Manila Standard - 2017 February 15 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 5 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Palace exec clarifies P2b for quake survivors

By John Paolo Bencito

BENEDICTINE STRENGTH. Students, nuns, staff and faculty members of the Benedictine-run St. Scholastica’s College in Manila participate in ‘One Billion Rising’ inside their campus Tuesday to demand an end to all forms of discrimination and violence against women and children. Norman Cruz

THE Palace on Tuesday confirmed a plan to release P2 billion in aid to victims of the powerful earthquake that damaged Surigao City, contradicting the interpretation of Communications Secretary Martin Andanar the day before that the money had been promised for another purpose.

Speaking in his native Bisaya in Surigao City Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to release P2 billion in relief for victims of the powerful Feb. 10 earthquake.

Major Manila dailies and Mindanao-based news organizations reported the President’s promise to Surigao quake victims.

But in a radio interview on Monday, Andanar denied that the President had pledged P2 billion in aid for quake victims.

Instead, they were earmarked to soften the impact of the closure and suspension of some 28 mines for environmental reasons, Andanar said.

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Mining takes new hit Gina scraps 75 projects; solons tag latest order ‘crazy, wreaking havoc’

By Christine F. Herrera, John Paolo Bencito and Rio N. Araja

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AWMAKERS on Tuesday branded as crazy the actions of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, who ordered 27 more mining companies shuttered, thus “wreaking havoc” on the country’s economy.

“Secretary Lopez does not know what she’s doing. Her actions are crazy especially [closing] down these mining firms arbitrarily,” said Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang.

Mangaoang, along with CoopNatcco Rep. Anthony Bravo filed House Resolution 756 to inquire into Lopez’s actions that they said were wreaking havoc on the economy.

Cibac Rep. Sherwin Tugna also expressed alarm that due process was being undermined by Lopez’s actions.

“While we believe we need to protect our environment, it is paramount also that we have to observe due process and be fair to all the mining stakeholders,” Tugna said.

Tugna said while Cibac was fighting corruption in government, the party-list group was also concerned that the government was closing down businesses without laying down the basis for Next page the closure.

BLACK HEARTS DAY PROTEST. Health workers from different hospitals in Metro Manila, along with

DoJ chief blames BI for look-out order lapse JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Tuesday he should not be blamed after the Bureau of Immigration allowed retired police officer Wally Sombero Jr. to leave the country last month before the Senate started its inquiry on the alleged P50million bribery involving two former Immigration executives.

He said the bureau should have implemented the Immigration Look-out Bulletin order that he issued against Sombero, the alleged middleman of Chinese gaming tycoon Jack Lam who returned on Tuesday from Vancouver.

“The obligation of the immigration officer is to stop him and Next page

residents of urban poor communities, hold a Black Hearts Day Protest Tuesday, expressing their demand for implementation of President Duterte’s declared salary restructure for minimum wage earners and contractuals. Lino Santos

SC grants workers tax refund THE Supreme Court has scrapped several provisions of a Bureau of Internal Revenue regulation restricting tax exemptions to minimum wage earners that were mandated by Republic Act No. 9504 passed in 2008.

Consequently, the government will have to refund or credit about six months worth of taxes that were withheld from workers in the tax year 2008.

HE HAS RETURNED. Retired police officer Wally Sombero arrives Tuesday from Canada aboard a Philippine Airlines flight PR 119 and immediately turned over to the Senate after his passport was processed.

He earlier accused dismissed BI deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles of extorting P50 million from gaming magnate Jack Lam. Eric Apolonio

THE Philippines has been chosen as one of the best countries in the world for raising family, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella announced on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Abella said the survey was conducted by InterNations, the world’s largest network for expatriates of people who live and work abroad, which was founded in 2007.

“The Philippines ranked num-

ber 17 in the list of best countries for raising a family,” Abella said.

According to the survey, the Philippines is also one of the best in the world for quality education and being a place that has a friendly attitude towards children.

“Accessible education is priority for the Duterte administration and the DepEd was given the highest increase of 31 percent in this year’s budget [P3.35 tril-

2008 add a requirement not found in the law by effectively declaring that [a minimum wage earner] who receives other benefits in excess of the statutory limit of P30,000 is no longer entitled to the exemption provided by RA 9504,” the Court said.

The Court also noted that the increased exemptions were already available much earlier than Next page

‘Demanding De Lima braces for worst wives make scenario over drug cases rogue cops’ By Macon R. Araneta

lion],” Abella said.

Finland topped the survey with “no expat parent had anything negative to say about their children’s health, children’s safety or children’s well-being in Finland.”

The expats, 70 percent of them, also picked Finland for having “excellent” quality education.

Czech Republic made a huge leap from 14th to 2nd place after

THE Philippine National Police on Tuesday gave South Korean police officials a status report on the investigation into the alleged abduction and murder of Jee Ick Joo. Jee, a South Korean businessman, was allegedly abducted in Angeles City and subsequently killed inside Camp Crame in Quezon City on Oct. 18 last year. ”I’ll just give them [South Korean police] updates on the ongoing investigation relative to the Jee Ick Joo case,” Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said.

He made the statement even

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PH one of best places to raise family

In a decision written by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno dated Jan. 24, the Court granted the consolidated petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus against these regulations, stating that the Finance department and the BIR committed grave abuse of discretion in promulgating Sections 1 and 3 of Revenue Regulation No. 10-2008.

“Sections 1 and 3 of RR l0-

SENATOR Leila de Lima said Tuesday her arrest over drug charges was imminent, but she expressed hope she would not be a victim of summary killing and vowed to continue fighting in jail.

“My only appeal...is that I would be placed in a place where I will be safe and secure,” De Lima said.

“I am not asking for any kind of special or VIP treatment. Just make sure I am safe in the place where they will detain me, especially if the charges would be bailable. Perhaps, I can always pay the bail.”

De Lima said she could not re-

sist arrest physically.

“I cannot physically resist [arrest]. [But] I am morally and psychologically resisting because I’m absolutely innocent.

“I will not escape. I will not hide. I will not go to a hospital [like former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo].”

De Lima said her legal team was preparing for her arrest, which was being rushed by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. She said they also had pending petitions before the Court of Appeals asking for a temporary restraining order.

“I’m pinning my hopes on the judiciary. I have faith in our Next page

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

Troops capture 8 Reds in Sarangani operations G

ENERAL SANTOS CITY— Government troops captured eight alleged members of the New People’s Army while another surrendered in a series of operations in the hinterlands of Alabel town in Sarangani province.

Col. Tyne Bañas, commanding officer of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, said the rebels were separately arrested following clashes between troops under the 73rd Infantry Battalion and the NPA’s Front 71 on Feb. 6, 8 and 11 in Sitios Tangis and Silutan, Barangay Datal Anggas in Alabel.

Six of the captured rebels were formally presented to media late Monday afternoon in a press conference at the Kasfala Hall in Alabel.

They were identified as Simeon Salda, Jun Moda, Claude Palbe, Garzon Palbe, Rene Ompao and Sabelo Colano. The two others were identified as Nonoy and Moreno Salaman.

Seized from the rebels were five Garand rifles, two M-16 Armalite rifles and a Carbine rifle.

Also presented was a surrenderer identified only as an alias Kaloy, who reportedly served as spokesperson in the NPA’s recruitment activities among

‘Demanding...

Mining...

as he blamed the wives of policemen craving material things as the main reason why their husbands were committing crimes like shaking down people.

Citing his experience as a policeman for more than 30 years, Dela Rosa said some wives were forcing their policemen husbands to engage in corrupt practices to get what they wanted.

“The wives demand too much from their husbands,” Dela Rosa said in a speech during a mass wedding of 21 policemen in Camp Crame.

Dela Rosa said Jee’s family had sent a letter requesting the PNP to exclusively handle his case.

He said he had forwarded the letter to Malacañang to avoid suspicions as to why the family wanted to exclude the National Bureau of Investigation from the investigation.

He said they could handle the investigation.

A joint PNP-NBI Task Force led by PNP AntiKidnapping Group Director Glenn Dumlao was formed to probe the case of Jee, who was allegedly killed by PNP and NBI officials. PNA, with Francisco Tuyay

“The government should be fair in making these mining firms comply with our environmental laws. It cannot just close down any business without letting these firms know what violations they have committed. That is not just fair,” Tugna told the Manila Standard in an interview.

Mangaoang echoed Tugna’s statement and said most of these mining firms were compliant.

“Congress will not take this sitting down. There are laws that were enacted to ensure that the environment is protected but we will not allow these laws to be violated and misused at anybody’s whim and caprices,” Mangaoang said.

He said because the mining companies never received the findings of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources audit, they did not know what their respective violations were.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., whose district has seven mining firms that were ordered closed, said some 1.2 million people who depend on the industry would be hurt by Lopez’s actions.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said Lopez was doing a disservice to the country and supported a congressional investigation.

“This is insane when one of our secretaries is busy closing down businesses and we don’t even know her basis for doing so. We want to find out what drove her to do that,” said Atienza in a separate interview.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel by the Plaridel Group, Mangaoang agreed that there was no basis for Lopez’s actions.

“Gina Lopez says she flew by chopper and saw the mountains in Surigao were denuded and that when it rained, the seas become red. Of course, because the soil in these mountains is red and the mountains were denuded because no trees would grow in these areas because the soils are mineralized. When there are minerals, not one tree would grow. This is why these areas had been declared as mineral reservations. There are no watersheds in these areas because trees cannot grow. The Surigao mountains are rich in minerals, particularly nickel,” Pichay said.

“Some sources revealed that the announcement of these closures and suspensions came on the heels of allegations that personal prejudices of her office mired the mining audit process and the choices of who or what company gets to be closed and suspended,” Mangaoang and Bravo said in their resolution.

“The apparent whimsical acts of closing and suspending these mining companies, if made arbitrarily and oppressively, constitute violation of substantive due process,” they said.

Mangaoang and Bravo argued that the DENR should instead allow the mining firms affected by the order to rectify the supposed mistakes in their operations.

“Secretary Lopez decided to immediately close and suspend these mining companies instead of allowing them to institute corrective measures,” the lawmakers said.

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De Lima...

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judiciary, especially the courts, the Supreme Court,” De Lima said.

“Ultimately, perhaps those cases, the plan to file charges with the RTC, that will really be elevated to higher court. But of course we have to exhaust remedies.”

De Lima said she will bring one luggage to her detention facility and a few comfortable clothes. She would also bring some books.

She said she had already talked about her possible detention to her family: Her 83-year old mother, her two brothers and a sister, her cousins.

“Of course they are sad but I want them to be psychologically prepared because I don’t want them to be surprised,” De Lima said.

She also met with her staff on Friday and asked them not to cry when she was served the arrest warrant.

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74 percent of the expats agreed that education there is “easy to afford, although it did not reach the top spot due to the quality of education.”

Other countries in the list from top to 19th place include: Israel, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Taiwan, Belgium, Germany, France, Poland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, South Africa, Singapore, Mexico and South Korea. PNA

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the Tagakaolo tribe in parts of Sarangani.

Bañas said the 73IB launched the combat operations based on a directive from the Armed Forces of the Philippines following the termination of the unilateral ceasefire with the NPA by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

He said they were also in response to an attack staged by NPA rebels last Jan. 29 on troops securing a government road project in the outskirts of Alabel.

Lt. Col. Marion Angcao, 73IB commanding officer, said they don’t consider the captured rebels as enemies but “victims of the NPA.” He said most of them were new recruits of the NPA and were only duped into joining the group due to promises of mon-

etary benefits.

Following the declaration of the government’s unilateral ceasefire in July last year and the opening of the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front, he said they monitored “heavy recruitment activities” of the NPA in the area.

“Actually, they did not commit any wrongdoing. They were only victims of the deception of the enemy. That’s why they are being treated well,” Angcao said.

In the three encounters with the NPA, he confirmed that one trooper was wounded but is now in stable condition at a hospital in Davao City. He said they are currently verifying reports of casualties on the side of the rebels. PNA

“The immediate closure and suspension were announced without giving these mining companies the opportunity to even respond to the alleged finding of irregularities and violations of various environmental laws by the DENR,” they added.

Earlier, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers assailed Lopez for her decision, explaining the audit was purportedly made secret and many of the firms affected by the ruling were legitimate and observe responsible mining in their operations.

Barbers said Lopez could have been misled by one of her consultants, former Environment Undersecretary and chief of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Leo Jasareno, who headed the audit team but was later on sacked by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“When Secretary Lopez was appointed as DENR chief, she ordered the audit of all mining firms nationwide. Unfortunately, despite his dismissal, Jasareno was retained as the head of the audit team,” Barbers said.

According to Barbers, the socalled environmental violations, if true, could be the result of years of alleged neglect or tolerance of former Environment secretary Ramon Paje and the Jasareno-led MGB. Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, president of the Party List Coalition urged Congress to exercise its oversight powers to determine the basis of the order issued by Lopez, saying the crackdown on the mining industry could hurt the country’s economy.

Pichay accused Lopez of violating all pertinent laws about mining, including the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement that the mining firms signed with the government.

He insisted that under the MPSA, once an audit of the mining firm was decided, the government should inform the firm about the intention to audit and the firm is allowed to appoint an official to join the audit team.

After the audit, he said, the team would come up with a report and discuss the findings, including the supposed violations that were committed to allow the firms to rectify any violations.

Pichay also argued that mining firms are allowed to contest the findings that would lead to an “arbitration” that would give the firms one year to settle the issue with the government.

“We will soon find out what this brouhaha was all about. It is getting crazier each day when we would wake up to the news that more firms had been closed down without us knowing the reasons why these had been shut down,” Mangaoang said.

Mangaoang said the congressional inquiry would be conducted jointly by the House committee on good government, chaired

by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel; and House committee on environment, chaired by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate.

Mangaoang is vice chairman of the Zarate panel.

Malacanang on Tuesday said that it will look carefully into the violations of the 75 mining operations which Environment Secretary Regina Lopez ordered for closure.

“It will depend on the violation ... and what the law is saying about the mining contracts,” said the President’s chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo.

On Tuesday, Lopez ordered the cancellation of 75 mining contracts she claimed were all in watershed zones, with many in the exploration stage. They cover projects not yet in production.

Panelo, who sits at the Mining Industry Coordinating Council, said that the Palace and the Cabinet were trying to protect Lopez when they stopped her from immediately closing and suspending a number of mining firms.

In an interview with reporters, Panelo said that during a meeting with the Mining Industry Coordinating Council on Friday, he and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez tried making Lopez realize the importance of observing due process first before shutting down the mines.

“Initially they were arguing.

The point of Sonny [Dominguez] was there should be due process.

Gina meanwhile, said that there is already due process. So I told them, Secretary Gina, you have the right to regulate the law that you’re citing. Le’ts impose certain conditions. One has to go to due process. Secretary Sonny just wants to protect you so that when the mining companies sue you, you’re gonna win.’ Secretary Gina did not understand this initially but now she realizes that all of us were trying to protect her,” Panelo said.

During the meeting, Panelo said they helped Lopez understand portions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, such as its provision on the reasonable time for a mining company to correct its violation. Panelo said that the law was “silent” about it.

Lopez had earlier ordered the closure of 23 of the Philippines’ 41 mines on Feb. 2 for damaging watersheds and for causing the siltation of coastal waters and farmlands. Another five mines were suspended, causing an outcry from the industry.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines on Tuesday slammed the cancellation of 75 mining agreements, saying it directly cast into doubt the sanctity of contracts.

“We feel that the cancellation of these agreements does not rest on Ms. Lopez alone but must be collectively decided upon by the government as a whole considering the adverse impact it may have on the country,” the chamber said in a statement.

“More importantly, we feel that Ms. Lopez now has to answer to the Filipino people on all these that are fundamental in a society that follows the rule of law.”

On Tuesday, Lopez issued a show-cause order to 27 operators in Luzon, 11 operators in the Visayas and 37 others in the Visayas, compelling them to explain why their permits should not be cancelled for their operations inside the watersheds.

“You kill the watershed, you kill life. You kill the river, you kill agriculture, you kill the drinking water,” she said.

Her effort was a “gift of love on Valentine’s Day to the Filipino public,” she added. With Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Jihadist suspect denied entry

By Vito Barcelo IMMIGRATION authorities barred a Pakistani who is suspected member of Al Qaida terror group from entering the country at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was immediately turned back to his port of origin.

Muhammad Arif tried to enter the country but was intercepted at the Naia Terminal 1 upon his arrival aboard a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok.

“Arif presented his passport at the immigration counter, but the passenger registered a hit on the computer of the immigration officer showing that he is in the Interpol’s database of “Al Qaida Sanction List” of individuals,” BI chief Jaime Morente said.

The BI database, on the other hand, showed that the 43-yearold Pakistani was the subject of a blacklist order issued by then Immigration chief Ricardo David Jr. in Sept. 2011, also for being an alleged Al Qaida member.

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But on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella issued another clarification, saying that the earthquake victims who lost their homes and livelihoods would be assisted as promised by Duterte.

Abella, who was asked by reporters on Monday to clarify Andanar’s claim, initially agreed that the P2 billion was earmarked for miners who would be displaced by the closure of mines in Surigao.

But reading out part of Duterte’s speech Tuesday, Abella said the aid package was indeed for victims of the earthquake.

“The essence is that he would release the money and the funds in the needs of those affected by the earthquake victims ... The primary source is [President Duterte] and he made a commitment to meet their needs,” Abella said in a Palace press briefing.

On Monday, Andanar said he had checked with Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go on his interpretation.

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the required time of filing of the return on April 15, 2009 while RA 9504 came into law on July 6, 2008 or more than nine months before the deadline for the filing of the income tax return for taxable year 2008.

“Here, not only did RA 9504 take effect before the deadline for the filing of the return and payment for the taxes due for taxable year 2008, it took effect way before the close of that taxable year. Therefore, the operation of the new set of personal and additional exemption in the present case was all the more prospective,” the Court held.

It added that there was nothing in RA 9504 that provides or even suggests a prorated application of the exemptions for taxable year 2008.

The Court en banc also declared null and void the Sections 1 and 3 of RR No.10-2008 insofar as they disqualify minimum wage earners who earn purely compensation income from the privilege

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implement the ILBO. If he was not stopped by the Immigration Officer, that is no longer the fault of the secretary of Justice,” Aguirre said.

He said Immigration was the agency responsible for preventing Sombero Jr. from leaving the country since his name was in the ILBO list issued by his department in December last year.

He said Sombero asked permission from him to travel abroad but he refused.

In the Senate, Senator Grace Poe said the P50-million bribery scandal at the Bureau of Immigration showed that corruption was alive and well under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterre.

Duterte had promised to end cor-

Morente confirmed that the Pakistani is included in the BI database of blacklisted aliens and suspected foreign terrorists.

“We were informed that his purpose in coming here was doubtful because he could not pinpoint the places that he wanted to visit.

He also could not tell why he was traveling alone,” Morente said.

“Our immigration officers had no choice but to exclude him for posing a threat to our national security and risk to public safety.”

Arif claimed he owns the Dawn drug store in Islamabad and is a distributor of Novartis Pharmaceutical Company.

The Pakistani also said he intended to vacation in the Philippines and stay for four days at the Malayan Plaza Hotel in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Immigration authorities also noticed a striking resemblance between the passenger’s passport picture and the photographs of a Muhammad Arif stored in the Interpol database.

“I would like to clarify that.

The President was saying that in the context of the mining,” Andanar said. “That’s how I understood it. Because that’s what the President is saying, he was talking about the mining problem all throughout, then he inserted the P2 billion,” he added.

Abella said he was not casting blame on Andanar.

“I did not say he released wrong information,” he said.

“I’m just going to base on what the President is saying.”

“The figure is important but the collective intent of the President is to provide all their needs of the survivors of the earthquake,” he added, referring to the President’s P2 billion promise.

In the same news briefing, the Palace blamed the Surigao local government for having an “inadequate distribution system” for quake-struck residents, after victims were left to wait for hours before relief reached them during the President’s ceremonial turnover on Sunday.

“Distribution was initially hampered by an inadequate distribution system. The victims were already expecting the reof the exemption if they receive bonuses and other compensationrelated benefits exceeding the statutory ceiling of P30,000.

The Court directed respondents DoF and the BIR to grant a refund, or allow the application of the refund by way of withholding tax adjustments, or allow a claim for tax credits by all individual taxpayers whose incomes for taxable year 2008 were subjected to prorated increase in personal and additional tax exemption.

The Court said the Finance department and the BIR went beyond the enforcement of the law in issuing the revenue regulations mandating the prorated application of the new amounts of personal and additional exemptions for 2008.

“Therefore, there is no legal basis for the BIR to reintroduce the prorating of the new personal and additional exemptions. In so doing, respondents overstepped the bounds of their rule-making power. It is an established rule that administrative regulations are valid only when these are the laws they administer,” the Court added. PNA ruption during last year’s elections.

Sombero’s lawyer Ted Contacto told the Senate inquiry on the case that his client had sought and secured permission from Aguirre to leave for Las Vegas on Jan. 17 last year.

But Aguirre said if he had indeed approved Sombero’s request, then he should have issued an Allow Departure Order like the one he issued to Senator Leila de Lima.

De Lima had also been the subject of an ILBO issued by Aguirre.

“Sombero made a request but I have not issued an ADO allowing him to leave the country,” Aguirre said.

Earlier, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said Sombero was able to leave the country since the name on his passport was his formal name “Wenceslao” and not “Wally” as used in the ILBO. Rey E. Requejo, PNA and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF VACC asks CA: Stop casino construction THE Court of Appeals has been asked to stop the conversion of the historic Army and Navy Club in Manila into a boutique hotel and a casino gaming facility.

In a 36-page petition, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption asked the CA to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the City of Manila from continuing the construction activities at the Army and Navy Club facility, and after a hearing to issue a writ or preliminary injunction to stop its conversion into a hotel and casino gaming facility.

Besides Pagcor and Manila City government, also named respondents were the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corporation and Vanderwood Management Corporation.

The petitioner stressed the construction of a casino gaming facility in the Army and Navy Club, which has been declared a national historical landmark, violated not only the Constitution but also Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 mandating the protection, preservation, conservation and promotion of the country’s cultural heritage, properties and histories. Rey E. Requejo

FVR book launched at Hexagon Lounge today A WEEK before the 31st anniversary of the first day of the four-day Edsa Revolution, the 372-page FVR XYZ Files will be launched today at the Hexagon Lounge of the RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

The book is published by the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation and Media Touchstone Ventures Inc. The book is a compemdium of controversies and issues, anecdotes and trivia about Fidel Ramos, son of former Foreign Secretary Narciso Ramos of Pangasinan and Angela Marcos Valdez of Ilocos Norte.

Many know him as a staunch defender of freedom and democracy, having led, with then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, the revolt that toppled Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Others remember his battle cry of Philippines 2000, his unlit roll of tobacco and the push-ups he oftentimes greets people with.

There are also those who know him through his minute intricacies such as his thumbsup sign, his elongated ears and his many impersonators.

Ramos says of the book: “I see this volume of my anecdotes, stories and quotes, XYZ Files, as just this: a nonpolitical, non-invasive tool for people empowerment.

CHILD RIGHTS. The group ‘Unity of Child Rights Against Inhuman Treatment and Neglect of Children’ distributes Tuesday ‘Valentine’s cards’ with emotive messages opposing proposals to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility of children in conflict with the law. Norman Cruz

Opposition to Alvarez: Meet with Senate on death measure

By John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz

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PALACE official on Tuesday said the crime of plunder should be included among heinous crimes punishable under capital punishment as he taunted lawmakers they might be afraid of getting a taste of their own medicine soon.

“Personally, as a deterrence, yes. Why? ... When you deprive the constituents of the millions or billions of money that should be given to them, you’re killing them effectively. That’s a heinous crime to my mind. But that’s just

a personal opinion,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo told reporters in a chance interview.

Lawmakers who said the crime of plunder should not be considered punishable by death

penalty were probably just afraid of possible prosecution, Panelo added.

In the House, opposition lawmakers on Tuesday urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to meet with its Senate counterpart to iron out differences regarding the death penalty bill.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the House would be engaging in a futile exercise if the Senate would not approve the Palace-backed measure.

“Pending the meeting together with the members of the House and the Senate [supporting or opposing the death penalty bill], we must suspend all proceedings in the House to avoid exercise

in futility,” Lagman told a news conference.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, main proponent of the proposed reimposition of capital punishment, said earlier the House would not exert any effort to convince the Senate to support the passage of the death penalty bill.

As far as the House is concerned, Alvarez said lawmakers are duty-bound to perform their legislative function to ensure the passage of administration measures, including the death penalty bill—even without concurrence by the Senate.

But Lagman said the House could not enact a measure alone.

“This is a bicameral legislature.

SC paves way for Revilla plunder trial

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has paved the way for Sandiganbayan to proceed with the trial of the P224-million plunder case against former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in connection with the anomalous implementation of his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

This emerged after the SC on Tuesday denied with finality the bid of Revilla for the dismissal of the plunder complaint filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan.

In a resolution, the Court sustained its Dec. 6, 2016 decision upholding the findings of probable cause by the anti-graft body.

“The Court had ruled to dismiss the petitions for lack of merit, affirm the findings of probable cause and direct the Sandiganbayan, as the trial court to commence/continue all nec-

essary proceedings with deliberate dispatch,” the SC ruled.

Revilla, in his petition, sought to nullify the findings of probable cause by the Ombudsman that led to the filing of charges against him.

The former lawmaker stressed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the joint resolution dated March 28, 2014 that found probable cause to charge him with plunder.

He lamented his rights to due process had been violated when the Ombudsman denied his request that he be given copies of evidence against him so he could properly air his side.

“The Ombudsman violated Senator Revilla’s fundamental Constitutional rights to due process and to confront the accusations against him. Such rights are not mere rights ‘he believed in’ but are rights that are guaranteed in

the Philippine Constitution,” Revilla said in his petition.

The former senator from Cavite also insisted the Ombudsman had no basis to charge him with plunder, citing the case of former president now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada where the anti-graft court held that to be held liable for the crime of plunder, it must be shown the public officer amassed ill-gotten wealth worth at least P50 million.

“Indeed, the assailed resolutions do not even have a proof that Senator Revilla has the qualifying amount of P50 million in his possession or in his bank account, much less proof that any money that is in his possession has been acquired unlawfully,” he said.

Thirteen Justices voted against his petition.

Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. dissented while Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza took no part in the case.

NYC to Congress: Lower age of parental consent

By John Paolo Bencito

CPR TRAINING. Police in Davao City participate Tuesday in the two-day cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support training sponsored by the Wheels and Wings team of the Philippine Heart Association. Teddy Pelaez

THE National Youth Commission is urging Congress to lower the age of parental consent for teens to have themselves tested for the human immunodeficiency virus afflicting the youth these days.

In a Palace press briefing, NYC chairperson Aiza Seguerra stressed the need for parents to talk to the young generation and provide them adequate information about HIV. “The HIV, its new face, is the youth. That’s why ... we launched this campaign because we wanted this number to lower. Hopefully, the youth will have themselves tested [for HIV] and that their parents would accompany them,” Seguerra said.

