kong was safe, but no longer so,” added Lam. AFP

A fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces gathers near a village north-east of Raqa on February 3, 2017, during their advance on the jihadists’ de facto capital in Syria. AFP

LOCKHEED TRIMS COSTS FOR F-35 WASHINGTON—Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon said the next batch of F-35 stealth fighters, the most expensive planes in history, will be produced at a reduced cost.

They announced $728 million in savings after President Donald Trump publically upbraided Lockheed over “out of control” costs, although most of the savings were already planned

A handout photo of the Lockheed F-35C used by the US Navy, which now costs $121.8 million.

ahead of his involvement, during a months-long contract negotiation. The next production run of 90 F35s will see the Air Force version of the plane, the F-35A, produced at a unit cost of $94.6 million, marking a 7.3 percent reduction from an earlier batch and pushing the price per plane below $100 million for the first time. “President Trump’s personal involvement in the F-35 program accelerated the negotiations and sharpened our focus on driving down the price,” Lockheed said in a statement. “The agreement was reached in a matter of weeks and represents significant savings over previous contracts.” With a current development and acquisition price tag already at $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft – most destined for the Air Force – the F-35 is the most expensive plane in history, and costs are set to go higher still. Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft’s lifespan through 2070,

overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion. Pentagon F-35 program head Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan said the agreement was a “good and fair deal for the taxpayers, the US government, allies and industry.” The F-35 is also produced in versions for the Marine Corps and Navy. The Marine model, the F-35B, will now be produced at a unit cost of $122.8 million, a 6.7 percent reduction. The Navy’s F-35C will cost $121.8 million, down 7.9 percent. Lockheed also said the deal would create 1,800 new jobs at its factory in Fort Worth, Texas. Proponents tout the F-35’s radardodging stealth technology, supersonic speeds, close air-support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information. But the program has faced numerous setbacks, including a mysterious engine fire in 2014 that led commanders to ground planes until the problem could be resolved. AFP

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

World

/ Joyce Pangco-Pañares, Issue Editor

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IRAN ‘BIGGEST STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM’ —MATTIS

GOOD LUCK. An Ethnic Malaysian-Chinese devotee burns joss-sticks at the Thean Hou temple decorated with red lanterns in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of the Lunar New Year, marking the start of the Year of the Rooster. AFP

Protestors march on the streets of Sydney’s central business district against US President Donald Trump’s travel ban policy on February 4 and demanded for the Australian government to settle all the refugees and asylum seekers in the county. AFP

TRUMP BAN SUFFERS SEVERE LEGAL BLOW

os Angeles,United States – A US federal judge has ordered a temporary, nationwide halt to President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, in the most severe legal blow to the controversial measure. The restraining order issued by Seattle US District Judge James Robart is valid nationwide pending a full review of a complaint filed by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “The constitution prevailed today,” Ferguson said, describing the judge’s decision as historic. “No one is above the law – not even the president.” “I said from the beginning it is not the loudest voice that prevails in a courtroom, it’s the constitution,” he added, pointing out that Robart was appointed by Republican president George W. Bush. But the White House quickly hit back, making it clear it was ready for a drawn-out battle on the issue. It initially denounced the decision as “outrageous” but later removed

the word from its statement. “At the earliest possible time, the Department of Justice intends to file (for) an emergency stay of this order and defend the executive order of the president, which we believe is lawful and appropriate,” a statement said. “The president’s order is intended to protect the homeland and he has the constitutional authority and responsibility to protect the American people.” Friday’s ruling was not the first to challenge the travel ban, but it was the most sweeping as it effectively vacated the main tenets of the order. Ferguson said the order technically means that anyone with a valid visa must be allowed entry into the country by Customs and

Border Protection (CBP). But it was unclear whether the Trump administration would succeed in challenging it, leaving travelers in limbo over their legal status. Robart’s decision came after Ferguson filed a suit to invalidate key provisions of Trump’s executive order which bars Syrian refugees indefinitely and blocks citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entry into the US for 90 days. Refugees from countries other than Syria are barred from entry for 120 days. The State Department said Friday that up to 60,000 foreigners from the seven countries concerned had their visas canceled as a result of the order. A Justice Department attorney, however, told a court hearing in Virginia that about 100,000 visas had been revoked. “We are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and our legal teams to determine how this affects our operations. We will announce any changes affecting travelers to the

United States as soon as that information is available,” the department said in a statement. Trump’s executive order created chaos at airports across the United States and beyond as some travelers were detained or deported, prompting an uproar by rights groups and immigration attorneys. Washington Governor Jay Inslee welcomed the ruling as a “tremendous victory” but warned that the battle to overturn Trump’s controversial order was far from over. “There is still more to do,” he said in a statement. “The fight isn’t yet won. But we should feel heartened by today’s victory and more resolute than ever that we are fighting on the right side of history.” Senator Chuck Schumer, the leader of the minority Democrats in the upper house of Congress, urged Trump to repeal his order “once and for all.” “This ruling is a victory for the constitution and for all of us who believe this un-American executive order will not make us safer,” he said in a statement. AFP

LOUVRE REOPENS 24 HOURS AFTER MACHETE ATTACK PARIS—The Louvre has reopened in Paris Saturday, 24 hours after a soldier patrolling the museum shot a machete-wielding attacker, believed to be an Egyptian who entered the country on a tourist visa a week ago. The incident on Friday has thrust security and the terror threat back into the limelight three months before elections in France, with authorities saying it was a “terrorist” assault. The attacker, in a black t-shirt bearing a skull design and armed with two 40-centimeter (16-inch) machetes, lunged at four patrolling French soldiers while shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”), Paris prosecutor Francois Molins told a press conference.

One of the troops was struck on the head and another fell to the ground outside the famous Paris museum after the assailant attacked. The second soldier managed to open fire and hit the machete-wielder in the stomach. “The attacker fell to the ground, seriously wounded. He has been taken to hospital and is fighting for his life,” the prosecutor said. A source later said that the suspect’s condition had stabilized. Security forces said one soldier had suffered a minor head wound. Police held hundreds of tourists in secure areas of the world famous attraction after the assailant was shot five times in a public area near one of the museum’s entrances. AFP

TOKYO—US Defense Secretary James Mattis said Saturday that Iran was the world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism, as President Donald Trump slapped fresh sanctions on the country’s weapons procurement network. “As far as Iran goes, this is the single biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world,” Mattis said at a press conference in Tokyo, but added that the US had no plans to increase troop numbers in the Middle East in response. “It does no good to ignore it. It does no good to dismiss it and at the same time I don’t see any need to increase the number of forces we have in the Middle East at this time,” he said. “We always have the capability to do so but right now I don’t think it’s necessary.” US officials said that the new sanctions were in response to Iran’s ballistic missile test this week and its support for Huthi rebels in Yemen, who recently targeted a Saudi warship. AFP

SIX KILLED IN INDONESIA BOAT ACCIDENT JAKARTA—At least six people have been killed and three are missing after a fishing boat capsized in eastern Indonesia, an official said Saturday. The wooden boat was carrying 29 people when it capsized Friday afternoon after departing from Takalar Lama river to Tanah Keke island in the province of South Sulawesi. Twenty people have been found alive but rescue teams are still searching for the missing passengers. The cause of the accident is still not known, transport ministry spokesman Lollan Panjaitan told AFP. “Since the wooden fishing boat departed from an unofficial location, not from an official harbour, we don’t have much control over it,” he said, adding that the boat didn’t have a legal permit to make the trip. The Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands is heavily dependent on boat transport but safety standards are poor and accidents occur regularly. AFP

2ND SUSPECT IN MURDER OF NLD LAWYER ARRESTED YANGON – A second suspect has been arrested over the brazen murder of a prominent Muslim lawyer in Myanmar, state media reported Saturday, as questions build over a killing that stunned the Buddhist-majority country. Ko Ni, a 63-year-old legal advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy, was shot in the head outside Yangon’s airport last Sunday while he was holding his grandson and waiting for a taxi. A cab driver who tried to intervene was also killed, and the gunman—identified as 53-yearold Kyi Lin—was arrested at the scene. Police have not offered a motive for the murder of Ko Ni, who spoke out against rising antiIslamic sentiment and also criticised the army’s lingering grip on power. But the NLD, whose electoral victory ended decades of military rule, has called the murder a political assassination and “terrorist act” against their policies. AFP

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@thestandard.com.ph

CHICKEN SELLER TURNS TYCOON

Berjaya Group founder and Malaysian philanthropist Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan

BERJAYA FOUNDER UNVEILS GK CENTER

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CHICKEN SELLER.

Mang Inasal founder Edgar “Injap” Sia

By Ian Sayson and Clarissa Batino

t’s been a fast ascent for college dropout Edgar “Injap” Sia, who less than a decade ago was selling barbecue chicken in the Philippines. He now leads the real estate developer with the best stock gains in Asia.

His company, DoubleDragon Properties Corp., went public in the Philippines in 2014 and has surged 2,500 percent since it began trading in April that year through Jan. 31, beating 460 other Asian developers worth at least $500 million. That surge has inflated DoubleDragon’s market value to 115.1 billion pesos ($2.3 billion), propelling it to the nation’s top five developers even though it owns and manages a fraction of the real estate held by its rivals. Sia was studying architecture when he dropped out at 19 to start a business venture with classmates. Now 40, Sia ranks among the youngest tycoons in the Philippines. In 2003, he started a chicken shop in Iloilo City before turning it into a nationwide chain that overtook McDonald’s Corp. in store count in 2010. That year, he sold his Mang Inasal chicken chain to Jollibee Foods Corp., and later partnered with its founder Tony Tan Caktiong and with SM Investments Corp., owner of the nation’s largest retailer, to venture into property and malls. With the same lofty ambitions he used to expand his chicken empire, Sia aims to operate 100 CityMall outlets by 2020 to help meet the basic needs of shoppers in smaller provinces. DoubleDragon is a minnow among Asian devel-

opers -- it had $844.5 million of assets in the third quarter of 2016, about 0.6 percent of the assets of Asia’s largest real estate company, China Evergrande Group. “The stock has outperformed because many investors believe in its business model, which is geared towards addressing geographical gaps in retail,” said Cristina Ulang, head of research at Manila-based First Metro Investment Corp. “DoubleDragon is very focused on penetrating smaller cities that are growth areas of the future. It’s already positioned ahead of the others when growth filters into these smaller cities. ” Since DoubleDragon’s 2014 initial public offering, the only developers worldwide to beat its gain have been a Venezuelan real estate investment trust and a U.S.-listed Chinese provider of real estate services. The stock surge inflated DoubleDragon’s market value to a record in June that then made it the third-most valuable Philippine builder, dislodging Megaworld Corp., the largest landlord for call centers. While DoubleDragon shares are down 26 percent from their all-time high, the stock may rebound to a new record if the company delivers on mall roll-out and earnings growth pledges, Ulang said. The stock rose as much as 5.6

percent to a three-month high, outpacing a 0.2 percent gain in the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index.

Fundraising

Sia is also raising long-term funds to buy and develop property. The builder has raised 30.7 billion pesos from the sale of bonds and preferred shares in the past three years, augmenting the 1.1 billion peso proceeds from its IPO. The amount is 75 percent of its 40.4 billion peso budget to build a million square meters of malls and offices for lease by 2020. Sia said another 9.7 billion pesos of retail bonds will be sold this year to complete the budget, which also includes the expansion of two hotel brands. DoubleDragon will post a sevenfold gain in recurring revenue to 9.43 billion pesos by 2020 from about 1.35 billion pesos this year as most of its leaseable portfolio start to contribute from 2018 onward, Sia said. “We have already passed the toughest phase in bridging DoubleDragon’s transition into a business with sustainable recurring revenue,” Sia said in an interview on Jan. 26. “Our leasing revenue has kicked in and will start to surge as we focus on execution.” Sia said the company is on track to meet targets he has set, including a billion peso profit in 2016, completing the construction of 50 malls this year and operating at least 50 outlets in 2018.

