Manila Standard - 2017 March 25 - Saturday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 43 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Rody hits 3 loudest critics

By John Paolo Bencito his ilk. The other is De there?” Duterte said of PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night accused three of his loudest critics—Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, detained Senator Leila de Lima and Vice President Leni Robredo—as being behind the move to boot him out of Malacañang.

“Look, let’s be frank here. They want me ousted. Who’s behind it? This Trillanes, he’s a soldier but better off as a security guard, and

Lima, she wants me out,” Duterte told a national convention of lawyers in Pasay City Thursday evening, drawing laughter from the audience.

Duterte continued with his list of those moving to unseat him, tagging Robredo as one of those plotting for his ouster, even though he has asked his allies to stop attempts to impeach her.

“The third is Leni. Why wait if the opportunity is

Robredo, whom he earlier said was “in a hurry” to replace him.

Still, he urged his supporters to just let Robredo criticize him because that’s how politics works.

Duterte made these pronouncements after he rejected moves to oust Robredo, saying that an impeachment case against her would only create more trouble in the country, especially now that security forces are facing so many Next page challenges.

‘House duty-bound to impeach officials’

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

HAVING A GOOD CHAT. President Rodrigo Duterte, who has called Vice President Leni Robredo among three critics who want him out of

Malacañang, appears luxuriating beside his critic while Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez continues to assert the independence of the House of Representatives in deciding the fate of the separate impeachment complaints against the country’s two top officials. Malacañang Photo

SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday asserted the independence of the House of Representatives in deciding the fate of the separate impeachment complaints against President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Alvarez said while he respects the President’s call to stop impeachment moves against Robredo, the House is bound by its constitutional duty to process

the complaints independently from the executive.

“To me, that was just a statement of the President. But of course we all know the President cannot order Congress around,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.

He added that the separation of powers among the three main branches of the government as well as their respective duties are clearly specified in the Constitution.

“As I said, Congress will not Next page

Ombudsman in trouble

Faces disbarment for clearing Aquino of DAP raps Mighty tax stamps fake, Customs claims

By Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

THE Bureau of Customs on Friday seized P3.2 billion worth of Mighty cigarettes allegedly bearing fake tax stamps in a raid in two warehouses in Matimbubong village, Bulacan.

At least 160,000 master cases of Mighty cigarettes were found in the warehouses, said Capt. Joenel Pogoy who conducted the raid in coordination with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, local police and village officials.

He said the first warehouse contained 145,000 master cases of cigarettes with an estimated value of P2.9 billion. The raiding team found 15,000 master cases worth around P300 million inside the second facility.

“Using the BIR stamp verifier, the team confirmed that the cigarettes had been marked with fake tax stamps,”

Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said.

He made his statement even Mighty Corp. slammed Customs for raiding a warehouse in Bulacan, saying the agency did not have the authority to do so.

Mighty’s legal counsel Sigfrid Fortun said Customs had no authority to inspect excise stamp taxes “as it is a function exclusively vested in the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue].”

“As no fake imported goods or smuggled cigarettes were found inside the warehouse, any action the BoC may take on them will be legally infirm,” Fortun said.

But the Manila City Regional Trial Court dismissed the petition for preliminary injunction filed

by Mighty Corp. to stop Customs from conducting raids in its warehouse in Pampanga.

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A FORMER Manila City councilor filed a disbarment complaint Friday against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales before the Supreme Court.

In his complaint, Greco Belgica asked the Court to disbar Morales for violating the Lawyer’s Oath and the Canon of Professional

Responsibility after she dismissed the graft and technical malversation case against former President Benigno Aquino III in connection

with the Disbursement Acceleration Program.

Belgica said that by absolving Aquino of criminal liability in the DAP case while finding probable cause against former Budget secretary Florencio Abad, Morales deprived the Filipino people of their right to due process and violated her lawyer’s oath.

Belgica also said he could Next page

Earth Hour brings to light new problem PARIS—For the 11th year running, cities worldwide will turn their lights off Saturday to mark Earth Hour in a global call to action on climate change.

But the moment of darkness should also serve as a reminder, activists say, of another problem that gets far less attention: Light Next page pollution.

Du30 renews China invite

By John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Beijing seemed to want to make the Philippines its province as he once again slammed Washington, the Philippines’ traditional ally, for letting the dispute in the South China Sea escalate.

Speaking at the 16th National Convention of Lawyers organized by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Pasay City on Thursday night, Duterte likewise reiterated his invitation for China to send its battleship to visit the country,

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“It seems like China really wants to make us its province,” Duterte said.

The government last week deployed a Navy frigate off Benham Rise following China’s illegal activities in the area, which the United Nations recognizes as Philippine territory northeast of Luzon.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, a newly acquired United States Coast Guard cutter., was cruising toward the coast of Benham Rise to drive away the Chinese ships from the area.

He said there will be regular Next page

OMBUDSMAN CONCHITA MORALES

Millennials in early sex, study says

By Leilani S. Junio

ANTI-CHINA PROTESTERS RISE. Demonstrators attend a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Manila Thursday to protest against Beijing’s alleged incursion of Benham Rise, an underwater landmass 250 kms off the east coast of Luzon, 11 days after President Rodrigo Duterte said he had agreed to allow Chinese surveillance ships into Philippine waters. AFP

A STUDY on young adult fertility and sexuality has linked early sex among millennials to exposure to the internet and social media.

Commission on Population executive director, Juan Perez Next page

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News

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Army-Reds clash: 3 killed

By Florante S. Solmerin

T

WO separate clashes between government forces and members of the New People’s Army occurred on Thursday (March 23) afternoon and early Friday (March 24), killing two communist rebels and a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units.

Lieutenant Colonel Rommel Pagayon, Commander of the 26th Infantry Battalion reported a 30-minute encounter on Thursday between the Philippine Army and NPA rebels in Loreto, Agusan del Sur. Pagayon said the encounter happened at 1:30 p.m. at the outskirts of Sitio Mandanao, Barangay Bunucayan.

“Civilians confirmed the two [male and female] NPA fatalities

that were accordingly left in the outskirt area. Unfortunately, one Cafgu member [name withheld prior notification of kin] also died after suffering a gunshot wound on his inguinal area,” he said.

Soldiers scouring the encounter site later found the dead body of a woman, allegedly an NPA rebel.

“Tracks of blood and flesh from the severely wounded NPA members were seen in their escape route.

Ombudsman...

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the post of Ombudsman when she retired as Supreme Court associate justice in 2011.

Morales is retiring on July 25 next year.

The complainant said that by absolving Aquino without providing reason Morales showed bias in favor of the former president who appointed her, in contrast with the way she prosecuted former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Belgica also said that Morales violated Rule 6.01 of the Canon of Professional Responsibility when she allegedly failed to perform her duty “to see that justice is done.”

The complaint also alleged that Morales violated Canon 7 and Rule 7.03 of the same code on the ground that she failed to “uphold the integrity and dignity” of the legal profession by clearing Aquino of the charge of usurpation of legislative powers “without reason.”

“Taking into consideration the fact that the former president appointed her, her conduct of favoring the former president adversely reflected her fitness to practice

file an impeachment complaint against Morales when Congress resumes sessions in May. Morales cleared Aquino and former Budget undersecretary Mario Relampagos of technical malversation, usurpation of legislative powers and graft charges for the alleged illegal implementation of P72 -billion DAP in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Only Abad was found liable for usurpation of legislative powers, but other charges against Abad were dismissed as well.

Belgica said that Aquino should also be made liable for the circular because a provision there states that it bore the approval of the President.

“She failed to perform her primary duty as a lawyer engaged in the public prosecution because she did not see to it that justice is done to the detriment of the Filipino people,” Belgica said in his complaint.

Aquino appointed Morales to

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be a rubber stamp of the administration,” Alvarez said.

While many see impeachment as a political exercise, Alvarez said the House will make sure that the complaints comply with the legal requirements.

“If there are more impeachment complaints filed, we will study them thoroughly, process them simultaneously,” Alvarez said.

If they found any of the impeachment complaints sufficient in form and in substance, they will make sure they can successfully prosecute the concerned official in the impeachment trial in the Senate, he added.

Since the Senate has the sole power to try and decide any impeachment case, it would be entirely up to the senators to convict or exonerate the impeached official, he said.

Robredo on Friday said any impeachment move against her would be a waste of time.

“I think the impeachment whether against the President or me would just disrupt the attention of

Millennials...

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III said that one out of three girls and boys who are 15 to 19 years of age have engaged in premarital sex.

Speaking at the launch of Book 4 of the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study at the Main Library of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Perez said that based on regional studies, those who have access to Internet and pornographic materials also have the tendency to engage in premarital sex.

He said boys do it for the sexual act while girls do it for love; and their trysts occur mostly at home and in dormitories, often without protection against pregnancy or

Earth...

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More than 80 percent of humanity lives under skies saturated with artificial light, scientists recently calculated.

In the United States and western Europe, that figure goes up to 99 percent of the population, most of whom cannot discern the Milky Way in the night sky.

Troops also recovered 2 high-powered firearms [AK47 and an Akkar Shot gun], personal belongings, and subversive documents left by the beleaguered NPAs. Furthermore, civilians also saw the NPAs carrying their wounded and dead,” Pagayon said.

On Friday, at 7:15 a.m., fierce fighting erupted between government troops and suspected NPA rebels in an upland village in Tampakan town in South Cotabato.

Sr. Insp. Harold Cornel, Tampakan municipal police station chief, said the clashes ensued after about 50 heavily armed rebels attacked a Cafgu detachment.

He said there were no immediate reports of casualties from both sides.

Citing reports from village officials, Cornel said Cafgu personnel manning the detachment managed to fight back, triggering the firefight.

law,” it said.

Under the Rule 7.03, a lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law, nor shall he, whether in public or private life, behave in a scandalous manner to the discredit of the legal profession.

Belgica said that if his complaint is resolved before July 26, 2018 when Carpio’s term expires, the Court could apply the penalty of public censure or defer her disbarment until after her term expires.

Belgica said he did not want to file an impeachment complaint against Morales, but said there were feelers from people that did, including some congressmen.

Morales said she was unfazed and was ready to face the disbarment complaint.

“I have yet to know the grounds of the complaint. Anyway, everyone is at liberty to file a complaint,” she added.

“Being charged is part of the territory. I am ready to meet headon any complaint, anytime, anywhere. Wish them luck.”

those in Congress,” she said.

“There are too many work to attend to,” she added, saying the distraction and the divisiveness would not be good for the country.

Robredo also said that her dissenting opinion on the President’s drug war was not an attempt to destabilize his government or that she wanted to grab power.

A group of lawyers on Thursday threatened to file a second impeachment complaint against her once Congress resumes its session in May. Oliver Lozano, a former Marcos lawyer, along with another complainant, Melchor Chavez, filed the first impeachment complaint against Robredo before the House of Representatives for violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

The complaint stemmed from Robredo’s video message for a United Nations meeting on illegal drugs.

Duterte told his allies and those seeking to impeach Robredo to “stop it,” and said he would not allow any attempt to impeach her.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano filed the first impeachment rap against the President.

communicable diseases.

Perez observed a high incidence of teenage pregnancy in urban areas, as well as the regions of Cagayan Valley, the Cordilleras, and Caraga in Mindanao.

“Every year, 209,000 or more than 10 percent of childbirths in the country involve women less than 20 years old,” he said, citing dropping out of school as among the factors that lead to teenage pregnancy.

The study, he said, requires appropriate policy and program responses.

“The parents’ role is very important, along with the roles of institutions, teachers, the Church and their peers,” he added.

With all these findings, Perez said they gave recommendations on how to address teenage

pregnancy in the Philippine Development Plan of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“We want to reduce the 11 to 14 percent of teenage pregnancy to about six or seven percent, or at least reduce it to half in the next five years,” the Popcom official said, adding that they have also asked a congressman to file a bill addressing teen pregnancy, as well as adolescent health and development.

The YAFS Study is a series of surveys on youths aged 15 to 24 years conducted nationwide since 1982 by the UP Population Institute and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation. It is a primary source of information on sexual and non-sexual risk behaviors.

PNA

Artificial lighting has been shown to disturb the reproductive cycles of some animals and the migration of birds that navigate using the stars, and to disorient night-flying insects.

For humans, circadian rhythms that regulate hormones and other bodily functions can also be thrown out of whack by too much light at night.

Even the most ardent critics of light pollution are not saying cities should go dark, or that

lighting is not an essential element of urban life.

But society needs to address a growing list of concerns, they suggest.

“In general, it’s getting worse,” Diana Umpierre, president of the International Dark-Sky Association, said of light pollution in her home state of Florida.

And things are moving in the wrong direction, she told AFP. “We are predicted to have 15 million more residents in the

He added that the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion immediately sent reinforcements to the site, which is located near the base camp of mining firm Sagittarius Mines Inc. “It’s [fighting] still ongoing at this time and there were already reports of evacuations in nearby communities,” he said in an interview before noon over radio station dxKR. Sr. Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police director, said he has sent police personnel to the area to assist the operations.

He alerted all police offices and stations in the province for possible attacks from other NPA units.

Prior to the incident, the police officials said they monitored movements of NPA rebels in the hinterland areas of the province, specifically in parts of Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu and the province’s boundaries with Sarangani Province in T’boli town and with Sultan Kudarat in Tampakan. With PNA

Rody...

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Trillanes and Robredo had previously denied having a hand in any move to impeach Duterte. The Liberal Party, to which De Lima belongs, had also denied accusations that they were behind the impeachment rap against the President.

Duterte, who recently finished his tour of Asean countries, told Filipinos overseas that Trillanes was a coward for swiftly surrendering during the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and that De Lima was “Satan’s queen.”

Before Duterte spoke before lawyers at the same convention, Robredo called on lawyers to defend Filipinos’ right to express dissent, lamenting what she described as “false security” in the country.

“People cannot point to deserted streets and say that’s peace when we know better.

At best, that is false security.

The challenge is to reclaim the narrative of genuine security....

The challenge is about upholding the quality of life which is realized by the protection of our freedoms,” Robredo said.

Amid the impeachment issue, Duterte and Robredo had a cordial encounter when they both shared the same stage at the commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy “Masidlak” Class of 2016 in Silang, Cavite.

Duterte, who arrived 20 minutes late for the ceremonies, shook his hands with the vice president and engaged her in a conversation.

The initial seating arrangement placed Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno between the President and vice president. But Duterte and Robredo ended up sitting next to each other. Sueno then took Robredo’s seat.

Duterte and Robredo are facing separate impeachment complaints lodged at the House of Representatives.

Speaking at the changing of the guard at the Presidential Security Group Thursday night, Duterte admitted that he made so many enemies who don’t want him to succeed as a result of waging the bloody war on il-

Mighty...

MWSS chief: Reduce or reuse METROPOLITAN Waterworks and Sewerage System's Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco has empahasized the need to conserve water, develop supply sources and improve wastewater treatment to prevent the water situation from becoming worse.

Addressing the delegates at the Water Philippines 2017 conference on March 22, Velasco also lauded efforts of the Philippine Water Works Association and San Miguel Corp. on their respective advocacies for water supply development and conservation while promoting environmental protection.

Water Philippines 2017 brought together some 400 exhibitors at SMS Mall of Asia.

Velasco said the three-day water conference underscores the legal drugs and corruption.

Duterte warned Col. Lope Dagoy, who took over from Brig. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, that he would “have his hands full” because of the enemies he made in the process.

“As the lead agency tasked with the protection of the President and the first family, the PSG will have to deal with a variety of threats,” Duterte said.

“In the nine months that I have been in office, I have pursued measures that affected many personalities. While these have enabled me to help our people, these actions also made me many enemies,” he added.

Duterte said that those who were angry at him are those “upset by the administration’s reforms.”

“There are those whose lives have been affected by our people’s war against crime, corruption, and the illegal drugs.

These are the people who do not wish to see me or the Philippines succeed,” he said.

The Chief Executive also assured several members of the PSG who were wounded in an ambush last November in Marawi that they will be taken care of by the government while they recuperate.

Dagoy, Duterte’s senior military adviser, replaced Bautista, who was assigned as the commander of 1st “Tabak” Division of the Philippine Army in Zamboanga del Sur. On Friday, Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan said dissent does not mean destabilization.

“Dissent to ensure checks and balance is a constitutional duty,” he said.

Aside from LP senators, Duterte claimed LP allies in the Senate are also plotting to remove him in office.

The other LP senators in the Senate are Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Leila de Lima and allies Trillanes of the Nacionalista Party and Risa Hontiveros of Akbayan.

Duterte had also directly accused Vice President Leni Robredo, the highest elected official of LP, De Lima and Trillanes of allegedly planning to unseat him.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta

commitment of all toward a common goal of finding water and sanitation solutions for a better future.

"The conference theme is attuned to the World Water Day celebration as it focuses on wastewater and ways to reduce and reuse as over 80 percent of all the wastewater from our homes, cities, industry and agriculture flows back to nature, polluting the environment and losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials," Velasco said.

Citing the World Health Organization's call on the need to improve the collection and treatment of wastewater, Velasco said "we need to reduce the quantity and pollution load of wastewater we produce to help protect the environment and our water resources."

Du30...

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navy patrols on Benham Rise in the wake of the past sightings of Chinese ships there.

“The Navy will regularly patrol Benham Rise partly due to past Chinese activities there but more importantly because it is part of our Continental shelf and awarded to us by the UN,” Lorenzana said.

Duterte highlighted the many investments that Beijing had pledged to the Philippines, including the construction of bridges over the Pasig River.

“They are giving us two free bridges to span the Pasig River, he said.

He told Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua that he would board their battleship that would be visiting the Philippines.

“China is sending one of its biggest ships. I told the Ambassador of China that I will board it,” Duterte said.

To avoid further escalating the tension in the region, Duterte on Thursday said Manila would allow Beijing to conduct innocent passage within the disputed Scarborough Shoal after the Chinese assured him that they would stop their planned construction of radar structures in the resource-rich waters.

Duterte said Beijing might enter the traditional fishing grounds only after informing relevant Philippine authorities.

In the same speech, Duterte slammed Washington for “wanting the Philippines to be more assertive” about China’s activities in the disputed waters.

Duterte said any miscalculation over the maritime dispute in the South China Sea could mean the Philippines would be caught up in a war.

Presiding Judge Noli Diaz of the Manila RTC Branch 39 issued a resolution dated March 23, 2017, that Mighty Corp.’s petition for the writ of preliminary injunction should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he was open to a “reasonable” compromise between the government and tax evaders to avoid long legal battles and add more funds for social services.

“I do not want to humiliate

people. It can be done. I will allow compromises,” Duterte said in a meeting of Filipino-Chinese businessmen in Pasay City.

Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada agreed with Duterte’s move to offer a P15- billion out-of-court settlement with Mighty Corp. to settle its case.

He said he was also amenable to doing the same thing in Manila to secure funds from the corporations that had been cheating the government.

“Why not? Put it to good use.

People will benefit from it,” Estrada said.

Internal Revenue earlier filed

charges against Mighty Corp. for allegedly avoiding paying P9.564 billion in excise taxes by using fake tax stamps.

Faeldon said the bureau will intensify its campaign against smuggling and all other forms of illicit trade.

“We will not stop in our efforts to weed out those engaged in pernicious activities that undermine and derail the government’s reform agenda,” Faeldon said.

“We are ready to use all available options in the investigation of erring companies.”

Vito Barcelo, Julito G. Rada, John Paolo Bencito and Sandy Araneta with PNA

next 50 years”—with all the extra lighting that entails.

By contrast, in Chad, the Central African Republic and Madagascar—not coincidentally among the poorest countries in the world—three quarters of people have a clear view of the heavens.

Arguably, no-one suffers more from light pollution than astronomers whose telescopes are blinded by the glare of urban glow.

In 1958 Flagstaff, Arizona— more than 2,100 meters (nearly

8,000 feet) above sea level— became the first sizeable city to curb night lighting, mainly to shield a major observatory.

- Not taken lightly One of the biggest challenges in fighting light pollution is convincing people that “brightness” is not synonymous with “safety”, said Umpierre.

“Sometimes it’s just the opposite,” she argued, citing studies showing that people drive more carefully—and more

slowly—on roads with less or no lighting at night.

Over the last 15 years, biologists, doctors, non-governmental organizations and even Unesco have joined the fight against light pollution by detailing negative impacts to health and well being— for humans and other animals.

In 2012, the American Medical Association concluded that exposure to “excessive” night light “can disrupt sleep and exacerbate sleep disorders.” AFP

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF 1,000 Kadamay members want rights in Pandi CLOSE to 1,000 members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap stormed on Friday the National Housing Authority central office on Elliptical Road, Quezon City to demand their rights over some 5,000 idle housing units in Pandi, Bulacan.

“We will fight until the end.

We will stand by our principle not to leave the place. Those who occupied the idle units will not leave. This is their last chance in their life to own a decent house,” Kadamay chairperson Gloria Arellano told reporters.

They will not give up on fighting the eviction, she said.

“Yes, we will fight them.

We have no choice but to fight them. We have the right to the government’s housing program. We all know that the money used to build the units came from the people, and not from the government itself.

We have long been asking for a shelter program, to no avail,” she added.

Arellano said their members will continue to occupy other idle housing units not only in Bulacan, but in other parts of the country.

Rio Araja

NBI seizes P86.5m worth of counterfeit OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation Intellectual Property Rights Division recently seized a total P86.5 million worth of counterfeit Nike and Converse shoes in an operation in Pasay City.

On March 21, 2017, Judge Rainelda H. Estacio-Montesa of RTC Branch 46, Manila issued Search Warrant against suspects Ana Chua, Wang Yu Bo, and other proprietors/occupants of premises located in various units at 111 J. Fernando Street, Pasay City and at One Shopping Center, Kapitan Ambo Street, Pasay City.

The following day, after submission of Notice of Operation to the Director, operatives of the NBI-IPRD coordinated with the Philippine National Police which has jurisdiction of the place to be searched implemented the search warrant.

The operation, which stemmed from the complaint of Jaime S. Dela Cruz of I-Data (Nike and Converse), resulted in the seizure of counterfeit Nike and Converse shoes with an estimated cost of more or less P 86,550,000.

Seized items were placed under the temporary custody in a warehouse in Valenzuela City.

Charges for Violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code were filed against the suspects.

For the first quarter of 2017, the NBI-IPRD had already seized P222 million worth of various counterfeit products.

Sandy Araneta

DOWN THE HATCH. Chairman Arben Santos (from left) of the Southwest group of companies, Marina administrator Marcial Amaro III and Ambassador Alfred Yao prepare for

the sake (fermented rice) toast during the blessing and inauguration Friday of the shipping company’s first Japan-built Roll-On-Roll-Off vessel SWM Stella del Mar at Piet 13 in South Harbor, Manila. Lino Santos

Unpaid estate tax up to 2016 given amnesty by House

By Maricel V. Cruz

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ONGRESS will soon enact a proposal to grant amnesty in the payment of estate taxes after the bills were approved at the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate for action, said Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, chairman of the House committee on ways and means.

The bill, endorsed for plenary approval by Cua, proposes a tax amnesty program covering estate taxes for the year 2016 and the previous years that have remained unpaid as of Dec. 31, 2016.

House Bill 4814 is principally authored by Speaker

Pantaleon Alvarez.

The bill is one of the 186 relevant and important legislative measures passed by the House over the past 83 session days of the 17th Congress.

The bill grants immunities and privileges to taxpayers who avail

themselves of the tax amnesty.

These include: • one, immunity from the payment of estate taxes, civil, criminal, or administrative penalties under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, arising from the failure to pay any and all estate taxes for taxable year 2016 and prior years; • second, the taxpayer’s Estate Tax Amnesty Returns for 2016 and prior years shall not be admissible as evidence in all proceedings that pertain to taxable year 2016 and prior years related to estate settlement cases before any judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies in which the defendant or respondent, and except for the purpose of ascertaining the gross estate for 2016 and prior years, the same shall not be examined, inquired or looked into by any

person or government office; • third, the books of accounts and other records of the taxpayer for the years covered by the estate tax amnesty availed of shall not be examined.

Alvarez said a covered taxpayer, to avail himself or herself of the benefits of the tax amnesty, shall file with the Bureau of Internal Revenue an Estate Tax Amnesty Return and pay the six percent of the decedent’s or deceased person’s net estate within two years from the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the proposed legislation.

The IRR shall be promulgated within 30 days after the law becomes effective.

“However, the proposed tax amnesty does not cover taxpayers with pending cases, to wit:

one, those with pending cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Presidential Commission on Good Government; two, those cases involving unexplained wealth or unlawfully acquired wealth or under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; three, those cases filed in court involving violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law; four, those criminal cases for tax evasion and other criminal offenses under Chapter II of Title X of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and the felonies of frauds, illegal exactions and transactions, and malversation of public funds and property under Chapters III and IV of Title VII of the Revised Penal Code; and five tax cases subject to final and executory judgment by the courts,” Alvarez said in his proposal.

Pimentel lauds colleagues for overtime Alvarez

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE enactment of two bills and passage of 45 other bills and three resolutions pending passage before Congress takes its first recess were among the accomplisments of the Senate in the first two-and-a-half months of the year, said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. Pimentel lauded his colleagues for working overtime to hasten the enactment of laws that would improve the lives of Filipinos and address their most pressing concerns.

“We have been making the most out of our time to fulfill our mandate and push for measures that will lay the basis for the development and progress of our country and people,” Pimentel said.

Passed into law by both houses on March 15 were the bills extending for 25 years the franchise of TV company GMA Network Inc. and mobile service provider SMART Communications Inc.

The Senate bills approved on third reading seven bills and sent them to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

These bills are the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, Free Higher Education For All Act, Philippine Food Technology Act, PNP Reorganization Act, Speech Language Pathology Act, Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017 and the National TechVoc Day. Approved on second reading in the plenary level are the following: Revised Penal Code amendments, Mental Health Act of 2017 and Philippine Innovation Act. There are 30 bills in advanced stage at the plenary level: Cola, Philippine Criminology Profession Act of 2016, Survivorship Benefits, Philippine Occupational Therapy Law of 2016, Pera, Teachers Supply Allowance Act of 2016; Omnibus Election Code, Security of Tenure, People’s Freedom of Information Act of

2016, Expanding Anti-Wire Tapping Act of 2016, Coconut Farmers and Industry Development, Shield Law, Anti-Money Laundering Act; Government Physicians’ Salary Increase, Anti-Discrimination Act, Trabaho Center in Schools Act, Pagkain Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy, Corporation Code of the Philippines, Sagip Saka Act; Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act, New Central Bank Act, Philippine Boxing Commission Act of 2017, Ease of Doing Business Act of 2017, Refusal of Hospital (Emergency Cases), Telecommuting Act of 2017; Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, Apprenticeship Training System Act of 2017, Resettlement Program Act, Rightsizing the National Government Act and Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2017.

The two bills due for sponsorship are the Philippine Passport Act and the Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage.