She added: “The law says if you’re under 18 years of age, you can get tested that there is no parental consent and we all

know [how] hard it is, right? For example, asking their consent that we’ll be going to an allnighter from our parents is already hard. What more, if you’ll tell your parents that, ‘Ma, Pa, I’m sexually active.’ ‘Ma, Pa, I might have HIV, please go with me.’ So it’s very hard.”

“That’s why actually we’re pushing also to lower it down, the age of testing and [giving of] RH services [so they themselves can get tested,]” the NYC chairman added.

According to the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study of 15 to 24 year old Filipinos, awareness of AIDS among the youth has declined in the past decade, and there is a substantial proportion of the youth who have misconceptions about HIV transmission while there is low level of comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV and AIDS among them.

No one acts solely and independently of the other because of the bilateral nature of the bill,” Lagman said.

Lagman maintained “no amount of intimidation, enticement and muzzling would validate and assure the passage of the death penalty bill which is definitely not the answer to criminality, poverty, and our flawed police, prosecutorial and judicial systems.”

Reps. Raul Daza of Northern Samar, Tom Villarin of Akbayan party-list and Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list denounced what they described as “retrogressive approach” of the House leadership led by Alvarez to force the death penalty bill.

Filipinos hopeful of quality life

By John Paolo Bencito OPTIMISM remains “very high” among many Filipinos their personal quality of life will improve under a Duterte administration, the latest Social Weather Stations Fourth Quarter Survey revealed Tuesday.

The latest survey, conducted among 1,500 respondents, revealed that some 48 percent of Filipinos expected their personal quality of life would improve in the next 12 months compared to the three percent, who said it would get worse.

Net personal optimism readings steadied in “very high” territory across geographical areas—with Mindanao returning to a record high at +54 which was first recorded in June last year— and social classes.

The reading from class E respondents moved up seven points to a new record-high +46 in the December survey— surpassing the previous peak of +42 in December 2015—from September’s +39 Fifty-one percent of Filipinos, meanwhile, said they were optimistic the general Philippine economy in 2017 would get better compared to the eight percent that felt it would deteriorate.

Another 37 percent of Filipinos, said their lives improved in the last 12 months compared to 21 percent who said their lives worsened.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the latest results inspired the Palace to double efforts to bring a comfortable life for Filipinos.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Discerning consumers

T

HERE was a time when it was difficult to know what was going on. There were few sources of news and even fewer media outlets to carry very limited versions of what was happening. People were at a loss, uncertain whether the news they were getting approximated the reality on the ground.

These days the opposite is true but no more reassuring. Advances in technology have made the news available through various channels.

Worse, there are several versions of the news, depending on who is carrying it. And so there are legitimate stories, fake stories, and everything in between.

That they are readily available and easily made to appear indistinguishable makes it doubly hard for news consumers—who may want to appear informed despite being in a hurry —to tell them apart. Fake news, dated news, or satirical posts that beggar belief are shared conveniently on social media.

In our case, it is difficult to apply the test of incredulity. Government leaders sometimes say the most unbelievable, irrational, impassioned things that we are asked to use our creative imagination to know what they are talking about.

It does not make the job easier, but it’s a job that must be done.

Six years ago, Filipinos were called the second most gullible race on the planet—in a fake news site which some quarters blissfully believed anyway. There is no such study but there

is indeed a sad propensity to believe everything we see without examining it.

Consumers of news should consider the source—the website and the author of any story, and check to see if the story is carried by other media outlets as well. A red flag should go up if nobody else is carrying the story.

Nothing, however, beats the habit of being critical of anything seen and heard in this age of free and fast-moving information. Some disseminate fake news for irresponsible fun, some precisely to poke fun at and criticize government. But some motives are more sinister, and that is to sow misinformation, confusion and division all while consigning the public to darkness and stupidity.

Filipinos must reject this insult to their intelligence by being discerning consumers of information all the time.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

King of telco, King of Baguio hotels

Sombero returns LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE central actor in the P50million bribery scandal involving two top officials of the Bureau of Immigration has returned. And the testimony before the Senate of retired police official and renowned poker player Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero starting tomorrow may finally complete the puzzle of who got what from whom, and how.

Sombero’s appearance at the Senate hearing being conducted

by Senator Richard Gordon is expected to smash the blank wall that probers of the sensational case have been facing for some time now. The two lawyers belonging to the San Beda College fraternity which also counts as its members President Rodrigo Duterte and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, among other top

officials of the administration, caused the impasse with their laughable denials; the disappearance of Sombero, who gave the bribe money to Immigration Associate Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, left the Gordon committee with no choice but to keep pounding away at the protestations of innocence of the two, with little else to show for its efforts.

But now that the alleged middleman between the two sacked BI officials and gambling tycoon Jack Lam has appeared, the fiction of conducting an investigation and gathering evidence (and holding on to that large stash of cash for weeks) is about to be exposed. And Argosino and Robles, who already lost their jobs because of their involvement, now face the unappetizing prospect of losing whatever is left of their honor and reputation, as well, because of Sombero’s testimony.

The entire sordid spectacle should serve as a sobering re-

minder to Duterte, Aguirre and the rest of the administration that corruption is still very much alive in government. Despite the repeated threats of Duterte that he will brook no hanky-panky

Duterte and his subalterns should be even more careful in their choice of people to put in high office. in his government, it seems plain that the corrupt officials in the bureaucracy—including those taken in by Duterte—will still attempt to get away with bribery and extortion.

If a lesson may be derived from the case of Argosino and Robles, it’s that Duterte and his chief subalterns should be even more careful in their choice of people to put in high office—and who may be unable to resist the urge to make huge piles of money through illegal means.

Duterte may have been very cautious in choosing the members of his Cabinet, about whom we have not been hearing any of the usual tales of corruption. But if these trusted and righteous officials do not exercise the same caution in picking the people they put in subordinate positions, they could end up in the same embarrassing situation.

I only hope that Sombero tells all he knows, without pulling any punches. The people who expect zero tolerance for corruption under Duterte deserve no less. *** Speaking of mistakes, Duterte may have erred in upholding a decision of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council cance-

ling the lease contracts of a big banana planation in Davao del Norte. The President’s action ended a mutually profitable and beneficial arrangement between Marsman Estate Plantation and the Davao Marsman Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Cooperative—and ultimately caused great harm to the legitimate farmer-beneficiaries themselves.

MEPI, which has owned and operated the 1,000-hectare plantation since the 1960s, donated 799 hectares of the spread to the farmers, the legitimate beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. In exchange, the farmers put up the cooperative and signed an agribusiness venture agreement with the company, leasing the land back to Marsman for 30 years and allowing them to continue working on the plantation with enviable salaries and benefits such as free health care and education, on top of the rental income.

Turn to A5

IN A previous column, I said there are four ways to make money or be rich in the Philippines—one, through inheritance, like the cases of the Zobels, Ortigases and the Madrigals; through graft and corruption (well, you have plenty of examples; 40 percent of the national government budget is routinely stolen or easily P1 trillion a year); three, through professional management; and four, through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Entrepreneurship is still the best way to make money. It represents hard and honest work, persistence, and the spirit of innovation. So we have the likes of Henry Sy Sr., Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. (he was born a son of a rich man but his dad apparently was defrauded of his due share when the time to cut up the Cojuangco wealth came), John Gokongwei Jr., Carlos Chan, Injap Sia, and Tony Tan Caktiong. They should be mighty proud of their wealth although I feel they should share more of it. The founders of Microsoft and Facebook are allocating up to half of their wealth to charity and improving the quality of life of lesser mortals. The standard a rich man must allocate for charity is a minimum of two percent of his wealth.

The most iconic example of one who became rich through professional management and entrepreneurship is Ramon S. Ang, the vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp. Danding Cojuangco brought RSA to SMC in 1999 to turn around the brewery and food giant after years of mismanagement by the Soriano sons. SMC grew to being the largest and most diversified corporation in the Philippines with more than P800 billion in revenues, P50 billion in profits, and 100 factories in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. If you listen to RSA, he is just warming up. He wants to conquer more Turn to A5

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Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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Opinion

WHEN I read that Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told members of the Malacañang Press reporters that they should believe only two out of the five statements of President Duterte —most of his statements were just foolishness, they said—I was shocked.

These alter egos of the President are telling us that our leader is fooling us most of the time!

Any president would just fire these officials for trivializing his words and making him look like a fool.

I myself get amused when Mr. Duterte rants and uses foul language. In my over six decades as a journalist, I have never encountered a chief executive so interesting and novel.

The President is no fool. My gulay, what comes out of the mouth of a President is always policy!

Abella and Andanar are in fact giving their boss a bad name. *** I like former President Fidel V. Ramos when he makes blunt criticism about the way President Duterte does things. If it were somebody else making those criticism, the President would have called them idiots.

But Ramos is the President’s mentor. He was the one who urged him to run for president when he was just mayor of Davao City. Duterte should listen to Ramos; he can give him good counsel.

For example, Duterte promised P2 billion to the survivors of the Surigao City earthquake without consulting Cabinet members where the money would come from.

And now Budget and Management Secretary Ben Diokno is at a loss where the money would come from.

Ramos is now saying that the brutal war on drugs is leading to a culture of impunity.Those who carry out this war would be immune from blame and punishment.

I have said repeatedly in my earlier columns that the war against illegal drugs is becoming the new normal. It creates a culture of violence and impunity.

Listen to unsolicited advice, Mister President. Do not just reject them. Listen to President Ramos, and listen to former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria. *** There’s something that the public should know, especially House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who has been telling members of Congress to vote for the restoration of the death penalty—or resign There’s an existing international agreement, ratified by the Senate and signed by the President under the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the 2nd Optional Protocol that forms part of Philippine laws, which can only be abrogated by the Senate.

Obviously, Alvarez and his yessir cohorts in the House do not realize but, any move by Congress to restore death penalty could mean an automatic review by the Supreme Court. The restoration of the death penalty is a violation of the Constitution.

A resolution of 14 senators, the majority of 24, has already been filed seeking to abrogate the law to end the treaty which the country is committed, pending the issuance an opinion by the secretary of justice on whether the move would contravene an existing treaty.

I don’t know how Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre can justify the restoration of death penalty when a duly-ratified treaty forms part of the law of land, no matter how President Duterte and his lackeys in Congress want to pass the measure.

I know for sure that the restoration of death penalty will pass through a wringer at the House with Alvarez threatening members of the so-called “Super Majority” to support it, or leave their posts.

In the Senate, the restoration the death penalty will surely not pass.

And that’s for sure. *** International businessman Roberto “Bobby” Ongpin cannot seem to stop having been hit by a bolt of lightning after President called him an oligarch who must be destroyed.

Bobby was my student at the Ateneo in the 1950s.

While Ongpin effectively lost some P22 billion when Philweb, an e-Games online gaming firm, when the Philippine Games and Amusement Corp. did not renew its license, Bobby had to sell his shares—more than 53 percent—to Greggy Araneta.

Bobby continues to pursue highend property developments in the Philippines. At 80 years, he can’t seem to stop.

To make his signature project, the Balesin Island Club, more accessible to its club members and their guests, Ongpin has acquired a 711-hectare property in Patnanugan Island, which has been christened Balesin Island Gateway. It is only 22 nautical miles from Balesin Island.

This land is almost 1 and ½ times the size of Balesin and while the beaches are not as good as Balesin beaches, the land acquired

by RVO has significant major advantage. It has fresh ground water and there’s no need for an elaborate water collection system as Balesin.

On that island, Bobby plans to build a 2.5-km runway and obtain an international airport designation so that it can accept all flight (even 747s) directly from major capitals like Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and Bangkok. To facilitate members or guests from Balesin Gateway to Balesin Island itself, RVO is acquiring a jetfoil ferry like that used in Hong Kong to other island for people from Patnanugan to Balesin itself.

And take note of this: Ongpin plans to build an 18-hole golf course and a 300-room hotel on the island. It is our intention to build as many as 500-beachfront and golf course homesites. It will not be a membership club like Balesin and the individual homesites can directly be owned by individuals and companies that would like to acquire their own beach house, Ongpin said.

Ongpin admitted the whole project would be an enormous undertaking and would take some three to four years to complete. But we intend to start it this year, he added.

Other projects Ongpin is pursuing is his magnum opus, the Baguio Mountain Lodges, which I had the opportunity to see at its raw stage.

Would you believe, RVO also has a plan to put up a state-of-theart drug rehabilitation center in Atimonan, Quezon?

When I asked why he’s building a rehab center, Bobby said smiling: “I also believe in President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, and there’s no need for more rehab centers.”

How dare these officials make the President look like a fool.

Sombero...

From A4

The lease contracts were upheld in 2002 by PARC under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and everyone seemed pleased that the plantation continued to average more than $20 million in export income for its bananas a year, while the 1,800 or so workers received nearly P20,000 a month, on top of generous benefits that also included retirement packages and 30 days leave with pay.

But in 2006, a breakaway group formed a new cooperative, with a minority of the farmerbeneficiaries joining. The new group, calling itself Sto. Tomas Individual Farmers Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, sought the cancellation of the lease contracts —but lost in all le-

gal venues, from the National Labor Relations Commission all the way to the Supreme Court.

With the assumption to power of Duterte, the breakaway group appealed to the new PARC, headed now by Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, who reversed the 2002 PARC ruling of Arroyo and canceled the lease contracts.

Duterte upheld Mariano’s decision, which observers said was contrary to the President’s stated vow to honor legitimate and existing contracts with business entities like Marsman. And now the farmer-beneficiaries themselves are in danger of losing all their salaries, benefits and tenure, receiving the donated land but without the means and the capital to continue as a profitable commercial enterprise like before.

Sad but true.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Looking into the future

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Giving Duterte a bad name

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO WE ALWAYS think short-term.

We cannot, as one wag says, look beyond the tip of our nose.

And that’s a short one indeed.

This is why I welcome the news that government is putting the upgrade of the Naia terminals and airport on hold, while it studies other options for a really good and capacious airport to serve the nation’s capital. Proceeding with an upgrade of Naia may be beating a dying horse with so many precious pesos.

DOTr’s Secretary Art Tugade wants to have a more holistic approach to the airport situation, considering that air travel is expected to go up by leaps and bounds in the coming decade, even more.

Naia’s terminals (and there are three of them, not counting the small former domestic terminal which services short-haul budget flights) can be renovated, but nonetheless, there is only one runway. The other short and queerly perpendicular runway is of virtually no use, except for small general aviation aircraft whose landing and takeoffs even disrupt the timetable of the big planes which use the long runway.

What we need is an airport with at least two parallel runways. In the future, we have to look at expansion, as our domestic air traffic increases (simply because we are 7,100 islands), and as these islands and the tropical climate, along with our friendly nature, gets worldwide interest.

Clark has two parallel runways, but then again, they were designed for fighter jets which have short wing spans. Today’s commercial jets require parallel runways which are distant enough from each other so two planes can safely land and take off at the same time. But Clark has plenty of land, and CIAC can, with the wherewithal, construct another runway.

Sangley is also a possibility, advantageous because it is closer to Metro Manila, accessible through Cavitex, which can be lengthened through a causeway from Kawit where it presently ends all the way to Cavite City, creating reclaimed land between Cavite and Metro Manila, and more than enough real estate value to pay for the project. (Look at the map, and draw a straight line between Kawit and Cavite City, and see what I mean).

There is a proposal to build an entirely new airport in Bulacan, in the vicinity of Obando, that abuts into Manila Bay. This too is a possibility.

Any of these three options give potential for future expansion, which the present Naia complex, a mere 600 hectares, does not. To buy the private lands that surround the Naia complex is also too exorbitant to even contemplate.

Truth is, we need two major airports, one proximately north of Manila, and another proximately south of Manila. Sangley in the south, and Clark in the north, complement rather than compete with each other.

Sangley, however, competes for the airspace radius of Naia, while Clark does not. Clark has existing facilities, and a new par-

allel runway could be built, aside from a large terminal, without hampering the operations of the present runway. What Clark lacks is a fast transport system to connect it to Metro Manila.

NLEX and SCTEX may be fast enough, but traffic slows down past the Mindanao Avenue and Balintawak portions, and crawls past it, through Edsa or the narrower streets leading to the metropolis. Build a rail system now, connecting Clark all the way to the airport, past QC, Pasig and Bonifacio Global in Taguig.

Sangley is a good alternative south of Manila, although it would take time and a lot of money, while land is reclaimed and the causeway from Cavite City to Kawit built, all at the same time. But because it will compete with Naia air space, the moment Sangley is completed and commissioned, we will have to de-commission the use of the Naia complex.

Meanwhile, government can plan on transferring the political capital into the Clark complex, anywhere within its 42,000 hectare area, and decongest the metropolis with its 12 -million population, one of the most dense people to land area ratio in the world. As of now, BCDA has earmarked 9,000 hectares into a Green City, and within the same, properly planned, a new national government center could rise.

Malacañang can be transformed into a museum of Philippine history (feng shui masters say it has bad feng shui anyhow) and the other national government buildings, especially in the Elliptical Center, can be sold or leased to the private sector.

With the Entertainment City

in the Pasay reclamation area, and a beautified Intramuros, Manila can be financial, shopping, entertainment and cultural capital rolled into one, with tourists flying in through Sangley, pass by the causeway, all in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile, people residing north of Metro Manila, including the cities of Quezon, Valenzuela, Caloocan and parts of Rizal, can provide the needed traffic for Clark.

And with the national capital relocated therein, with Subic port a few minutes away as well by rail and by land transport, imagine a new future with less traffic, and dispersed population.

What to do with the Naia complex, if Sangley is to be the southern air and sea gateway?

Why, convert it into a park, for all to enjoy. A new and large “lung” for Metro Manila, filled with trees and greenery, flora and orchidaria, man-made lakes (a catch basin for floods as well) and fountains. Wouldn’t that be beautiful? Imagine a Central Park or a Bois de Boulogne for the metropolis? Convert urban decay into urban renewal.

And ring it with multi-level parking spaces, so that those who do not have carports in their homes could rent the same, instead of cluttering narrow streets with their parked vehicles.

Expensive? Maybe, but believe me, we have wasted more money on failed projects, shortterm solutions, and the usual corruption. What if we invest into a better future, through adequate and effective infrastructure?

Dreaming? No, just looking forward. Looking into a better future.

Asean’s rising terrorism threat calls for urgent actions

By Jeremy Douglas and Joseph Gyte 2016 was a year of rising terrorist activity for the Asean region.

Arrests and deaths of terrorist suspects in Indonesia more than doubled to 170, Malaysia faced a steady stream of travel attempts of foreign terrorist fighters to Syria or Iraq and witnessed its first successful Daesh attack in June, and the Philippines suffered from an increase in bombings and hostage-takings conducted by Daesh affiliated groups, including Abu Sayyaf.

Less covered in the international media, Thailand’s “Deep South” experienced a dramatic upsurge in attacks to over 800, resulting in over 300 deaths and 600 injured.

Unfortunately, this trend is not expected to subside in 2017.

Without effective collaboration between Asean countries, it is predicted that the level of terrorist violence will increase further.

Daesh has shown great interest in this region. In June last year, a propaganda video instructed their supporters to focus on Southeast Asia, telling them to join their regional branch in the Philippines if they can’t make it to Syria or Iraq. Now, as Daesh’s territorial control in the Middle East diminishes, their need to disperse and move elsewhere is becoming a reality. As a result, it is predicted that many foreign terrorist fighters from Southeast

King...

From A4

mountains and territories.

Another example, though on a smaller scale of being rich by combining professional management and entrepreneurship is a guy I met recently, Cesar Reyes.

In 1999, Reyes, an electronics engineer, retired from telco monopoly Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. He collected a tidy sum as retirement pay and bonuses.

As PLDT senior vice president and head of development and expansion, he was a kind of miracle man, having executed the largest and most expensive expansion program of the telephone giant—the zero backlog which installed two million telephone lines, solved the

Asia now in the Middle East — there are believed to be more than 1,000 —will return home to continue their campaign and potentially declare a caliphate.

Several militant groups in the region have already pledged allegiance to Daesh and have adequate manpower and connections to be a viable threat in the region. Southeast Asia also provides an extremely hospitable environment for Daesh to thrive. Using ongoing conflicts and pockets of instability, and capitalizing on racial and religious intolerance, Daesh could gain power and momentum in the region.

Daesh has frequently used the suffering of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar as justification for their cause and recruitment. Now, the recent sectarian violence in Rakhine has led to increasing attempted attacks on Myanmar interests and protests in Muslim majority countries; Malaysia and Indonesia. This could lead to an environment in which Daesh’s claim of legitimacy is strengthened.

Long-running conflicts in both the Philippines and Thailand also provide fertile breeding grounds for violent extremism. Protracted insurgencies in both countries provide Daesh with the opportunity to exploit deep-rooted grievances to garner support, resources, and potentially start exercising control.

As well as potential local support for Daesh, Southeast Asia has exceptionally porous

borders, which combined with highly sophisticated smuggling networks, provides easy entry into, and movement within, the region for persons, weapons, and resources.

Although there is clear cause for concern, there are many actions which could help mitigate these risks.

Indonesia’s immigration offices in Batam and Depok last year rejected close to 1,400 passport applications, mostly for suspected intentions of travel to become foreign terrorist fighters. Unfortunately, screening processes in many parts of the region are usually poor to non-existent, and it remains easy for terrorists to move from one country to the next. Building on the successful border liaison office mechanism and network to address transnational crimes, UNODC has started assisting border officials to recognize and prevent the movements of foreign terrorist fighters. Dismantling smuggling networks and preventing corruption at border checkpoints will further assist.

Throughout the region, counter terrorism investigators and prosecutors are hindered by inadequate legal frameworks. In line with UN Security Council Resolutions, Universal Legal Instruments Against Terrorism, and International Human Rights Law, it is essential that Asean countries update their terrorism related legislation. Notably, traveling for the purpose of conducting or facilitating terrorist activ-

ities has only been criminalized by one Asean nation, Malaysia.

Without this legal backing, Asean remains vulnerable to the movements of terrorists.

While Asean countries have improved collaboration and intelligence sharing, it still occurs in an ad hoc and inconsistent fashion. Regular and efficient information sharing through formal and informal channels, within and between countries of the region, needs to be seriously enhanced.

Lastly, there is no Asean plan for the prevention of violent extremism or PVE. In much of the region, local grievances and root causes of terrorism are left unaddressed and Daesh’s propaganda goes unchallenged; leaving communities vulnerable to radicalization. It is important that Asean develops a regional PVE plan which is subsequently tailored for each country.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of recommendations; however, if all Asean nations implement a common approach, including what we are recommending, risks posed by terrorists in the region would be significantly reduced.

telephone shortage, and brought Philippine telecommunications into the modern age.

Additionally, Cesar conceptualized the installation of cellular mobile satellite in Asia involving mobile and aeronautical satellite applications using Batam Island in Indonesia. America’s largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin is a major partner. It has invested $170 million in the project.

Also, Cesar conceptualized and developed e-Government to speed up government transactions and enable government-business-consumer interaction transactions in a matter of seconds.

The engineer helped launch the Philippines’ satellite, Mabuhay, and laid PLDT’s fiber optic network called the Domestic Fiber Optic Network. In fiber optic, one fiber

optic, can handle 10,000 lines with awesome speed and efficiency.

After retirement, Cesar bought a Batangas town electric cooperative.

He put on line a one-megawatt power plant that solved Bauan’s severe electricity shortage. Today, says Cesar, the town has 24/7 electricity and his small power firm makes an average return per year of 10 percent, probably higher.

In 2012, Cesar bought from a PCGG auction a former Marcos property—a 3,800-square meter hillside lot in Baguio, on a prime location, between the Mines View Park and the presidential Mansion House. Cesar loved the place. “It is a sprawling-type property with plenty of pine trees,” he gushed.

In 2015, Cesar completed the construction of a 60-room hotel, the Grand Sierra Pines.

“We want our guests to experience three things, the reasons why they go to Baguio in the first place—to relax, enjoy the climate, feel the breeze,” says Cesar. “We offer those and more,” he says. The hotel is managed by his son, Rex Joseph “Joey” Reyes, himself a budding computer programmer and tech specialist.

Today, the Grand Sierra Pines has become the No. 1 hotel in the summer capital. Occupancy is high— at about 80 percent and booking is heavy. These days, confides Cesar, “we do as high as 100-percent occupancy.”

In two years, if not less, Cesar will recover the P300 million he invested in the hotel property. This will make him Baguio’s superstar hotel builder and hotelier.

Jeremy Douglas is the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific and the former UNODC Representative for Pakistan. Joseph Gyte is a UNODC Counter Terrorism Consultant for Southeast Asia.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Japan offers aid vs piracy

By Francisco Tuyay THE Japanese government has offered to help the Philippine government curb transnational crimes, particularly piracy and kidnapping at sea.

In the recent fifth viceministerial meeting in Tokyo, Japan, Japanese deputy defense minister Ro Manabe made the offer to defense undersecretary Ricardo David Jr. in connection with the ongoing trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

David said Japan expressed readiness to contribute to the trilateral cooperation while acknowledging Japan’s contribution to the capability upgrade of Philippine defense forces specifically the lease of five TC-90 surveillance aircraft for maritime use.

Japan has transferred two of 10 40-meter vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard aside from the two 295-foot multi-role response vessels set to deliver this year.

Japan vowed to support the Philippines capacity building relating to maritime security amid the growing tension in the West Philippine Sea following China’s aggressive action in at least seven reefs that has been converted into military garrison.

Manabe also reiterated Japan’s intention to promote defense cooperation with Asean member states while at the same time ready to pursue deeper defense support with the Philippines through defense equipage transfer.

Japan is also interested in having an exercises with Philippine forces, but both countries must forge first a visiting forces agreement, similar with the United States, to undertake such endeavor.

The Japanese representatives also briefed his Philippine counterpart on the latest developments in the South China Sea which Japan has monitored, assuring the Philippines that Tokyo will continue to share with Manila timely information specifically violations of the rule of law, in reference to the decision issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in July last year.

News

PCSO to continue STL T

HE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Tuesday said they will continue to implement Small Town Lottery despite the allegation of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that it is illegal.

PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan said they respect the opinion of the speaker but stressed that the PCSO is under the Office of the President and is following the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to end illegal gambling operations in all its forms.

“We respect the opinion of Speaker Alvarez, but we request that he reconsider whose side he’s

on: the Filipino people who will benefit from the government’s increase in charity services and the opportunity to provide employment, or the illegal gambling operators and those who coddle them,” Balutan said.

“Stopping STL only favors gambling lords and their ilk,” he added.

Balutan clarified that the PCSO

takes guidance and direction from the President who has been clear from the very beginning of his intention to eliminate illegal gambling operations and curb corruption.

Last Feb. 2, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 13 which strengthens state-run agencies, like PCSO, and its promotion of STL as the only legal numbers game in the country.

Balutan said the PCSO charter (Republic Act 1169) will prevail in so far as state-run lotteries are concerned.

This law is among those which EO 13 aims to implement and protect. EO 13 is an executive issuance to honor PCSO’s charter mandate.

During a congressional hear-

ing on Monday, PCSO Chairman Jorge Corpuz pointed to the loss of revenue when asked about the ramifications of STL operations being suspended.