Operational concerns

“Investors bought the stock on what the company would or could do, not on what it had. But I’d be cautious because of operational concerns,” said Rens Cruz, an analyst at Regina Capital Development Corp.

who has a hold rating on the stock. The company is “still in a transition phase from one that gets revenue from interim project to one that gets earnings from leasing.” DoubleDragon planned its CityMall complexes to have a uniform format -- one level of no more than one hectare (2.5 acres) each, with only one tenant per retail category that includes banking, grocery, pharmaceutical, food and entertainment. It’s meant to provide the basic needs of community dwellers in smaller provincial cities that may not be readily attractive to bigger developers like SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Robinsons Land Corp., Sia said. DoubleDragon builds most of its malls in cities with populations of 100,000 to 150,000, which he said comprise about 80 percent of the nation’s 145 cities. He expects the bigger retailers’ interest in these smaller communities will only rise as sales growth slows in larger and more populated areas due to saturation and competition. Jollibee, which has more than five restaurant brands, and SM Investments, a partner in DoubleDragon’s shopping mall unit CityMall Commercial Centers Inc., are anticipating the trend. The two groups typically lease two-thirds of a CityMall outlet, Sia said. “When we opened Mang Inasal in 2003, we promised 100 stores in five years, and we opened our 100th outlet four years and a month later,” Sia said. “These smaller provincial cities, starting in the next two to three years, will be the most important areas for modern retail. Once you spot a gap that big players missed or nobody has paid attention to in a transition, you will own that space for many decades.” Bloomberg

THE legacy of caring continues to sow hope and transformation, as various groups with a common cause unite in making an ìnclusive world a reality for all at the recent Social Business Summit 2017 by Gawad Kalinga. Joining the global action to end poverty through sustainable community-building is Berjaya Group founder and Malaysian philanthropist Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan, who came back to the Philippines to fulfill yet another commitment to the noble GK cause. Tan Sri flew in the country to lead the unveiling of the Berjaya Garden Restaurant and Culinary Center, a training facility that supports the GK Enchanted Farm’s role as an incubator-hub for the country’s growing social entrepreneurship. Located in the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan, the BGRCC is envisioned as one of the vital cornerstones of learning inside the farm—touted as the ‘first farm village university in Asia’--as it serves as the primary food center of the farm, catering to the 200,000 partners, entrepreneurs and students who visit the GK Enchanted Farm annually. The food served in the restaurant is locally produced, sourced and processed, providing livelihood for local farmers. BGRCC is also a school-within-community where students and social entrepreneurs can develop their culinary skills and products. Joining Tan Sri at the landmark opening are GK Founder Tony Meloto, Berjaya Philippines country head Paul Soo, GK executive director Luis OquiÒena, Sen. Bam Aquino, Berjaya Philippines executive director Tan Eng Hwa, GK Enchanted Farm COO Shanon Khadka and Tan Sri’s children Morvin and Chryseis Tan. The milestone marked the Malaysian conglomerate’s steady support for the GK mission. The Berjaya-GK collaboration started in 2012 when Tan Sri, through Berjaya Philippines Inc., pledged to contribute P300 million over three years to GK for the construction of houses for Filipinos affected by typhoon Sendong and other natural calamities, as well as for poverty-stricken families across the Philippines. To date, Berjaya has successfully helped build 820 GK houses in 14 provinces.

VIVO V5 PLUS SEEN DOMINATING SELFIE-LOVING PH VIVO V5 Plus, the flagship model of premium global brand Vivo, is expected to dominate the local market for selfie-centric smartphones. Dubbed as the perfect selfie phone, the Vivo V5 Plus is seen winning the hearts of a nation of selfie-lovers, with the Philippines now known as a certified selfie hot-spot and with Filipinos putting a premium on selfie-friendly camera features when purchasing smartphones. Vivo V5 Plus features the most advanced selfie technology to date, which includes a dual 20-megapixel front camera, a true bokeh effect—the aesthetic blur or outof-focus impression of a photo—on the

spot, without editing; a selfie soft light; and a face beauty mode 6.0. Globally, Vivo has been known for its competitive premium-range offerings, becoming the top five global smartphone vendor for the third quarter of 2016, a spot it has held for four consecutive quarters now. This is according to data from the International Data Corp.’s worldwide quarterly mobile phone tracker, which provides detailed and timely information on total mobile phone and smartphone markets across the globe. According to the market-research firm IDC, the worldwide smartphone market grew 1.1 percent year over year for the third quarter

of 2016, with 363.2 million shipments. Of these shipments, global smartphone brand Vivo shipped a record 21.2 million smartphones, giving the brand a 5.9-percent share in the smartphone market. The continued upward trajectory of Vivo is attributed to a growing following in China and India, the world’s two biggest smartphone markets, and to a significant growth in Myanmar. The remarkable growth is also recorded as Vivo expands to different markets in Southeast Asia. Known for its competitive premiumrange offerings, the top five premium global brand is also poised to develop one of its biggest markets here in the

Philippines. Vivo is largely known for its first-tomarket innovations such as the Vivo X1, one of the slimmest phones in 2012, and the world’s first smartphone to feature a digital-to-analog converter Hi-Fi chip, and the Vivo X3 in 2013, the first smartphone in the world with a 2K resolution display. Now, the global manufacturer has produced the Vivo V5 Plus, the world’s first smartphone to have a dual 20-megapixel front camera. Aside from its front-facing dual cameras, the Vivo V5 Plus also has a 16-megapixel rear camera that captures candid moments beautifully.

Vivo V5 Plus perfect selfie phone comes with the most advanced selfie technology to date, inclusive of features like selfie soft light, bokeh mode and face beauty mode 6.0.

Business

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 business@thestandard.com.ph

PH SEEKS SHARE IN $2-T HALAL MARKET THE Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry, takes advantage of the fast-growing halal food industry through its participation in the 22nd Gulfood at the Sheikh Rashid Hall of the Dubai World Trade Center in the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 26 to March 2. FoodPhilippines, a branding initiative of Citem, unifies the efforts of the government in promoting the Philippines as a source of quality food products in the global market. Gulfood or the Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire is the biggest food and hospitality trade show, attended by an annual average of 90,000 key industry players, decision-makers and trade buyers all over the world.

NEW FOODPANDA EXECUTIVE LOVES FILIPINOS’ ENTHUSIASM By Othel V. Campos

acopo Rovere, the Italian cofounder and managing director of foodpanda Philippines, is an entrepreneur, motivated leader and resolute innovator.

The hands-on CEO used to be the global operations manager of foodpanda in Germany. Six months ago, he was assigned to the Philippines, one of the most vibrant markets of the online food delivery service. “I love the sunny weather and the vivid colors of the countryside, but what I mostly enjoy here is the positive and enthusiastic attitude of the Filipinos,” says Rovere. Foodpanda started its business in the Philippines two years ago and has since then expanded its footprint to more than 1,000 partner restaurants

and diners. The company delivers for popular food choices, from Japanese to Italian and even fusion-inspired diners. Clients such as Bonchon, Juju Eats, CPK, Wendy’s, Pepper Lunch, Yoshinoya, Lazy Bastard, Jollibee and Frankie’s have expressed satisfaction for the service and developed an affinity to the ubiquitous food logistics firm. Iacopo is confident that foodpanda’s established number of restaurant partners nationwide, a fleet of able and agile delivery crew,

The Philippines brings the Philippine mango, considered to be the sweetest in the world, and other premium tropical fruits and food products in the 22nd Gulfood. “FoodPhilippines provides trade opportunities for local exporters to promote its products to global markets. Through this Gulfood participation, we hope to open more avenues for Philippine companies -sell halalcertified food products in a food fair that is held at one of the most Muslim-dominated regions in the world,” says Citem executive director Rosvi Gaetos. In its past participation, FoodPhilippines tallied a record-breaking $109 million worth of total sales, leveraging on some of the country’s premium export food products, including coconut products and its by-products; rice, mangoes, canned fruits, noodles, canned seafood, and fermented marine products. Now with 26 Philippines companies, including 10 new participants, Citem aims to generate $110 million in sales under the FoodPhilippines brand as it brings new innovative healthy options and distinct ready-to-eat food and beverages, including instant coffee blends, seasoned noodles and packed juice. “Our past Gulfood participation enabled Citem to strategically map out the growing demand for RTE products, such as coffee, that complements the fast, highly urbanized lifestyle of busy consumers in the GCC region,” Gaetos says. “FoodPhilippines is now keen on capturing this growing demand as it will lead to more income and job opportunities for our local coffee farmers,” she says.

foodPanda Philippines managing director Iacopo Rovere

and perpetually increasing customer satisfaction rating will lead the brand to greater heights in the coming years. Their customer satisfaction rating has also improved to over 90 percent. “We are only at the beginning of our adventure here in the Philippines. As the awareness and relevance of our brand expands, recognition from the biggest players in the industry also starts to pour, like Jollibee which we recently launched on our platform. We must have been doing something right and this is very rewarding after all the effort our teams puts into our mission,” Rovere says. Seen boosting foodpanda’s business in the Philippines is the new fixed delivery fee of P59 this year, exclusive for in-house delivery. Since its launch in the Philippines, foodpanda has been charging a fixed delivery fee of P30 plus a service fee of 15 percent on total food bill. “With the substantial growth of foodpanda in the Philippines, we are happy to share this latest development in our offering. We owe it to our customers, that is why we are committed to continue finding ways to provide them with great food options and an affordable delivery scheme right at their fingertips,” Rovere says. In its online platform, the company will continue to provide and allow customers to discover and access extensive food options in key cities and urban centers by introducing the significant changes in their delivery scheme. Foodpanda aims to increase the order frequency and encourage service usage by highlighting its affordability via its latest offering. Now, customers can order as much as they want to and just pay a fixed delivery fee of P59 without worrying about the service fee. Customers can also choose to pay online with their credit card, PayPal, or even with cash upon delivery. The new delivery scheme is seen helpful for partner restaurants to boost growth, increase their reach and acquire new customers. Founded in May 2012 by Ralf Wenzel, with its headquarters in Berlin (Germany), foodpanda operates in more than 67 cities across five continents and teamed up with over 300,000 restaurants globally. Foodpanda enables restaurants to become visible to mobile app and web users, thus customers can directly order their favorite restaurant meals via foodpanda’s website or smartphone app. The foodpanda app is powered by tech giants Delivery Hero and Rocket Internet and is available in the App Store and Google Play Store for free. All eyes are now on the Philippines as it gains significant numbers for the organization. Rovere says with the competition getting stiffer year-on-year, foodpanda Philippines will exhaust all efforts to stay relevant and viable to retain its market dominance. “Main thrust at the moment is to switch the offline customers to online and introduce platforms to them on where and how they can have their food delivered,” he says. Foodpanda envisions itself to be the most convenient and fastest online food delivery service in the Philippines. “We target to deliver 99 percent of orders under 40 minutes by end-of-year, and expand to key cities over the following months,” he says. Foodpanda increased its total orders from the first to second quarter this year by over 30 percent.

