Manila Standard - 2017 June 04 - Sunday

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 110 • 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SOLON, ISIS INSIST ON TERROR ANGLE S

BUSINESS/ C2

SY FAMILY COUNTS ON LOGISTICS

By Maricel V. Cruz and John Paolo Bencito

PEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Saturday said he believes that the shooting incident in Resorts World Manila Friday was a terror attack even as the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident and even branded the lone gunman, which it identified as Abu al-Khayr al-Arkhabili, as a ‘martyr.’

“At this point, I disagree with the conclusion reached by law enforcement authorities that the Resorts World incident was not a terrorist act but rather a criminal case of armed robbery and arson,” Alvarez said.

“This is a clear example of a ‘lone wolf’ terrorist attack targeting civilians to inflict maximum loss of life and damage to property, as what has happened in other countries,” he added.

Alvarez refuted the statement of National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa that the RW incident was an isolated case.

Rep. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City agreed with Alvarez that the police should not dismiss outright that the incident has not something to do with terrorism.

“Truly, the incident was terrifying. Horrible as it is, we have to defer in the meantime to our law enforcement authorities in gathering evidence to ascertain the gunman’s true motive in the attack,” Tambunting, House committee on games and amusements’ chairperson, said.

The ISIS, meanwhile, released a statement through its own news agency that it was indeed responsible for the attack.

“With guidance from Allah and His granting of success, the brother Abu al-Khayr al-Arkhabili—may Allah accept him—was able to immerse with his machine gun amidst a gathering of Christian combatants in the resort “Resorts World” in the city of Manila in the Philippines,” the group’s self-styled Amaq news agency said in a communique.

“He took action inside it, inflicting death and causing harm, until he dismounted as a martyr, as we consider him and Allah is His advocate,” the terrorist organization

said.

A Filipino ISIS operative, “Semion Almujaheed,” who has provided daily updates on the ongoing clashes in Marawi, said in an ISIS telegram channel that a group fighter, whom he identified with the nom de guerre “Abu Khair al Luzonee,” was behind the fatal arson incident that has killed at least 38 people.

“The police is covering up,” wrote “Semion Almujaheed” on pro-ISIS chat groups. “It’s not the soldiers of khilafah [caliphate] because they don’t want to be foolish in the media briefing earlier this morning [Friday, June 2].”

Almujaheed was the one who posted photos and video of Father Teresita Suganob, whom the group held hostage last Tuesday.

Despite the ISIS’ claim, Malacañang urged the public to be mindful against speculations about the incident, insisting that it was not act of terror.

It added that the ISIS’ claims that their “fighters” were the ones who launched the Resorts World Manila attack were untrue.

“All evidence at this point say it was an action of an emotionally disturbed person who was apparently engaged in a criminal action,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

Abella also doused speculations that the deadly fire at the casino complex won’t be grounds to declare martial law in Metro Manila.

“The incident in the Resorts World Manila is thus an isolated case which does not constitute rebellion or invasion, which are the grounds for the declaration of martial law as prescribed by the Constitution and which the President is sworn to abide by and protect when he took his oath of office,” Abella said.

Turn to A2

NOT REALLY, SAYS RODY; GUNMAN AN ENIGMA

By John Paolo Bencito, Joel Zurbano and Francisco Tuyay

How gunman started attack on RW Manila: CCTV footage showed (from top) that the gunman got off a taxicab, entered the complex and skipped the detector, set fire to gaming tables and slot machines causing thick smoke that killed dozens of guests and workers, walked up to the 5th floor, fired upon by security men, wounded on the face before killing himself. Photo grab by Lino Santos

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday downplayed claims of a terror attack by the Islamic State on the Resorts World incident Friday.

Speaking to reporters at Cagayan de Oro City, Duterte said that it was simply a robbery.

“It’s not ISIS. Why would you steal those plastics if you can’t use them. That is crazy,” Duterte said, referring to P113 million worth of casino chips that were seen being stolen by the lone gunman during the attack which was captured by RW Manila’s closed circuit television footage.

Duterte said that if the attacker’s motive was terrorism, he would have shot people the moment he stepped into the casino-hotel

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manilastandard.net

complex.

“He doesn’t want to kill. He went there, he burned everything-- that is not the work of ISIS,” the President said.

“The work of the ISIS is more brutal. They will simply kill--not even for a reason ... Especially when you kill in the name of god. There is no rhyme and reason really,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police remain clueless on the identity of the lone gunman responsible for the upscale hotel casino fire in Pasay City early Friday morning that killed more than 30 people.

This prompted the National Bureau of Investigation to step into the case and assist the National Capital Region Police Office and the Southern Police District in their joint efforts to identify the suspect, whom the authorities earlier described as a “Caucasian.” Turn to A2

SHOWBIZ / E4

WELCOMING THE MILLENNIAL DARNA

'MAUTE STILL A FORCE TO RECKON WITH'

By John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday said that the ISIS-inspired Maute group in Marawi City remained a force to reckon with and expressed disbelief that the terrorists’ ranks were growing.

“The first time that we talked about this, we only estimated about 100 to 200 people at the initial stages of the conflict. Then we revised the number to a higher number. Because if there are only 200 of them and we were able to kill already close to 200 how come they are still strong?” Lorenzana said in Marawi City during a press briefing.

“Maybe we’re looking at another 200 to 250 still holding out there... they can still put up a good fight.

That’s why it’s giving us difficulty in clearing the areas...There are civilians trapped there, we don’t want to endanger the lives of civilians,” he added.

The Defense chief added that they are having a hard time neutralizing the rebels who were still Turn to A2

FREEDOM RUN AMID BOMBS, GUNSHOTS MARAWI—Dozens of people ran to freedom through a terrifying gauntlet of military airstrikes and Islamist gunmen Saturday, nearly two weeks after being trapped in a deadly battle for a Philippine city.

The group of 38 said they ran from their hiding place in a part of Marawi City controlled by self-styled Islamic State group gunmen as soldiers seized a key bridge in the area to give the civilians safe passage.

“We lay on the floor in the dark each night whenever we heard gunshots or explosions. We barricaded the doors with furniture and a refrigerator,” high school teacher Jerona Sedrome, 27, told AFP. Turn to A2

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SENATE ASKED TO RECONSIDER TAX REFORMS

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez has urged the Senate to reconsider the controversial government’s tax reform package that was recently passed by the House of Representatives to guarantee new taxes in support of the pro-poor programs of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The bill will extend social benefits program to the poorest of the poor where social benefits card will be given to every beneficiary,” Alvarez said.

The House voted 246-9-1 to pass House Bill 5636 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), formerly known as the Comprehensive Tax Reform Package, on third and final reading during the “sine die” adjournment of Congress last Wednesday.

Alvarez said he is hopeful the Senate would consider the measure at the soonest possible time.

For his part, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, one of the authors of the measure, said the bill’s passage in the the Senate will ensure additional revenues starting this year for the government’s unparalleled infrastructure program.

Villafuerte said the approval of the bill in July, or when Congress opens its Second Regular Session, will equip the administration with a steady revenue flow “to go full blast on its ambitious ‘Build, Build, Build’ agenda while eschewing the debt trap that has saddled past growth and development programs.”

“The measure will help raise extra funds for the government’s massive investments in infrastructure, education, health and social welfare programs for the poorest of the poor,” Villafuerte, House committee on appropriations’ chairperson, said.

HB 5636 of Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, which proposes to exempt workers earning P250,000 and below from paying personal income taxes (PITs), has been branded by critics as anti-poor as many feared that the additional P6 excise tax on petroleum products and P10 per liter excise tax on sugar and sweetened beverages, additional tax on brand new vehicles and among others will have domino effects on basic commodities.

The Cua bill also imposes a 20 percent tax on final cash winnings from lotto and sweepstakes lottery conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

From the present P82,000, the measure now increased a tax exemption for P100,000 worth of 13th month pay and other cash benefits received by a taxpayer.

Once enacted, the bill provides that starting January 2019, brand new vehicles will be imposed the following excise taxes: three percent for automobiles sold at P600,000 or below; P18,000 plus 30 percent in excess of P600,000 for automobiles costing above P600,000 to P1.1 million; P168,000 plus 50 percent in excess of P1.1 million for automobiles costing over P1.1 million to P2.1 million; P668,000 plus 80 percent in excess of P2.1 million for automobiles costing over P2.1 million to P3.1 million and P1,468,000 plus 90 percent in excess of P3.1 milliion for automobiles costing over P3.1 million.

JOINT SEA PATROLS TO COUNTER JIHADISTS S INGAPORE—Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia will launch joint patrols in waters off the Mindanao region this month to counter threats from Islamic State group militants, Malaysia’s defense minister said Saturday.

Hishammuddin Hussein made the comments at a security conference in Singapore as Philippine troops continued to battle selfstyled Islamic State group gunmen who attacked the city of Marawi on Mindanao island nearly two weeks ago.

Hishammuddin said joint sea patrols in the waters bordering the three nations would kick off on June 19, with air patrols starting at a later date.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao in response to the crisis, describing the attack on Marawi as

the start of a major campaign by IS to establish a foothold in the Philippines.

Security analysts say IS is planning to establish a “province” in the southern island of Mindanao as part of its efforts to set up a caliphate in Southeast Asia.

“If you talk about Sulu Straits [it]... would involve Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines,” Hishammuddin told delegates to ShangriLa Dialogue, an annual security summit.

“So within Asean, we decided at least these three countries, to avoid being accused of doing nothing,

SOLON, ...

Abella said that based on the initial investigation of the PNP, the gunman did not shoot any civilian but only fired shots at LED televisions, burned gambling tables, and stole gambling chips worth P113 million, before he forcibly entered a hotel room where he burned and shot himself.

The Resorts World Manila on Saturday announced that it gave P1 million to the family of each victim killed during the attack early Friday.

“Nothing can replace the lives of loved ones. Yesterday we lost so many lives because of a senseless act,” Resorts World Manila chief operating officer Stephen Reilly said in a press conference.

Reilly said they are hoping that the financial assistance will somehow help families who lost loved ones during the attack go through “this most difficult time.”

A total of 38 people, including the gunman, died in the attack early Friday.

He said 37 people died on-the-spot and another victim was able to get out of the casino, but eventually died.

Six of the fatalities were foreigners and three are still being identified, including the suspect.

Abella said crime scene investigators recovered an M-16 rifle and caliber 380 gun from the suspect.

He also urged the public to avoid “speculations.”

“We join experts like Senator and former National Police chief [Panfilo] “Ping” Lacson in urging the police, the media, and the public to please avoid speculation,” he said, adding that such speculations feed the interest of terror groups.

“They may claim credit but accord-

ing to our evidence it is not so,” Abella added, as he said that the Executive department will await findings of a formal investigation, including a full audit of casinos by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp..

Abella said that they are also probing the possible negligence on the part of Resorts World Manila which led to the incident.

“While tightening anti-terror measures, we share the Senate President’s concern of a possible negligence by Resorts World not only in casino security, but also in building design and safety protocols,” Abella said.

“On the security lapses of Resorts World Manila, let us allow authorities to finish the investigation, and we’ll begin to look into the security breach of Resorts World Manila. Once the investigation is completed, they will submit their findings and recommendations,” the presidential spokesman said.

AFP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, echoed Abella’s statement, saying that the claims made by the terror group do not match the known facts of the incident.

“The pronouncements of this group do not corroborate the facts on the ground. As it is, the RW [Resorts World] incident has the signature of a criminal act that needs deeper investigation to ascertain the real motive behind [it],” he added.

Padilla noted that the incident does not have the slightest signature of terrorism.

“As in previous incidents, this group is prone to claim and admit every criminal incident and label it as its own, clearly indicative of its pure penchant for propaganda,” he said.

FREEDOM... explosives and anti-tank rockets.

At least 70 people were rescued Saturday as intense fighting continued, including 23 teachers from Dansalan College, who were with a year-old baby, seven other children, and seven other adults.

The gunmen set alight the college on the first day of the fighting, and the teachers said bombs and fires also destroyed many of the houses around the house where they hid.

Dansalan College is run by the Jesuit order of the Catholic Church, and all the teachers were Christians.

The teachers recounted to AFP between tears and gulps of coffee and bottled water how they survived on steamed rice and rainwater.

“If it didn’t rain we had no water and we didn’t eat,” said Sedrome’s younger sister and fellow teacher, Jane Rose Sedrome, 25.

The elder sister said they secretly communicated with government rescuers by mobile phone text messages through their ordeal, and made their break for freedom when informed the

to effectively govern makes it the most likely place for a declaration,” he told AFP. “It’s also the location where the vast majority of Southeast Asian groups that have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State are based.”

Hishammuddin and other defense ministers who spoke at the conference also warned of the threat posed by returning Southeast Asian militants who are fighting with the IS in Iraq and Syria where the group is losing territory.

“Thi, however, then gives rise to the disturbing prospect that the Asia-Pacific is now in DAESH’s crosshairs,” he said, using an alternative acronym for the group.

The threat is “real and multidimensional, whether from returning fighters, regional franchises or more disturbingly, from self-radicalized lone wolves,” he added. AFP

'MAUTE...

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“The ISIS tried to force their way into the house and got in at the second attempt, so we hid in a tunnel beneath the house,” she added, using the acronym for an alternative name for IS. Hundreds of gunmen rampaged through the city of 200,000, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23 after government forces attempted to arrest their leader, Isnilon Hapilon.

Up to 50 gunmen continued to control downtown Marawi nearly two weeks later with at least 15 hostages including a Catholic priest, with some being used as human shields, the military said.

As many as 2,000 people also remained trapped in desperate conditions in these areas, the government said, likely without food and water and with some injured or ailing as security forces mount a relentless assault.

The military has said it is firing artillery and rockets from the air, as well as dropping conventional bombs, as ground forces in armored vehicles fight their way in dodging sniper fire, improvised

the three of us took the initiative to have the joint patrol... initiatives in the Sulu Straits,” he added, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Hishammuddin said Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have carried out successful joint patrols in the Malacca Strait bordering their countries to fight maritime piracy.

Analysts have said the porous maritime borders between the three countries make it hard to detect the movement of militants.

Mindanao is “the primary area in the region where Islamist militant groups are still able to operate with some freedom of operation, run training camps, and conduct frequent attacks,” said Otso Iho, senior analyst at IHS Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre.

“This level of lawlessness and the fact that the space is difficult for government forces and institutions

gunmen had been driven away from the bridge.

But they had to go through the sniper alley of Bangolo, the city’s old quarter which is one of the targets of the day and night airstrikes.

“We passed through three corpses being eaten by maggots. They smelled really bad,” fellow teacher Regene Apao, 23, told AFP. “We knew they were ISIS because they wore black clothing and black head masks.”

Arnold Balo, 28, an ice cream factory worker, said he cradled a boy in one hand and carried a half-meter long machete in the other, their only protection from the gunmen.

At one point during their sprint for freedom, a gunman perched near the top of a building aimed a sniper rifle at him and ordered him to put his weapon on the ground, Balo said.

“I will do as you order sir. Please don’t kill us,” he said he told the gunman. Balo said he put the machete, and the militant allowed the group to pass. AFP

in control of Marawi’s central business district and other vital areas in the city.

“We committed that we could finish this yesterday, Friday but it turned out we could not. There are some problems along the way. First, there are people there still there that are trapped and we cannot just go there endangering their safety. Second, the Maute-ISIS group occupied some mosques and you know it’s very difficult to bomb these mosques,” Lorenzana added.

The military vowed to trace the source of the Maute group’s high-powered firearms and ammunition once Marawi City has been cleared of terrorists.

“On the firearms they are using against government security troops, it looks like they have stockpiled them for some time, and we have captured a lot of them in the past few days. We will know where they acquired them once our investigation starts,” Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig.

Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

While he did not identify any possible supplier, Padilla said they are not discounting the possibility that the group’s weapons and ammunition are sourced from the black market or from undisciplined government security force personnel.

Some of these weapons could have come from police and jail facilities that they attacked, looted and set on fire after freeing the prisoners last week.

Malacañang, however, downplayed Lorenzana’s claim, saying that Marawi

city is already nearing normalcy.

“At the moment, the remaining terrorists’ pockets of resistance were contained and any help from the outside... into the areas of resistance.

Our forces are determined to finish off the enemy should they continue to refuse to surrender,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told state radio dzRB. Abella likewise flaunted that placing Mindanao under martial law has been effective in freeing Marawi City from extremists.

“The enemy is turning out to be more weaker, which shows that putting Mindanao under martial law was a wise decision,” Abella said.

“Our military offensive will go on as long as [unclear] of threats. As we contain and destroy the enemy, we assure our people of every measure to make the country safe for them and to everyone abroad who wants to visit the land,” he added.

The military earlier admitted that it would be hard-pressed to meet the original June 2 deadline to normalize the situation in the area despite continued military air strikes against Islamist gunmen nearly two weeks after the Maute group occupied Marawi.

One hundred ninety-nine residents, who had been trapped in Marawi City, have been rescued by the military from Friday night until early Saturday morning, Abella said.

Civilians killed as a result of the more than two week firefight reached 20.

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Metro Manila police director Oscar Albayalde clarified reports that the suspect used a private car going to the Resorts World Manila.

“He went there on a taxi and he was bringing with him two large bags and he dressed up inside an elevator and then went up to the second floor,” Albayalde said in a radio interview.

The authorities are now locating the cab and its driver, he added.

“We’re in the process of getting in touch with cab driver,” Albayalde said.

Albayalde also added to a bewildering array of contradictory messages from authorities in the initial stages of the investigation by saying police now believed the gunman had arrived at the casino in a taxi.

“We have the taxi driver [who dropped off the gunman] already,” Albayalde said, without elaborating.

But an AFP report said Albayalde and other police chiefs said repeatedly throughout Friday that recorded security footage showed the gunman drove to casino and parked his vehicle in the complex’s car park.

“The CCTV [footage] shows that he parked his car, took out his gun and directly went inside Resorts World,” Albayalde said on Friday.

There was no explanation from police

on Saturday for the change in such a crucial part of the investigation.

The AFP report added that police had also given confusing or contradictory statements on other key parts of the incident on Friday.

National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa initially said police had shot dead the gunman, but then later reported the assailant wrapped himself in a blanket and burned himself to death.

Dela Rosa also said the gunman had not shot anyone, but Resorts World reported one of its security guards had suffered a gunshot wound.

He and Dela Rosa also said the man was trying to rob the casino, saying he fired at a stock room containing gambling chips and filled a backpack with chips worth P113 million ($2.3 million).

But they said the man left the backpack in a bathroom after filling it up.

Albayalde, meanwhile, is hoping that the NBI and police forensic experts would help them to identify the suspect, who the police claimed set a hotel room on fire then shot himself to death using a long firearm.

“Yes, I think the forensics is still intact and our team will conduct autopsy on the cadaver. From the serial number of the firearm, we will be able to establish the identity of the owner,” he said. With AFP

News

RECIPROCATE GOVT’S SINCERITY, PALACE TELLS CPP-NPA C

By John Paolo Bencito

OMMUNIST rebels should reciprocate the government’s sincerity in the peace talks by ending their atrocities following their offer to help the government troops fight the Maute terrorists, Malacañang said Saturday.