He mentioned that through the expanded STL, the PCSO has been able to collect P6.46 billion in the last quarter of 2016, compared to P4.7 billion collected for the whole of 2015.

The government is poised to lose almost P28 billion in revenue if STL operations come to a halt and the loss translates to billions of funds for the government’s charity services and free medicine for the poor.

But the expanded STL not only contributes to an increase in gov-

IN BRIEF BoC revokes accreditations of importers THE Bureau of Customs revoked the import accreditation of 101importers and brokers on suspicion of smuggling, as it warned companies, including a top cigarette manufacturer, to provide proof that their alleged misdeclarations were unintentional.

The BoC revealed that the blacklisted importers, companies and brokers failed to pursue their appeal with the bureau to submit proof of declaration and evidence to absolve them and eventually restore their firms to agency’s list of accredited importers.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon has also served notice of suspension to the companies, requiring them to respond within three days after their shipments were seized for misdeclaration.

Vito Barcelo

UNITED VS INTRIGUE. The Philippine Weathermen Employees Association condemned attempts to discredit the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as being incompetent to handle Project Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards. Photo shows PWEA president Ramon Agustin, Dominador R. Campo and PWEA secretary Vivien Esquivel. PNA

Abu Sayyaf threatens to kill German THE Abu Sayyaf group threatened to execute their 70-year-old German captive Jurgen Kantner if authorities fail to deliver the P30-million ransom they are demanding

by Feb. 26.

But the Armed Forces of the Philippines is strongly discouraging the payment of ransom as videos of Kantner urging his government to pay the ransom spread over the Internet.

Payment of the ransom will further embolden the terrorists and give them more funds to buy the loyalty of the communities they are hiding in, said AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo on Tuesday.

In the same vein, he said the government does not pay ransom or negotiate with terrorists.

Arevalo stressed the military will exert all efforts to rescue Kantner from his ASG captors.

“We will exert all efforts to rescue him [Kantner], especially that we now have continuing operation against the ASG which has been yielding good outcomes, so we are still positive that we will be able to rescue him,” he added.

Kantner was kidnapped by the ASG bandits while his yacht “Rockall” was cruising off Sulu waters last November. His companion, 56-year-old Sabine Mertz, was killed by the bandits.

Last year, the ASG make

good of their threat after they beheaded two Canadian captives—Robert Hall and John Ridsdel—over the failure of the victims’ families to come up with the ransom.

In the latest video footage still being validated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the heavily armed bandits who had sworn allegiance to Daesh, presented Kantner at an undisclosed safe house somewhere in Mindanao.

“We are still validating this.

We must first examine this video because I for one have not seen it,” Arevalo said.

In the said footage, Kantner was shown in kneeling position with a bolo near his head, ap-

pealing in German to his family and his government to save him.

Arevalo said the military will continue to exert efforts to rescue Kantner, saying that rescue operations are continuing against the bandits are yielding positive results.

“Our position has been consistent. We discourage payment of ransom because we believe that payment of ransom activities will only embolden them, will continue to capacitate them and they can even buy the loyalty of the community,” Arevalo said.

Reports said the bandits are still holding 27 local and foreign hostages in the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

DICT pushing full digital TV by 2023 THE Department of Information and Communications Technology plans to fully implement digital television broadcasting in the country by 2023.

DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima, in a press briefing for the 2017 Digital TV Summit, said the Philippines has adopted Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T) as its standard in the delivery of digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) in the country.

Salalima explained that the ISDB-T will not only improve TV viewing experience through better picture quality and sound but would also facilitate the establishment of an Emergency Warning Broadcast System (EWBS) which would allow sending of early warnings for disaster preparedness and disseminate advisories and guidance on evacuation, food provisions, and medical assistance in times of disasters.

The DICT launched Tuesday its DTTB Migration Plan consisting of comprehensive policies and regulations as well as technical and fiscal considerations necessary for the Philippines’ migration to digital TV broadcasting.

The plan will ensure smooth transition from analog to digital that will eventually lead to a complete Analog Switch Off (ASO).

ernment revenue, but is also instrumental in providing employment or an alternative livelihood to people who need it most.

As of 2016, PCSO records show that the 18 AACs have provided jobs for almost 173,000 former kubradors and kabos. If the committee pursues to cease the operation of the 56 AACs, it would mean denying 500,000 Filipinos to secure employment.

Balutan said the loss of employment is also a concern of committee member Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, who expressed concern for about 19,000 collectors who will lose jobs in Quezon province if STL stops operation.

“A comprehensive implementation of the DTTB Migration Plan shall ensure the reception of digital TV broadcast nationwide taking into consideration the financial assistance and needs of the vulnerable sectors of the society and guarantees universal access and reception of information,” the DICT said in a project brief.

The Department will focus on the public communications strategy and information campaigns to facilitate a smooth migration process and implementation.

It aims to deliver digital TV services to more than 14 million households nationwide relying on free to air analog TV broadcast once fully implemented.

This shall be done through partnership with national government agencies such as National Telecommunications Commission for implementation and regulation, Department of Finance for funding, Department of Trade and Industry for giving incentives to small scale broadcasters, Department of Environment and National Resources for e-waste management, National Economic and Development Authority for economic impact, and Department of Social Welfare and Development for financial subsidy in purchasing digital set top boxes. PNA

VALENTINE’S DAY BILL. Senator Risa Hontiveros joined representatives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in press briefing on her bill seeking to protect women and members of the LGBT community from harassment in the streets and other public spaces. Lino Santos

PWU reunion set for Feb. 18 PHILIPPINE Women’s University alumni from all over the Philippines and all over the world are expected to attend their 2017 Grand Alumni Homecoming on Feb. 18, 3 p.m. at the PWU Taft Avenue (Manila) campus.

The homecoming will be a celebration of a new chapter in the nearly 100-year-old-school’s history.

Organizers of the homecoming are calling on alumni of PWU, Philippine Women’s College (PWC) Davao and Iloilo, Jose Abad Santos Memorial School and the Bayanihan National Folk Dance Company to attend the historic homecoming.

Alumni Week begins on Feb. 13 with the 2nd PWUAA Golf Tournament at the Ayala Greenfield Golf Club in Calamba, Laguna organized by PWU Alumni Association president Marisol M. Tugade.

Golden jubilarians, headed by Sylvia P. Lina, high school Class 1967, said Alumni Week activities will also include a special performance by the world-renowned Bayanihan on Feb. 17, 6 p.m. at PWU. Silver Jubilarian HS Class 1992 is organizing a community outreach for streetchildren on Feb. 16 at Museo Pambata.

Jubilarians will pay a nostalgic visit on Feb. 15 to the home of the late Helena Z. Benitez to honor her memory.

Lina, homecoming chairman, said major golf tournament sponsors are Camella Homes (Villar Group), Mercedes-Benz, Advanced Solutions, Perry’s Group of Companies, Maya Products (Liberty Flour Mills), AIR21, SC Vizcarra and the Golden Jubilarians HS Class 1967.

Partner sponsors are PLDT; Nague, Malic, Magnawa Associates; UFreight, People’s Air Cargo, Ace Logistics, ICTSI and HS Class 1968, next year’s Golden Jubilarians.

Hole-in-one prizes will be provided by Auto Hub Group (Vespa Primera and Ape Piaggio). Raffle prizes will include two roundtrip tickets, Manila-Bangkok, from Philippine Airlines.

Other sponsors are Toyota of Laguna, Mercury Freight, APlus Paints, Pac-Atlantic Group, eKonek, Clara Ole, U-Ocean and Eagle Express Group.

For more information visit www.pwu.edu.ph, call tel. 5268421 local 101 or e-mail alumni@ pwu.edu.ph.

MMDA starts new jeep scheme in Guadalupe

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority has started implementing the new traffic scheme for public utility jeepneys in Makati City’s Guadalupe district following the sidewalk clearing and anti-illegal parking operations over the weekend.

“The first day of the implementation of the traffic management plan for the Guadalupe area was successful in decongesting the place of pedestrian and vehicular obstructions, such as ille-

gal sidewalk vendors,” said MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos.

Orbos said his men from Traffic Discipline Office, Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group, and Anti-Illegal Parking Operations unit conducted clearing operations in the inner streets of Guadalupe to ensure compliance of the routes agreed upon during the dialogue with barangay officials and jeepney drivers and operators last week.

“Proper coordination between MMDA and the officials of Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo,

as well as the cooperation of jeepney drivers and operators and owners of business establishments, including sidewalk vendors was a big factor in solving traffic problem here in Guadalupe,” he said.

This is the first time in recent years that jeepneys previously passing through Guadalupe and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue are regulated to use the inner streets.

The MMDA identified the Edsa-Guadalupe, especially the northbound lane, as one of the perennial traffic chokepoints in Metro Manila.

Sports Madis, Lagarde score net twin-kill TENIELLE Madis and Kylde Lagarde came away with a pair of victories each to clinch the MVP honors in their respective sides in the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala Cagayan de Oro regional tennis tournament at the Nazareth Tennis Club last Monday.

Madis crushed Val Dandasan, 4-0, 4-0, to run away with the 10-unisex crown then the Mlang, Cotabato rising star held off Casey Padilla, 6-1, 1-6, 10-7, to bag the girls’ 12-and-under title while Lagarde of Gen. Santos City upended top seed Vince Tugade twice to snare the boys’ 16- (6-7(2), 7-5, 106) and 18-U (6-1, 6-0) titles in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented

by Slazenger.

Meanwhile, the three-day Tennis Teachers/Coaches Conference and free clinic drew a huge field, prompting the PPS-PEPP, in cooperation with the Macs Crankit Tennis Academy of Australia (MCTA) and the National Tennis Coaches Association of the Philippines (NTCAP), to hold the program in Gen. Santos on April 19-25 aimed up providing a high quality experience to every coaches and athletes alike. For details, call Bobby Mangunay, the PPS-PEPP sports program development director at 0915-4046464.

Madis also bagged the two titles in the Bukidnon leg last month, making her the hottest player thus far in the early going of the year-long, nationwide circuit backed by new sponsor Asiatraders Corp.

Siblings Patricia and John David Velez of Davao shared the spotlight with Oroquieta’s Nash Agustines, Sidney Enriquez of Zamboanga and San Carlos City’s Bliss Bayking as they topped their respective sides in the fourth leg of the tour.

Patricia thwarted Bayking, 6-2, 6-4, to capture the girls’ 18-U plum; John David outsteadied Brent Cortes, 6-4, 5-7, 12-10, to cop the boys’ 14-U diadem; Agustines downed Alain Ocat, 6-3, 6-2, to nail the boys’ 12-U crown; Enriquez edged Minette Bentillo, 7-5, 3-6, 11-9; and Bayking rebounded with a 6-2(ret.) win over Enriquez in the 16-U finals.

ICTSI...

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Que also essayed a three-shot win over Lascuña when Anvaya first joined the elite roster of courses hosting the annual circuit sponsored

by ICTSI in 2015 but the former three-time Asian Tour champion has not won in his limited appearances last year, making him hungrier for this week’s title chase.

Que, Lascuña and Frankie Miñoza along with unheralded R-James Dizon slug it out in the featured group at 7:24 a.m. on No. 10 while Mondilla drew Japanese Shota Fukuhara, Mhark Fernando and Jun Bernis in the 8 a.m. flight on No. 1.

Jay Bayron, Michael Bibat, Randy Garalde and Benjie Magada clash in the 11:36 a.m. at the front, Jobim Carlos, Cassius Casas, Jet Mathay and Erwin Arcillas are grouped in the 11:12 a.m. flight at the back, while Zanieboy Gialon, Marvin Dumandan, Rufino Bayron and Poland’s Thomas Bosco will start at 11:36 a.m., also on No. 10.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Navy-Standard unleashes might, wins Ronda Stage 6 S AN JOSE, Camarines Sur—Navy-Standard Insurance unleashed its full might as it topped the Stage 6 Team Time Trial to pull away from the pack in the overall team race of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 that started at the Camsur Watersports Complex in Pili to the San Jose City Hall here yesterday.

Executing their plan to perfection, the Navymen posted the fastest time in one hour, eight minutes and 16 seconds to reign supreme in the 46.6-km lap to continue to widen their already huge lead with a total time of 72:48:47.

A Cris Joven-led Kinetix LabArmy checked in at second in the stage, while Go for Gold, Bike Extrme and Ilocos Sur followed suit at third, fourth and fifth spots with clockings of 1:11:25, 1:11:51, :1:12:07 and 1:13:04, respectively.

Go for Gold, which is skippered by Ronnel Hualda and coached by his wife Eds, is at No. 2 overall with an aggregate clocking of 73:09:42, or a little over 20 minutes off the pace.

Kinetix Lab-Army is at No. 3 with 73:21:41.

Navy captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante said he was satisfied with the overall performance of the team.

“We had a great ride because the team was just determined to win,” said the 38-year-old Reynante.

Flagged last at the starting arc,

Navy-Standard riders ride out as one.

Navy was all symmetry as Reynante took turns with red LBC jersey wearer Rudy Roque, Ronald Lomotos, Daniel Ven Carino, Jan Paul Morales, Joel Calderon, Jay Lampawog and Archie Cardana in battling the strong winds in the relatively flat lap.

When it was over, Navy breezed past the finish line and acknowledged the appreciative crowd

headed by City Mayor Antonio Chavez.

The 14-stage race will take a breather today before resuming tomorrow with the 227-km Stage Seven unfurling at the CWC, circle through Quirino and Quezon before ending in Daet, Camarines Norte.

Focus now shifts back to the individual race.

Roque is on top with a time of 18

Strong Mighty Sports team joins Dubai cage tourney

By Peter Atencio

ALL SET FOR DUBAI. Members of the Mighty Sports-Philippines, led by coach Charles Tiu, head of delegation Bo Perasol, Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, former PBA MVP Willie Miller, JC Intal and imports Hasheem Thabeet, Dominic McGuire and Justin Brownlee, pose during the team’s recent press launching. The team leaves for Dubai tomorrow to compete in the Dubai International Basketball Championship starting on Friday.

7 lifters make it to PH Universiade team

By Graham C. Lim CEBU—The search for the top weightlifters in the country conducted by the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines was held last Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum Weightlifting Gym, where seven hopefuls topped in their respective weight categories.

Of the seven, only one was a female contestant in Annalou Polistico who had a best lift of 40 kg in the snatch and a 50 kg in the clear and jerk.

The rest of the participants of the weightlifting tryouts billed as the 2nd National Students Weightlifting Championships, serves as qualifying round to the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei this coming Aug. 19 to 30.

While only Polistico braved to join the tryouts in the female division hoping her talent would be discovered, it turned out that the most promising female weightlifter in the country could still be known in a year’s time as 17-year-old Elreen Ann Ando of Hipodromo, Cebu City and a 3rd year high high school

Weightlifting finalists are shown here. They are (from left) Clark Cuico, Kurk Abala, Arvin Iba, Kevin Renzo Nisnisan, Rue CVollen Pabuaya, Elie Perez and Mary Annalou Polistico.

student of UC, is close to following the footsteps of Rio de Janeiro Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

Ando just acted as loader in last Saturday’s event as she is not yet qualified to join the tryout because the age limit is at least 18-25 years old.

But according to technical announcer Danny Catingub, an official of the Cebu Weightlifting Association, who is closely monitoring the progress of Ando’s training, he said that Ando

can easily become the country’s best female weightlifter if given the proper exposure. Catingub added that Diaz had all praises on Ando, saying the teenager can also do what she did in the Rio Olympics.

Ando, who has the same weight category of Diaz at 53 kg., can lift 110 kg. in the clear and jerk, while Diaz cleared only 98 kg. in that momentous day in Rio, where she won the silver medal for the country, the first medal for the country after 20 years.

Those who showed their best in their respective weight categories in the men’s division were Clark Cuico (56- kg. cat), Arvin Iba (69 kg cat), Elie Perez (69kg cat), Rue Collen Pabuaya (85 kg cat), Kurk Kuffka Abala (94 kg cat), and Kevin Renzo Nisnisan (105+kg cat).

Cuico had the best lift of 90 kg in the snatch and had 120 kg in the clear and jerk, while Iba had 80 kg in snatch and 105 kg in the clear and jerk.

On the other hand, Perez, the lone participant from Bohol made the most impressive performance as he lifted 87 kg in the snatch and had a mindboggling 122 kg in the clear and jerk.

The tryout was supervised

by FESSAP national secretariat Cecille Sarmiento and FESSAP Weightlifting Club member Kelly Rojas, Cebu Weightlifting Association chairman and also FESSAP Vice President Atty. Baldomero C. Estenzo, University of San Jose Recoletos Coach Ramon Solis and chairman of the Philippine Weightlifting Association’s Mark Alino.

Cool Runnings, too? Indonesia makes ice hockey bid SOUTH TANGERANG, Indonesia—They come from a tropical country better known for palm-fringed beaches and bigwave surfing than winter sports.

But Indonesia’s plucky ice hockey team hopes to defy the odds when they skate into a major international tournament for the first time at the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo next week.

The players are part of the first contingent of Indonesian athletes ever to participate in the games, with the Southeast Asian nation also sending figure skaters and short-track speed skaters to compete in Japan.

For the part-timers in Indonesia’s ice hockey team—whose

hours, 12 minutes and 48 seconds while Lomotos, Carino and Morales are in second, third and fourth places with clockings of 18:13:47, 18:14:43 and 18:15:51, respectively.

Cris Joven of Kinetix Lab-Army is at No. 5 overall with a time of 18:15:51 after jumping from as far as 24th in Stage One, to No. 9 in Stage Three and now No. 4.

Rounding up the top 10 were Go for Gold’s Elmer Navarro (18:17:57), RC Cola-NCR’s Leonel Dimaano (18:18:01), Go for Gold’s Ismael Grospe, Jr. (18:19:02), Army’s Lord Anthony del Rosario (18:19:44) and Go for Gold’s Jonel Carcueva (18:20:33).

Ronda is staking P1 million to the champion courtesy of presentor LBC and in partnership with MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa.ph, Partas, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management.

story has echoes of the Jamaican bobsledders of the 1988 Winter Olympics, whose story was turned into the hit comedy movie “Cool Runnings”—it will be their toughest challenge yet.

“This is the first time ever they’ve played in a real, international competition,” said coach Gary Tan, after a vigorous training session at one of the country’s three rinks, on the outskirts of Jakarta.

“It’s going to be a very tough task—but it’s not going to be impossible.”

Tan, a Malaysian who has been drafted to get the team into shape before the tournament, shouted orders at the players dressed in red and yellow outfits as they skated at high speed,

practising tackles and trying to smash the puck into the net.

They huddled on the ice at the end of the session, as Tan gave them pointers.

Pucked from obscurity The rough and tumble of ice hockey is a change for many of the players who are not paid to be on the national team and must earn their living in day jobs ranging from office workers to start-up entrepreneurs.

Indonesia are sending a 23man squad —20 players and three goalkeepers—to the Games, many of whom have played in club tournaments abroad.

But they will face more experienced opponents in their group at

the Games, which will welcome some 2,300 athletes and supporters from more than 30 countries between February 19-26, including Iran, Malaysia and Macau.

“Obviously we are the underdogs,” conceded team member Felix Utama, a 26-year-old whose day job is in the IT industry.

Even getting a hockey team together to practise regularly is a challenge in Jakarta, a chaotic, sprawling metropolis whose sprawl takes in some 28 million people.

The players need to travel up to two hours through the city’s notorious gridlock to get to the rink in South Tangerang, a commuter city outside the capital.

Most only make it to half of the

practice sessions.

Ice hockey is an unlikely sport for anyone to play in the sprawling archipelago, which lies in the tropics and where the mercury rarely drops below 25 Celsius (77 Fahrenheit).

Olympic dreams Tan said a major challenge for promoting ice hockey in Indonesia was that the sport was not ingrained in the national culture like it is in colder countries.

“The biggest thing is the mindset, the culture,” he said.

“If you are brought up in a hockey culture, a winter country, then it is completely different because everybody eats and sleeps hockey.” AFP

A TEAM that’s full of experience and filled with battle-hardened veterans are bracing for plenty of late-night games in the Middle East.

This is what’s in store for Mighty Sports-Philippines, which is going to join a tournament Dubai this week and is departing from Manila today.

Head coach Charles Tiu said that the team may have been formed only last week, but Mighty Sports-Philippines is all set to see action in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament when it gets going this Friday in one of the premier cities of the United Arab Emirates.

“You can’t get complicated (with this team). By just keeping it simple, and by taking advantage of any advantage you have on the best positions, and getting the team familiar with one another, then, you have chemistry with this team,” said Tiu on that squad that he will be handling.

Tiu discussed Mighty Sports’ coming campaign during a sendoff last Sunday at the Chateau 1771 in Greenbelt 5, Makati.

Former PBA MVP Willie Miller, two former NBA players in Hasheem Thabeet and Dominic McGuire will lead the team.

Charles’ brother Chris Tiu is there with Beau Belga, big man Marcus Douthit, Justine Brownlee, Gab Banal, Ryan Arana and Gary David.

They also added Jeron Teng, Kiefer Ravena and new College of St. Benilde coach TY Tang.

Head of delegation Bo Perasol said 10 teams in 2 divisions are playing in the games, which will be held mostly in the evening.

And with their success last year in the 2016 William Jones Cup and the Merlion Cup, they expect them to go beyond the quarterfinals.

“Importante, we get the top seeding.

The tournament is on Feb. 18. We have to be there early because it’s difficult to adjust,” said Perasol.

With the presence of young players like Teng and Ravena, team officials expect the Filipino community to show up for the games.

Manager Jean Alabanza said the team is now going places after their success in the Jones Cup. “We are now going international after our success in the Jones Cup,” he said.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

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

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Wizards crush OKC Thunder

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Sports Hidilyn Diaz receives her award as Athlete of the Year from PSA President Riera Mallari of Manila Standard. Beside them POC President Peping Cojuangco (left) and PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez.

Hidilyn achieves dream as PSA Athlete of the Year H

IDILYN Diaz’s dream became reality on Valentine’s eve.

The petite 25-year-old pride of Zamboanga, who lifted Philippine sports on her broad shoulders by winning a silver medal in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, was formally bestowed the coveted title Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) during its Annual Awards Night presented by San Miguel and MILO on Monday at the LE PAVILLON in Pasay City.

Diaz was personally presented her trophy by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuango, and PSA president Riera Mallari of Manila Standard during the formal gathering co-presented by CIGNAL/HYPER HD, recognizing the top sports achievers

ICTSI Invitational unwraps at Anvaya MORONG, Bataan—Tony Lascuña kicks off his drive for another Order of Merit feat, Japan PGA Tour campaigner Angelo Que tries to make the most of his rare local stint and Clyde Mondilla hopes to go a notch higher after finishing No. 2 in the OOM derby last year.

The troika leads the 112-player cast in the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational firing off today (Wednesday, Feb. 15) at the Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club here, each raring to put on a strong start in what promises to be a spirited battle for the top P650,000 purse in the P3.5 million event.

“Every successful campaign is anchored on a solid start, so I expect everybody to give it his best shot right in the opening round,” said Lascuña, who racked up five victories, including three straight, on his way to re-claiming the Order of Merit title last year.

Two of the country’s premier players, defending champion Miguel Tabuena and former Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan, begged off due to various reasons but the depth of the competing field remained as talent-laden as ever with 33 foreign aces firming up the cast, all going flat out to spoil the locals’ bid in the 72-hole championship serving as the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

The field’s stint in The Country Club Invitational at the tough TCC course two weeks ago should toughen them up for this week’s event where Tabuena used a course-record 62 start to post a three-stroke victory over Mondilla last year.

Turn to A7

of the year passed.

In her short acceptance speech, the bubbly weightlifter admitted how she yearned to be named Athlete of the Year by the country’s oldest media organization as she recalled setting her goal during last year’s staging of the formal event where she was a recipient of a citation award.

“Last year, I was here at PSA, I also won an award,” Diaz, radiant in her backless, long green gown, said. “I told myself, next year (2017), I will become Athlete of the Year.

“Nothing is impossible with God,” she said, drawing cheers and applause from the audience. “Everything is possible with perseverance and discipline. This is truly very important for me.”

Diaz went on and expressed her gratitude to the POC, PSC, PSA, PWA, friends, teammates, family, and God for challenging and supporting her in realizing her dream.

“It was always my dream to receive this award,” she said. “Now I am holding this prize. I really worked hard which is why I achieved my goal.”

Diaz was the star on this night when Asia’ first Grandmaster Eugene Torre was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Philip Ella Juico named as the Executive of the Year, and racer Milo Rivera the recipient of the President’s Award.

“Thank you PSA for inspiring us (athletes), thank you for motivating us, thank you for provoking us to give our best, and thank you for honoring us, especially with me, you have been very generous to me,” said Torre when it was his turn to address the sports community during the gathering held in partnership with the PSC, Smart, Phoenix Petroleum, Foton, ICTSI, Globalport, Mighty Sports, and Rain or Shine.

It was a double celebration for Juico, the former PSC chairman, as the National

Sports Association of the Year (NSA) was handed to the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, of which he is currently the president.

“We just received two awards. I think we must be doing something right,” Juico said during the affair also backed by the Philippine Basketball Association, Federal Land, SM Prime Holdings Inc., Meralco, ACCEL, NLEX, MVP Sports Foundation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

In a touching moment, a video tribute and posthumous award were extended to departed sports legends Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga, Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan, and Filomeno “Boy” Codinera, represented by their respective children, Chito Loyzaga, Ebing Dalupan, and Jerry Codinera.

Meanwhile, named as Stars of the Night were Ancilla Mari Manzano of gymnastics and karter Khazart William Khaz Romoff.

Ting wants shot at Folayang title IMMEDIATELY after beating veteran Kamal Shalorus in the main event of ONE: Throne of Tigers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Ev Ting challenged reigning ONE Championship World Lightweight champion Filipino Eduard Folayang.

“Eduard Folayang, I am coming

to your home to take your belt. See you on April 21st,” he said inside the ONE Championship cage after thanking his fans for coming out during his post-fight interview.

Ting and Shalorus put on an absolute show to delight fans in attendance. For three rounds, Ting flaunted his tremendous striking,

Ev Ting (right) unloads with a roundhouse kick at Kamal Shalorus during their match won by Ting at ONE: Throne of Tigers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ONE Championship

hammering Shalorus with lashing strikes on numerous occasions. Shalorus tried his best to take Ting to the ground, where he had the upper hand. However, he was unable to do so.

In the end, Ting continued his winning streak, doing just enough to earn a split decision victory over Shalorus, who was unable to overcome Ting’s sharp strikes.

In the co-main event of the evening, Malaysia’s very own Agilan “Alligator” Thani authored one of the most spectacular finishes of ONE: Throne of Tigers, submitting Jeff Huang of Chinese Taipei with a rear-naked choke.

Thani put on a masterful performance, overcoming Huang’s striking advantage in the early proceedings as the hometown favorite utilized his impeccable ground game. The young Malaysian prospect executed a flawless transition into a rear-naked choke that left Huang no choice but to submit in the second round.

Malaysian female MMA superstar Ann “Athena” Osman captured a satisfying victory

in front of a jubilant hometown crowd by routing Cambodia’s Vy Srey Khouch. After a long feeling-out process between the two fighters from a stand-up stance, Osman shifted gears and took Srey Khouch to the ground, where her opponent was at a stylistic disadvantage.