CLARK GATEWAY CITY HOLDS THE KEY TO SUSTAINED PH GROWTH A new modern city is rising in Central Luzon, as investors look for an alternative to Metro Manila which is bursting at the seams amid the capital’s sustained economic expansion. Clark emerges as an economic hub in Central Luzon which is at the center of the country’s demographic sweet spot given its large population of young, educated and skilled workforce. With a median age of only 23, the Philippine economy has been growing faster than anywhere else in the world. Clark, where infrastructure development is in full swing, is ready to lead the next wave of growth as the new economic hub. Clark International Airport is less than two hours away from Taiwan, southern China, Hong Kong and Macau, and only three hours away from Japan, Thailand, northern China and Singapore by plane. Sitting at the crossroads of North Luzon Expressway and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, Clark is also 30 minutes from the newly expanded

Subic Bay deep-water port. Under the Duterte administration, the well-connected city is poised to raise its profile further. With the revival of the Manila-Clark railway route, Clark will transform into even more of a destination. Atop one part of the old US Airforce Base and adjacent to Clark International Airport is a 177-hectare site that is transforming into an important commercial and logistics hub. With the incomparable advantage of its strategic location, Clark Gateway City is one of the largest development sites in Luzon and already has easy access to air, sea, and land connections. Clark Gateway City is also close enough to Metro Manila for its residents to benefit from its concentration of businesses, but distant enough not to suffer from the congestion consuming the capital. Clark Gateway City is the brainchild of Global Gateway Development Corp., an international firm that has been

developing the fully master-planned property. Designed as the answer to Metro Manila’s Bonifacio Global City, GGDC has built the site to the highest international standards of quality, safety and design. Mark Williams, chief executive of GGDC, said the master plan provides for parks and open spaces that, in addition to the site’s modern sewage system, keep the city livable, disaster-ready, while minimizing its environmental impact. The Medical City hospital opened in Clark Gateway City in 2014, bringing the best of the Philippines’ healthcare to Clark and Central Luzon. Close by is the growing campus of the University of the Philippines in Clark. Once an extension of UP’s flagship campus in Diliman, UP Clark is being expanded into a three-hectare permanent campus. The government is featuring Clark as the site of the 31st ASEAN Summit

when the country hosts the gathering in November 2017. Clark is tapping the young and educated Filipinos to drive growth. The backbone of this remarkable growth story is the country’s demography. The 100-million strong population is projected to reach 123.6 million by 2030 and 148.3 million by 2050, according to the United Nations estimates. Over a third of the population is under 15 years old and only 5 percent is over 65 years of age, based on the survey of Philippine Statistics Authority. These factors distinguish the country from its more development Asian neighbors, including China and Japan. The Philippines’ young, highly literate, and English-speaking population has been a driving force behind the country’s growth as the chief attraction of the BPO industry, which generated $21.2 billion in service exports in 2015, based on the

data from the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines. In 2014, investment advisory firm Tholons identified Clark and six other Philippine locations as part of the Top 100 BPO destinations worldwide. Clark-based BPOs can draw from the more than 60,0000 new graduates in Central Luzon each year. The graduates come from over 220 colleges and universities in the region, which enjoys a lower cost of living than the National Capital Region. As Metro Manila is straining to accommodate a growing population and business activities, it has outgrown the capacity of its infrastructure designs. The congested airport is landlocked and has no further room to expand. In 2014 alone, over 470,000 square meters of office space was added in Metro Manila. Despite this, vacancy rates have been on the decline, reaching figures as low as 4 percent.

Sports

FIGHT GROUPS TO FORM KICKBOXING SUPER BODY By Nerisa Singgangan

N A rare show of unity, various martial arts clubs and organizations in the Philippines have agreed to set aside their long-time rivalry to form a super body for the sport of kickboxing. Among those who have pledged allegiance to the soonto-be formalized Kickboxing Alliance of the Philippines, Inc. (KAPI) are the gyms affiliated to the National Kickboxing Council of the Philippines (NKCP) led by kickboxing pioneers and masters Emmanuel Sabrine, Larry Baluyan and Monith Pabroa. “If this for the country, we are entrusting our respected names to the alliance to further promote the sport. We would like to give our country more pride and honors in this sport that is very natural for the Filipinos, who are born warriors,” said Sabrine, who heads the council composed of nearly a hundred affiliates. Sabrine is also president of the Southeast Asian Fighting Championship (SAFC), an amateur fight league that focuses on striking skills of those aspiring to become professional mixed

Action in the ultimate striking tournament organized regularly by Phil Kamao

nagiging pro boxers or pro MMA fighters,” said Brico. “With this alliance of the major gyms in the country, maraming fighters ang lalakas ang laro dahil dadami ang tournaments na sasalihan na ng lahat. We will be able to form a very competitive team that can be sent abroad.” Other active martial arts personalities like Beh Barothy Hung of Cagayan de Oro and Department of Education Assistant secretary Alain Pascua will also be invited by

the lead convenor Randy Caluag of MP Highland Manila who will confer with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission. KAPI intends to get recognition from the POC and plans to organize regional and nationwide tournaments to form the Philippine national pool. “Finally, we’ll have an official kickboxing body that is recognized by everybody and composed of legit people,” said Ross.

Masters of different clubs which composed the kickboxing council

martial arts fighters. Pabroa, himself a former kickboxing champion, is one of the most-sought-after coaches and has under his care some of the best martial arts gyms in Metro Manila like Cerberus and Team Elements. Baluyan heads New Blood Gym. Also making their commitment to kickboxing alliance were Brico Santig, the Philippine representative of the World Kickboxing League (WKL) and co-owner of FIST, a fight league based in Benguet, north of Philippines, Phil Kamao’s Gerald Bassig and Yaw-Yan Kampilan’s Rennie Ross. Bassig has been organizing amateur kickboxing events called MUT at its home gym at the Victory

Mall in Caloocan, with participants coming from major gyms in Luzon. “Maganda po yang magsamasama na kami lahat para makabuo ng malakas na koponan that will carry the national flag in international competitions,” said Bassig, son of Phil Kamao founder Nicholas. Santig, who owns the Benguetbased Highland Gym for boxers and kickboxers, meanwhile has produced some of the best amateur Igorot kickboxers, including Rex Wao who have turned to professional boxing due to lack of income opportunities for local kickboxers. “Wala naman kasing income sa Pilipinas sa kickboxing at wala namang professional dito. Karamihan nagsisimula bilang kickboxers then

SAFC referee declaring a fighter the winner by knockout

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 randyproject@yahoo.com

LOW PROFILE

CHAMPIONS SAKIMA, LOW PROFILE FACE OFF LOCAL racing’s most anticipated track face-off finally unfolds today as homegrown champion LOW PROFILE and imported group powerhouse SAKIMA (USA) lead five other top-notch contenders competing in the “1st HENRY COJUANGCO CUP,” main event of the action-packed “HAPI RACING FESTIVAL” at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. The P1.5-million championship showdown in honor of the late horseman and sports patron Enrique “Henry” Cojuangco is being co-presented by the Philippine Racing Commission, Manila Jockey Club, Inc. and the eponymous Hapi Group of local horse owners and breeders. Set over a distance of 1,750-meters, the featured clash of champions headlines the winners of previous years’major stakes vying for the undisputed title of being the “Best of the Best”and will be aired live on MJCI Racing Channel at Sky Cable 133 and Destiny Cable 113 starting at 5:30 P.M. today as Race 6. In addition to the two headliners, also in the hunt for the coveted crown is multiple stakes winning import ATOMICSEVENTYNINE (USA), SAKIMA’s main division rival who has so far won four major added money races since breaking out in local racing last year. Champion race mare SKYWAY, close runner-up to LOW PROFILE in the Gold Cup, also joins the fray, along with last year’s triple classic stakes winner KANLAON, 2015 PCSO Presidential Gold Cup winner and known big finisher DIXIE GOLD, as well as, 2017 Philracom Commissioner’s Cup giant-slayer and multiple stakes winner MANALIG KA, which pulled the rug from under the likes of LOW PROFILE, SKYWAY and KANLAON in a classic upset victory only three weeks ago at the same track. It remains uncertain how the race might develop on account of the entry of the two classy imports, given their impressive performances in recent outings. Likewise, this would be the first time that they would be facing the most experienced locally-bred stakes campaigners in the country, majority of which are “island borns” with proven US bloodlines. Most racing pundits believe that the focus of attention will likely be centered on the ensuing tactical battle between the currently undefeated SAKIMA and local kingpin LOW PROFILE, notably on whether both would press the early pace likely to be set by the speedy SKYWAY. If both should decide to allow SKYWAY to have her way in the early going, the bullet gray is well capable of going it all the way. However, if they bear down early on the pacer, the chances of known closers in the field will likely increase and ensure an unforgettable down the wire battle royale to the finish. Lending support to the featured track encounter are 11 other Sponsored Trophy Races, named after locally-based stallions standing at stud for the 2017 breeding season, as well as, the running of the PCSO-sponsored “1st Filipino-Chinese Friendship Race.” “The blockbuster championship and the supporting races is but a fitting tribute to a man who has devoted his life towards the upliftment of the local breeding and racing industries, and in the process, inspired others to follow in his lead,” said Hapi Group stalwart Aristeo “Putch” Puyat.

ARMOUR @ THE FORT KICKS OFF YEAR WITH A BANG MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Under Armour, the most innovative sports and fitness clothing line in the world today, successfully held “Armour @ The Fort” recently at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater in Taguig City. Armour @ The Fort had a two-part program that was filled with exciting activities for Under Amour fans and fitness enthusiasts alike. On the first agenda of Armour Day, the affair kicked off with a morning run, which was conducted by the country’s renowned running coaches Titus Salazar and Dan Brown. It was followed by Unilab’s fitness and nutrition sympo-

sium. The company then made an official announcement of its joint venture with Under Armour to launch Run Limited Exceed 2017 later this year. Catering to active lifestyle aficionados, the afternoon schedule had a full swing of activities that was attended by the who’s who of the sporting community like ultra marathoner Ferdie Capiling and the UP women’s football team. An afternoon circuit training was led by Under Armour-affiliate trainer “Mama” Kat Geronimo, a renowned celebrity fitness coach who mentors notable film and television actresses such as

Marian Rivera, Danica SottoPingris, Melissa Ricks, Megan Young, Bettina Carlos, Anne Curtis and Jessy Mendiola. To cap off the event, Under Armour unveiled some of its plans for 2017, including the launching of the “Armour @” series. The fitness apparel likewise formalized its partnership with Kerry Sports Manila as the state-of-the-art facility opens its door for the Test of Will 2017 participants. Follow Under Armour Philippines via @underarmourph on Instagram and Twitter for more updates and announcements as well as Facebook at www.facebook.com/underarmoursea.