“The members of the Communist Party of the Philippines must halt their attacks on government forces.

They must end their atrocities and they must stop extortion activities that contribute to our people’s misery,” Presidential Spokesman

Ernesto Abella told state radio on Saturday.

“The government hopes to see them sign a unilateral ceasefire agreement for us to go back to the negotiating table. Beyond words and gestures and offers, let’s talk

concrete action that must be sincere and authentic. Only then can peace have a chance,” he added.

On Friday, communist rebels offered to “cooperate and coordinate” with the Duterte administration in its fight against terrorism should the government return to the negotiating table, but President Rodrigo Duterte demanded they first rescind its orders to the New People’s Army to intensify attacks on government troops.

After last-minute backchannel talks between negotiators of the government and the National Democratic Front in The Nether-

lands, the NDF said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the NPA may be bound by a ceasefire agreement in specific areas to “counteract the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf.”

Duterte who said he was “not so keen” about the offer of the New People’s Army to help the government fight terrorists in Marawi City, instead demanded from the NPA a unilateral ceasefire and end attacks against government troops.

Duterte earlier threatened to arrest and jail NDF consultants who might return to the Philippines after the aborted talks.

MARKET CHORES. A woman buys an umbrella even as other customers look for school uniforms, shoes and school supplies at the Commonwealth Public Market in Quezon City in preparation for both the rainy season and the opening of classes on Monday, June 5. Manny Palmero

EU ‘CONCERNED’ OVER PH’S REJECTION OF ASSISTANCE

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan AN OFFICIAL of the French embassy admitted that Europeans and even its stakeholders have raised concern over the decision of the Philippine government to reject a €250-million or P13.89billion grant from the European Union, an institution where France is a member.

Laurent LE Godec, deputy head of mission of the Embassy of France in the Philippines, however, said that the principle and conditions of the EU will remain despite the Philippine government’s rejection of the grant.

“But what I can say, of course, is that what’s been going on in the Philippines lately has raised some concern in the media and in the public opinions in Europe,” Godec said in a recent interview at the sideline of the official announcement of the 22nd French Film Festival.

“We will respect the Phillippine decision of course, still the conditions of the EU will stay, definitely,” the envoy added.

Godec noted that there are several countries that badly needed the EU’s aid

and that it will not hesitate to course the money to them.

“We are also of course ready to discuss and to dialogue. But it should know also that the EU grant is needed in many, many parts of the world. And of course if the Philippine don’t want it anymore and we will know where to put it because there’s so many part of the world who needed it,” Godec said.

He, however, said that France still consider the Philippines as one of the countries that has a great potential for development on nationals and even in world affairs.

The government last week announced that it will no longer accept the €250-million (P13.89-billion) aid from the EU, the country’s biggest donor, due to allegedly interfering in the national policy.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s political appointee DFA secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, defended Duterte’s decision, saying that the Philippines will no longer receive any “aid with precondition” in line with country’s pursuance

of an “independent foreign policy.”

EU on Asia and the Pacific managing director Gunnar Wiegand, who recently visited the Philippines, said that there are three programs that will be affected by the rejection of €250-million fresh grant; 1) €70-million to €80-million peace process including livelihood programs for people directly affected by the conflict; 2) A remaining €50 million (€60 million has already been turned over during the past program) worth of promotion of renewable energy in Mindanao; and 3) significant rule of law component with the Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission, and other parts of the Philippines’ legal system, which costs €60 million.

Wiegand said that EU is adhering to a standard principle to all recipients of their aids which is to “observe rule of law and the guaranty of human rights.”

The envoy added that the EU’s principle is not difficult to apply especially in a democratic country such as the Philippines.

“This is nothing special for the Philippines. That is something that we apply as a standard for all our assistance

programs and it is something which should be not so difficult to apply with the country which is democratic, stands for rule of law which takes its own commitments for the guarantee of human rights seriously,” he said.

When asked why it is important for donor countries to set conditions, Wiegand said: “you know why? Because it’s the money of our taxpayers. They want to know where their money goes.”

He said that he doubts of there is a country in the world which gives donations without conditions.

“If people think other donors would be without conditions I would like to see those providers of assistance who have no conditions. May be different conditions,” he said.

On Friday, EU Ambassador Franz Jessen met with Cayetano to seek clarification on the country’s rejection to the bloc’s aid.

Jessen said the meeting lasted for two and a half hours as they tackled many topics and went through the full agenda of both EU and the Philippines.

UK NAMES ANOTHER TAGALOG-SPEAKING ENVOY TO PH ANOTHER Filipino-speaking envoy will be appointed the United Kingdom ambassador to the Philippines, replacing British diplomat Asif Ahmad in August.

In his official Twitter account, incoming British ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Robert Pruce has posted two different video greetings, one in English and another in Filipino, announcing his appointment by the UK government.

“Malaking karangalan para sa akin na maging susunod na British ambassador sa Pilipinas [It is an honor for me to be the next British ambassador to the Philippines],” Pruce said.

“Kinagagalak ko na may pagkakataon ako na mapalakas pa ang ating magandang relasyon [I am glad for this opportunity to

strengthen our good relations],” he added.

Ahmad, who would step down four years after his appointment in 2013, is famous for his ability to speak Filipino language fluently.

Pruce said he has been studying to master the Tagalog language as part of his preparation for deployment in Manila.

It has been a long-running tradition at the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office that British diplomats must be trained to learn the national language of their host countries.

“Masaya akong nag-aaral ng napakagandang wikang Tagalog at ginagawa ko ang lahat ng abot kaya ko para matutunan ito,” (I am happy to be studying the beautiful Tagalog language and

I am doing everything to learn about it). he said.

Pruce previously served as the British deputy head of mission in Madrid and Bangkok from 2012 to 2016 and 2008 to 2012, respectively.

He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1990.

Ahmad would end his fouryear diplomatic tour as the British envoy to the Philippines in July.

He speaks seven languages and learned Tagalog in seven months.

Ahmad is also known for being very vocal about his views on the Philippines’ foreign and local policies, particularly about President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war against illegal drugs and his plan to reimpose death penalty in the country.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

British diplomat Daniel Robert Pruce

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JAPANESE TRADER WANTED FOR MURDERS

By Florante S. Solmerin A JAPANESE businessman based in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and three Filipinos, one of them a minor, are being hunted by the police for the gruesome murder of two Japanese tourists last week.

Inspector Ric Ramos, spokesman of the Palawan Provincial Police Office, said the Japanese suspect, who might have allegedly masterminded the double murder case, was identified by three arrested suspects as Hiroyuki Nagaham who has a business address in Barangay San Manuel, Puerto Princesa.

Citing details from the filed report of Senior Inspector Thirz Starky Timbangcaya, Ramos said that also being hunted is a certain Sonny Anicete, a resident of Puerto Princesa City.

The police said Anicete is allegedly the leader of the group who murdered Itani Masaru, 59, and Arai Yoshihiro, 24.

Two other suspects, Joebez Vizcara and a minor, are also at large.

The dismembered bodies of the two victims were recovered Friday afternoon in a remote island located west of Galoc Island in Culion.

Ramos said the suspects who are yet to be arrested were identified by Michael Suangco, Aladin Mohameran and Reynante Labampa.

The three were among the group who murdered the two Japanese.

Timbangcaya said the three confessed to the crime.

He said the victims were shot in the head and dismembered.

Their bodies were dumped off Coron and then the victims’ boat was skippered

by Suangco alias Dondon, of Sitio Lulu, Barangay Binudac, Culion.

The victims boarded Suangco’s motorized boat on Tuesday.

The management of the GMG Hotel in Coron reported to the police that their Japanese guests were missing on Wednesday.

Ramos said the victims were off on an island hopping tour. But they failed to return until Wednesday morning.

The management of the GMG Hotel in Barangay 2, Coron where the victims were staying reported to the police the missing guests after they failed to return the next day.

Their bodies were recovered Friday by a search and rescue police team.

FRANCE, PH CELEBRATE TIES WITH FILMFEST IN ITS aim to strengthen both France and Philippines’ culture and diplomatic relationship, the French Embassy is set to showcase 13 of its own films and four Filipino movies which had been selected at the Cannes Film Festival in its 22nd French Festival to be held next week.

In an advance screening for the press, Embassy of France to the Philippines deputy head of mission Laurent LE Godec said that since they started the French Film Festival in 1995, Filipinos have become more aware of the French culture and language.

“It has been a tradition and it shows also that what we are doing, in long-term perspective, that we have a common long-term commitment to cinema, to the culture diversity and dialogue between our countries,” Godec said.

Every year, there are over 15,000 Filipinos who religiously watch films at the French Film Festival in selected cinemas in the country.

Godec said, however, that this year’s festival would be unique, as he cited the 70th French-Filipino friendship celebration this June.

“This year, it’s a very particular and exciting one for us. Because we celebrate our 70th anniversary of the signing of the treaty friendship between the two countries,” Godec said.

The treaty between the Philippines and France on diplomatic relations was signed on June 26, 1947 where the framework of its bilateral relations were developed.

France is also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival and the French Embassy has decided to make this year’s French Festival in Manila special with a red carpet welcome like the one being done in the Cannes Film Festival.

“What we are really trying to do is to catch this spirit of celebration of our friendship, of the diversity, of our society, and of our culture,” Godec said.

The French Film Festival will be held June 9 to 17 at the Ayala Malls Cinema in Greenbelt 3 and the BHS Central Square Cinemas.

The embassy will showcase 13 French films that will immerse Filipinos in a different form of storytelling that portrays French values, culture and language.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

PCSO OFFICES REMAIN OPEN IN MINDANAO

All PCSO Branch Offices in Mindanao will remain operational Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to provide services to our countrymen affected by the ongoing crisis in Mindanao. Services offered include prize claims for P300,000 and below, lotto agent/outlet inquiries, and applications for the Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) and other PCSO medical/charitable programs.

I

PCSO TO GIVE AID TO MARAWI VICTIMS

N the midst of lawless violence in Mindanao, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will give aid to all affected civilians and wounded soldiers in the ongoing crisis in Marawi city.

PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan said he directed the branch in Iligan to extend assistance for families and soldiers affected by the clash by giving them relief goods and medical assistance.

“I directed them to help in case somebody will ask for help,” Balutan said.

Balutan also expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in the province of Mindanao to suppress lawless violence for public safety.

In line with this, Balutan issued a memorandum addressed to all PCSO employees nationwide, including Small Town Lottery Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) directing all of them to observe and participate in the implementation of security measures in Mindanao.

“Protect yourselves, the PCSO assets and properties in your respective areas of operations and workplace,” Balutan said in the memorandum.

Balutan also instructed the employees to immediately relay and submit information, occurrences of incidents affecting their safety and security together with all other PCSO assets and

properties for immediate action and resolution to his office.

“Please coordinate with the local government units, government agencies, law enforcement units and other government security forces whenever the situation requires,” Balutan said.

Being assigned in the area for more than 20 years in the Marine Corps, Balutan said the province is close to his heart, knows the situation and understands the need of the residents there.

“Hindi mangyayari ang violence diyan sa Lanao del Sur particularly yung Maute group na yan kung hindi itotolerate or the local officials themselves will reject it,” Balutan said.

According to Balutan, the local government units’ role is crucial in terms of peace and development in their areas of jurisdiction, and that is by responding to the needs of its constituents.

“Dapat tingnan nila ang kalagayan ng kanilang mga constituents.

Marami ang mahihirap na tao diyan na nangangailangan ng tulong kaya siguro minsan naiisip ng ating mga kababayan diyan na gumawa ng mga alternatibo para lamang mabuhay sila.

It is a matter of survival,” Balutan said.

“Violence will not exist in any area when the government is responsive to the needs of its constituents. Lahat tayo ay masisiyahan kung mayroon tayong gobyernong maaasahan,” he added.

Medicine Donation Program (in kind) Requirements Letter of request - Addressed to the PCSO Chairman / General Manager Consumption Reports from previous request (if any) Project Proposal which should include the following information: • • • • •

Project Rationale Project Objectives Project Clientele / Area coverage For NGOs (as the need arise) SEC Registration and endorsement letter from LGUs

B1

SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion

Joyce Pangco Pañares, Issue Editor

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SHINE SOME SUNLIGHT ON TRUMP’S SWAMP

EDITORIAL

U

THE notion that Donald Trump would “drain the swamp” was always suspect. The then-candidate himself confessed to second thoughts about his pledge shortly after making it.

Still, the speed and extent of his abandonment are stunning.

Not only did Trump hire people with real or potential conflicts of interest, he at first refused to divulge how many or to whom ethics waivers were granted. Only this week did the administration reveal the names of those who have been granted permission not to comply with the administration’s ethics rules, allowing them work on policies that could affect their own financial interests.

Over the last four months, the White House has issued waivers allowing at least 16 staff members to work on policy matters they dealt with as lobbyists, or to interact with their former privatesector colleagues. That compares with three waivers issued to White House staff over the same period by former President Barack Obama, who issued a total of 16 such waivers over eight years.

Real-world decision-making experience is essential to good governance, especially when dealing with complex regulatory matters. Yet ethics waivers should be treated as what they were intended to be: Rare exceptions that allow the government to tap experience it can’t find elsewhere.

Moreover, public trust depends on these waivers conforming to the letter of the law, and according to the Office of Government Ethics, it’s not clear that Trump’s waivers do. That’s in part what’s concerning about the retroactive, undated blanket waiver allowing all White House aides to communicate with news organizations, including communications with former employers or clients.

It also helps if waivers pass the equivalent of a good-government smell test. Consider the one granted to Andrew Olmem, who is to be allowed to communicate with former clients regarding Puerto Rico’s fiscal issues, and reforming the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s treatment of insurers. Olmem was a lobbyist hired by hedge funds to fight efforts by Puerto Rico to restructure its debts. His firm also represented MetLife Inc., which is contesting an appeal filed by the previous administration seeking to reinstate its designation by the FSOC as a systematically important financial institution that requires greater oversight. Given those ties, outside observers could be forgiven for asking whether he will be able to fairly represent the public’s interests.

It’s well and good that these waivers have become public. But what they reveal suggests a need for even greater public vigilance and scrutiny. Bloomberg

LEAVING PARIS

NITED States President Donald Trump said the United States is leaving the Paris Accord—the global agreement signed in December 2015 by 195 countries, each committing to reduce their climate emissions to cap the warming of the globe.

Speaking from the Rose Garden Friday, Mr. Trump had some not-so-rosy words for the rest of the world.

According to the billionaire turned president, the US has had “absolutely tremendous” economic progress since November 8 last year. This was when Americans trooped to the polls the electoral college gave the presidency to him. The stock market has earned $3.3 trillion in value, and a million private sector jobs have been created since then.

Fact checkers would have a field day with the numbers Trump has been tossing around, but this progress is exactly his premise for exiting the climate pact, which now puts the US along the ranks of Syria and Nicaragua.

Essentially, Trump said the Paris Agreement was a scheme that other nations concocted to prevent the US from reaching its full economic potential, even as they themselves reach theirs. It subjects Americans to harsh economic restrictions and, get this, “fails to live up to our environmental ideals.”

“As someone who cares deeply about the environment, which I do, I cannot in good conscience support a deal that punishes the United States—which is what it does —the world’s leader in environmental protection, while

imposing no meaningful obligations on the world’s leading polluters,” Mr. Trump said. He then enumerated what other countries can do to grow their own economies, making it sound as though the agreement was crafted by the entire world with the end in mind of bringing the US down.

Most of the world is aghast, but we cannot say this came as a surprise. Over the past few months, Mr. Trump has betrayed tendencies of denying climate change and that efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions now would have an impact at all in altering what has been painted as a grim scenario.

Now world leaders and US democrats are united in condemning Trump for his decision to pull out of the accord. In an effort to save the day, some US local officials and philanthropists said they would continue financing commitments to the Green Climate Fund—that aspect of the agreement that helps other countries implement clean energy technology.

But the Paris Agreement is not for or against any one country in particular. Named only because it was negotiated and signed in France, it acknowledges common but differentiated responsibilities for each nation. Some had been spewing gases that have fueled their growth for centuries; some are just catching on.

The idea is that this is about the planet, about citizens of the world, some of whom are more vulnerable to the aggregate effects of climate change than others are.

That Trump is a maverick leader is nothing new. That he would take his strange ideas and jeopardize the fate of not just the US but the planet is a bit too much arrogance for a man.

The world will make do, of course, but we wonder how much demoralization and damage can be wrought before Trump realizes he is wrong. Then again, even if he does, it might be a stretch to expect him to come forward and admit his error.

He will probably just change the script.

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DEMOCRACY FACES THE ENEMY WITHIN

By Francis Wilkinson

Even if you defend democracy on the grounds that Trump lost the popular WE’RE past the point of shifting blame. vote, it’s still a lame argument. After all, We know who gave us the presidency what kind of sensible political system of Donald Trump, and it wasn’t Hillary generates 63 million votes for a thuggish incompetent to become its supreme Clinton or Jill Stein or James Comey. leader?

The culprit was democracy.

Democracy was rarely an exercise in smooth sailing. Now, this.

“The choice of Mr. Trump, a man so signally lacking in the virtues, abilities, knowledge and experience to be expected of a president, has further damaged the attractions

of the democratic system,” wrote an exceedingly glum Martin Wolf in the Financial Times this week.

“The soft power of democracy is not what it was. It has produced Mr. Trump as leader of the world’s most important country. It is not an

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Wolf isn’t wrong, of course. If General Electric Co. had gone bonkers and installed Trump as CEO, the smart money would’ve deserted the company, fearing for its future. Yet what’s to stop Turn to B2

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DEMOCRACY...

From B1

Trump from doing far more damage as president?

In an interview with Vox, political scientist Larry Bartels said: History clearly demonstrates that democracies need parties to organize and simplify the political world. But parties don’t make the fundamental problems of democratic control disappear; they just submerge them more or less successfully. When professional politicians are reasonably enlightened and skillful and the rules and political culture let them do their job, democracy will usually work pretty well. When not, not.

Democracy is not working pretty well in the US. Still, while there may be no reason to grant Trump himself patience, the democratic system itself has earned some.

Shashi Tharoor, a longtime United Nations official who is now a member of the Indian parliament, emailed: Every system of government produces uneven results: There have been wise monarchs and feckless ones, capable benign dictators and incompetent ruthless ones, brilliant statesmen in democracies and people who owed their leadership positions to luck (the weakness of the alternatives) or merely inoffensiveness (the least unacceptable candidate).

The strength of democracies is that because their leadership emerges from the will of the public as a whole, the system has a way of accommodating to them and very often, blunting their worst mistakes. Undemocratic systems have nowhere else to turn, and no established way of making the turn.

So however flawed individual leaders may be, the self-correcting mechanisms built into democracy limit how much damage they can do.

The nation’s intelligence bureaucracies and news media are already shaking the foundation of the Trump presidency, leak by damaging leak. Courts are constraining some of the White House’s baser impulses.

Democratic and civil society opposition is fierce, and has been joined by a small but intellectually potent cohort of principled conservatives. Inflection points, from the scheduled testimony next week of former FBI director James Comey to the midterm elections in 2018, present opportunities to educate the public and strengthen resistance.

Whether anything can induce Trump’s Republican enablers to abandon him is unknown.