Securing a full mount, Osman rained down heavy shots. Srey Khouch tried her best to survive the onslaught, laying back mostly on the defensive. However, Osman was simply too much for her Cambodian foe, claiming the stoppage with two seconds left in the first round.

Russia’s Movlid “Killer” Khaibulaev accomplished a major victory in his maiden assignment as a ONE Championship athlete by marking the first defeat in the professional record of Brazilian featherweight standout Herbert “The Blaze” Burns.

Khaibulaev showcased his pinpoint accurate striking early on, peppering Burns with stinging right hands and spinning backkicks in the first two rounds of the featherweight showdown.

LOS ANGELES—Markieff Morris scored 23 points as the Washington Wizards took advantage of an off night by Russell Westbrook to crush the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-98.

John Wall had 15 points and 14 assists and Bradley Beal scored 22 points as all five starters scored in double figures for the Wizards, who led by as many as 34 points.

Washington has won three straight, 10 of 11 overall and are an Eastern Conference-best 17-5 since New Years Day. “It definitely starts with him,” Beal said of shutting down Westbrook. “Containing him as much as possible, keeping him out of the paint.

Make him take a lot of tough jumpers.

“That’s the game we want him to play. He wasn’t comfortable with it. We made it difficult for him and their whole offense to get going.”

Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard tallied a game-high 32 points as the San Antonio Spurs clinched their 20th straight winning season with a 110-106 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points, and Danny Green, David Lee and Tony Parker each scored 12 for the Spurs, who were coming off a surprising 9490 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

The Spurs have lost two in a row only twice this NBA season and are 9-1 on the second night of consecutive games.

Aldridge’s three-point play with 52 seconds left gave the Spurs a 105-100 lead, and Parker made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining that bumped the lead to 107-101 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse arena. AFP

RMSC fate under negotiation

By Peter Atencio FOR the moment, the Philippine Sports Commission won’t be giving up its rights on the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Officials of the government sports agency did not reach an agreement with representatives of the Manila City Hall on the selling price of the sports facility.

“On the second discussion, their offer was not the price that we are thinking. We are asking for a higher price to leave the place,” said Ramirez during a press conference yesterday.

Discussions are currently ongoing fate of the property, with talks initially directed towards a 50-50 share.

But, Ramirez explained that won’t happen anymore following their consultation with the Department of Justice.

According to their discussion with the DOJ, the City of Manila has ownership of the property, but since the PSC usufruct rights, they still have the right to negotiate.

And through a usufruct agreement, the government sports agency will get a big percentage of the money that will be earned from its sale.

If the talks are fruitful with the City of Manila, Ramirez said negotiations to build facilities inside the Clark Green City will push through with the Bases Conversion Development Authority,

Ginebra guns for equalizer against Star

By Jeric Lopez GAME 4 will dictate the direction of the best-of-seven semifinals war between Star and Barangay Ginebra as they resume hostilities in the playoffs of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Still ahead 2-1 in the series, the Hotshots will try to get back on track and move on the hill while the rejuvenated Gin Kings are going for the equalizer in their 7 p.m. Game 4 clash at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Trailing 0-2 to start the series

after losing close battles in Games 1 and 2, Ginebra knew it needed to take Game 3 to make a fight out of its duel with Star and it surely delivered when needed.

The Gin Kings pulled away late en route to a low-scoring 73-62 Game 3 victory over the Hotshots last Monday night.

Getting back into the thick of things in the series is more than enough for Ginebra coach Tim Cone to believe that the momentum have swung in his team’s favor heading to this next encounter.

“Our guys stayed organized despite our 0-2 deficit. The good

news now is that we’re back in the series. It’s not even yet but we’re back in now and looking to tie,” said Cone.

Veteran guards Sol Mercado and Mark Caguioa led the charge in Game 3, each having solid showings on both end of the floor with the former scoring 16 and the latter adding eight timely points off the bench.

Cone thought those were the difference the last time out.

“Sol (Mercado) was outstanding especially with his defense on Paul Lee. I thought Mark (Caguioa) was also really key for us,” said Cone.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel forward Joe Devance (38) dribbles past Star Hotshots defender Ian Sangalang. Ginebra tries to equalize their series at two wins apiece when the two squads clash today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Business

PH seeks lower agri tariffs from S. Korea B3

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

B1

SSS set to invest in infra projects

By Julito G. Rada SOCIAL Security System chairman Amado Valdez asked Congress to pass a law that will enable the pension fund to invest in public-private partnership projects.

Valdez said in a statement Tuesday the new idea would directly redound to the working class as they would own a stake in infrastructure projects.

“For the first time, SSS funds will be used in profitable nationwide projects. This new thrust has been motivated for the clamor of a higher pension and to ensure that the fund is sustainable in perpetuity,” Valdez said.

SSS is pushing for amendments to its charter specifically on the conservative provisions that limit the fund’s investing capacity.

The SSS charter provides for certain limitations on the powers of the commission to invest its reserve fund. At present, SSS could only invest in private securities (40 percent), housing (35 percent), real estate (30 percent), short and medium-term member loans (10 percent), government financial institutions and corporations (30 percent), infrastructure projects (30 percent), foreign currency denominated investments (7.5 percent) and any particular industry that the commission deems profitable.

“For example, P183 billion of the SSS investment reserve fund is in government securities. This means that the money of the working class is lying in government securities without any asphalt road being built,” Valdez said.

IN BRIEF BIR to redesign cigarette stamps THE Bureau of Internal Revenue is considering new designs for cigarette tax stamps with improved security features to prevent the proliferation of fake ones that affect the government’s tax collection.

BIR deputy commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas of legal and inspection group said at the sidelines of a Senate hearing Tuesday the stamps’ security features were something needed improvements.

“We are looking into new designs right now. But of course the security features is something that we have to improve on. We cannot be doing the same thing that we did the last time because the counterfeiters will just adopt.

And then again repeat the process and then we’ll have to change again,” Aranas said.

“We need to revisit it. Obviously, if we have a problem with the fake stamps right now, that means our security has been breached somehow and the enforcement is lacking, of course we lack the manpower also,” Aranas said.

Aranas ruled out the possibility of changing regularly the security features of tax stamps because it could mean additional costs. “What we’re looking at right now is a less costly increase in security features so that the market will not be affected,” he said.

Aranas said the bureau would schedule a meeting with cigarette manufacturers to get to the bottom of the issue and investigate the whole matter. Aranas, however, did not want to single out a particular company for the proliferation of fake cigarette tax stamps.

Julito G. Rada

PNOC Exploration earned P1b in 2016 STATE-OWNED PNOC Exploration Corp. said net income in 2016 declined to P1.027 billion from P1.3 billion in 2015 as a result of lower oil prices.

PNOC Exploration, the oil and gas arm of Philippine National Oil Co., posted lower revenues of P3.87 billion in 2016, compared with P4.721 billion in 2015 and P6.6 billion in 2014.

The company derives its income from oil and gas exploration and production and has a 10-percenty stake in the Malampaya natural gas project in Palawan which powers power plants in Batangas.

The company used to earn revenues from oil and coal trading operations, but these were transferred to parent company PNOC. PNOC Exploration is eyeing petroleum areas overseas, with a focus on Asia-Pacific. “The project involves evaluation of open areas and petroleum blocks overseas offered through bid rounds and farm-in opportunities,” it said. Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing February 14, 2017

JAPANESE GARDEN IN MAKATI. Washington SyCip, Security Bank Corp. and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group of Japan unveil the first Japanese garden inside Washington SyCip Park in Legaspi Village, Makati City. Shown during the ribbon-cutting ceremony ceremony are (from left) MUFG chief executive for Asia and Oceania Takayoshi Futae, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, SGV & Co. founder Washington SyCip, SBC chairman emeritus Frederick Dy, Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and Security Bank chairman Alberto Villarosa.

DoF agrees to keep tax on small cars low

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Finance Department agreed to keep the excise tax rate on small cars low as a concession with the Trade Department which promotes the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy, or Cars program.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Tuesday the Finance Department reviewed and subsequently included the proposal of the Board of Investments to limit the increase in excise tax on the small car segment to a minimum level.

“I made sure that we will be given fair concession for the small car segment. I’m not sure yet, but I think what was suggested

in the DOF proposal was a hike of 2 to 3 percent,” Lopez told reporters at the sidelines of a trade seminar conducted by Japan External Trade Office in Makati City.

A bill in Congress proposes to double the excise tax on automobiles from the present 2 percent to 4 percent if the net manufacturer’s price/importer’s selling price is up to P600,000.

It also proposes a tax rate of P24,000 plus 40 percent of value in excess of P1.1 million, if the vehicle’s price is P600,00 to P1.1 million; P224,000 plus 100 percent of value in excess of P1.1 million for vehicles priced at more than P1.1 million to P2.1 million; and P1.224 million plus 200 percent of value in excess of P2.1 million for those valued at over P2.1 million.

Lopez, who is also the chairman of BoI, said the agency appreciated the Finance Department’s gesture, as a higher tax increase could have a major setback on the automotive industry’s development.

Included on the small car tax package are vehicles with a value of P1 million and below.

The automotive industry posted record annual sales over the past four years. Sales in 2016 reached 403,000 units, with expectations that sales would top 450,000 units in 2017.

“We explained to Congress and to the DoF that the planned higher tax collection will not be affected by lesser tax on small vehicles. Yes, it will be small adjustment, but at higher volume. So the peso value is also bigger,” Lopez said.

The automotive industry said earlier it was willing to abide by the government’s scheme to raise more revenues from tax collection but said it should be within an acceptable range to provide protection to the industry.

The industry and the Trade Department expressed concern that the tax increase would affect the viability of the Cars program―an incentive scheme which expected to usher in a new age of motorization in the Philippines.

ICTSI pulling out out of Brunei as contract ends

By Darwin G. Amojelar PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Tuesday a wholly-owned subsidiary will no longer renew its contract to operate and maintain a container terminal in Brunei.

ICTSI, a Filipino company led by businessman Enrique Razon, said the services agreement between New Muara Container Terminal Services SDN Bhd and the Port Department of Brunei over the operation and mainte-

nance of Muara Container Terminal would end on Feb. 21, 2017.

NMCTS operated the Muara Container Terminal over the past four years by extending the original service agreement annually.

“As part of the Brunei government’s ongoing overall restructuring, state-owned enterprise Darusalam Assets Sdn Bhd will take over the Muara Port operations from the Port Department effective Feb. 21, 2017,” the company said.

ICTSI said future plans for Muara Port would involve integration with a special economic zone, which is not ICTSI’s core competency and would require huge investments on the part of NMCTS. “As part of ICTSI parent company’s efforts at rationalizing its portfolio to achieve the best possible sources of longterm growth and return for its shareholders, ICTSI, through NMCTS, is no longer interested in signing a new contract with

the state-owned Enterprise Darusalam Assets Sdn Bhd.,” ICTSI said.

ICTSI posted a net income of $150.8 million in January to September, up from $143.7 million in the same period last year.

Net profit in the third quarter in 2016 jumped 53 percent to $58.2 million from $38 million in the same period in 2015.

ICTSI’s revenues from port operations rose 15 percent to $390.3 million from $339.5 million a year earlier.

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,206.84 87.83

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing FEBRUARY 14, 2017 45.00 46.25 47.50 48.75 50.00

HIGH P49.850 LOW P49.950 AVERAGE P49.894 VOLUME 467.000M

P471.00-P690.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.80-P48.90 Unleaded Gasoline P27.90-P33.80 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, February 14, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9250

Japan

Yen

0.008798

0.4392

UK

Pound

1.252600

62.5361

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128879

6.4343

Switzerland

Franc

0.994926

49.6717

Canada

Dollar

0.764935

38.1894

Singapore

Dollar

0.702494

35.0720

Australia

Dollar

0.764300

38.1577

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653928

132.4974

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266731

13.3165

Brunei

Dollar

0.700035

34.9492

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028527

1.4242

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.5946

Euro

Euro

1.059900

52.9155

Korea

Won

0.000871

0.0435

China

Yuan

0.145391

7.2586

India

Rupee

0.014939

0.7458

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224871

11.2267

New Zealand

Dollar

0.717100

35.8012

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032335

1.6143 Source: PDS Bridge

Jollibee’s 2016 profit jumped 25% to P6.1b on higher sales

By Jenniffer B. Austria FASTFOOD chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said Tuesday net income in 2016 jumped 24.6 percent to P6.14 billion from P4.93 billion in 2015, after it opened a record number of stores last year.

Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it opened a total of 340 stores last year, including 243 in the Philippines and 97 overseas, including China, the United Sates, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

This is the highest number of store openings in a single year in the history of the fast-food firm.

As a result 2016 systemwide sales―a measure of all sales to customers both from companyowned and franchised stores― grew 14.1 percent to P149.1 billion from P130.7 billion in 2015.

Revenues climbed 13.1 percent to P113.9 billion in 2016 from P100.7 billion a year ago.

Jollibee said to sustain the company’s growth, it would

spend P14 billion in capital expenditures for 2017. Of the P14-billion programmed spending, P7.6 billion will be for store expansion and renovation and P5.6 billion for commissary investment.

“In 2016 we opened the most number of new stores in JFC’s history. This was made possible by improving the return on investment on our stores and by increasing our organization capability to build and open more stores in better locations and with better quality than ever before on a worldwide basis,” Jollibee chief executive Ernesto Tanmantiong said.

“We look forward to continued strong profitable growth in the years ahead in the Philippines and abroad,” Tanmantiong said.

Jollibee said in the four quarter alone, it registered a 63.7-percent growth in net income to P1.75 billion from P1.07 billion booked in the same quarter in 2015, on the back of a 7-percent growth in same-store sales.

ECO-MARATHON. Over 25 studentteams coming from educational institutions all over the country join the first Shell Eco-marathon Philippines, the local version of Shell’s regional event that aims to discover innovative and energy-efficient cars of the future. Shown during the opening of the event are Shell Philippines country chairman Cesar Romero (second from right), Clark International Speedway owner Johnny Tan (left) and members of the Shell country coordination team led by vice president for external relations Mon Del Rosario (right).

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market retreats; STI advances MNTC allots P354m S to expand toll plazas TOCKS retreated Tuesday from a twoday advance, as Asian equities traded lower after US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser resigned.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, slid 87 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 7,206.84, as all six sectoral indices posted losses.

The heavier index, representing all shares, dropped 34 points, or 0.8 percent, to settle at 4,374.58, on a value turnover of P7.3 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 100 to 95, while 44 issues were unchanged.

Only six of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by school operator STI Education Systems Holdings Inc. which

jumped 9.9 percent to P1.22 and conglomerate LT Group Inc. of tycoon Lucio Tan which climbed 5.3 percent to P14.60.

Philex Mining Corp. was the biggest loser, as it plunged 12.8 percent to P8.90.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets fell, as the disarray in the Trump administration overshadowed optimism for an improving US economy under the president’s policies that sent the S&P 500 Index to an unprecedented high on Monday.

Michael Flynn stepped down as

national security adviser amid deepening controversy over allegations of improper contact with Russian officials, disrupting the global strategic team of a president propelled to office largely on promises to protect the US against foreign terrorism.

“The news dampens slightly the expectations for a smooth implementation of various policies,” said Minori Uchida, head of global market research at Bank of TokyoMitsubishi UFJ. But he added the dollar selloff may be limited. “Market expectations on Trump are about his economic policies, and while Flynn’s post is significant, it isn’t directly related,” he said.

Analysts, however, said there was likely room for further gains as traders bet Trump will help fire up the US economy.

Shares around the world have

resumed their Trump surge since the tycoon promised Thursday to unveil details of tax reform, while also softening his stance on key trade partners China and Japan.

While most markets across Asia were in the red on Tuesday, there was some support from data showing a surge in Chinese factory gate prices, indicating a further pick-up in the world’s number two economy.

Tokyo’s Nikkei index tumbled 1.1 percent on profit-taking and as the yen rebounded against the dollar.

Hong Kong was flat in the afternoon and Shanghai also barely moved as profit-taking overshadowed news that China’s producer price index hit 6.9 percent in January—its highest level since 2011.

The PPI is closely watched as a guide to future consumer prices.

With Bloomberg, AFP

By Darwin G. Amojelar MANILA North Tollways Corp. said Tuesday it will spend P354 million to add lanes in three major toll plazas at North Luzon Expressway.

The expansion program, which began last month and is expected to be completed by May 2017, covers the Balintawak, Mindanao and Meycauayan toll plazas.

“Improving the capacity of our toll plazas would mean more comfortable travel experience for our motorists,” MNTC president and

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.36 47,000 48 15,200 94.3 1,158,870 4.18 91,000 113.2 2,395,730 1.29 98,000 38.8 46,600 16.18 1,700 19.82 2,361,900 7.59 5,000 1.61 9,000 860 150 0.77 6,701,000 79.5 2,004,610 0.76 1,022,000 14.24 5,100 25 1,000 60.35 509,740 240 7,710 90.8 700 43.45 271,200 212.2 591,610 1,800 515 79 57,310 1.29 20,000

147,500 729,600 109,657,612 378,570 271,288,425 124,840 1,808,500 27,248 46,692,108 37,950 14,490 128,900 5,159,070 159,464,567.50 767,400 72,624 25,000 30,776,244 1,849,520 63,600 12,033,075 125,705,792 927,000 4,522,606.50 25,800

456,000 3,572,960 -6,262,652 50,440.00 2,645,072.00 497,630 36,855,692.50 74,250 -17,329,186.50 -567,745 -91,721,052 90,000 -600,099.50 -

43.25 4.96 0.86 1.41 17.1 0.315 100 9.69 16.32 179 23.4 14.5 56 94.8 98.05 2.05 6 11.74 12.8 8.25 7.1 5.8 1.71 22.15 73.05 12.12 17 6.16 1.64 205.8 3.9 3.7 27.5 30.15 26.9 14.76 293 0.25 5.09 3.3 9.27 2.31 7.1 1.51 78.5 4.8 268.4 4.98 2.4 3.2 12.32 4.2 0.144 1.48 159.3 4.33 1.61 1.16

INDUSTRIAL 43.45 1,523,700 5.09 809,000 0.86 93,000 1.46 1,077,000 18 5,800 0.325 74,180,000 100 200 9.69 15,573,100 16.5 1,565,200 182 110 23.5 146,300 14.86 20,900 56 44,990 94.8 250 101 430 2.05 747,000 6.3 942,300 11.8 175,600 12.84 5,021,900 8.25 285,500 7.15 1,626,300 5.82 17,263,000 1.71 2,000 22.4 340,300 74.5 322,290 12.12 71,000 17.24 147,700 6.3 286,800 1.7 833,000 206 680,590 3.91 8,133,000 3.8 30,000 27.85 1,200 30.25 1,684,000 27 66,600 14.98 2,581,600 295 176,590 0.27 1,660,000 5.44 1,563,900 3.39 391,000 9.3 1,827,600 2.36 1,458,000 7.1 1,077,000 1.66 3,573,000 79.5 472,400 4.85 243,000 269 6,230 5.04 162,100 2.4 9,000 3.2 119,000 12.7 3,610,600 4.2 80,000 0.144 830,000 1.52 41,000 159.3 2,157,580 4.5 53,000 1.66 3,278,000 1.16 3,000

66,402,625 4,101,610 80,340 1,529,200 105,090 24,386,400 20,010 154,545,777 25,882,810 19,840 3,443,065 309,300 2,520,196 23,700 43,130.50 1,543,710 5,664,508 2,073,146 64,497,598 2,372,160 11,632,923 100,439,312 3,420 7,611,235 23,877,361.50 863,002 2,528,784 1,795,334 1,385,210 140,305,286 31,801,820 113,340 33,070 50,940,990 1,800,320 38,733,612 51,952,254 416,950 8,096,082 1,316,280 16,993,738 3,435,970 7,716,353 5,880,240 37,323,809 1,166,980 1,681,516 815,800 21,600 389,750 45,611,712 336,000 119,630 62,110 345,219,776 237,640 5,389,440 3,480

-39,345,010 270,910 839,050 -48,810,543 -21,119,068.00 119,506 -53,820.00 553,896 58,338,870 258,263 -8,156,406 3,948,404 1,965,880 341,342.50 -907,800 10,727 14,500 -90,178,600 27,500 -13,659,750 -1,336,140 12,872,224 12,265,638 85,000 -120,290 -3,657,842 1,674,830 661,623 -50,350 11,691,700.50 830,400 -204,276 25,086 -33,260 12,793,533 -

0.375 72.75 12.7 1.11 6.05 0.325 0.335 799 8.92 12.94 8 0.202 1,220 6.05 71.9 0.99 7.73 13.92 6.8 3.1 0.058 2.02 102.7 662 0.86 1.47 267 0.295 0.19 0.255

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 5,540,000 73.2 1,452,520 12.88 5,571,300 1.11 11,000 6.05 33,100 0.34 27,370,000 0.335 2,390,000 800 282,950 9 929,300 13.04 2,946,000 8.1 33,600 0.202 150,000 1,220 157,660 6.05 600 72.2 1,206,610 1 901,000 7.88 2,049,300 14.6 19,255,800 6.82 15,434,600 3.1 9,000 0.063 822,440,000 2.02 209,000 104.2 220,850 662 524,570 0.86 18,000 1.47 5,021,000 268 3,760 0.295 320,000 0.19 580,000 0.255 1,450,000

2,098,900 106,308,383 71,438,800 12,290 200,255 9,230,100 801,150 226,885,575 8,336,901 38,396,372 268,850 30,300 193,039,245 3,630 87,185,797 898,140 16,065,651 279,764,706 105,365,537 27,900 51,595,810 422,180 22,922,945 349,473,365 15,480 7,729,410 1,006,714 94,400 111,190 375,300

5,730,511.50 3,857,818 9,680 34,000 25,528,720 3,123,976 1,952,850 -86,532,010 -28,073,678 -5,000 -12,184,702 36,053,678 -17,830,333 -124,500 -706,103 -160,551,300 -276,040 -

8,602,528 860,430 4,118,940 213,799,000 399,559,330 5,420,910 143,868 6,058,160 263,030 114,700 1,373,050 3,228,070 54,534,356.50 321,960 326,740 50,294,110 6,793,660 4,868,580 4,020

-8,282,039 -100,000 -903,870 -102,562,240 -571,130 -455,270 26,060 -177,000 1,474,843 -219,000 -34,530 35,506,870 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.25 48 94 4.15 114 1.28 38.75 16.04 19.74 7.59 1.61 855 0.78 79.4 0.75 14.24 25 59.9 238 91 44 212.6 1,800 78.5 1.29

3.38 48 95 4.18 114.2 1.29 38.85 16.18 19.88 7.59 1.61 860 0.79 79.85 0.77 14.24 25 60.7 240 91 45.1 214 1,800 79.3 1.29

3.01 48 94 4.15 112.4 1.27 38.75 16 19.72 7.59 1.61 855 0.76 79.2 0.75 14.24 25 59.8 238 90.8 42.85 212.2 1,800 78.5 1.29

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

43.25 5.04 0.87 1.43 18.8 0.33 100.1 10.02 16.32 179 23.6 14.52 56.1 94.8 98.05 2.07 6.04 11.9 12.86 8.4 7.13 5.82 1.71 22.45 73.05 12.24 17.3 6.22 1.69 206 3.9 3.72 27.5 30.25 27.1 14.76 295.2 0.26 5.85 3.3 9.27 2.36 7.24 1.57 78.5 4.8 270 5.04 2.4 3.3 12.32 4.2 0.144 1.5 164 4.49 1.64 1.16

43.95 5.17 0.87 1.46 18.98 0.34 100.1 10.16 16.6 182 23.6 15 57.5 94.8 101 2.09 6.3 11.9 12.96 8.4 7.2 5.83 1.71 22.5 74.85 12.24 17.3 6.33 1.7 207 4 3.83 27.85 30.5 27.1 15.1 295.6 0.27 6.38 3.42 9.32 2.39 7.24 1.7 79.5 4.88 271 5.05 2.4 3.31 12.78 4.2 0.145 1.56 164.9 4.55 1.67 1.16

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

0.38 74 12.82 1.11 6.05 0.335 0.34 808.5 9 12.94 8 0.202 1,240 6.05 73.6 1 7.78 13.92 6.84 3.1 0.061 2.02 103.2 678.5 0.86 1.51 268 0.295 0.192 0.275

0.39 74 12.88 1.15 6.05 0.35 0.34 808.5 9 13.1 8.1 0.202 1,251 6.05 73.6 1.02 7.89 14.72 6.85 3.1 0.067 2.02 104.3 680 0.86 1.58 268 0.295 0.195 0.275

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

7.12 1.02 2.61 1.21 36.15 3.33 5.03 0.54 1.02 1.26 0.167 0.59 55.2 0.73 0.147 1.78 1.04 1.29 4.02

7.12 1.02 2.63 1.33 36.3 3.34 5.13 0.54 1.02 1.3 0.167 0.6 56.2 0.73 0.153 1.82 1.04 1.33 4.02

6.99 1 2.55 1.14 35.5 3.24 5.03 0.52 1 1.26 0.165 0.58 54.5 0.72 0.144 1.75 1.01 1.25 4.02

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.76 0.16 0.355 0.69 4.93 25.4 1.6 3.3 30 1 0.92 5

3.76 0.163 0.355 0.73 4.99 25.45 1.63 3.3 30.15 1.04 0.94 5

3.73 0.159 0.335 0.67 4.89 24.9 1.6 3.26 29.7 0.99 0.9 4.88

3.75 0.163 0.34 0.69 4.89 25.45 1.61 3.26 29.7 1.02 0.92 4.92

8,944,000 11,760,000 870,000 38,005,000 2,457,000 1,141,300 670,000 404,000 6,739,000 8,275,000 152,000 5,181,000

33,481,980 1,899,980 302,500 26,762,290 12,133,370 28,861,890 1,078,220 1,330,280 200,768,805 8,453,370 138,630 25,539,999

-7,815,220 -10,350 -27,200 -492,760 3,062,120 -970 -80,358,380 -10,341,386

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

7.87 46 1.45 0.55 0.061 10.54 5.31 7.3 0.063 2.4 94.75 9.89 8.84 960.5 1,792 6.18 16.78 4.05 17.62 123 76.3 0.0096 12.3 9.06 0.195 1.37 2.95 14.4 3.94 3.38 2.01 4.63 3.88 2.73 11.18 5.4 3.45 139.8 8.8 1,505 1.36 0.425 44 79.35 6.3 2.56 1.12 3.2 0.45

8.3 47.1 1.46 0.55 0.069 10.6 5.31 7.39 0.065 2.46 95 9.89 9.05 974 1,810 6.23 16.78 4.12 21.3 145 76.3 0.0096 13.8 9.07 0.197 1.39 3.32 14.4 3.97 3.52 2.01 4.7 3.97 2.78 11.18 5.75 3.5 139.8 8.8 1,505 1.36 0.425 44.45 79.5 6.4 2.56 1.23 3.2 0.45