2 surveillance aircraft turned over to PH Monday

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT. Senator Cynthia Villar (inset right photo) is getting a kick out of watching floats Friday in this year’s Anilag Festival of Laguna themed ‘Handog ng Laguna sa Lawa ng Pag-Asa.’ In her speech, Villar asked the Lagunenses to continue their advocacy and involvement in environment conservation and protection.

TWO surveillance aircraft are to be turned over on Monday, the first batch out of the five planes under the lease arrangement between Japan and Philippines in 2015, Japanese Embassy minister and deputy chief of Mission Atushi Ueno said on Friday.

Aside from the TC-90 aircraft, Ueno also said Tokyo would provide free training and maintenance of the five second-hand aircraft.

“Japan will provide two airplanes during the turnover ceremony on Monday. We also assure that we will provide spare parts and training,” Ueno said.

The TC-90 patrol range has twin-turboprop engine or is twice of the Philippines’ small aircraft which is used as training aircraft by the Japan Maritime Defense Force.

The aircraft has a maximum range of only 300 kilometers.

Ueno said the leased aircraft will help the Philippine Navy boost its capability to conduct maritime aerial reconnaissance over Manila’s waters in the Pacific Ocean and the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Navy has been using its old islanders to patrol and deliver food or medicine supplies to military outposts in the West Philippine Sea. The two surveillance aircraft are also expected to boost the country’s capabilities in humanitarian and disaster response.

supports barangay polls delay

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday backed the stand of President Rodrigo Duterte on the need to postpone the elections of barangay officials in October this year.

Earlier, Duterte warned that if the October barangay elections would push through many village officials with ties to the drug trade would likely get reelected.

Instead, the President wants the polls postponed and fill the vacant positions by appointment.

“I support the President’s stand to call off the election of barangay officials in October. I think the postponement is reasonable because majority of the barangay officials are involved in illegal drugs, and they are using their positions to tolerate this illegal activity,” Alvarez said in a radio interview.

Alvarez said the wish of the President can be implemented through amendment of the Local Government Code and would not violate the constitution.

“Congress has to pass a law to effect the postponement for the Comelec to follow,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the necessary amendment could be proposed and tackled when Congress resumes session on May 2.

Duterte had admitted his plan to appoint barangay officials to fill the vacant posts would be “quite messy” because incumbent barangay officials would likely oppose the move.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Contradictions

A

N ARTICLE in an international publication got the President’s men’s goat again. This time it was a 2,900-word piece at the New York Times, headlined “Becoming Duterte: The Making of a Philippine Strongman” by Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Richard Paddock.

The story portrays Duterte as a thug, a killer-savior, who has no qualms resorting to extreme measures if it would suit his ends, and who encourages cops and vigilantes to carry out killings in the name of his war against drugs.

This image has been known internationally, of course, but the author, who flew to Davao City to talk to the people who know President Duterte, traces

his rise to power to the violence he suffered at home and in school during his youth and early career.

He is a man of multiple contradictions, Paddock says. He wages a war on illegal drugs while being dependent on fentanyl to relieve pain caused by his sickness. He lives a simple life while being generous and compassionate toward others.

He says the most outrageous

things and curses even at the US president, the secretary-general of the United Nations, and even the pope, prides himself in an independent foreign policy and flaunts his lack of regard for protocol. And yet his alter-egos are quick to take offense at any sort of criticism he receives.

Case in point: Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella says this latest New York Times article is a “well-paid hack job for well-heeled clients with shady motives.”

“One gets the feeling NYT is not interested in presenting the whole truth, only that with which they can bully those who attempt an independent foreign policy,” Mr. Abella said, even

as the writer has requested interviews with Mr. Duterte and Palace people themselves.

A few weeks ago, Duterte supporters also took to task an American television show for showing a fictional toughtalking, posterior-grabbing Philippine president who was punched on the nose by the fictional US secretary of state. The protesters must have missed the operative word: Fictional.

And then, Mr. Duterte himself called the former president of Colombia an idiot for the latter’s op-ed piece—yes, at the New York Times. Cesar Gaviria said he was talking from experience when he warns Mr. Duterte that the drastic, violent

approach to the drug problem will likely not work.

How one reacts to criticism only betrays one’s insecurities and desire to be perceived perpetually in a good light— despite claims to the contrary.

People will believe what they want to believe; say what they want to say. Taking them to task for doing is a distraction; all efforts should go into proving them wrong.

If there is one point in the Paddock story that we agree with most strongly, it is that Mr. Duterte is full of contradictions. How else can you explain a tough-talking head of state being unpresidentially hyper-sensitive?

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Incompetence at the MMDA, Pasig city hall

Sisterhood POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO THE month of March is celebrated as Women’s Month in the Philippines. It is a time to give tribute to women and women’s groups who, through hard work, grit, and perseverance, have made an impact in the lives of Filipino women. It is also the month to take stock of the present situation, and plan things that still need to be done to achieve that elusive goal of equality between women and men.

March is a busy month for women’s groups and those who are active in addressing women’s concerns, both government and non-government. Included here is my group, the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines.

We were born on March 7, 1987, the year after the Edsa people power revolt happened.

Non-government organizations mushroomed during this time

because of the democratic space that ensued after the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was literally thrown out of power, and former President Corazon Aquino’s government begun the work of reestablishing democracy in the country. Women saw this as an opportune time to get organized, find our voice as women, and work for our rights.

The DSWP celebrates its 30th year this year. Though it has been a very rough ride, especially the last five years or so, we are still here working for and with women who belong to the marginalized sectors and live in poor urban and rural communities.

This March, I have been speaking in various forums of women from different stations in life. I have been in a few events of celebrities and leaders who have made “helping women” their mission in life. The Commission on Human Rights requested me to speak on the problems faced in the implementation of the Reproductive Health Law in their event

for Women’s Month. La Salle students invited me to their forum of around 200 students on empowering women. The Pasig women’s groups in cooperation with their local government unit asked me to speak about women’s rights in

These women are now helping in the development of other women in their communities. their first Women’s Summit with around 500 participants. And, I am writing this in Buhi, Camarines Sur, just after I addressed the more than two thousand women gathered for the women’s forum where I tackled this year’s Women’s Month theme, “We make

change work for women.”

I must confess that it is with community of women that I get the most fulfillment from. In the 30 years that my group has worked with and for these women, we have seen how education about their rights, as well as honing skills they want to develop, have helped shape them into assertive women who do not let others boss them around as they used to. Many of them have become leaders in their own right, a number went as far as winning local elections.

Images of the former selves of these women remain vivid in my mind. Many of them were too timid to even speak their names in public. When asked to introduce themselves, they very gingerly stood up, kept their heads bowed, and in the softest possible voice, murmured their names. Most of these women had very little self-confidence and regarded themselves as inferior to others by virtue of their sex, class, and education status.

Here in Buhi, Belen, one of those who started DSWP in

Camarines Sur, sat with me. I last saw her in 2005 in a training we did in Subic. Belen was beside herself with excitement upon seeing me again and began telling me how she uses what she learned from all the education activities she underwent.

She went misty-eyed, held my hand tightly, and expressed how thankful she is for how much the organization helped her develop into the person she is now. She said that the certificates she received from all the training she received from us are among her precious possessions in life. I was very touched to hear such expression of gratitude.

Belen is not the only one.

Those extremely shy women are shy no more. I see the change in the change in them and often, I catch myself smiling because it is a great honor to have been part of their development.

The relationship that developed among the DSWP women is one of sisterhood. We have faced various major challenges personTurn to A5

INCOMPETENCE is not a monopoly of the officials and bureaucrats at the Metro Manila Development Authority, the agency headed by its acting chairman, Tim Orbos. They face tough competition from officials at Pasig City led by Mayor Bobby Eusebio of the Eusebio political dynasty.

As if the MMDA’s windowless number-coding ban for motor vehicles isn’t arbitrary and oppressive enough, Orbos had this harebrained idea of keeping vehicles off Epifanio de los Santos Avenue during alternate two-hour segments of each regular day of the week, depending on whether the last digit of the vehicle’s license plates ends in an odd or even number. That idiotic proposition mistakenly assumed that vehicles only need to be on Edsa for no more than two hours at any one time; that the volume of vehicles on Edsa during specific hours can be predicted with certainty; and that everybody who uses Edsa uses it only at specific hours every day of the regular week.

Fortunately, that stupid plan did not materialize.

Orbos thinks that only fourwheeled vehicles are the sources of traffic congestion in the metropolis. Actually, motorcycles are worse, because they contribute immensely to the traffic mess—motorcycle drivers create their own counterflow at their convenience, disregard traffic lights and ignore traffic regulations with impunity, and create traffic hazards by weaving through multi-lane roads indiscriminately.

Motorcycle drivers stopping at intersections occupy the pedestrian lanes, thus forcing pedestrians to walk elsewhere and use up the limited road space available. This further contributes to the traffic congestion at intersections, particularly at Pioneer and United Streets in Mandaluyong, Meralco and Ortigas Avenues in Pasig City, and at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Many motorcycle riders do not comply with the helmet requirement for both driver and passenger. When they figure in a road collision without the requisite helmets, serious injuries ensue and other motorists are subjected to inconvenience.

Motorcyles are also associated with the notorious “riding in tandem” death squads that terrorize the metropolis.

Orbos also installed those orange and red road conemarkers on Edsa and other major roads like the Elliptical Road in Quezon City, even if those road markers are not properly reflectorized and pose Turn to A5

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Opinion

POLITICAL pundits, theore- cians, demagogues, charlatans ticians, politicians and dema- and even yokels pretend to be gogues all fail to understand that knowledgeable about freedom, democracy is not about freedom they wrongly interpret democor much more concerned in se- racy as a vehicle to expand curing individual rights. Rather, freedom. Any attempt to limit democracy is a rule-making or curtail freedom is to be antiprocess centered on what should democratic or authoritarian. As be the law based on the approval a result, we now have a dysfuncand consent of the majority of tional democracy. Today, we the people in the community, enact laws from the standpoint of expanding individual freevillage or city-state.

The term demos kratos or the dom without knowing that it is power of the people was first essentially undemocratic. This conceptualized by the Greeks. has become the cornerstone As a rule-making process, de- of the neoliberal thinking. In mocracy should be interpreted fact, Jean Jacques Rousseau acand viewed as a limitation to knowledged that to every freeour freedom. To interpret it as dom one exercises often results a process to expand our free- in the diminution to the freedom dom or treat it as immutable of others.

They forgot that freedom alwould render the process dysfunctional. Essentially, early ready existed right from the societies were characterized by start when men began to roam absolute freedom. The Marxists the earth. The limitation it imgave their inverse interpretation posed was for their own good. of that society as the stage of Primitive communism worked not as a rule-making process primitive communism.

Frederick Engels interpreted but is integral to human instinct that system wholly from an to share. When things became economic point of view of sharing scarce because of population the nature’s bounty found within growth, greed consequently set the territory in which they roam. in to engender insecurity. The Primitive communism was akin system of absolute freedom then to what Thomas Hobbes called became dysfunctional.

Martial Law is a democratic the state of nature. It was the age of plenty, and men have no idea rule-making process because of being left out to die of hunger it is the constitutional exercise of emergency or of being power indeprived of his tended to rebasic needs. store order so The system that the peoof equality ple would be and sharing It is not about able to enjoy was our first their political and foremost freedom and economic freedom. rights. We reWe failed to fuse to accept appreciate that freedom because nature’s bounty Martial Law as a democratic prevented us from distinguishing process because of our wrong scarcity to justify the imposition notion that democracy is about of limitations. Greed caused by freedom.

Seldom could we explain the insecurity was still absent in our logical connection why the sysconsciousness.

Scarcity came about because tem of absolute equality died of increased population. While down, and was replaced by the the Marxists concerned them- rule-making process, beginselves in analyzing the trans- ning with the individual on the formation of societies from that basis of judging who is strong stage called primitive commu- or who is rich. It was termed an nism characterized by absolute epochal event because radical equality, men forgot to analyze change took place in the mode why power, which is the art of of production. Scarcity no longcontrolling others, became indi- er made the system of absolute visible to scarcity. Scarcity then equality feasible. Man has to found its functional purpose un- produce things by his labor to til men forgot the original pur- sustain life. Admittedly, he who pose of democracy as a politi- was able to get ahead of the rest cal process of instituting laws to accumulate enough surplus, approved by the majority as a and later on use that to buy labor guarantee that the rest will still and loyalty of others to submit have their share of the bounty to his rule was undemocratic, that was evolving to become a much that it limited their freecommodity because of the ap- dom. plication of labor.

It is in the rule of the majority Democracy as a rule-making or democracy that has remained process was originally meant immutable. Without it, the systo limit economic freedom to tem could be branded as undemassure the people that the rest ocratic, and the people would will have a chance to economi- have every reason to replace cally survive. This was later that government. In that, deinstitutionalized as necessary mocracy is not about freedom, to maintain the social order of but about their consent to limit society. The approval of the ma- their freedom to attain the comjority was equated as the rule of monweal or the public good to the people. People saw it nega- attain what St. Augustine would tively because the limitation term as the summum bonum or caused the weak to perish much higher good. President Xi Jinthat it was the market mecha- ping of China gave democracy nism originating as customs its most accurate and practical that worked in the exchange of definition, which means the art goods and services. (process) of good governance.

Hence, when society evolved Today, almost all of our electand became complex, men ed officials legislate laws havstretched their rule-making ing in mind the idea of expandprocess to curtail political ing individual freedom. They freedom and its concomitant fear that regulating or limiting institutionalization gave rise freedom is undemocratic and to government or the body that would amount to committing would enforce the laws that political suicide. People vote the people enacted. Whether for such category of politicians the rule-making process per- because they have been conditains to economic or political tioned to getting something in rights made via the democratic exchange for their corrupted process, the decision nonethe- support. This explains why the less constituted a diminution term “politics” earned a bad to their individual freedom. connotation and politicians Countries later devised a term having a very bad reputation. by calling it the rule of law. In that case, democracy has They justified that without it, turned into a system of politithere would be chaos in society. cal blackmail. As a result, we Nobody questioned that except have been harvesting oysters of the rebels, the anarchists and demagogues and yokels in our the terrorists. The rule of law government which is very unis the enforcement of the cov- democratic. enant agreed by the people.

Since our modern day politi(rpkapunan@gmail.com)

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Time to change

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Democracy is a political process

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

THE Gospel Reading in the Fourth Sunday of Lent is about Jesus healing a man blind from birth. As he sees the blind man, he spits on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent).

So he went and washed and came back, able to see.

Jesus’ action was controversial because he did the healing during the Sabbath, the rest day for the Jews. Thus, when the Pharisees learned about this miracle, they said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?”

He said, “He is a prophet.”

The blind man now begins proclaiming the glory of God but the Jews did not believe him and cast him out of the synagogue.

Upon hearing that they cast him out and having found him, he said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have

no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

The main actors in this Gospel narrative portray different roles in the economy of salvation. It illustrates the imperfections of human nature and how Jesus makes perfect these imperfections through his saving power.

The blind man represents every human being burdened by sinfulness. From birth, humanity is sullied by original sin because of the transgression of our first parents, Adam and Eve. God took pity on us and sent his only begotten Son and by his suffering and death redeemed us from this sinful nature to reconcile us unto Himself. The blind man recognizing the Messiah begins proclaiming his glory. In contrast, the Jews and the Pharisees, even as they were told about the marvelous deed by the blind man, refused to believe and instead cast Jesus out of the synagogue.

Despite the undisputed proof of Jesus’ miracle, the Pharisees remain spiritually blind.

The contemporaneity of today’s Gospel reading cannot be doubted. It is true that because of our fallen nature we continue to succumb to sinfulness. Yet Jesus beckons and calls on us to reconcile with him and avail of the fruits of his redemptive suffering and death through conversion.

Oftentimes, we adamantly refuse to open our eyes to the truth even as God’s marvels are continuously laid down before our very eyes. It’s a beautiful country we live in; we are a good people. But we disparage ourselves as a nation of addicts, as inferior to our big neighbor and unable to stand up for what is ours.

In this episode in the Gospel, the most unlikely person, born blind, receives the light of faith from Jesus, while the Pharisees, learned and scholars of the Mosaic Law, refuse to believe and

thus remain spiritually blind. He is much like the blind man who is cast out from the temple because he proclaims God’s glory after experiencing the greatness of the Lord. Much like today, many become victims of persecution because they dare to tell the truth. Many brave souls suffer ostracism and persecution because they have the courage to speak out against the evils of injustice and acts of inhumanity in their midst.

I am particularly talking about Vice President Leni Robredo who is being threatened with impeachment simply for telling the truth. Or Senator Leila De Lima who is being persecuted for daring to stand up against the President. What is striking is that its only these two women that are being treated very badly, scorned, clothed with the scarlet letter. See for example that Representative Gary Alejano and Senator Antonio Trillanes have largely been spared from the kind of personal attacks being leveled at Robredo and De Lima. We are blind to our misogyny; many women, from what I have observed, are in fact willing accomplices in destroying these two women leaders. I have no doubt that Robredo and De Lima are imperfect leaders, that they too have their faults, but they do not deserve to be treated like this.

Yet it is in their suffering, in all human suffering, that God’s glory is magnified. It is in standing up for the truth that many blind men with hardened hearts will realize their error and begin to tread the path of enlightenment. It is only by courageously proclaiming the righteousness and goodness of the Lord, often going against the tide of popular opinion that people’s eyes are opened.

Often, even the most learned amongst us would rather choose

to take the easier path and lend their approbation to even the most blatant kind of injustice.

After all, saints and heroes do not take on popular causes; on the contrary, they undergo persecution because they are never afraid to call a spade a spade even to the point of laying down their very lives for what they believe is the truth.

Today we live in an extraordinarily murderous society. We are witness to daily killings that go on left and right due in part to a seriously flawed implementation of the campaign against drugs. A bloodless day has become an exception rather than the norm. In the face of this reality, standing up and criticizing the failings of the leadership can draw ridicule, retaliation, and even persecution. But the Gospel teaches us to stand up against the evil of injustice for it is the right thing to do anyway. As Mother Teresa once wrote, which I am quoting here in part, “Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

When I was a young man in Cagayan de Oro, there was a song that the great Jesuit priest Fr. Tony Cuna, SJ used to lead us in singing. It’s a good song to sing for this season of Lent and for this difficult time for our nation: “It’s time for us to make our dreams come true. A guiding voice will tell as what to do. It’s a time to change ourselves and show the world. That we still care for men and will lead them there.

We’ll lead them to a place beyond the sea. A place of love where everyone is free. Don’t despair the path to happiness is wide. If we must change our ways call on God for our guide.”

Leticia Ramos-Shahani and the UN

By Ola Almgren IT IS now my sad, but nevertheless privilege, on behalf of a grateful United Nations, to express our condolences to the family and loved ones of Senator RamosShahani. She will be long-remembered and appreciated, as the gains of her work will be felt for generations to come.

I understand Senator Shahani is endeared to us in different ways, and many remembering her today will articulate the dimension in which she shared her life with them. Allow me a few words to describe the value of her contributions with the United Nations.

Her story with us began as a young member of the United Nations Secretariat in the 1960s— when she joined the Section on the Status of Women under the Division of Human Rights. At the United Nations, she was quickly recognized for her talent, learning the ropes of international diplomacy. And these skills would soon prove useful in pushing for the integration of women’s issues into the global agenda, making

Incompetence...

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danger to motorists at night.

Perhaps Orbos will remove those road hazards only when a motorist dies after hitting one of them, and his family sues Orbos for either criminal negligence or graft.

Efficient highway traffic management requires an understanding of basic hydraulics, which posits that a roadway system can be kept continuously moving only if there are no obstacles along the way. Today, slowmoving vehicles indiscriminately use any lane on Edsa and major roadways, thus delaying the flow of traffic on those roads. Why Orbos refuses to stop these slowmoving vehicles from getting in the way of other motorists is a mystery.

The traffic problem gets worse during December each year not only because of the Christmas shopping season but also because the MMDA focuses its attention on the management of the Metro

Sisterhood From A4

ally and organizationally but we kept together. Because DSWP chapters are in poor urban and rural areas, bringing everybody in one place is very difficult. But no matter how rarely we see everyone, we always have a blast.

her into one of the UN’s leading diplomats in this field who understood the dynamics of political, economic, and social forces at the UN. Senator Shahani carved her space at the UN, and is widely recognized as one of the women who helped shape the global agenda on women’s rights, providing leadership at the United Nations, and at the same time raising the profile of the Philippines on the global stage. She was chairman of the Commission on Status of Women from 1974 to 1975. In Mexico in 1975, the United Nations declared the decade of 1975 to 1985 as the UN Decade for Women, under the themes of Equality, Development, and Peace. During this time, developing countries were urging the Commission on the Status of Women to draft a Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to be based on the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women adopted by the UN in 1967. The first draft of the CEDAW and critical initial steps to move it forward until its even-

tual adoption is largely credited to Senator Shahani’s initiative, leadership, and diplomacy, executed in the style she was later to be known for—intelligent, bold, imaginative, resourceful, and strategic in thinking.

Senator Shahani became United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in 1981 and served in this capacity until 1986.

During this time, she also served as Secretary-General of the landmark Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, in 1985. This conference is considered a turning point in the history of the global women’s movement.

I know that the United Nations was not alone in benefiting from Senator Shahani’s talent and efforts, and her advocacy for women.

I’m aware she has made remarkable contributions to the crafting of ground-breaking laws here in the Philippines, such as the Republic Act (RA) No. 6725, strengthening the prohibition of discrimination against women in the workplace, and the RA 8353 known as the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.

In addition to her distinguished diplomatic career and leadership in politics she has found time to serve in the academe, both leading and supporting NGOs and Civil Society Organizations, and facilitating links between government, the United Nations, and the civil society.

Throughout her career as international civil servant and as politician she demonstrated outstanding leadership and public service.

Since her retirement, the United Nations in the Philippines has continued to enjoy her support for our activities and advocacies, especially around reproductive health, women’s rights, and international peace.

Thank you once again, Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani. Many strive to leave this world in better shape than when they came into it, but not quite as many positively impact the world in the way you did.

Manila Film Festival. The charter of the MMDA does not allow it to manage a film festival. *** Through their incompetence, officials in Pasig City have aggravated the traffic problem for many motorists, and not just those from the city.

Mayor Bobby Eusebio’s minions in the Pasig City Council enacted an ordinance which bans motor vehicles from city roads on alternate days of the week, depending on the last digit of the license plates of the vehicles concerned. Thus, vehicles with odd number may traverse city roads only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while those with even numbers are allowed only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

That’s a 60-percent ban against motor vehicles on the city’s roads, in addition to the ban imposed by the MMDA! For instance, a vehicle with plates ending in four cannot use Pasig roads on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays because of the city ordinance, and also on Tuesdays because of the MMDA

once-a-week ban. In fine, that vehicle can’t use Pasig roads on four of the five regular days of the week!

Motor vehicles used by city officials, including personal vehicles of city officials, are exempted from the city ban. Even if they weren’t, what city policeman will stop a car owned by the city’s politicians and their families?

The Pasig ordinance shows that Eusebio and his zombies in the city council behave as if Pasig is not an integral part of Metropolitan Manila. Like many of the cities comprising the national capital region, Pasig is at the center of Metropolitan Manila, and serves as the gateway to the metropolis for motorists coming from Rizal province. Prohibiting more than half of all those vehicles from using the roads in Pasig will inevitably make the traffic woes of the metropolis worsen.

Since Pasig is part of the NCR, its city ordinances should also consider their consequences on the rest of the population in the NCR. Evidently, the numbercoding ordinance the Pasig city

council enacted is selfish and self-indulging.

The city ordinance also raises legal issues that may result in the prosecution of a number of city officials before the Ombudsman.

Motorists all over the country must pay a road-users tax, which thus entitles them to use the roads.

Since the maintenance of Pasig roads comes from national public funds, which theoretically includes the road users tax fund, a motorist who pays his road users tax say, in Parañaque City, partially pays for the maintenance of the roads in Pasig City. Being so, that motorist cannot be outlawed from using Pasig roads for an unreasonable length of time.

The road-use restriction in Metropolitan Manila is one day per week, while the restriction in Pasig City is three days per week.

Since Pasig is part of Metropolitan Manila, Pasig should not have ordinances which conflict with the standard set in the NCR. Unfortunately for the people of Pasig City, their local officials are incapable of rational judgment.

Just like this time in Buhi, the bond is instantly there despite years of not physically seeing each other.

The advocacies DSWP women took and continue to take on are not easy. The pro-women laws that we fought for, antirape, anti-violence against women and their children, Magna Carta of Women, and the repro-

ductive health law, all took many years to pass. The work involved in these advocacies, the frustrations and difficulties made our relationship even stronger.

These women are now helping in the development of other women in their communities. I have seen how actively involved they are social and women’s issues where they are. I am con-

fident that these DSWP women are now fully capable and will continue to pay it forward.

My admiration goes out to my sisters. This piece is for all of you. This Women’s Month, I celebrate my sisterhood with you.

Ola Almgren is resident coordinator of the United Nations in the Philippines. The essay is part of the eulogy for the former senator Ramos-Shahani.

bethangsioco@gmail.com @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

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IN BRIEF DoH presses drive vs TB THE Department of Health starting this year will take stronger measures to reduce tuberculosis to a rare disease by 2022.

In a press briefing held Friday in observance of World TB Day, Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial said that through the 2017 to 2022 Philippine Strategic TB Elimination Plan 1 or PHILSTEP 1, the department hopes to reduce the incidence of TB to at least three cases per 10,000 or 322 per 100,000.

Noting that TB is the eighth leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, Ubial said this necessitates a call for unified action against TB by each and everyone.

She said that to reach their targets, they will make use of a new methodology to detect TB. “We used to detect it through sputum microscopy and X-ray, which is sometimes unreliable. But now, we have the gene expert method, which uses genomics or genetic sequencing by using the sputum to detect TB bacilli,” she said.

At high risk of contracting TB are jail inmates, children, urban poor, those with diabetes, and those infected with HIV-AIDS, she said. PNA

News

We can repair MRT-3, joint venture maintains

By Darwin G. Amojelar

B

USAN Universal Rail Inc. refuted the claim of lawmakers that it has no capacity to maintain the MRT-3 system and deliver its contract commitments to the Transportation Department and MRT-3 management.

“We would like to reiterate our previous report to the riding public that we are near to bringing the MRT-3 system to its optimum operating capacity, with service interruptions, train removals, and line stoppages being kept at a minimum through

improved maintenance, despite the system’s aged fleet,” lawyer Charles Perfecto Mercado, BURI spokesperson said.

“We remain steadfast in pursuing our goal of establishing a fast, safe, and secure public transport system for Metro

Manila,” he added.

Mercado added that the company will continue to assist the DOTr and MRT management to meet mutual objectives in making the MRT-3 system relatively trouble-free and keep it operating efficiently.

At the start of the project, BURI purchased start-up spare parts so that it could restore broken-down cars. All spares were inspected and approved by DOTr. “To date, BURI has put 65 train cars in good running condition. BURI, on the average, restored two to three cars every month since its contract started in January, to be able field up to

22 trains [consisting of three cars each] at revenue line during peak periods,” Mercado said.