“If democracy produces a renewed commitment to democracy,” said Harvard historian Jill Lepore in an email, “democracy is working.”

In his book “The Confidence Trap,” political scientist David Runciman pointed to the 1970s as an era in which democracy seemed to be marching haplessly toward failure, yet turned out to be gaining strength.

In an interview with me last year he said: Apparently the Chinese leadership is enjoying watching Trump’s rise, because it seems to confirm all their suspicions of democracy: It’s hucksterism plus stupidity. But in 1974 the Soviet leadership thought Watergate showed that democracy was finished. How could it survive such a scandal?

It survived, of course, and even thrived, eventually grinding down the Soviet Union. A similar emergence from the Trumpian ashes is possible.

But it is not assured. Wolf is correct to worry that democracy everywhere is undermined by Trump anywhere. Yet with profound exceptions, democracy has been very good both to Americans and the world. Both may yet rally to the cause. Bloomberg

THE SCIENCE OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT

By Pecier Decierdo THIS Thursday, United States President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement. What does this mean for us in the Philippines and the rest of the world?

Here’s the gist of it. The US’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is going to make global efforts to reduce the magnitude of human-made global warming much more difficult. This threatens to unleash the worst effects of climate change and ocean acidification, both of which the Philippines is extremely vulnerable to.

Let’s unpack that.

The Paris Agreement is an international accord adopted by consensus in Paris in 2015. As of this writing, 148 countries have ratified or acceded to the Agreement. This includes the Philippines, which did so through the Senate last March 14.

The aim of the Agreement is to limit global warming to “well below 2 degrees Celsius” with “efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.” According to the Agreement, this aim recognizes the fact that limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius “would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.”

As hinted in the language of the aim, the comparison being made is between the average global temperature in the present and that in “preindustrial” times. Scientists have observed that the difference between the two has been steadily increasing over recent years. This steady increase is what’s known as global warming.

Measurements of the average global temperature in 2016 reveal that it was 0.94 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels. This beats the previous

record set by 2015, which was a warming of 0.90 degrees Celsius. Scientists predict the current year to beat last year’s record. This follows an increasing trend observed in recent decades.

While these temperature changes don’t sound like a lot, multiple lines of scientific evidence predict that the observed global warming has already caused measurable changes in the Earth’s overall climate.

What that means is that global warming has already messed up the world’s water cycle, wind systems, cloud distribution, storm formation process, and so on.

The Philippines has been especially vulnerable to these changes in the climate. Recent years have seen many powerful storms and monsoons hit the country. Many climate models suggest extreme weather conditions are made more likely by global warming.

Global warming also causes the polar ice caps to melt, which leads to sea level rise, which contributes to flooding of coastal cities and lowlying islands. In fact, the list of adverse effects goes on.

Because of these, many of the world’s most vulnerable countries fought tooth and nail to include the 1.5-degree Celsius goal in the Agreement. To vulnerable countries such as the Philippines, the difference between 2 degrees and 1.5 degrees is a matter of life and death for our citizens.

To achieve the temperature goals, the Agreement includes the aim to foster “low greenhouse gas emission development.”

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. They are released during the burning of fossil fuels to produce energy. A large body of scientific evidence implicates GHGs released in the burning of fossil fuels in causing global warming.

The Paris Agreement is the international community’s response to the threat of climate change due to global warming. In signing the Agreement, countries needed to make a pledge to reduce their GHG emissions. That promise will be their initial contribution to the goal of limiting global warming.

Since most of the world’s GHG emissions come from industrialized countries, including the US, it is important for these countries to honor their pledges.

Still, even if all countries honor their pledged emissions reduction, it seems the world is still going to overshoot the goal of “well below 2 degrees.” This is, of course, very bad news for the countries banking on the 1.5-degree limit.

The US pulling out of the Agreement has only made matters far worse. The US is one of the top emitters of GHGs in the world. If it does not join the international community in trying to curb global warming, the battle will be much more difficult. The whole world will be affected.

What this reveals is the borderless nature of some of the most important scientific issues; what happens half a world away will affect us here in the Philippines. It also reveals the cross-generational nature of such issues; future generations will pay the price of Donald Trump’s mistake of pulling the US out of the Agreement.

However, despite the huge blow Trump’s decision dealt on the fight against climate change, there is no room for despair. The next thing we should do is to cut our losses for this round, analyze the situation, and recuperate to fight another day. Giving up is not an option. We are, after all, fighting for the future of the human race.

Pecier Decierdo is resident physicist and astronomer of The Mind Museum.

AMERICA’S PARIS EXIT IS ALL POLITICS

By Leonid Bershidsky AMID the indignation at President Donald Trump’s decision to take the US out of the Paris agreement on fighting climate change, it’s easy to forget that when the deal was being discussed in 2015, US Secretary of State John Kerry— who now has joined the indignant chorus—insisted it shouldn’t be a binding treaty: Otherwise the Obama administration would have to submit it to the Senate, which would immediately kill it.

It was European Union nations, in particular France, that insisted on a binding agreement—and, in the end, largely failed to achieve that goal. The agreement did not require ratification by the US Senate because it’s essentially a long-winded statement of intent to work toward mitigating climate change. All it requires nations to do is submit emission-cutting plans and, if they’re wealthy, to help poorer countries meet their (rather nebulous) obligations under the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change. Trump was wrong when he said in his withdrawal speech that the US faced a “massive legal liability if we stay in.” In practical terms, not much was expected from the US. Not much has changed now that the expectation level has been reset to nothing—the US merely gave its European allies another rude shove to demonstrate they were on their own.

Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein tweeted that Trump’s decision was “a setback for the environment and for the US leadership position in the world.”

The latter is apparent. French President Emmanuel Macron, who usually tweets in his mother tongue, unleashed an Englishlanguage tweetstorm. He called on US engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs disappointed with

Trump’s decision to move to France and insisted it was time to “make our planet great again.” Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni signed a joint statement condemning Trump’s move and shot down his suggestion that the Paris deal would be renegotiated.

In response, an unnamed US administration official told the Washington Post that the Europeans’ disappointment was “a secondary benefit” of leaving the Paris accord.

After a disastrous trip to Europe, where Trump quickly wore out his welcome and left the impression that he wasn’t a reliable partner, his administration is doubling down on its contempt for the transatlantic alliance. That causes apprehension in Europe, but also encourages it to try a more independent course aimed at reducing US hegemony. China appears to relish the rift; it has sided with Europe, announcing it would uphold the Paris deal.

Blankfein’s assertion that Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris accord would hurt the environment is, however, less of an obvious truth.

Trump’s rejection of domestic policies aimed at preventing climate

change—and not his exit from the toothless Paris accord—is likely to hurt the environment in the US, temporarily freezing emissions at more or less the current level.

Globally, though, this effect will be offset by huge progress in China and India, seen as holdouts when the Paris deal was being discussed.

According to a report released last month by three European research and consulting institutions— NewClimate Institute, Climate Analytics and Ecofys—the two big developing economies are likely to be the main drivers of the global resistance to climate change. In China, carbon-dioxide emissions appear to have peaked more than 10 years ahead of its Paris commitment.

Last year, two-thirds of the 5.4 percent electricity demand growth was met with power from renewable sources.

With current policies, which China shows no intention of dropping, the country will overperform compared with Paris commitments. So will India. The two countries together are likely to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by at least 2 billion tons by 2030, compared with forecasts made just last year. Compared with the same forecasts, Trump’s policies will

increase emissions by 400 million tons of carbon dioxide.

“The recent, highly adverse rollbacks

by President Trump are unlikely to have a major impact on global emissions by 2030,” the report concluded.

One reason is that US goals under Barack Obama weren’t all that ambitious to start with. According to the European climate researchers, the Clean Power Plan and other Obama policies would have led, by 2025, to an emission reduction of 10 percent compared with the 2005 level. If the plan is stopped, emissions will be 7 percent lower than in 2005.

Even under Obama, the US government had different priorities than the European sponsors of the Paris agreement. The Environmental Protection Administration’s budget, which declined under Obama, is about 0.2 percent of total spending, compared with more than 15 percent that routinely goes to defense; Germany actually spends more on environmental protection than on defense. So the US government was never going to have much impact on climate change. It’s private business and specific states and cities, with tightening environmental regulations, that have been preventing emissions increases in recent years. Gas is still cheaper to use in energy generation than coal, and because sustainable energy is increasingly competitive thanks to technological progress. Trump is powerless to change that by exiting a rather loose international pact.

So while the political fireworks following Trump’s speech appear justified—the US hasn’t dissed Europe as much, and hasn’t been as careless about its international role, under any post-World War II president—the fight against climate change hasn’t suffered much of a setback. It will survive Trump.

Bloomberg

WHERE INTOLERANCE IS HIGHEST ON RELIGION, CULTURE, RACE

By Michael Winfrey and Samuel Dodge AT A time when media headlines point to a spike in global intolerance, here’s some good news: Most people around the world don’t say they believe any single race, religion or culture is better than another.

That was the finding of a multination WIN/Gallup International poll conducted at the end of last year and published this week. The majority of people and more than half of the 66 countries surveyed say there’s no such thing as racial, religious or cultural superiority. But the issue divides many, and a handful, all of which are troubled nations with developing economies, says superiority does exits.

“Overall the global tolerance towards racial, religious and cultural differences is a dominating norm,” Kancho Stoychev, president of Gallup International Association, said in a statement. “Exceptions from this norm are occurring in countries, nations or regions with serious internal or external conflicts.”

The findings provide some ground for optimism even amid an increase in news reports of attacks linked to intolerance. Since last week, a man shouting anti-Muslim slogans killed two people in Portland, Oregon, a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester, England and gunmen shot dead 26 Christian Copts in Egypt’s Minya province.

The survey also coincides with a report released this week by the

The findings provide some ground for optimism even amid an increase in news reports of attacks linked to intolerance.

Institute of Economics and Peace that said despite conflicts in the Middle East, terrorism in Europe, and the rise of nationalist parties, the world is actually becoming more peaceful. At the same time, that report found the US dropped most in rankings among peaceful countries.

According to the Gallup

International survey, national majorities that agreed or strongly agreed that superiority exists were more likely to share that belief across the categories of religion, race and culture. The eight countries where that was most the case were Paraguay, Bangladesh, the Palestinian territories, Ghana, Lebanon, Nigeria, Indonesia and Macedonia.

The countries where people most disagreed with the idea that there is superiority in the three categories included Sweden, France, Iceland, Latvia, Spain, Argentina, Canada and Portugal. In the US, 23 percent of people agreed or strongly agreed that some races are superior to others, compared with 73 percent who disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Almost a third said some religions are

better than others, and 36 percent said some cultures are superior.

The poll was conducted from October to December 2016 among 66,541 people, about 1,000 people in each country. It was carried out by phone, in person, or online and had a margin of error of 3 to 5 percentage points.

The main reasons that spread feelings of superiority are probably sharp internal conflicts, significant external instability and an expectation of outside intervention, and deep transformations within societies, Gallup International said.

“It is evident that all those countries which feel stable and not threatened show low levels of religious, cultural or racial superiority. And vice versa,” it said. Bloomberg

World COURT FREES DAUGHTER OF S. KOREAN ‘RASPUTIN’ SEOUL, South Korea—The daughter of South Korea’s “Rasputin,” whose lavish lifestyle in Europe saw her caught up in the country’s snowballing influencepeddling scandal, was freed Saturday after being extradited from Denmark.

Chung Yoo-Ra is the equestrian daughter of Choi Soon-Sil, the close confidante of impeached ex-president Park Geun-Hye and the woman at the heart of the scandal which toppled Park.

Choi -- dubbed “the female Rasputin” for her strong influence over Park -- is on trial along with the ex-president.

Chung was arrested on a Korean Air flight from Amsterdam early Wednesday and was escorted off the plane at Incheon by a team of prosecutors to face a handful of journalists and television cameras.

Prosecutors say cash for Chung’s equestrian training came from electronics giant Samsung, which had handed over the money as part of an attempt to curry favor with her powerful mother.

However, a Seoul court ordered her released Saturday.

“It is difficult to accept the reason and the need for her arrest,” the Seoul Central District Court said, turning down the prosecution’s request to formally arrest the 21-year-old. AFP

SRI LANKA TARGETS UNAUTHORIZED BUILDERS AFTER MONSOON DEATHS COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Sri Lanka announced plans Saturday to prosecute a slew of companies and individuals behind illegal construction projects blamed for landslides and flooding that have killed at least 211 people following heavy monsoon rains last week.

The urban development ministry said they will press criminal charges against those illegally occupying marshlands earmarked to absorb flood waters and structures blocking canals and storm drains.

“Much of the destruction was due to people building on mountain slopes after cutting down trees and blocking waterways,” a ministry spokesman said.

Prosecutors will kick off proceedings Monday in Colombo against 18 individuals and companies, he said, as authorities prepare to launch a nationwide campaign to remove illegal structures.

There are some 10,000 unauthorized structures in the capital alone, according to the spokesman.

Decades of illegal construction have worsened the flooding by blocking drains and eliminating natural rainwater stores, including marshland.

The official Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said the death toll from last week’s rains that triggered landslides and flooding rose to 211 after more bodies were discovered under tons of mud.

Among those killed were 45 school children. Over 90 people were still listed as missing while another 72 remained in hospital. AFP

UN SLAPS SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREANS U

NITED NATIONS—The UN Security Council on Friday imposed sanctions on 18 North Korean officials and entities as the United States vowed to respond to Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear tests “through other means, if necessary.”

The council unanimously adopted a US-drafted resolution that put North Korea’s suspected spy chief, 13 other officials and four entities on the UN sanctions blacklist, hitting them with a global travel ban and an assets freeze.

“The Security Council is sending a clear message to North Korea today: Stop firing ballistic missiles or face the consequences,” US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council.

“Beyond diplomatic and financial consequences, the United States remains prepared to counteract North Korean aggression through other means, if necessary,” she added.

China, Pyongyang’s ally, backed the sanctions but renewed its ap-

peal for dialogue to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi described current tensions as “complex and sensitive” but added that there was “a critical window of opportunity” to return to “the right track of seeking a settlement through dialogue and negotiations.”

“It is incumbent on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and do more to ease tension and build mutual trust, instead of the contrary,” Liu added.

Among those added to the sanctions blacklist was Cho Il-U, believed to be the head of foreign espionage for Kim Jong-Un’s regime.

The other 13 included senior of-

ficials from North Korea’s Workers’ Party and heads of trading firms tasked with securing purchases for Pyongyang’s military programs.

The strategic rocket force of the North Korean army, two trading firms and the Koryo Bank, linked to a party office that manages Kim’s finances, were also hit by an assets freeze.

The resolution however did not contain some of the biting sanctions that the US administration had floated last month, such as an oil embargo, a ban on maritime shipping, trade restrictions and curbs on North Korean workers abroad.

The 18 names will be added to the current blacklist of 39 individuals and 42 North Korean entities already under UN sanctions.

North Korea has carried out two atomic tests and dozens of missile launches since the beginning of last year in its quest to develop a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States.

For weeks, the United States has

been negotiating with China on new measures to ratchet up the pressure on North Korea but Beijing has insisted on the need to open dialogue.

The United States has said it is willing to talk to North Korea if it halts its missile and nuclear tests.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the resolution served as “a warning” to North Korea of tougher sanctions to come unless it changes course and halts its tests.

“If it continues this dangerous path, we will have no other choice but to reinforce the pressure, again and again,” Delattre said.

The Security Council adopted two sanctions resolutions last year to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang and deny Kim the hard currency needed to fund his military programs.

Those resolutions provided for significant curbs on North Korea’s coal exports, a major source of revenue, restrictions on banking and mandatory searches of all cargo to and from North Korea. AFP

IN BHUTAN. Japan’s Princess Mako speaks with delegates at the Changlingmethang National Archery ground in Thimphu on Saturday. Princess Mako, the oldest of Japan Emperor Akihito’s grandchildren, is on a nine-day official visit to Bhutan. AFP

MALAYSIA OFFERS CASH FOR BEST ‘GAY PREVENTION’ VIDEO

‘TALLINN MANUAL 2.0’ BECOMES RULEBOOK FOR CYBERWAR TALLINN, Estonia—With ransomware like “WannaCry” sowing chaos worldwide and global powers accusing rivals of using cyberattacks to interfere in domestic politics, the latest edition of the world’s only book laying down the law in cyberspace could not be timelier.

The Tallinn Manual 2.0 is a unique collection of law on cyber-conflict, says Professor Michael Schmitt from the UK’s University of Exeter, who led work on the tome.

Published by Cambridge University Press and first compiled by a team of 19 experts in 2013, the latest updated edition aims to pin down the rules that governments should follow when doing battle in virtual reality.

The manual was among the hot topics this week as over 500 IT security experts from across the globe gathered at NATO’s Cycon cyber security conference in Tallinn. AFP

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ROAD NETWORK. Motorists drive on an interchange in Chongqing, southwest China, on Saturday. The interchange is made up of five layers and 20 ramps, and goes in eight different directions. AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—The Malaysian government is offering cash prizes of up to $1,000 for the best videos explaining how to “prevent” homosexuality, according to a competition launched on the health ministry’s website.

Activists on Saturday said the move will further spread fear among Malaysia’s LGBT community, as conservative attitudes chip away at the Muslim-majority nation’s one-time reputation for moderation and tolerance.

Contestants are invited to submit a video clip addressing various categories including gayness or “gender confusion,” and offering suggestions as to how these could be “prevented or controlled.”

Winners will receive between 1,000 and 4,000 ringgit ($235 to $940) after the competition closes at the end of August, the ministry’s website said.

The short video clips need to focus on “prevention, control and how to get help” as well as “issues and consequences.”

The guidelines described the overall theme of the video contest as: “Value Yourself, Healthy Lifestyle Practice.”

“Each work will be judged on originality, content, concept and creativity and quality production by a panel of judges appointed by the

organizers,” according to the health ministry’s website.

“The very fact that they lump LGBT people under a category called ‘gender confusion’ shows that the authorities are very much confused themselves,” Pang Khee Teik, a well-known local activist, told AFP. “It is mind-blowing that a government agency wants the whole country to be sucked into its confluence of confusion.”

Participants in the competition can also make videos about sex and the internet, or sexual health.

A health ministry spokesman declined to comment. AFP was unable to immediately contact other health ministry officials.

Homosexuality is forbidden in Malaysia, where laws criminalizing sodomy can result in imprisonment, corporal punishment and fines.

Pang said LGBT people have difficulty accessing good medical services in Malaysia due to a distrust of health care authorities.

“This kind of contest will only add to the confusion and distrust and fear,” he warned.

Nisha Ayub, Malaysia’s most prominent LGBT activist, said health authorities were initiating hatred and discrimination against the community in Malaysia. AFP

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

World

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CALIFORNIA PLOTS TO FIGHT ‘AWOL’ PREZ TRUMP

PRESENCE. Antonio Banderas attends the Miami Fashion Week Benefit Gala at Dupont Building on Friday in Miami, Florida. AFP

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MATTIS REASSURES US ASIAN ALLIES

INGAPORE—Pentagon chief Jim Mattis moved to reassure Asian allies Saturday that the United States could work with China on reining in North Korea’s nuclear weapons program without compromising its opposition to Beijing’s continued “militarization” of the South China Sea.