7.87 45.15 1.45 0.53 0.06 10.54 5.31 7.11 0.063 2.37 94.1 9.89 8.63 960.5 1,790 6.18 16.3 3.92 17.04 123 72.7 0.0095 12.3 9.05 0.191 1.35 2.93 14.4 3.85 3.11 2 4.61 3.88 2.67 11.18 5.22 3.2 134.4 8.66 1,457 1.33 0.415 43.9 77.9 6.27 2.49 1.11 3.2 0.435

SERVICES 8.2 47.1 1.45 0.54 0.061 10.6 5.31 7.12 0.065 2.4 94.4 9.89 8.71 974 1,795 6.2 16.7 3.92 17.2 130 74.4 0.0096 12.5 9.07 0.194 1.35 3.15 14.4 3.9 3.4 2 4.66 3.97 2.69 11.18 5.39 3.21 134.4 8.66 1,471 1.35 0.425 44.05 78.75 6.37 2.5 1.22 3.2 0.44

667,400 22,200 35,000 326,000 1,659,450,000 2,500 20,600 2,354,300 8,090,000 6,846,000 275,830 100 358,200 1,540 65,815 415,300 54,300 4,460,000 526,200 1,280 2,310,600 27,000,000 512,100 534,000 10,360,000 220,000 379,000 1,100 1,591,000 5,748,000 47,000 1,906,000 374,000 1,285,000 8,000 375,300 492,000 30 396,400 144,110 11,525,000 940,000 1,739,200 881,070 168,500 8,140,000 101,540,000 2,606,000 1,240,000

5,376,173 1,027,985 51,080 175,210 106,722,620 26,422 109,386 16,904,574 519,850 16,590,850 26,041,373 989 3,216,342 1,499,420 118,291,530 2,575,030 897,296 17,833,100 9,867,863 168,950 170,795,554.50 259,100 6,963,602 4,842,097 1,993,280 298,800 1,192,310 15,840 6,224,250 19,335,050 94,010 8,875,150 1,470,040 3,469,800 89,440 2,074,679 1,622,520 4,140 3,451,747 212,063,135 15,529,370 396,550 76,552,625 69,446,119.50 1,059,649 20,422,980 119,465,210 8,339,200 545,900

-40,900 968,410 -12,720 -10,294,433 -102,690 -157,480 -8,593,503 -1,054,805 -864,265 11,910 -99,545,361.50 114,600 35,640 -224,320 4,073,940 6,540 168,912 -96,596,905 831,600 -49,918,365 14,603,471.50 -691,158 -15,260,640 -10,382,380.00 5,059,200 -

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

0.0032 2.15 6.07 1.97 0.5 0.455 11.3 2.51 0.26 0.184 0.195 0.011 0.012 1.72 7.24 2.52 1.01 0.012 0.012 0.014 10.2 3.41 135.8 2.88 0.0094

0.0033 2.15 6.52 1.97 0.5 0.46 11.36 2.53 0.265 0.187 0.195 0.011 0.012 1.76 7.26 2.52 1.01 0.012 0.012 0.015 10.5 3.41 136.5 2.88 0.0094

0.0032 1.95 6.07 1.97 0.5 0.45 10.78 2.44 0.255 0.183 0.193 0.011 0.012 1.6 7.02 2.43 0.99 0.011 0.012 0.014 8.89 3.34 135.2 2.88 0.0091

MINING & OIL 0.0032 523,000,000 2.06 6,542,000 6.2 4,498,600 1.97 1,000 0.5 120,000 0.46 460,000 11 19,500 2.53 4,014,000 0.255 280,000 0.183 10,050,000 0.193 310,000 0.011 1,600,000 0.012 33,600,000 1.6 2,914,000 7.19 4,118,400 2.51 89,000 1 4,000 0.011 17,300,000 0.012 1,000,000 0.014 152,700,000 8.9 21,064,600 3.35 1,669,000 136 1,554,450 2.88 1,000 0.0091 3,000,000

1,675,100 13,368,790 28,035,585 1,970 60,000 209,750 212,170 10,007,440 72,100 1,848,240 59,870 17,600 403,200 4,823,550 29,609,120 219,230 4,000 194,600 12,000 2,138,900 203,674,468 5,623,230 211,397,437 2,880 27,900

156,300 -775,580 2,160 766,720 26,000 -1,938,825 48,600 27,107,356.00 83,750 -4,430,875 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

46.5 535 106 104.5 5.86 1,030 1.03 109.4 1,030 106.3 81.1 76.6 79.8 77.5 79

48 535 106 104.8 5.86 1,030 1.03 109.4 1,030 107 81.1 76.6 79.8 77.5 79

46.5 535 106 104.5 5.85 1,030 1.03 109.4 1,030 106.3 81 76.6 79.8 77.5 78.05

PREFERRED 48 142,500 535 100 106 800 104.5 46,100 5.86 530,900 1,030 80 1.03 206,000 109.4 5,000 1,030 6,965 106.3 40,000 81 17,100 76.6 3,400 79.8 9,000 77.5 20,110 79 111,110

6,768,765 53,500 84,800 4,818,536 3,109,824 82,400 212,180 547,000 7,173,950 4,266,000 1,385,110 260,440 718,200 1,558,525 8,768,190

19,080 -2,758,224 155,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.01

2.09

2

WARRANTS 2.04 70,000

141,150

-

4,107,560 497,100 3,000 32,092,592

-65,710 -4,298,469

941,539

-

MS

PROPERTY

7 1 2.63 1.18 35.6 3.27 5.03 0.53 1 1.26 0.165 0.59 55.4 0.72 0.145 1.78 1.01 1.32 4.02

1,220,100 858,000 1,592,000 174,501,000 11,148,700 1,649,000 28,600 11,443,000 262,000 91,000 8,290,000 5,485,000 980,460 443,000 2,230,000 27,871,000 6,693,000 3,725,000 1,000

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

7.65 3.89 3 7.3

7.65 3.89 3 7.39

6.76 3.75 3 7.14

FIRST METRO ETF

119.9

119.9

118.5

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

24,472,444

INDUSTRIAL

159,138,896

HOLDING FIRMS

918,765,599

PROPERTY

343,168,870

SERVICES

1,867,837,468

MINING & OIL

790,442,126

GRAND TOTAL

4,108,969,410

7.5 3.8 3 7.24

SME

559,500 131,000 1,000 4,443,800

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119 7,890

VALUE 1,778.65 (down) 3.83 1,468,547,487.747 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,092.49 (down) 100.48 1,319,635,644.00 HOLDING FIRMS 7,256.73 (down) 81.65 1,695,095,283.51 PROPERTY 3,306.82 (down) 56.01 SERVICES 1,413.54 (down) 17.00 1,106,382,171.875 MINING & OIL 11,952.06 (down) 327.52 1,160,282,267.615 PSEI 7,206.84 (down) 87.83 513,730,142.571 All Shares Index 4,374.58 (down) 34.28 7,301,317,790.686 Gainers:95; Losers:100; Unchanged: 44; Total: 239

chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.

Franco said the new toll lanes would bring relief to motorists by reducing waiting time at the toll plazas.

MNTC said at the Balintawak toll plaza, it would construct eight more toll lanes to increase the total from the current 17 to 25 toll lanes.

A new toll plaza in a fishbone configuration is being constructed to serve the growing number of motorists traveling between Metro Manila and the provinces in Central and Northern Luzon.

MNTC said a three-lane toll plaza, also featuring a fishbone design, is being built at NLEx Mindanao Avenue. Since it opened in 2010, the Mindanao toll plaza, currently with six lanes, has been providing motorists from Quezon City with a convenient alternative entry to the expressway.

MNTC is also expanding the southbound toll plaza in Meycauayan, Bulacan from four lanes to five.

The company will move the current toll plaza a few meters ahead of existing location to make room for the additional toll lane.

The Meycauayan Interchange is undergoing other enhancements that include the signalization of the Meycauayan east roundabout and the construction of two additional exit ramps in Barangay Pandayan and Barangay Libtong.

LBC set to add 100 branches

By Jenniffer B. Austria LBC Express Holdings Inc. plans to open 70 to 100 new outlets this year to strengthen its position as the leading courier and money transfer company.

LBC Express said in a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission it would use proceeds from the planned P1.17-billion share sale to finance the construction of new branches.

“The company historically builds approximately 60 to 80 branches and for 2017 the company is targeting to build 70 to 100 stores,” LBC Express said.

It said at least 60 percent of new branches would be built in Luzon, mostly in the National Capital Region, Southern and Northern Luzon. The remaining 40 percent will be located in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Increased commercial traffic in urbanized locations is the key driver for increasing brand footprint in the National Capital Region, while increased economic and regional fundamentals drive the growth for provincials areas,” LBC Express said.

The company currently has a network of more than 1,000 branches nationwide.

LBC Express said it was prepared disburse the proceeds from the planned follow-on offering as early as the second quarter up to the four quarter of 2017.

Aside from investing in organic growth of the company, LBC Express said it also planned to product offerings by selectively and strategically pursuing acquisition opportunities.

LBC Express said a potential company for acquisition should have synergies with the existing operational platform, have the potential to grow its customer base and market share and provide the company with the potential platform to expand into new business.

Business

Inflation to remain within target—DoF

PAGCOR’S ISO CERTIFICATE.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chairman and chief executive Andrea Domingo (fourth from left) and president and chief operating officer Alfredo Lim (third from left) receive the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 certificate from Societe Generale de Surveillance Philippines managing director Ariel Miranda (second from right).

With them are (from left)-Pagcor board of directors Gabriel Claudio, Carmen Pedrosa and Reynaldo Concordia.

By Julito G. Rada INFLATION will remain within the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent despite the expected pickup in consumer prices in the months ahead, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said in a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Based on the latest DoF Economic Bulletin, the country’s inflation rate could rise to above 2 percent in the near-term as global petroleum prices start to rebalance following the decision of oil producing nations to cut output.

“Inflation will likely clock above 2 percent in the coming months as suggested by [January] core inflation of 2.5 percent. Rising energy prices will contribute to higher inflation,” Beltran said.

Beltran, who is also the DoF’s chief economist, said the World

PH seeks lower agri tariffs from S. Korea T

By Othel V. Campos

HE Philippines will push for lower tariffs on agriculture products in forthcoming trade negotiations with South Korea, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Tuesday.

South Korea Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan in a brief visit to the Philippines Monday discussed trade matters of common interest to both countries, especially on the Asean-Korea free trade agreement and the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Lopez said the Korean official expressed interest to advance the discussions on Asean-Korea FTA as well as a bilateral agreement with the Philippines.

“We’re pushing for lower tar-

iff, mostly for agriculture products like bananas and pineapple, and other key agricultural products,” Lopez said.

Banana exports to Korea are levied 30 percent while Philippine pineapples are taxed the same level.

The Philippines is also keen on lowering most favored nation rates to “zero tariff.”

“We are requesting for that (zero tariff) so we can finalize the Asean-Korea FTA as well as our own bilateral or FTA with

them,” Lopez said.

He added the Philippines received assurance from Joo that the murder of a Korean businessman would not affect existing as well as incoming investments from Korean companies.

“We both recognize it was an isolated incident. They just want justice served, and they want a speedy resolution. That is why the President wants the case resolved ASAP. And I believe that the improving overall peace and order situation in the country have convinced them to retain their investments here,” said Lopez.

Reports showed that the Philippine peace and order situation has improved by as much as 30 percent.

One of Korea’s biggest companies in the Philippines, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp., is

investing another $200 million to expand manufacturing operations.

The company designs, manufactures and sell electronics equipment and semiconductors, including optical disk drives from the Philippines.

Government data showed that Korean investments reached $200 million in 2015, ranking South Korea as the Philippines’ sixth source of foreign investments.

South Korea ranked as the Philippines’ fifth major trading partner, sixth biggest export market and fifth import supplier.

Philippine exports to South Korea increased 18 percent from $2.88 billion in 2012 to $3.4 billion in 2013, while Philippine imports increased rose 6.5 percent from $4.53 billion in 2012 to $4.82 billion in 2013, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

PLDT, Huawei sign 5G venture

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE PLDT Group has signed a deal with Huawei Technologies Philippines to jointly conduct research and development on 5G, or fifth-generation wireless broadband technology.

PLDT and Smart under the agreement will work with Huawei to shape the strategic and commercial development of the 5G ecosystem in the Philippines.

The two parties will identify and develop the areas of technological innovation needed to deliver 5G, which is expected to provide the foundation for the digital connected society.

Plans include setting up a 5G innovation lab and the creation of a showcase network.

Smart is in the middle of a multi-year, multi-million dollar nationwide network expansion program to improve both coverage and quality of service, epecially its 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) service.

A major leg of the network expansion was recently completed in Metro Davao, where Smart users are already reporting much improved mobile data experience.

The rollout is currently under way in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, and is expected to significantly boost Smart’s voice, SMS, and mobile data services, especially its indoor LTE coverage, in these urban centers.

An upgrade of PLDT’s fixed access networks, part of the company’s transformation toward 5Greadiness, is also under way.

Initial tests done by Smart have found that the ongoing network rollout in and around Metro Manila has begun to pay off, with tests in Rizal province showing LTE download speeds of up to 18 Mbps, while tests in selected indoor and outdoor areas in Cebu have also generated download speeds in excess of 20 Mbps.

B3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

SEAFARERS’ BOOST. Smart Communications Inc. and Next Wave Maritime Management Inc.

strengthen their partnership to provide seafarers an affordable and reliable communications solution so these global Pinoys can stay connected with loved ones back home wherever they are in the world. Shown are (from left) Jonathan Huertas, senior manager at Smart; Joel Lumanlan, head of Smart Global Access and International Services; Capt. Jose Remo Librodo, president of NWMMI; and C/E Ashok Gupta, owner’s representative.

NGCP building 20 backbone projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores NATIONAL Grid Corporation of the Philippines will start construction of 20 transmission projects this year to further increase the reliability and efficiency of the country’s transmission network.

“Around 20 various projects... These are all backbone projects... It will go back to the grid as investments,” National Grid spokesman Cynthia PerezAlbanza told reporters.

The projects are expected to be completed in the next three to four years.

They include the CalacaDasmarinas 500kV project, Hermosa-San Jose 500kV, Pagbilao extra high voltage, CebuNegros-Panay 230kV backbone, Mindanao 230kV backbone, Luzon and Visayas voltage improvement and Tuguegarao-

Magapit 230kV. National Grid allocates billions of pesos for capital expenditures annually, reinvesting part of revenues to strengthen the power grid.

The company, which operates the country’s transmission network, is allowed to recover a maximum allowable revenue of P43.078 billion in 2015.

It initially received approval for a maximum allowable revenue of P41 billion for 2016 but this was adjusted by the Energy Regulatory Commission later to P43.789 billion.

ERC also approved a maximum revenue of P43.789 billion for 2017, which meant National Grid can recover P2 billion from the P41 billion initially approved in 2016 starting this year.

The P2 billion allowed recovery and ancillary charges resulted in higher transmission charge

of P0.15 per kilowatt-hour in the February rates of Manila Electric Co. customers.

National Grid operates the country’s transmission network under a 25-year concession agreement signed in 2009. National Grid offered $3.95 billion for the TransCo concession when it was offered for privatization in 2007.

National Grid was granted under Republic Act 9511 the franchise to operate, maintain, manage and engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through a high-voltage backbone system or interconnected transmission lines.

The consortium is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. led by Henry Sy Jr., Calaca High Power Corp. of Robert Coyiuto Jr. and State Grid Corp. of China as technical partner.

Bank was forecasting the average world oil prices to rise by 28.5 percent to $55 per barrel this year, from $42.8 per barrel in 2016.

Despite the projected increase in fuel prices, Beltran said the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain sound as inflation stays within the targeted range.

“This [sound macroeconomic fundamentals] will provide economic authorities flexibility to maintain rapid growth despite uncertainties in the world economy,” Beltran said.

Inflation in January increased slightly to 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent in December 2016, matching DoF’s internal forecast and 0.1 percentage point higher than in the previous month, but within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent earlier set by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Forever LAST week, in this column we finished discussing my finance cheat sheet with the set of mnemonics I used to teach myself accounting. This week being the week we celebrate Valentine, it seems apropos to talk about forever or, at least, as close as you can come to it in finance. This week we talk about endowment management.

The non-profit challenge In the world of foundations and other non-profit organizations, including museums, schools and hospitals, while profit is not the goal, financial sustainability is certainly essential. For non-profits, financial sustainability is essentially about liquidity—that is, the availability of funds to cover cash expenses. Non-profit organizations generally have three types of income: operating revenue, donations, and investment income.

A non-profit finance manager will normally divide expense into two: operating expenses and capital expenditures.

Capital expenditures tend to be large expense for purchasing equipment, buying land, or constructing buildings. Operating expenses, on the other hand, are the day-to-day expense of running the organization. This includes rental, salaries, and utilities. In addition, when a non-profit has a special project such as a research project or a special outreach project, there will be those special expenses.

Matching Generally, non-profits are managed so that recurring expenses are set up only if it is clear that there will be recurring income to support them. Hence, if a donation to support a five-year research project is obtained, the expenses for that project need to similarly run only over five years—which means the staff engaged for those projects will be project staff with contracts lasting no longer than the funding for the project.

As for capital expenditures, because they are large, lumpy expenses, they are either covered through accumulating a surplus of collections over expenses over many years or through a special fund-raising campaign— i.e. through solicitation of donations. These donations tend to be earmarked specifically for the particular capital expense. In recent years, this has included as specific an earmarking as, for example, donations to outfit a laboratory for a school, inclusive of equipment. Once a new building or equipment has been financed and acquired, then the non-profit must contend with covering its operating expenses.

Operating revenue are the most obvious source of funds to cover operating expenses. These consist of user fees such as entrance fees for museums, tuition fees for schools, and medical charges for hospitals. Operating revenue can also include income from sales of merchandising such as any sales from a museum shop.

Funds The challenge for non-profits is that, unlike for-profit enterprises whose primary purpose is to make money and who must therefore focus on ensuring operating revenue covers expenses, nonprofits focus on a mission objective and financial sustainability is only part of the method. This means, for example, that a museum would prefer to not charge entrance fees in order to attract

as wide an audience for its collection as possible. Now, of course, there are many creative ways to charge fees from those who can afford them in order to subsidize those who can’t. For example, many museums have discovered that asking for voluntary donations, especially with gentle benchmarks, actually raise more funds than a general affordable user fee. Hospitals likewise develop a tiered fee system charging more for convenience items such as larger rooms in order to support charity patients.

In fact, some hospital systems actually operate high-end expensive facilities in order to support charity hospitals. Similarly, may schools have a system of partial and full scholarships designed to subsidize certain categories of students.

However, non-profits are also always looking out for other sources of financing. This is where donations come in.

Donations can be classified in two ways: intent and character. In terms of intent, donations can be specific or general. While generally all donations have an intention which is to support the institution the donation is being given to, some donations can have an even more specific intent – such as to construct a building or fund a research project. Essentially, these donations cannot be diverted to any other use without violating the terms of the donation.

Even the investment income from a specific donation can only be used for the intention of the donation. As to character, donations can either be grants or endowments. Essentially, grants can be spent directly while endowments cannot be spent. Endowments are invested and only their investment income can be spent.

Forever A comfortable endowment is the holy grail of every non-profit financial manager. With a hefty endowment and sound investment management, a non-profit organization can fund operations entirely from investment income.

This means any additional income such as user fees or grants can then be used to further the organization’s mission.

This week, let’s do the easy, beginner part of forever. Let’s say you live in one of those countries where inflation is essentially zero. Let’s further imagine that in that country, net interest rates on long-term deposits are 3% per annum and can be relied upon to stay at that level for the foreseeable future.

Now, imagine a non-profit with 100 million dollars of endowment and 3 million in annual operating expenses.

Theoretically, if the organization received its endowment and then invested it for a year, it would then have the original 100 million plus an extra 3 million representing one year of interest. This 3 million can then be spent on one year of operations while the intact endowment generates another 3 million for the next year of operations.

That is the magic of endowments. As I always say in finance class, there may not be a forever in love, but under certain circumstances, there is a forever in finance.

Next week, more on the mathematics and finance of forever.

Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com.

Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com. For academic publications, Maya uses her full name, Maria Elena Baltazar Herrera.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Business

Trump to tweak Canada trade ties WASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump on Monday called for “reciprocal” trade with Canada and to build bridges of commerce across the border, but nevertheless vowed to “tweak” the bilateral relationship.

Coming into Monday’s meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, trade was one of the main topics on the agenda, and the new Republican leader certainly seemed to tone down his previously harsh rhetoric.

“America is deeply fortunate to have a neighbor like Canada,” Trump told a joint press conference with Trudeau at his side, hailing the opportunity to “build even more bridges” of commerce.

“We understand that both of our countries are stronger when we join forces in matters of international commerce,” Trump said.

But he nevertheless pledged changes were on the horizon.

“We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada.

We will be tweaking it. We will be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries.”

For his part, Trudeau said the two nations―who with Mexico make up the North American Free Trade Agreement―“will always remain each other’s most essential partner.”

“Today’s conversations have served to reinforce how important that is for both Canadians and Americans,” he added.

Throughout his campaign and since his November election, Trump has voiced his determination to put “America first” and rip up NAFTA, which he has said is a “catastrophe” for American jobs.

Renegotiating NAFTA will not be simple and Trudeau, a fervent supporter of free trade, has emphasized the importance of the tripartite pact for his country’s economy and warned against protectionism.

Trump has not been specific on how he wants the negotiations to develop.

“When we sit down as we did today and as our teams will be doing in the weeks and months to come, we will be talking about how we can continue to create good jobs for our citizens on both sides of the border,” Trudeau said. AFP

RISING PRICES. A Chinese customer selects prawns at a supermarket in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province on February 14, 2017. Prices for goods at the factory gate in China expanded for a fifth straight month, the government said on February 14, in a sign of strengthening demand as the world’s second-largest economy stabilises. AFP

Germany’s economy expanded 0.4% in Q4 F RANKFURT―Germany’s economy expanded by 0.4 percent in the last quarter of 2016, official data showed Tuesday, confirming that Europe’s powerhouse grew 1.9 percent over the whole year.

The growth rate in the period from October to December―adjusted for price, seasonal, and calendar effects―followed 0.7 percent in the first quarter, 0.5 in the second and 0.1 in the third, the federal statistics office Destatis said.

“Compared with the previous quarter, positive impulses came from domestic activity,” the statisticians found, pointing to increased state and household spending and a rise in investment, especially in construction.

Germany’s traditionally powerful exports contributed less to growth in the fourth quarter, as imports increased faster, Destatis added.

“The strong labor market, low interest rates, low inflation, higher wages and increased

government consumption due to the influx of refugees” all contributed to growth in 2016, economist Carsten Brzeski of ING Diba bank noted.

But external shocks like Brexit and the election of Donald Trump highlighted the economy’s “most vulnerable parts: industrial production and exports,” he noted.

Inflation in Germany stood at 1.9 percent in January, the statistics office said in a separate release, confirming preliminary figures issued last month.

A recent spike in inflation― which hit 1.7 percent in December after just 0.8 in October and November―can largely be traced back to energy prices, recovering from a deep trough in

early 2016.

Energy costs increased some 5.9 percent in January compared with the same month last year, Destatis calculated.

If energy costs were left out of the measure, inflation would have stood at a lower 1.5 percent last month, the statisticians went on.

Inflation as measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices preferred by the European Central Bank also stood at 1.9 percent.

The figures place Germany at almost exactly the level of price growth―close to, but below 2.0 percent―targeted by ECB policymakers.

With annual growth of 1.9 percent last year, Germany has driven Europe’s slow but steady recovery, aided by a weak euro, cheap oil and the European Central Bank’s stimulus policies.

While those tailwinds boosted consumer spending and supported exports, rising inflation pressures and uncertain prospects for global trade have cast doubt over

whether the pace of expansion can be maintained.

German fourth-quarter GDP was led by domestic demand, the statistics office said. Government spending increased markedly, and households raised consumption slightly. Investment also developed positively, bolstered by building. With imports outpacing exports, net trade was a drag on growth.

“The data are alright―German growth is solid, and impulses came exactly from where we expected them to do,” said Marco Wagner, an economist at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt.

“Growth drivers will be similar in 2017.”

The euro fell after the report and traded at $1.0613 at 8:25 a.m. Frankfurt time.

Higher inflation in Germany than the rest of the 19-nation eurozone has prompted politicians to grumble at the ECB’s historic low interest rates and mass bondbuying policy, which they say are hurting savers. AFP, Bloomberg

Toshiba takes hit; chairman resigns TOSHIBA Corp. says it expects to book a 712.5 billion yen ($6.3 billion) writedown in its nuclear power business, citing cost overruns at a US unit and diminishing prospects for its atomic-energy operations. Shigenori Shiga will step down as chairman of the conglomerate.

The charge will result in a provisional 500 billion yen loss for the nine months through Dec. 31, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

In December, Toshiba had warned the write-down could reach several billion dollars, triggering a share decline that has erased more than $7 billion in market value. As a result of the losses, shareholder equity will drop to negative 150 billion yen for the current year ending in March, Toshiba forecast.

The earnings results came after a chaotic afternoon, which began when the company missed its own deadline for announcing earnings. That raised questions over whether the Japanese company has control over its finances, and the shares fell to near 38-week lows.

Toshiba is now under pressure to come up with a plan for shoring up its balance sheet, which was already under strain from a profit-padding scandal in 2015 that led to restructuring, record losses and asset sales. Toshiba has put up for sale a significant stake in its flash memory operations and is considering other ways of raising cash.

“The questions surrounding Toshiba are so numerous, where do you even begin,” said Masahiko Ishino, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Securities.

“Investors want to know what will happen to nuclear and chip businesses, whether elevator operations and some of Toshiba’s listed subsidiaries will be sold off.

There is also the question of why the nuclear write-down happened in the first place.”

In a sign of how bad things are, Toshiba said it is considering selling a majority stake in its memory chip business. The company has previously planned to limit the sale to 20 percent to maintain control. Toshiba has said it will separate the chip unit by the end of March and hold a shareholders’ meeting that month. Strategic investors and foreign private equity funds are among the potential bidders, according to people with knowledge of the matter. AFP

Cassava carrier bags: Indonesian entrepreneur tackles plastic bane

By Megan Sutherland JAKARTA―From bags washing up on Bali’s beaches to food packaging scattered across roads and clogging waterways in cities, Indonesia is facing a plastic waste crisis driven by years of rapid economic growth.

Now an entrepreneur from Bali, disgusted at the rubbish littering the famous holiday island, is trying to tackle the problem with alternatives to conventional plastic.

His company, Avani Eco, produces goods including cassava carrier bags, takeaway food containers made from sugar cane and straws fashioned from corn starch, which founder Kevin Kumala says biodegrade relatively quickly and don’t leave any toxic residue.

“I’m an avid diver and surfer, and I’m out there seeing this plastic pollution in front of my very eyes,” says Kumala, explaining why he decided to get into the business of biodegradable plastics, known as “bioplastics.”

After witnessing the pollution around Bali, he insists tackling the problem is “something that needs to be done.”

His project comes at a critical time for action on the issue. A 2016 report by the Ellen MacArthur foundation warned that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean, measuring by weight.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos this January, 40 of the world’s biggest companies agreed to come up with cleaner ways to make and use the material.