Coach Dan Brown with the young participants in the running event of the Armour @ The Fort

Sports

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor / Randy Caluag, Issue Editor

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

CASIO HEROICS LIFT ALASKA TO VICTORY By Reuel Vidal

FTER a prolonged slump which found even his most faithful fans worried Jvee Casio —the Alaska Aces’ court general, shooter and fearless clutch performer—is back to his old deadly self. The man who took over the mantle of closing out games for the Aces —much like Jojo Lastimosa and Willie Miller before him—was again counted on to help deliver a victory for the Aces who beat the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters to gain a twiceto-beat advantage in the Quarterfinals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. The game against Rain Or Shine seemed headed to a bleak outcome after James Yap drilled a three-pointer to cap a 7-0 run by the Elasto Painters as the Aces trailed by seven points, 79-86, with 7:17 left to play. For some incomprehensible reason Rain Or Shine coach Caloy Garcia suddenly pulled out Yap and the Aces came storming back. Calvin Abueva followed up his own miss. Kevin Racal converted a fastbreak layup. Ping Exciminiano converted two-of-two free throws. Sonny Thoss dribbled into the paint, pivoted once, then converted a hook shot to cap the Alaska 8-0 run which left the Aces leading by a point, 87-86,

Allen Maliksi

MALIKSI SHINES FOR STAR HOTSHOTS

Alaska Aces guard Jvee Casio (42) dribbles past Phoenix Petroleum defender Simon Enciso (0). Thanks to Casio, the Aces hold a twice-tobeat advantage in the Quarterfinals of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Alaska Aces guard Jvee Casio (42) protects the basketball against a TNT KaTropa defender. Thanks to Casio, the Aces hold a twice-tobeat advantage in the Quarterfinals of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup.

with 3:51 left to play. Jeff Chan converted a threepointer and the Aces trailed by two points, 87-89. Casio then eluded a pair of Rain Or Shine defenders to convert a layup then drained two free throws to push the Aces ahead for good, 91-89, with 2:18 left to play. With Yap on the bench and Jericho Cruz not getting a hand on the ball Jeff Chan and Beau Belga passed the basketball around like a hot potato. Neither player dared to take a shot. Vic Manuel broke up the passing exchange between the two by tapping the ball. Exciminiano recovered the rock then galloped ahead to convert a fastbreak layup and push Alaska beyond recall, 94-89, with 1:15 left to play. RJ Jazul finalized the count, 94-89, with a free throw. Casio finished with a game-high 25 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal to win Player of the Game honors. He was deadly from outside converting five of six triple attempts. Casio has been steady all conference. He averages 12.55 points, 3.45 assists, 3.36 rebounds and one

steal per game. After starting the conference at the bottom of the standings the Aces painstakingly climbed all the way up to second place after they posted the hard-earned victory over Rain Or Shine in their last game of the elimination round. “The team really wanted to win. We wanted to be in a better position going into the playoffs. We had confidence and we just tried really hard to win this game. For us the playoffs started a while ago because we really needed to win our last few games. We wanted to advance so we really worked hard for the victories,” said Casio. Against Rain Or Shine Casio was red-hot right from the start of the game. He exploded from the field converting three consecutive threepointers as Alaska tied the count at 13-all with 6:11 to go in the first period. Casio would go on to play with sustained game-long brilliance as he led the Aces to the hard-earned victory. The Aces play Barangay Ginebra 6:45 p.m., today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

THE departure of James Yap in the off season gave athletic wing man Allen Maliksi an opportunity to blossom into a legitimate superstar under new Star coach Chito Victolero. Getting the green light to shoot, the 6-foot-3 Maliksi didn’t disappoint, delivering for a Star quintet that has learned to win big games in the postJames Yap era. In fact, Maliksi stood at the forefront of Star’s two-game win streak this past week after averaging 25.5 points and 5.0 rebounds to help his team secure a quarterfinal spot in the Philippine Cup. Maliksi’s leadership and growing confidence earned him his first AccelPBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period of Jan. 22-28. He beat former Star teammate and now Mahindra’s go-to-guy Alex Mallari, Alaska’s young forward Kevin Racal, three-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo, GlobalPort gunner Terrence Romeo and TNT’s rookie Roger Pogoy. The former University of Santo Tomas star went scoreless during the first period, before finding his stroke in the last three quarters in Star’s 11195 rout of Blackwater last Wednesday. He went on to finish with a personal season-high 26 points, built around five triples. Three days later, the eighth overall pick of Barako Bull in the 2011 PBA Draft, presided over Star’s merciless 120-73 annihilation of Meralco. The 29-year-old Maliksi knocked in 17 of his 25 points in the Hotshots’ whirlwind first-half scoring attack on the way to the Star’s second lopsided victory for the conference. The Star Hotshots advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup at third place and are battling the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters in a best-of-three playoff which started yesterday, Saturday, February 4. How far they advance in the playoffs will depend largely on how well Maliksi performs. RD

MACK BRINGS ONE MESSAGE TO ASIA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP continues its growth into a multi-billion dollar sports media entity and tasked with the challenge of helping reach the four billion people of Asia is Vice President of PR and Communications Loren Mack. This after the largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), announced Mack’s appointment. Previously, Mack served the company as Senior Director of PR and Communications. “I am absolutely blessed to be in the position that I am, doing what I love to do in an industry I am extremely passionate about. Nothing beats hard work, and I truly believe that a huge part of this suc-

cess is due to the amazing, hard-working people around me who not only continue to put in the hours, but also never fail to inspire me to give everything that I have towards the betterment of the organization. Being able to work with the greatest athletes in the world everyday is incredible, and I am thrilled to accept this new role and to share this with the entire team at ONE Championship.” Mack is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Marist College. He is an active member in the sports community of Las Vegas as well as the Asia Representative to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF).

He finds great joy in helping others, and is an avid volunteer for charity including organizations like the Salvation Army and Feeding America. Mack has been involved in the combat sports industry as a prominent figure for over a decade, joining ONE Championship shortly after the promotion’s inception in 2011. Over the years, he has led the PR Team and has been instrumental in developing the ONE Championship brand all across Asia and in the entire world. ONE Championship is the largest sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts organization hosts

the largest sports entertainment events across Asia featuring the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. ONE Championship is broadcast to over 1 billion viewers across 118+ countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including FOX Sports, Setanta, MNC, Astro, Thairath TV, ABS-CBN, TV5, MYTV, HTV, OSN and more. For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @ ONEChampionship, and like on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ ONEChampionship.

Loren Mack

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Jimbo Gulle, Editor

Roger Garcia, Issue Editor

LGUs

Local Gov’t Units

mslocalgov@gmail.com

LGBTS TAKE CABANATUAN ANNIVERSARY SPOTLIGHT

APPEALS MOUNT

FOR'RESPONSIBLETOURISM'IN MT.PULAG By Abe Almirol

WEBSITE promoting mountain adventure proclaimed that Mt. Pulag is one of the “most well-maintained premier national parks” in the country.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources regulations placed it under a National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) but the accolade could turn out to be a risky overstatement. And just recently, there are sectors that have actively calling to allow the park to have some ‘rest.’ Reason: Conditions not favorable to the conservation of the national park have intensified as more tourists are lured to Mt. Pulag’s charm.

‘Come for the adventure, Go home an advocate’

Environmental groups in Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet appealed to those promoting Mt. Pulag tours to package it as something beyond sheer excitement and fun. Tour organizers were advised to design a “learning experience among climbers so that they would take home a pow-

erful advocacy” that supports the local economy around Mt. Pulag. Local tour guides worry about non-biodegradable waste disposal inside the park. Climbers should be given a chance to enjoy a fresh meal of organic vegetable salad or buy something to take home pick-and-pay style. Most climbers eat canned goods the whole time of their stay, even on their way out of the national park. DENR park authorities are faced with the challenge of delineating a clear line where livelihood activities could still be permitted so that the 528 documented Scan this icon to plant species, 33 bird species and sevview the PDF eral mammals belonging to the threatened categories would not be disturbed.

'WONDROUS PULAG.' Environmental groups in Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet have appealed to those promoting tours up Mt. Pulag to package them as ‘something beyond sheer excitement and fun.’

TOURISTS DELIGHT IN ONCE-FEARED ROAD By Manilyn B. Ugalde TABACO CITY, Albay—The once feared 25-kilometer isolated Sabloyon stretch in Albay has turned into a busy route for motorists and travelers to and from Metro Manila. Stretching the cities of Tabaco (1st District) and Ligao (3rd District), the once neglected mountainous Sabloyon route was a frequent site of highway robbery incidents and intermittent skirmishes between government troops

and the New People’s Army rebels. Motorists in the first district of the province and the island Catanduanes, now enjoys a traffic-free and comfortable travel to Camarines Sur onward to Manila without anymore passing the 55-kilometer long route via the cities of Legazpi (2nd District) and Ligao. According to Engineer Cesar Sanorjo, chief of the Construction Section of the Albay 1st District Engineering, motorists no longer fear traveling the Sabloyon route 24/7 virtually treating the insur-

gency threat as a thing of the past as a result of the improvements and widening of the route to four-lane. Now completely concreted with the Tabaco side fully widened to four-lane, the ascending high level mid-portion of Sabloyon route between Tabaco and Ligao spanning four barangay villages estimated 4,000-plus feet above the sea level is overlooking closer to Mayon where local and foreign tourists on clear days enjoy taking photos and videos of the alluring and perfect cone of Mt. Mayon.

CABANATUAN CITY—The lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) community in this city has grabbed the spotlight with the holding of several events and activities dedicated for them during the cityhood anniversary’s forthcoming celebration here. The said events composed of the LGBT Olympics and Battle of the Queens: Miss Gay 2017 is expected to draw massive support and participation amidst the growing population of LGBTs whose ranks have reportedly swelled to 5,000 throughout the city alone. The sports competitions for LGBTs was organized by the Gays and Lesbians Association of Cabanatuan (Galac) led by its president Jeffrey Fernandez. It forms part of a series of activities under the “Banatu Festival 2017” sponsored by the city government. Fernandez said that Galac has more or less 700 members although their total population, including non-members could be around 5,000 throughout the city, some of them living in the city’s outskirts. On the average, they are within the 20 to 35 age bracket although there are some as young as 10 years old. “As much as possible, we recruit as members those who are already of legal age,” he added.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CONVICTS' KIN PROPOSED A COUNCILOR in Quezon City is batting for the inclusion of children of convicts under its regular scholarship program. District 1 Councilor Ivy Xenia Lagman called on Mayor Herbert Bautista to back Resolution No. 6912-2016 to provide scholarships for children whose parents are serving jail sentences. The measure authored by Lagman, if passed, would expand the scholarship program’s accessibility to such children. The female councilor said the government must look after the welfare of children whose parents are behind bars since their parents are not capable of providing them with the financial support for their education. “This resolution is expected to provide the needed impetus to the government’s continuing effort to make education accessible to all,” she said. Under the city’s scholarship and development program, financial assistance through scholarship grant is being provided to underprivileged but deserving students who want to pursue higher education.

DPWH EYES P9.5-B DALTON BY-PASS ROAD

By Ferdie G. Domingo

‘MAMANWA’ DANCE. Members of the indigenous Mamanwa tribe dance during the anniversary celebration of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park in Barangay Cagmanaba, Burauen, Leyte. Declared a natural park on Feb. 3, 1998, the park features an extinct volcano crater lake, hot springs with multi-colored mud, and rocks believed to be medicinal. Leyte 2nd district Rep. Henry C. Ong (seated right) and environment officials attended the ceremony. Mel Caspe

SAN JOSE CITY—The proposed P9.5-billion Dalton Pass By-pass Road Project (DPBRP), which is intended to serve as alternate route in the treacherous Dalton Pass, has been submitted by the Duterte administration to the Japanese government for approval and funding amid safety concerns, a top official of the Department of Public Works and Highways has announced. DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said that the project, considered an environmentally critical project, is being eyed for Official Development Assistance with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency instead of

the Public-Private Partnership scheme. “We have applied it for ODA funding which would lessen the project cost. If you do it through PPP, the cost would be double,” he said. Sadain said the feasibility study for the project has been finished five years ago and the revised FS is expected to be finished within this year. “If the construction pushes through, it would be a big relief for motorists travelling to Dalton Pass,” he said, adding the works include 60 kilometers of road networks and 1.5-kilometer mountain tunnelling works between this city and Nueva Vizcaya. Once completed, it would be the first-ever

mountain tunnel project in the country and ease the existing road to Dalton Pass which is often cut off by landslides during the rainy season. The Dalton Pass is considered a vital arterial road linking Metro Manila to Central Luzon and Northern Luzon. However, calamities have led to its closure over the past 30 years. According to a study made in February 2012 by the Kensetsu Gijyutsu Center, Infrastructure Development Institute–Japan Central Consultant Inc., typhoons which occurred every year since have led to the closure of the road. The same study showed that a nine-hour closure of the road would lead to economic losses of P470 million.