Peak runs are backed up by one reserve train of three cars at the connecting track, and two reserve cars at the depot.

Average passengers have increased to almost half a million following BURI’s restoration of 26 cars since early 2016.

BURI’s statement came after Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta or PBA Rep. Jericho Nograles claimed the company has no spare parts to maintain the MRT3 system and has not complied with its commitment to overhaul the 43 MRT-3 coaches.

BURI, on the other hand said,

Manila slams London attack

Asean meet on regional broadband VIENTIANE—Representatives of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met Thursday in Lao capital to share information and experiences on broadband internet in the region in support of strategic regional cooperation.

The workshop brought together officials from the Lao Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and more than 40 participants from Asean members as well as ICT specialists and experts from the region, local daily Vientiane Times reported Friday.

Among the objectives of the workshop was to report on the progress of Asean Broadband Corridor and to identify the areas for future strategic regional cooperation as well as to institutionalize the framework within Asean ICT Masterplan 2020.

The workshop was held as part of the Asean Broadband Strategy Project and supported under the Asean ICT Fund, which had been approved during the 15th Telecommunications Ministerial Meeting in 2015.

“As the digital era is evolving fast, we are now embracing broadband as the key for future growth.

To provide ubiquitous broadband access for users, countries around the world including Asean countries such as Laos are making continued efforts to ensure seamless access through a variety of means,” Director General of Department Information and Technology of Laos Thavisak Manodham said. PNA

PH, JP ink rehab plan for addicts THE governments of the Philippines and Japan have signed a cooperation agreement to support the health component of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa told the Makati Business Club Friday.

Ishikawa said he signed the program for the Consolidated Rehabilitation of Illegal Drug Users with Acting Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo Thursday.

The Japanese envoy noted that the program involves developing treatment facilities, formulating treatment programs, developing human resources, and conducting promotional activities.

He did not state the value of Japan’s support for the program.

During his state visit here in January, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to give the Philippines one trillion yen or less than $9 billion as official development assistance, which will include help in the form of facilities and treatment program.

Prior to the signing of the program to support the drug rehabilitation component of the administration, Ishikawa said Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial and other senior officials of the Department of Health visited Japan from Feb. 26 to March 3.

Aside from Japan, China had earlier committed some $D50 million to build two drug rehabilitation centers in Mindanao, with each facility having 150 beds. PNA

the company has three years to overhaul the 43 MRT-3 coaches under its contract with the government.

Undersecretary for rails and toll roads Cesar Chavez said his agency is reviewing the two components of BURI’s contract.

These components are the P1.1-billion contract to overhaul 43 old trains and P888-million signaling system.

In January 2016, the Transport Department signed a P3.8-billion three-year contract with the joint venture among Busan Transportation Corp., Edison Development & Construction, Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMICorp Inc., and Castan Corp.

ERAP FOR RODY. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada joins schoolchildren in clenching their fists to show support for President Rodrigo Duterte after a program on Manila’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program at the San Andres Gym in Manila on Friday. Lino Santos

Rody vows fund for slain cops’ families

By John Paolo Bencito CAMP CASTAÑEDA, Cavite —President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday vowed to pass a law that would create a trust fund for the families of policemen who were killed while on duty.

Speaking before the Philippine National Police Academy “Masidlak” Class of 2017, Duterte said a “trust fund” amounting to “billions” of pesos will be arranged in the next three to four years for cops killed in the line of duty.

“The government will ensure our policemen that their families will be taken care of. I have also issued directives to provide assistance to the immediate families of your fallen comrades,” he said.

“That is why I will assure you now, I’ll make you the guarantee that I will leave a legislation that will put in trust so many billions.

I hope it would be institutionalized, and that is my dream. In about three to four years, that will be in place already,” Duterte said.

The President also assured the unemployed widows of slain policemen that the education of their children will be paid by the government until they graduate from college.

Duterte said his experience while being held hostage of the New People’s Army made him decide to push with the measure.

“I could feel the cold steel on my temples. The first thing that came to my mind was my child, who was still inside my wife’s womb, Sebastian,” said Duterte,

referring to the presidential son. “‘The one who now does nothing but look for women,” he quipped in describing Sebastian, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Duterte jested he wished for his youngest son to join the Philippine Military Academy and get beaten.

Under his proposed fund for slain police, the government will shoulder the tuition of the deceased cop’s children while the spouse will be offered a job in government.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday joined other peace loving nations in condemning the latest terror attack on London.

“The Philippines strongly condemns the appalling terrorist attack in Westminster. It is not only an attack against the United Kingdom, but a direct assault on democracy,” the DFA said in a statement.

The Philippine post in London reported that no Filipino was hurt and assured they are closely monitoring the situation.

Reports has said five people died, including the assailant, and more than 40 were injured in Wednesday’s attack outside parliament, where a suspected Islamist-inspired man plowed into pedestrians with a car and then jumped out and stabbed a police officer.

“The Philippines stands in solidarity with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the wake of this unfortunate tragedy,” the DFA stated.

The DFA further said the Philippines joins the UK and its people in mourning the loss of innocent lives and praying for the immediate recovery of the injured victims.

“There is no justification for the horror and barbarity perpetrated by these elements,” the DFA statement added.

Police on Thursday identified the knife-wielding terrorist who killed four people near parliament in central London as British-born Khalid Masood and said they have arrested eight other people in connection with Wednesday’s attack.

The police said Masood, 52, was born in the county of Kent in southeast England and was most recently living in the West Midlands region of central England.

He was shot dead by police at the scene of Wednesday’s attack for which the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility. PNA

Registered car pools excused from coding

By Joel E. Zurbano

THREATENING MORE TROUBLE. Members of the urban poor group Kadamay picket the National Housing Authority after the agency said they would have to leave the housing units they illegally occupied in Pandi, Bulacan. Manny Palmero

THE Metro Manila Development Authority will exempt from the number coding scheme private vehicles interested in the planned carpooling in the National Capital Region, MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said Friday.

“Under the initial plan, each car should have at least three passengers and the car must be registered here at the MMDA,” said Orbos.

The registration, according to Orbos, is necessary to prevent unscrupulous individuals who own private vans from engaging in illegal transportation services.

“There is also a prerequisite: One is the car should not be heavily tinted and that the passengers should be co-workers, neighbors or relatives of the driver,” he said.

Orbos said Uber and Grab, or vehicles under the Transport Network Vehicle Service applications, will be excluded from the carpooling system.

Transport experts believe that carpooling system would reduce cars on the road. They said at least 323,000 vehicles are plying Epifanio de los Santos Avenue a day, and at least half of those vehicles have only one passenger.

“Because of the reduction of vehicles in the road, reduction of the emissions of greenhouse gases is also a benefit, and because of the reduction of smoke in the air, it would also benefit the people’s health,” they said.

The experts said the system also trains kinship among the community as passengers would share the costs for filling up the car and also the toll fee. With the continuing toll and gas fee hikes, carpooling might be a possible way to reduce traffic along Edsa, and possibly along the Philippines’ most congested thoroughfares and highways.

Two years ago, the MMDA came up with a mobile application allowing carpooling among friends in the social media or people living within the same area and going to a common destination.

Sports 66 PH bets join Asian Indoor, Martial Arts meet SOME 66 Filipino athletes are set to go to the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games slated on Sept. 17 to 27 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

This is the initial assessment of deputy chef de mission Raymund Lee-Reyes after he and delegation head Monsour Del Rosario visited various national sports associations recently.

Around 30 wrestlers, 28 athletes in the sport of kurasch and eight athletes in dance sports are currently preparing to join.

“This is what we got so far, from the many number of events listed,” said Lee-Reyes in an radio interview.

Del Rosario and LeeReyes recently checked the preparations of Filipino athletes by visiting the office and training areas of many NSAs involved.

So far, there are 12 male and 5 female athletes aspiring to make it to the Greco Roman squad in regular wrestling, while another 20 are being considered in belt wrestling.

Sports officials are still finding out if there are players qualified from billiards and bowling.

In the sport of kurasch, they are thinking of bringing along 14 male and 14 female athletes.

In the 2013 AIMAG held in Incheon, South Korea, the Philippines won three medals—one gold and two bronzes—and wound up 19th out of 43 nations.

At that time, Chery Gamili and Clarice Parcon claimed the gold and bronze in dancesport, while Rubilen Amit took the bronze in billiard. Peter Atencio

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Spurs clobber Grizzlies; Raptors cool down Heat W ASHINGTON—LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and Kawhi Leonard added 19 to power San Antonio over visiting Memphis 9790 Thursday, moving the Spurs within two games of NBA-leading Golden State.

Australian reserve Patty Mills netted 15 points and French guard Tony Parker contributed 13 as the Spurs improved to 55-16 with their third consecutive triumph, staying within range of the pacesetting Warriors (57-14) with 11 games remaining.

Aldridge cracked the 15,000-point mark for his NBA

career with a jumper in the fourth quarter.

Mike Conley scored 22 points to lead the Grizzlies, who fell to 40-32, 1 1/2 games behind Oklahoma City in a fight for sixth in the Western Conference.

DeMar DeRozan scored 40 points and the Toronto Raptors stretched their win streak to four

games, rallying from an early 15-point deficit to beat the Miami Heat 101-84.

“I was just trying to be aggressive and try to pick it up on the defensive end as well—not just trying to go up there scoring,” DeRozan said. “We slowly started getting into it and started playing like we wanted to play.”

DeRozan made 14-of-25 shots from the floor and 12-of-13 from the free throw line to achieve 40-or-more points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career, after netting 42 against Chicago on Tuesday.

“I don’t think about scoring a certain amount of points or noth-

ing like that,” DeRozan said. “I just go out there and let my game speak for itself—take what they give me.”

The Raptors (43-29) took the lead for good after a 20-4 run during a six-minute stretch overlapping the third and fourth quarters.

Damian Lillard scored 30 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers over the visiting New York Knicks 110-95. The Knicks were without Carmelo Anthony due to a left knee injury and Derrick Rose with a right foot injury.

Dallas edged the Los Angeles Clippers 97-95, scoring the final five points over the last 2:30 of the fourth quarter.

Seth Curry’s jump shot pulled the host Mavericks within 95-94 with 2:19 to play and Dallas took the lead at 96-95 on Harrison Barnes’ jumper with 68 seconds to play.

The Clippers had three chances to answer but a Chris Paul miss and two turnovers—the last by Blake Griffin with three seconds remaining—led to a Wesley Matthews free throw to create the final margin as J.J. Redick missed a desperation 3-point attempt at the closing buzzer.

Curry finished with 23 points to lead Dallas while Barnes added 21 and Griffin had 21 to lead the Clippers. AFP

Cojuangco bags silver in Asian archery

By Peter Atencio

KNIGHTS’ CUP CHAMPS. District Deputy Diosdado Sapo of the Red Team receives the champion trophy from PGK Teddy Guasa

during the second Grand Knight’s Cup held recently at the Knights of Columbus Manila Council 1000. The Red Team beat Blue in the finals, 96-75. The tournament was spearheaded by Sports Chairman Joey Balerite Lat (far left). Lovel Deroy Jr. (third from right) was named Most Valuable Player.

Kjeldsen eliminates Rory in World Golf Match Play

SPORTSMEN. Sportsman/businessman Alex Wang, chairman of the Millennium Basketball League, is the owner of Wang’s Ballclub, a participant in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League. Wang, who recently celebrated his 55th birthday with a small get together with fellow sportsmen, is also the Sports Committee chief of Letran’s Alumni Association, which is headed by its president Marlon Cunanan. Photo shows the two officers, together with the other directors Rando Ochava, Glenn Anthony Africa, Oliver Cristobal, Carlos Robes, Angelo Mendoza, Ronald del Rosario and Crisanto Villanueva.

MIAMI—Second-ranked Rory McIlroy was eliminated from title contention Thursday at the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play after group rival Gary Woodland withdrew and Soren Kjeldsen won his second consecutive match.

Denmark’s Kjeldsen, barely in the field at 62nd in the world rankings, defeated Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo 4 and 3 to end McIlroy’s hopes a day after a shock victory over the four-time major winner from Northern Ireland.

The situation was created after Woodland conceded his second-round group match with McIlroy for personal reasons, handing him a victory but also giving Kjeldsen a walkover in their scheduled Friday matchup.

The Dane will advance to

the knockout stage round of 16 on Saturday after a 3-0 finish in the group while the best McIlroy can do is 2-1 even if he defeats Grillo on Friday.

Grillo began birdie-par to win the first two holes over Kjeldsen in windy conditions, but the Dane birdied two of the next four holes to square the match. Kjeldsen won the first four holes on the back nine, taking the 10th and par-5 12th with birdies, and despite a bogey to drop the 14th, clinched the match with a six-foot par putt at 15.

“I’m brought up in this,” Kjeldsen said of the blustery conditions, with wind gusts reaching 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour. “I like to shape shots. I like to change trajectory. I like to play golf in this where you have got to be really creative.”

“When I saw it was windy today I was very happy.”

While McIlroy has a meaningless match, Kjeldsen said he plans to spend his unexpectedly free Friday with his children after Woodland’s exit.

“Due to a personal family matter, Gary Woodland must withdraw from the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play,” said a statement issued by Woodland’s agent, Mark Steinberg. “We ask that you respect his family’s privacy at this time.”

Woodland was the second golfer to withdraw from the tournament for personal reasons.

On Wednesday, distraught Australian star Jason Day conceded his match against American Pat Perez after only six holes at Austin Country Club. AFP

VETERAN campaigner Amaya Paz Cojuangco bagged the silver medal in the women’s compound event at the Asia Archery Cup 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cojuangco, seeded 13th in her event, reached the finals, but then bowed to 6th seed Parisa Baratchi of Iran, 141-146, according to the tournament’s official website.

In making it to the final round, Cojuangco outscored five others, first with a 144-132 win over Chen Na of China.

Then, she turned back 20th seed Dellie Threesyadinha of Indonesia, 141-139, before Cojuangco prevailed over 4th seed Aung Ngeain of Myanmar, 140135, and 28th seed lee Ting Hsuan of Taipei, 144-135.

Then, she reached the finals after getting past 8th seed Chen Yi Hsuan, 144-135.

For Amaya, who is the wife of former archer and Tarlac vice governot Kit Cojuangco, it was one of her best showings in an international meet.

In the same tournament in 2015, she claimed 5 golds, out of the 7-gold medal haul made by team Philippines.

In women’s recurve, it was 15-year-old Nicole Tagle who came up with a strong showing on her first international campaign after taking the bronze medal.

She disposed of 43rd seed Anastasiya Turkina of Kazakhstan, 6-2, before upsetting 11th seed Natalia Erdynieva of Russia, 6-4.

Tagle stayed on course for a finals’ seat when she edged 6th seed Rajendra Shitole of India, 6-4, and third seed Farida Tukebayeva, 6-5, via a 10-9 shootoff.

In the semis, Tagle absorbed a 3-7 defeat to 7th seed Thi Dao Loc of Vietnam.

She settled for the bronze when Tagle bowed to 21st seed Ray Shamoli of Bangladesh, 4-6, in the consolation round.

Cortez, Pagente top HEAD Jr. tennis in Cagayan de Oro TOP seeds Brent Cortez and Gennifer Pagente displayed toughness and perseverance to dominate their respective divisions in the first leg of 19th HEAD Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit over the weekend at the Nazareth tennis courts in Cagayan De Oro City.

Cortez overpowered John Christopher Sonsona, 6-1, 6-1, in the final round to capture the boys’ 14-and-under singles’ trophy, while Pagente blasted Andrea Nicole Gatchalian, 6-0, 6-2, to bag the 16-and-under girls’ trophy.

Casey Padilla, meanwhile, pocketed

the girls’ 14- and 12-under titles. She beat Andrea Buyante, 6-4, 7-5, to take home the 14-under crown before outlasting Glee Juario, 6-0, 6-3, to secure the 12-and-under trophy.

The competition is sponsored by Chris Sports, the nationwide sports retail chain, Toalson strings, UBE Express, the Premium Airport Bus Service, media partners People’s Television, Aksyon Sports, Business Mirror, Philippine Locale, Cook, Health and Fitness, Pilipino Mirror and Philippines Graphic.

In other finals’ results of the annual age-group tournament organized by HEAD Philippines distributor Dynamic Sport, John Renest Sonsona rallied past Matt Steve Palasan, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, to cop the boys’ 18-under title.

Aubrey Calma crushed Gennifer Pagente, 7-5, 6-4, to win the girls’ 18-under diadem, while No. 1 seed Marc Nicole Suson outplayed Andrei Cuevas, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, to clinch the boys’16-under trophy.

John Christopher Sonsona won over John Kian Sanchez, 6-1, 6-2, to take the

boys’ 12-and-under crown, while John Kian Sanchez bested Al Rasheed Lucman, 5-3, 4-1, for the 10-under unisex crown.

“We hope to find more fresh talents in the following legs of the tournament and give the kids the opportunities to play and excel in tennis,” said Thea Llamson-Concepcion, the Corporate Marketing Manager of Dynamic Sports Corporation.

The second leg of the satellite circuit is scheduled on March 24 to 30 at Flores Village tennis club in Davao City.

Dr. Knuttgen, IOC world conference’s oldest attendee

By Graham C. Lim AT 85, Dr. Howard G. Knuttgen is perhaps the oldest to attend the International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Still active on a semiretired appointment in the

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard University in the United States, Dr. Knuttgen, still works at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston.

To date, he continues to take part in IOC activities as Coordinator of Scientific Publications for the IOC Medical Commission.

In this role, he has produced 21 volumes of an Encyclopedia of Sports medicine and 21 handbooks of Sports medicine and Science, each of them on a different Olympic Sport.

During his academic years, Dr. Knuttgen already was much interested in the science of sports so much so he was appointed to this position of lead-

ership for publication activities of the Medical Commission.

Howard is married to Swedish Brigitte from whom he has two lovely daughters, each of whom gave him a grandson.

His love for sports has not ceased even at his advanced age as he continues to trail bike in the forest in his hometown of Boston.

In his student days in high school and college, he actively engaged in three different sports—international soccer (or football), basketball (playing the guard position) and lacrosse, an ancient American-Indian team sport played between teams with the use of a small ball and a long-handed stick Dr. Howard Knuttgen called a crosse.

Casey Padilla in action.

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

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

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

Sports

FEU, Sto. Tomas in key matchup Games today

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 8 a.m. – DLSU vs NU (Men) 10 a.m. – UST vs UP (Men) 2 p.m. – UE vs DLSU (Women) 4 p.m. – UST vs FEU (Women)

Mahindra’s second-year import James White takes on NLEX’s Eric Camson and Asi Taulava as he attacks the basket in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Floodbuster, 89-81.

White’s 30 pts, 23 boards carry Mahindra past NLEX

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE third time’s the charm for Mahindra as it finally got itself in the win column, taking care of business against hapless NLEX, 89-81, to snap its skid in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Second-year import James White continued his steady production, leading the Floodbuster with his monster game and dropping game-highs of 30

points and 23 rebounds as his athleticism was too much for NLEX to handle.

While no other Floodbuster tallied in twin-digits aside from

White, four of his teammates contributed nine points to help him out.

Mahindra improved to 1-2 after snapping its two-game losing streak.

While the Floodbuster finally saw daylight, the agony continued for the Road Warriors as they are now the lone team at the bottom with a winless 0-3 slate.

Mahindra was practically in control for most part and was able to shake off every NLEX rally along the way to finally list a win.

The Floodbuster took a 24-18

lead at the end of one and followed with a stronger second quarter.

In the second frame, Mahindra was able to extend its lead to double-digits, 44-34, at intermission to seize full control.

It’s the same story in the second half as the Floodbuster even led by 15 points on a couple of occasions in the third canto before shutting down every comeback attempt of the Road Warriors to ensure it won’t be threatened.

Wayne Chism continued to show great numbers, scoring 28

Foton joins Petron, Cignal in Superliga final round

San Beda to defend Palaro cage title

By Peter Atencio CAGERS from San Beda-Taytay are coming back to represent the Southern Tagalog Region and defend he secondary boys’ basketball crown in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa in San Jose, Buenavista, Antique Last year, the Red Cubs led the way as they struck gold in the ballgames and shared the top honors with the National Capital Region when it was held in Legazpi City.

That year, the Red Cubs drew strength from their outside shooting and running game, swamping the Central Luzon selection, 9272, in the secondary boys’ basketball finals at the Ibalong Centrum Recreation gymnasium.

San Beda-Taytay athletic director Edmundo Badolato confirmed the team’s participation in the coming Palaro.

Their team captain Sam Abu Hijleh, who scored 16 points for the Red Cubs in that game is coming back with most of his teammates.

And their presence is expected to make the Southern Tagalog bets the odds-on favorites.

Overall, the National Capital Region finished their campaign in 2016 with 104 golds, 46 silvers and 47 bronzes for the overall title, while Region IV-A took second (38-4359), with Western Visayas in close third (35-35-39) and with Central Visayas in fourth (29-31-29).

This year, San Beda-Taytay showed how good they are after they beat Sacred Hear of Cebut, 79-61, in the recent National Basketball Training Center Division 1 finals.

points and grabbing 22 rebounds but still, NLEX was unable to shake the monkey off its back as it continues to struggle.

The scores: MAHINDRA 89—White 30, Revilla 9, Celda 9, David 9, Arana 9, Mallari 7, Yee 5, Paniamogan 3, Galanza 3, Deutchman 2, Apinan 2, Salva 1, Ballesteros 0.

NLEX 81—Chism 28, Rios 15, Camson 8, Soyud 7, Lnete 6, Alas 5, Taulava 4, Lastimosa 2, Tiongson 2, Guinto 2, Khobuntin 2, Baracael 0, Monfort 0, J. Villanueva 0.

Quarterscores: 24-18, 44-34, 68-62, 89-81.

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University, two of the most successful programs in the league trying to rekindle their old rivalry, clash in a key matchup which has a major implication for the No. 4 slot in the Final Four today in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Gametime is at 4 p.m.

With a 6-4 card in fourth spot, the Tigresses are holding a onegame lead over the sixth-running Tamaraws (5-5) in the race for last the semifinals berth.

Defending champion De La Salle seeks to formalize its entry into the Final Four against also-ran University of the East at 2 p.m.

After a disappointing effort in last week’s 25-12, 25-18, 2125, 25-19 victory over winless Adamson University where it dropped the third set, UST coach Kungfu Reyes is looking forward to a better effort this time.

“Hopefully, wake-up call para sa amin. Kailangang ayusin namin, otherwise, may paglalagyan kami,” said Reyes, who is seeking to bring back the Tigresses to the Final Four for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

“Kung kalahati lang ang effort, kalahati rin ang resulta.

Sana everytime, maging all-out na sila kasi second round. This could be a turning point kasi kami ng FEU, UP and NU, iisa na lang ang goal namin. Pare-parehas gustong pumasok ng Final Four,” he added.

Cherry Rondina and EJ Laure have been consistent allseason for UST, while veterans Pam Lastimosa and Ria Meneses are slowly getting into the groove of things.

For coach Shaq delos Santos, this is the time for the Lady Tamaraws to play with a sense of urgency.

“Kailangan naming makabawi. Especially ngayon, crucial na ang position namin. Hindi naman kami nawawalan ng pagasa, kami na ang bahala kung paano namin ia-accept. ‘Yung team muna, kailangang ayusin namin,” said Delos Santos after FEU absorbed a heartbreaking 20-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 8-15 loss to Ateneo last Sunday. “

Mika Reyes of Petron smashes one against Patty Orendain and Genevieve Casugod of Generika. Roman Prospero

FOTON went through the wringer before rolling over Sta. Lucia Realty, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 15-11, to formalize its entry in the final round of the BeloPhilippine Superliga Invitational Conference late last night at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Gretchel Soltones fired 22 points, while Dindin Manabat had 20 markers before crashing with a knee injury in the crucial stretch of this thrilling battle bankrolled by Senoh, Mikasa, Mueller and Asics with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Earlier, Petron bounced back from a second-set mishap to dominate Generika-

Ayala and shut down its preliminary round campaign on a sizzling note, 25-11, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19.

Team captain Frances Molina and Mina Aganon were all fired up, while Dancel Dusaran did a marvelous job manning the defense for the Blaze Spikers, who will march to the final round with a clean 5-0 winloss slate.

The Blaze Spikers will be joining idle Cignal, a Japanese guest team in Kobe Shinwa University and the Tornadoes in the final round of this battle that also has Gold’s Gym as official fitness partner and UCPB Gen as official insurance provider

starting March 30.

Generika-Ayala, meanwhile, kissed its final-round chances goodbye as it fell to 2-3.

One of the seven Filipinas who competed in the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship last year, Molina provided the firepower as she delivered 11 kills and a block to finish with 13 points, while Aganon had all her 13 markers on spikes to underscore Petron’s dominance at tahe attack zone.

Not to be outdone, Dusaran tallied 12 of the Blaze Spikers’ 43 digs, making it easier for veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan to map out the Blaze Spikers’ assault.

Banario: Confidence is biggest difference FORMER ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Banario dropped five straight losses following his titleclinching performance over compatriot Eric Kelly in 2013, but has recently turned a new leaf, impressively winning three straight over top flight opponents.

A renewed wave of confidence he says is what made a world of difference.

On April 21, Banario (116) will return to action against tough and durable Australian foe “Ruthless” Rob Lisita (149) in a three-round lightweight bout that is being considered an early candidate for Fight of the Night honors.

His belief in himself, Banario explains, is at an all-time high.

“My recent wins have given me my confidence back. I’m happy that I’m now able to show the positive outcome of my hard work. Those losses didn’t put me down, they gave me the strength to push forward,” said Banario. “It changed my outlook on life, my outlook on this sport.”

By the time Banario had dropped his fifth straight contest, a 56-second submission loss to Ev Ting, the proud Igorot warrior said he had already contemplated surrender and calling it a day. But it was those closest to him—his family, friends, teammates at the Team Lakay MMA gym, coach Mark Sangiao—who urged him to fight on.

“I knew it wasn’t over. I had so many fans, true fans, telling

me to soldier on and keep fighting and that they still believed in me. Hearing all the words of encouragement, how can you continue to feel down after that?” said Banario.

“Coach Mark [Sangiao] kept a close eye on me and tried to observe my body language. He wanted to see if my confidence would ever come back. I had to remain positive. I knew whatever I needed to find was still inside of me.”

Now, Banario has won his last three bouts, the most impressive of which was a first round armbar victory over top Indian lightweight prospect Rajinder Singh Meena last December, in front of his hometown crowd in Former ONE Featherweight World Champion Honorio “The Rock” Manila.

Banario’s belief in himself is at an all-time high.

MPIC wins Mindanao water deal B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

B1

Globe slashes calls to P1 per minute

By Darwin G. Amojelar

G

LOBE Telecom Inc. is offering all-net call promos for as low as P1 per minute as a result of reduced voice interconnect access charges across telecommunications companies.

“The decision to offer all-net calls for as low as P1/minute is intended to further strengthen the company’s position as the leading mobile brand in the country,” Globe legal chief Froilan Castelo said.