President Donald Trump -- who frequently denounced China on the campaign trail -- has turned to Beijing to help pressure Pyongyang, prompting broad concerns that America will go easy on China’s maritime activities.

Longstanding partners are also jittery that Trump has seemed indifferent to traditional alliances, and have interpreted his pulling out of a trans-Pacific trade deal and the Paris climate accords as signs of broader American disen-

gagement.

Mattis, arguably Trump’s most important statesman as the new president tries to slash the State Department, tried to reassure allies on all counts.

“In the security arena, we have a deep and abiding commitment to reinforcing the rules-based international order, a product of so many nations’ efforts to create stability,” Mattis said in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major defense summit for countries from

the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Calling North Korea’s nuclear ambitions a “threat to us all,” Mattis asked the international community to come together on the issue.

It is “imperative that we do our part each of us to fulfill our obligations and work together to support our shared goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula,” Mattis said.

“The Trump administration is encouraged by China’s renewed commitment to work with the international community toward denuclearization,” Mattis said.

Pyongyang on Monday testfired another rocket, the latest in a series of launches and atomic tests that have ratcheted up tensions over its quest to develop weapons capable of hitting the United States -- something Trump has

said “won’t happen.”

The defense chief spoke directly to concerns America might grant concessions to China to ensure cooperation on North Korea, saying the issue was not “binary” and that the United States would continue to pressure Beijing elsewhere.

“Artificial island construction and indisputable militarization of facilities on features in international waters undermine regional stability,” Mattis said, calling China out over its “disregard for international law” and “contempt for other nations’ interests.”

The US Navy on May 25 conducted a “freedom of navigation” operation in the South China Sea, when the USS Dewey guidedmissile destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. AFP

ANTI-BREXIT VOTERS FACE TOUGH CHOICE

FAN LOYALTY. A British and Irish Lions fan attends the rugby match between New Zealand’s Provincial Barbarians and the British and Irish Lions at Toll Stadium in Whangarei, New Zealand on Saturday. AFP

LONDON—For the 48 percent of British voters who backed staying in the European Union in last year’s referendum, choosing a candidate to represent them in the upcoming election is proving extremely difficult.

Some, like 45-year-old Tom Glover, are planning to vote for the centrist Liberal Democrats -- a minor opposition party that is very pro-European.

“I’ve never voted for the Lib Dems in my life, but I will this time,” the computer engineer and staunch Europhile told AFP in the City, London’s business hub.

Glover was seduced by the Liberal Democrats’ promise to hold a second referendum at the end of Brexit negotiations on whether to accept the terms of the deal, or reject them and stay in the bloc.

“The leader (Tim Farron) isn’t the most charismatic in my opinion but the idea that they would try their best to stay in Europe is enough for me to vote for them,” he added.

But few think like Glover and, despite unexpectedly receiving the backing of the respected weekly magazine The Economist, the Liberal Democrats continue to languish in the polls.

The party only has seven percent of voting intentions in a recent poll by YouGov -- which interviewed 1,875 people on May 30 and 31.

That was well behind the ruling Conservative Party on 42 percent and the

main opposition Labour Party on 39 percent.

Long-time supporter Benjamin, 31, said he would not vote for the Lib Dems despite being anxious over Brexit as his partner is European and his industry is dependent on business with Europe.

“It’s just that they are not going to win. There is no point,” he told AFP. For the pension fund employee, it is crucial to block Prime Minister Theresa May from leading the Brexit negotiations.

“I don’t believe she or the Conservatives are doing what is best for the UK,” he said, arguing that “it would be better to have a Labour government.”

According to YouGov, 53 percent of “Remainers” -- those who voted to stay in the bloc -- intend to vote for the main opposition party led by Jeremy Corbyn, even though his campaign to stay in the EU was lackluster and he is now promising Brexit.

But the party’s pledge to respect the outcome of the referendum while also negotiating a “close relationship” with the EU resonates well with “Remainers.”

Forty-eight percent of them believe “the government has a duty to carry out” Brexit, according to a YouGov poll from May 8.

“People voted, so at the end of the day, if you go back on this referendum, why would you abide by any other referendum?” Natasha, a human resource professional, told AFP. AFP

LOS ANGELES—California stands poised to fill the US leadership vacuum in the battle against climate change, analysts say, as the state’s governor Jerry Brown headed to China on Friday for a high-profile visit largely centered on environmental issues.

No sooner had President Donald Trump made his announcement on Thursday to pull out of the landmark Paris climate deal, that Brown fired off a statement decrying the decision and vowing to push ahead with ambitious climate policies.

“Donald Trump has absolutely chosen the wrong course. He’s wrong on the facts... he’s wrong on the science,” said Brown before embarking on his weeklong China trip.

“California will resist this misguided and insane course of action,” added the 79-year-old politician who has long championed environmental causes. “Trump is AWOL but California is on the field, ready for battle.” AFP

MADURO PROMISES CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM CARACAS—Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has offered to hold a referendum on contested constitutional reforms in an apparent bid to calm critics in his own camp as he resists opposition efforts to remove him from office.

The surprise announcement late Thursday followed two months of deadly unrest during anti-government protests and signs of division in the socialist leader’s side.

On Friday, student protesters entered the headquarters of official television channel VTV, where they lobbed accusations against Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas.

The opposition says his constitutional reform plan is a bid to cling to power -- and key allies such as Attorney General Luisa Ortega have broken ranks with him, arguing it is undemocratic.

“In light of what is happening in this country, I would like to push back this Constituent Assembly, ask the National Electoral Council to advance regional elections and continue to press for dialogue,” Ortega told Union Radio. AFP

RARE ‘CORPSE’ FLOWERS BLOOM IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO—It is unusual enough to see one of nature’s biggest, rarest -- not to mention smelliest -- flowers bloom. But it is extraordinary to see two bloom at once.

That is why two seven-foot-tall corpse flowers at the Chicago Botanic Garden have attracted thousands of visitors this week, despite the smell of rotting flesh that the flowers emit to attract pollinating beetles and flies.

The rare flowers, officially called titan arum, are naturally occurring in just one place on Earth -- the Indonesian island of Sumatra. They are threatened by deforestation, and botanic gardens around the world are cultivating and preserving them.

It takes up to 10 years for one plant to flower, and then it does so for about one day.

“Having twin corpse flowers both bloom at the same time is very rare,” said Greg Mueller, chief scientist at the botanic garden.

The Chicago Botanic Garden checked with its counterparts around the world and found only a handful of times that such an event has happened, and it has never occurred in North America. AFP

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

FILIPINO MLM FIRM HOPES TO GO GLOBAL

Forever Healthy Products Inc. president and chief executive Leon Katz

By Othel V. Campos Scan this icon to view the PDF

VOLUNTEER.

From left: Accenture employee and former ‘near-hire’ trainee Jobin Sigua, Accenture Philippines country managing director Lito Tayag, Accenture employee volunteer Ruth Binuya and Philippine Business for Social Progress executive director Rey Laguda.

LARGE BPO COMPANY GIVES APPLICANTS A SECOND CHANCE

J

OBIN Sigua was downhearted a year ago when he learned he did not pass the job interview at a business process outsourcing firm. The company, however, offered him a chance to join its ‘near-hire’ training, where Sigua honed his skills for 15 days. Today, he is a transaction processing analyst at Accenture.

“I felt down when I learned that my job application was rejected. When the offer came to train for 15 days with allowance, I felt motivated to grab the opportunity so that the next time I would submit an application, I would have a better chance,” says Sigua. “ We had a focused training program, with good instructors. They identified our individual strengths and showed us how we could be more confident to express our strengths in a job interview. After the training, we reapplied, and I am one of those who got a job,” he says.

Lito Tayag, the country managing director of Accenture which employs 45,000 people in the Philippines alone, says ‘near-hire’ training is one of the corporate citizenship programs of the company and is in line with its ‘skills to succeed’ approach.

“Our mission as a company is to improve the way the world works and lives. We do that with our services,” says Tayag, who is also the chairman of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

Accenture, one of the world’s most admired companies based in Dublin, Ireland, has nearly 400,000 employees across the world and posted $32.9 billion in revenues last year. It is one of the three largest BPO employers in the Philippines, according to Tayag. The BPO sector employs more than a million people in the country.

Accenture celebrated its ‘corporate citizenship month’ in May. “We have made a lot of investments in corporate citizenship--$371 million [globally] in particular since 2011. So far, we have been able to help 1.7 million people [globally] through our ‘skills to succeed’ approach or initiative. We define it as our approach to help people get a job, or to build or own a business.”

“Our goal by 2020 is to reach as many as 3 million.

This is the global goal of our corporate citizenship.

There are initiatives we are going to do to make sure we reach 3 million people, leveraging on our strength in technology and digital space,” says Tayag.

Sigua is among the 4,250 Filipinos who have benefitted from Accenture’s ‘skills to succeed’ initiative.

Tayag says in the Philippines alone, Accenture invested P80 million, covering grants and pro bono work, over the past five years. “Pro bono is the time of our people, paid for by Accenture. When they go out and do something and volunteer, their time is paid for by Accenture,” he says.

In 2016, around 3,000 Accenture volunteers spent 13,000 hours for various causes. One of them is Ruth Binuya, who has been working as a measurement and reporting specialist at Accenture for 10 years now. A former high school teacher, Binuya had 100 hours of volunteering work last year, teaching others how to prepare for a job interview and write a good resume.

Binuya, who completed her education at Rizal Technological University as a scholar, started volunteering six years ago and has helped 1,000 trainees since then. “Volunteering is my ‘pay it forward’ story.

My favorite volunteering event is skills to succeed. I used to be one of those who were marginalized. So I was part of their world. Because there were generous people who financed my education, I was able to be where I am,” says Binuya.

“In every kid that we have during the volunteering work, I see myself,” says Binuya, in explaining why she is committed to the volunteering service.

“It is not just about giving to others, but also getting something for yourself. You feel good in knowing that you are able to pay it forward. Those whom you have helped are going to pay it forward as well,” she says.

“I always tell myself that volunteering is a part of my work-life balance. When we are all stressed out at work, we find one or two weekends in a month, so that we are able to de-stress. It is like going to the beach or the mall, except that you are doing something else. In 2016, I had 100 hours of volunteering,” says Binuya.

Accenture also donated 1,000 computer units to 30 public schools last year and provided training to teachers. The company also contributed P8 million to corporate foundation Philippine Business for Social Progress in 2016.

Tayag says aside from the company’s granWWts, employees of Accenture are also pooling their own money to support various causes. “We are very proud about the number of employees participating in our corporate citizenship programs,” says Tayag.

PBSP executive director Reynaldo Laguda says Accenture is one of the 260 members of the group.

“PBSP on its own has this workplace development program which sat very well with the ‘skills to succeed’ program of Accenture,” he says.

Laguda says the ‘skills to succeed’ approach is also in line with the concept of inclusive business. “In-

clusive business resonates in the Philippines a lot largely because we are trying to bring in to the conversation or language of business the whole agenda of poverty reduction. We do that by not looking at the poor and marginalized as beneficiaries, but as active participants in their own development. Employees are also encouraged to be participants in the development of others,” says Laguda.

Tayag agrees, saying that by helping people get a job, the beneficiaries become a part of inclusive growth.

He says to widen the impact of ‘skills to succeed’ approach, the plan is to expand the ‘near-hire’ training program. “We could not commit to a number, because this is business driven, but we will definitely continue our corporate citizenship’s near-hire training. The more the better for us to get as many people trained. It is about our impact and we feel very strongly at Accenture in helping in nation building,” says Tayag, who is also the lead in corporate citizenship of Accenture in Asean.

“It is an integral component of our business at Accenture. It is consistent in the implementation and manifestation of our mission to improve the way the world works and lives,” he says. “It is also consistent with my role as country managing director in making sure that corporate citizenship is an integral part of Accenture. I think we have to provide an avenue for our people to pursue their own advocacies. It is a very important component of our life, of our work in Accenture.”

“I hope that we are able to provide those opportunities for our people—as many as 45,000 of our people—to pursue those advocacies. We at Accenture provide that platform and opportunity,” says Tayag, who is in charge of leading 45,000 people in the Philippines alone. Accenture employs more than 130,000 people in India and close to 50,000 in the US. “We are a global company. We are organized very well to have the right set of leaders, the right set of structures and the right set of tools to actually provide a very good career experience for all those 45,000 people,” he says.

He says aside from having a strong culture of volunteerism, the mere fact that Accenture employs that large number of people in the country is its biggest contribution to the economy. “The 45,000 people means 45,000 jobs in the country. To me, aside from corporate citizenship, that is also one of our contributions to nation building,” says Tayag.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

A FILIPINO multilevel marketing company is bent on pushing the Philippines as the upline in the distribution of cutting-edge skin resilience products.

Forever Healthy Products Inc. started distributing a proprietary product known as Imuregen and Apple stem cell product eight months ago.

“We are a proud MLM company.

There’s a good reason why distributorbased marketing is one of the best ways in this country to provide opportunity to people. With little capital, just give them the opportunity and it will change their lives. We want all Forever Healthy distributors to be the upline in all of our products. We believe that our products are the best in their categories and that they will help improve the lives of many Filipinos, first as anti-aging supplements and as livelihood for those who want to earn a living,” said Forever Healthy president and chief executive Leon Katz.

Forever Healthy has developed naturally sweet oral preparations to help initiate the anti-aging process using a special proprietary and patented ingredient derived from a very special apple tree in Switzerland.

The apple tree, a very rare specie, now has only three known trees left.

From it comes the so-called anti-aging ingredient called mallus domestica.

The malus domestica or domestic apple variety in Switzerland is a very rare apple tree. Its anti-aging capabilities were discovered when it was mixed side by side with other apples that, after a few months have withered and rot, but the Swiss malus domestica remained as fresh as if it was picked that same day.

“This is an apple story that is not traditional. Our story came from an apple longer living than the rest, which was an important ingredient in the formulation of our products. We have this in preparation for over three years now but we started to officially distribute the products about eight months ago,” Katz said.

The stem cell from the apple tree was proven beneficial to health especially the skin. It is being used by Mibelle, a European bioresearch company that specializes on cosmetics. Mibelle devised the beauty serum used by former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

Sales, Katz said, had been good since the launch eight months ago.

In fact, month-on-month sales in April increased 45 percent. “We’re doing great every week. Month by month we are seeing that dramatic growth.

Every month is a record-breaking month,” he said.

After the Philippine launch, the company aims to penetrate the American and German markets within the year. “From here, we’re planning to go global. What is significant is that Forever Healthy is a Filipino company.

It’s not Malaysian, not American but a Filipino company. We started here because we want to change the lives of many here,” Katz said.

MEDIA EXECUTIVE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CREDIT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION THE 86 year-old Credit Management Association of the Philippines has elected its board of directors and its officers for the year 2017 to 2018.

Elected president is Luis Arriola, who is also the president of St. Jude Media Organization Inc. which publishes the Asean Times internationally and 20/20 newspaper locally.

Arriola said he aims to work closely with similar organizations in the Asean Economic Community for regional cooperation and information exchange.

CMAP is a professional association composed of members who are all knowledgeable, competent and effective in the art of credit management and

CMAP elects its 2017-2018 board of directors, led by (standing, from left) Orix Metro Leasing and Finance Corp. senior vice president Arnaldo Bacabac Sr., vice president; CIBI Information Inc. database management head Ellen Co, director; UniCapital Finance & Investments Inc. credit and collection head Gilbert Benedicto; director; Efren Collado of Maybank Philippines Inc., director-in-charge of credit information system and technology; Ma. Cristina Maulion of Directories Philippines Corp., assistant secretary; and St. June Media Organization Inc. president Luis Arriola. Seated are (from left) CMAP executive director Rose Cunanan, member of election committee Malou Loterte, Rosalinda Maneja of Puregold Finance Inc. and Ma. Theresa Clara de Leon of Bahay Financial Services Inc., corporate secretary.

CMAP’s newly-elected president Luis Arriola

contribute to the financial stability of its member-companies and the national economy.

O ther CMAP officers are Arnaldo Bacabac Jr., vice president; Theresa de Leon, corporate secretary; Ma. Cristina Maulion, assistant secretar y ; Rolinda Maneja, treasurer; and Efren Collado, director-in-charge of credit information system and technology.

CMAP membership includes b a nks, f i na nce com p a ni e s, cooperatives, credit card companies, lending institutions, ser vice corporations, malls

and other consumer-based organizations.

CMAP provides up-to-date credit information to members particularly on cases pertaining to sum of money collections, replevin, credit card and other problematic consumer account, etc.

It has been continuously providing education on credit investigation, fraud, appraisal and credit ratings and analysis. Further, it has worked hand in hand with government agencies concerned and other private organizations which are in finance and lending activities.

Business

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 business@manilastandard.net

MOST FIRMS HIDE SALARIES OF DIRECTORS MOST publicly listed companies fail to disclose the earnings of their board directors, results of the Philippine Corporate Governance Survey show.

“Most companies have established policies and procedures on the disclosure of financial information, but there continues to be limited disclosures on board remuneration,” the report prepared by Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines for the Good Governance Advocates and Practitioners of the Philippines stated.

The results do not represent all the listed companies, as only 51 respondents out of over 200 firms invited to participate in the study responded to the questions on good governance.

However, the report said many Philippine companies were ready to adopt the 2016 Code of Corporate Governance for publicly listed firms issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While the various CG players put forward meaningful efforts to establish and promote CG practices, so much more need to be done, according to the report which was presented during the 5th Annual Forum on Good Governance, Ethics and Compliance at Conrad Manila, Pasay City.

Respondents were asked about the current practices of publicly listed companies, their readiness to comply and the changes needed to adapt to the new Code.

“We hope GGAPP and PwC’s modest effort at developing substantive k nowledge and information on corporate governance in the Philippines will inspire others to contribute to enriching this body of knowledge further,” said GGAPP chairman Vincent Edward Festin.

GGAPP president Jocelyn VillarAltamira said the survey was just the first step to make better informed decisions and take innovative measures and ensure continued adherence by all to the corporate governance principles of fairness, accountability integrity and transparency.”

PwC Philippines chairman and senior partner Alexander Cabrera said his company was honored to embark with GGAPP on the first-ever journey to capture on paper the actual practices and intention of public companies on corporate governance.”

Results of the survey should help increase the maturity of CG practices, contribute inclusive development in the CG environment, and drive better perception from stakeholders and international institutions. “ We a r e t h a n k f u l t o t h e 5 1 respondents [out of over 200 firms invited] for their time and for allowing us to probe their minds and businesses for this report,” said Cabrera.

Results of the survey show that 55 percent of respondent companies have at least one female director and the majority of the boards are comprised of non-executive directors, which typically range from as low as 4 to as high as 14.

Almost 50 percent have five to eight non-executive directors, although most companies have one to three executive director memberships.

About 63 percent of of the boards do annual self- assessment at least once a year, while 75 percent have yet to conduct third-party evaluation of the board’s performance.

In the World Economic Forum Competitiveness Report 2016, the Philippines was ranked in the middle tier (66th) out of 138 countries in terms of “corporate governance,” up from 90th in 2010.