LGUs

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CORDILLERA BIDS FOR AUTONOMY ANEW By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—Cordillera lawmakers and members of the Regional Development Council in the Cordillera agreed to give the renewed quest for regional autonomy a last chance while adhering to the present administration’s plan to shift from the current presidential form to federal form of government. In the recently concluded Cordillera leaders forum held at the House of Representatives, Cordillera congressmen agreed among themselves to refile the revised autonomy bill. Further improvements on the contents of the bill prior to its refilling were instituted during a series of meetings to be held among the lawmakers pushing for its immediate passage. The group of lawmakers seek to file the revised version before Congress goes on a break sometime in March and meet the timelines set with the RDC-CAR. Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said Cordillera congressmen will have a unified stand to file the revised autonomy bill and for them to forego their “biases” against the proposed legislative measure and allow their constituents to be the ones to decide whether or not their legislative districts will join the autonomous region during a plebiscite. He said there is no definite timeline for the administration’s proposed shift to federal form of government. “That is why it is still best for the Cordillera to pursue the renewed quest for autonomy which is considered to be a definite move rather than awaiting a proposal for federalism that still remains in the air,” Baguilat stressed. Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse C. Mangaoang, meanwhile, claimed it is high time for local officials and concerned government agencies to work double time in informing and educating the people about the advantages of joining the autonomous region instead of the region being torn apart and go for the local governments to go back to their original regions.

KOREANS OUT OF HARM’S WAY IN PUERTO GALERA—LGU, PNP P By Robert A. Evora

UERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro—In the wake of recent cases of kidnapping, murder and extortion activities on their fellow nationals allegedly committed by ranking police law enforcers, Korean nationals here have expressed their fears that they might be the next victims of similar incidents.

In response, the local government and the Philippine National Police jointly expressed their assurance to South Korean nationals and their steadily growing community here of their safety and protection during a recently held dialog among the island’s stakeholders. Puerto Galera Mayor Rockey D. Ilagan and the Sangguniang Bayan, headed by Vice Mayor Marlon L. Lopez, also guaranteed full cooperation with the South Korean nationals for their protection and to make Korean tourists

and investors safe. “The local government and the PNP will guarantee and make sure the protection of your investments and the safeness of the stay of your compatriots here in our town,” Ilagan, a three-time former barangay chairman of Sabang, stressed. During the meeting in Sabang, Chief Superintendent Wilben M. Mayor, PNP regional director for Mimaropa, assured the South Koreans, who are mostly resort owners, which they are “safe and

fully protected to stay in Puerto Galera” and the two ugly incidents that happened in Angeles City, in Pampanga, will not happen here.” Mayor also urged the South Korean expatriates and investors to open communication lines with local government and police officials of Puerto Galera by organizing themselves into one solid group to expedite the resolution of issues and other problems confronting them. “With an organized group, the LGU and the PNP could expedite the resolutions of issues and their other problems with the community,” he said. Cha Eun Sik or Michael Cha, owner of the Oceana Beach Resort, conveyed their group’s gratitude to the local and police officials for their concern on the welfare of South Korean businessmen and tourists staying in this resort town. Cha said there are 88 South Korean establishment owners who own resorts in this municipality, mostly in Barangay Sabang,

operating dive centers, hotels and restaurants. Meanwhile, Song Yoon No, 49, also a South Korean resort owner, said all the negative reports involving their nationals and the national police force do not affect their relationship with the host municipality which remains “cordial and warm.” South Korean tourists who visit Puerto Galera every year have reached to a high of more than 100,000 persons, Cha said. The tourists from South Korea now almost outnumber European and American visitors who come in mostly during the winter months of November to February. Senior Superintendent Christopher C. Birung, Oriental Mindoro provincial director, designated Chief Inspector Catalino P. Batulayan Jr. as chief of provincial tourist police unit and Chief Inspector Lawrence Panganiban as the new Puerto Galera police chief.

IN QUIRINO PROVINCE

TEEN PREGNANCY DOWN BY 35 PERCENT By Ben Moses Ebreo CABARROGUIS, Quirino—Teenage pregnancy in this province has decreased by 35 percent from 2015 to 2016. Froilan Herrera, provincial population officer, said the decrease of teenage pregnancy cases in the province can be attributed to the intensified implementation of the Population Management Program in partnership with the provincial government and other government agencies. “With our active and joint efforts, we succeeded in our crusade of educating the adolescents and parents through the conduct of Parent Education on Adolescent Health and symposia on teenage pregnancy,” Herrera added. Citing statistics, Herrera disclosed that the decrease came from the 505 teenage pregnancy incidents in 2015 compared to the 329 cases recorded last year. “The activities helped parents to become highly effective in communicating with their adolescent children especially in establishing good relationship with them and in instilling moral values as well,” Herrera said. The Provincial Population Office also reported that it has exceeded the targets on Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning classes and Pre-Marriage Counseling and Family Development Sessions with 437 percent and 754 percent accomplishment, respectively. The PPO is also set to launch another program, dubbed Oplan Kinabukasan ng Kabataan (OK Ka), this year.

SEA OF TEACHERS. Applicants for senior high school teachers attend an orientation conducted by the Department of Education-Division of North Cotabato at Magpet National High School in Magpet, North Cotabato. Over 900 applicants are vying for just 200 openings for teacher in the division. Geonarri Solmerano

PAY HIKE FOR QC TEACHERS, EMPLOYEES URGED THE Quezon City Council has passed a resolution supporting a draft congressional bill increasing the salaries of public school teachers and other government employees. Resolution No. SP-6914, S-2016

authored by Councilor Melencio “Bobby” Castelo calls for the passage of House Bill 56 which also calls for the increase in the payment of the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance of government employees.

The resolution said the grant of the increase is necessary so as to support the meager income received by public school teachers and government employees, who often resort to borrowing money either from government financial

institutions or private lenders. A smaller take-home pay also contributes in the exodus of a growing number of government workers seeking greener pastures abroad due to higher salaries offered by foreign employers.

MORE GENERATORS FOR ORANI WATER

DRUG PROGRAM. Scores of drug surrenderers, who finished the three-month program ‘Rehabilitation sa Barangay’ in San Juan City, join Mayor Guia Gomez, Vice Mayor Janella Estrada, the City Council and police officers during a ceremony at the San Juan Police Station. They will now go through the Barangay Anti-Narcotics Action Team or BANAT, where they will act as barangay security in the ’Rising City of Excellence.’

ORANI, Bataan—The P12-million savings of the Orani Water District from 3 components of works will be used to fund support facilities to further improve services to their concessionaires. “We will use our P12-million savings to procure 2 generators for pump stations, 125 kVa generator and 75kVa generators to Mulawin 2 Pump Station and Tala Pump Station and for additional pipelines and extensions,” said OWD GM Benni Andres. He also said the final two components, which are the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, and leak detection and monitoring set, will be acquired soon with the release of their remaining loan from German bank KFW. The OWD, through the assistance of Local Water Utilities Administration, secured loan from the German bank amounting to P101 million to fund 5 components of works. The 3 components of works already accomplished were water source development, civil works, and state-of-the-art reservoir. LWUA said OWD is one of the best managed water districts in the country, and their more than 10,000 household-concessionaires are assured of improved services including clean and quality water. Butch Gunio

Gadgets & Games

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

PINOY MILLENNIAL MEN SHOP MORE ONLINE Fleshman

HOOQ NAMES FLESHMAN AS CT0 Based on information gathered by the OLX Data Hub, the biggest growth drivers for online shopping last year are furniture, sports and health items, and baby-related goods.

OMEN are often thought to be shopaholics, they frequently go to the malls and are also often glued to their smartphones—searching for items to purchase in just a few swipes and clicks. Surprisingly, the latest statistics from the OLX Data Hub reveals that more Filipino men prefer to shop online. Based on information gathered by the OLX Data Hub from search history and sessions on their platform in 2016, the company found that the three biggest growth drivers for online shopping last year are furniture, sports and health items, and baby-related goods. Additionally, across all three categories, majority are men aged between 25 to 34 years old. For baby-related goods, 55% of shoppers are male, suggesting that more Pinoy men are open to searching for quality items for their little tykes. While it’s likely mil-

lennial men are first time fathers, they’re more aware that not everything needs to be new for their babies since children outgrow a lot of items, fast. The top five items searched for in each category also give further insight to the life of the Pinoy millennial man. Top 5 Searches for Furniture Sofa/Sala Set/Sofa Bed; Tables; Cabinet; Bed; TV Top 5 Searches for Sports and Health Items Bikes; Helmet; Motorcycle; Bike Parts; Scooter

Top 5 Searches for Baby Stuff Crib; Stroller; Baby Shoes; Walker; Baby Clothes Additional findings based on OLX’s data suggest that Pinoy millennial men are practical shoppers looking for the most lucrative deals when it comes to furnishing their homes. Looking at the popularly searched items, pieces like sofas, tables, cabinets, and beds are all essentials when filling up their living space or bachelor pad. Outside the home, millennial men are both adventurous and environment conscious. The data from OLX hints that their hobbies include motor, mountain, and city biking. This tells us that Pinoy millennial men are trying to find ways to dodge traffic jams and that they’re also concerned about leaving less of a carbon footprint in their quest for an adrenalin rush. Whether for their hobbies or for their homes, data also suggests that Pinoy millennial men highly do their research online and find communities who can help them stay informed

about their chosen interest. “More than the usual buy and sell transactions on our platform, it has also become an avenue for different communities to share information and foster camaraderie online,” said Jean Magboo, Marketing Head of OLX. “Aside from the exchange of items, tips and recommendations also get shared, too. Meet-ups become more than just a business deal, but an enriching experience— making it a win-win situation for both buyers and sellers.” The increase in Pinoy millennial men shopping online can also be attributed to communities that are present in platforms like OLX. Millennial women also have communities that continue to grow especially for those into fashion, make-up, and fitness. More information about the latest numbers revealed by the OLX Data Hub can be found on yaman.olx.ph, which also has plenty of tips-related articles for different passions of both males and females.

SAMSUNG LAUNCHES WIND-FREE AIRCON

SAMSUNG Electronics unveiled its first ever, award-winning Wind-Free™ wall-mounted air conditioner at CES 2017 in Las Vegas, following the huge success of its floor-standing Wind-Free™ air conditioner in South Korea. The AR9500M air conditioner has integrated Samsung’s exclusive WindFree™ Cooling technology into its design—providing customers with better cooling comfort and optimal energy efficiency with each use. With the AR9500M, families can enjoy quality time and fun bonding moments at home without the uncomfortable feeling of direct cold air blow in the room. “Consumers will love the cool, efficient air conditioning

capabilities of the AR9500M in their home,” said Byung-Sam Seo, President of home appliances at Samsung Electronics. “And they will really love that they no longer have to deal with uncomfortable, cold air— as well as reduced electric bills.” The AR9500M provides customers with the ideal condition by maintaining the comfortable room temperature, using WindFree™ Cooling to gently disperse cold air through 21,000 micro air holes. A two-step cooling system which first lowers temperatures in “Fast Cooling Mode” and then automatically switches to “Wind-Free™ Cooling Mode” creating “still air” once the desired temperature is reached. This approach can also

Samsung AR9500M

reduce energy consumption by up to 72 percent compared to Fast Cooling mode. Using Samsung’s new Digital Inverter 8-Pole with POWERboost technology™,

the AR9500M’s motor generates fewer torque fluctuations—reducing the overall energy required and shortening the time needed for the compressor to reach its

maximum speed(Hertz). The AR9500M features an Ultra-Wide PM 2.5 filter which assures customers that the air produced is purified and ideal for the home. The AR9500M’s unique Triangle Architecture has a wider inlet which allows more air to be drawn in at once, while the optimal width and angle of the outlet, extra v-blades, and large fan—22 percent larger than previous models—ensure air is cooled and expelled faster, farther and wider, to reach every corner of the room. The AR9500M air conditioner will be available in Samsung Experience Stores and authorized dealers nationwide in March 2017.