“Globe, currently, is the network of choice among smartphone users and the availability of such promos could further attract customers into our net-

work. The all-net call promos are our response to customers’ clamor for lower costs of call services,” he added.

Castelo said 90 percent of the company’s prepaid customers avail of promos in accessing mobile services.

Globe and PLDT Inc. in November last year signed an agreement to reduce interconnection rate for voice calls

between the two operators to P2.50 per minute from P4 per minute for mobile to mobile and landline to mobile voice calls. Access charges for mobile to landline voice calls cost P3 per minute.

Globe’s mobile subscriber base in 2016 reached 62.8 million, up 12 percent from the 56.2 million subscribers reported in 2015.

Prior to the availability of the new offers, there were no pure all-net voice call promo existing in the market.

Globe call charges to other networks, whether mobile or landline, stand at P7.50 per minute while Globe to Globe/TM regular call rate is at P6.50 per minute.

Regular calls from TM to Globe/TM is at P5.50 per minute

and calls to other networks (including landline) is at P6.50/min.

Under Globe’s latest all-net promos, postpaid customers with Plan 2499 and up may choose to avail of a P299 tack-on that will give them 300-minute calls to all networks.

Globe’s prepaid subscribers, meanwhile, may avail of GoCall50 which gives 50 minutes of calls to all networks, good for three days; TM customers may add P5 to any existing call and text promo for 5 minutes of calls to any network, good for one day.

With the new promos, Globe expects call traffic to further increase in 2017, after reaching 69.1 billion minutes in 2016 , up 18 percent from 2015.

The intense competitive envi-

ronment in the local telco industry has significantly driven down prices of mobile services over the years.

Mobile data rates, currently at P50 per GB, have dropped 88 percent over the last three years.

As a result, the Philippines has one of the lowest data prices compared with top telco providers in Asia, second only India’s Airtel.

Text messaging which used to be at P1/text in the late 90s is now effectively priced at around P0.10/text with the proliferation of unlimited text services.

Efforts to reduce prices for call, text, and data will benefit consumers as telco products and services become more accessible to the Filipino masses.

Thailand’s CP Group investing $2b more

Consumers still optimistic—BSP CONSUMERS remain optimistic about the economy in the first quarter this year although a slight decline was recorded in the overall confidence index to 8.7 percent from 9.2 percent a quarter ago, results of the latest Consumer Expectation Survey of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a briefing Friday despite the modest decline in the index, consumer confidence remained positive, registering the second highest reading since the start of the nationwide survey in the first quarter of 2007.

“This only shows that the number of optimists continue to outnumber the number of pessimists,” Guinigundo said.

He said the slight decline in the index was due mainly to higher prices of foods and household spending, poor harvest, and unfavorable weather conditions nationwide. Julito G. Rada

Board amends remittance rules THE Monetary Board, the policymaking body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, amended the rules on disclosure of domestic remittance charges by all non-bank financial institutions with remittance transactions.

The board in a statement Friday said the move sought to level the playing field between banks and other nonbank entities supervised by Bangko Sentral that offer domestic remittance transactions.

The board last year in a circular amended the rules governing fees on retail bank products and services, including dormant deposit accounts. The circular also required banks to charge all remittance fees upfront so that the sender is aware of the full cost of the transaction, and the exact amount to be received by the beneficiary.

Julito G. Rada

By Othel V. Campos THE Charoen Pokphand Group of Thailand plans to invest $2 billion more in the Philippines over the next five years in an integrated livestock facility geared for both for the domestic and export markets.

The Philippines, according to a statement released by the Agriculture Department, accepted Charoen’s initial proposal to expand the existing facilities in Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the CP Group also wanted to expand operations to Visayas and Mindanao where the threat of typhoons is less.

The CP Group is pursuing expansion in the Philippines because of its distinction as the only country in Asia that is free from the food and mouth disease and avian influenza, or bird flu.

The hog and chicken production project will have 10 modules of 6,000 hectares each for corn and soybeans production to be used in feed processing and about 2,000 workers to man the facilities.

The group plans to create a more compact area for corn production using modern technology to maximize the hectarage and for better or increased yield.

The Agriculture Department said a a technical working group would be organized to assist the CP Group in identifying the areas where the new operations would be established.

IN BRIEF

Cusi wants to retire aging power plants

SITEL EXPANSION. Business outsourcing company Sitel inaugurates its fourth center in Baguio City and the 13th in the Philippines. Shown are (fron left) Sitel chief operating officer Craig Reines, Philippine Economic Zone Authority director-general Charito Plaza, Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, Peter Wallace of of the Makati Business Forum and Mikee de Leon and Sitel vice president for northern Luzon. Baguio City cited Sitel as one of the biggest employers in the city with over 5,000 workers. Dave Leprozo Jr.

Cebu Pacific doubled net profit in 2016 to P9.8b CEBU Pacific Air said on Friday net income doubled last year due to the strong demand for lowcost air travel and robust growth in ancillary revenues.

The airline carrier owned by the Gokongwei Group said net profit increased 122 percent to P9.8 billion from P4.39 billion in 2015.

Total revenues, which include wholly-owned subsidiary Cebgo, rose 9.6 percent to P61.9 billion, up 9.2 percent from P46.6 billon in 2015.

Passenger revenues amounted to P46.59 billon, up 9.2 percent, while cargo revenues grew 3 percent to P3.564 billion.

Ancillary climbed 13.4 percent to P11.743 billion last year

from P10.359 billion in 2015.

The group incurred operating expenses of P49.648 billion last year, higher by 6.1 percent from P46.801 billion in 2015.

Cebu Pacific flew 19.1 million passengers in 2016, up 4.1 percent from 18.4 million passengers in 2015.

“2016 was a great year for CEB as we continue to enable every Juan to fly to more destinations around the Philippines and to key destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and the US,” Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs JR Mantaring said.

“CEB remains committed to further increase inter-island connectivity within the Philippines

to promote trade and tourism and help more people connect with their families and friends all around the world, while consistently providing our trademark best value fares,” he added.

Cebu Pacific in 2016 flew to 36 domestic and 30 international destinations through 102 routes and over 2,820 flights weekly.

Cebu Pacific boosted its intraregional network in the Visayas with flights from Cebu to Ormoc, Roxas and Calbayog.

The airline also launched direct service between Kalibo and Incheon, as well as its first US destination, Guam.

The country’s largest budget airline teamed-up with some of the world’s leading low cost car-

riers to form Value Alliance, the world’s largest LCC Alliance, which aims to provide greater value, connectivity and choice for travel throughout Southeast Asia, North Asia and Australia. CEB also opened a branch office in South Korea, to boost promotional efforts in the Korean market.

Cebu Pacific capped 2016 with 57 aircraft, adding two brandnew ATR 72-600 aircraft in February 2017, to bring its current fleet to 59.

The airline in 2017 expects to take delivery of one Airbus A330, two Airbus A321neo and four more ATR 72-600, and three of its four Airbus A319 to end the year with 63 aircraft.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PH team to visit Tokyo for infrastructure talks

By Julito G. Rada

ABOITIZ GROUP AWARDS. The Aboitiz Group with four gold awards at the Public Relations

Society of the Philippines’ prestigious Anvil Awards held on March 10, 2017 at Makati Shangri-La hotel. Receiving the awards are (from left) Dave Devilles, AEV corporate communication Manager; Malou Marasigan, AEV vice president for reputation management; and Maribeth Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation executive VP and chief operating officer.

A CABINET-LEVEL delegation led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III will visit Tokyo next week to discuss with Japanese officials a prospective list of big-ticket infrastructure projects that could be built in partnership with Japan.

Finance said in a statement Friday the discussions would take place during the March 27 to 28 session, the first to be held under the Joint Committee on PhilippinesJapan Infrastructure and Economic Cooperation. It follows the successful official visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Japan last year and the reciprocal visit made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Philippines in January.

Abe in his visit to Duterte’s home city of Davao two months ago committed one trillion yen in official development assistance and investments to the Philippines

within the next five years.

Hiroto Izumi, the special advisor to Abe, sent a formal invitation to the joint committee meeting to Dominguez. Izumi asked Dominguez to co-chair the joint committee with him.

Other Filipino officials in the delegation are Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Secretaries Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management, Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy and Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority.

Joining the group are Vivencio Dizon, president and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority; Undersecretary Cesar Chavez of the Department of Transportation; and Charge d’Affaires Eduardo Martin Meñez of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.

THE Energy Department wants to phase out inefficient power plants and promote critical coal-fired stations to secure the country’s long-term power requirements while mitigating the impact of climate change.

“We want to use new technologies to upgrade existing plants. Example is Malaya power plant which is up for bidding. We want whoever will be the winner to upgrade it using new technology,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

The 650-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant in Rizal is set to be privatized on March 30 and Cusi has pushed for the conversion of the plant to liquefied natural gas.

Cusi, in his opinion published in the South China Morning Post, said “refurbishing old and naturally degrading coal power plants will increase fuel efficiency.” Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing March 24, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,269.62 31.41

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing MARCH 24, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.325 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.320 LOW P50.375 AVERAGE P50.350 VOLUME 589.400M Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, March 24, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3390

Japan

Yen

0.009015

0.4538

UK

Pound

1.252300

63.0395

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128753

6.4813

Switzerland

Franc

1.006948

50.6888

Canada

Dollar

0.749120

37.7100

Singapore

Dollar

0.714745

35.9795

Australia

Dollar

0.762600

38.3885

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

133.6635

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

13.4245

Brunei

Dollar

0.712200

35.8514

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.028911

1.4554

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.7074

Euro

Euro

1.078600

54.2956

Korea

Won

0.000892

0.0449

China

Yuan

0.145222

7.3103

India

Rupee

0.015284

0.7694

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.225887

11.3709

New Zealand

Dollar

0.702700

35.3732

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032828

1.6525 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines; LT, Melco rise S TOCKS fell Friday in line with the movement of Asian markets after a delay on a vote on US healthcare raised speculation President Donald Trump may struggle with other policies.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 31 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 7,269.62, as three of the six major sectors—financials, industrial and property—ended in the red.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also retreated 9 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 4,376.74, on a value turnover of P7.1 billion. Losers edged gainers, 90 to 89, while 51 issues were unchanged.

Nine of the 20 most active stocks advanced, led by conglomerate LT Group Inc. of tycoon Lucio Tan which climbed 3.4 percent to P15.42 and casino operator Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. which rose 3.2 percent to P6.19. PLDT Inc. rose 1.6 percent to P1,570.

Meanwhile, Asian investors moved uneasily Friday as they look to a delayed vote on US healthcare reform whose passage is seen as crucial to the fu-

ture of Donald Trump’s growthdrive agenda.

The four-month rally in global stocks came to a juddering halt this week as the new president struggled to garner enough support from his own Republican party for a bill repealing Obamacare.

There are fears the bill’s failure would throw a spanner in the works for his other big-ticket pledges on infrastructure spending, tax cuts and deregulation— key drivers of the markets’ surge.

However, a vote on the reforms pencilled in for Thursday was put back a day, with the White House saying it would definitely pass.

The administration gave lawmakers an ultimatum Thursday, warning that if the bill failed then Obamacare—which Republicans

have vilified since its inception seven years ago -- would stay in place and Trump would move on to the rest of his agenda.

Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader, said the bill’s success would be a major positive for Trump, who is struggling with a fractious Republican party, controversy over alleged links to Russia and record low popularity ratings.

And Toshihiko Matsuno, head of investment information at SMBC Friend Securities, told AFP: “Even though the vote was delayed, the fact that it will take place Friday probably means the Republican plan will pass.”

However, McKenna added: “If it fails then the whole house of cards that’s been built up since the

election can come crashing down as traders and investors wonder what the heck will happen to tax and infrastructure plans.”

Tokyo ended 0.9 percent higher, with exporters lifted by a weaker yen against the dollar, having advanced on the US unit all week.

The greenback fell below 111 yen briefly on Thursday but bought 111.42 yen in Asian trade -- though it is well down from the mid-113 yen range seen last Friday.

It also rose against the euro and sterling as well as most highyielding currencies that have enjoyed a rally since the Federal Reserve last week indicated a slower-than-expected pace of interest rate hikes.

With Bloomberg, AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

NAME

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 3.11 ASIA UNITED 48.85 BANK PH ISLANDS 100.3 BDO UNIBANK 122.3 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.26 CHINABANK 40.7 EAST WEST BANK 20.2 IREMIT 1.62 MANULIFE 809.5 MEDCO HLDG 0.66 METROBANK 78.6 NTL REINSURANCE 0.71 PB BANK 14.66 PHIL NATL BANK 56.35 PHIL STOCK EXCH 241.2 PHILTRUST 112 PSBANK 87.1 RCBC 39 SECURITY BANK 201.8 SUN LIFE 1,715 UNION BANK 79.65

3.4 48.85 100.5 124 1.26 40.8 20.35 1.62 820 0.68 78.6 0.72 14.72 56.35 244.6 115 87.8 39.1 201.8 1,715 79.7

3.1 48.3 99.65 120 1.18 40.6 20 1.61 800 0.66 77.15 0.71 14.66 56.05 241.2 110.1 87.1 38.8 199.9 1,715 79.6

FINANCIALS 3.3 60,000 48.85 6,700 99.65 1,858,100 120 2,053,150 1.18 43,000 40.7 87,900 20 2,338,500 1.61 75,000 800 860 0.68 2,596,000 77.45 1,721,870 0.72 70,000 14.72 5,100 56.1 11,000 243 550 115 530 87.8 70 39 172,000 201 382,270 1,715 595 79.65 27,180

193,170 325,505 185,229,030 248,886,089 50,820 3,580,485 46,947,550 121,050 692,090 1,726,550 133,477,294 50,120 74,772 617,204.50 133,922 60,173 6,132 6,706,440 76,815,835 1,020,425 2,164,742

315,805 -5,656,108.50 -86,742,452 -43,569,845 -41,250 -76,278,790 -605,423.50 -4,172,895 6,526,797 85,750 -113,103

ABOITIZ POWER 42.7 AGRINURTURE 5.3 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.82 ALSONS CONS 1.35 ASIABEST GROUP 19.98 BASIC ENERGY 0.249 BOGO MEDELLIN 96.5 CEMEX HLDG 7.55 CENTURY FOOD 16.88 CIRTEK HLDG 23.3 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.96 CONCEPCION 60 CONCRETE A 90.05 CONCRETE B 95.65 CROWN ASIA 1.99 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.75 DEL MONTE 12.3 DNL INDUS 12.82 EEI CORP 7.99 EMPERADOR 6.17 ENERGY DEVT 6 EUROMED 1.7 FIRST GEN 22.4 FIRST PHIL HLDG 72.95 GINEBRA 12.3 HOLCIM 15.98 INTEGRATED MICR 6.93 IONICS 1.5 JOLLIBEE 191.9 LIBERTY FLOUR 72.75 LMG CHEMICALS 5.22 MABUHAY VINYL 3.82 MANILA WATER 30 MAXS GROUP 26.6 MEGAWIDE 15.6 MERALCO 276.8 MG HLDG 0.28 PANASONIC 6.72 PEPSI COLA 3.74 PETRON 9 PHINMA 11.4 PHINMA ENERGY 2.23 PHX PETROLEUM 7.6 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.97 PILIPINAS SHELL 73.5 PRYCE CORP 4.94 PUREFOODS 280.8 RFM CORP 4.94 ROXAS HLDG 2.81 SHAKEYS PIZZA 14 SPC POWER 4.36 SWIFT FOODS 0.145 TKC METALS 1.46 UNIV ROBINA 165.2 VITARICH 1.53 VULCAN INDL 1

42.7 5.37 0.82 1.39 19.98 0.255 105.9 7.65 16.94 23.45 15 61.5 93 95.65 1.99 5.9 12.3 12.82 8.05 6.17 6.01 1.7 22.45 73 12.3 15.98 7 1.55 191.9 72.8 5.32 3.94 31.05 26.7 16.1 281.8 0.28 6.8 3.75 9.07 11.48 2.28 7.79 1.97 73.7 4.94 280.8 4.95 2.84 14.2 4.36 0.145 1.46 165.2 1.53 1

42 5.23 0.82 1.35 18.06 0.245 96.5 7.45 16.78 23.05 14.7 60 90 95.65 1.94 5.7 12.2 12.64 7.85 6.12 5.98 1.7 22.25 72.4 12.3 15.5 6.83 1.5 187.4 72.75 4.85 3.82 30 26.25 15.54 276.6 0.255 6.7 3.73 8.99 11.4 2.23 7.6 1.91 73.25 4.9 278.2 4.94 2.79 13.7 4.36 0.143 1.41 161 1.48 1

INDUSTRIAL 42.1 2,395,300 5.3 476,900 0.82 198,000 1.35 236,000 18.06 41,500 0.255 3,580,000 105.9 190 7.48 18,038,200 16.82 1,267,800 23.45 102,000 14.98 20,700 61 448,080 90 190 95.65 100 1.95 909,000 5.9 801,100 12.24 6,000 12.7 7,293,100 7.85 172,100 6.15 787,700 6 8,056,100 1.7 2,000 22.35 3,208,900 72.45 33,090 12.3 400 15.6 63,600 6.88 731,300 1.55 408,000 188 711,720 72.8 2,520 4.96 1,864,300 3.9 46,000 30.75 4,837,300 26.7 216,000 15.76 1,701,600 277.8 371,940 0.26 101,030,000 6.78 29,000 3.73 2,512,000 9 2,298,700 11.48 8,000 2.24 289,000 7.7 3,768,800 1.94 623,000 73.55 167,370 4.9 14,000 280 3,250 4.94 3,008,000 2.79 20,000 13.74 3,702,200 4.36 100,000 0.143 4,630,000 1.45 71,000 161 2,281,490 1.5 606,000 1 2,000

100,834,775 2,527,043 162,360 320,820 781,456 899,540 18,711 135,160,148 21,314,736 2,384,250 310,152 27,173,128.50 17,134.50 9,565 1,773,650 4,590,792 73,530 92,568,102 1,377,749 4,832,221 48,324,094 3,400 71,719,335 2,402,192 4,920 1,004,586 5,040,449 622,320 134,702,264 183,444 9,417,210 178,070 148,450,140 5,727,495 26,836,872 103,201,750 26,349,700 194,728 9,375,230 20,682,791 91,440 646,970 29,065,885 1,199,550 12,301,588.50 68,640 907,112 14,859,620 56,170 52,039,290 436,000 663,860 100,880 370,663,053 909,490 2,000

-56,294,755 392,200 -76,500 -3,454,646 -6,257,952 299,714 1,941,607.50 -46,295,458 -393,768 -3,943,859 -8,007,089 4,183,790 -430,429 -223,656 1,757,144 -93,399,837 327,275 51,241,975 -2,927,670 -2,015,204 28,299,640 -16,510,950 273,120 -13,567,705 124,220 2,531,434 2,737,291 14,740 -118,630 -8,934,184 -62,498,896 -

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 KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.38 75.7 13.1 1.11 6.2 0.32 0.335 846 8.8 11.64 8 0.183 1,179 6.5 82.5 5.57 1.09 7.95 15.42 0.445 6.22 0.055 2 104.2 2.89 666.5 1.43 274.8 0.29 0.189 0.24

0.365 74.45 12.96 1.1 6.02 0.31 0.315 835 8.68 11.5 7.93 0.18 1,165 6.37 81.75 5.57 1.03 7.9 14.9 0.445 6.03 0.053 1.96 103 2.79 655 1.38 273.6 0.29 0.189 0.24

680,300 83,616,065.50 37,733,624 11,080 204,421 142,100 112,450 374,690,455 709,555 458,013,694 42,934 94,030 85,945,140 181,705 94,467,565.50 557 10,115,640 4,796,637 144,124,900 4,450 510,708,328 2,693,360 3,651,600 38,322,707 915,620 509,407,965 1,265,230 1,461,612 113,100 1,890 28,800

8,306,811.50 7,862,098 37,088,500 -168,967 -123,024,280 -11,937,500 43,341,661 -1,020 3,644,522 -21,359,536 -305,524,606 25,640 -31,784,354 96,589,830 -30,156 -

0.38 75.7 13 1.11 6.1 0.31 0.32 845 8.8 11.64 7.95 0.183 1,169 6.37 81.9 5.57 1.07 7.93 14.9 0.445 6.18 0.055 1.96 103 2.83 655 1.41 273.6 0.29 0.189 0.24 6.8 0.93 2.44 1.32 35.55 3.72 5.13 0.49 1.03 1.27 0.159 0.54 55.5 0.178 1.69 0.98 1.18 3.58 0.235

6.8 0.93 2.44 1.34 35.55 3.91 5.13 0.5 1.07 1.27 0.161 0.55 55.9 0.179 1.69 0.98 1.19 3.58 0.24

6.77 0.92 2.33 1.28 34.5 3.72 5.13 0.49 1.03 1.19 0.159 0.54 54.5 0.164 1.67 0.97 1.18 3.48 0.224

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

HIGH

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 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED

OPEN

-

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

0.335 0.71 4.38 23.75 1.73 3.37 28.45 1 7 0.9 4.88

0.315 0.64 4.3 23 1.69 3.35 27.95 0.98 6.9 0.88 4.73

0.325 0.68 4.3 23.3 1.71 3.35 28 1 7 0.89 4.88

3,570,000 71,526,000 68,000 1,364,900 99,000 29,000 16,019,800 5,194,000 1,100 174,000 2,992,000

1,151,950 48,520,120 293,400 31,920,430 169,640 97,170 450,649,485 5,158,440 7,690 153,640 14,494,760

-3,225,200.00 2,003,915 -1,710 -142,521,135 -7,879,640

2GO GROUP 8.5 ABS CBN 46.4 APC GROUP 0.52 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.052 BERJAYA 5.4 BLOOMBERRY 7.54 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.074 CALATA CORP 2.21 CEBU AIR 94.9 DFNN INC 8.75 EASYCALL 4.75 FAR EASTERN U 970 GLOBE TELECOM 1,945 GMA NETWORK 6.13 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.68 GRAND PLAZA 15 HARBOR STAR 3.43 IMPERIAL 3.56 INTL CONTAINER 87 IP EGAME 0.0092 IPEOPLE 11.92 IPM HLDG 9.02 ISLAND INFO 0.185 ISM COMM 1.32 JACKSTONES 3.6 LBC EXPRESS 14.4 LEISURE AND RES 3.64 MACROASIA 3.78 MANILA JOCKEY 2.42 MELCO CROWN 5.95 METRO RETAIL 3.69 NOW CORP 2.97 PAL HLDG 5.38 PAXYS 3.11 PHIL SEVEN CORP 197.1 PHILWEB 7.99 PLDT 1,548 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.52 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.44 PUREGOLD 43.9 ROBINSONS RTL 77 SBS PHIL CORP 6.15 SSI GROUP 2.24 STI HLDG 1.1 TRANSPACIFIC BR 1.75 TRAVELLERS 3.13 WATERFRONT 0.4

8.75 46.5 0.52 0.052 5.4 7.85 0.076 2.25 97 8.78 4.98 970 1,955 6.15 16.1 15 3.44 3.64 89.95 0.0092 11.92 9.02 0.187 1.35 3.79 14.48 4.17 3.78 2.54 6.22 3.72 3.02 5.38 3.3 197.1 7.99 1,570 1.54 0.45 44 78.5 6.15 2.27 1.12 1.75 3.18 0.415

8.5 46 0.51 0.05 5.36 7.34 0.073 2.15 91.2 8.5 4.75 970 1,938 6.05 15.68 15 3.24 3.55 87 0.0092 11.92 9 0.185 1.31 3.51 14.4 3.61 3.7 2.42 5.95 3.67 2.92 5.38 3.1 164.9 7.61 1,540 1.51 0.435 43.4 77 6.09 2.2 1.1 1.75 3.09 0.395

SERVICES 8.75 277,500 46.25 14,100 0.51 400,000 0.05 65,360,000 5.36 3,100 7.34 15,789,300 0.074 21,410,000 2.15 2,703,000 91.2 932,960 8.5 158,500 4.98 10,000 970 80 1,944 34,745 6.12 130,900 16.1 91,900 15 200 3.28 4,241,000 3.64 89,000 87.5 2,962,040 0.0092 8,000,000 11.92 1,900 9.01 292,000 0.185 2,370,000 1.32 76,000 3.6 330,000 14.4 1,100 4.14 8,058,000 3.73 60,000 2.5 613,000 6.19 16,854,600 3.72 317,000 3 1,972,000 5.38 1,700 3.28 157,000 164.9 1,240 7.82 435,700 1,570 68,605 1.53 16,819,000 0.445 1,840,000 43.8 2,316,300 77.5 2,180,640 6.09 17,600 2.2 1,646,000 1.11 1,121,000 1.75 1,000 3.13 154,000 0.4 2,950,000

2,407,765 652,530 204,110 3,273,820 16,720 119,937,033 1,590,060 5,897,840 86,700,363.50 1,357,208 48,840 77,600 67,608,215 793,883 1,466,396 3,000 13,973,900 320,000 260,659,772.50 73,600 22,648 2,630,550 439,060 100,210 1,197,100 15,872 31,435,400 223,890 1,526,870 104,137,978 1,171,630 5,853,390 9,146 495,770 236,847 3,372,274 107,004,885 25,713,860 812,550 101,441,080 169,173,374.50 107,415 3,679,350 1,244,230 1,750 484,670 1,200,550

-169,871 8,500 -58,017,576 127,450 -14,619,135.50 970,750.00 -187,550 101,750 -12,761,556.50 55,200 5,580 -4,344 -13,505,240 37,240 -4,359,012 -36,090 14,700 -88,695 -7,140 43,643,850 -235,720 -38,272,770 -44,254,554.50 -703,340 227,500 -91,280 107,600

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

0.0032 1.64 5.35 1.78 0.51 0.4 8.74 2.61 0.255 0.18 0.011 0.011 1.7 6.39 2.2 0.9 0.011 4.02 0.013 8.58 2.92 146.9 2.63 0.0087

0.0032 1.68 5.57 1.78 0.57 0.4 9.47 2.72 0.26 0.182 0.012 0.012 1.7 6.53 2.2 0.9 0.012 4.03 0.013 8.58 3.12 146.9 2.73 0.0087

0.0032 1.63 5.35 1.78 0.51 0.4 8.74 2.57 0.246 0.18 0.011 0.011 1.7 6.26 2.12 0.84 0.01 4.02 0.013 8.53 2.9 145.5 2.63 0.0087

MINING & OIL 0.0032 65,000,000 1.65 1,296,000 5.57 81,400 1.78 2,000 0.55 9,520,000 0.4 610,000 9.36 15,300 2.65 9,412,000 0.25 1,490,000 0.182 2,860,000 0.012 28,400,000 0.012 1,500,000 1.7 180,000 6.26 1,332,300 2.2 9,000 0.88 303,000 0.012 146,200,000 4.03 15,000 0.013 24,800,000 8.57 323,500 3.11 2,503,000 146.1 893,410 2.73 7,000 0.0087 2,000,000