SY FAMILY COUNTS ON LOGISTICS

Conglomerate SM Investments Corp. announces key organizational changes as Henry Sy Sr. steps down as chairman to become chairman emeritus. Shown leading the SMIC stockholders meeting at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City are (from left) SMIC vice chairman Henry Sy Jr.; Felicidad Sy, wife of Henry Sy; and SMIC vice chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson. Bobby Cabrera

By Ian Sayson and Clarissa Batino

A

LMOST 60 years after turning a shoe shop in Manila into a banking-to-property conglomerate that’s made him the richest man in the Philippines, billionaire Henry Sy has found the next growth engine for his group: logistics.

Sy’s SM Investments Corp. is counting on logistics affiliate 2Go Group Inc. to fuel earnings growth as e-commerce and economic growth boosts demand for deliveries, SM Investments chief executive Ricky DyBuncio, 57, said in an interview.

Lo gis tic s m ay even beco m e the company’s fourth business pillar after banking, real estate and retail, he said.

The logistics company’s shares surged to a record Tuesday in Manila trading.

“As economic growth spreads nationwide, you will see a more and more increasing need for logistics operations,” DyBuncio, the first person from outside the Sy family to lead SM Investments, said in Manila May 25. “It definitely could grow by double digits for many, many years to come.”

SM Investments, the country’s most valuable company after Sy-controlled residential and malls builder SM Prime Holdings Inc., has said it needs to expand in high-growth sectors to complement its main businesses. Investments in logistics will help boost earnings as the core businesses reach a scale that makes double-digit percentage growth no longer the norm, DyBuncio said.

SM stands for Shoemart, the name of the original store Sy opened in 1958.

DyBuncio, who took over from the founder’s son Harley Sy last month, has said he’ll look to the company’s share price as a measure of his performance. He will need fast-growing businesses to continue driving the stock higher as his predecessor oversaw a more than a six-fold increase since the shares began trading in 2005.

Logistics can grow at least two times faster than the economy, according to DyBuncio, who has been looking at investment opportunities in logistics over the past two years. Economic growth is boosting demand for shipping, warehouses and port facilities nationwide.

Shares of 2Go climbed as much as P25, the highest since the company’s 1995 listing.

The stock has tripled so far this year.

The Philippines plans to spend as much as P9 trillion ($180 billion) on infrastructure from this year to 2022 to boost Southeast Asia’s fastest growing economy. The economy grew 6.4 percent in the first quarter, its weakest expansion in six quarters and is forecast to grow 6.6 percent this year, according to economist estimates compiled

by Bloomberg.

“You can’t have faster economic growth without logistics,” said Gonzalo Bongolan, vice president at Philippine Commercial Capital Inc., a Manila-based investment bank.

“Logistics and the last mile of distribution will become more critical as commercial activities multiply.”

2Go is the largest provider of socalled end-to-end logistics services in the Philippines, a nation of more than 7,000 islands. The company, which has a fleet of 24 ships, had a 90-percent passenger

market share and cornered 38-percent of cargo that passed through the ports where it operated. Customers include SM Investments’ department stores and grocers, Procter & Gamble Co. and Lazada Group SA, a Southeast Asian e-commerce operator whose Philippine clients include an SM’s online store.

Net income will jump about 14 percent this year to P35.4 billion, based on the average of seven analyst estimates compiled

by Bloomberg. That would be the fastest growth since the 16 percent advance in 2012.

SM Investments indirectly owns about 30 percent of 2Go. It’s part of portfolio investments amassed to diversify beyond core businesses that include BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest Philippine lender by assets and China Banking Corp. SM Investments’ two other major units are SM Prime, the nation’s largest shopping mall operator, and SM Retail Inc., the biggest Philippine retailer with 2,303 outlets.

Return on equity, which fell to about 11 percent last year from the 14.3 percent peak in 2012, will rebound in the next couple of years as returns from its investments, including proper ty assets, improve, DyBuncio said.

As for the logistics business, DyBuncio said he’s still not certain it will become a core business on the scale of the banking, property and retail mainstays.

“Is it going to be big enough that we can say it’s a fourth leg? We need to see what happens in the next few years,” DyBuncio said. “We might be able to find the fourth leg but it will probably be a short leg given the size of the group’s three core businesses.”

Bloomberg

RED RIBBON MARKS MILESTONE WITH 400TH STORE RED Ribbon, one of the leading bakeshop chains in the Philippines, marks another milestone as it recently opened its 400th store located near the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Pangasinan.

Red Ribbon considers the said store as the symbol of the strong connection that it has with Filipinos.

Red Ribbon has emerged as a hub of powerful connections among people. With the opening of its 400th store, Red Ribbon aims to foster this bond by creating a source of sweet memories for the people.

As the first Red Ribbon store in the area, it carries the complete lineup of best-tasting products that have become well-loved staples for many families. It also brings the same commitment

of providing the best customer service that the bakeshop has long been known for.

For 38 years, Red Ribbon has continuously endeavored to be a place where friends and families come to buy quality baked products.

Its stores are now considered by many loyal customers as the most preferred place where they can create sweet and memorable moments.

From the moment that customers enter the store, they are greeted by the Red Ribbon team with the signature smile and enthusiasm to assist them as they purchase their favorite Red Ribbon products. This warm-hearted service is matched by the new store’s sleek design, which evokes a modern but homey, as well as relaxed, warm, and fun ambiance.

Red Ribbon operations head Joy Cortez (left) and general manager Zinnia Rivera cut the cake during the recent opening of the 400th store of the bakeshop chain in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

With Red Ribbon Manaoag branch, the bakeshop hopes that in time, it will also earn a special place in the hearts of the people of Manaoag through its cakes, rolls, breads and pastries.

It is now open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is ready to serve the municipality ’s residents, local and foreign tourists, as well as customers from nearby areas.

Red Ribbon started as a small bakeshop in Timog Ave., Quezon City. It further expanded into a proudly Filipino-owned business that has taken part in every Filipino family’s special moments.

To date, the bakeshop continues to grow as a hub where everyone is welcome to make sweeter moments found in every bite of its many sweet offerings.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 reuelvidal@yahoo.com

ALASKA, GLOBALPORT CHASE LAST PLAYOFF SEAT

By Reuel Vidal

I

N A conference that was so competitive a single-round robin elimination was not enough, the Alaska Aces and the GlobalPort Batang Pier battle for the final seat to the playoffs of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena at 6:30 p.m.

Three teams actually tied in the standing after the exciting elimination round but the third team, the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters, avoided a knockout game by virtue of a superior quotient leaving Alaska and GlobalPort to settle everything in a one-game playoff.

Based on their earlier meeting this conference the Aces should be the prohibitive favorites.

Alaska import Corey Jefferson led the Aces to a rousing 107-79 rout of the Batang Pier during their first game this conference last March 18. Jefferson scored at will against GlobalPort, sniping from three-point distance, posting up or driving strong to the paint.

The Aces contained the GlobalPort offense with their fearsome pressure defense and as they forced one turnover after another. The Aces were scorching hot from the outside as they virtually turned the game into a rout as early as the second period.

The Aces were so dominant that Jefferson could afford to sit out the entire fourth quarter. He was fielded in with just five minutes left in the game and then went out for good three minutes later. He finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

But a lot has changed since their last meeting.

After starting the tournament with four consecutive wins the Aces have lost seven in a row. This includes their last game when they lost to the Star Hotshots, 98-102, in overtime despite leading by 21 points, 73-52, late in the third period.

In another game the Aces blew a 20-point lead against the NLEX Road Warriors. The Aces could not exploit the absence of NLEX import Wayne Chism, who fouled out with more than five minutes left to play, to bow to the Road Warriors, 92-100.

The Aces likewise suffered a painful 110-119 loss to TNT KaTropa when they could not protect a 15-point, 9075, lead late in the third period.

In contrast the Batang Pier have won two of their past two games.

They suffered a 101-112 loss to the San Miguel Beermen in their last game. Prior to that they strung together back-to-back victories against the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters and the Meralco Bolts.

Terrence Romeo submitted 26

Charlie Tressidor PRFU

NOMADS REIGN IN LOCAL RUGBY

Alaska Aces point guard Chris Banchero (2) dribbles past GlobalPort Batang Pier defender Stanley Pringle (3).

Alaska and GlobalPort Batang battle for the final seat in the playoffs of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at 6:30 p.m. today.

GlobalPort Batang Pier court general Stanley Pringle (3) glides to the hoop against Alaska Aces import Cory Jefferson (34). Alaska and GlobalPort Batang battle for the final seat in the playoffs of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at 6:30 p.m. today.

Abueva, with a right ankle still smarting from a sprain, was an energetic bundle of energy against Star. He scored a team-high 22 points, grabbed seven rebounds, tallied four steals and had two blocks despite playing 11 less minutes (33:57) than their import Jefferson (44:49).

Jefferson, who averages over 30 points per game, scored just 21 points against Star. Thankfully he added 13 rebounds and three blocked shots to his total.

Also stepping up for the Aces against the Hotshots were Chris Banchero and Kevin Racal. Banchero had 19 points, seven assists and two rebounds against Star.

Racal finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

These players will all have to step up in order for Alaska to snap a historic losing streak.

So, who wins between Alaska and GlobalPort? Your guess is as good as mine.

Alaska Aces center Sonny Thoss (7) gets a shot off against GlobalPort Batang Pier defenders.

Alaska and GlobalPort Batang battle for the final seat in the playoffs of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at 6:30 p.m. today.

points, seven assists and five rebounds; import Justin Harper had 19 points and 10 rebounds; and Stanley Pringle contributed 15 points, six rebounds and three assists as GlobalPort beat Rain Or Shine.

Earlier the Batang Pier subdued Meralco, 94-86, with import Harper scoring 30 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

The biggest problem of the Aces is their injury situation. Noy Baclao is out for the full conference. Jvee Casio is in a similar boat. Nursing mild injuries but playing on are Calvin Abueva and Vic Manuel.

LAGUNA—Under wet conditions, the disciplined Manila Nomads beat the previously undefeated Eagles RFC for the first time in three years. The Manila Nomads caused the biggest upset in the 2017 SPI 15s League, running away with the Premiership 32 points to 29 at Southern Plains.

The Nomads asserted their dominance from the first whistle, capitalizing from an Eagles mistake. Nomad David Bogul plowed over early using the dominance of their forward pack.

Not long after, the visitors found themselves within the attacking zone scoring another five points through Jason Chappell. Chappell reaped the awards after a dominant line out making it 12 points to nothing after five minutes.

The Eagles saga continued, ill-discipline costing the heavy favorites. A red card to flyhalf Jackson Pato who would no longer return to play for the entire game and a yellow card to Eagles captain Timothy Bweheni. The Eagles found themselves two men down only nine minutes into the first half. After a slight delay due thunderstorms the Nomads picked up where they left off scoring down the left flank through Davoud Bastable. The Nomads set themselves a solid foundation after 15 minutes leading 17 points to nil.

Gregory Golman shed light for the Eagles breaking through in the 23rd minute scoring for the Eagles and converting his own try. It wasn’t long however for the Nomads to regain their dominance scoring in the 36th minute to make it 22-7 at the half.

In the second half the Eagles looked to make an early comeback with Francis Tagalia scoring early. Philippine Volcano Jake Letts brought more hope to the Eagles breaking the line however desperate defense from the Nomads kept the Eagles out. JK Talon kept the Eagles alive scoring back-to-back points for Eagles making it 25 to 17 in the 65th minute.

Nomad Mike Yu looked to put the game out of reach capitalizing off a driving maul scoring and making it 32 to 17 with 8 minutes remaining. Eagles made a valiant effort to close down the gap to three points with tries both to Letts and Tagalia scoring in the dying seconds.

“It was a very tough game in miserable conditions. Stopping halfway for the lightning storm didn’t help anyone, but great to see some attacking play from both sides and it was a close high scoring game in the end. We’ve been building all season especially since we lost our home ground last year. We’ve also been recruiting and training hard, especially on fitness and strength, so we are delighted with our performance today” shared Nomads captain, James Salter-Duke“

FUTURES: UFC MOST WATCHED PROMOTION IN ASIA THE Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently announced that according to results provided by research firm Futures Sport + Entertainment, the UFC, is the leading provider of Mixed Martial Arts TV content across Asia.

Futures Sport + Entertainment studied the viewership of UFC in eight of the biggest commercial markets in Asia using independently audited ratings data according to the report.

The comparison looks at the total viewership of UFC and the next largest MMA promotion across similar programming since 2015 and found that UFC is the leading brand.

Based on the totally unscientific method of asking fellow sportswriters, sports fans and friends in the general public who love to watch combat sports I would have to admit that the recent bout between UFC World Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Junior Dos Santos with the co-main event where UFC World Strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk defended her title against Jessica Andrade did indeed electrify the Philippine audience.

Miocic slammed a haymaker at the left ear of Dos Santos which sent the Brazilian crumpling into the wall of the cage. Dos Santos folded into a fetal position and absorbed several more shots until referee Herb Dean jumped into the fray to halt the fight late in the first round.

The victory avenged an earlier defeat suffered by Miocic at the hands of Dos Santos. It was also the second defense of the title which actually tied the division record for consecutive victories for a defending champion.

The co-main event of that evening was equally compelling, but for a different reason.

Defending champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk relied on precision boxing and excellent takedown defense to post a lopsided victory over challenger Jessica Andrade. There was no explosive knockout but rather a brutal dismantling of a game challenger in Andrade who plodded only to be stymied time and again by the long distance strikes by the champion.

The report states the in the Philippines the UFC received almost five times the viewership of the next largest MMA promotion and in Sin-

gapore the UFC likewise attracted almost five times that of the next largest MMA promotion.

The UFC likewise received more views in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Korea and India according to the report.

“MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and these figures show us that fans in Asia are embracing the UFC,” UFC Senior Vice President of International and Content, Joe Carr said. “These third-party results show that UFC is no longer a western brand, it is a truly global brand embraced by fans worldwide. Naturally, enthusiasts will seek out the promotion with the most skilled athletes and the highest quality of competition which is why we are seeing such an expansive delta between UFC viewership and popularity compared to other promotions in Asia.”

One thing is sure though. MMA is indeed the world’s fastest growing sports entertainment spectacle and audiences will watch compelling fights whether they may be local homegrown talent or international figures from the United States, the Americas or Europe. Reuel Vidal

UFC World Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic (left) hits challenger Junior Dos Santos in the face with a left straight.

Miocic successfully defended his world title with a decisive knockout of Dos Santos. UFC

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BANIQUED, BORLAIN TOP IRONKIDS II

By Marjaleen Ramos

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UBIC BAY--Juan Francisco “Wacky” Baniqued maintained his stature as the undisputed iron kid even as Tara Borlain returned from a two-leg absence with aplomb in the Alaska IronKids Aquathlon II yesterday at the Remy Field here.

Baniqued remained unbeaten for the past seven years with another dominant performance in the boys’ 13-14 age group.

“My first sport is actually swimming, we saw last regent and then triathlon, it became my sports.”

“I need to be first every time,” this is the mindset of the 14-year-old from San Pablo, Laguna, every time he’s going to compete.

Likewise, Wacky draws inspirations from his parents who supports and come with him every competition.

After all his hard works and efforts for the past seven years, Wacky has already set his ultimate goal and is looking forward to compete in Olympics next year in Argentina.

Wacky gave his simple piece of advice as he encouraged all the younger participants as well as those who wish to be-

Participants in the boys’ 13-14 age division vie in the swim leg of the Alaska Ironkids Aquathlon II at the WOW Recreation and Activity Center/Remy Field in Subic

Wacky Baniqued with his seventh gold medal in as many competitions in the IronKids. Jaleen Ramos

come a triathlete to just enjoy the race. “Don’t be afraid that you’ll lose because no one starts as a winner,” he said.

In the girls’ division of the same age category, Borlain was not to be denied.

Now quicker and tougher, Borlain made her comeback and proved everyone that it’s

BETTEN EYES 3-PEAT AS REGENT 5150 UNWRAPS SUBIC — Australian Sam Betten braces for a tough challenge from fierce rivals, led by compatriot Mitch Robins, as he guns for a three-peat in the Regent 5150 Triathlon that blasts off here today (Sunday, June 4).

Betten won his second straight crown a year ago by nearly 15 minutes over Robins but the latter is raring to get back at him after getting stymied by flat tires and settling for silver last time.

“I think Mitch Robins’ gonna be tough. He’s also someone who lived and trained in Subic Bay before so he has advantage of knowing the curves and conditions (of the course),” said Betten.

The 6-foot-4 champ is also on the lookout for American Iain Alexandridis, fellow Aussie Taylor Charlton, South African Johan Stofberg and Phl-based Aussie Dan Brown in the chase for top honors in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run race produced and organized by Sunrise Events Inc and sponsored

by Regent Foods.

“There’s really a strong field that’s come to Subic Bay this year. It’s gotta be the toughest competition we’ve had in three years so I think that makes for a really exciting and great race. It will be so close and I have lots of competition so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Betten said.

Sam Betten all set for a record feat in Regent 5150 Triathlon

Having experienced firsthand how the hot and humid conditions of Subic makes racing here harder, Betten welcomed the possible showers for a change.

“It’s gonna be a little cooler to race so if it does rain, I’m gonna be very happy about that,” he said.

Australian Dimity Lee Duke, third-placer last year, leads the aspirants to the women’s division tiara, going up against Hungarian Anna Eberhardt, compatriot Annelise Jefferies and Kerry Morris, Kiwi Laura Wood and Filipina Kim Kilgroe in what looms to be another thrilling edition of the annual event put up by the country’s leading snack manufacturing company.

Aside from the world-class pros, there will be competitions in Asian Elite, age groups and for the second year, the Sunrise Sprints, a shorter distance series featuring a 750m swim, 20k bike, and 5k run that proved to be a big hit last year.

For details, visit regent.5150philippines.com.

Backers of the event are Dept. of Tourism Region 3 and Tourism Promotions Board as presentors, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority as host venue and Acea Subic Bay as host hotel, along with 2GO Express, Powerade and Wilkins Pure, TYR, Hoka One, Active Network, Philippine Star, Trilife, AsiaTRI.com, Finisher Pix, HyperHD on Cignal, AlcoPlus, Autohub, Cetaphil, Daylong, Devant, Omega, PLDT Subictel, Sanicare, Storck, Garmin, Alaska, David’s Salon, GU, Intercare, Pioneer Insurance and Sante Barley, the Lighthouse Marina Hotel, Court Meridian, Subic International Hotel and Active Network.

her time to shine.

The young triathlete skipped two competitions because she had to prioritize her studies.

“It’s a comeback game because when I continue competing, there’s no more thrill, my parents told me to stop for two, so when I compete,

there’s an enjoyment, pressure and it’s not like a routine anymore,” said the 14- yearold triathlete.

For Borlain, triathlon is more than just a sport she’s playing. It’s something she really enjoys doing. Ever since she started, Triathlon served as one of the things on her life

that gives her the feeling of fulfillment. “I find my happiness here,” Borlain said.

“I actually felt like I’m back and I felt really happy about it,” Tara added.