F5 NETWORKS BATS FOR BETTER CYBER SECURITY By Randy Caluag CYBER fraud and hacking top the list of concerns in cyber technology that business owners are putting in a lot of money to protect their establishments and their clients from infringement. Apps companies like F5 Networks are embroiled in a continuous struggle to protect high-risk targets like important government institutions and the banking industry. “Security is a continuous process,” said Vishal Singh, F5’s Regional Vice President for Southeast Asia, during a media forum at the Discovery Primea in Makati City. “It’s a (never-ending) journey to fight a new age of threat hounding the technology.” Its headquarters based in Seattle, USA with operations in 32 countries, F5 Networks is a recognized leader in Application Delivery Networking and the tops in Web Application Firewall in Asia and the Pacific. It recently came out with an industry survey and found that global clients are

Vishal Singh, F5 networks, VP Sales for Southeast Asia

going for cloud adoption in security application services including WAF, DNSSEC, and DDoS protection.” As an increase in application services often requires additional resources, respondents also indicated a shift toward DevOps methodologies to gain opera-

tional efficiencies through automation and programmability. This need for scalability replaces speed to market as the prime driver of DevOps adoption. “Applications are becoming central to Asia Pacific’s business strategies as the on-demand economy increasingly calls for speed and efficiency,” said Emmanuel Bonnassie, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, F5 Networks. “More than ever, the 2017 State of Application Delivery study shows that a new dynamic has emerged as this shift towards faster, smarter and safer customer experiences means that businesses are increasingly relying on a mobile and application centric IT for a tech savvy workforce.” Security is the number-one priority, and the increasing sophistication of attacks is the top challenge: Security teams are expanding beyond traditional firewalls and the legacy enterprise perimeter as a response to hackers increasingly targeting the application. Globally, the top security services being

planned for deployment are DDoSmitigation (21 percent), DNSSEC protection (25 percent), and Web Application Firewall services (20 percent). According to the survey, companies— including those identifying as cloud-first organizations—that are most confident in their ability to withstand an applicationlevel attack have a WAF installed. One of the practical uses of its apps is the mobile banking system. In the Philippines, F5 is managed by Engr. Oscar Visaya as country manager. He opened shop five years ago and counts some of the top names in the banking industry and government agencies as his clients. “Application security is critical. It is the gateway to your date. If it’s weak and hacked, they can steal our data and can be used for various crimes,” said Bisaya. “So we make sure to make a safer, smarter application and we put wall to your data. So strong that it can monitor the traffic and make sure only the good ones are permitted through that data.”

HOOQ, Asia’ largest video on demand service today, announced the appointment of Michael Fleshman as CTO. A veteran CTO and no stranger to the media industry, Fleshman brings with him to HOOQ over 20 years of experience with leading roles at BBC Worldwide, Viacom, Financial Times and AOL. “We are elated to welcome Michael to HOOQ as part of our senior leadership team. At the same time, we are ecstatic by his depth of experience in the digital media space and I have no doubt he will lead our technical team to new heights as we expand aggressively into new territories, new products and new platforms in 2017,” said Chief Executive Officer of HOOQ, Peter Bithos. Fleshman will lead the charge of the strategic planning and development of HOOQ’s product and platform with the view of ensuring HOOQ stays ahead of the curve in the OTT space, spearheads innovation and most of all, delivers a flawless customer experience. Prior to joining HOOQ, Fleshman founded and led the charge at digital strategy and development consulting firm Notting Hill Digital after spending almost 20 years in CTO roles for top media companies including BBC Worldwide where he led the teams responsible for the development of BBC Store, as well as the creation of new platforms for all of BBC Worldwide’s digital properties. “I am excited to be part of such a dynamic start-up and I look forward to driving the company into its new phase of innovation and technology,” Fleshman said. A graduate of MIT, Fleshman spends his time geeking out on the latest tech and gadgets. When he’s not being a geek, he loves a good binge on anything by Luc Besson, particularly The Fifth Element and Lucy! HOOQ is Asia’s first premium videoon-demand service to launch across the region. HOOQ is a start-up joint venture established in January 2015 by Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. HOOQ delivers over 35,000 hours of Hollywood blockbusters and popular local programs to customers anytime, anywhere by enabling them to stream and download their favorite shows on their Internet device or platform of choice. HOOQ currently operates in the Philippines, Thailand, India, Indonesia and now Singapore, with a population footprint of over 1.7 billion people. For more information, visit www.hooq.tv.

SONY...

From D4

The new α6500 features an APS-C sized 24.2 MP8 Exmor CMOS sensor that works together with a BIONZ X® image processor and the newly developed front-end LSI to maximize processing power and achieve an impressive sensitivity range of up to ISO 51200 without sacrificing image quality. It is also the latest Sony interchangeable lens camera to offer internal 4K video recording, which can shoot 4K (3840 x 2160p) videos in the popular Super 35mm format on the full width of the image sensor. The camera supports the XAVC S codec during video shooting, which records at a high bit rate of up to 100 Mbps during 4K recording and 50 Mbps during Full HD shooting – ensuring maximum detail and clarity in both video formats, allowing footage to be eventually edited into 4x slow motion video files in Full HD (25p) resolution with AF tracking but quick motion mode is also neat with the cam. The new Sony α6500 interchangeable lens camera is available in the Philippines for P81,999 (body only).

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Gadgets & Games REINVENT MEMORIES WITH ORIG HP INKS

Simple enthusiasts and hardcore gamers came to the convention as teams played League of Legends, one of the most popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games by Garena in Southeast Asia.

LENOVO LEGION FUELS PASSION FOR GAMING By Randy Caluag

NLINE gamers in the Philippines are growing in number that Lenovo saw it fit to come up with a PC line, aptly named Lenovo Legion, for better user and gaming experience. The Legion line was tested for the first time by players from 12 schools in a two-day gaming convention, named Legion by Lenovo, at the Cyberzone area at SM North Edsa in Quezon City. Simple enthusiasts and hardcore gamers came to the convention as teams played League of Legends, one of the most popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games by Garena in Southeast Asia. Some were even lucky to play online against celebrities such as Kristoffer Martin, Jack Reid, Ashley Gosiengfiao, Alex Diaz and Jerome Ponce. “Lenovo Legion is dedicated to our community of gamers and their passion for gaming,” said Michael Ngan, Country General Manager for Lenovo Philippines. “And by introducing Legion through this gaming convention, we hope to grow such a community—where local gamers can support each other in the world of gaming, and improve camaraderie online.” Participating schools in the gaming convention, which was hosted by Radio DJs, Nikko Ramos and Joyce Pring, were De La Salle University, DLSUCollege of Saint Benilde, Adamson University, National University, AMA University–Quezon City Campus, University of the Philippines-Diliman and the Far Eastern University, among many others. Everybody gave their thumbs-up to Lenovo Legion, which has two laptop varieties such as the Lenovo Legion Y520 the Ideapad Y910; and desktop IdeaCentre Y710 Cube. The Lenovo Legion offers gamers the most immersive gaming experiences. Let’s begin with

the legion Y520—an entry-level gaming laptop that runs on the latest 7th generation Kaby Lake processors from Intel. With a budget powerhouse NVIDIA GTX 1050/1050Ti graphics card, games can be displayed in crisp 1080p or 1440p quality. Top it with Dolby Premium sound technology and Harman-certified speakers, it’s like being where the action is. Its user-friendly feature includes the Nerve Sense which you won’t find in any kind of laptop. It’s a function that allows one to easily customize various settings with less effort. Through the Nerve Sense, one can adjust the keyboard lighting, disable the touchpad and other unnecessary keys for playing, and control the sound settings. The Nerve Sense also has an Extreme Cooling feature allowing one to adjust cooling systems with just a few clicks. For streamers, the Nerve Sense can also conduct livestream gaming sessions, which can be integrated into their social media accounts or record their gameplay and

Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 Cube

upload them at another time. Also debuting at the gaming convention is the virtual-reality ready Ideapad Y910. It is built with a 6th generation Intel Core i7 K processor and is especially equipped with a One Key Turbo that can instantly boost CPU performance with just one click for an uninterrupted gaming experience. Graphics of the Ideapad Y910 will be provided by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080M GPU which can reach 4K resolution display.

Another VR-ready machine is the IdeaCentre Y710 Cube that has a 6th generation Intel Core i7 K processor and memory of up to 16GB of DDR4, more than

Lenovo Ideapad Y910

enough to handle games while streaming them at the same time, or even opening multiple applications at once while editing your videos and photos. Additionally, its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPU also allows for 4k resolution gaming. Combining a sharp design with decent portability and 4K/VR-ready performance, the IdeaCentre Y710 Cube is small, yet mighty. The case is decked in various shades of matte grey plastic, and a three-pronged front edge with lines that glow through external LED lights. Exceptionally, it has a built-in carrying handle, so you can lug it anywhere you like. You can bring it between gaming stations, to your room, or a friend’s house for an all-night multiplayer gaming. The Cube weighs only 7.4 kilograms, and has a tower that’s approximately the size of a standard laptop at 15.48 inches long. The IdeaCentre Y710 Cube is now available at Lenovo Philippines retail stores at a starting price of P 81,990. The Lenovo Legion Y520 will be available at authorized retail stores in February, while the Ideapad Y910 will be available the first quarter of 2017. Pricing details will be announced soon. To stay updated on Lenovo Philippines news, visit www.lenovo.com/ lenovo/ph/en, or follow us on our Facebook page.

LIFE is full of special moments— from celebrating personal triumphs, birthdays or weddings, to welcoming a new bundle of joy and experiencing new adventures with loved ones. But like everything else, these events, when captured on paper, don’t last forever. That is why HP lets people reinvent memories that never fade, with pictures printed using Original HP Ink cartridges. Knowing how families and friends truly cherish memories, especially through sharing pictures, HP has taken more than 500 years of combined experience to develop innovative ink cartridges that use 36,000 drops of ink per second to make a smile last a lifetime, on HP Photo Paper. With Original HP Ink’s print quality, the family is assured of stunning pictures of their first vacation abroad and the children’s achievements that they are proud to show, captured by permanent and accurate vibrant colors that are free of streaks and smudges. And with its unmatched reliability, Original HP Ink works the first time, every time so there are no wasted photo prints of such priceless moments as first communion or first school recitals. Its fast-drying and anti-curling properties also prevent costly and inconvenient paper jams. Aside from helping share the family’s precious moments through vibrant pictures, using Original HP Ink can also help care for the environment as empty cartridges and packaging are immediately recycled, at no cost, to produce other plastic products and raw materials, and most importantly, to provide the lowest carbon footprint. With its superb way of reinventing memories that never fade for generations of families to share and enjoy, the HP printer and Original HP Inks are truly the best tools to keep special moments alive. Want to reinvent memories today? Head on over to the nearest HP printer reseller to get an HP DeskJet printer and Original HP Inks that can produce pictures that will last a lifetime. HP lets people reinvent memories that never fade, with pictures printed using Original HP Ink cartridges that use 36,000 drops of ink per second to make a smile last a lifetime, on HP Photo Paper.

HP lets people reinvent memories that never fade.

SONY UNBOXES NEW FLAGSHIP APS-C SENSOR CAMERA By Peter Paul Duran

Sony Philippines introduced the α6500 at a Food Photography Workshop and live cooking demonstration .