208,000 2,132,270 436,613 3,560 5,170,250 244,000 133,918 24,869,660 369,370 517,920 312,800 17,200 306,000 8,444,946 19,410 259,660 1,548,900 60,350 322,400 2,770,474 7,596,570 130,509,325 18,510 17,400

-488,740 -5,363 -27,000 -131,100 -4,736,300 -4,960,259 -648,095.00 5,800 19,326,522 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

45.85 530 107 105.1 118 5.85 1,035 107.7 1,069 1,019 78 80.55 79.1 80 78.75 78.1

46 530 107 105.2 118 5.86 1,035 107.7 1,075 1,020 78 80.55 79.1 80 78.75 78.1

45.85 528 107 105.1 116 5.84 1,035 107.7 1,069 1,019 78 80.5 79 80 78.75 78.1

PREFERRED 46 3,000 528 5,700 107 7,520 105.1 1,100 116 13,250 5.84 548,000 1,035 50 107.7 16,000 1,075 2,550 1,019 5,000 78 130 80.5 17,000 79 7,000 80 39,700 78.75 20,140 78.1 910

137,700 3,013,360 804,640 115,620 1,545,000 3,204,919 51,750 1,723,200 2,726,250 5,095,530 10,140 1,368,865 553,600 3,176,000 1,586,025 71,071

-46,000 -3,013,360 -53,500 -2,022,294 -

LR WARRANT

2.08

2.42

2.05

WARRANTS 2.37 2,712,000

6,213,760

-

SME 3.71 6.74 9.9

496,960 680,564 6,364,650

295,462

453,996

-

NAME

OPEN

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

0.315 0.65 4.38 23 1.7 3.35 28.3 0.98 6.9 0.9 4.8

MS

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 1,840,000 75.3 1,111,220 13.02 2,901,900 1.11 10,000 6.2 33,900 0.315 450,000 0.335 340,000 845 443,810 8.7 81,200 11.5 39,686,400 7.93 5,400 0.181 520,000 1,170 73,395 6.5 28,200 82 1,151,720 5.57 100 1.03 9,633,000 7.95 605,000 15.42 9,494,800 0.445 10,000 6.03 83,938,800 0.054 50,620,000 2 1,863,000 104 371,410 2.8 323,000 666 769,240 1.39 907,000 274.8 5,320 0.29 390,000 0.189 10,000 0.24 120,000

PROPERTY 6.8 263,900 0.93 166,000 2.4 52,000 1.3 6,373,000 34.5 5,197,200 3.81 4,410,000 5.13 300 0.495 4,800,000 1.03 60,000 1.19 2,125,000 0.159 2,810,000 0.55 1,960,000 55.2 1,525,400 0.177 1,180,000 1.69 52,000 0.97 6,487,000 1.19 33,000 3.48 14,815,000 0.227 162,150,000

1,789,919 153,830 122,090 8,307,210 181,796,545 16,943,810 1,539 2,379,400 62,200 2,604,980 447,900 1,061,350 84,423,744 202,320 87,100 6,311,180 38,960 51,950,940 37,327,860

-1,400,463 -123,140 -77,952,185 -5,903,400 -9,197,138.50 3,580 -1,670 -21,327,940 -8,580

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.71 6.8 9.8

3.8 6.8 9.97

3.65 6.6 9.75

FIRST METRO ETF 121

121

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.5 120.7 3,760

SHARES

VALUE

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

12,337,110

INDUSTRIAL

184,248,261

HOLDING FIRMS

230,243,739

PROPERTY

315,559,657

SERVICES

192,843,863

MINING & OIL

298,763,268

GRAND TOTAL

1,234,880,958

135,000 101,600 644,700

1,815.40 (DOWN) 15.12 794,965,837.532 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,870.80 (DOWN) 91.72 1,506,678,191.53 HOLDING FIRMS 7,403.28 (UP) 25.52 2,511,259,449.68 PROPERTY 3,169.61 (DOWN) 47.40 1,502.11 (UP) 11.50 949,619,211.955 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,006.88 (UP) 61.18 1,186,275,099.172 PSEI 7,269.62 (DOWN) 31.41 186,305,855.34 All Shares Index 4,376.74 (DOWN0 9.93 7,143,099,815.212 Gainers:89; Losers: 90; Unchanged: 51; Total: 230

MPIC wins Mindanao water deal

By Jenniffer B. Austria INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. bagged the P2.8-billion Cagayan de Oro bulk water project.

Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange subsidiary MetroPac Water Investments Corp. received the notice of award for the Cagayan de Oro 100-millionliter-per-day bulk water project on March 23.

The project, which has a term of 30 years and renewable for another 20 years, involves the acquisition and construction of a 100-MLD water treatment plant, construction of new water transmission lines and rehabilitation of the Camaman-an Reservoir to supply the Cagayan de Oro Water District.

The network currently serves a population of more than 749,000 people, with 90,000 active service connections.

The estimated project cost is P2.8 billion. The project will be implemented through a joint venture company, with MetroPac Water owning a 95-percent stake and the Cagayan de Oro Water District owning the remaining five percent.

“The definitive agreements implementing the joint venture is expected to be signed upon completion of the requirements in the notice of award,” Metro Pacific said.

MetroPac Water is currently operating water projects that collectively provide 150 MLD of water in Cebu, Laguna and Iloilo.

The water company also acquired in June 2016 around 65 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Eco-System Technologies International Inc., a company involved in designing, supplying, constructing, installing and operating and maintaining wastewater and sewage treatment plant facilities.

SM Group opens 7 stores of Savemore CONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. said its retail group opened seven new grocery stores under the neighborhood store format Savemore Market in February.

SM Investments said SaveMore Market opened four stores in Negros Occidental including Savemore Market Kabankalan, Savemore Market Victorias, Savemore Market San Carlos and Savemore Market San Carlos Citymall.

It also opened one store each in San Andres (Manila), Boracay and Tagum (Davao del Norte).

“We continue to expand while taking into consideration the changing needs of the market. With more communities outside of Metro Manila still with minimal access to groceries and with the worsening Manila traffic, shoppers need a complete source of daily and weekly essentials that do not require them to travel far,” Savemore Market president Jojo Tagbo said.

Savemore Market also plans to open an additional 13 stores in the rest of 2017.

Savemore Market is currently the fastest growing format of SM Markets, which also includes SM Supermarket and SM Hypermarket.

This innovative format is geared towards answering shoppers’ last minute grocery needs while remaining compact, complete and very convenient to shop at.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Home / Design

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CLOCK IN WITH GRAVITAS. Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) launched this week a premium co-working space offering the amenities of a fully-equipped office—in a prestigious business address. Clock In, was thought up by Ayala

Land Offices, for upcoming companies and independent entrepreneurs. Its first foray into serviced offices, Clock In is a fully equipped and furnished office space ideal for start-up ventures, small to medium enterprises, groups working on a per-project basis, digital nomads and online professionals, freelancers, road warriors, and swing space users. “We want to offer office solutions to start-up companies, entrepreneurial ventures, and independent professionals,” explained Carol Mills, vice president of Ayala Land Offices. Located at the penthouse of the Makati Stock Exchange building along Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Clock In puts its clients at the center of a dynamic business and commercial community. Clock In can be viewed on www.ayalalandoffices.com.ph.

COOKING AT HOME CAN BE A BREEZE. Consumer appliances manufacturer Midea recently took part in the Solane Dealers’ convention held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. At the event, Midea gave raffle prizes— an induction cooker, a 20L digital microwave oven, and a 20L manual microwave oven— to Solane dealers and distributors. Midea has two 50cm gas ranges –one with 4 gas burners and a 58L oven, and another that has 3 gas burners, a hotplate, and a 58L oven. The last one is a 60cm gas range with 4 gas burners and a 65L oven. Midea specializes in products that have the durability to withstand the test of Filipino-style cooking. At the Solane Dealers’ Convention were, from left to right: Willie Sarmiento, CFO, Isla LPG Corp; Shoichi Watanabe, CEO, Isla Petroleum Gas; Valeri Villano, marketing manager, Isla LPG corp; Roanne Hallig, assist product manager, Midea Philippines; and Ruben Domingo, CEO, Isla LPG Corp.

LIFE, BEAUTY COMBINED. SOME ARTISTS CELEBRATE LIFE. Others celebrate beauty. Architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa celebrates being Filipino and that, for him, is life and beauty combined. To celebrate his life, philosophy and legacy, an exhibit dubbed “Mañosa: Beyond Architecture’ is ongoing till May at the National Museum of the Philippines. The exhibit showcases over 50 landmark projects from Mañosa’s prolific career, including original drawings and models never before seen by the public. Archived photographs, samples of vernacular materials, furniture, and interior elements, are also featured. “Mañosa: Beyond Architecture” is co-presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Museum, and the Mañosa Group of Companies.

BPOS, TECH SPACES MULLED FOR ORTIGAS. Notice something different in the Ortigas district lately? More business and knowledge outsourcing companies (BPO/KPO) and technology outfits are sprouting up in the district, cheek by jowl with top retail and residential developments such as Capitol Commons, Greenhills shopping center, Frontera Verde, Circulo Verde, and the Greenmeadows and Valle Verde subdivisions. Among these are news website Rappler, Denmark-based conglomerate Maersk Group, and the US-based e-payment services leader VeriFone. The Maersk Group occupies almost half of Estancia’s 19,000 square meters of office space,. Ortigas & Co. is now looking to build more BPO and KPO spaces to meet the rise in demand. “The rise in the number of BPO / KPO and technology firms has led us to rethink our land banking strategy to accommodate these pioneers with more office spaces,” acknowledged Ortigas & Co. chief operating officer Thomas F. Mirasol. Apart from Estancia, Silver City in Frontera Verde (See photo) serves as the headquarters of tech firm Anthem Solutions, which occupies 20,600 square meters of office space.

TAHANAN KO. Republic Cement recently expanded

BUILDING THE FILIPINO DREAM. Filinvest Land, Inc., a company with a diverse range of real estate developments, is picky when it comes to construction partners.

The company believes that even the smallest board, or the most subtle of mouldings, should project quality. One brand Filinvest uses consistently is HardieFlex®. because of its products’ resistance to fire, impact, moisture damage, rodents and termites.

Filinvest also demands versatility. Aside from using the fiber cement boards for interior purposes, they have explored outdoor applications, too. One of the company’s projects, Princeton Heights in Molino, Cavite, (see photo) has a New England theme, with traditional exterior siding as a notable design feature. To attain this look, Filinvest used HardiePlank® siding with a wood grain-textured finish. First introduced in the mid-1980s, James Hardie’s fiber cement technology is now the go-to building material for ceilings and walls.

its affordable housing initiative, Tahanan Ko, now a partner to three microfinance institutions (MFIs): Tulay sa Pag-unlad, Inc. (TSPI), Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI), and Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF). “Republic Cement is dedicated to helping address the Philippine housing backlog through collaborations that create shared value for those at the bottom of the pyramid,” said Renato Sunico, president of Republic Cement and Building Materials, Inc. (RCBM). The partnerships seeks to benefit lowincome families who avail of the three MFI’s housing and home improvement loans. Republic Cement is targeting a total of 5,250 house renovations and constructions from the program for 2016. Benefitting over 400,000 individuals to date, Republic Cement’s Tahanan Ko program adopts a multi-model approach to address the country’s housing challenges. Shown in photo is Carmen Gimao, one of the program’s recent beneficiaries.

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. Whatever house Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

design you are planning, make sure the foundations, columns, and beams are within the specifications of the Philippines’ Building Code.

These standards will help assure that your house can last for the next 50 years.

All aboard the dream home steps express Eight to building, moving into your own abode

E

VERYBODY has a dream of having their own home.

The journey usually begins, and meanders through the well-trodden process of house and condo-hunting where a buyer and his family look through more than a dozen developments in areas where they plan to settle.

For a good number, the buyer brushes past the marketing pitches of some of the country’s leading developers, and decides on his family’s own journey to discover who they are, what they want, and how they want to live, and where.

Here is the short, eight-step sojourn on how many Filipinos realize this dream.

Set goals

You’ll want to plan your trip. This means having a sense of what the end result should be, and how much it will cost. It involves setting goals and taking the steps

Getting the right contractor

Getting the right contractor is crucial.

You have to check the financial capability of the contractor, and see if the company can afford to finance the project.

Check the previous projects they have done and interview if possible, the owners of the houses the contractor built. Get a highly recommended contractor if you want to lessen the headache of monitoring the construction, since they will take care of not only of the materials, but also the labor needed for building the house.

Based on your budget, the contractor

LIVE A LITTLE. Allow for the few places where you’ll want to splurge in the budget, say, the kitchen….if you spend a lot of time cooking, allow yourself to splurge a little on something you’ll enjoy.

to achieve them. Some questions you’ll can give you an estimate on how far your want to answer to set these goals: money can go in terms of the total area of What do you want to achieve? the house and the quality of the finishing Where do you want to be? that you want. An average finish will cost What will this cost? you around PHP 14,000 per sqm, while a Can it really be achieved? first-class finish will cost you around PHP Does plan A make sense?

30,000 per sqm.

What’s plan B?

Establish a budget

While a budget should be in any goal statement, it’s such an important piece that it’s included here as a separate task. When making your budget, of course you’ll begin with what you can afford, and how the cost of your house fits in with your overall plans for the future.

In the Philippines, the cost of building a house nowadays can range between PHP 14,000 to PHP 18,000 per sqm, if you get a contractor to deal with the construction from start to finish. A normal two-level house that has a floor area of 150 sqm and a one-car garage will set you back between PHP 2.1 million to PHP 2.7 million.

Other expenses not included in the construction process include permits and other paperwork. These include the following: A complete architectural plan, which will be used as your reference in the house construction. This will provided by the contractor.

A permit from the barangay that has jurisdiction over the area you chose. You will also need to ask your neighbors to sign this.

Once you have the barangay permit, you will present this to the city hall together with the architectural plan to secure the building permit. Only after being issued a building permit can you start construction.

When the construction is done, you will also need to secure the occupancy permit.

UNDER THE SEA, INTO THE LIGHT. Metro

Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) recently held a “Shore It Up Confluence: Charting Our 10th Year” conference with community leaders from Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte; Mabini, Batangas; Medina, Misamis Oriental and Cordova, Cebu to harness synergy to preserve the marine ecosystem in these areas. The event was boosted by talks from Shore It Up’s board of advisors, a veritable all-star cast of ecosystem warriors, namely, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Rear Admiral Geronimo Reyes; mangrove ecosystem expert Dr. Jurgenne Primavera; ecotourism advocate Caloy Libosada; endangered marine species authority AA Yaptinchay (Inset), and technical diving expert Jake Miranda. MPIC vice president for communications Melody Del Rosario (Shown here with MPIC CEO and president Jose Lim, and LGU officials) said the conglomerate is taking its environmental advocacy to the next level by engaging in long-term sustainable programs involving local stakeholders. “Shore It Up has mustered over 75,000 volunteers from the government sector, academe and civil society groups in activities such as underwater and coastal cleanup, mangrove and tree planting, giant clam rearrangement, artificial reef restoration, environmental education and livelihood for coastal villagers,” Del Rosario said.

Assemble a team

Assembling a team of tried and true professionals is the best approach when building your home. The architect and the contractor (if not one and the same) are going to be your most important team members.

These people will act as guide, therapist, advocate and counselor throughout the journey that creating your home is.

As you embark on this journey, you will likely want to add team members. A kitchen and bath designer, perhaps; maybe an interior designer, too. Certainly a landscape architect, who shouldn’t be the last person hired when all the money is gone.

Plan, plan and plan some more

Every large project has one thing in common. The owner, whether a private developer, government agency or corporate entity, knew the importance of planning the project in detail before starting to build.

Some sensible planning tips I learned from my experience ten years ago: ◦ Play the “what if?” game. Sometimes the first answer is the right answer, sometimes it’s the 31st. Just remember not to settle until you’ve explored all the possibilities; you don’t want to say after the project has been built, “We should have done ...” ◦ Go big, or go home. Building a home, be it from scratch or a renovation, is an exercise in making something that’s yours.

So dream big and have grand plans. Don’t sweat the small stuff… for now. ◦ Sweat the small stuff. Decisions, decisions, decisions. You’ll be asked to Healthy contingency make many — more than you can imagAs with any complex project, the road ine. Just remember that God is in the defrom point A to point B will have a detour tails, so make sure that the details are there or two. Make sure these little side trips so that your home will be uniquely your won’t send you over the edge. own and speak to who you are.

A spreadsheet program, such as excel, is a good tool to use for developing a budAccept the inevitable get, as you can continuously update and You’ve made the plans, gotten the permodify it as you work your way through mits and secured the money; now the only the project. thing left to do is build your house.

Building a house in the Philippines Oddly enough, stuff happens. Stay calm, means that there is more than one party keep your sense of humor and work with involved, and all need to coordinate with your team to address the issue. This is each other for the construction to be suc- where having the right team in place can cessful. pay dividends. An architect, a contractor And if you already have access to funds, and others who can work together and know what your budget allows you to do share ideas without criticizing one another all the way up to the completion of your will go a long way to helping you keep home. You may end up spending a lot on your sanity. building the first floor where the living An important tip to stay sane during room and kitchen are, but come to realize construction: later that you have run out of money for the ◦ Don’t change your mind. Early completion of the bedrooms on the second on make all of the decisions you have to, floor. select all of your finishes and don’t change If you are borrowing from a bank, know your mind. Yes, you’ll be enticed by that how much equity you can afford. new thing that comes along. Just remember that once construction starts, it’ll cost Location, location, location you time and money if you change your The location of the lot where your house mind. will be built on is important . You have to know the following about the area you are Enjoy your new home looking into: You’ve worked hard and spent your Is the neighborhood prone to flooding? hard-earned money to create your new Is it within a subdivision or a gated com- home, so enjoy it to the max. munity?

Revel in the size of your master’s bedHow is the water supply? room and 2nd floor balcony with a pocket Are there informal settlements in the garden, as well as koi pond which still area? works like a charm to chase away your Are your neighbors conducting any stress at the end of each day, as it did business that may affect the peacefulness twelve years ago. of the area?

Find unexpected places to talk with Is the price of the lot within the prevail- family members. Discover how this place ing market value in the area? gives shape to your lives, and allow all of you to become the persons you want to be.

Tighter transport terminal rules set

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

QUEZON City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista has signed an ordinance providing for additional terms and conditions in the authority granted by the city government for the issuance of special use permits (SUP) to transport companies.

The ordinance serves as the city government’s effort to decongest Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue or Edsa, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare.

As provided by Ordinance 2568-2017, principally authored

by Councilor Alex Herrera, only public utility vehicles owned by the transport company registered as the owner of the transport terminal can use the facility.

PUVs should also bear appropriate body markings.

Transport companies were also warned from parking any of its vehicles outside its terminal, or any streets within the vicinity of the terminal and/or garage.

At the same time, the ordinance strictly provides that the city council may revoke the SUP if the traffic laws, rules and regulations are habitually violated by drivers of these transport companies, as recommended by the Metro Manila Development Authority and Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety.

The ordinance also stipulates that in case the transport company is sold or ceases to operate, the new owner should apply for a new special use permit to operate under the name of the new transport company.

C1

NEW COMPLEX. The City Government of Santa Rosa, Laguna inaugurated its world-class Multi-Purpose Sports Complex (inset) on Friday. Officials led by (from right) Vice Mayor Arnold Arcillas, Laguna First District Rep. Arlene B. Arcillas, Mayor Dan Fernandez and Mrs. Ofie Arcillas attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the venue, which features a basketball court with seating for 6,000, stadium-class badminton courts, and Olympicsized swimming pool and tennis courts. Roy Tomandao

Rio N. Araja

‘An army of young drug fighters’ Makati I marks

By Sandy Araneta

N HIS continuing campaign against illegal drugs, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Friday pressed into service more than 3,000 young elementary school students who completed the anti-drug education program Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

During the DARE Joint Culminating Program for 3,600 Grades 5 and 6 graduates of the 10-day program at San Andres Sports Center on Friday, Estrada said this “army of young DARE fighters” will be instrumental in his administration’s efforts to keep the youth away from drugs.

“They will be our front liners, our army of young DARE fighters, who will take the lead in our drug use prevention initiatives,” Estrada said after the commencement ceremonies.

“Through them, we will be able to reach out to more youth and train and help them in saying ‘No’

to drugs,” said Estrada.

In his message, Estrada reiterated his call to go harder on the vast networks of organizations and personalities engaged in drug trafficking, saying the illegal drugs situation in the country remains to be a serious threat.

Estrada said the drug menace “is overwhelming.”

“PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency] reported that 92.1 percent of barangays in Metro Manila are drugaffected,” Estrada said. “That is why we should not relax because drugs remain to be a serious threat to our country’s future.”

In 2015, Estrada, citing statistics from the Dangerous Drugs Board, said 1.8-million Filipinos are into illegal drugs.

It was also estimated the value of the illegal drug trade in the country has reached $8.4 billion as of 2013.

President Rodrigo Duterte, a few weeks after his assumption to office last year, also revealed that a high-level Chinese triad had been running the multibillion-peso illegal drug operations in the country.

As early as 1994 when he was vice president, Estrada pointed out that he was already aware of the seriousness of the illegal

drug situation in the country, the reason he brought DARE in Manila to keep the youth away from drugs.

“Even then, I knew that if the drug problem were to reach crisis proportions, everything would be put in peril—including the future of young Filipinos everywhere,” said Estrada, as he addressed the Grades 5 and 6 students and their parents during the commencement ceremonies.

He said the graduation of the first batch of DARE beneficiaries “mark an important day in our objective to create a completely drug-free city for the future.”

‘Pencils without borders’ helps tribal communities OUT of 30 high school graduates, only eight to 10 continue their education and move on to college, while the rest choose to become farmers, casual laborers, or decide to start a family at a very young age.

This is the reality faced by the youth of Sta. Ines in Tanay, Rizal.

It may be only a two-and-a-halfhour drive from Manila, but it is worlds apart in opportunities.

Situated in the distant mountains of Tanay, one must cross nine rivers to be able to get to Sta. Ines Elementary School.

Out of the school’s 260 pupils, 40 represent the Dumagat, an indigenous people with roots traced to the Aetas. They were sea gypsies: Semi-nomadic people who made their homes along the coast of Quezon.

Living in a remote area, the community has difficulty in getting access to education. The mountains they live in may be part of a beautiful landscape, but it has become an obstacle to Sta. Ines.

Thanks to the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, the elementary school in Sta. Ines managed to establish satellite classrooms in the Dumagat communities, and worked closely with the Department of Education to

Elizabeth Laurio, 13, doing laundry near her home in Sta. Ines, Taytay, Rizal.

create a customized curriculum for the tribe’s children.

Teachers of Sta. Ines also learned the Dumagat language so that it would be easier for students to understand the lessons.

“We can’t do it alone”, shares Sta. Ines Elementary School Principal Adoracion Valdez. “We need stakeholders who can help us empower the children and show them that it is possible to graduate from the school and accomplish anything they want.”

Valdez, the seventh of 10 chil-

dren, said her parents had always motivated her. Despite being simple farmers, they struggled to be able to send all their children to school. “That gift is immeasurable,” she said. “My parents believed that education is the only inheritance they could give us.”

This belief is shared by 13-yearold Elizabeth Laurio, a sixthgrade student at the Sta. Ines Elementary School, who upon her mother’s untimely death last year, had to become a mother to her five

younger siblings. Many times, Elizabeth had to absent herself from school to look after the children at home.

Elizabeth lets circumstances surrounding her motivate her, even more, to continue her studies and fulfill the dream of becoming a teacher, to help her family and many more children in her village break out of the cycle of poverty.

“Dreams are free,” she said in Filipino. “So, I will hold tight to my dream.”

To help children like Elizabeth fulfill their dreams, MoneyGram, a global provider of innovative money transfer services, through the MoneyGram Foundation, donated P1 million to the Black Pencil Project, a civilian volunteer organization helping to promote primary education and welfare to remote and indigenous Philippine communities to promote children’s primary education and welfare.

MoneyGram Foundation’s mission of “pencils without orders” is firmly rooted in the belief that education is the key to better economic opportunities, healthier families, individual freedom, and empowerment.

The donation will benefit at least six barrio schools and pro-

vide at least 2,500 students from kindergarten to grade six with prescribed pencils, writing pads, notebooks, and art materials.

MoneyGram will also provide supplies to the Ivatans and Ifugaos of Banawe from Cambulo Elementary School, the Dumagats of Rizal from Casili Elementary School, and the Aetas of Tarlac from Labney Elementary school in Mayantoc Tarlac.

Other communities that will benefit from this donation include the Ivatans of Batanes from Sabtang Central Elementary School, the Palawanons of Palawan from Cagayan Elementary School, and the Mangyans of Mindoro from Sablayan Elementary School.

“This is our way of reaching out to our brothers from the marginalized communities to let them know they are not alone in reaching their dreams,” said Alex Lim, MoneyGram Philippine country manager. “We firmly believe that education is the key to a better tomorrow.”

It’s a belief shared by Adoracion Valdez and Elizabeth Laurio.

“I know it’s possible. I’ve seen it happen in my life. I want to empower my students to do the same like my parents did once for me,” added Valdez.

QC eyes more social hygiene clinics, starting in Libis

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista vowed on Friday to build more social hygiene clinics.

Plans are now underway for the construction of such a clinic and a male-focused sexual health-care facility at the city’s

Libis district.

Bautista said the plan forms part of the city government’s effort to provide bigger prevention coverage for individuals at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, especially those exposed to male-to-male sexual activity.

The city government is also

seriously considering building two more teenage health quarters to provide young people with more access to medical services relevant to reproductive health and development.

Quezon City has about six cityrun social hygiene clinics providing human immunodeficiency

virus treatment and care services, three male-focused sexual healthcare facilities, and one teenage health quarter.

The city government under Bautista has already invested more than P43 million for the city’s HIV program. Its investments cover improved service

delivery to key populations and infrastructure development, to include additional social hygiene clinics and teen health quarters.

Based on the 2015 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Survey done in Quezon City, HIV prevalence is increasing among young men having sex with other men.

Earth Hour

By Joel E. Zurbano MAKATI City government officials led by Mayor Abigail Binay will celebrate on Saturday this year’s Earth Hour, a traditional event aimed to raise awareness among residents, the business community, and other stakeholders on the importance of lower energy consumption.

The event will be held at the Fountain Area of Tower One and Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Ayala Avenue.

The city government has been participating in the global Earth Hour celebration since 2008 to signify its commitment to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emission.

Themed “Shine a Light on Climate Action,” the event will officially start at 7 p.m., while the ceremonial switching off lights will be from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Registration will begin at 6 p.m.

Leopoldo Parumog, head of the city’s Department of Environmental Services, said the annual celebration of Earth Hour has helped in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

Based on DES records, last year’s Earth Hour, in which households, establishments and institutions participated, resulted in over 13.2 million watts in total energy savings, which is roughly equivalent to 7,370 kilograms of CO2 emission.