When asked what inspire her to persevere, “My parents. They are really hardworking and they do everything for me,” she shared.

From a very young age, Tara was already exposed in sports and she always put an all-in effort to become the best possible triathlete she can be under the training of her father Ringo Borlain, a former bodybuilder.

Just like some athletes, Borlain’s main goal in every competition is to have fun in whatever she’s doing and to stay happy. And, of course, at the same time, to give her best in every single thing she do.

Sharing the limelight in the event that drew over 400 participants were 11-12 winners Zedrick James Borja (13:49) and Paula Mhaye Ander (13:15), 9-10 titlists Michael Garbiel Lozada (10:54) and Aubrey Tom (10:53), and 6-8 rulers Darell Johnson Bada (08:00) and Kyle Enialle Tolenada (8:22), who reigned under the late morning rains.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017

Jimbo Gulle, Editor

Roger Garcia, Issue Editor

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SUBIC AND CLARK

DU30’S ‘TWIN TURBO’ ENGINES OF GROWTH

By Dexter A. See

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LARKFIELD, Pampanga—The two former US military bases in Central Luzon has been tagged by the Duterte administration as the country’s “twin turbo” engines of growth.

State-run Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator lawyer Wilma Eisma together with Clark International Airport Corp. president and CEO Alexander Cauguiran have jointly expressed their optimism on the Duterte administration’s goal of utilizing the ready infrastructure and manpower capabilities of the twin freeport facilities in Central Luzon.

In a joint meeting in Subic recently, both executives agreed that Subic and Clark could serve as the new economic frontier for the Philippines given its ready infrastructure and operational systems.

“The Port of Subic and Clark international airport should serve as a super duo that can help alleviate

urban blights like vehicular traffic and port congestion in Manila,” the SBMA administrator said.

She added that cooperation is vital in achieving President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to connect Clark and Subic free ports and turn Central Luzon into major logistics, economic and tourism hubs.

Meanwhile, Cauguiran said Clark airport and its logistics hub paired with Subic seaport will complement each other in efforts to disperse economic activities not only in the regions of Luzon but for the whole country as well.

Cauguiran said that “Since Day One, President Duterte has encouraged more carriers to utilize Clark airport, and with our more

than 21 million potential passengers from our catchment population, we expect more flights via Clark in the months to come,” Cauguiran said.

With Subic’s deep seaport—that could easily cater to Northern and Central Luzon’s shipping and cargo handling needs particularly import and export requirements of domestic and international industries including parts of Calabarzon and Metro Manila—and in combination with Clark’s International passenger and logistics center capabilities, the two former largest US military installations outside of the United States are both more than ready and capable to help the country compete in the global trade and economy.

Linked by an expressway (the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway that interconnects with North Luzon Expressway and the newly built Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway goods and services in two of the largest Luzon island regions could be transported seamlessly.

In addition, the free port opera-

tions of the two economic hubs could easily attract more foreign investors to do business in the Philippines considering the incentives and privileges being provided to locators by both Subic and Clark Freeports.

With an international airport that could provide ease of doing business for travelers and investors alike, including the conducive atmosphere of work and play in both Subic and Clark hubs, the corridor is an ideal investment hubs.

The available vast tracks of lands—along the corridor that links Subic and Clark to the rest of Central and northern Luzon, including Metro Manila—that can readily be available for expansion, is an added feature that are similar in nature with other economic centers in Asia and the Pacific.

Subic’s deep seaport can help decongest the shallow port of Manila as it could serve as the main international seaport that could efficiently cater to larger vessels deep seaport requisites.

PISTAY DAYAT PROMOTES SEA ECOSYSTEM Scan this icon to view the PDF

COLOR UNITY RUN. Thousands of people flooded the streets of Ilagan City on Sunday, May 28, to show their support to the ‘Mammangi’—the Ybanag word for corn farmer—at the Corn Farmer’s Festival. The mascot named ‘Mang Mangi’ has emerged as the brand icon for the country’s ‘Corn Capital.’ The city government has also passed the certification audit for Quality Management Systems or ISO 9001:2015. Abe Almirol

Local Gov’t Units

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—For the people of Pangasinan, merry-making is also a unique opportunity to pitch environmental protection concerns.

This is what they do at Pistay Dayat, a traditional annual summertime festival held recently at Lingayen Gulf, one of the country’s biggest bodies of water.

Dating back to decades ago—before street dancing became a popular attraction of traditional feasts—this summertime event celebrates the bounty of the sea in the Gulf which teems with marine life and rich colonial history.

At one time, it was viewed as the “mother of all summer festivals.”

The 206-kilometer Agno River, whose headwaters emanate from the Cordillera Mountain ranges, is the country’s largest river in terms of water discharge, draining around 6.6 cubic kilometers of fresh water into the Lingayen Gulf.

Gov. Amado Espino III said that the river parade showcases Agno River, as one of the country’s cleanest and most navigable river systems.

A major producer of freshwater fish, the river was cleared of fish pens and other obstructions to allow free flow of water. Millions of fresh water fingerlings were released to allow spawning and bring back its once abundant aquatic life.

He added that Pistay Dayat also stresses the need to protect the natural resources, marine, coastal, river and mountain ecosystems for the next generation.

He also cited the need to conserve the forest resources to sustain the voluminous water supply of the Agno River.

A portion of it is called Limahong channel, named after the notorious 18th century Chinese pirate who sought refuge here after being chased by the Spanish authorities.

Local folks from all over the coastal towns back then would troop to the nearest beach with their families and friends for spontaneous merry-making, picnics and unrehearsed festival activities.

The excursions usually peak on May 1, being a national holiday, where the beaches get an influx from the urban areas.

Through the years, more festival-related activities were added to the Pistay Dayat the annual event evolved into an exciting tourist-oriented festivity.

BFAR, QSU MAKE WATER RESERVOIR PRODUCTIVE DIFFUN, Quirino—Efforts get under way for the revival of a water reservoir into a healthy and attractive source of fish products inside the compound of a university here.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Quirino State University in this town will jointly implement the project intended to provide livelihood opportunities among the residents of this town.

The reservoir, which absorbs water running from the drainage canal of the nearby public market, has discouraged any fishing activity for livelihood purposes.

Apple Joy Ursua, project leader of the National Fisheries Enhancement Project, said the rejuvenation process was launched sometime in February last year.

It was subsequently implemented through the NIFEP, a national program that aims to revive inland bodies of water such as lakes and small water impounding projects, as these resources offer potential for fish production and socioeconomic advancement.

The one-hectare reservoir was further seeded with 5,000 pieces fingerlings, composed of different carp species and tilapia, during the project launch.

Max Prudencio, BFAR information officer, said that eight months after the project was launched, the school administration headed by QSU president Dr. Samuel Benigno, decided to open the reservoir for fishing.

Entrance fee was pegged at P100.00 per day which will go to the QSUs fund. Ben Moses Ebreo

NEA RESOLVES CRISIS THE National Electrification Administration fixed the power blackout in Masbate within 24 hours shortly after taking over the management of the Masbate Electric Cooperative Inc. The NEA sorted out the problem after deploying a team led by Edmundo Aguilar whom Administrator Edgardo Masongsong designated to serve as project supervisor/acting general manager of Maselco.

Aguilar was tasked to oversee the operations and management of Maselco to ensure the efficient delivery of electric service to its member-consumers following the reported massive blackout on Wednesday (May 31).

This developed as soon as Masongsong placed Maselco general manager Eduardo Margallo under a 30-day preventive suspension over allegations of gross inefficiency and mismanagement of the cooperative.

The order is in response to the resolutions issued by the Masbate Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Maselco board vis-à-vis the demand letter of DMCI Masbate Power Corp. dated May 24, 2017, threatening to cut the power supply of Maselco for its failure to settle its overdue obligations.

BFAR EXPANDS VIZCAYA OYSTER FARMING

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ oyster production expansion project has helped villagers in coastal towns of Buguey, Gonzaga and Sta. Teresita boost their daily income.

Funded by the National Shellfish Development Program and from the regular agency funds, BFAR’s threeyear massive establishment of 325 oyster culture raft demonstration and livelihood units has expanded and directly benefited residents of two more Cagayan towns recently and is seen to widen its coverage in the coming years.

Oyster Project leader Nathaly Piñera said oyster production is no longer dominated by Buguey town alone but has expanded in the neighboring towns of Sta. Teresita and Gonzaga.

“The area from the mouth of the Buguey Lagoon in Minanga, Buguey eastward to Sta. Teresita and Caroan in Gonzaga meets the criteria for the establishment of oyster culture units, hence we decided to locate bulk of oyster demo allocation in said areas,” Piñera said.

Leo Supnet of Barangay Villa Leonora in Buguey town said that there is an increase on oyster production since the project started three years ago.

“Since February this year, I was able

to serve three bulk orders at 400 bottles oyster per order. Each gin bottle sells for P50,” he said.

Production sites in the two expansion areas in Gonzaga and Buguey towns have the presence of indigenous spawners, brackish water with salinity of 17 ppt to 25 ppt, and temperature of 2732 oC, free from flood run-off and heavy siltation and with water depth 1.5 to 2.5 meters and natural barriers which made them an ideal project expansion area.

Piñera said oyster can be harvested six to eight months from the date of establishment and harvesting can be continuous if the breeders are not harvested.

RIVER CLEANUP. The local government of Pagsanjan, Laguna, through the efforts of Mayor Maita Ejercito, staged a River Cleanup Activity in partnership with Laguna Water, DILG, DENR, PAGWAD, PGENRO, PNP Pagsanjan, MDRRMC Pagsanjan and other government line agencies. Photo shows water lilies being pulled out of the river bank as their overgrowth is one of the causes of flooding during the rainy season. Roy Tomandao

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‘FUN’ RICE PLANTING VIA KOREA

By Abe Almirol FARMERS in Luzon say they may never sing that famous line “magtanim ay ‘di biro” (planting rice is never fun) again after watching Koreans demonstrate two variants of modern rice planters.

The farmers were awed by the accuracy and efficiency of new farm machineries at the demonstration of a riding-type rice seedling transplanter and a rice drum seeder.

The demonstration took place at a rice field inside the Central Luzon State University campus in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija during the 39th anniversary of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization or PHilMech last week.

To widen the use of the technology, the Korea Agriculture Machinery Industry Cooperative or Kamico and PHilMech signed a memorandum of understanding to push further farm mechanization in the country.

The Korean delegation is headed

by Kamico chairman Shin Gil Lim. He signed the agreement with Philippine counterparts headed by PHilMech executive drector Dionisio G. Alvindia.

Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan and other key agriculture officials were also present during the signing.

“Kamico holds 30 percent interest in the pipelined farm mechanization assistance of the Korea International Cooperation Agency to the Philippines,” Shin said.

Asked if the machineries would be affordable to ordinary farmers, Cayanan replied “For individual farmers with small landholdings, definitely they may not afford it because it may not be practical, but if cooperatives or groups would avail, they definitely can be able have it.”

“To reduce production cost, we agreed with Kamico that the production (of the machine) must be done in Philippine soil,” Cayanan added.

The move to put up the farm implement factory in the country would also help employ some farm laborers who might lose their bread and butter because of farm mechanization.

Kamico machineries are locally sold

by Fit Corea Trading Phils. Inc. based in Quezon City.

Some farm workers who depend on daily wage are not happy with mechanization. There were some cases of reported burning of mechanized rice harvesters in Nueva Ecija since last year.

A study presented to the Senate revealed a comparative study on rice production showed that a kilogram of ‘palay’ cost P12 in Nueva Ecija but only P6 in Can Tho, Vietnam.

The difference is due to the high cost of farm labor in the Philippines.

Farm mechanization is already used widely in Vietnam.

In the same farm demonstration, Kamico also introduced its modern disc plow with adjustable angle and depth control, a hay rake that mechanically collects and binds rice straw, and a rice harvester and bagger.

Meanwhile, a PHilMech-developed 10-row Onion Seed Planter has captured the attention of farmers from Nueva Vizcaya, whose southern district is famous for its red onion variety.

DESPITE NPA THREAT

MOUNTAINEERS RESUME TREKS

By Ben Moses Ebreo

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AYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— Mountaineering enthusiasts have resumed their trekking activities after more than a month of cancellation due to the threat of the New People’s Army.

Raymond Zamorra, a mountaineering event coordinator here, said they have resumed the activity due to clamor of mountaineers to savor the eco-tourism potentials of the province.

“We only coordinate discreetly to

avoid being tracked, this is for our own security and safety anyway, but it is not regular compared to the previous years,” he said.

Zamorra said they have earlier canceled all mountaineering events and activities as scheduled

due to the death of a mountain biker in the boundary of Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya and Asipulo, Ifugao.

“The case is still unsolved and yet the suspect is still at large. We heard that there were firefights between government soldiers and NPA rebels a day or two before the mountain biker’s death,” Zamorra said.

He added that they have also refrained from using the social media for coordination and invitation of mountaineers seeking eco-tourism adventure in the province and neighboring provinces.

Nueva Vizcaya is one of the major attractions for mountaineers be-

cause of its pristine mountains and favorable weather conditions especially during the second semester of the year.

Mountaineering attractions include Mt. Ugu in Kayapa town, Mt, Palali in Bayombong town and as an alternative route to Mt. Pulag in Benguet through the mountain trail in Ambaguio town.

The Ambaguio trail is now being develop by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Tourism through a convergence program to lure more tourists to use the nearest route to Mt. Pulag.

ROYAL CARGO HUB. Executives and guests join in the Royal Cargo City North Hub groundbreaking ceremony in Plaridel, Bulacan.

They are (from left) Romeo Gaco of the National Meat Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture Region 3; Dr. Simeon Amurao Jr., director III, Office of the Director, Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture; Mamerto Cervania, Budget and Finance officer, Office of the Mayor, Bulacan; Reynado Quililean, NMIS, Department of Agriculture, Office of the Director; Elmer Francisco U. Sarmiento, president, Royal Cargo Inc.; Michael K. Raeuber, group chief executive officer, Royal Cargo Inc.; Edna Sarmiento, wife of Elmer Sarmiento; Leni Raeuber, wife of Michael Raeuber; Miguel Hizon, grandson of Darius Alexis Hizon, owner of Pampanga’s Best; and Ralph Bean, Agricultural counselor at USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

P’SINAN DISASTER MONITORING UNDER WAY LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Monitoring of disaster risks in Pangasinan in real time will become more efficient very soon through the GeoCloud Integrated Information System which is expected to go full steam.

The GeoCloud project which will be launched in three pilot areas of Pangasinan, namely: Lingayen, Dagupan, and Binmaley under JICA’s verification survey, is part of Japan’s efforts in helping improve Regional Disaster Risk and Reduction Management systems.

Gov. Amado I. Espino III told Manila Standard that Japan International Cooperation Agreement has been instrumental in the realization of the much-needed project for the entire province as he likewise acknowledged the potentials of GeoCloud and its diverse use in enhancing the efficiency of providing quality service to the people especially in disaster preparation and awareness.

Espino III, along with PDRRMC officer Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro and

other provincial officials recently completed three-day training on 2nd Knowledge Co-Creation Program in Kawasaki, Japan.

The technical training and orientation sponsored by the Japanese Company Informatix Inc. in coordination with Japan International Cooperation Agency aims to provide local executives a better understanding of the GeoCloud integrated information technology, according to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management.

On their second day lecture-tour, the Pangasinan delegates visited the Kawasaki Fire Fighting Command Center wherein the Fire department personnel showcased the ability of integrating GeoCloud as the nerve center of its entire operations.

For their final day, the delegates went to Yokohama Disaster Risk Reduction Learning Center where simulated technology was experienced first-hand.

Dexter A. See

DEMOLITION. LGU workers in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya Thursday start to implement the closure and demolition order for illegal stalls and occupants in a bid to improve tax collection, fire prevention and public safety. Mayor Ralph Lantion said the 15 houses and business stalls have not complied with local tax ordinance provisions, among others. Ben Moses Ebreo

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Republic of the Philippines TODAY Department of Health OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Standard

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE The Department of Health, in its endeavor to uphold transparency, competitiveness, streamlined procurement process, system of accountability and public monitoring, would like to invite suppliers of Goods, Consulting Services and Infrastructure Projects to attend the DIALOGUE WITH THE SUPPLIERS scheduled on June 28, 2017, from 9:00 A.M. up to 2:00 P.M. at the DOH Convention Hall, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz Manila.

Confirmation Form is available at the Receiving/Releasing Section, Procurement Service, DOH. Deadline of submission is on June 13, 2017.

For more information, please contact Ramil M. Jacinto or Pablo L. Nabong at (02) 651-7800 local 1651.

(SGD) ACHILLES GERARD C. BRAVO, CESO III Undersecretary of Health Office for Administration, Finance, and Procurement (MS-JUNE 4, 2017)

TAKEDA PH NAMED AN ‘INVESTOR IN PEOPLE’ TAKEDA Healthcare Philippines Inc. has been awarded the “Investors in People” silver accreditation, demonstrating its commitment to high performance through effective people management.

“We can say we have successfully laid the foundations to become a Best Employer in the Philippines. Our aim is to continue to strive for excellence in the work place while we help our people reach their full potential and achieve success in their careers,” said Gabriel Georgy, president and general manager of Takeda Healthcare Philippines.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Limited is a global, research and development-

driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines.

Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas plus vaccines.

“Investors in People Philippines, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Takeda Philippines.

Our accreditation is the sign of a great employer, an outperforming work place and a clear commitment to success,” said Paul Devoy, head of Investors in People.

Investors in People is an international

standard for people management, defining what it takes to lead, support and manage people effectively to achieve sustainable results.

The Investors in People framework process reflects and takes into consideration workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry.

Investors in People allows organizations to benchmark against the best in the business on an international scale.

Takeda Healthcare Philippines currently employs around 250 people, and has been operating since 2015.

Takeda Healthcare Philippines also recently received certification from the Top Employer Institute. Junex Doronio

Gadgets & Games

SAMSUNG MARKS NEXT INNOVATION IN TELEVISION

W

ATCHING TV has changed through the years and is now more central in the lives of consumers. From being a mere source of entertainment, TVs are now considered as windows that let users experience the world right from their homes.

In a gathering held at Okada Manila titled “The Next Frontier,” Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation declared a new era of television viewing as they officially launched the QLED TV in the country.

Hosted by TV personality and radio jock Sam Oh, the event brought together Samsung executives, led by President Kevin Lee, media, and valued dealer-partners as they witnessed how the QLED TV delivers a next generation display that overcomes the disadvantages of other competing technologies.

With its exclusive Quantum Dot technology, the Samsung QLED TV turns light into perfect color, making a powerful combination that revolutionizes picture quality. The new television line also offers HDR 1500 brightness and 100% color

volume expression, enabling viewers to watch scenes just as how the creator intended them to be. It can also reproduce almost any color known to man, making HDR content more vibrant and natural-looking.

Beauty and functionality work hand-in-hand in the Samsung QLED TV. Its revolutionary design uses an Invisible Connection cable for other TV connected devices, removing the pain point of dealing with unsightly and tangled cables, and making it a great addition to any room. To further add to the clean design, users have the option to avail of the no-gap wall mount, which allows the TV to sit flush against the wall. Also available are an array of stands, such as gravity and studio stands, that can blend in with any living space.