In Indonesia, the waves of plastic flooding into rivers and oceans has been causing problems for years―waterways in cities become clogged, increasing the risk of floods, as well death and injury to marine animals who become tramped or ingest plastic packaging.

The archipelago of over 17,000 islands is one of the worst offenders when it comes to marine littering, with US charity Oceans Conservancy estimating the country dumps the secondhighest amount of plastic into the sea, behind only China.

‘Hope for sea animals’ Kumala set up Avani Eco several years ago with its headquarters on Bali and a main factory on Java island, and the biodegradable goods went on sale in 2015.

The most popular product is the bags made from cassava―an edible tropical root that is cheap and abundant in Indonesia―with the words “I AM NOT PLASTIC” emblazoned on them.

The entrepreneur, who is a biology graduate, is happy to demonstrate the bags are not harmful―he put some material from a cassava bag into a glass of hot water, watched it quickly dis-

This photograph taken on January 24, 2017 shows Kevin Kumala, founder of Avani Eco, displaying his products during an interview in Jakarta. AFP

solve, and then gulped down the resulting concoction.

“It gives hope to sea animals, they are no longer choking or ingesting something that could be hazardous,” he said.

About three tons of the bags are produced a day at the Java factory and sold to businesses including shops and hotel groups, mostly in Bali and across Indonesia, but

also to a growing number of companies abroad.

Being environmentally friendly does cost however, with a cassava bag typically about three US cents more expensive than a plastic bag.

The material for the other products Avani Eco sells are sourced in Indonesia, but some items are currently made in China as it is

more cost effective to do so― though this does add to their carbon footprint.

Kumala says the final products can biodegrade in just a matter of months―and the bags disappear almost instantly in hot water― unlike the years required for conventional plastic to break down.

However, other bioplastics have long been on the market,

and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has expressed skepticism about the industry. The UN body concluded in a 2015 report that they tended to be more expensive and were unlikely to play a major role in reducing marine litter.

Bioplastics are defined as plastics made from materials such as corn starch and vegetable fats and oil, while common plastics are made from natural gas or petroleum.

UNEP senior official Habib El-Habr, who works on protecting the marine environment, said bioplastics were “innovative solutions” that could be part of a long-term solution, but added: “We don’t know enough about this technology.”

He said the UN body favored the management of plastic through such strategies as working with big companies.

‘Drowning in plastic’ Still Indonesia needs all the help it can get to deal with its waste. Current rubbish collection and disposal systems are inadequate to deal with rising plastic use.

Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih, a senior official from Indonesia’s environment ministry who deals with waste, conceded there was currently no government funding specifically aimed at reducing plastic waste. AFP

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

8.5 DEGREES. That’s how cold Baguio City and Benguet got on Tuesday, as the young girls pictured here feel, even in midday. Pagasa said this cold weather will last until the end of February. Dave Leprozo

Makati raises cash gift

by P1k for 75k seniors M

By Joel E. Zurbano

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay on Tuesday ordered the distribution of P500 as additional yearend cash gift for 2016 to 75,565 senior citizens following the City Council’s approval to increase the annual cash gift to all qualified BLU Card holders in the city.

“We hope that the additional allowance will help our senior citizens cope better with the troubles of aging. Since the city government already provides them a monthly supply of maintenance medicines, free hospitalization and other medical services, they could use the extra money for their other needs,” Binay said.

Under City Ordinance 2016-A043, approved by city councilors last December, an additional

P1,000 to the annual cash gift will be given in two tranches of P500 each to BLU Card holders.

It stated that BLU Card holders aged 60 to 69 will now receive an annual cash gift of P3,000 each; 70 to 79 years old, P4,000; and 80 and older, P5,000. The cash gift for all age groups will still be given in two equal installments every June and December.

The year-end cash gift will also be distributed to the second

batch of recipients—1,401 seniors whose BLU Cards were released from Oct. 17 to Dec. 31, 2016.

The BLU Card program was launched in 2002 as a burial assistance program providing P3,000 to beneficiaries of a deceased BLU card holder. It was later expanded to grant financial assistance to senior citizens during their lifetime through an annual cash gift to help defray their daily expenses, especially on food and medicine.

In a report to Mayor Binay, Makati Social Welfare Department officer-in-charge Ryan Barcelo said the distribution of additional and updated yearend cash gifts will be done from Feb. 15 to March 7, on designated periods and venues in each barangay.

The distribution on Feb. 15 will be done from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Barangays La Paz (cov-

ered court), Sta. Cruz (barangay hall), Bel-Air (covered court), and Magallanes (barangay hall).

From Feb. 15 to 16, distribution will be made from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Barangays Tejeros (Elderly Wellness Center), and Guadalupe Nuevo (covered court). On Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., distribution will be done at the covered court of Brgy. Valenzuela.

On Feb. 17, Friday, distribution will take place in Barangays West Rembo covered court (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.), and Brgy. Pinagkaisahan barangay hall (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Beneficiaries of Barangay Northside can claim their cash gift at Makati City Hall Building II also on Feb. 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Feb. 18, Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., distribution will be done at the barangay hall of Bangkal and the covered court of Pembo.

Region 12 tourism boosted thru ‘Sox’

By Sandy Araneta TOURIST destinations in Mindanao got another boost with the two-week staging of the “Treasures of Sox” or Region 12, also known as SOCCSKSARGEN, which opened at the Department of Tourism Building in Makati City on Monday.

“This current showcase on south-central Mindanao supports DOT’s thrusts of developing and promoting the different tourist destinations in that part of the Philippines, which have been left behind,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo stressed during the opening program.

“As a destination, south-central Mindanao’s enchanting culture and traditions, as well as its pristine nature and adventure features, are ideal for millennials to visit and enjoy including those born with Filipino ancestry in other countries,” Teo added.

Region 12’s acronym stands for the region’s four provinces (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sul-

Caloocan parties for year 55 as city

Film paints Manila as the ‘City of Love’ IN A bid to reintroduce Manila as a romantic dating site, the Manila Tourism and Cultural Affairs Bureau tries to touch the hearts of Manileños through a short Valentine’s Day film, featuring some of the famous landmarks in the capital city.

MTCAB chief Liz Villaseñor said the five-minute video, entitled “Sunset,” celebrates love and hope amid the devastation and pain of betrayal.

“In our short film, we have showcased some of the popular tourist spots in Manila, once dubbed as the ‘Paris of Asia’ to show the world that Manila can be a perfect romantic getaway.

This is what Mayor [Joseph] Estrada envisions,” Villaseñor said.

Villaseñor portrayed the female lead actor, while Manila third dis-

trict Rep. Yul Servo, also an actor, played her new love interest.

The film was shot in several locations—Manila City Hall, Andres Bonifacio Shrine, Intramuros, Manila Cathedral, Plaza Mexico, Luneta Park, and Roxas Boulevard Baywalk.

The short film was to be shown in the grand Valentine’s Day event dubbed “Baywalk Manila: A Night to Remember” organized by the city government along Roxas Boulevard’s Baywalk fronting Raja Sulayman Park.

The film has also been uploaded to the Facebook page “Eraptions” per the MTCAB chief.

Estrada, Villaseñor said, wants Manila to be comparable to famous romantic cities in the world such as Paris, Florence, Prague, and Sydney. Sandy Araneta

NEW ROOMS. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco cuts the ceremonial ribbon to open new school buildings at

Bangkulasi Senior High School and San Rafael Village Elementary School. The buildings add a total of 24 new classrooms. Also pictured is Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco and schools division officials. Andrew Rabulan

Intl summit on inclusive education to open at SMX FOR the first time, the Philippines will host an International Leadership Summit in Inclusive Education at the SMX Convention Center Manila on Feb. 22 to 24, with the theme “I Am You—Opening Minds, Opening Hearts: Putting Values into Action.”

The summit will gather educa-

tors, legislators, service providers, support groups/associations, international organizations, disabled people organizations, international and local students, and parents to build an intentional and proactive community for inclusive education.

Given the broad scope of inclusive education—which en-

tan Kudarat and Sarangani) and one of its cities (General Santos).

According to Undersecretary Alma Rita Jimenez of DOT’s Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation Sector, the Tourism Showroom is geared to creating product knowledge inter-regionally or crossselling of tourism products and services among different regions.

Primary targets are tourism employees and walk-in visitors prior to their actual travel to the regions.

“With this prior knowledge, an employee of DoT and its attached agencies as well as any visitor will not be a ‘dayuhan’ [stranger] in our own country. They can then talk about the region’s distinct features to prospective domestic and foreign visitors. If you cannot go to the regions now, the regions will come to you,” Jimenez explained.

Tourism public servants were encouraged to know more about the distinct features of each region by patronizing the Philippine Showroom so they can present more details to others.

compasses people with disabilities, indigenous people, Muslims and other marginalized communities—most of the topics and discussion at the summit will focus on people with disabilities.

The end goal, organizers said, is to build on this summit “the beginning of a series of conferences and the greater es-

sence of inclusive education— education for all.”

International experts in inclusive education will provide the keynotes at the Summit, namely Professor Tony Booth from the University of Cambridge, celebrated author of “Index for Inclusion” (translated into 40 languages), and David Hoff of the

Boston-based Institute for Community Inclusion.

Vice President Leni Robredo will grace the event and provide welcome remarks, together with Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely, Unicef Country Representative Lotta Sylwander, and SM Supermalls president Anna Maria Garcia.

CALOOCAN will celebrate its 55th Cityhood Anniversary on Feb. 16, a non-working holiday for the city.

Month-long festivities are lined up for the event, including a medical mission and motorcade scheduled last Feb. 10 to 12 and the Kasalang Bayan mass wedding yesterday at the Camarin D Elementary School.

The city government will recognize outstanding employees and citizens who have shown exemplary achievements. It also recently inaugurated a new police station at Bagong Barrio, the third built under the administration of Mayor Oscar Malapitan.

Other activities include a Thanksgiving Mass today at the San Roque Cathedral; free concert featuring Parokya ni Edgar and actress Bela Padilla, Feb. 16 on Edsa near Bonifacio Monument Circle; Miss Caloocan Pre-Pageant, Feb. 17, Caloocan City Hall grounds at 5 p.m. Jun David

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Domogan urges govt to share income with LGUs

By Dexter A. See

B

AGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan has urged the national government to include other sources of income in a lump sum fund being divided among local governments to increase the share of the localities from the income derived by the government from various sources.

Domogan said the current practice of the national government is to segregate a portion of the Bureau of Internal Revenue collection to be divided between the national government and the local governments in a 60-40 sharing scheme, following the provisions of the Local Government Code of the Philippines.

“The reason why local governments are getting a meager share from the national government is because not all sources of revenue

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are included in the lump sum fund, where the local governments get their 40 percent share, now called the Internal Revenue Allotment,” Domogan stressed.

He said the national government should be “fair in sharing its income and resources” by including in the lump sum fund the collection of the Bureau of Customs, the Land Transportation Office, and other revenue-generating agencies.

That way, local governments will get a bigger share of the

fund that would goes to their priority development projects, as well as improve their delivery of basic services to the people, Domogan added.

To help spur rural development, he suggested the collection from all revenue-generating agencies be pooled together in a lump sum fund, where a portion will be set aside purposely to pay the national debt, while the balance would be equitably divided between the national government and the local governments.

The mayor said that currently, the income from the operations of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and other government-owned and controlled corporations remain with the national government, “but local governments also deserve an equitable share of the income derived from these revenue-generating offices.”

Providing local governments an increased share from these agencies “will help them become more independent” through the increased priority development projects that would “translate to better local income and improved delivery of basic services” in preparation for the shift to a federal form of government as pushed by the Duterte administration, Domogan said.

Issues on revenue generation and taxation “will surely be a sensitive issue” once the government will start shifting from the current presidential form to a federal one “because each of the states that will be established will have the power to impose taxes within their prescribed geographical jurisdiction.”

He rallied local government officials to join him in calling on national government to include its other sources of revenue in the share of local governments.

With new mayor, Lanao Sur Health ties town readies for centennial for P’sinan, NESTLED on the shores of picturesque Lake Lanao, the town of Lumbatan in Lanao del Sur is about to make itself known as one of the more progressive municipalities of Mindanao.

New Mayor Allan Lao said he wants to upgrade the town’s infrastructure and further develop its agricultural industry, which is the backbone of Lumbatan’s economy.

At 44, Lao is the youngest mayor to serve Lumbatan. It’s his first term and his first time to hold public office. For a newcomer in politics, his victory was astonishing, yet Lumbatan’s voters welcomed him with open arms.

“There were no tensions during the campaign, no threats or any sense of danger,” he said. “The elections were peaceful and so was the transition from the old administration to my administration.”

Under the young mayor’s term, the town he grew up in will be marking its centennial on April 21, and Lao has huge plans for this milestone.

“We’re going to hold a week-long sports festival,” he said. “Each barangay is forming its own teams that will compete in basketball, volley, and other popular sports. The championships will be held on the day of the anniversary itself.”

A cultural competition will also be held, with booths that will showcase the colorful heritage of the Maranaos. Again, each barangay will participate and will be assigned a

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booth to decorate with materials used by Maranaos, Lao said.

On April 21st, a dance parade will be held on the major thoroughfares of Lumbatan, with a cultural show in the evening with the performers of the cultural dance troupe of the Lanao Agricultural College, which happens to be in Lumbatan.

The mayor admits one term in office isn’t long enough for him to turn Lumbatan into a model town, but says he’s working hard to establish the fundamentals that will pave the way for the town to progress.

“We have to fix the infrastructure, build passable roads, and provide electric power to every residence in town. To accomplish this, we must have peace and stability, and this can be realized by putting a stop to the longtime feuds between certain groups and families, which we have already begun doing,” he said.

When this is achieved, the mayor said he could even start promoting the tourist attractions of Lumbatan. A two-hour drive from Marawi City, Lanao del Sur’s capital, Lumbatan has many natural attractions, with its proximity to the scenic Lake Lanao.

Although he wanted to be a lawyer, Mayor Lao said he had always felt despondent about his hometown’s lack of progress. “It seemed hopeless, it’s why I decided to run for office. I want to turn the town around,” he said.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given that the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of JTM PROPERTIES & RESOURCES CORP. (the Corporation) shortening the term of existence to November 30, 2016, thereby dissolving the corporation on said date has been approved by the Corporation Board of Directors and Stockholders on November 14, 2016.

All persons having any claims against the Corporation`s are requested to present their claims at the Corporation`s office at 183 Maude St., San Juan City.

This announcement will serve as a notice to all persons concerned of the legal dissolution of the aforesaid corporation.

(SGD) MING MING S. MAGUAN Corporate Secretary

19331 19936 (MS-JAN. 23,30 & FEB. 2017) (MS-Feb. 14,15 & 16,6,2017) (MS-FEB. 1,8 & 15, 2017) 20917 21012 22874 Republic of the Philippines 23138 Province of Ilocos Sur 23141 Local Government Unit 23144 Santiago Ilocos Sur 23150 24660 INVITATION TO BID 25055 25125 The Municipality of Santiago, Ilocos Sur through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites 25155 PRESENT: contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found -eligible to bidOffi forcer the hereunder contract: Vice26384 Mayor MONIQUE Q. LAGDAMEO Presiding 26392 Councilor SHIRLEY C. ASPILLAGA 27307 1.

Name of Project : Rehabilitation/Improvement of Farm to Market Road “ MARIE ALETHEA SJ. CASAL-UY 27320 Location : Caburao - Dan-ar - Butol road, Santiago, Ilocos Sur “ GRAZIELLE IONY N. DE LARA-BES Brief Description : Rehabilitation/Improvement 27473 “ FERDINAND T. EUSEBIO Approved Budget for 28405 “ VIRGILIOtheV.Contract HILARIO JR. (ABC) : 20,000,000.00 “ DIVINA A. JACOME Source of Fund : RA 7171 20690 Contract Duration : 75 CD “ LUIS S. JAVIER JR. 21440 Cost of Bid Documents : 1,000.00 “ LEONARDO M. MAGPANTAY 21442 “ MA. ARLENE M. ORTEGA 21447 The BAC will conduct the procurement process in accordance with the Revised IRR of RA 9184. “ NELSON S. PASIA 21449 Bids received in excess of the BAC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid. “ ENRICO J. PUNO 21452 “ MARY C. TOLENTINO 22563 ToRUTH bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents 22574 “ EVELYN E. VILLAMOR and mustDELFINA meet the following major criteria) prior registration with Local Government Unit-Santiago, 22655 Ilocos Sur (b) Filipino citizen 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint ven“ MARIA CONCEPCION M. or YABUT ture, (c) withS.PCAB License 22766 “ NEMESIO YABUT JR. applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting 22787 Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment for at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use LnB President ARMANDO P. PADILLA non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.

232452 ABSENT: Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the Local 220923 Government Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The Local Govern220924 Councilor ROMEO C. MEDINA-Sick Leave ment Unit-Santiago, Ilocos Sur will only process contractor’s applications for registration, with com221024 plete requirements, and issue the Contractor’s Certificate of Registration (CRC).

221124 ================================================================== The schedule of BAC activities is as follows:

226254 On motion Lara-Bes, which was duly seconded by all 226268 presented by Hon. G.I.N. deBAC Activities Schedule Members 226648present, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Makati approved City Resolution and final reading. of Invitation to bid/Request for 1. Advertisement/Posting 232429No. 2017-001 on second Expression of Interest Feb./15/2017 235000 CITY RESOLUTION 2017-001 2. Issuance of BidNO. Documents Feb. 15 to March 7, 2017 240564 Authors: Hon. M.C.M. Yabut, M.A.S.J. Casal-Uy, Hon. D.A. Jacome, 3. PreHon. bid Conference Feb. 13, 2017 @ 10:00 AM 242855 Hon. G.I.N. de Lara-Bes, Hon. N.S. Yabut Jr., Hon. A.P. Padilla, Hon. R.C. Medina 242900 4. Receipt and Opening of Bids March 7, 2017 @ 10:00 AM and Hon. M.R.C. Tolentino PA - Personal Accident The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BD’s) at Local Government Unit-Santiago, 5305 5350 Ilocos Sur, upon payment of a non-refundable fee as stated. The Pre-bid Conference shall be open Co Authors: Hon. S.C. Aspillaga, Hon. F.T. Eusebio, Hon. V.V. Hilario, Jr., Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, 5701 5701 only to interested parties who have purchased the BD’s.

PC - Private Car Comprehensive Hon. L.S. Javier, Jr.,in Hon. L.M. Magpantay, Hon. M.A.M Ortega, the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Mailed intends shall 9052 9054 Hon. N.S. Pasia,not Hon. E.J. Puno and Hon. E.D.E. Villamor be entertained.

13801 13804 13806 13809 bidders shallMAYOR submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BD’s in two (2) A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING Prospective THE HONORABLE MAR-LEN ABIGAIL envelopes to the Chairman. The OF first envelope shall contain the technical 14132 14132 TO NEGOTIATE, separate S. BINAY ENTERsealed INTObidAND SIGN A BAC MEMORANDUM component of the bid, which shall include the technical component of the bid, which shall include a 14173 14173 AGREEMENT (MOA), ON BEHALF OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, WITH copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract 14177 THE14178 UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI EMPLOYEES MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the 14183 14188 (UMEMPC) REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PAYROLL SALARY post-qualification.

Should you have any of the foregoing IAC forms in your possession, please coordinate DEDUCTION SCHEME ON LOANS AVAILED BY THE LATTER’S MEMBERS, with our office immediately and bring the said form/s to our office within thirty (30) days LAWS, RULES SUBJECT TO EXISTING AND REGULATIONS. The Local Government Unit of Santiago, Ilocos Sur reserves the right to accept or reject any or from the date of this publication, for possible replacement of the form/s or reimbursement all bid and to annul the bidding process any time before Contract award, without incurring any liability of payments, if warranted. IAC reserves the right to require presentation of other adequate to the affected bidders.

WHEREAS, the University of Makati Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative proof of issuance and/or payment in addition to the presentation of the original form/s.

(UMEMPC) is a cooperative duly registered under Republic Act No. 9520, of the Approved by: Cooperative Development Authority and organized by the University of Makati INVESTORS ASSURANCE CORPORATION employees with 1200 business operation in the University of Makati campus; Unit 1/20th Floor, BDO Plaza, Paseo de Roxas near cor. Makati Avenue, Makati City (SGD) NESTOR C. PERALTA JR. BAC Chairman Tel Nos.: (632) 822-4000 / 822-5000 / 891-0994 / 891-0996 / 891-0976 WHEREAS, the University of Makati Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative 2017) loans with affordable terms to its members (UMEMPC)’s major service (MS-FEB.15, is to grant who are employees of the University of Makati;

WHEREAS, the UMEMPC and its members agreed that payments to all availed loans shall be collected through salary deduction every 15th and 30th pay period of the month from the payrolls of employees of the City Government of Makati;

Sorsogon

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Health leaders of Sorsogon province, led by their Provincial Health Officer Edgar F. Garcia Jr., want to replicate the best practices in health leadership of the provincial government of Pangasinan.

In a recent visit here, the Sorsogon delegation was received by Gov. Amado I. Espino III and several provincial officials, who attested to the drastic development that Pangasinan realized under the watch of former governor and current fifth district Rep. Amado T. Espino Jr. Governor Espino, who met the Sorsogon delegation at the Urduja House, said Pangasinan has allocated 30 percent of its provincial budget for hospital operations, construction and maintenance of hospital facilities, procurement of stateof-the-art hospital equipment, and various health programs.

The “lakbay aral” of the Sorsogon delegation explored Pangasinan’s excellent implementation of its Point of Care program, the Public-Private Partnership scheme in securing medical equipment and diagnostic machines for public hospitals, and the service delivery network of the province. Dexter A. See

IN BRIEF Ex-Baguio solon, 3 others charged LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—The Office of the Ombudsman sustained the filing of charges against former Baguio City Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping Jr. and three property developers for violation of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.

Aliping, Bernard L. Capuyan of BLC Construction and Development Aggregates, Romeo U. Aquino of RU Aquino Construction and Development Corp., and William Go of Goldrich Construction were cited for alleged illegal cutting of trees within the Mount Sto. Tomas watershed in Tuba town, and the contamination of potable water sources in the area related to the development of the former lawmaker’s private property inside the declared watershed.

However, in a nine-page order, the Ombudsman partially granted Aliping’s prayer for filing of the cases against him before the courts that have jurisdiction over Tuba similar to the cases filed against Capuyan, Aquino and Go. Dexter A. See

QC eyes sister city ties with Naga City QUEZON City is pursuing plans to add Naga City to its list of local sister-cities, with a resolution to establish a sisterhood relationship with the capital of Camarines Sur passed by the QC Council.

The partnership “is expected to bring about meaningful relationship between Quezon City and Naga City, especially in governance,” the resolution read.

Naga City is known as the Queen City of Bicol. It is also the center of the region’s trade, business, religious, cultural, industrial and financial operations.

To date, Quezon City has sister-city ties with 11 other Philippine cities and municipalities—Sadangga in Mountain Province; General Santos City; Pura, Tarlac; Davao City; Iloilo City; Wao, Lanao del Sur; Cotabato City; La Trinidad, Benguet; Puerto Princesa; Banay-Banay, Davao Oriental; and Alicia, Isabela.

ERRATUM Wrong writer credit for Biñan article

In the Feb. 11, 2017 issue of the Manila Standard, in the story “Biñan City Opens its Own High-Tech Command Center,” the writer credited should have been Roman E. Carencia, Biñan City PIO Head, not Angela Lopez de Leon as we printed. We regret the error.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF Thais celebrate Valentine’s Day with gusto BANGKOK―Babies dressed as cupids, underwater weddings and a government vitamin giveaway to encourage procreation were all part of Thailand’s imaginative and bizarre events Tuesday to mark Valentine’s Day. The Land of Smiles embraces February 14 like few other countries in Southeast Asia, with Bangkok awash with pop-up flower stalls and a roster of romantic gestures unfurling across the country.

The junta government led the love-in, doling out heart-shaped boxes of free iron and folic acid supplements in a bid to help healthy pregnancies and stimulate the kingdom’s birthrate.

“In 1970, a family had an average of six children but now it’s 1.6,” Wachira Pengjuntr, directorgeneral of the Department of Health, told AFP. “In the past people ate better food, more vegetables and fruits but now lifestyles have changed... so we want to encourage more births.”

In the southern tourist hot spot of Trang, couples were offered the opportunity to marry underwater -- in full wedding dress and diving gear -- in an annual publicity stunt aimed at boosting visitor numbers.

And babies at one Bangkok maternity ward were dressed up with wings to resemble the god of love.

Even Thailand’s fractious political arena, a stage more accustomed to the delivery of brickbats than bouquets, could not escape Cupid’s arrow. AFP

Official warns of disaster in Syrian towns DAMASCUS―The top UN official in Damascus has warned of a “looming humanitarian catastrophe” in four besieged towns in Syria, calling for immediate access to deliver aid to some 60,000 residents.

In a statement late Monday, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Ali al-Za’atari, warned of dire conditions in the towns of Zabadani, Madaya, Fua and Kafraya.

Zabadani and Madaya, in Damascus province, are besieged by government troops and their allies, while Fua and Kafraya are under siege by the rebels.

“Sixty thousand innocent people are trapped there in a cycle of daily violence and deprivation, where malnutrition and lack of proper medical care prevail,” the statement said.

“The situation is a looming humanitarian catastrophe. The principle of free access to people in need must be implemented now and without repeated requests,” it added.

Za’atari said the situation was complicated by the “tit-for-tat arrangement” between the towns, whereby no aid can be provided to Madaya and Zabadani without similar access to Fua and Kafraya, and vice versa.

The linkage “makes humanitarian access prone to painstaking negotiations that are not based on humanitarian principles,” he said.

“This has prevented medical cases from receiving proper treatment and evacuation. People are in need, and they cannot wait any longer. We need to act now.” AFP

4 killed in gun battle in Kashmir SRINAGAR―Three soldiers and a suspected militant were killed in a gun battle in Indian-administered Kashmir Tuesday after an army patrol came under fire in the north of the territory, officials said.

“Three soldiers were killed during a gunfight with militants that broke out at Hajin in Bandipora district,” army spokesman Rajesh Kalia told AFP, adding that five other soldiers were injured.

A police official said a civilian also sustained injuries in the crossfiring which erupted after the government forces cordoned off an area following a tip-off about the presence of militants.

“A search party was suddenly fired upon by the militants as it zeroed in on a residential area,” a police superintendent told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to the press.

He added that nine soldiers were injured in the initial attack and were immediately shifted to army hospital.

“Three among them later succumbed to their injuries,” he added.

One militant, whose identity was not yet known, was also killed in the operation, he added. AFP

World

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

C3

Fear has made him stronger, says bookseller

T

AIPEI―The disappearance of a Chinese billionaire from his Hong Kong hotel has brought back frightening memories for bookseller Lam Wing-kee, who also went missing in an ordeal that highlighted Beijing’s tightening grip on the city.

Lam is one of five Hong Kong publishers who vanished at the end of 2015 and resurfaced across the border in mainland China. He returned to Hong Kong on bail after eight months in detention and refuses to go back.