In 2015, the city’s Earth Hour observance translated to 11.77 million watts in total energy savings, or around 6,570 kilograms of CO2 emission.

Expected to attend the event include Ms. Earth Philippines Reigning Queen and Candidates, Regional Director Vizminda Osorio of the DENR Environmental Management Bureau-NCR, selected players of San Miguel basketball team, and representatives of World Wide Fund.

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

LGUs

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 Standard Standard C2 TODAY TODAY Manila Manila

WB-funded Leyte road work starts T RESERVE RESERVE YOUR YOURAD AD SPACE SPACENOW! NOW! email email usus atat advertise@ advertise@ the thestandard. standard.ccom. om.pphh oror call call usus atat

N NO OT T II C CE E Notice Noticeisishereby herebygiven giventhat thatECOHOTELS ECOHOTELSINC. INC. with withoffice officeaddress addressat at7V 7VAguinaldo AguinaldoHighway HighwaySilang Silang Junction, Junction,Tagaytay Tagaytay City, City, isis applying applying for for registration registration with with the the Board Board of of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI) as as aa New New Operator Operator of of Tourist Tourist Accomodation Accomodation Facility Facility under under the theSpecial SpecialLaws Laws--Tourism TourismRelated RelatedFacilities Facilities(Eco (Eco Container Container Hotel) Hotel) on on aa non-pioneer non-pioneer status, status, with with project project site site located located at at SV SV Road, Road, Brgy.

Brgy. San San Jose, Jose, Tagaytay TagaytayCity.

City.

Any Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the above-mentioned above-mentionedproject projectmay mayfile filehis/her his/herobjection objection in inwriting, writing,under underoath, oath,with withthe theBOI BOIwithin withinthree three(3) (3) days daysfrom fromthe thedate dateof ofthis thispublication. publication.

(SGD.) (SGD.)ANGELITA ANGELITAF. F.ARCELLANA ARCELLANA Officer-In-Charge Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure Infrastructureand andServices ServicesIndustries IndustriesService Service

832-5547 832-5547

(MS-MAR. (MS-MAR.25, 25,2017) 2017)

ACLOBAN CITY—The Department of Agriculture broke ground Friday on the P232-million World Bankfunded road rehabilitation project, spanning 11 villages in Liloan, Southern Leyte.

DA-Philippine Rural Development Project national deputy director Cirilo Namoc and key local government officials led the groundbreaking of the 19.4-kilometer road connecting San Roque and Bahay villages in Liloan town.

The project will also build three bridges, according to DA Eastern Visayas regional executive director U-Nichols Manalo.

“This is the biggest farm-to-market road

AGC AGCFLAT FLATGLASS GLASSPHILIPPINES, PHILIPPINES,INC. INC. (AGPH) (AGPH) Protestant.

Protestant. x----------------------------------------------------x x----------------------------------------------------x

INVITATION INVITATIONTO TOBID BID DESIGN, DESIGN,INTERIOR INTERIORCONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTIONAND ANDFIT-OUT FIT-OUTOF OFOFFICE OFFICESPACE SPACEOF OFTHE THE TARIFF TARIFFCOMMISSION COMMISSIONAT ATTHE THE4TH 4THFLOOR FLOOROF OFWEST WESTINSULA INSULACONDOMINIUM, CONDOMINIUM, WEST WESTAVENUE, AVENUE,QUEZON QUEZONCITY CITY For: For:ANTI-DUMPING ANTI-DUMPING Investigation InvestigationNo. No.AD-2016-OC-FloatGlassCN AD-2016-OC-FloatGlassCN

NOTICE NOTICEOF OFPUBLIC PUBLICHEARING HEARING Pursuant PursuanttotoSection Section711 711ofofRepublic RepublicAct Act10863, 10863,also alsoknown knownas asthe theCustoms CustomsModernization Modernizationand and Tariff TariffAct, Act, which which adopts adopts the the provisions provisions ofof Republic RepublicAct Act No. No. 8752 8752 oror the theAnti-Dumping Anti-DumpingAct Act ofof 1999, 1999, notice noticeisishereby herebygiven giventhat thatmarathon marathonpublic publichearings hearingson onthe thedumping dumpingprotest protestagainst againstthe theimportation importation ofofClear ClearFloat FloatGlass Glass(2012 (2012AHTN AHTN7005.29.90) 7005.29.90)and andBronze BronzeFloat FloatGlass Glass(2012 (2012AHTN AHTN7005.21.90) 7005.21.90)from from the thePeople’s People’sRepublic RepublicofofChina China(PROC) (PROC)will willbe beheld heldatatthe theConference ConferenceRoom Roomofofthe theTariff Tariff Commission, Commission, 5/F 5/FMAB MABPhilippine PhilippineHeart HeartCenter, Center,East EastAvenue, Avenue,Diliman, Diliman,Quezon QuezonCity, City,on onthe thefollowing followingdates datesand andtime: time:

DATE DATE 33April April2017 2017 44April April2017 2017 55April April2017 2017 66April April2017 2017 77April April2017 2017

TIME TIME 9:00 9:00AM AM 9:00 9:00AM AM 9:00 9:00AM AM 9:00 9:00AM AM 9:00 9:00AM AM

Counsels, Counsels, affiants, affiants, deponents, deponents, witnesses, witnesses, other other interested interested parties parties toto the the case case are are directed directed toto attend attendthe thefirst firstday dayofofthe thepublic publichearing. hearing.Moreover, Moreover,five five(5) (5)days daysbefore beforethe thepublic publichearing, hearing,parties partiesare are required requiredtotosubmit submittotothe theCommission Commissionaalist listofofissues issuesthey theywant wanttotoexplore exploreduring duringthe thepublic publichearing, hearing, other otherthan thanthe theissues issueson onproduct productcomparability comparabilityand andprice pricedifference. difference.AAparty partywhich whichdoes doesnot notsubmit submitsaid said list listisisdeemed deemedtotohave haveno nocontroversial/contestable controversial/contestablematter mattertotoraise raiseand andwill willbe begiven givenless lesspriority priorityininthe the order orderofofparties partieswho whowill willask askclarificatory clarificatoryquestions questionsduring duringthe thehearing. hearing.Parties Partiesare arelikewise likewiserequired requiredtoto submit submitaffidavits affidavitsofoftheir theirwitnesses witnessesthree three(3) (3)days daysprior priortotothe thepublic publichearing. hearing.

For Forinquiries inquiriesand andother otherdetails, details,please pleasecontact contactthe themembers membersofofthe theTask TaskForce Forceon onAnti-Dumping Anti-Dumping Investigation Investigation against against Importation Importation ofof Clear Clear Float Float Glass Glass and and Bronze Bronze Float Float Glass Glass from from the the People’s People’s Republic RepublicofofChina China(PROC) (PROC)atatthe thefollowing followingtelephone telephonenumbers: numbers:(632) (632)9267476, 9267476,(632) (632)9288419, 9288419,(632) (632) 9288106 9288106and and(632) (632)928.8731 928.8731orore-mail e-mailus usatatinfo@tariffcommission.gov.ph. info@tariffcommission.gov.ph.

1.

1. The The Tariff Tariff Commission, Commission, through through Republic Republic Act Act 10924 10924 FY FY 2017 2017 (General (General Appropriations Appropriations Act)intends Act)intends to to apply apply the the sum sum of of Nine Nine Million Million Ten Ten Thousand Thousand Pesos Pesos (P9,010,000.00) (P9,010,000.00) inclusive inclusive of of all all applicable applicable taxes, taxes, being being the the Approved Approved Budget Budget for for the the Contract Contract (ABC) (ABC) to to payments payments under under the the contract contract for for the the “Design, “Design, Interior InteriorConstruction Constructionand andFit-out Fit-outof ofOffice OfficeSpace Spaceof ofthe theTariff TariffCommission Commissionat atthe the44thth Floor Floorof ofWest WestInsula InsulaCondominium, Condominium,West WestAvenue, Avenue,Quezon QuezonCity”.

City”.Bids Bidsreceived receivedinin excess excessof ofthe theABC ABCshall shallbe beautomatically automaticallyrejected rejectedat atbid bidopening. opening.

2.

2. The TheTariff TariffCommission Commissionnow nowinvites invitesbids bidsfor forthe theDesign, Design,Interior InteriorConstruction Constructionand and Fit-out Fit-out of of Office Office Space Space of of the the Tariff Tariff Commission Commission at at the the 44thth Floor Floor of of West West Insula Insula Condominium, Condominium,West WestAvenue, Avenue,Quezon QuezonCity.

City. Completion Completionof ofthe theWorks Worksisisrequired required within within 60 60 calendar calendar days. days. Prospective Prospective bidders bidders should should have have completed, completed, within within ten ten (10) (10) years years from from the the date date of of submission submission and and receipt receipt of of bids, bids, aa contract contract similar similar to to the the Project.

Project. The The description description of of an an eligible eligible bidder bidder isis contained contained inin the the Bidding Bidding Documents, Documents,particularly, particularly,ininSection SectionII, II,Instruction Instructionto toBidders.

Bidders.

3.

3. Bidding Bidding will will be be conducted conducted through through open open competitive competitive bidding bidding procedures procedures using using non-discretionary non-discretionary pass/fail pass/fail criterion criterion as as specified specified inin the the Implementing Implementing Rules Rules and and Regulations Regulations (IRR) (IRR) of of Republic Republic Act Act 9184 9184 (RA (RA 9184), 9184), otherwise otherwise known known as as the the “Government “Government Procurement Procurement Reform ReformAct”.

Act”. Bidding Bidding isis restricted restricted to to Filipino Filipino citizens/ citizens/ sole sole proprietorships, proprietorships, partnerships, partnerships, or or organizations organizations with with at at least least seventy-five seventy-five percent percent (75%) (75%) interest interest or or outstanding outstanding capital capital stock stock belonging belonging to to citizens citizens of of the the Philippines.

Philippines.

4.

4. Interested Interested bidders bidders may may obtain obtain further further information information from from the the Tariff Tariff Commission Commission and andinspect inspectthe theBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsat atthe theaddress addressgiven givenbelow belowduring duringoffice officehours hours of of8:00 8:00AM AMto to5:00 5:00PM PMstarting startingon onMarch March23, 23,2017.

2017.

5.

5. AAcomplete complete set set of of Bidding Bidding Documents Documents may may be be purchased purchased by by interested interested Bidders Bidders from fromthe theaddress addressbelow belowand andupon uponpayment paymentof ofaanonrefundable nonrefundablefee feefor forthe theBidding Bidding Documents Documents inin the the amount amount of of Ten Ten Thousand Thousand Pesos Pesos (P10,000.00).

(P10,000.00). ItIt may may also also be be downloaded downloaded free free of of charge charge from from the the website website of of the the Philippine Philippine Government Government Electronic Electronic Procurement Procurement System System (PhilGEPS) (PhilGEPS) and and the the website website of of the the Tariff Tariff Commission, Commission,provided providedthat thatbidders biddersshall shallpay paythe thefee feefor forthe theBidding BiddingDocuments Documents not notlater laterthan thanthe thesubmission submissionof oftheir theirbids. bids.

6.

6. The TheTariff TariffCommission Commissionwill willhold holdaaPre-Bid Pre-BidConference Conferenceon onApril April4, 4,2017, 2017,10:00 10:00am am at at the the Tariff Tariff Commission Commission Conference Conference Room Room which which shall shall beopen beopen to to all all interested interested parties. parties.

Issued Issuedthis this24th 24thday dayofofMarch March2017 2017ininQuezon QuezonCity, City,Metro MetroManila.

Manila.

MARILOU MARILOUP.P.MENDOZA MENDOZA Chairperson Chairperson (MS(MS-MAR. MAR.25, 25,2017) 2017)

7.

7. Bids Bidsmust mustbe bedelivered deliveredto tothe theaddress addressbelow belowon onor orbefore beforethe thepublic publicbidding biddingto tobe be held heldon onApril April17, 17,2017, 2017,10:00 10:00am amat at5/F 5/FMedical MedicalArts ArtsBldg., Bldg.,Philippine PhilippineHeart HeartCenter, Center, East EastAvenue, Avenue,Quezon QuezonCity.

City. All Allbids bidsmust mustbe beaccompanied accompaniedby byaabid bidsecurity securityininany any of ofthe theacceptable acceptableforms formsand andininthe theamount amountstated statedininITB ITBClause Clause18.

18.

Bids Bidswill willbe beopened openedininthe thepresence presenceof ofthe thebidders’ bidders’representatives representativeswho whochoose chooseto to attend attendat atthe theaddress addressbelow. below.Late Latebids bidsshall shallnot notbe beaccepted. accepted.

8.

8. The TheTariff TariffCommissionreserves Commissionreservesthe theright rightto toaccept acceptor orreject rejectany anybid, bid,to toannul annulthe the bidding biddingprocess, process,and andto toreject rejectall allbids bidsat atany anytime timeprior priorto tocontract contractaward, award,without without thereby therebyincurring incurringany anyliability liabilityto tothe theaffected affectedbidder bidderor orbidders. bidders.

Republic Republic of of the the Philippines Philippines QUIRINO QUIRINO STATE STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY Diffun, Diffun, 3401, 3401, Quirino Quirino Tel Tel No. No. 0998 0998 982 982 2400 2400

9.

9. For Forfurther furtherinformation, information,please pleaserefer referto: to: Bids Bidsand andAwards AwardsCommittee Committee Tariff TariffCommission Commission 5/F 5/FMedical MedicalArts ArtsBldg., Bldg.,Philippine PhilippineHeart HeartCenter Center East EastAvenue, Avenue,Diliman, Diliman,Quezon QuezonCity City Tel TelNos. Nos.(02) (02)929-1964, 929-1964,926-7283 926-7283 info@tariffcommission.gov.ph info@tariffcommission.gov.ph Facsimile FacsimileNo. No.(02) (02)921-7960 921-7960

email: email:quirinostateuniversity@yahoo.com.ph quirinostateuniversity@yahoo.com.ph

INVITATION INVITATION TO TO BID BID “CONSTRUCTION “CONSTRUCTION OF OF ADMINISTRATIONBUILDING” ADMINISTRATIONBUILDING” ITB ITB NO.: NO.: QSU-BAC-C-09-2017 QSU-BAC-C-09-2017 1.

1. The TheQuirino QuirinoState StateUniversity, University,through throughthe theGeneral GeneralAppropriations AppropriationsAct Actof of2017 2017 intends intends to to apply apply the the sum sum of of Pesos: Pesos: Nineteen Nineteen million, million, six six hundred hundred thousand thousand (Php19, (Php19,600,000.00) 600,000.00)only, only,being beingthe theApproved ApprovedBudget Budgetfor forthe theContract Contract(ABC) (ABC)to to payments payments under under the the contract contract for for “Construction “Construction of of Administration Administration Building”.

Building”.

Bids Bidsreceived receivedininexcess excessof ofthe theABC ABCshall shallbe be rejectedat rejectedatbid bidopening. opening.

2.

2. The The Quirino Quirino State State University University now now invites invites bids bids for: for: “Construction “Construction of of Administration Administration Building”.Completion Building”.Completion of of the the Works Works isis required required within within two two hundred hundred seventy seventy (270) (270) calendar calendar days days upon upon receipt receipt of of Notice Notice to to Proceed.

Proceed.

Bidders Biddersshould shouldhave havecompleteda completedacontract contractsimilar similarto tothe theProject.

Project.The Thedescription description of ofan aneligible eligiblebidder bidderisiscontained containedininthe theBidding BiddingDocuments, Documents,particularly, particularly,ininSection Section II. II.Instructions Instructionsto toBidders.

Bidders.

3.

3. Bidding Bidding will will be be conducted conducted through through open open competitive competitive bidding bidding procedures procedures using using aa non-discretionary non-discretionary “pass/fail” “pass/fail” criterion criterion as as specified specified inin the the 2016 2016 Revised Revised Implementing ImplementingRules Rulesand andRegulations Regulations(IRR) (IRR)of ofRepublic RepublicAct Act(RA) (RA)9184, 9184,otherwise otherwise known knownas asthe the“Government “GovernmentProcurement ProcurementReform ReformAct”.

Act”.

GERRY GERRYP. P.GEBELA GEBELA Chairman Chairman (MS(MS-MAR. MAR.25, 25,2017) 2017)

Republic Republicof ofthe thePhilippine Philippine CITY CITYOF OFNAGA NAGA BIDS BIDS&&AWARDS AWARDSCOMMITTEE COMMITTEE BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF BRAND NEW DUMP AND MINI DUMP TRUCKS, AND SURPLUS STAKE TRUCKS The City Government of Naga, through the Transportation Equipment-Motor Vehicles Account of Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO), intends to apply the sum of Twenty Million Two Hundred Seventy Thousand (P 20,270,000.00) Pesos being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply and Delivery of Brand New Dump and Mini Dump Trucks, and surplus Stake Trucks for use in garbage collection and service vehicle of SWMO, Contract Reference Number: 2017-012. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Item Quantity Unit No.

Bidding Bidding isis restricted restricted to to Filipino Filipino citizens/sole citizens/sole proprietorships,cooperatives, proprietorships,cooperatives, partnerships, partnerships,or ororganizations organizationswith withat atleast least seventy seventy five five percent percent(75%) (75%)interest interest or oroutstanding outstandingcapital capitalstock stockbelonging belongingto tocitizens citizensof ofthe thePhilippines.

Philippines.

4.

4. Interested Interested bidders bidders may may obtain obtain further further information information from from Quirino Quirino State State Universityand Universityandinspect inspectthe theBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsat atthe theaddress addressgiven givenbelow belowduring during office officehours hoursfrom from8:00 8:00AM AM––5:00 5:00PM. PM.

1

4

2

1

3

2

5.

5. AAcomplete complete set set of of Bidding Bidding Documents Documents may may be be acquired acquired by by interested interested Bidders Bidders on on March March 24, 24, 2017 2017 to to April April 17, 17, 2017from 2017from the the address address below below upon upon payment payment of of the the applicable applicablefee feefor forthe theBidding BiddingDocuments, Documents,pursuant pursuantto tothe thelatest latestGuidelines Guidelinesissued issuedby by the theGPPB, GPPB,ininthe theamount amountof of:TwentyFive :TwentyFiveThousand ThousandPesos Pesos(P25,000.00) (P25,000.00)only. only.

ItIt may may also also be be downloaded downloaded free free of of charge charge from from the the website website of of the the Philippine Philippine Government GovernmentElectronic ElectronicProcurement ProcurementSystem System(PhilGEPS) (PhilGEPS)and andthe thewebsite websiteof ofthe the Procuring ProcuringEntity, Entity,provided providedthat thatBidders Biddersshall shallpay paythe theapplicable applicablefee feefor forthe theBidding Bidding Documents Documentsnot notlater laterthan thanthe thesubmission submissionof oftheir theirbids. bids.

6.

6. The The Quirino Quirino State State Universitywill Universitywill hold hold aa Pre-Bid Pre-Bid Conference Conference on on April4, April4, Floor JAAH JAAH Building,Quirino Building,Quirino State State 2017,9:00 2017,9:00 A.M A.M at at the the BAC BAC Office, Office, 22ndnd Floor University, University,Diffun, Diffun,Quirino, Quirino,which whichshall shallbeopen beopento toprospective prospectivebidders. bidders.

7.

7. Bids Bids must must be be duly duly received received by by the the BAC BAC Secretariat Secretariat at at the the address address below below on on or or before before 9:00 9:00 A.M A.M on on April April 17, 17, 2017.

2017. All All Bids Bids must must be be accompanied accompanied by by aa bid bid security security inin any any of of the the acceptable acceptable forms forms and and inin the the amount amount stated stated inin ITB ITB Clause Clause Error!

Error!Reference Referencesource sourcenot notfound.. found..

Bid Bidopening openingshall shallbe beonApril onApril17, 17,2017, 2017,9:00 9:00A.M.at A.M.atBAC BACOffice, Office,2nd 2ndFloor FloorJAAH JAAH Building.

Building.Bids Bidswill willbe beopened openedininthe thepresence presenceof ofthe thebidders’ bidders’representatives representativeswho who choose chooseto toattend attendat atthe theaddress addressbelow. below.Late Latebids bidsshall shallnot notbe beaccepted. accepted.

The Thecomplete completeschedule scheduleof ofactivities activitiesisislisted, listed,as asfollows: follows: ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE SCHEDULE

22 Pre-Bid Pre-BidConference Conference

April April4, 4,2017 2017

TIME/PLACE TIME/PLACE 8:00AM 8:00AMTO TO5:00PM/ 5:00PM/ QSU,Diffun, QSU,Diffun,Quirino Quirino 9:00AM/QSU, 9:00AM/QSU, Diffun, Diffun,Quirino Quirino

Submissionand andOpening Opening 33 Submission of ofBids Bids

April April17, 17,2017 2017

9:00AM/QSU, 9:00AM/QSU, Diffun, Diffun,Quirino Quirino

April April18-19, 18-19,2017 2017

8:00 8:00AM-12:00 AM-12:00PM PM 9:00AM/QSU, 9:00AM/QSU, Diffun, Diffun,Quirino Quirino

11 Issuance Issuanceof ofBid BidDocuments Documents March March24-April 24-April17, 17,2017 2017

44 Post PostEvaluation Evaluation 55 Award Awardof ofContract Contract

April April20, 20,2017 2017

8.

8. The The Quirino Quirino State State Universityreserves Universityreserves the the right right to to reject reject any any and and all all bids, bids, declare declare aa failure failure of of bidding, bidding, or or not not award award the the contract contract at at any any time time prior prior to to contract contractaward awardininaccordance accordancewith withSection Section41 41of ofRA RA9184 9184and andits itsIRR, IRR,without without thereby therebyincurring incurringany anyliability liabilityto tothe theaffected affectedbidder bidderor orbidders. bidders.

9.

9. For Forfurther furtherinformation, information,please pleaserefer referto: to: DR. DR.ANGELINA ANGELINAD. D.AMBONON AMBONON QSU QSUBAC BACChairperson Chairperson Andres AndresBonifacio, Bonifacio,Diffun, Diffun,Quirino Quirino E-mail E-mailAddress: Address:quirinostateuniversity@yahoo.com.ph quirinostateuniversity@yahoo.com.ph

(SGD) (SGD)ANGELINA ANGELINAD. D.AMBONON, AMBONON,DPA DPA BAC BACChairperson Chairperson (MS-MAR. (MS-MAR.25, 25,2017) 2017)

Infrastructure development gets a big chunk of the budget at P18.5.53 billion, which accounts for 67.4 percent of the total outlay nationwide.

The PRDP aims to attain at least five percent increase per year in real household annual incomes of farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries; 30-percent increase in incomes for targeted beneficiaries involved in enterprise development; seven-percent increase in value of annual marketed output; and 20-percent increase in the number of farmers and fisherfolk with improved access to DA services.

Proposed for implementation in the region under the PRDP infrastructure component are the Calsadahay-Banayon-Bolirao-Maliwaliw FMR in Tanauan and Dagami Leyte; Kailingan to Salhag FMR in Rosario, Northern Samar; and Gonzaga-Lungib-Luisita-Buenasuerte-Maxvilla-San Roman-Pasabuena-San Miguel FMR in Victoria, Northern Samar.PNA

REPUBLIC REPUBLIC OF OF THE THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES TARIFF TARIFF COMMISSION COMMISSION

REPUBLIC REPUBLIC OF OF THE THE PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES TARIFF TARIFF COMMISSION COMMISSION IN IN THE THE MATTER MATTER OF OF THE THE PROTEST PROTEST AGAINST AGAINSTTHE THEIMPORTATION IMPORTATIONOF OFCLEAR CLEAR FLOAT FLOAT GLASS GLASS (2012 (2012 AHTN AHTN 7005.29.90) 7005.29.90) AND AND BRONZE BRONZE FLOAT FLOAT GLASS GLASS (2012 (2012 AHTN AHTN 7005.21.90) 7005.21.90) FROM FROM THE THE PEOPLE’S PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC REPUBLICOF OFCHINA CHINA(PROC) (PROC)

project in terms of allocation in the region.

It will benefit 12,000 people or nearly half of the town’s voting population,” Manalo said in a mobile phone interview after the groundbreaking Friday morning.

The project, which is scheduled for completion next year, is part of the P2.31 billion worth of 36 approved and pipelined infrastructure subprojects in five provinces of the region.

PRDP is a six-year program designed to establish the government’s platform for a modern, climate-smart and market-oriented agri-fishery sector.

Mainly funded by World Bank, it seeks to improve agricultural competitiveness and expand market access for any identified priority commodities under the project.

It has a total cost of P27.48 billion in four components—local and national level planning, infrastructure development, enterprise development and support.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Items

Dump Truck, brand new, 6-wheeler truck with garbage dump body high side, 10 cu.m. loading capacity. Equipped with power take off (PTO) tailgate automatic locking device, hydraulic gear pump with adaptors Specifications: Specifications Engine: 6-cylinder diesel engine turbo-charged with intercooler common rail fuel injection or direct Engine injection system Euro-compliant or equivalent Max Output: Output 177 ps to 320 ps Minimum Torque Range: Range From 706 n-m or above Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission equipped with PTO and one reverse Clutch: Hydrovac with primary and secondary actuator Brakes: Air over hydraulic and Wheels: Tube-type radial, size 8.25x20, 10,000x20 or dealer option units Tires Steering: Power steering system Steering Electrical System: System 12 voltsx2=24 volts starting capacity and lighting system Dump Body: Body High side all steel welded with chassis for PTO hydraulic hoist and pump, load capacity 10 cu.m.

Safety Features: Features Seat belts for driver and passengers, meter and gauges, warning indicator lamps and other convenient features, with tools and accessories, tire wrench and jack Warranty: Based on manufacturer or dealer option Warranty Additional requirements: requirements 1. Color tone: cab-orange, dump box-blue; 2. With audio system, public address radio amplifier, speaker and microphone – 12 or 24V; 3. LTO registration to government plate; 4. After sales and availability of spare parts within LGU-Naga City and NCR; 5. Provide shop service manual, parts manual and standard tool kit; 6. To conduct seminar and training for proper usage and maintenance.

Mini Dump Truck, brand new, 2-cubic meter capacity, 4-cylinder diesel engine, turbo-charged and intercooled 4 cycle vertical in line, water-cooled direct injection type, power steering, 5-speed manual transmission 6-wheeler type, 2 cubic meters load capacity Specifications: Specifications Clutch: Dry, single plate,, with damper springs, hydraulic control Brakes: Vacuum over hydraulic Tire size: 750x16 12PR or 8.25x16 14PR unit Electrical: 12Vx2 series, alternator 24 volts Body Length: Length standard-18ft., extended-20ft.

Warranty: Based on manufacturer or dealer option Warranty Additional requirements: requirements 1. Color tone: cab-orange, dump box-blue; 2. With audio system, public address radio amplifier, speaker and microphone – 12 or 24V; 3. LTO registration to government plate; 4. After sales and availability of spare parts within LGU-Naga City and NCR; 5. Provide shop service manual, parts manual and standard tool kit; 6. To conduct seminar and training for proper usage and maintenance.