A smart TV needs an equally smart

remote, and with the QLED TV’s One Remote Control that covers all connected devices, users will have an easier time navigating whether they want to play games, watch sports, or stream their favorite TV shows. Users can also turn their mobile phones into a personal remote through the Smart View app. More entertainment options are provided by the Samsung QLED TV as it comes equipped with apps, services, and other content through the Smart Hub. To bring to life the qualities of the product that define the future of TV—superior picture quality, freedom in design, and smart interactivity— artists performed a dramatic and breathtaking dance supported by an integrated play of visuals. Experience zones were also set up during the event, allowing curious guests to get a first-hand viewing experience of the QLED TV. “Each year we challenge ourselves into coming up with upgrades and innovations, but this year’s QLED TV really is the pinnacle of high-quality viewing,” shared Samsung Product Marketing Head for AV Jun Guevara.

“From pure lifelike colors, to the easyto-use One Remote Control, to attention to design inside and out—the QLED TV ends the debate and is undoubtedly the next innovation in TV.” Highlighting this groundbreaking technology, the tech giant brought in Korean celebrity Kim Soo Hyun as a special guest to support the local launch of the QLED TV. The actor expressed his excitement as he revealed the product that aims to give consumers a viewing experience like no other.

Samsung also welcomed two local ambassadors for the QLED TV campaign—award-winning filmmaker Paul Soriano and tastemaker Tessa Prieto-Valdes—creative industry movers and shakers whose unapologetic taste, individual style, and uncompromising standards match that of Samsung’s new line.

“We’re happy to formally introduce Paul and Tessa as our local ambassadors, who are industry leaders in their own realm. We believe that they are instrumental in showcasing the benefits of the QLED TV through their different fields and passion points,” said Samsung Marketing Director Chad Sotelo.

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. Inc executives Jun Guevara, Product Marketing Head for AV, Changik Choi, Business Unit Manager for AV, President Kevin Lee, Gally Chua, Business Unit Head for AV, and Chad Sotelo, Marketing Director, share a toast for the beginning of a new era in TV viewing. At right is the Samsung QLED TV .

PLDT BATS FOR EARTH-FRIENDLY TRAVEL OPTIONS WITH UBER A TYPICAL road vehicle emits six to nine tons of greenhouse gases a year, according to the US Department of Energy. Road transportation’s large contribution to global warming has led to urgent calls for individuals and companies to minimize their travel-related carbon footprint.

The PLDT Group – comprised of PLDT, its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, and digital innovations unit Voyager Innovations – has found more ways to do that through a partnership with ridesharing company Uber.

As an alternative to buying additional vehicles, the group has begun offering Uber rides to its employees. Those required by their functions to leave the office often, like sales personnel, are given an Uber for Business account which they can use for official trips. This is linked to a cen-

tral payment account where their fares are automatically charged.

This means the employees do not need to shell out personal money and file paperwork for reimbursement.

Moreover, an Uber dashboard enables the PLDT Group to see commonly used routes, and plan how to maximize future trips.

Uber for Business is currently on a pilot run among PLDT, Smart, and Voyager employees, and will eventually be rolled out to a larger base.

The PLDT Group is the country’s first and biggest conglomerate to use Uber’s digital solutions to improve fleet management.

The Uber partnership is one of the group’s many efforts to enable Filipinos, its workforce included, to benefit from digital technologies like never before.

“By outsourcing transportation

services on a per-need basis, we accomplish a lot of things – we minimize our carbon footprint while cutting our expenses on fuel, maintenance, insurance, and parking. Meanwhile, our employees enjoy stress-free mobility. They don’t need to drive and spend precious time looking for parking spaces.

They can focus their energy on delivering awesome experiences to our customers,” said PLDT and Smart chief revenue officer Eric R. Alberto.

Also on a pilot run is an uberHOP service for Smart employees.

Instead of riding separate vehicles, employees can converge in pickup points in Quezon City and Parañaque to share uberHOP rides to Smart Tower in Makati City. After work, they can share rides going back to Parañaque and Quezon City. Each ride can accommodate up to six passengers.

HCPH Chief Financial Officer Zdenek Jankovsky

a World Bank survey indicating that more than 95% of Filipinos do not have a credit card.

“The Philippines is unique in that although the unbanked segment is very large, the economy is also seeing a massive boom, with demand for smartphones and other consumer goods at an alltime high,” explained HCPH Chief Financial Officer Zdenek Jankovsky.

“And with our own unique business model that allows even first-time borrowers to avail of installment financing, the Philippine market is a perfect match for us.”

Officially nationwide

Since launching in Manila in 2013, Home Credit has seen rapid growth in its business of providing in-store financing of gadgets, appliances and other goods. Last year was seen as a particularly landmark year, as it grew its customer base more than two-fold from 280,000 to

600,000, increased its sales five-fold compared to 2015, and planted its flag in strategic areas including in Central and Northern Luzon.

The company’s steep climb continued in Q1 of 2017, as Home Credit expanded its reach in all major islands to become officially nationwide. In April alone, the company established its presence in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, adding to its current roster of more than 2,500 partner stores in 27 provinces, where they offer 0% interest promos and other popular products.

To support their fast geographic expansion, Home Credit is also gearing to increase its workforce from the current 5,600 to 7,000 this year, potentially doubling its workforce of 3,500 employees in 2016.

Strategic partnerships

Aside from the popularity of its 0% interest promos and rapid

GADGETS GALORE AT TACTICAL SURVIVAL EXPO

By Peter Atencio IDEAS and inventions that will help people address situations during natural disasters and national emergencies are being be shown and discussed in the 1st Tactical and Survival Expo.

Top-of-the-line gadgets that involve a water purifier that can handle swamp water, a liquid-powered lamp, a jackhammer that does not need electricity and a boat that does not capsize are just a few things being presented during the fourday exhibit.

Gina Angangco, senior Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Arms Corporation of the Philippines, said this during a presentation last Monday at the Manila House inside the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The expo is slated from June 1 to 4 at the SM Megatrade Halls 1 to 3 in Mandaluyong City.

“Marami tayong magagandang ideas dito. These ideas are applicable to survival,” said Angangco.

The water purifier that will be shown, according to Angangco, will be demonstrated by the inventor, who is now developing a filter that can be carried by soldiers when they are in the battlefield.

There’s also a lamp that can produce light through the electricity that it can generate with the use of water.

They’re also set to a show a small boat that can withstand big waves.

The expo’s theme is “Safety, Security and Survival Show for Sustainable Living.”

Organizers aim to address issues like environment, economic uncertainty, security and threats to order.

They are also showcasing survival technology, gear and proper equipment.

Traditional weapons, firearms and accessories are also part of the show.

Angangco said it is their aim to demonstrate to the public that basic preparedness is not difficult to achieve.

FOOLPROOF...

From D4

HOME CREDIT REACHES 1-MILLION CUSTOMER MARK PRAGUE-BASED consumer finance company Home Credit is maintaining its positive outlook in the Philippines, as it aims to more than double its total receivables from P5.4 billion to P11 billion this year.

The projection comes shortly after Home Credit Philippines reached the 1-million customer mark in May, less than five months after reaching 600,000 “By all indications, considering our rapid growth in both customer base and geographic reach, the P11B receivebles target is doable,” said Home Credit Philippines CEO Annica Witschard. “The demand for affordable, alternative financing from Filipinos is undeniable, and as a fintech company, we are more than happy to address this demand.”

Ms. Witschard cited data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which reported that 86% of Filipino households are unbanked, and

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

expansion, Ms. Witschard also cited strategic tie-ups with partners, both in the retail and producer segments, as key drivers in their success.

“For us, it’s very much a winwin situation. We help our partners provide a good financing alternative for their customers who don’t have a credit card; at the same time, the huge popularity of products from companies such as Huawei, OPPO, Samsung, and Vivo help to drive demand for our own financing services.”

Aside from retailers and product manufacturers, Home Credit also has key partnerships in the finance sector, as it was able to establish credit facilities with group relationship banks such as Citi, ING, and HSBC. At the same time, Home Credit is also in the process of inviting local banks to participate in the loan syndication arranged by Citibank.

For more information, visit www.homecredit.ph.

some laptops come pre-installed with an operating system, as well as other essential software like office applications and messaging tools, reducing the setup time and effort needed from users. If you need a laptop that you can use from the get-go, check that it has the basic software and programs installed out of the box.

5. Durability As laptops are lighter and more compact, they are not as tough as desktop computers. With this in mind, you want to choose a laptop that is durable enough to handle the rigors and wearand-tear of every day travel. To select a reliable laptop with great durability, look out for credentials like MilSpec or other military-grade specifications during your purchase.

As the name suggests, a laptop that has MilSpec standards is built to endure even the harshest environments and can easily brush off the most common issues that laptop users may face, including falls, extreme temperature, and even spilling liquid on the device.

6. Biometric security features Hardware and data theft are serious issues that all laptop users must be prepared to face. Losing important and confidential information such as business data or personal files stored inside your device can be disastrous.

But the risk isn’t necessarily when you’re out and about; according to a study by Kensington titled “IT Security & Laptop Theft,” theft in office premises came in at an alarming second place behind theft while on the go.

Knowing this, you should consider buying a laptop with data security features that shield your data even if your laptop is stolen. A biometric security protocol is one of the key features in some laptops today. Through facial recognition or a fingerprint scanner, you can log in to your laptop without keying in passwords which may be discernible to others, therefore limiting access to only you.

These features ensure a hasslefree experience that ultimately defines what an all-around laptop should be: a powerful device that you can use immediately, wherever you are, and with peace of mind.

To know more about what makes a great laptop, you can visit http:// www3.lenovo.com/ph/en/.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Gadgets & Games

BEST SMARTPHONE IN ’17 MOBILE CONGRESS IS HERE O

NE of today’s bright young stars has found her social media partner in LG G6, the multi-awarded flagship smartphone of global technology innovator LG Electronics.

As the newest brand ambassador of LG Mobile Philippines, model and all-around personalit y Lauren R eid shares her experience so far with the G6, which projects itself as the ideal social media smartphone for any digitally-savvy user.

“I love how big, clear and vibrant the display is, and, at the same time, with a body that is small and sleek enough to fit in my hand. The Square Camera really does the trick for my Instagram posts, and the dual Square Cam lets me make my photos

more creative and also lets me multitask with two screens,” she commended.

Hailed ‘Best Smartphone’ in Mobile World Congress 2017, the G6 comes with a 5.7-inch QHD+ FullVision display, and for the first time ever in a smartphone, a highly functional 18:9 screen-to-body ratio. Compared to conventional 16:9 aspect ratio displays, the 18:9 format offers more immersive viewing when in full screen and even more opportunities when split into two square -shaped screens.

LG Mobile brand ambassador Lauren Reid and her new social media phone

Known for her eye-catching Instagram posts, Lauren finds great value in the G6’s highly advanced camera. “ The camera’s quality is topnotch—the wide-angle feature is perfect for groufies and the Food Mode definitely levels up my #foodstagram game,” she continued. “I’m also so excited because when I just want to unwind and relax, I can now watch movies on the G6 in Dolby Vision quality or listen to music in Hi-Fi audio brilliance.”

Lauren can basically take her adventures anywhere and document them seamlessly especially since the G6 is certified with IP68 protection standard with its water and dust resistance. It can be immersed in up to 1.5 meters of water for as long as 30 minutes, and users can worry less about accidental drops and other rough environments during everyday use.

For greater durability against overheating, the G6 is also designed

with a metal frame and heat pipe to dissolve heat. The powerful device has passed 14 different militarystandard 810G tests involving rain, fog, humidity and temperature, among others.

As the newest ‘it girl’ on the block, Lauren impeccably embodies LG’s fun, relatable personality and world-class image.

“I’m honored to be representing LG’s mobile product line. Its flagship smartphones have been praised by so many tech experts worldwide and based on my experience with the G6 so far, I have to say it truly is my ideal social media phone,” she concluded.

LG G6 is now available in the Philippines in Astro Black, Ice Platinum and Mystic White retailing for Php 37,990.00.

For more details on #LGG6MySocialMediaPhone, visit lg.com/ph, like @LGMobilePH on Facebook or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

BEEF UP HOME SECURITY WITH D-LINK’S HD WIFI CAMERA PROTECTING one’s family and home is an even bigger challenge today, with crimes no longer limited to the streets and technology making it easier for criminals to break into homes and private properties.

D-Link International Pte Ltd, a leading global supplier of networking products, has released a smart home security solution, the DCS-960L HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera that will give homeowners everywhere the peace of mind that they deserve.

Unlike conventional cameras, the DCS-960L boasts of an ultrawide lens to enable a 180-degree field of view, ensuring wall-to-wall full coverage of an entire room with just a single camera. Its built-in IR LEDs provide night vision for up to 5m even in complete darkness. Together, these features allow homeowners to know what is happening in their homes day or night, whether it be making sure the children are safe alone during the day or checking for intruders at night.

With the DCS-960L’ s high-quality 720p HD CMOS sensor, captured images have not only clear but also

richer details. The videos are likewise free of distortion, thanks to the camera’s unique de-warping technology designed to optimize video quality.

To suit different resolution requirements, the video files may come in 1280x720, 800x600, 720x480, 640x480 and 320x240-pixel resolutions at up to 30fps frame rate. The audio adopts AAC and G.711 compression formats.

Fast, easy-to-use monitoring device

Streaming HD videos from the DCS-960L camera for viewing and checking will not take forever. Accessing the device from anywhere in the home will not be a problem either.

The DCS-960L has built-in Wireless AC and takes advantage of the latest Wi-Fi technology to give you a high bandwidth connection to your router for streaming HD video from your camera, and improved range for more flexible placement. The camera’s 802.11AC platform is also backward-compatible with

802.11n/g/a and supports WPS, UPnP and DDNS. The HD Wi-Fi camera is also designed for quick installation anywhere in the home. Its flexible design and rotatable head allow for mounting on the wall or even the ceiling. Compact and light at 137.5x95.8x95.8mm and 165g, the device can be mounted by just one person.

High-quality imaging

The camera features 8x digital zoom, 1.72mm focal length, F2.0 aperture and 0 lux with IR LEDs on minimum illumination. In low-light conditions, the built-in light sensor determines if IR LEDs are needed.

In addition to the image size, users can adjust the image quality, frame rate and bit rate. Brightness, saturation, contrast, sharpness and hue can be adjusted as well.

Still images are saved in JPEG format, while video recording uses simultaneous H.264/MJPEG compression. For file management, images can be given time stamp and text overlays.

ACER NITRO 5

ACER DEBUTS ALL-NEW NITRO 5 NOTEBOOKS AT THE recently concluded Computex 2017 held in Taipei, Taiwan, Acer announced its new Nitro notebook line for casual gamers. First from the new Acer Nitro family, the Nitro 5 series provides a good balance of powerful features with a sharp and stylish design. Acer is offering a variety of configurations that feature popular graphics and processors, providing consumers with a wide selection to meet different budgets and needs.

Gamers can choose from configurations featuring up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti graphics paired with 7th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 or i5 processors, or models with AMD Radeon™ RX550 graphics with 7th Generation AMD A-Series FX, A12 or A10 APUs. These models all feature Windows 10, and support up to 32GB of DDR4 2400 MHz memory.

Ideal for accelerating boot-up time and shortening in-game loading times, select models1 come equipped with super-fast PCIe SSDs (up to 512GB) paired with an optional HDD for storage (up to 2TB). A Gigabit Ethernet port delivers fast and reliable wired connections, while the 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO wireless technology provides blazing-fast wireless connectivity. A comprehensive selection of ports includes one USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 1) port, one USB 3.0 port with power-off charging, two USB 2.0 ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port1, which can support up to 90 Hz refresh rates.

Of course, no gaming system is complete without a thermal solution to manage heat and keep the system running optimally. The Nitro 5 features dual fans with Acer Coolboost™ technology, which delivers heightened fan speeds and cooling ability, and allows users to manually control the cooling process when heavy use requires an added boost.

All models offer a vibrant 15.6inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, while Dolby Audio™ Premium and Acer TrueHarmony™ technology provides incredible sound depth.

These work in tandem to provide immersive experiences for gaming or watching movies.

The Nitro 5’s sophisticated design includes a matte black chassis with a hairline finish. A smooth sleek red hinge runs along the back of the notebook, above a bold black grill vent. The keyboard features red backlighting, and the WASD keys and touchpad are also outlined in red for ease-of-use.

Price and Availability

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.

FOOLPROOF FEATURES TO LOOK FOR IN A LAPTOP

ThinkPad X270 (2)

COMPACT yet versatile enough to handle day-to-day applications, a laptop is the best tool for working, studying, browsing the Internet, watching movies, or playing games on the go. Though tablets and smartphones are smaller in size, most don’t want to trade off a laptop’s longer battery life, robust features, and the solid feeling of an actual keyboard.

While major brands like to highlight all the different and new technical features in their laptops—from the buzzwords about processors, types of storage, graphics capabilities, and screen resolution—Lenovo will cut to the chase in this buying guide and

highlight the essential features that we think an everyday laptop should have.

1. Long battery life Battery life is one of the most important considerations for many laptop shoppers. With an empty battery, your laptop is nothing but an expensive paper weight. On average, most laptops can be used for 4 to 6 hours on a single charge.

With Lenovo’s Power Bridge battery technology, certain Lenovo laptops can deliver up to 13.9 hours of use on a single charge. The external battery packs a charge of 7 hours while the internal Power Bridge battery adds another 6.9 hours of surfing, stream-

ing, gaming, and more.

If you have a spare battery that is hotswappable, this means you can use your laptop for more than 13.9 hours without ever turning it off.

2. A fast processor Your laptop’s processor is like its brain. Working in combination with system memory, the power of the processor determines the complexity of software you can run, how many programs you can open at the same time, and how fast those programs will run.

Intel, the world’s most popular processor, recently launched their 7th generation “Kaby Lake” processors. Kaby Lake’s Hyper-Threading feature lets

users more efficiently do performanceheavy tasks such as 3D and video rendering. To the delight of movie buffs, its upgraded graphics core can also stream videos in beautiful and crisp 4K quality.

3. Light and portable If portability matters to you, then screen size and weight are what you need to consider when you pick a laptop. Usually, a laptop with a 13inch or smaller display and a weight of under three pounds is good for on-the-go users.

4. Plug and play Installing software to a laptop can be a long and arduous task. Therefore, Turn to D3

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SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor

/

Young Life

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

HOW TO BALANCE PASSION AND PROFESSION

THE COLOR PINK OF THIS GENERATION

Forever21 blouse

By Bernadette Lunas

H

AVE you heard of Millennial Pink?

You have probably seen it in advertouch of blush to a peach salmon hytisements or on your Instagram feed or brid. The closest we have for this color on the racks of a clothing store you’ve is the Pale Dogwood, which Pantone been to—you just didn’t know what it describes as “quiet and peaceful pink was called. You probably even own an Fendi Spring '17 RTW and Chanel Spring '17 Couture shade that engenders an aura of innocollections both feature Millennial Pink item, or two, in this particular color. cence and purity.”