The booksellers’ case sparked international outrage and fueled concern that Beijing is threatening the semi-autonomous city’s freedoms.

Those fears were reignited last month when Chinese tycoon Xiao Jianhua disappeared from his apartment at the Four Seasons hotel, with reports he was snatched by mainland security agents.

His whereabouts are still unknown.

Lam says both he and Xiao were political targets.

“It is 100 percent certain the Communist Party is behind it,” he said in an interview in Taipei, where he was visiting a book fair.

Lam and the other four booksellers were known for publishing salacious titles about the Chinese leadership and ran a store stocked with books banned over the border.

In Xiao’s case, there is widespread speculation that he has been caught up in an anti-corruption drive by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which some critics believe has been a tool to target his

Republic of the Philippine National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 145 Makati City

political opponents.

The Xiao incident has renewed Lam’s fears about remaining in Hong Kong.

“Yes, I worry [about my safety]. Every Hong Kong person should worry,” the 62-year-old told AFP. But he added: “I love Hong Kong. I want to stay in Hong Kong. I will never leave. I will speak out even if it means going to jail.”

Lam was allowed back to Hong Kong last June on condition that he pick up a hard disc listing bookstore customers and return to the mainland.

Instead, he skipped bail and went public to tell an explosive story of how he was blindfolded by mainland police after crossing the border, and interrogated for months.

Hong Kong has a separate legal system under the “one country, two systems” deal struck when Britain returned the city to China in 1997 and is not obliged to hand Lam back even if he is violating the terms of his bail.

Lam says he became suicidal during his detention and daily life is still not easy.

He wears a face mask to help shield his identity and alternates between the eight entrances to the residential complex where he lives. AFP

TRADE AND INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. Plaintiff, - versus-

Civil Case No. 12-542

ARLINDA G. ROJAS doing business under the name and style of “Rojas Export, and ROBERTO A. HUTLEY Defendants. x-----------------------------------------------x DECISION This is an action instituted by plaintiff Trade and Investment Development Corporation of the Philippines against defendants Arlinda G. Rojas (doing business under the name an style of “Rojas Export “) and Roberto A. Hutley with a complaint that alleges, among other things that: [i.]

The plaintiff is a government instrument duly organized and existing pursuant to and by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1080, As amended;

[ii.] The plaintiff and defendant Arlinda G. Rojas entered into a Credit Agreement and an Amended Credit Agreement wherein the latter applied and obtained from the former a credit line in the amount of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos Php 1,500.000.00], Philippine currency, under plaintiff`s SME Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth [SULONG] Program. [iii.] Defendant Roberto A. Hutley executed in favor of the plaintiff a Continuing Surety Agreement, dated June 30, 2004, wherein he bound himseIf to be held liable, jointly and severally, for the said credit line. [iv.] As an additional security, defendant Arlinda G. Rojas mortgaged her property, covered by TCT. No. OP-56994, in favor of the plaintiff. [v.]

Defendant Arlinda G. Rojas withdrew from the credit June and issued five [5] promissory notes in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1,250,000.00] each or a total of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1,250000.00] with an annual interest and penalty rate, stipulated respectively, at the rates of 10.60% and 16%, to wit: Promissory Note No. MI-L05-0491-006-004 MI-L05-0491-007-005 MI-L05-0491-008-006 MI-L05-0491-010-016 MI-L05-0491-011-020

Term/Days 126 97 67 139 162

Date of Execution 01/07/05 01/07/05 01/07/05 02/11/05 02/03/05

Maturity Date 05/13/05 04114 03/15/05 06/30105 07/15/05

[vi.] Upon maturity of the promissory notes, defendant Arlinda G. Rojas unjustly failed and refused to pay her obligation. [vi]

Thus the plaintiff sent defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and defendant Roberto A. Hutley , as surety, two separate demands letters asking for the payment of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight Pesos and Fifty Seven Centavos [Php2,433,608.57], representing the outstanding balance then of the said obIigation, as of June 30, 2008.

[vii.] Despite said demands, still the defendants failed to pay thus the plaintiff extra-judicially foreclosed the mortgaged property of defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, under Act 3135, as amended, before the Regional Trial Court of Mandaue City, and plaintiff turned out to be the highest bidder and purchaser thereof in the amount of Php172, 500.00. [ix.] After applying the proceeds of the foreclosed mortgaged property to the said obligation, the plaintiff claims an insufficient balance in the amount of Three Million Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Two Hundred Eleven Pesos and Ninety Centavos (Php3, 738,211.90], representing the outstanding obligation of the defendants, as of May 31, 2012, inclusive of stipulated interest and penalties as well as expenses incurred in the foreclosure of said mortgage.

The Officer’s Returned, dated September 18, 2012, shows that summons upon the defendants could not be served because the no longer reside at their given address. Despite earnest efforts of the plaintiff, the whereabouts of the defendants could not be determined, thus, upon motion, the plaintiff was allowed to serve summons by publication in an order dated June 17, 2013 .

In a “Compliance and Manifestation”. dated November 26 2013, the plaintiff attached therewith an affidavit of publication issued by the authorized representative of the Manila Standard Today dated November 19, 20131 showing the publication of summons upon the defendants.

A copy of the order dated June 17, 2013, as well as the summon by publication and the complaint together with its annexes, were sent to the defendants by registered mail at their last known given address, through registered mail, on August 12, 2013 but said court process were returned to court for reason that the defendants were “unknown”. Consquently, upon motion of the plaintiff and for failure of the defendants to file an answer, the defendants were declared in default in an Order dated June 25, 2014 while the plaintiff was allowed to present its’ evidence ex-parte before the Branch Clerk of Court who in turn submitted his report thereon dated November 26, 2014.

A copy of the Order dated June 25, 2014 was sent to the defendants by registered mail but again said court process was returned to court for reason that the defendant were “not found” at their given address 2.

On the basis of the report of the Branch Clerk of Court, plaintiff: through counsel, adduced in evidence the testimony of its’ Assistant Department Head of the Remedial and Asset Disposition Department of the plaintiff: Mr. Ruben Cayabyab, who testified on his Judicial Affidavit, in lieu of hi direct testimony, as well as on the following pieces of documentary evidence: [i.] Exhibit “A” and “B” – The “Credit Agreement” and “Amendment to the Credit Agreement”, respectively, dated June 15, 2004 and September 8, 2004 to prove that the plaintiff granted defendant Arlinda G. Rojas a credit line in the amount of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 1, 500, 000. 00 under its’ SME Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth (SULONG) Program for said defendant`s preshipment financing requirements; [ii.] Exhibit “C” - The “Continuing Surety Agreement” dated June 30, 2004 executed by defendant Robert A. Hutley, to prove that he bound himself to be liable, jointly and severally to the plaintiff in event of default in payment of any loan obtained on the said credit line. [iii.] Exhibit. “D” and “E” - The “Real Estate Mortgage” dated November 8, 2005 and “Original Certificate Title (OCT) No. OP-56994” of the Registry of Deeds of Cebu, respectively, to prove that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas mortgaged her property located in San Vicente Liloan, Cebu, as security her loan obtained from the plaintiff. [iv.] Exhibits “F” to “J” - Respectively, Promissory Note Nos. PNO5-0491-08-006, PN05-0491-07-005, PN 5-049106-004, PNO5-0491-011-020 and PN05-0491-10-016 to prove that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas withdrew from the said credit line a loan in the total amount of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1, 250,000.00] on January and February 2005. [v.] Exhibit. “K’ and “L” - Two demand letters, both dated June 18, 2008, separately addressed to defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and Robert A. Hutley, as surety, to prove that they failed to pay the amount of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight and Fifty Seven Centavos.

[Php2,433,608.57] representing their outstanding obligation as of June 20, 2008. [vi.] Exhibits ‘M” - The “Certificate of Sale”, dated January 29, 2009, signed by the Sheriff, the Clerk of Court and Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Mandaue City, to prove that the plaintiff foreclosed the mortgaged property and purchased it at the amount of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php 172,500.00]. [vii] Exhibit “N” - The “Statement of Account” that how title claim of the plaintiff, and its` computation on the alleged outstanding obligation of the defendants, as of May 31, 2012, in the amount of Three Million Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Two Hundred Eleven Pesos and Ninety Centavos [Php 3, 738,211, 90] inclusive of interest and penalties as well as expenditures that the plaintiff allegedly incurred in the foreclosure of the mortgaged property, less the proceed on the sale thereof.

Acting on the report of the Branch Clerk of Court, as well as the oral offer by plaintiff`s counsel of the abovementioned documents, an Order, dated December 1, 2014 was issued wherein these documentary exhibits were admitted in evidence for the plaintiff.

From the undisputed evidence of the plaintiff, it is preponderantly established that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, doing business under the name and style of “Rojas” Export”, entered into a Credit Agreement and amendment thereto [Exhibit “A” and “B”] and obtained a loan from the plaintiff in the total amount of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1,250,000.00], with a stipulated annual interest and penalty rate of 10.60% and 16% respectively; that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas executed Five [5] Promissory Notes [Exhibit “F” to “J”] as follows: Promissory Note No. MI-L05-0491-006-004 MI-L05-0491-007-005 MI-L05-0491-00B-006 MI-L05-0491-010-016 MI-L05-0491-011-020

Term/ Days 126 97 67 139 162

Date of Execution 01/07/05 01/07/05 01/07/05 02/11/05 02/03/05

Maturity Date 05/13/05 04/14/05 03/15/05 06/30/05 07/15/05

As a security to the credit line, defendant Roberto A. Hutley executed in favor of the plaintiff a Continuing Surety Agreement [Exhibit “C”] wherein he bound himself to be held jointly and severally liable for said obligation while defendant Arlinda G. Rojas; executed in favor of the plaintiff a Deed of Real Estate Mortgage [Exhibit “D”] over her property registered with the Registry of Deed of the province of Cebu under Original Certificate Title [OCT] No. OP-56994 [Exhibit “E”].

Upon maturity of these promissory notes, the defendant Arlinda G. Rojas failed to pay her obligation with an outstanding balance of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight Pesos and Fifty Seven Centavos (Php 2,4 608 .57], thus the plaintiff sent defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and defendant Robert A. Hutley, as surety, separate demand letters both date June 18, 2008 [Exhibit “K” and “L”] but to no avail because said obligation remained unpaid.

FASHION WEEK. A model walks the runway during Nolcha Shows Runway New

York Fashion Week Fall Winter 2017 in Stevenson University at ArtBeam on February 13, 2017 in New York City. AFP

Hong Kong police guilty of assaulting protester HONG KONG―Seven Hong Kong police officers were found guilty Tuesday of assaulting a protester during prodemocracy rallies in 2014, in an attack that was captured on film and beamed around the world.

All seven were found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm to Civic Party activist Ken Tsang, but were found not guilty of a more serious charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Video footage of the attack, filmed by a local network near the city’s government headquarters, shocked residents and dented their faith in the usually trusted police force.

It showed a group of men hauling a handcuffed Tsang to a dark corner in a public park, where he was beaten. One man stood over him inflicting blows while three others were seen repeatedly kicking him.

Police have been criticized for their sometimes heavy-handed treatment of protesters during the 79 days of rallies and street blockades which brought parts of the city to a standstill.

The demonstrators were seeking fully free elections for Hong Kong’s future leaders.

Hong Kong’s district court found that one officer had stamped on 41-year-old Tsang and that four other officers kicked

him. Two other officers did not participate but watched.

“Every police officer has a duty to prevent the commission of a crime, even by fellow police officers,” judge David Dufton said in a press summary of the verdict.

It added that Tsang suffered injuries to his face, neck and body during the assault.

“The court was not however satisfied these injuries amounted to grievous bodily harm but was satisfied they amounted to actual bodily harm,” the press statement said.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years.

One of the officers who kicked Tsang was also found guilty of common assault for slapping him in the face twice after he was taken to a police station.

Following the verdict, a lawyer for the defenze said in mitigation that the protests had dented police morale, with a number of officers injured.

“Human frailty resulted in the transgression of seven devoted police officers,” Lawrence Lok told the court.

He said defendant Wong Cho-shing, one of those who watched the attack, had worked long hours during the protests and faced physical and verbal abuse from demonstrators. AFP

Thereafter, the plaintiff flied an Extra-judicial Foreclosure of the Real Estate Mortgage4 under Act No. 3135 as amended, with the Regional Trial Court of Mandaue City that was docketed as EJF-REM File No. 08-10-1725. Consequently thereto, after a compliance with the provision of the Real Estate Mortgage Contract and with the formalities required by Act No. 3135, as amended an auction sale of the mortgaged property was conducted on January 29, 2009 and, wherein the plaintiff by virtue of the Certificate of Sale [Exhibit “M”] was declared the highest and only bidder of the foreclosed mortgaged property in the amount of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php 172,500.00].

From the foregoing findings, the plaintiff is entitled to its claim for the unpaid deficiency of the subject obligation against defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and defendant Roberto A. Hutley, as surety, thereof.

It is clearly shown from the demand letters of the plaintiff upon the defendants marked as Exhibits “K” and “L”, dated June 18, 2008, that the outstanding obligation of the defendants was then in the amount of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight Pesos and Fifty Seven Centavo. [Php 2,433, 08.57] while the proceeds of the foreclosure sale is only One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php 172,500.00). Therefore, there is indeed a deficiency to which the plaintiff ma claim against the defendants.

The Supreme Court held in the case of BPI Family Saving Bank Inc. versus ma. Arlyn T. Avenido and Pacifico A. Avenido [G.R. No. 175816 dated December 7, 2011] that “it is settled that if “the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover the debt in an extrajudicial foreclosure of mortgage, the mortgagee is entitled to claim the deficiency from the debtor. While Act No. 3135, as amended, does not discuss the mortgagee’s right to recover the deficiency, neither does if contain any provision expressly or impliedly prohibiting recovery. If the legislature had intended to deny the creditor the right to sue for any deficiency resulting from the foreclosure of a security given to guarantee an obligation, the law would expressly so provide.

Absent such a provision in Act No. 3135, as amended, the creditor is not precluded from taking action to recover any unpaid balance on the principal obligation simply because he chose to extrajudicially foreclose the real estate mortgage.”

Be that as it may, the court is not inclined to heed to the Statement of Account, dated May 31, 2012 and marked as Exhibit “N” particularly to plaintiff’s claim for the amount of Three Million Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Two Hundred Twenty, One Pesos and Ninety Centavos [Php 3 738.221.90], a deficiency obligation, as of May 31, 2012, as alleged in paragraph 13 of its complaint, because of the failure on the part of the plaintiff to present any other documentary evidence to support and prove its claim for: [i.] “OTHER CHARGES” in the amount of Php 16,498.76; [ii.] “UNPAID GRT PER OR # 000466 DATED 01.12. 04” in the amount of Php 72.00; [iii.] “ATTORNEY’S FEE 2/” in the amount of Php 525,000.00, as well as [iv.] the deduction of the amount of Php 16,498.76 from the bid price/proceed of the foreclosure sale of Php 172,500.00.

From the Statement of Account, marked as Exhibit “N”, it is clear from the following Promissory Notes marked as Exhibits “F” to “J”, that as of May 1, 2012, the defendants are owing to the plaintiff the total amount of Three Million Three Hundred Sixty Thousand One Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php3,360,150.95], to wit: [i.] [ii.] [iii.] [iv.] [v.]

PN No. MI-L05-0491-006-004 PN No. MI-L05-0491-007-005 PN No. MI-L05-0491-008-006 PN No. MI-L05-0491-010-016 PN No. MI-L05-0491-011–020 Total

Php 468,995.15 718,748.43 718,748.43 729,896.66 723,762.28 Php 3,360,150.95

Therefore deducting the proceeds of the foreclosed mortgaged property in the amount of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php172,500.00] from said outstanding obligation as of May 31, 2012, in the amount of Three Million Three Hundred Sixty Thousand One Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php 3,360.95] there is still a deficiency balance in the amount of Three MiIlion One Hundred Eighty Seven Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php 3,187,650.95], to which the defendant should pay the plaintiff plus stipulated interest thereon and penalty charges at an annual rate of 10.60% And 16%, respectively, computed as of May 31, 2012 until full payment thereof.

Moreover, considering the surety agreement, the liability of both defendants shall be solidary.

WHERE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, judgment is rendered in favor of plaintiff Trade and Investment Development Corporation of the Philippines and against defendants Arlinda G. Rojas doing business under the name and style of ‘Rojas Exports”, as principal, and Robert A. Hutley, as surety, directing said defendants to pay the plaintiff the amount of Three Million One Hundred Eighty Seven Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php 3,187,650.95] plus stipulated interest and penalty charges thereon in an amount equivalent to an annual rate of 10.60% and 16%, respectively, computed as of May 31,2012 until full payment thereof.

The liability of both defendants shall be solidary. Hence, plaintiff may collect from both or any of the defendants for the award herein made.

All other claims of the plaintiff are denied for lack of merit.

Cost of suit against the defendant.

Makati City, this 2 December 2014.

CARLITO B. CALPATURA Presiding Judge

(MS-FEB. 8 & 15, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

World

Top Trump aide quits over Russian contacts W ASHINGTON― Donald Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned amid controversy over his contacts with the Russian government, a first stunning departure from the president’s inner circle less than a month after his inauguration.

The White House late Monday said Trump had accepted Flynn’s resignation amid allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia’s ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office.

Flynn -- who once headed US military intelligence -- insisted he was honored to have served the American people in such a “distinguished” manner.

But he admitted that he “inadvertently briefed” the now Vice President Mike Pence with “incomplete information” about his calls with Kislyak.

Pence had publicly defended Flynn, saying he did not discuss sanctions, putting his own credibility into question.

“Regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology,” read Flynn’s letter, a copy of which was released by the White House.

The White House said Trump had named retired lieutenant general Joseph Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who was serving as a director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be interim national security adviser.

Flynn’s resignation so early in a US administration is unprecedented, and comes after details of his calls with the Russian diplomat were made public -- increasing pressure on Trump to take action.

Several US media outlets on Monday reported that top Trump advisers were warned about Flynn’s contacts with the Russians early this year.

Questions will now be raised about who knew about the calls, and why Trump did not move earlier to replace Flynn.

Flynn’s resignation will also fuel calls for an independent investigation into Russia’s influence during the 2016 US presidential election.

Earlier in the day White House spokesman Sean Spicer insisted Trump was not consulted about Flynn discussing sanctions, nor did he task Flynn to do so.

Asked if Trump was aware Flynn would discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said: “No, absolutely not. No way.”

A former head of defense intelligence, Flynn’s encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin had already drawn criticism.

US media reported Monday that the Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the contents of his talks with Kislyak, and that it could make him vulnerable to Russian blackmail. AFP

Statue irks graft-weary Peruvians LIMA―A towering statue of Christ spreading his arms over the city of Lima has outraged Peruvians ready to crucify three former presidents accused of taking huge bribes from the company that donated it.

Inaugurated with great fanfare in 2011, the “Christ of the Pacific” has come to symbolize the giant scandal around the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht, which has admitted to paying $29 million in bribes in Peru in exchange for juicy public works contracts.

The 120-foot statue, inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s iconic “Christ the Redeemer,” was erected

by Odebrecht on a dusty hilltop overlooking the Peruvian capital, fulfilling a “personal dream” of then president Alan Garcia.

Today, unlike its iconic Brazilian counterpart, it sits all but abandoned, unvisited except by the rogue protesters who have spray-painted its base with angry graffiti condemning both Garcia and Odebrecht.

“Alan is guilty,” says one. “Odebrecht get out,” says another.

It is a far cry from the lofty words Garcia spoke as he unveiled the statue six years ago.

“May this silhouette bless Peru and protect Lima,” said the center-left president, who donated $30,000 of his own money to the $800,000 project.

The statue caused controversy from the beginning even in this predominantly Catholic country.

Lima mayor Susana Villaran complained Garcia had altered the capital’s skyline “from one day to the next.”

The statue’s image has only gotten worse since then.

The same year it was erected, Odebrecht inaugurated Line 1 of the Lima metro system, a $520-million infrastructure project that finished more than $100 million over-budget.

The company has now admitted it paid a $7-million bribe to win the contract.

Revelations of Odebrecht’s dirty deals in Peru emerged from a massive scandal in Brazil involving the state oil company Petrobras.

In a probe whose fallout is now being felt around Latin America, Brazilian prosecutors discovered Petrobras was bilked for billions of dollars over the course of a decade by corrupt executives, politicians and contractors. AFP

Relatives mourn bus crash victims

POSE. Designer Brett Heyman poses at the Edie Parker presentation during New York Fashion Week at Plaza Athenee on February 13, 2017 in New York City. AFP

Aborigines still most disadvantaged SYDNEY―Australia is failing to improve Aboriginal lives, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Tuesday, as a new report showed the government missing key targets, including cutting child mortality and raising life expectancy.

The ninth “Closing the Gap” report found that government and community efforts were only able to meet one of seven targets to boost health, education and employment to the level of the non-indigenous population.

“Even with successive Commonwealth and state governments investing more resources, and even with tens of thousands of dedicated Australians seeking to contribute and engage, we are still not making enough progress,” Turnbull told parliament.

Aborigines -- who make up about three percent of the total national population of 24 million -- are among the

most disadvantaged Australians.

Apart from lifting high school completion rates, all other targets including child mortality, life expectancy, education and employment were not on track, the report said.

The mortality rate for indigenous children under four years old was at 165 per 100,000 from 2011-2015, more than double that of the rest of the population.

Aborigines also have significantly shorter life expectancy than their fellow citizens, with a gap of 10.6 years for males and 9.5 years for females, according to figures from 2013.

The community was also battling rising mortality rates from cancer, the report found.

Turnbull said his government was investing another A$50 million (US$38 million) to improve the research and evaluation of policies being

rolled out to try to close the gap.

Efforts to implement policies featuring greater indigenous and local community involvement were also being made, he added.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd -- who made a historic apology to Aboriginal people for centuries of injustice in 2008 -- warned of a “second stolen generation” involving children being removed from their families under child protection laws.

The term “stolen generation” is used to describe children who were put in foster care with white families or institutions under an official policy that ended only in the early 1970s.

“We cannot simply stand back and let the numbers of indigenous children being removed grow year by year, without other options being tested within the wider indigenous community,” Rudd said Monday. AFP

TAIPEI―Distraught relatives in Taiwan gathered to mourn loved ones on Tuesday after a bus carrying elderly local tourists flipped on its side and left 33 dead in one of the island’s worst-ever road accidents.

The group of 44 people had been returning from a trip to see seasonal cherry blossoms at a farm in central Taichung region when their bus veered off a highway on Monday night on the outskirts of Taipei.

Television footage showed the top of the vehicle ripped off, with occupants tossed onto the roadside.

The latest victim died Tuesday morning after suffering multiple injuries and internal bleeding, Wanfang Hospital said, bringing the toll to 33.

It was the latest in a series of deadly incidents that have tarnished Taiwan’s safety record, after a bus fire last July killed 25 Chinese holidaymakers.

Police are investigating whether the bus in the latest crash was speeding at the time, according to reports.

Dashcam footage reported to be from a vehicle behind the bus shows it turning off the main highway onto an adjoining road. It then flipped over, leaving behind a mangled pile of metal which was cleared later by cranes.

Passengers were asleep at the time of the crash.

One survivor described it as “hell.”

“The bus was lopsided when it was passing the turn and people were waking up and screaming,” 54-year-old Hsiao Shiu-hua told the China Times.

Relatives returned to the scene of the accident Tuesday to perform a religious ritual for the dead. They threw banknotes towards the slope where the bus crashed and chanted prayers.

Family members, some in tears, also gathered at a Taipei funeral parlour where some bodies are being stored. One of them said the agency that organised the trip should “take responsibility” for the disaster. AFP

Hole in US dam threatens 200,000 OROVILLE―Almost 200,000 people were under evacuation orders in northern California on Monday after a threat of catastrophic failure at the tallest dam in the United States.

Officials said the danger had subsided for the moment as the water levels at the Oroville Dam, 120 kilometers north of Sacramento, had eased. But people were still being told to stay away.

Several weeks of heavy rain filled the 770-foot-high dam to capacity.

The threat comes not from the dam itself, which the California Department of Water Resources said was not in danger of collapse, but an emergency spillway that channels excess water.

A giant hole opened in the dam’s main spillway last week, forcing the authorities to activate the emergency overflow channel

on Saturday for the first time.

But it began eroding, threatening a rupture that would have sent water surging toward the valley below, media reported. the authorities released 100,000 cubic feet of water per second from the main spillway, bringing down the level of the reservoir Sunday, the Sacramento Bee newspaper said, quoting the water department.

The paper reported that advocacy groups had warned in 2005 that the spillway posed a danger in the event of major flooding and had recommended to the federal government that it be reinforced.

Department head Bill Croyle told a news conference near the danger zone that he was unaware of the advice, but pledged that engineers would analyze what went wrong once the crisis was over, the paper said.

The department did not respond to a request for comment on the report.

Helicopters readied overnight to drop rocks into eroded areas in the emergency spillway ahead of rain forecast for Wednesday and Thursday that could fill the reservoir again.

The California National Guard said on Facebook that it had alerted its 23,000 members to be ready to deploy.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference on Sunday that no more water was seeping over the spillway, adding: “We’re not at the point yet where we can make decisions about whether or not it is safe to repopulate areas.”

Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis told reporters on Monday the federal military was ready, if needed, to provide air transport, water rescue, medical care and shelter. AFP

CELEBRATION. Indian shoppers buy roses to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Amritsar on February 14, 2017. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

FASHION & BEAUTY

D1

Must-have

SPEEDOS this summer

SPEEDO SUMMER. Have fun under the sun in Speedo Male Classic Rashguard L/S in Oxid Grey and Speedo Female Fashion Rashguard in Arabian Night/Jade

A

SWIMWEAR brand that resonates amongst swimmers and water lovers since 1928, Speedo has been reigniting a passion for swimming and other water activities with the release of another innovative collection of swimwear this Spring/Summer 2017.

The Active Collection

Perfect for the active lifestyle of those who indulge in water sports, the active collection introduces two technical rashguards, specifically designed to offer better comfort and performances for different kinds of outdoor activities, such as surfing. It’s composed of a cooling technology, called CX 1.0 that produces a cooling sensation upon contact with the skin. Alternatively, it also features a mesh fabric composed of active Bamboo Charcoal tech, a material that deodorizes naturally and has the ability to regulate moisture. The TX 1.0 Thermal rashguard technology uses a water wicking and water repellent Polypropylene plush fabric with thermal push lining to keep you warm while swimming or snorkeling.

Play and Fun

For carefree adventurers, the Play and Fun sun protection collection provides them with apparel that offers protection from the harsh ultraviolet rays and is designed for beach enthusiasts of all ages. It has both UVA and UVB protection from the sun and consists of a water repellant material that’s light and stretchable. To match, the

collection comes with Full-length and ¾ pants for men and women.