Stake Truck, surplus, 12-footer, diesel engine or equivalent direct injection, 5-speed manual transmission, power-steering, ½ drop side type box, 6-wheeler, brand new tire size: 7.00x15 with one spare, 24 volts starting capacity, complete cab and standard lighting accessories units Additional requirements: requirements 1. Orange cab and blue color box; 2. Roofings, seat and framing with screen installed half cargo box; 3. With installed public address radio, CD/USB player with amplifier, trumps and microphone – 12V; 4. Tools (tire wrench, 5 tonner jack); 5. Registered to government plate with LTO approved change color truck body upon registration of unit TOTAL

15,900,000.00

1,500,000.00

Mining has made Didipio a tourist spot since 1980s

By Abe Almirol (First of two parts) KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya—As the mining debate raged across the country in the last few months, an interesting phenomenon unfolded in Barangay Didipio in this town over the last 27 years.

Unknown to many, the positive and negative publicity about mining has catapulted this previously isolated village into a “destination” for some people, following the arguments in social media and in the academe.

“People are always mystified with gold, and Didipio has been an interesting place to visit since the Ifugao people rushed here to engage in alluvial gold panning in the early ’80s,” a longtime resident, who requested anonymity, told Manila Standard.

Separate studies made by Aldersgate College of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and the University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation confirmed the gold rush in the 1980s and the subsequent largescale mining operation attracted migrants to Didipio.

Some visitors from as far as Metro Manila saw the boom and decided to stay for good, to make a living out of the emerging economic opportunities.

When Asia-Pacific miner OceanaGold started its commercial operation in Didipio in 2013, the company opened its doors to visitors who wished to tour the mines.

Seeing the positive impact of being transparent about its operations, the

company decided to acquire a minibus to transport interested groups to visit the mine.

To date, close 10,000 mine tour participants have been recorded in the Didipio mine’s visitors log.

Didipio became a popular place because people debating about the pros and cons of mining started to challenge one another on Facebook.

“Have you been there? Are you sure you know what you are talking about?” has been challenging dare that netizens always get when they argue for or against mining. This dare has drawn a lot of visitors to Didipio since the late ’90s.

Environmental groups planned different ways to visit Didipio.

They usually avoided coordinating with the mining company, and some coordinated with the barangay government.

Bicycle enthusiasts organized weekend trips to Didipio in packs of 50 to 100 riders. Off-road enthusiasts like the group of Rep. Dax Cua of Quirino province toured Didipio on their all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes.

Local sari-sari stores were happy to sell refreshments and snacks to these people, and they earned extra income from the visitors.

Didipio mine is very close to the Alayan Caves in neighboring Barangay Capisaan, an outdoor adventure destination the provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has promoted since 1998. People going to Capisaan always include Didipio in their itinerary because of the media mileage the mine received.

(Continued Monday)

IN BRIEF Bayombong bans noisy mufflers

2,870,000.00

P 20,270,000.00

The City Government of Naga now invites bids for Supply and Delivery of Brand New Dump and Mini Dump Trucks, and surplus Stake Trucks for use in garbage collection and service vehicle of SWMO, Contract Reference Number: 2017-012. Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from City Government of Naga and inspect the Bidding Documents at the City Planning and Development Office (BAC Secretariat Office), 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on Monday, March 27 to April 18, 2017 from the City Planning and Development Office (BAC Secretariat Office), 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City, and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand (P 25,000.00) Pesos, and an Annual Registration Fee of Three Thousand (P 3,000.00) Pesos. Please present your Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS showing your company name.

It may also be downloaded free-of-charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and at www.naga. gov.ph, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. Official Receipts should be presented upon submission of bids.

The City Government of Naga will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 3:00PM at the City Procurement Office, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the City Procurement Office, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City on or before Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 3:00PM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security, either in the form of cash or cashier’s/ manager’s check issued by a universal or commercial bank (2% of ABC), or, Bid Securing Declaration (BSD).

Bid opening shall be on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at City Procurement Office, City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue, Concepcion Pequena, Naga City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The City Government of Naga reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: MR. FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. Acting City Administrator Office of the City Administrator 2nd Floor City Hall Building, City Hall Compound, J. Miranda Avenue Concepcion Pequena, Naga City 4400 bac@naga.gov.ph/junmongoso@naga.gov.ph, www.naga.gov.ph

(M ( MSS- M - MAARR. .2255, 2, 2017 017) )

BIGGEST CASSAVA. Senator Cynthia A. Villar holds up the biggest cassava root harvested in time for the 6th Kamoteng Kahoy Festival in Kalayaan, Laguna. With her are (from left) Councilors Roberto Ramirez, Marlon Vaganas, Hervin Dela Paz, Vice Mayor Laarni Lopez, Mayor Leni M. Adao, Councilor Christopher Ramiro, Vheeley James Cabamalan, Edizon Jayson Blancon, Councilor Wilson Fadri and Municipal Researcher Ericson Farral. Roy Tomandao

(SGD) FLORENCIO T. MONGOSO, JR. BAC Chairperson

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The municipal government has approved an ordinance prohibiting the use of noisy and modified mufflers on the motorcycles of residents here.

Mayor Ralph Lantion said Ordinance No. 2017-002 imposes strict penalties for violators within the town.

“We are giving friendly advice to our villagers to refrain from using noisy and modified motorcycle and tricycle mufflers and replace them with ordinary form to avoid being penalized. Please follow and comply with this ordinance,” he said.

Based on the Anti-Noisy Muffler and Anti-Noise Pollution Laws, the ordinance was crafted due to mounting complaints among majority of their residents, Lantion said. Ben Moses Ebreo

Iloilo police hope to rid city of drugs ILOILO CITY—Senior Supt. Remus Zacharias Canieso, Iloilo City Police Office director, is hopeful that all 180 barangays in this city will be declared drug-free.

Canieso on Thursday said the police are working hard to clear all barangays here of illegal drugs, but noted this takes time, as police operations and its results are subject to validation and revalidation of the city’s intelligence community.

“It’s a combination of comparing notes within the intelligence community to know how many of those in the watch list are validated,” Canieso said.

To date, only four barangays here have no illegal drug activity. PNA

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

World IN BRIEF Food poisoning downs hundreds YANGON―A free lunch for villagers in southern Myanmar turned sour after it landed more than a third of the rural community in hospital with food poisoning, local officials said Friday.

Hundreds of villagers from Eain Ta Lone, west of Yangon, fell ill after eating fish stew served at a Buddhist ceremony to celebrate the ordination of local novices.

The entire 1,000-person village was bundled over to the nearest hospital, where 367 were admitted for treatment, said charity worker Wai Lin Aung, who helped to transport the villagers.

Many were vomiting and some described aches and pains all over their body, he added.

“They felt like that after eating stewed hilsa (type of fish) and cassia soup at the donation.”

The sick returned home later on Thursday and were recovering, Myaung Mya town chief administrator Aung Kyaw Zaya told AFP. “They are all back in the village now. We are monitoring the whole village to see if there are any other health problems.” AFP

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Trump: Approve health bill W

ASHINGTON―Donald Trump warned Republicans that he is done negotiating and wants a vote Friday on dismantling Obamacare, setting up a highstakes showdown with members of the president’s own party over his embattled health care plan.

Japan to cull over 280,000 chickens TOKYO―Japan deployed hundreds of soldiers to help cull more than 280,000 chickens on Friday, officials said as they tried to contain further outbreaks of a highly contagious strain of avian flu.

The latest slaughter means more than 1.67 million birds will have been killed in a dozen mass culls at several farms across the country since November when the virus was detected in the northern Aomori prefecture.

Troops have been sent to a farm in Miyagi prefecture in the northeast where about 220,000 birds are to be killed, and to a property southeast of Tokyo where 68,000 chickens will be destroyed.

“The local government has requested the Self-Defense Forces to help the culling operation while setting a limit on shipping chickens and eggs surrounding the farm [in Miyagi],” a farm ministry official said.

The defense ministry confirmed it had dispatched 370 troops to the two locations to help in the slaughter. AFP

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

SUPPORTER. A supporter of Marine A, former British soldier Alexander Blackman, salutes outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on March 24, 2017, ahead of the sentencing hearing for Blackman whose 2013 murder conviction was quashed and commuted to diminished responsibility manslaughter. Blackman, the Royal Marine who shot an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan in 2011, will be sentenced for diminished responsibility manslaughter, after his 2013 murder conviction was quashed by leading judges. AFP

House leaders were forced to postpone a Thursday vote on the measure amid a revolt by mainly conservative Republicans, who were complicating the first major legislative test for the new president by signaling it would not pass without key changes.

Trump himself set the stage, dispatching an aide to a closeddoor meeting of Republican lawmakers to demand a Friday vote.

“The message is tomorrow it’s up, it’s down -- we expect it to be up -- but it’s done tomorrow,” White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told the lawmakers, according to congressman Chris Collins.

Mulvaney then delivered Trump’s extraordinary ultimatum.

“If it doesn’t pass, we’re moving beyond health care,” Mulvaney said, paraphrased by Collins.

“We would be moving on to other parts of his agenda.”

The idea that Trump -- who campaigned relentlessly on a pledge to bury Barack Obama’s signature legislative accomplishment -- would wash his hands of the fight and let Obamacare stand is a startling departure from the party playbook.

But Mulvaney’s blunt take-it-or-leave-it approach could be part of Trump’s hardball strategy to get Republican rebels to fall in line.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, a champion of the legislation dubbed the American Health Care Act, put on a brave face despite the bill’s hanging by a thread.

“We have been promising the American people we will repeal and replace this broken law because it’s collapsing and failing families, and tomorrow we’re proceeding,” he told reporters after the conference meeting.

A procedural vote on the bill is set for approximately 10:00 am (1400 GMT) Friday, followed by a full floor vote in the afternoon.

The president and his lieutenants had repeatedly voiced optimism about the bill’s prospects, saying they had made progress convincing doubters to join Trump’s camp.

But the votes weren’t there.

“I am still a no at this time. I am desperately trying to get to yes,” said Mark Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, whose members have demanded changes to the plan before giving their blessing.

Although Meadows sought to portray optimism about the process, he revealed the width of the gap between Trump and the plan’s opponents.

“At this point, we are trying to get another 30 to 40 votes that are currently in the ‘no’ category to ‘yes,’” Meadows said after meeting with his caucus. AFP

In Trump land, painful choices if Obamacare goes ROGERSVILLE―Maribeth Coote says she hates Obamacare, but it’s the only health coverage option she can afford in this remote, hardscrabble corner of southwestern Pennsylvania.

The government should “just back off and let me figure it out, and get out of the whole industry” of health care, the 52-yearold Chicago transplant to the tiny town of Rogersville said as she cleaned up her woodworking shed from recent flooding.

Donna Himelrick is uninsured and priced out of the market, despite being the mayor of Hundred, a small town 32 kilometers south in neighboring West Virginia.

“I make too much for Medic-

aid and not enough that we can afford insurance. It’s a difficult situation,” Himelrick, 62, said at a clinic in nearby Burton, where she pays for medical treatment in cash, according to what she can afford.

Like millions in Appalachia, both women voted for Donald Trump in last November’s election seeking to upend the political system. The Affordable Care Act, they insist, is not the answer to their health woes.

But both would face dramatic changes to their health care -probably for the worse, at least at first -- if Obamacare is replaced by the plan being hashed out by Republican lawmakers in Washington, a cultural and political world away.

Local clinics are a lifeline for many in this economically stagnant, overwhelmingly white region. Ambulance coverage is spotty, and rough roads with rougher weather can leave insular communities even more isolated in emergencies.

Now that Trump is president, the reforms installed by his predecessor Barack Obama are under threat, potentially spelling disaster for several community health centers in Pennsylvania and neighboring West Virginia.

“There are a lot of things that need to be straightened out” with health care, but shuttering local clinics “would be a concern to me,” Himelrick conceded. Lawmakers should “tread lightly.”

The Cornerstone Care CHC in Rogersville, which treats Coote, and several other facilities serve an area where coal mines have recently closed, pushing up unemployment, and where health facilities can be 20 miles or more apart.

“We are the safety net for this community,” Janice Morris, chief executive of the Clay-Battelle CHC in Blacksville, West Virginia, said in an interview.

Under Obamacare, several states have expanded Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor and disabled, to include residents whose income is at or below 138 percent of the poverty level.

But with some 670,000 people in Pennsylvania and 175,000 in

West Virginia eligible for Medicaid through the expansion, a rollback of the program as proposed in the Republican plan would “have a terrible impact there,” Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, told AFP back in Washington.

At Clay-Battelle clinic, nearly half of the patients are either on Medicaid or Medicare, the coverage program for the elderly.

Many of the clinic’s 300 to 400 weekly patients pay on a scale according to their financial ability -- a system known as “the slide.”

The clinic covers the slack through Medicaid and commercial insurance reimbursements, federal and state funding, and grants. AFP

Envoy meets Swiss counterpart GENEVA―Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with his Swiss counterpart Thursday after having to call off a campaign appearance among diaspora voters, in a bitter row between Ankara and Europe.

Relations between Turkey and Europe have been severely strained since several Turkish ministers were blocked from campaigning on the continent for a ‘yes’ vote in next month’s referendum on boosting the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter “underscored the validity of Swiss law on Swiss soil, urged Turkey to comply with it,” a statement said.

“Freedom of expression is a universal value recognized by Switzerland, which hopes that this freedom will also hold true for Turkish citizens whether they cast their votes in Switzerland or in their own country,” it quoted Burkhalter as saying.

Cavusoglu’s visit comes after the Swiss government rejected a request from Zurich authorities to cancel a previously planned visit by the minister earlier this month, after the canton’s security spokesman warned that a rally he was due to attend could be hit by “heavy demonstrations”.

However, the organizers canceled the event after the hotel they had booked refused to host it.

Swiss police on March 10 also blocked a rally in the northern canton of Argau supporting a “yes” vote in the referendum.

Ankara has said such behavior was reminiscent of Nazi Germany, and Erdogan warned on Wednesday that Europeans risk being unsafe on the world’s streets if they did not modify their behavior.

On April 16, Turks will decide whether to approve constitutional changes that would ax the role of prime minister and could see Erdogan in power until 2029.

While the government argues it is necessary for stability, critics claim it will lead to oneman rule.

Burkhalter expressed concern about a crackdown in Turkey following a failed July 15 coup that the government has blamed on US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen.

Burkhalter expressed “concern about the large number of dismissals and arrests in Turkey, and underscored that the declaration of a state of emergency does not exempt Turkey from its international human rights obligations,” the Swiss foreign ministry said.

Following the putsch, Ankara launched an unprecedented purge of alleged Gulen supporters, with some 43,000 people jailed and awaiting, or on, trial and suspended or sacked about 100,000. Many of them are teachers, police, magistrates or journalists. AFP

CHECKPOINT. In this photograph taken on March 23, 2017, Afghan policemen search passengers at a checkpoint in Lashkar Gah. Taliban fighters captured the strategic southern district of Sangin on March 23, officials said, another setback for Afghan forces in the opium-rich Helmand province ahead of the spring fighting season. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

World

Dead dictators draw the art crowd in HK H

ONG KONG―A “breathing” Fidel Castro is among several excommunist leaders gathered this week in Hong Kong―one of the world’s centers of capitalism―as part of a cheeky exhibition at Art Basel.

Lifelike replicas of Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin, Kim IlSung, Ho Chi Minh and the former Cuban leader are lying in state in the city’s harbor-front convention center, drawing curious, smartphone-snapping art enthusiasts.

Made from acrylic and silica gel and dressed in their signa-

ture uniforms, all lie in glass coffins, except for Castro, who can be seen “breathing” almost imperceptibly on his deathbed.

The installation, called “Summit”, was created by Chinese artist Shen Shaomin who said the work was conceived as a response to the global financial crisis of 2008.

It was originally commissioned for the Sydney Biennale contemporary art festival in 2010― when Castro was still alive―as an imaginary meeting of former dictators to parody the now defunct G8 grouping of wealthy industrialized nations.

“Many Western scholars have become suspicious about capitalism, and compared and discussed theories of communism, so I have created the ‘G5’,” Shen told AFP at the Hong Kong fair.

“People from different coun-

tries, different cultural backgrounds, different experiences have their own ways to interpret it,” said Shen, who jokingly inserted his iPhone into Castro’s hand.

Gallerist Agnes Lin, who is representing the work at Art Basel, said she had been doubtful whether the exhibit would be allowed into semi-autonomous Hong Kong, where concerns are growing that China is tightening its grip.

Mao remains a controversial figure on the mainland and there is general sensitivity about his image there.

Despite that, Mao’s replica and the other bodies were made in Beijing, where Shen has a base. “[Art Basel] really fought hard to have this piece in,” Lin said.

“I think Hong Kong is still free... we can still have the

freedom to show this work and I’m so happy about that.”

Shen said the bodies took a team of seven to eight artisans six months to create after intensively studying the leaders’ appearances, from their moles to their hair.

“It makes people want to learn more about them,” said Tiernan Breen, 18, a student from Fiji browsing Art Basel.

“You ask yourself questions which you wouldn’t ask if you hadn’t actually seen them.”

Shen is not expecting a private collector to take home the bodies, but hopes the work finds a place in a museum.

Since the Sydney Biennale, the installation has toured museums in Singapore and France.

“It’s very unique, I love it... You get goosebumps, you know?” said Nesli Vetter, 54, visiting Art Basel from Germany. AFP

CHEERS TO 15 YEARS. Augustine Fitness attends beautyblender Cheers to 15 Years in West Hollywood, California. AFP

Film on couple who hid 300 Jews

Francis to offer counsel to EU leaders

WARSAW―The director of Warsaw zoo and his wife always carried cyanide during World War II. Danger was everpresent, but they were ready to take their secret to the grave.

The couple hid nearly 300 Jews and resistance fighters on zoo grounds during most of the war, under the noses of the German Nazis occupying Poland.

It sounds like a Hollywood movie, and now it is. But “The Zookeeper’s Wife”, which opens in Polish cinemas this week before rolling out internationally, is based on actual events.

Inside the zookeeper’s villa, whose windowless cellar had a secret tunnel leading to the garden, Jan Zabinski and his wife Antonina gave refuge to the mostly Jews smuggled out of the city’s ghetto.

“I remember squatting under this concrete shelf in the basement and keeping my hand over my sister’s mouth to muffle her cries because she was constantly crying, day and night,” said Moshe Tirosh, aged five at the time.

“When someone slammed the door upstairs, fear would pass through me, lest they find us,” the 80-year-old told AFP in a telephone interview.

The retired businessman and grandfather-of-seven, who has lived in Israel since 1957, still cannot believe what he lived through.

“I saw children’s dead bodies on the street. Terrible things...

I remember wondering why everyone wants to kill us. I couldn’t understand it,” he said.

All but two of the zoo’s hidden guests survived the war and Nazi troops stationed on the bombed-out zoo grounds never unearthed the subterfuge.

“My parents figured that it’s always darkest under a lamppost,” the zoo couple’s daughter Teresa Zabinska said, citing a Polish saying according to which it is best to hide in plain sight.

“My father knew that it wouldn’t occur to the Germans that so many people could be hiding in a place like this with open windows and no curtains,” the 73-year-old told AFP. AFP

VATICAN CITY―European Union leaders will receive guidance from Pope Francis Friday, on the eve of the troubled bloc’s 60th anniversary celebrations in Rome.

On past form, the Argentine pontiff is unlikely to pull his punches in a Friday evening audience with 27 heads of state or government tasked with charting a “common future” for a union soon to lose Britain from its ranks.

Francis has made it clear he believes that the EU’s future should include a much greater emphasis on combating social injustice than there has been in six decades of integration driven primarily by trade liberalization and monetary union.

Today’s Europe needs to adopt “new, more inclusive and equitable economic models, aimed not at serving the few, but at benefiting ordinary people and society as a whole,” he said in a speech last year.

Some EU governments and also a significant bloc in the European Parliament agree with him.

But there is no consensus among the 27 member states on this or almost any other issue to do with the bloc’s next steps.

The future, too, is clouded by the advances of far-right and populist parties -- a trend the pope has highlighted as a danger on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Crises provoke fear, alarm,” he said in a January interview, recalling that the “obvious example of European populism” was Germany in 1933, the year Adolf Hitler seized power.

Francis’s most senior lieutenant, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, said this week that populism was a “sign of a profound malaise felt by many people in Europe”.

This, he said, was based on genuine concerns about migration and the economic crisis to which the EU had to respond with concrete action.

Among the questions facing the EU is whether it should adopt a two-speed model, allowing some countries to deepen cooperation and pool sovereignty in various areas faster than others? AFP

FASHION WEEK. A model presents a creation by Japanese designer Yuma Koshino at the Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo. AFP

Monetary awards set for war crimes victims THE HAGUE―Judges at the International Criminal Court are expected on Friday to unveil the first compensation awards to victims of war crimes, with lawyers estimating a 2003 attack on a Congolese village caused $16.4 million in damage.

Friday’s order for reparations for 304 victims of former Congolese warlord Germain Katanga is set to be a landmark step for the tribunal, set up in 2002 to prosecute the world’s worst crimes.

Katanga was sentenced by

the ICC to 12 years in jail in 2014, after being convicted on five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for the February 2003 ethnic attack on Bogoro village in Ituri province.

He was accused of supplying weapons to his militia in the attack in which some 200 people were shot and hacked to death with machetes.

Legal representatives have estimated a minimum of $16.4 million in damages was caused, and it may be as high as $24.7 million, even if the “victims

are not demanding this sum”.

Katanga, 38, now on trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo on other charges of war crimes and insurrection in the mineral-rich Ituri region, is liable to pay any compensation.

The judges could decide to order collective reparations for projects to help the community as a whole, as well as individual damages to victims.

“It may bring the prospect of some redress for the victims,” said Pieter de Baan, director of the Trust Fund for Victims, arguing it was important to show

justice “doesn’t stop in the courtroom”.

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) is an independent body set up under the ICC’s founding guidelines, to support and implement programs to help victims.

Lawyers for the victims have set out a detailed list of the possible reparations due, pricing everything from the loss of a cow or a hen to the cost of rebuilding mud or brick homes or how much a life is worth, or how much suffering being raped caused. AFP

Life TRAVEL AND LEISURE

F

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

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Couple

or the very first time a lucky couple received the gift of a lifetime from Cathay Dragon.

Everyone loves a wedding, and what could be more amazing than a marriage onboard a plane at 35,000 feet in the air? Yes, the airline known for its superb service and hospitality made it happen so a happy couple’s dream wedding would come true.

Mr. Ha and Ms. Zhen, whose respective travel blogs have close to a million followers combined, were dubbed as “China’s favorite online travel couple.”

Voted as the lucky winners in Cathay Dragon’s “Marriage in the Air” social media contest, they earned the once in a lifetime chance to say their “I do’s” aboard a Cathay Dragon flight bound for Hong Kong.

The couple met through a shared love for travel and what better way for them to exchange vows than by doing what they love and celebrating it with friends and relatives. “Travel will continue to be an important part of our lives. To have an inflight wedding specially tailored to our needs, with our families onboard for this occasion, is not only meaningful; it is something we will never forget. Cathay Dragon has won many awards for its service and hospitality, but we never imagined they could do so much. It really is a dream come true,” Mr. Ha and Ms. Zhen share.

The airline goes a long way to make sure each of their passengers lives a Life Well Travelled, and hosting this wedding for a couple passionate about travel is its way of staying true to that promise. Cathay Dragon pulled out all the stops to make sure that every detail of the wedding was in place.

The festive and romantic atmosphere was in the air as decorations were thoughtfully arranged starting from the check-in counters, up to the boarding gate and inside the aircraft cabin. Members of the cabin crew lined up and warmly greeted the happy couple as they made their way down the aisle of the plane.

Once the flight reached cruise altitude, the couple finally exchanged rings and said their “I do’s” while their guests toasted the moment with champagne.

Delighting everyone even more, Cathay

united up in the air Dragon served its renowned afternoon tea and signature warm clay pot rice dish. All the guests even received special “Marriage in the Air” souvenir bags full of goodies.

A wedding would not be complete without a beautiful reception. So, upon arrival in Hong Kong, the celebration continued with an intimate private party at Cathay Pacific’s highly acclaimed Business Class lounge, the Pier. Mr. Ha and Ms. Zhen also spent the weekend sightseeing in Hong Kong and shared their experiences travelling for the first time as a married couple with all their fans online.

Cathay Dragon CEO Algernon Yau said, “Our heartiest congratulations go to Mr. Ha and Ms. Zhen. We couldn’t be happier to host this special occasion for this Life Well Travelled couple. We consider it an honor that they chose Cathay Dragon and we look forward to seeing them onboard our flights again in the near future.”

Over the years, the wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific has earned its well-deserved reputation by providing its passengers superior levels of service at every stage of their journey. And for four consecutive years, Skytrax World Awards named Cathay Dragon as the World’s Best Regional Airline. Cathay Dragon and Cathay Pacific have built up significant synergy over the years, and improved their customer products substantially, enhancing their cabins, seats and inflight entertainment with a view to greater brand alignment.

The airline has also established partnerships with renowned Chinese restaurants to offer local delicacies through seasonal menus, such as poon choi, winter melon soup, crab roe dishes and hot pot rice at certain times of the year, characterizing Cathay Dragon’s high-quality inflight dining experience.

Enchanted Kingdom celebrates Girl Power BECAUSE girls just want to have fun, Enchanted Kingdom (EK) celebrates Women’s Month by offering the ladies a fab day out with exciting group packages! It’s time to get those #OOTDs and groufies with your besties. EK creates an avenue to let the ladies enjoy their special day at a discounted rate and celebrate with their friends and families.

The country’s first and

only world-class theme park launches its Celebrate Womanhood promo that offers packages for groups of four (4) at P3,200 on weekdays and P3,600 on weekends.

The promo, which is open to the first 500 guests daily from March 2 to April 2, 2017, also comes with 4 tickets to the first and only flying theater Agila: The Eksperience and get five (5) raffle

coupons for a chance to win one of 10 SKK smartphones!

Enjoy the thrilling rides and attractions located at the seven different zones at the picture-perfect theme park.

Girl bonding has never been more fun at the Enchanted Kingdom, where the magic lives forever.

For more information about the promo and the park, visit www.enchantedkingdom.ph

INFLIGHT WEDDING. Mr. Ha and Ms. Zhen had a once in a lifetime

chance to say their ‘I Do’s’ aboard a Cathay Dragon’s flight to Hong Kong— an unforgettable event as the couple considers travelling as one of the important parts of their life.

Life

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Jobs in sustainable tourism MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

W

ith new hotels sprouting all over Metro Manila these days, it is relatively easy for the present crop of Hospitality Management or Tourism graduates to find a job, compared to their counterparts in previous decades.

However, as of late, the Tourism industry has been abuzz with the various perspectives of sustainable tourism, getting the millennials excited and curious about what this paradigm shift in our industry’s direction will mean to them in terms of employment.