SONY presents its new flagship APS-C sensor camera, which combines the world’s fastest Auto Focus speed and highest number of AF points with Incamera 5-axis image stabilization, Touchscreen AF Operation with 24.2MP Exmor® CMOS. Phew, but wait, there’s more. Sony Philippines introduced the α6500 at a Food Photography Workshop and live cooking demonstration featuring professional

food and lifestyle photographer Gabby Cantero and Rustic Morning’s Chef Portia Baluyut at the Marmalade Kitchen in BGC. The latest addition to Sony’s line-up of award winning mirrorless cameras shares the same unrivaled 4D FOCUS™ system as the α6300 camera, which can lock focus on a subject in as little as 0.05 seconds, the world’s fastest AF acquisition time. Similar to the α6300, the new α6500 features 425 phase detection AF points that are densely

positioned over nearly the entire image area—the world’s highest number of AF points on any interchangeable lens camera. The camera can shoot at high speeds of up to 307 frames and equipped with touch screen functionality, allowing users to lock focus on a subject simply by touching it on the screen, complementing its advanced AF system and video shooting capabilities. B oasting a whopping 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and exposure

tracking and up to 8 frames per second in a live-view shooting mode, the a6500 makes tracking fast moving subjects a breeze. The camera also combines all the benefits of an electronic viewfinder with the immediacy of an optical viewfinder. The new α6500 offers a redefined design and sports a magnesium alloy body and likewise features a high-durability shutter with a tested life span of approximately 200,000 release, a staple in most full-frame DSLRs. Turn to D3

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor

Young Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph

Skechers Performance GORun 5

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3 SHOES THAT CAN TAKE YOU TO LA MARATHON

THE MOBILE PHONE-OBSESSED

GENERATION

By Bernadette Lunas

ILLENNIALS are so in love with their mobile phones, they can’t imagine spending a day without checking it at least once. At least that holds true for some, or, perhaps, the majority. Some even say the “relationship” they have with their phones is the longest they’ve ever had. For these people, it is the first thing they reach for when they wake up, the last thing they check before they sleep, and the one thing that never leaves their side throughout the day—some of them hold on to it even while having sex, mind you. A 2014 study by research firm Zogby Analytics revealed that 90 percent of its 1,019 Generation Y survey respondents said their phones never leave their sides. Meanwhile, a YouGov Omnibus survey in the same year found that individuals 18 to 34 years old literally can’t put their phones down as over 50 percent said they carry it in their hand throughout the day. And it’s not simply that they can’t let go of their phones. Cisco’s third annual global connected World Technology Report stated two out of five millennials “would feel anxious, like a part of me is missing,” if they couldn’t use their smartphones to stay connected. The separation anxiety towards our nifty gadget even extends to the bedroom and bath-

ON MARCH 19, thousands of professional and amateur runners will be in Los Angeles to join the prestigious LA Marathon. In the run up to the upcoming event, its title partner Skerchers Performance has launched three pairs of running shoes that let wearers “Go like never before.” The latest releases all feature Skechers Performance’s Mid-foot Strike or M-Strike technology that reduces the impact of heel striking and enhances the natural running performance of runners by positioning the body for a mid-foot strike. The middle of the foot strikes the ground first and transitions to forefoot for immediate toe off.

Go for speed with GORun 5

room: The 2013 Mobile Consumer Habits study found that 12 percent of millennial smartphone users admitted to using their device in the shower and nine percent of those surveyed had used it during sex. In light of this information, we asked a couple of millennials whether they are willing to give up their phone for a week and, and if not, how long they could go without checking it. Find out their answers below: * * * “No [I’m not willing to give up my phone for a week] because I need it for business purposes. One day is the longest I can go without checking it.” – Kathrine Joy Cortez, 28 “No. I use my cell phone to log into my social media accounts, as well as to contact my friends and keep in touch with my boss. I can last two to four hours without checking my phone.” –John Francis Ducusin, 20 “No. Phone is life; with it you can easily access anything and, most importantly, with it I can communicate with anyone, everywhere. Twenty minutes [would be the longest I can last without checking my phone].” –Mary Anne Guevarra, 27 “If the people before mobile phones [were invented] made it, I think I can survive it, too. So, yes, I think I’ll be okay [without my phone for a week]. I honestly don’t know [if how much longer I can go without checking it].” –Sittie Ayeesha Macabato, 20 Turn to E2

The fifth generation of Skechers GORun series is designed for speed and comfort. To safeguard the runner’s multi-surface traction to stay grounded on track, GORun 5 has Skechers’s GoKnit upper that provides security while maintaining breathability and comfort.

Go for durability with GORun Forza 2

The new GORun Forza 2 is designed with added support to enhance the running experience. It has lightweight and responsive 5GEN cushioned midsole and a Mid-foot Strike Zone that promotes efficiency in each stride. Each pair also has a molded heel strap counter and integrated support strap in its midfoot, providing stability and security to the wearer. Forza 2’s two-part outsole, meanwhile, provides smooth transition for durability and traction.

Go for stability with GORun Ride 6

With the joint technology of Midfoot Strike zone and GOimpulse Sensors, GORun Ride 6 allows the wearer to have a smoother transition and optimized running experience. Further, these running shoes have lateral and medial support that offers stability and breathability that are both needed for short and long runs. Skechers Performance is available at Skechers stores nationwide. John Ray Villanueva

SEPANX. The many purposes of today’s mobile phones have made them almost like an extension of our bodies, so much so that majority of millennials say they can’t put their devices down and not check them at least once throughout the day. GORun Forza 2

SARI LAZARO’S DESIGNS SHINE ON RIVER SEINE

Sari Lazaro presented her ‘Royal Secret Garden’ collection of dresses

THE romantic and luxurious haute couture collection of rising Filipino designer Sari Lazaro perfectly captured the essence and glamour of Paris during her presentation on the 100-meter floating runway of Seine’s giant glass boat Le Jean Bruel cruising over river Seine. Lazaro was chosen by fashion model and catwalk show producer Jessica Minh Anh, along with four other designers from different countries, to present their creations at the J Winter Fashion Show 2017 on Jan. 26. With Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre and other architectural wonders as backdrop, the young Pinay designer showcased her “Royal Secret Garden” collection, an exquisite demonstration of her impeccable craftsmanship, beadwork and embroidery techniques. In choosing Lazaro to be part of the show, Minh Anh earlier said, “I’m impressed by Sari Lazaro’s beading and embroidery techniques. Her classic designs mixed with contemporary draping certainly bring in some intriguing surprises.” Turn to E2 Jessica Min Anh leads the models on the 100-meter floating runway

Young Life

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

THE MOBILE...

From E1

BEHIND-THE-SCENES

MISS UNIVERSE 2016 HAPPENINGS It is expected that everything will be done on mobile phones in the future

“Living alone gets boring because you don’t have interaction with anyone; talking or chatting with people online is my only means of communication. So, no, I can’t give it up for a week. The longest I can go without checking it is only an hour.” –Thalia Mae Zamora, 20 “No. Chatting, playing mobile games, surfing the net are just some of the things I do with my phone. It helps me unwind after long hours of stress at work. The only time I don’t check my phone is when I’m asleep.” –Anne De Leon, 19 “I use my phone to communicate with everyone—my parents, friends and loved ones. It is also a source of entertainment, so [my answer is] no. The longest time [I can last without checking it] could be a day.” – Christine Nitura, 20 “Yes. For leisure, I absolutely can last a week or more without it. But of course, I must attend to it if it’s regarding my personal responsibilities.” –Kevin Mendoza, 19 “I can’t give up my phone for a week because there might be some emergencies. Four hours [would be the longest I can go without checking it].” –Alexis Francisco, 18 “I can’t give it up [for a week] because all my books are stored on my phone. I need to read, and not reading will trigger my anxiety and depression. I’m not sure [how long I can go without checking it] since I use my phone as a book. Maybe it depends on the book or if I get bored, which could normally last about an hour or two.” –Mary Julie Christine Vitales, 32 * * * This kind of attachment is rooted deeply, so to speak. We don’t just like having our mobile phones with us practically all the time because they’re cute to have; they serve several purposes in various aspects of our lives that they have become an extension of our bodies. We use our mobile phones to make phone calls, send text messages, check and stay connected on social media, take photos, listen to music, watch videos, pay bills and shop online, among many other tasks. The aforementioned Zogby study further found that 60 percent of millennials thought that in the next five years “everything will be done on mobile devices,” and they might very well be right. Survey by John Ray Villanueva *Answers have been edited and condensed for cohesion.

Two out of five young adults would feel anxious if they couldn’t use their smartphones to stay connected

HE Miss Universe 2016 pageant is over and a new queen has been named. But before we close this beautiful chapter that happened in our country, let’s look back at some of the heartwarming and remarkable events that you probably didn’t see transpired on the pageant’s stage. Miss Thailand cried in the arms of her mother

When times get tough, we all need our mother to tell us everything will be all right. And that’s true even for crowd favorite Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane. The 21-year-old beauty queen became emotional when she saw her mother after she failed to make it to Top 3 during the coronation night. Suansane met her family, friends and fans who flew from Thailand backstage, wherein she was seen crying in the arms of her mom. A video shown during the pageant revealed that Suansane had a hard life; she would help her mother do the latter’s menial jobs. And the beauty queen herself had to work hard.

Miss Bulgaria Violina Ancheva (left) donated the Sherri Hill dress she wore to Zhyra Cifra (right) for the latter to wear on her prom night.

Miss Bulgaria donated her gown to a Filipina teenager

A 15-year-old girl is now the proud owner of a gown worn during the Miss Universe 2016 pageant after Miss Bulgaria Violina Ancheva donated the blue Sherri Hill dress she wore during the parade of nations to her. Zhyra Nicole Cifra is attending her prom in a few weeks, but she didn’t have a dress to wear. It was then her mother Issay Gallano messaged Miss Bulgaria, hoping the beauty queen would choose her daughter to be the recipient of the dress she was planning to donate. Ancheva responded and passed on her gown to the Pinay teenager. Ancheva’s heartwarming deed earned the respect and love of many people across the globe; she’s now being called a true “fairy godmother.”

Miss Myanmar carried a 40-kilogram costume

We know that Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Htun paid homage to her country’s Burmese puppetry, yoke the, during the National Costume portion of the Preliminary Competition, and we were all surprised— amazed, even. But in order In case you didn’t know, Miss Myanmar’s national to bring a stage costume weighed approximately 40 kilograms . AFP on stage, Miss Myanmar had to carry her entire costume that reportedly weighed approximately 40 kilograms, while mimicking the movements of a marionette. No wonder she won the best national costume award.

SARI LAZARO’S...

From E1

During her set, which was the last part of the show, the designer stirred up romance, mystique and new age flair using dramatic laser cut details on luxurious silks as well as soft flowing tulles and laces. Using romantic colors such as old rose, cream, pink beige, muted gold and cerulean blue, the dresses exuded modern luxury and sophistication; as if they were part of a princess’s wardrobe—and could very well be. The finale design worn by Minh Anh was every inch royalty, with contemporary twist. The Sari Lazaro-designed gown featured a special three-dimension skirt which highlighted the supermodel’s waistline while enhancing her powerful presence. After the show, Lazaro took to Instagram (@sarilazaro1) to express her gratitude for being part of J Winter 2017. “So honored and thrilled to be chosen to close yesterday’s show in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris,” she said. Lazaro’s boyfriend, British-Filipino footballer James Younghusband was expectedly proud of her latest accomplishment. “So proud of @sarilazaro1 on how hard she worked to prepare for the Paris show. And to finally see the finished work with the Eiffel Tower and the setting of Paris in the background,” said Younghusband on his Instagram account. Bernadette Lunas

Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane became emotional when she saw her mother backstage. AFP

Host Nick Teplitz’s funny rhymes

Not only was the National Costume segment of the Miss Universe 2016 pageant replete with over-the-top costumes, but also with witty and funny rhymes of host Nick Teplitz. During the presentation of 86 contenders, Teplitz provided rhyming introductory spiels, adding color to the event. Some of his funny rhymes included: “The hills are alive, making this costume thrive…Austria!” “You know these wings are her favorite things…Belize!” “It’s absurd not to dress like a bird…when you’re Ecuador!” “Let’s give her a hand ‘cause she’s inspired by sand…Namibia!” “Please make some room ‘cause she’s dressed like a tomb…it’s Turkey!” “You won’t hear this rhyme so I won’t waste my time…it’s Philippines!”