Watershorts for Men

For men, Speedo’s watershorts are swim essentials. Pocket drainage comes back from last year’s line, a useful feature that allows pockets to instantly release stored water. These are perfect and stylish companions to the beach and all your planned summer holidays. Also, new this season is the Glide Watershort – Speedo’s first watershort to bridge the gap between fitness and leisure. The short features an internal jammer to offer an improved level of comfort and support and means it’s the first short in the range that is designed for lane swimming as well as beach and holiday wear. The eco-friendly Xpress Dry fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles and repels water for a dry touch, even immediately after a swim. Other features are a soft plush waistband for a super comfortable fit, as well as a secure flat pocket with lockdown zipper for secure but easy to access belongings.

Bodyboards and Skimboards

This special line had been developed

The Fizzion Printed 20” Watershorts are perfect for beach or pool

Female Fashion Rashguard in Navy / Deep Lilac and Bottoms with UV protection

with innovative features, such as an X-BAND Core that provides optimal strength and recoil abilities, suitable for all ocean temperatures, and other performance-enhancing features. It comes in a fabric that is laminated with EVA Foam, which is a compression molded material with shaping qualities for performance design and increased flexibility.

fers all-over body shaping that helps sculpt your body in all the right places, ultimately flattering you with both its unique lightweight fabric for a sleek silhouette and its visual shaping. Using a single layer fabric that provides a streamlined shape and details such as contrasting panels, and necklines, Speedo Sculpture the collection gives you your best body ever, tummy control and bust for Women For the water vixen, this line of- support included.

Speedo Female Cardigan with Zipper in Navy and Copacobana Top and Tie Side Bikini Bottom in Magenta

Clivia Nobili at SM Aura Premier

Nobili’s clothes are modern in style, as well as elegant and practical

FRENCH designer Clivia Nobili will showcase her avante garde corporate collection in Beau Travail, a fashion presentation and exhibit at the SM Aura Premier Atrium. The fashion show will take place on Feb. 16, while the exhibit will be until Feb. 19.

A joint project of The Embassy of France in the Philippines, in partnership with SM Aura Premier, the event is part of Phil France: Feel French, a celebration of 70 years of Franco-Philippine Friendship.

Beau Travail highlights Art de Vivre, the art of living in a style that is distinctly French, a unique way to immerse oneself in the pleasures of gastronomy, fashion, culture, and sports with family and friends.

Born August 13, 1973 in Paris, France, Nobili took evening classes at the Fashion Institute Technology, New York and was an assistant stylist for Charles Jourdan in 1994 to 1995. She was also a costume designer for films, TV series, and advertising materials for Peugeot, Décathlon, Renault,

Premier Suspect, and Marionnaud then later became the designer of work wears for Chassagnette restaurant, the Opéra of Lille, the Grand Palais Lille, and AUCHAN Department Store.

The fashion show Beau Travail, which means “good job” or “good work” in French, aims to bring a revolutionary twist to corporate attires and would still be wearable in the Philippines.

The Beau Travail fashion show and exhibit will be one of the many exciting fashion events at SM Aura Premier.

Each of her creations is inspired by the popular memory

The clothes feature lines that are simple, pure, functional and timeless.

The collections show how fashion mixes artistic creation with technique

Life

D2

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Ricky Reyes says, ‘Let’s do the twist’

F

INDING answers to various hair problems, beauty specialist Ricky Reyes introduced a lot of trends and hairstyle that are still in fashion to this day. He gave us Crazy Colors, Crazy Curls and golden highlights back in the ‘80s, while the ‘90s gave birth to the Rebond craze, followed by the protein-enriched Reborn, Milk Rebond and the lustrous Regold using 24k gold for a healthier and shinier straight hair.

This year, Reyes gives a new trend in hairstyle perfect for naturally long-haired women who want to add curls to their straight hair. The Twist, which is a simple yet highly stylish way to go about because of its low maintenance, wash and wear design, will save you time and money

while keeping you looking fabulous with minimal effort as it focuses only on the hair ends.

Using eight rods to twist and perm the hair, it will first be cut and twisted asymmetrically to achieve the perfect curls. The Twist works well with coarse and thick hair, re-bonded, normal and even hard textured

hair brought about by too much treatment.

The beauty of the Twist is, since it is permed, those beautiful, bouncy curls on your locks stay longer and increase volume after three to four shampoos. It is very feminine and sexy, great for women with shoulder length hair and even up to the waistline.

The Twist is available in all Gandang Ricky Reyes Salon which has always been happily making women (and men) beautiful.

“I always believe that being beautiful need not be expensive. And for this year, I look forward to making more women look good and feel good,” says Ricky Reyes.

The Twist will definitely glam up your look this 2017 so head on to your nearest Gandang Ricky Reyes Salons.

Achieve that perfect, low-maintenance curled with The Twist treatment

VA N I T Y C O R N ER

Your best skin ally this month

PEOPLE use mobile phones every day in more ways than one especially when they try to stay connected as they celebrate the love month. Special messages for your loved one through instant messaging is very in demand. But among the numerous features a mobile phone has, the camera is probably the most used of them all. From taking pictures and preserving memories of that special day especially if it is the first time that you will be celebrating the love month.

While mobile phones have given people the power to do things with just a swipe or touch of their fingertips, the constant use of mobile phones, especially those who are relentlessly taking selfies may cause some harmful effects on the skin. The heat coming from mobile phones is known to promote the number of antigens that could cause allergies, especially to those who already have a history in having several allergic reactions. Combining this heat to the use of nickel and cobalt in the phone trimmings could also make the skin red and itchy.

And with these skin irritation brought by having too much heat exposure from mobile phones, blemishes and acne could breakout on the skin. Luckily, America’s no.1 acne treatment system, Proactiv Solution has a 3-Step System that is dermatologist-developed and is designed to help clear existing acne and prevent future outbreaks, while gently taking care of the skin. This will also make the skin always ready for a selfie without having to use any filters before posting it online.

Proactiv’s 3-Step System starts with the application of the Renewing Cleanser, which contains Benzoyl Peroxide to help kill acne-causing bacteria. The ultra-fine, micro-crystal BPO penetrates pores fast while being gentle on the skin and tiny exfoliating beads help to unclog the pores of impurities, such as excess sebum, keratin and dead skin cells. Next is the Proactiv Revitalizing Toner which refines and purifies pores through gentle exfoliation. It contains soothing botanicals to gently remove excess oil for refreshed, clear skin.

And finally, the Repairing Lotion, is a treatment that helps to heal breakouts and prevent new ones from forming. Each Proactiv kit comes with a free Refining Mask that helps keep skin clear and acne-free. Formulated with sulfur, a proven acne-fighting ingredient, reaches deep into the pores where blemishes begin. The Refining Mask unclogs pores, pampers inflamed skin, and softens the skin’s texture.

Taking a break from this long heat exposure from mobile phones will definitely improve skin health and—trimming down hours of phone calls to a minimum, lessen the amount of time playing games on the phone, and probably just take a few selfies instead of filling the phone’s memory with a lot of it. By using Proactiv to have that blemish free skin, the perfect photo with your loved one could just be a click away.

To know more about Proactiv Solution visit my.proactiv.com.ph/.

Jergens’ cleansing and moisturizing Anti-Bacterial Soap and Mild Soap

CLEANSE WITHOUT DRYING SKIN OUT TAKE bathing to a whole new level with the new collection of Jergens Cleansers.

The moisturizer brand that has been dedicated to helping women achieve smooth and glowing skin just introduced Jergens Mild Soap and Jergens Anti-Bacterial Soap.

These variants provide gentle but highly effective body cleansing without stripping away the essential moisture of the skin.

Jergens Anti-Bacterial Soap

Dare founder Dr. Jean Marquez (sixth from left) with the beauty clinic’s highly trained team of cosmetic surgeons and registered nurses

New beauty clinic on Timog DARE is the newest beauty clinic on Timog Avenue in Quezon City, Metro Manila’s growing destination for beauty treatments. The professional beauty clinic offers the most technologically advanced and luxurious treatments that are personalized to your beauty needs.

Whether you are looking for treatments in dermatology, cosmetics, or restoration, Dare houses a highly trained team of cosmetic surgeons and registered nurses so that you are exclusively cared for by accredited medical professionals in any beauty procedure.

Dare was founded and is headed personally by Dr. Jean Marquez, who has been practicing Clinical and Cosmetic Dermatology since 1999. Currently a Fellow at the Philippine Dermatological Society, Dr. Jean earned a degree in Medicine at DLSU and later graduated as Chief Resident of

the Department of Dermatology at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Her vast training background includes Clinical, Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology in Mid Valley Dermatology, California; Advance Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology in Houston, Texas; and several Beauty, Filler Injections, and Botolinum (Botox) Master Classes.

An advocate of natural-looking cosmetics and a pioneer in laser treatments in the country, Dr. Jean believes in offering services that make her clients feel good, find confidence, and live the lifestyle they dream. That’s why she offers a distinct hands-on approach and close supervision of patients, which make men and women feel secure, comfortable, and confident in her clinic.

Dare, formerly The Skin Specialist before its expansion, has serviced over 800,000 patients under Dr. Jean’s handpicked team of medical experts, to

cleans, moisturizes and leaves skin feeling clean and fresh as it fights bacteria and removes dirt.

Jergens Mild Soap cleans and freshens with mild cleansers and a pH-balanced formula. It’s perfect for sensitive skin.

Both bar soaps protect the skin from harmful micro-organisms and keep it from drying. They come in 135g and 90g packs and are budget friendly. Their clean, mild scent, makes them perfect for use of the whole family.

“Clean skin is the foundation of a simple but effective beauty regimen. First, take a shower using mild cleansing soap that is not harsh on the skin like Jergens.

Then hydrate skin and seal in the moisture by applying moisturizers after you shower.

Jergens Moisturizers with its unique Hydralucence blend protect the skin and keep it soft, moist and glowing. Just slather it on,” says Hillarie, Jergens Ambassador.

Dare’s operating room is designed and built in accordance with international standards

provide boutique-personalized service every step of the way. The expansion took The Skin Specialist’s top-of-theline dermatology and transformed it into DARE to include cosmetics and restoration, so that clients can get the best beauty services in one location.

DARE utilizes the most superior USFDA-approved machines to achieve natural-looking results for your most confident self. Throughout every step of your service, DARE’s certified medical professionals help enable you to discover the lifestyle you seek.

Get out there. Explore the possibilities. DARE. #DareTheChange DARE is located on the ground floor of ESNA Building, #30 Timog Avenue, Quezon City. It is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday-Saturday.

For inquiries, contact 374-8087, 3741076 and 0917-810-1319.

The clinic’s slimming treatments use the combined technologies of ultrasound and radio frequency of Alma Laser’s Accent Ultra Machine

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Jollibee ads now pop phenomena

T

HE three-part commercial the fast food giant launched last Thursday took online and offline by storm. And explaining why these ads, which run a little less than three minutes each, have now become pop culture phenomena is no rocket science.

In advertising, if the “sex sells” premise is not the route to go, then shift to what “viewers can relate (with) and can touch their hearts.” And when you bank on their emotions, hit them right to the core. That’s what we call “Emotional Advertising.”

Paraphrasing what my college professor told me, this type of marketing strategy relies on emotion, rather than information, to make brand decisions.

And Jollibee did exactly just that – using emotional responses to get people’s attention.

While it’s obvious that the main intention of Jollibee is to sell its products that are cooked in just few minutes behind its kitchen counters, this time though, it banks on the power of social media to drive connection and awareness. In less than 24 hours, the “Vow” advert garnered more than 10 million views on Jollibee’s official Facebook page and generated an avalanche of memes shared across all social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To date, the three ads have already generated more than 30 million views on Facebook alone.

That should be no surprise. As

The second commercial tells the story of a college boy who goes out of his way to express his admiration for his crush

The third video, titled “Date” and directed by Pepe Diokno, has touched the hearts of the netizens

FRIENDZONED. Swoon-worthy fitness buff Mark Joseph Tam as the "Best Friend" in the viral ad called "Vow" emotional beings, we are carried away how “the best friend” professed his love and loyalty to his soul mate only to let her go and be in the arms of another man.

He’s a masochist. This unrequited love tackles the sacrifices that a person would go through for the love of his life. So, a lot of people can relate. Amen?

Next, people cried when the “Date”

ad was released. If you cried when you finally realized that the boy in the commercial was actually preparing a date with his mom, initially imagined by his dead father who’s giving him instruction via a recorded clip before he passed away, don’t worry. This doesn’t challenge your emotional stability. Crying over this heartwarming

commercial is a sign of your emotional stability. It’s a basic emotional response according to a recent research that says crying greatly improves people’s capacity for empathy. Again, people can relate to that – you know, when someone plays with our emotions.

Then, there’s the third ad that follows the basic formula of every romcom

on TV and the big screens. “Crush” celebrates the joy of those who never gave up on love. In the first two minutes, the ad tells the story of a boy who leaves Jollibee burgers as anonymous gifts for his high school crush. Initially thought as a heartbreak story, it turns out to be the other way around with a happy ending twist. It is revealed that both of them ended up marrying and building a family together.

And another thing, apart from Kapuso actress Ash Ortega (InstaDad, Wish I May, and Oh My Mama), Jollibee chose virtually unknown talents and models to act in the three-part Valentine series.

With the absence of big stars, this makes these commercials even more relatable, not to mention that the adverts were inspired by true stories.

The three equally heartwarming and heartbreaking stories feature various levels of love among individuals, which took cue from the young generation’s obsession with “hugot” stories. Hence, the countless “hugot” lines that flooded the Internet as soon as these ads broke the Internet.

Now, the ads are undoubtedly highly successful and the executives from the fast food giant are content with what the ad agency did for their brand, but will this social media phenom turn into sales?

Will our request for “thigh part only fried chicken bucket” be accommodated for delivery, dine in, and take-out orders?

These are the big questions.

Elmo Magalona, Sarah Geronimo lead 12TH MYX Music Awards nominees

Australian rock band The Temper Trap leads this year's Wanderland music fest

Wanderland music fest heads to Filinvest City FILINVEST City brings Wanderland Music and Arts Festival to the south of the metro on March 4. The event will take place at the newly developed Filinvest City Event Grounds. The outdoor event venue, which is ready to accommodate the biggest events in the country, is sure to give a refreshing vibe to all guests.

Themed Wanderland Jungle, this year promises to be even more exciting as international names including The Temper Trap, The Ting Tings, Explosions in the Sky, Yuna, Purity Ring, Honne, LANY, and Woodlock, as well as homegrown indie artists such as Up Dharma Down, Tom’s Story,Gab and John of Urbandub, Fools & Foes, Reese Lansangan, Lola

Amour, Banna Harbera, and Mickey Sulit come together for a roaring good time in Filinvest City.

Adding a colorful jungle vibe to the music festival are live art performances from talented muralists and illustrators including Jappy Agoncillo, KFK Collective, Quatro Hapimeel, and Ysabella Lalu.

With thousands of Wanderers each year, they can definitely expect a feast for the eyes and ears as they enjoy good music. All these take place amid lush green sceneries of the outdoors at Filinvest City.

For more information, visit Wanderland’s website at http:// wanderlandfestival.com/.

RAPPER/SINGER Elmo Magalona and Popstar Sarah Geronimo lead the star-studded nominees in the 12th MYX Music Awards in March.

Elmo tops all nominees with seven nods including Favorite Music Video, Favorite Song, Favorite Artist, Favorite Male Artist, Favorite MYX Celebrity VJ, and Favorite Collaboration and Favorite Media Soundtrack alongside his love team partner Janella Salvador.

Sarah comes in second with five nominations, which include Favorite Music Video, Favorite Song, Favorite Artist, and Favorite Female Artist. Her song “The Great Unknown” with band Hale is also nominated for Favorite Collaboration, putting her head-to-head with Elmo in all her nominated categories.

Other OPM artists who bagged a handful of nominations are The Voice Kids alumnus Darren Espanto, MYX’s very own VJ Sharlene San Pedro, and James Reid. Last year, it

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

ACROSS 1 Hoax 5 Cognac rating 9 Purplish flower 14 Gutter locale 15 Wonder Woman’s friend 16 Thwart the goalie 17 Triangle tip 18 Sundae topping 19 Whale’s diet 20 Earned 22 Oval-nest builders 24 Surfer’s summit 26 The Plastic — Band 27 Brief romance 30 Gets cozy 35 Transported 36 Woodpecker treat 37 Mark’s successor 38 Car grill cover 39 Droopy-eared one 42 Stick up 43 Singer — Redding 45 Europe-Asia range 46 Whisper on stage 48 Wire 50 More softhearted

51 Rib- — steak 52 Toughen up 54 Spendthrift 58 Notice 62 Old cattle town 63 Like the U.N. 65 Pored over 66 Thesaurus man 67 Payroll deduction 68 Vulcan’s forge 69 Get the lead out?

70 Pre-college 71 Judge DOWN 1 Thin stratum 2 Horn, for one 3 Claim 4 Like refried beans 5 Facade 6 Small earrings 7 Slugger Mel — of yore 8 El —, Texas 9 Sounding out 10 Dickens’ heavy 11 Hard work 12 — Stanley Gardner 13 Family mems.

21 Gives it a go 23 Trip itinerary 25 Seaquake aftermath 27 Monks’ superior 28 Specialty

29 Hardly robust 31 Simon or Diamond 32 Like the tabloids 33 Crumble away 34 Not pickled 36 “— Smile” (Hall & Oates tune) 40 Make baby food 41 Wildlife refuges 44 Does a slow burn 47 Made a mean face 49 Whirl around

50 Genghis’ grandson 53 Gunslinger’s tally 54 As time — on 55 Bing Crosby tune 56 It’s a long story 57 Vitality 59 Solar plexus 60 Barn topper 61 Red-waxed cheese 64 Naught

Sarah G has five nominations including Favorite Song and Favorite Artist

Following in his father's footsteps. Elmo Magalona tops all MYX Music Awards nominees with seven nods.

was James’ girlfriend and onscreen partner, Nadine Lustre who emerged on top of the Awards Night with five wins out of six nominations.

Last year’s Favorite Media Soundtrack winner Kyla, competes again with JaDine in the same category for her song and the love team’s teleserye soundtrack, Til I Met You, against the couple’s This Time. Last year, Kyla and the ‘It’ couple also battled in the

same category with their songs “On The Wings of Love” and “Hanap-hanap,” respectively.

To vote, visit http://myxph. com/myxmusicawards/vote/.

Fans can vote once per IP address, per category each day.

Meanwhile, music fans are in for a treat this month with the hosting debut of the newest heartthrobs on the music scene, Ford Valencia, João Constancia, Niel Murillo, Russell Reyes, and Tristan

Ramirez of BoybandPH. The boys first took Pop MYX by storm and will be doing My MYX until Feb. 18, and Mellow MYX from Feb. 19 to 25.

Gary Valenciano joins in the fun as he takes center stage as the MYX Headliner of the month while Star Music’s first acoustic duo, Migz & Maya, takes on the MYX Spotlight. For MYX Presents!, watch singer/ songwriter Ed Sheeran in both Thinking Out Loud (Feb. 16) and Live in Dublin (Feb. 23).

MYX channel also celebrates the Day of Hearts through “#LoveOnMYX”, a MYX Valentine Special today. The audience can dedicate a music video for a special someone through the official MYX site (www.myxph.com).

MYX, the number one music channel in the country is on Skycable channel 23. For more information on the channel, log on to www.myxph.com, follow Myx on Instagram (@myxph) and Twitter (@MYXPhilippines).

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Paolo Valenciano adds another achievement in his resume as he directs his father's "Love In Motion" concert

PAOLO

VALENCIANO makes musical magic in Gary V’s ‘Love In Motion’

Rising stars Vin Abrenica and Sophie Albert

Seasoned actor Elizabeth Oropesa plays a pivotal role in the Gil Portes movie

‘O Maliwanag Na Buwan’ lights up ‘MOONLIGHT OVER BALER’ ISAH V. RED

E

VERY romantic film needs a theme song to set the mood, move the narrative forward, convey the characters’ feelings and capture the audience’s hearts.

Moonlight Over Baler, rated B by the Cinema Evaluation Board and the newest film from T-Rex Entertainment, tells the story of Fidela, a retired schoolteacher in Baler who is still pining for her lost love Nestor, a World War II soldier. Fidela’s world turns upsidedown when she meets Kenji, a Japanese photojournalist who eventually seeks her help to court Roryė Moonlight Over Baler, still showing in cinemas, is based on the experiences of the aunt of director Gil Portes. His aunt was so loyal to her former fiancé who did not come home after the war. She remained single and in her middle age met a young man who had a striking resemblance to her lost love.

Portes opened up about his aunt to screenwriter Eric Ramos. Immediately, the latter had the song “O Maliwanag na Buwan” in mind. “I included the song in the script. Angkop na angkop sa situation ni Fidela,” says Eric.

The noted writer had learned the ballad from a grand uncle. Eric reveals, “He taught it to me when I was only five years old.”

“O Maliwanag na Buwan” is the Tagalog version of the Ilokano folk song “O Naraniag O Bulan.” National Artist Levi Celerio translated the Ilocano lyrics to Tagalog. Asia’s Queen of Song Pilita Corrales recorded the song, which became one of her signature tunes.

As fate would have it, producer Rex Tiri, the big boss of T-Rex Entertainment, is a genuine Ilocano.

Rex tells more about the ditty. “Lahat ng llocano alam ang kantang ‘yon.

Sinasayaw sa mga fiesta. Hindi

Film producer and director Gil Portes

Screenwriter Eric Ramos with "Moonlight Over Baler" lead star Ellen Adarna

puwedeng mawala ang ‘O Maliwanag na Buwan’ sa mga importanteng okasyon sa Ilocos. Mula bata hanggang matanda kabisado ito. Malawak ang appeal ng song.”

Eric and Rex hope that like them viewers of Moonlight Over Baler will also be captivated by this lovely song.

Musician Francis de Vera made a modem jazz arrangement exclusively for the film soundtrack.

Moonlight Over Baler stars Elizabeth Oropesa, Ellen Adarna, Vin Abrenica, and Sophie Albert, among others.

For updates, check out the movie’s FB page where a videoke video of “O Maliwaneag Na Buwan” is posted. *** TOFARM ushers 2017 with two grand events that celebrate the lives of farmers in a non- conventional yet highly artistic way.

The 2nd TOFARM Filrp Festival is set to light up the silver screen once more with a new batch of entries. Following its successful debut in July 2016, this year’s edition of the TOFARM Film Festival promises to be another bountiful harvest of cinematic excellence.

“We were overwhelmed with the turnout of last year’s festival,” says Festival Director Maryo J. De Los Reyes, “The festival was warmly

received by the movie industry, and a lot of independent producers and directors expressed their interest to join this year.”

He also notes that the number of script submitted doubled this year.

This only proves that filmmakers are tremendously interested to participate in a festival that revolves around the farming industry and, at the same time, provides a venue for them to showcase their craft,” adds the award-winning television and film director.

With this year’s theme, “Planting the seeds of change”, a total of six films were chosen to be this year’s official entries.

In addition to the film festival, TOFARM also announces the list of entries that qualified for the first ever TOFARM Songwriting Competition.

Launched in May 2016, the competition is open to both amateur and professional songwriters whose task is to come up with an original composition about agriculture, with the central theme, “Planting the seeds of change.”

Noted musical director Ria VillenaOsorio is at the helm of the competition, together with the selection panel composed of Josefino Chino Toledo, Luchie Roque, Olivier Ochanine, and Jed Balsamo.

“I am excited to work on this new

project under TOFARM. This is the first time I will be heading a competition that celebrates farmers and farming,” Osorio enthuses.

Again with this year’s theme, “Planting the seeds of change”, a total of ten songs were chosen to be this year’s official entries. The finals night is slated on April 9 at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier.

Both TOFARM Film Festival and Songwriting Competition are under the patronage of Dr. Milagros O. How, TOFARM Chief Advocate and Executive Vice-President of Universal Harvester, Inc. Her vision is to give due recognition to the selfless contribution of farmers to the nation.

“Our farmers have been diligently working in the field to make sure we all have food on our tables. It is high time that we celebrate their hard work through popular media so that more people can appreciate their valuable role in our lives,” explains Dr. How. Aside from these undertakings, TOFARM is also behind the Search and Award for Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines, an internationally acclaimed awardgiving body that recognizes the achievements of farmers, fisherfolk, livestock raisers, cooperatives, and local government units in the advancement of the agriculture sector.

“We are greatly indebted to our farmers, and we at TOFARM can only do so much to make them feel that all their efforts are sincerely appreciated,” says Dr. How.

CONCERT aficionados are sure to have a blast on the opening night of Gary Valenciano’s Love in Motion—Gary V’s first solo Valentine concert in Manila in over a decade—tonight and tomorrow at the grand ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, The Fort.

The concert is expected to be both nostalgic and spectacular as it aims to present the multifaceted Gary V in a whole new light as he performs with a big band in the dinner-concert fundraiser under the direction of his equally talented son Paolo Valenciano.

Paolo Valenciano is a chip off the old block. His resume as a director consists of indie efforts and mainstream ventures, winning accolades along the way. Paolo co-directed Arise: Gary V 3.0 with his father and the event won Concert of the Year at the 2015 PMPC Star Awards for Music. Also, the music video of Bamboo’s “Firepower” which Paolo directed romped off with the Favorite Rock Video nod in the 2016 Myx Music Awards.

Paolo has also helmed the major concerts of popular artists like Sharon Cuneta, Sarah Geronimo, Toni Gonzaga, Spongecola, and Sam Concepcion. He also directed Next Attraction – a concert featuring himself together with the children of his parents’ colleagues Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kuh Ledesma and Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, namely Karylle, Isabella Gonzalez, and Robin Nievera.

That didn’t however stop him from making time to direct indie bands like December Avenue and his own rock band Salamin. Paolo also squeezes into his schedule corporate shows for big corporations like the Ayala Malls, and high profile events like special shows for the APEC heads of state that happened at Green Sun and the Mall Of Asia Arena last year with US President Barack Obama in attendance.

But then again, Paolo who is also a singer like his parents Gary V and mom Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano.

Paolo was a former mainstay in ASAP and is the front man of Salamin and was nominated for Best Rock Song in 2015. As a solo artist he recorded a fulllength studio album under Star Music titled Silence/Noise.

Apart from Love In Motion and Arise 3.0, Paolo has collaborated with Gary in co-directing other previous concerts – On Higher Ground, Tuesdays With Gary, and Gary V Presents. “It is always an honor and quite an experience to work with my dad,” says Paolo. “I appreciate most of all the exchange of ideas. I get to bring something new to the table and he is receptive to my ideas but I also learn a lot from him being the seasoned performer that he is. My dad occupies a singular, irreplaceable spot in the local entertainment hierarchy.”

Love In Motion resonates with a lovefilled, dance-inducing vibe as Gary performs with special guest Anna Fegi, the Manoeuvres, and the 19-piece AMP Band under the musical direction of Mel Villena, choreography by Nancy Crowe, and vocal direction by Mon Faustino. To the uninitiated, big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and became popular during the Swing era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s.

Love In Motion is a chance to experience a very different Gary Valenciano as his admirers and concertgoers have never seen and heard him before.

Proceeds of Love In Motion will go to the Shining Light Foundation, Inc., Operation Blessing Foundation, Inc. for the benefit of victims of the recent Typhoon Nina and UNICEF for special causes of children.

For ticket inquiries or table reservations, please call +639175399584 or TicketWorld (8919999).