Although they now realize that a job in sustainable tourism, because of the highly specialized training it requires, is not as easy to come by, compared to regular jobs in hotels, restaurants, airlines, etc., the millennials are still curious to find out what it would take for them to be a part of this new trend in the industry.

At a recent Global Youth Forum in Subic, I was asked to share with the audience, made up mostly of millennials, the employment opportunities in sustainable tourism, which they could train for and make a lifetime career of.

Although not as many, or as varied, as the regular tourism industry jobs, these opportunities are deemed more significant, more meaningful, and more valuable because they ensure the viability of the tourism industry for future generations. Most of these are also referred to as “Green Jobs” because they promote

ecological sustainability and environmental preservation.

Leading the list of “Indoor Jobs” is that of the Ecotourism Project Manager who addresses all ecotourism related technical matters of a project and designs technical program initiatives for resource mobilization of the project. Anybody who loves to teach can fit in perfectly as Environmental Educator, who makes people aware of environmental issues, promotes conservation and sustainability, enhancing the public’s enjoyment of the environment through teaching and interpreting the natural world.

Those who want to help preserve a country’s culture could train to be a Heritage Manager and be responsible for the conservation and management

of heritage sites, balancing their preservation with income and sustainability from a business perspective, while a Protected Areas Project Officer takes care of land use delineation and law enforcement on protected areas.

The “Outdoor Jobs” in sustainable tourism may be more engaging and interesting for the present crop of graduates but, nevertheless, just as important as the “Indoor Jobs.” An “ecopreneur” creates and sells environmentally friendly products and services, including organic food, recycling efforts or green construction.

The more sedate job of a Nature Conservation Officer manages, protects and improves areas of environmental importance through conservation work, publicity and scientific monitoring, while a more interesting job would be that of a

The old Manila Metropolitan Theater

YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE HOW A MAN SHOULD IMPRESS A WOMAN: Compliment her, cuddle her, kiss her, caress her, love her, stroke her, comfort her, protect her, hug her, wine and dine her, buy gifts for her, listen to her, respect her, stand by her, support her, go to the ends of the earth for her.

HOW A WOMAN SHOULD IMPRESS A MAN: Arrive naked¼ with beer.

The Bambike is a stylized mode of transportation made of bamboo, invented by an Ecopreneur who used indigenous materials instead of imported products.

Wildlife Manager, who supervises hunting activities in an area, keeping track of the animal population in that area, and ensuring the habitat’s suitability for wildlife population.

In movies and television, we’ve seen a Park Ranger. He protects and supervises outdoor areas, patrolling the grounds, to be sure that campers, hikers and other visitors follow the rules, especially fire safety regulations, and do not disrupt the natural environment of fellow guests. A new field of operations is that of an Environmental Engineer, who uses the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to solve environmental problems.

But what has proven to be a most interesting job was that of a Caretaker of a Tropical Island. In 2009, the Queensland Government in Australia announced their search for a sixmonth Caretaker for Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef. Thirty-five thousand applicants from all over the world vied for the position, which paid approximately $90,000.

After thorough screenings, interviews and other tests, Ben Southall from Hampshire, England emerged victorious. Although he was provided with a luxury villa on Hamilton Island

and had all the perks that come with a wealthy lifestyle, including TV guestings in Oprah, National Geographic and other worldwide top-raters, he found the job extremely exhausting.

Every single day, he had to go diving, kayaking, cycling and sailing throughout the entire length of the 1600-kilometer Great Barrier Reef.

He lost his girlfriend who he no longer had time for, and almost died after having been stung by an extremely poisonous jellyfish. But he was very good in his job and his employer, the government, was very pleased with him. After his six-month contract ended, Queensland made him Tourism Ambassador, still with a hefty salary, to promote not just the Great Barrier Reef, but also the rainforest and the Gold Coast, Australia’s “Playground of the Rich and Famous.”

Of course, one does not have to take any of the aforementioned jobs if he wants to do his share of promoting Sustainable Tourism. All he has to do is to remind himself of this mantra, every time he travels to a certain place: “Leave nothing but footprints Take nothing but pictures Kill nothing but time” For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com

PacSafe backpacks offer metro commuters peace of mind as their valuable items are protected in their bag

Brave the city

in style

U

rbanites live a multifaceted lifestyle – not only do they have to toil at work, they also need to juggle a bustling social life. Luckily, they have trusty companions, like smart bags, storage, and accessories, which help them stay safe, mobile, organized, and focused in their day-to-day encounters around the urban jungle.

Check out some of these smart innovations that have been helping urbanites keep up with the rhythm of city life.

Security and protection for mobile warriors

Today’s workers are not confined into the four walls of their office. With technology and Wi-Fi connectivity, people can simply lug around their electronic devices wherever they go and work remotely. And Pacsafe UltimateSafe Z15 backpack makes sure that mobile warriors are prepared to take on their tasks

on the go. Its slim and compact built can pack in a 15-inch laptop and other electronic gizmos, while its slash-resistant outer canvas ensures that personal belongings remain intact as they rush from one meeting to another. With its patented 360 eXomesh locking system, commuters won’t have to worry about pickpockets while riding the bus, metro, or even jeepney. As an added safeguard, the Pacsafe UltimateSafe Z15 backpack also comes with a TSA-accepted 3-dial combination lock.

One of commuters’ worst nightmares is a lost wallet. As the world’s first personal accessory featuring anti-identity theft technology, the Stewart/Stand stainless steel wallet aims to put this issue to bed. Its stainless steel design blocks unauthorized access to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-enabled cards such as credit cards, driver’s license or even passports, so commuters can worry less about thieves stealing their personal information, especially during rush hour. Stewart/Stand’s Texture Collection also makes sure that urban dwellers stay chic: Stewart/Stand custom textured stainless steel textile wallets feature various geometric patterns, designed to deliver a visual statement.

High Road Tissue Pockets keep the car organized and clutter-free

by coffee shops to get their morning coffee fix before heading to work. Thanks to Espro Travel Press, they can now brew their coffee on the go, even while commuting on their way to work. Featuring a twofilter system that puts the common French Press to shame, Espro Travel Press allows urban dwellers to extract all the best flavors of coffee or tea for instant rejuvenation wherever, whenever. They can even City living at its best Urban dwellers no longer need to drop get their quick fix while on their way to a

client meeting.

Urbanites juggling work and play need a reliable bag that can be used in different situations. The Lewis N. Clark ElectroLight duffel bag gives them the freedom and flexibility they need to do just that. It features ElectroLight packing solution, which keeps their personal belongings organized and safe from thieves, while packing in comfort and convenience as well.

They can easily take the duffel bag with them to a simple camping trip or a business trip abroad—it is versatile enough, with its durable, stain- and water-resistant “silnylon” fabric and a stylish, bright exterior.

Urbanites who drive around the city need to keep their travel essentials in check. And the High Road Tissue Pockets, Car Seat Back Organizer, and its innovative and patented TrashStash Litter Bag offer a solution to car clutter. Drivers can easily access bottles, tissues, and other needs in organized compartments.

Modern-day urbanites demand safety and convenience as they engage in work and recreational activities around the city. Urbanize offers only the most innovative travel accessories to help them brave the city life.

Urbanize outlets are located at UP Town Center, Gateway, Shangri-La, Glorietta 3,

Uptown in Bonifacio Global City, Venice Grand Canal, Kiss & Fly NAIA Terminal 3, Alabang Town Center, The DistrictImus, and Soledad and Serin in Tagaytay.

Follow Urbanize on Facebook and Instagram, or visit urbanize.com.ph for more details.

Lewis N. Clark ElectroLight duffel bag provides commuters freedom and flexibility

Get your coffee fix on-the-go with Espro Travel Press

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

By Rogelio Constantino Medina

Accidental meetings

S

INGER-ACTOR Lance Raymundo, or Reggie Raymundo in real life, who met a serious accident when his trainer dropped an 80-pound barbell at the gym on March 19, 2014 that almost damaged his face and career in show business, looks forward to a solemn Holy Week. He will enact the role of Jesus in a musical stage play Martir sa Golgota on April 7, to be directed by Lou Veloso and produced by Tanghalang Santa Ana and Greenfield District.

“I am very thankful to God for the second life,” related the singer-indie actor who graduated high school at La Salle Greenhills (in 2000) and earned a B.S. degree in Biology at the University of the Philippines.

Prior to his entry into the local music industry, he was a Levis model, along with Carlos Agassi, Jake Roxas, PJ Trinidad, Bojo Molina, Dingdong Dantes, Ryan Agoncillo, PJ Monotoc, and Bernadette Allyson.

“Dingdong Dantes became an actor while I became a singer (though he was an actor for two years). I had then a hit single, “You are the One”,” he reminisced with enthusiasm.

He added, “I was on TV almost everyday.

I came back to show business in 2008. Ms. Angie Magbanua (Lance’s former manager) was still alive then.”

He also performed at the Gantimpala Theatre, appearing as Romeo in the Tagalog version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and he appeared in a Singaporean TV series, the Incredible Tales.

On ABS-CBN, he was included in the TV daytime drama series Pieta, with Ryan Agoncillo and Cherie Gil in the lead.

He has appeared in several films by Peque Gallaga (as Lapu-Lapu in documentary film Images of Nation: Botong Francisco), Mario O’Hara (as Emilio Aguinaldo in Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio), Romy Suzara (Tinik), Carlo J. Caparas ( Ang Pangarap Kong Jackpot), Francis Jun Posadas (Aninag), and Sandy Bacolod (in Fidel), among others.

“Acting is my passion. It’s my new-found

A new mission for

LANCE

RAYMUNDO awareness, which serves as a platform to give inspiration to younger people,” commented Lance, younger brother of singer Rannie Raymundo and son of former actress and beauty queen Nina Zaldua-Raymundo.

He is the cousin of actress Ina Raymundo, balladeer Julius Obregon and actor Christian Vasquez.

It is interesting to note that Lance knows the value of good living. He does not drink, he does not smoke and he does not sleep late. He swims, runs and involves in amateur boxing.

He can forgive a person for a wrongdoing done to him, especially during last year’s gym incident that almost got his life.

“When I looked deeper at the mirror, I just smiled. I readily accepted the incident that happened to me. I realized no matter how you look, life has to go on and people will accept you. I remember I told my trainer that I have already forgiven him and asked him to help me go to the nearest hospital.

Ang pagpapatawad ay malaking bagay para gumaan ang loob mo (Forgiveness is a big thing to have some relief inside)... Healing starts when you forgive someone who does

you wrong,” philosophized Lance.

As a Catholic, Lance believes in miraculous healing. He vividly recalled when he stood up from his hospital bed, he saw the images of Jesus and Mother Ignacia in the blanket. His mother Nina put a novena under his pillow, and his mother is a devotee of Blessed Mother Ignacia, or venerable Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, a Filipino religious sister of the Roman Catholic Church and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (the first native Filipino female congregation with approved pontifical status).

“You don’t have to be Catholic to believe in that. It’s faith in general,” said Lance.

Certainly, Lance has realized that one’s life is not dependent on how one looks, as most actors of course want to look their best as their assets or investments to continue in show business. He is not selfish on his time to readily give talks to students in schools and to cheer up patients in various charitable institutions to share his experience and thank God in giving him another chance to live a meaningful life.

FYI brings curated lineup of lifestyle shows FYI is making your weeks more fun by giving you your favorite TV shows no matter what night you tune in. The lifestyle network is bringing more of their hit shows to inspire improvised living every day of the week.

Starting April 3, Mondays through Wednesdays, 8 to 11 p.m. home and living shows curated especially for you are on in FYI’s For Your Space theme night. Mondays won’t be so bad, thanks to shows Tiny House Nation and Tiny House Hunting, in which viewers can explore creative ways on how to live large in small spaces.

Don’t miss out on the fourth season of Tiny House Nation, premiering 9 p.m. on April 17. Join renovation experts John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin as they search and build mini dream homes that utilize space in new, innovative ways. This new season finds the show’s hosts creating small dream spaces for the likes of an award-winning producer/ rapper, an all-star hall-of-famer athlete, and an executive producer/host.

Tuesdays take you to the great outdoors with shows Unplugged Nation and Outback Nation. Join couples and families in Unplugged Nation as they attempt a secluded, self-sufficient lifestyle in remote locations across the U.S., and decide whether

"Flip the House" is a reality show about a group of individuals that buy houses and renovated them for a quick profit.

they want to return to city life or remain “unplugged.” In Outback Nation, the outdoors comes to you, as landscape designer Jamie Durie helps homeowners transform their neglected backyards into outdoor oases.

Get through the middle of the week with house renovation shows Flipping Vegas, Flip this House, and Nicole & Jionni’s Shore Flip.

Follow these colorful personalities as they buy, build and flip bleak homes into beautiful living spaces that home owners dream of.

On April 6, start your delicious Thursdays with new episodes of The Great Australian Bake Off Season 3.

Staying in on a Saturday just gets more tempting with the season 2 premiere of Seven Year Switch 10 p.m. on April 15. The experimental show once again finds more couples at the breaking point of their marriage and has them participate in an extreme innovative form of therapy in which they swap partners and partake in experimental marriages for two weeks in order to come to a decision about their own marriages.

Tune in to FYI for your dose of inspiration— whether for your space, cooking skills, or relationships.

FYI™ is available on SKYCable Ch 79; Cable Link Ch. 44; Dream Satellite Ch 21.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, March 25, 2017 ACROSS 1 “Same Time, Next Year” actor 5 Industry magnate 9 “The Gold-Bug” author 12 Carol 13 Rents, as a limo 15 Pastime 16 Where hackles rise 17 Ill-suited 18 Norwegian name 19 Hamming it up 21 Red gemstones 23 Military status 24 Full-length, as a novel 25 Execs 27 Punt 29 Pays homage 33 Stately tree 34 Asian capital 36 Rancher, maybe 37 Marsh grass 39 Historical memento 41 Hoop’s place 42 Venice “street” 44 Friday’s creator 46 Hot beverage 47 Have a hunch 49 What banks do 50 Class

51 Neutral color 53 Part of CD 55 Counselor 58 Pirate’s sword 61 Midday 62 Half diameters 64 Dog-chow brand 65 Stick 66 Hamper 67 Disparaging remark 68 Gary’s st.

69 Epochs 70 London park DOWN 1 One of the Bronte sisters 2 Crumbly soil 3 Behavior 4 Comic-strip queen 5 More thickset 6 Sharp whining noise 7 Playful bark 8 Be a monarch 9 Cut off 10 Not include 11 Cartoon shrieks 14 Pancake order 15 Polite 20 Signs a contract 22 Smallest of the litter

24 Luau strummer 25 Maurice’s thanks 26 Gather bit by bit 28 Sorority member 30 In a strange manner 31 Price tag 32 Kind of preview 35 Biology subject 38 Smearing 40 Pipelines 43 Rumors, perhaps

45 Work in the newsroom 48 Levels 52 Persona non — 54 Use a machete 55 Not “pro” 56 Escalator direction 57 Null’s partner 58 Motion picture 59 Root veggie 60 Painful 63 Burrowed

WE ACCIDENTALLY met Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber, PBB’s most popular love team in a famous restaurant somewhere in Quezon City last week.

We were about to have a late lunch then when Neeyong, my son, recognized them and instantly chatted with them.

“You have a very smart kid Kuya. I remember my neighbors whom I baby sit back in Germany,” said the very goodlooking teen-ager Edward when he approached our table.

“Ay talagang tinanong po namin siya kung sino ang kasama niya at dinala nga po niya kami dito. Kayo po pala ang daddy nitong very talkative na nag-i-interview sa amin kanina. Kakyut na bata,” reacted Maymay.

We had a very lively chat about their plans in showbiz and on the projects they are promised to have by the PBB management and the animation made by Neeyong on them, especially on their love team.

“Love, love lang kayo ha,” said my six-year-old son.

We just told them, however, to focus on their work and make each other an inspiration and not to be too serious about their feelings for each other. Maymay is 19, while Edward is only 16.

Beautiful things can and will still come their way.

That brief encounter we had with MayWard because of Neeyong’s kakulitan obliged us to pose with them in a photo and when we posted them in our social media accounts, voila!, we were surprised to have been flooded by thousands of likes, shares and positive comments.

My followers both on my Twitter and Instagram accounts even increased! So here’s thanking the #MayWard supporters and fans for once again letting us feel how great it is to be a “teener.” Lols. ****** Now that is has been made official by Star Cinema, Angel Locsin’s Darna role is being talked about again by the netizens.

After Angel and Star Cinema management mutually agreed of the former backing out as the Pinay super hero due to heath reasons, various surveys as to whom would best replace the sexy actress has started and several names and reasons have come up.

Topping the list is Liza Soberano who according to fans possesses all the qualities Darna has. Beautiful, sexy, and is loved by many especially by the children. “And she is so popular today. She has made her mark as a box-office sensation,” chorused her supporters.

Nadine Lustre is also a top contender like Liza. Her edge according to her supporters is her being so comfy in displaying her sexiness to public.

Maja Salvador’s best actress title is a “must-plus” according to her drumbeaters, which is an important factor to being a Darna. She also has everythingbeauty, sexiness and natural

charisma to men and young people.

Y a s s i Pressman is a surprise entrant in the surveys but her defenders say that its’ her natural beauty and appeal to children that make her perfect for the role. Besides, her role in the top-rating Ang Probinsyano seems “a good preparation to her being an action lady err..super woman,” added her supporters.

For the longest time, Jessy Mendiola is a strong contender but her detractors are questioning her ability to carry a solo movie.

“She has it too, but does she have the appeal? The box-office power?,” asked these netizens.

Although Sarah Geronimo has already said that the role is not for her at all as she is not comfortable to wearing sexy costumes, her Popsters think otherwise.

“Can’t you see her in ASAP every time she gyrates and displays coolness and sexiness?

Wow na Wow. From among them all, she is the certified box office sensation,” reacted her fans.

But to a many beauty pageants’ enthusiasts and fans, Pia Wurtzbach is their best choice.

“Let her save the universe,” shouted her fans as Pia herself gamely said “yes” when asked if she wants to play Darna?

“It’s also my dream to play the Pinoy version of Wonder Woman, Darna,” Pia gushed in her social media post.

Wheewww...and the list can still get a long way. Star Cinema is certainly assured of a boxoffice hit in this project that is indeed becoming a “must-see” among the fans and supporters.

All they need to do is to choose the rightest one and that is a tough job for now! ***** We are among those who feel happy when nanay Lolit Solis and papa Piolo Pascual finally met after a while at the press con of Northern Lights: A Journey to Love.

Although it has been years since papa P forgave nanay Lolit after he and Sam Milby withdrew their lawsuit against the veteran writer-TV host, it was only last Monday when they saw each other.

No drama, no hysteria, tension or whatever. It was just a simple meeting where they both hugged and kissed each other with respect.

It was a very good sight to behold and we had nothing but high respect for both.

Indeed, Mother Lily Monteverde and daughter Roselle were right when they said that papa Piolo’s homecoming movie with Regal Entertainment is indeed a blessing.

Regal Films co-produced Northern Lights; A Journey To Love with papa P’s production outfit with Star Cinema as distributor.

Papa Piolo co-stars with Yen Santos and child star Raikko Matteo under the direction of Dondon Santos. It is going to be shown on March 29 to theaters nationwide.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

ISAH V. RED

J

ADINE fans in the US are in for a treat when their favorite love team embarks on its performing tour this year.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre headline the Always Jadine 2017 shows in the following places: the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California on March 26; the Chabot College Performing Arts Center in Hayward, California on March 31; Ayva Center Concerts and Banquet Houston, Texas on April 1; the Tropicana in Las Vegas, Nevada; and will close at the World Trade Center (Zabeel Hall 6) in Dubai on May 5.

This is Jadine’s second international concert tour. Last year saw the pair in blockbuster performances in the Middle East, Europe, the US and Canada.

The Always Jadine tour is made possible by SMDC and Philippine Airlines. It is a production of Viva Live and the NY Entourage Productions in the US and by Viva Live, Etalent International and Frontrow International in Dubai. Also featured in the show are host and comedian Chad Kinis and the Gforce Dancers. *** Mike Tan is a loyal Kapuso. He renewed his e contract with the Kapuso Network on March 16.

Mike was discovered in the second season of Starstruck where he was hailed as the Ultimate Male Survivor.

For over 13 years of being part of GMA, he expressed his gratitude on the challenging projects that the Network has been giving him.

Hindi ko kasi talaga makita na “Hindi umalis ako sa Network na nagpasikat sa akin, nagturo sa akin at talagang nagmamahal sa akin. Ever since naman, nandito sila for me and never nila akong pinabayaan, through ups and downs, andiyan sila para sa akin. Never nila akong binigyan ng hindi ko gustong proyekto. Lagi nilang pinararamdam sa akin yung tiwala kaya lagi akong thankful na nandito ako sa GMA.” Currently, Mike is one of the lead stars of the country’s top daytime program Ika-6 Na Utos with Sunshine Dizon, Ryza Cenon, and Gabby Concepcion.

Mike is thankful to all the viewers and netizens who continuously praise him for his portrayal of Angelo Trinidad.

“Challenge siya sa akin siyempre.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre take the JaDine fever overseas touring the US and the UAE

‘Always Jadine 2017’

GOES ON TOUR

Parang ngayon lang ako ulit gumawa ng ganito kabigat na role. Aaminin ko, hindi siya madali. Mahirap siya. Kasi ‘yung mga nakaraan kong ginawa, sa akin mahirap na ‘yun, pero hindi kasing bigat nito, hindi kasing lalim ng hugot nito.”

He added, “Kasi parang lagi mong ipaglalaban ang love mo sa tao na yun. At the same time, vulnerable ka.

Ipapakita mo na kung kailangan mo umiyak, iiyak ka. Sa The

Millionaire’s Wife, kailangan mong pigilan. Dito sa soap, kailangan mong ibigay. Kailangan mong umiyak, magalit, magselos, minsan hindi ko na alam ang reaction kasi hindi ko naman na-experience ‘yun. Ang ginagawa ko, nakikinig na lang ako tapos kung ano ang maging reaction ko, ‘yun na ‘yun.” *** Oops! Angel Locsin has dropped the Darna role. And the Kapamilya network couldn’t do anything about it but agree.

It was a mutual agreement between the network and the star.

Here’s the official statement of the network from the head of Corporate Communiations Kane Errol Choa.

ABS-CBN, Star Cinema, and Angel Locsin have mutually arrived at a final decision that she will no longer pursue the “Darna” movie due to her medical condition.

We gave Angel our full support during and after her treatment in hopes that she would portray the iconic Filipino heroine. Because of Angel’s passion and dedication, she resumed training for the movie after undergoing surgery and therapy for the disc bulge in her spine. Unfortunately, Angel experienced back pain twice during training, prompting her doctor to advise her not to participate in strenuous activities to avoid permanent damage on her spine.

We would have loved to see Angel fly again as Darna and take our hats off to her for the gargantuan efforts she has put in for the project.

We wish her well as she will begin working on other projects, like a special role in “La Luna Sangre” with John Lloyd Cruz, a movie with James Reid, a movie with Coco Martin, and a teleserye.

So, now the search for a star to play Darna in the Star Cinema movie is on.

‘The Boss Baby’ celebrates siblings’ love DREAMWORKS Animation’s latest full-length feature The Boss Baby explores the wonders of a child’s imagination and celebrates the precious bond between siblings. Featuring the voices of award-winning Alec Baldwin, Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy Kimmel, Steve Buscemi, and Miles Bakshi, The Boss Baby is packed with memorable and relatable characters based on the bestselling book by Marla Frazee.

Directed by Tom McGrath, The Boss Baby is told from the wildly imaginative perspective of seven-year-old Tim Templeton (Bakshi). Tim has the perfect life, enjoying his daily rituals and all of his parents’ attention, until one day a new baby brother (Baldwin) arrives – in a taxi, wearing a suit.

Like all new babies, Tim’s brother takes over the house and quickly becomes “the boss.”

“I’ve played a lot of toughtalking, coffee-swilling business executives throughout my career, but I have to admit none of them can hold a pacifier to the diaperwearing boss I play in The Boss Baby. Having been born the first of four boys and having four children of my own, I know a thing or two about what happens when a new baby arrives in a household and steals the spotlight from you. That’s why I couldn’t resist voicing the part of Boss Baby. What is truly remarkable about this movie is how it captures the reality of what it’s like to deal with a new sibling ina family, all the while providing a barrage of whimsical humor, imagination and pure heart,” says Baldwin.

The Boss Baby opens April 15 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

"The Boss Baby" is a computer-animated comedy film, loosely based on the 2010 picture book of the same name

Beauty queens Maggie Wilson (second from left) and Kylie Versoza (second from right) attend the launch of "Next Top Model" local edition

23 MODEL wannabes in PH’s ‘Next Top Model: A Fiercer Cycle 2’

A FASHION show at the Bonifacio High Street served as a walk-through for 23 aspiring models kicking off the reality TV competition - Philippines’ Next Top Model (PNTM) Cycle 2. Runways, go-sees, dashing outfits and a bit of drama are just a few of what’s in store in the fiercer season of the modeling search.

The impressive batch of contestants showed they are more than ready to embrace the realness of the modeling world as they strutted in High Fashion clothes by Pat Santos, Swimwear by Wear Sandy Cheeks, RTW clothes by Basic Movement and Athleisure outfits

by Kaye Morales with the trendy Oppo Smartphones completing their voguish fashionable looks.

Reigning Miss International Kylie Verzosa, a print and runway model with Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP) before she became a Bb. Pilipinas beauty titlist, adds glamour and prestige as mentor of the contestants.

Former Bb. Pilipinas World Maggie Wilson-Consunji, coming off her recent conquest of the Amazing Race Asia competition, takes center-stage as host.

PNTM Cycle 2 airs exclusively on Channel 5 every Tueday with PMAP president Rapha Kiefer,

winner of the Best Model of the World Philippines 2003 and MTV Fashionista-Best Model of the World Philippines 2004, with a 12year modeling career in Asia, he surely knows what to look for in a future top model as a judge.

Another judge is Meg Magazine editor-in-chief Rain Dagala, who is a stylist to most local celebrities.

Find out who will wow and who will bow out fast among the 23 competitors – Khelly Gail Magrantay of Tanay, Fil-Surinamese Kimberley Valies, Swiss-Fil Angela Lehmann, Alvie Mai Phan from Canada, Petche Ann Vale of Bohol, Jan Helen Villanueva of Bulacan, Fil-Brit Adela Mae Marshall, Fil-Kurdish Emma Jane Ekberg, Shekinah Danquah of Cagayan de Oro, Katrina Garcia of Antipolo, Puline Thea Ann Ibuyan of Quezon City, Musician Koleen Angela Mercado, Alex Santos of Calamba, Anna Angelica Sotto of Davao, Janine Barnedo of Albay, Ina Dominica Guerrero from Bahamas, Gracia Elizabeth Mendoza of Batangas, Janelle Olafson of San Diego, California, bi-sexual model Janilyn Medina, Blaise Marie Buendia of Chicago, Reicheliue Emory Santos of Pasig, Krizzaleen Mae Valencia of Davao, and Sarah Jane Edwards.

–Eton B. Concepcion