Supermodel and catwalk show producer Jessica Minh Anh (left) chose Sari Lazaro (right) along with four other designers from different countries to present their creations at J Winter Fashion Show 2017 on Le Jean Bruel cruising over River Seine in Paris, France

Showbiz

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017

YOUNG COUPLES HEADED

FOR SPLITSVILLE

Yeng Constantino

ALLING it quits among celebrity couples is no small matter especially to rabid fans that closely and religiously follow their idols’ whereabouts especially on social media.

Just recently, fans started speculating Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales could be on the verge of a breakup after noticing that the latter has deleted all her Instagram posts related to her Japanese Brazilian beau. She has also turned off commenting on her account. As a response to fans asking the status of their relationship, Daniel wrote this comment on his personal Instagram page on Jan. 30, “Guys I would like to ask favor please... we are talking and going through some personal things... all we need is your support and love.” Daniel and Erich, known to their fans as DanRich, began dating in May 2015. They first worked together as guest co-hosts in Kris TV, then in the TV series called Two Wives. Due to the couple’s undeniable chemistry onscreen, they were cast as lead stars of Be My Lady. Meanwhile, another celebrity couple, Gretchen Ho and Robi Domingo, continued to evade questions about the status of their relationship amid buzz that the two have already split up. Netizens began to speculate after Ho uploaded on her Instagram account a photo of her sporting a new haircut with the hashtag #newlife a week ago. The post sparked rumors that the couple has broken up. Ho and Domingo’s Instagram accounts have been hounded by questions from netizens but the two have been tight-lipped about the issue.

Andrea Brillantes

Jessy Mendiola

BEST SELFIES...

From E4

Schedule or jealousy? What caused Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales (top photo) and Robi Domingo and Gretchen Ho's (inset) rumored split? Well, your guess is as good as ours.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Sunday, February 5, 2017

ACROSS 1 “— Breckinridge” 5 What Nature abhors 11 Get away 17 Zuiderzee sight 21 Kind of mate 22 “Seward’s Folly” 23 Chest 24 Paris airport 25 — -ho! 26 Dwindle 27 Most immense 28 Earth goddess 29 Money manager 31 Faculty honchos 33 Long locks 35 Sends forth 36 Adventure tales 37 Genuine warmth 38 Next year’s alums 41 Coast Guard off. 42 Like a wolf’s howl 43 Roast beef au — 44 Torah reciter 48 It’s often in hot water (2 wds.) 50 Fundamental 51 “— Rheingold” 52 Sponge-like 53 Daisy Mae’s guy 54 “The Pink Panther” actor 55 More choosy 57 How was — — know? 58 “Shane” star 59 Makes a lot of bread 60 Less waterproof 61 Meatloaf serving 62 Dog days in Dijon 63 Box-office totals 64 Way of thinking 65 — Davis of “The Fly” 66 Forgot the sunblock 68 Historical period 69 It borders the Atl. 70 Mull over 71 Bulrush 72 Zero in on 73 Ballpark figure 74 Mows 75 They have prior-ity 78 Caesar’s man 79 Rx givers 80 Storm cellar needs 84 Not wilted 85 Microchip base 87 Busybody 88 Long sigh 89 Antarctic sea 90 Least perturbed 91 Markets 92 Indy champ — Luyendyk 93 They, in Calais 94 Niftiest 95 Musty 96 — on (linger over) 97 Most exciting part

99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 109 110 112 115 116 120 121 123 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133

Social insect Thwarts Heavy-duty engine Once — — (annually) Tailor’s concern Parkas have them Flash in the — Six-pointers Herald of spring Rhino snouts Regular hangout White lightning Tightwad Where fowl play? Prevail upon Rue loudly Wild feline Drop in the slot Fossil impression Popsicle flavor Spicy cuisine Pantyhose shade Opposing sides Like the forest Greeted warmly Solar plexus

DOWN 1 Top noncom 2 Part of BYOB 3 Viking letter 4 One-celled plants 5 Holding dear 6 Puts on guard 7 Lawyers’ jobs 8 Gorby’s domain 9 Hilo guitar 10 Chinese language 11 Flammable gas 12 Avoids 13 Gear parts 14 007 flick “Diamonds — Forever” 15 Wallops hard 16 Left over 17 Sirius (2 wds.) 18 Many CDs 19 “Fish Magic” artist 20 Young falcon 30 Apply liberally 32 Skater — Heiden 34 Wrong move 36 Oui and ja 37 Bigger and stronger 38 Not as crisp 39 Consumer lure 40 Treated an icy road 42 Roof overhangs 43 Raises the rent (2 wds.) 45 Got steamy 46 Lighter fluid 47 Weather map line 49 Sea floor 50 Cycled 51 Tiaras

52 54 55 56 59 60 61 63 64 65 67 68 70 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 90

Part of mph Bare Swamp Give the go-ahead Harmful things Commit perjury Have a premonition Some canines Where the lion roars “I’ve — Be Me” Refinery residue Most breezy Drop-kicks Cold, for one Ode inspirer Jawbreakers, e.g. Olduvai Gorge location Londoner’s rain gear Blues great — Smith Melodrama heavy Finish a “j” Gives temporarily Hardest to find Boarded up Snails’ refuges — Paulo, Brazil Dallas hrs. Bellows Wally of

91 92 94 95 96 98 100 101 103 104 105 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 122 124

“Hollywood Squares” Cancels Blow away Sing door-to-door Apollo find? (2 wds.) Oop’s dinosaur Arboreal furbearers Fairway shout Intimidated Opera barber Threw a party Early release Underneath Door hardware Luminous auras More docile Polish Black-and-white snack People devourer Repair Nectar gatherers One’s a drag Lowdown Veer off-course 1960s Chairman Dernier —

Hosted by magic 89.9 DJ Nikko Ramos, the Vivo V5 Plus consumer and media launch was kicked off by Pinoy Boyband Superstar’s Tony Labrusca and James Ryan Cesena, who each entertained the guests with lively music, and then amped up their performance with an energetic songand-dance number. Meanwhile, R&B singer KZ Tandingan wowed the guests with her soulful performances and even gamely tried out the Vivo V5 Plus by taking a selfie with the Vivo executives onstage. Hazel Bascon, Vivo Philippines vice president, expressed her exhilaration in upgrading the selfie experience. “We are excited to bring the ‘selfie’ to the next level. Our latest innovation not only provides high-quality audio, but also as everyone loves—the perfect selfie,” she stated. The big reveal also reintroduced NBA superstar Stephen Curry as the official endorser and brand ambassador of all Vivo phones, including the Vivo V5 Plus perfect selfie phone.

Showbiz

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com

Reigning Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere. Photo by Sonny Espiritu

5 FACTS

#PERFECT SELFIE. Rising teen star Loisa Andalio snaps a selfie using the smart phone's bokeh effect.

CELEBRITIES SNAP THEIR BEST SELFIES By Nickie Wang

OW to take a perfect selfie? Well, there are a number of tips from selfie experts, i.e. social media narcissists. First, find the perfect light, tilt your head at an angle, then hold your hand above your head (eye level is boring), and then you’re ready to take as much selfies as you can.

Kapamilya star Sue Ramirez in her no-filter-needed selfie

Actor Enchong Dee in his casual solo snap also using bokeh effect

Given these tips, it’s also imperative that you use a good camera. A good lens is much better than any filter, which most of the time just deceives your followers, available in the app market. At a recent event held at the Mall of Asia atrium, emerging smartphone brand Vivo launched its flagship phone specifically designed for today’s selfie age, when millennials and even adults enjoy sharing beautifully captured selfshots with the world of social media. Equipped with the world’s first 20-megapixel dual front camera, the most advanced selfie technology to date, the flagship smartphone Vivo V5 Plus has already won the hearts of a few local celebrities. TV personalities like Loisa Andalio, Yeng Constantino, Maris Racal, Sue Ramirez, Jessy Mendiola, Erich Gonzales, Miles Ocampo, Jane Oineza, and actor Enchong Dee joined the social

media campaign that celebrated the launch of the smartphone by posting their best selfies. These selfie-loving stars have set the Instagram world abuzz with their stunning photographs, taken with the Vivo V5 Plus perfect selfie phone. They are particularly thrilled about the phone’s “bokeh effect,” the on-thespot photography filter that beautifully blurs backgrounds while keeping the selfie in focus crystal clear. In her Instagram post, teen star Andrea Brillantes averred that the Vivo V5 Plus fulfilled her “selfie goals”. Her Instagram caption said, “The selfie game will always be on point, thanks to my V5 Plus dual front camera and its face beauty feature!” FHM’s current “sexiest woman” Jessy Mendiola, on the other hand, said she is in love with the new V5 Plus and its bokeh mode. Her caption even had a reminder for all her followers, “Focus on what’s important . . . Ang perfect talaga ng pagka-focus ng selfie especially because may 20MP dual front camera siya.” Turn to E3

Former VJ Julz Savard is now a model and rock vocalist

the drugs anymore, but the sex and rock and roll? Hell, yeah. Women shouldn’t feel objectified in the world of music. If anything, we are the sex; we are the drugs; we are the rock and roll,” she said in the feature article. Eman, on the other hand, is tamer at least only in genre, was just like any other aspiring artist who thought music was a good form of expression. Having accomplished that through a couple of album releases, she is delighted with the countless opportunities fledgling singers have today. Julz and Eman banner the glossy's February issue filled to the brim with man reads on primal love; getting unemployed; and travel eating, among others.

THE most beautiful day in the universe finally happened last Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena as 86 universal and talented beauties competed for the prestigious Miss Universe crown. But that day can’t even be more beautiful for the lady wearing the sash of France, Iris Mittenaere, as she bested all the women who graced the Miss Universe 2016 stage. And now that the spotlight is on her, let’s get to know her a little better: Historical beauty queen Born in Lillie in Nord Pas de Calais region in Northern France, she is the second French woman to win the Miss Universe title since Christiane Martel in 1953, ending the 63-year drought for France. Also, she is the first European to take the crown since 2002. A dental surgeon in the making The 24-year old stunner is currently in her fifth year of study in dental surgery. Throughout the Miss Universe competition, her platform is advocating dental and oral hygiene that she plans to continue campaigning during her Miss Universe reign. Extreme sports fanatic Iris is a huge fan of extreme sports. She has tried skydiving, bungee jumping, and hang gliding. In her Instagram account, Iris shares photos of her extreme sports experiences with her fans and followers, She’s a kitchen master Iris enjoys cooking especially French dishes. In an interview, she mentioned that if the competition had a talent portion, she would have showcased her cooking skills.

UP-AND-COMING SINGERS COVER FHM INDEPENDENT artists Julz Savard and Emmanuelle Vera share this month’s headlining acts, as the two soulful sirens providing sweet background music for the men’s magazine’s love-filled February issue. Despite being musicians, Eman and Julz are opposites in terms of style and origin. The latter once fronted local poppunk outfit Save Me Hollywood, while the former started out covering songs on YouTube. Julz has taken her on-stage persona to heart as a rebel rocker chick. She believes music, particularly rock and roll, is a great avenue for women empowerment. “The whole [concept] of sex, drugs, and rock and roll still applies today. Maybe not

ABOUT MISS UNIVERSE IRIS MITTENAERE

Singer and TV actress Emmanuelle Vera is now going sexy

Another ‘confidently beautiful with a heart’ Besides describing herself as fresh, funny, and caring in her MU profile, Iris also said that she enjoys making others happy. She has been a volunteer at BienvenueTonga Soa, an association that promote and finance economic and social humanitarian actions and projects, and at Les Bonnes Feès that aims to intervene with people to help improve their living conditions. Almira Abejo