Millennial Pink is not entirely a new But why is it popular today, especolor. It actually has been around since 1767 in Jean-Honore cially among the younger crowd? A quick search of the term on Fragonard’s The Swing painting. But it only became popular Instagram will yield hundreds of photos, ranging from pink bevin 2014 with Wes Anderson’s movie The Grand Budapest Hotel, erage to pink hair, and many more in between. followed by the release of rose gold iPhone in 2015, and when Well, the color, compared to its brighter and more saturated Pantone named rose quartz the joint color of 2016. counterparts, is flattering (it goes well with neutrals and othToday, the color has been a constant presence on runways er pinks as shown on the cover jacket of Stephanie Danler’s (Chanel’s Spring/Summer collection, for instance), on the racks Sweetbitter and in Fendi’s S/S17 collection) and pleasing to the of apparel labels (Zara and Forever 21), eye—it has a calming effect, according to some. It has a soand on walls of hip cafes. Even in the phisticated appeal that gives it a staying power. footwear and furniture front, it is beAlso, Millennial Pink veers away from the girly-girl coming a popular color of choice. nature to which the color pink has long been It is the kind of pink that is soft, deassigned—when, in fact, pink was previsaturated, and almost devoid of blue ously a color more suitable to boys, acundertones. It’s the non-pink pink, or cording to a 1918 article in Earnshaw’s as New York Times’s The Cut puts it, “Pink Infants’ Department.

Keds x Rifle without the sugary prettiness.” Toned Paper shoe collaboration Millennial Pink is androgynous, gendown version of Barbie pink and bubble der-neutral; it’s as if bringing us back to gum, so to speak. the time when colors didn’t dictate the gender to which it is Millennial Pink is more of a generic term of a color than an appropriate. Blue for boys, girls for pink—or vice versa—wasn’t actual color. According to The Cut, it ranges from beige with a a thing back then. The color supports the belief of majority of millennials that gender is a spectrum and isn’t limited to male and female Rihanna can wear pink from head to toe just as much as Zayn Malik can dye the tips of his hair in the same color.

It’s the pink for everyone: for the openminded and for the noncommittal—those who like pink but not the pink pink. If you Scan this icon to think about it, aren’t those the defining view the PDF characteristics of this generation?

Pink furniture pieces are becoming popular in space design (@tapi_carpets)

The facade of the Grand Budapest Hotel is bathed in pink

HAPPY FEET

YOUR NEW FAVORITE RUNNING SHOES THIS new pair of shoes claims that it could make everyone want to run—forever.

Global performance running footwear and apparel brand Saucony introduces a shoe that “outperforms all running shoes,” dubbed the Freedom ISO. Having been recently selected as a “Gear of the Year” honoree in Outside magazine’s 2017 Summer Buyer’s Guide, Freedom ISO is Saucony’s most technologically advanced shoe ever created yet.

The secret: cutting-edge technology that allows wearers to truly feel liberated while they run on any track or trail.

Freedom ISO has a full-length EVERUN midsole—a first of its kind—made of expanded TPU beads instead of traditional solid Turn to E2

The Freedom ISO is Saucony's most technologically advanced shoe ever created yet

YOU don’t.

That’s according to human rights lawyer and UAAP commissioner Rene “Rebo” Saguisag Jr. With this generation’s obsession with balancing everything in one hand all at the same time, Saguisag avers that to excel in two or more things, undivided attention must be given to each.

Law practice and basketball are two different worlds, for instance; they are both time-consuming and emotionally draining, thus managing them would require his whole attention—something that multi-taskers are reluctant to do.

“I don’t see it as an obstacle but a challenge and opportunity to better myself so I never even considered choosing one over the other,” shares Saguisag. “In fact, if handled properly, they can even complement each other.”

The lawyer-cum-UAAP commissioner says he learned this discipline while playing basketball when he was young and eventually while coaching young athletes at BEST (Basketball Efficiency & Scientific Training) Center, the pioneer of basketball clinics in the country.

Atty. Rene 'Rebo' Saguisag says the basketball court taught him a lot

He notes how the organization instilled in him discipline and a great sense of responsibility. The strict guidelines and high standards imposed and maintained in the clinics, and the proper behavior required in the court along with the values taught in team sports, have molded him to become who he is today.

“All I really needed to learn, I learned inside the basketball court,” says Saguisag.

Saguisag encourages everyone not to limit themselves to their own comfort zones, but instead be open to opportunities, accept challenges and turn these into achievements.

It also helps that you have people who support you. “I married the perfect wife who fills my shortcomings,” he beams.

Young Life

E2

SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

INTERNET SCHOOLS US ON

HAPPY...

From E1

F

#SYMBOLISM

AKE news, fake news everywhere. And there seems to be no stopping this anomaly what with the liking and commenting and sharing of posts on social media without verifying whether they are true and accurate.

trusted groups or organizations—say, a government office. Truth and accuracy be damned.

On May 29, government employee herself, Presidential Communications assistant secretary Mocha Uson reshared a photo on her Facebook page. The image, which shows uniformed officers kneeling in prayer, was captioned: “Let’s pray for our army. Panalangin din po natin ang mga pamilyang naiwan at nababahala sa kalagayan ng kanilang asawa at tatay.”

Assuming they were really our government troops battling the Maute group in Sadly, fake news could come from anyone: Marawi City, followers shared and liked and your Facebook friends, shady websites, and even commented the post only to find out later

that the individuals in the photo are not Filipino soldiers, but Honduran police officers.

Uson immediately backpedaled, through another Facebook post, claiming that she didn’t say they were Philippine army. “I did not say that picture was taken from Marawi.

It’s a symbol of army praying... Common sense na it is a symbolism,” she said.

Well, if it’s common sense the government official is asking from people for her rather symbolic post, the Internet has a better idea.

People on Facebook and Twitter follow in her footsteps and show examples of #symbolisms. Everyone, take note!

EVERUN Continuous Cushioning provides runners enhanced performance

materials. This advancement makes a dramatic difference in the feel and performance of the shoe.

One of the most compelling features immediately noted by people who have run in the Freedom ISO is the shoe’s proprietary EVERUN Continuous Cushioning. Wearers agree that from the moment they step off for a run, there is a noticeable underfoot energy that generates fluidity of movement, superior energy return, and enhanced performance.

“Freedom ISO’s Full EVERUN sole will make each and every one of you want to run, and once you hit the ground, you’ll feel like you can run forever,” enthuses Saucony vice president Charles Yu. “Your running experience begins and stays incredible, no matter how long and far you run.”

Aside from its cushioning, the shoe is lightweight and has streamlined fit, making wearers swear by the great improvement in the feel and performance of the footwear.

In essence, Freedom ISO symbolizes Saucony’s commitment to innovation: allowing and inspiring runners to reach their full potential and stretch the limits of running. With this shoe, one can run free, out in the open air while feeling the sun and sweat off their backs—perhaps forever.

SARCASTICALLY SYMBOLIC.

Netizens didn't let Mocha Uson get away with her recent controversial posts as they presented their own sarcastic take on symbolism.

(Photos screengrabbed from Facebook and Twitter)

Saucony's Freedom ISO gives wearers a liberating feeling as they run outdoors

HOLLY: THE RESCUED DOG WHO SAVED A RESCUER PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS THE worse time in one’s life is losing a loved one. It is worse for animal lovers. They have to endure the deaths not only of human loved ones but also of their furry best friends—their pets—who have shorter lives.

In the past two weeks, I silently grieved with those who lost their pets.

I silently sent (love) energies of comfort and emotional healing to an owner who lost three dogs to ehrlichia (a blood disease a dog gets from a tick or garapata) in two days, an animal rescuer who fought for a cat and successfully had her treated for a virus but lost her to bacterial infection, another rescuer who hoped for a miracle for a dog with cancer, and an owner who can not believe until now that his “baby” dog is no longer around to wake him up or lie on his chest and comfort him silently when he is sad or stressed out.

We cannot stop deaths. But we can honor our loved ones as we grieve, and hope for the day when the pain is less enough for us to move forward.

As rescuers, officers and members of animal welfare group Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), have lost rescued dogs and cats despite all our efforts and prayers.

All deaths are painful, of course.

But the death of a rescued dog whom a rescuer took care of and fought with for months can be doubly painful.

It must be worse for owners who lost their pets as they took care of their pets most of their lives.

Mourning owners or rescuers get a number of suggestions to ease the pain and move on.

But I will not suggest anything here.

I can only share something I did to ease the pain: I wrote about Holly, an 11- to 13-yearold stray dog we rescued and learned to love in the short time we had with her.

Holly taught me a lot about life, and moved me to act when I was at my lowest, and to continue my work even when rescuing seemed impossible already. In that sense, she rescued me.

Allow me to share her story which became an integral part of my life as an animal welfare advocate: Heaven is waiting for its new angel, Holly.

Cross the rainbow bridge now, baby. Go

to the Light. I’m letting go... Kaya ni Nanay.

Pwede mo na akong iwan. (Mother can handle it. You can leave me now.)

Nakiusap ako ng seven more years sa iyo, na sana 20 years old ka pa umalis, pero alam ko na pagod ka na. Okay na, anak... go to the Light. (I asked for seven more years with you, that you would die at 20 years old, but I know you are tired now. It’s okay, child… go to the Light.)

I accept you had to leave. Run free, Holly.

In heaven, there is no pain, there is no cruelty, there is no suffering, there is no illness. You deserve to rest.

I’m sorry pinabayaan ka sa kalye ng napakaraming taon. Nabuntis ka ng ilang beses, nanganak mag-isa sa tabi tabi, at namatayan ng mga anak ng maraming beses. I can’t imagine how you felt when you witnessed some of them get run over by a car, and die in front of you. (I’m sorry people ignored you and left you alone on the street. You got pregnant many times, gave birth alone just anywhere, and lost a number of your pups.)

I’m sorry you had to go for days without food, had to drink water from the canal, and had to fight for food scrap from the garbage can with other dogs.

Please forgive me if we only had 11 months to make you feel safe, loved, and cared for.

Kulang na kulang, anak. Pero naaalala ko na sarap na sarap ka sa kama mo, sa pagkain na hindi mo na kailangan pang hanapin sa daan or sa basurahan, sa lasagna na nabibili natin pag may extra money, sa Dentastix na bigay ng mga tita mo na admins at mga members at mga kapatid na tao... (The time we had was not enough. But I remember you loved your bed, the food that you no longer had to scrounge for or look for in the trash, the lasagna (for dogs) which we were able to buy when we had extra funds, the Dentastix your aunts who are admins and members or human siblings gave.)

Thank you, Holly. Dami kong natutunan sa iyo. Ang umasa nang umasa. Maging pasensiyosa. Maging malakas. Lumaban. Kayanin ang anumang dumating sa buhay. ANG MABUHAY AT NGUMITI KAHIT NA MAY INIINDA. (I learned a lot from you. To hope again and again. To be patient. To be strong. To fight. To endure the challenges that come my way. AND TO LIVE AND SMILE DESPITE WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH.)

Continued on E3

Holly loved being pampered and groomed

Showbiz

SUNDAY, JUINE 4, 2017

E3

GIGANTIC MOVIES...

From E4

L

IKE many actors of her generation, Roxanne Barcelo fully embraced her sexy side when she landed on the inside pages of a popular men’s magazine a few years ago. Amid being brought up by a conservative family and in the watchful eyes of nuns during high school and college, the former Pinoy Big Brother housemate is on a mission to satisfy every boy’s fantasies.

Roxanne, who went by the name Roxee B to introduce her career reinvention in 2014, had faced a few struggles in the competitive world of showbiz.

Roxee started her showbiz career as one of the contestants in GMA’s Metropop Search. Then in 1999, she became a mainstay in the GMA’s then top-rated youth oriented show, Click. She also appeared in the television drama series Kahit Kailan and Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga, and was a regular host of on SOP and guest-starred in several GMA shows.

While her TV career in limbo, she channeled her burning passion through electronica hiphop and the culinary arts. She honed her skills in music and endeavored to make a name in the industry while she’s still finding ways on how to re-launch her acting career. In short, she didn’t give up and she’s glad about that decision.

And just like how FHM Philippines puts it, “If you want a sincere showbiz success story that is a product of perseverance and persistence, hers should be a fine example.”

“That’s how I feel now. I’ll tell you the truth, every time I felt like quitting, something good would come along. This industry can break you. It broke me several times,” Roxanne admits. “Dreams are constantly shut down in this industry, and if you let it get to you it can really break you. I even broke down when I was in PBB, and people saw that. I don’t regret that they saw that.”

Wildflower cast member Roxanne is the newest cover girl of popular men’s magazine. FHM on Monday unveiled its June 2017 cover on its official Instagram account, starring the sultry actress.

“Roxanne Barcelo’s FHM cover debut is nothing short of liberating for the entertainer.

Not only has she survived and thrived in the industry, but she’s done so with a steady and constant evolution. Gents, your new cover muse for the month of June!” FHM said.

Roxanne graced the cover of FHM for the first time in 2014.

PET TALES...

From E2 Isipin mo ang dami mong dinaanan sa kalye. Mga 11-13 years old ka na pero ang dami mong kinaya. Ilang taon ka kayang mag-isa sa kalye? Nakatikim ka kaya ng pagmamahal sa isang tao nung baby ka? Bakit ka kaya napunta sa kalye?

Sino nanakit sa iyo? (Imagine, you went through a lot of difficulties. You were already 11-13 years old but you had to endure so many challenges. I wonder how many years you were alone on the street as a stray? Did you ever feel loved even by just one person when you were a baby? How did you end up on the street?

Who hurt you (or abandoned you?)

Hindi ko na malalaman ang mga sagot sa mga tanong ko pero saludo ako sa iyo.

(I will never know the answers but I salute you.)

Nang makuha ka namin, hirap kang mag-balanse ng katawan. (When we got you from the street, you cannot stand straight or balance yourself.) You were limping. We knew a car hit you and the driver didn’t stop to help you. But your fracture healed yet it left you limping.

A SECOND LOOK AT

ROXANNE BARCELO

Despicable Me 3 The movie’s third installment continues the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters -- Margo, Edith and Agnes -- and the Minions.

Joining Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig in Despicable Me 3 is Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winner Trey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenon South Park and the Broadway smash The Book of Mormon. Parker voices villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date.

Transformers: The Last Knight The Last Knight shatters the core myths of the Transformers franchise, and redefines what it means to be a hero as humans and Transformers are at war, and Optimus Prime is gone.

The key to saving humans’ future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving the world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg); Bumblebee; an English Lord (Anthony Hopkins); and an Oxford Professor (Laura Haddock).

The Mummy

Sultry singer-actress Roxanne Barcelo on the cover of FHM Philippine this June

And you were having difficulty moving your bowels then.

We brought you to the clinic where your spleen and cervix were removed kasi nabubulok na. (The organs were rotting.) You survived the surgery, babe.

We were so happy.

You had heartworm and we had that treated. You endured months of injections. But you survived that, too.

You had bacterial infection— something a senior like you is prone to— and you survived once again.

Sabi nga ni Doc Anthony Prado Basa, para kang pusa, ang dami mong buhay.

(As Doc Anthony Prado Basa said, you’re like a cat, you have many lives.)

Then you stopped eating and we learned you had hardened poop and hairball as big as a small frisbee in your colon. Despite your age, you survived the surgery.

You were in and out of the clinic but you stayed longer at “home,” you liked being at the adoption center, you liked watching the dogs and people pass by, you liked running around the garage and the garden, you liked simple things. Yes, simple things pleased you and made you smile.

And all this time, you were never free

of illness. Your life on the streets battered your body. But it failed to kill your love for the simple things in life, it never killed your love FOR LIFE ITSELF. This is my greatest lesson from you, my dearest one: Love life. Every moment is a treasure.

When we first met you, ang tapang mo! (You were aggressive.) You growled and snapped at us. Hirap kami bigyan ka ng pagkain. (We had difficulty giving you food.)

But we knew you just didn’t trust people, that people must have hurt you many times in the past, that you were not really aggressive, that you never intended to bite us. We knew you only wanted to protect yourself.

You would keep to a corner of your cage which you would hesitate to leave for a long time and we knew your cage became your sanctuary, a place to be left alone for once and be away from people who would hurt you or dogs as fearful as you who would fight with you for food out of hunger. You would snap at us to keep us away because you feared humans. But never, not once, did you bite any of us.

So we waited for you to trust us.

We gave you a bed and you enjoyed the softness of the mattress inside. We

gave you natural food which you liked so much or dry dog food with water which you can chew more easily, Dentastix, and liver or banana-oatmeal muffins and you started to believe we do not mean you harm.

The waiting paid off.

You started to warm up to us.

You started to lick our hand.

You smiled and smiled and smiled.

And finally, you allowed your human Ate Nicole Benedito, a Save ALL admin, to carry you.

And then you would walk towards Save ALL officers with that charming smile on your face every time they would go to the center.

And then you would greet me with a wagging tail and would even go round and round your cage or the garage of the adoption center in joy. That beautiful smile always made me so happy that we—Loribert Sobrio Bersabe, Nicole Benedito, Candy Galero and I—rescued you on July 27, 2015 in Don Antonio, Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

Eleven months have passed. Eleven months full of wonderful memories from a dog whose gentle face, soulful eyes, and beautiful smile captured our hearts.

About 12 days after your successful

Global megastar Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy.

From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.

The film also stars Sofia Boutella as the ancient queen of the unforgiving desert.

surgery, you were diagnosed with ehrlichia. Your body temperature went down, your creatinin and bun (these indicate the condition of the kidneys) levels went up, and your kidney was giving you too much pain.

When you were given a medicine to ease the pain, and when I was told your condition this afternoon... na wala na... na hindi ka na nag-re-respond and may neurological symptoms ka na (that you were no longer responding and had neurological symptoms already)... part of a song entitled Wild Flower kept playing in my mind..

“She’s faced the hardest times you can imagine...

Let her cry, for she’s a lady Let her dream, for she’s a child Let the rain fall down upon her She’s a free and gentle flower growing wild.

And if by chance that I should hold her Let me hold her for a time But if allowed just one possession I would pick her from the garden to be mine.”

My wildflower, my Holly, I love you so much.

Enjoy Heaven, dear. You deserve it.

-Nanay

E4

Showbiz

SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com

WELCOMING

THE MILLENNIAL

6

GIGANTIC

MOVIES

HITTING THE THEATRES IN

JUNE

THE CHOSEN ONE. Months after

speculation, official word is out that Liza Soberano is flying as the millennial Darna in the big screen adaptation of the legendary komiks character

By Nickie Wang

D

ARNA has been around for nearly seven decades now but she’s never appeared on the big screen with the kind of technology, at least in our generation’s standard, employed by the most advanced production houses across the world.

Who wouldn’t want to see Darna in high definition 3D or 4D or in an in-depth cinema experience offered by iMax? Nonetheless, the new Darna is being welcomed with rousing applause and great excitement. Hearing that Darna is flying again, is in itself a welcome news both for Mars Ravelo fans and the legion of rabid supporters of Liza Soberano.

Although everyone was glad that Liza was chosen to play the iconic role, a lot of people were no longer surprised. In fact, many believed that the teen star had been chosen a few months ago even before the announcement that Angel Locsin backed out to play Darna due to her worsening back injury.

In January, Soberano told Manila Standard that she’s preparing for a “very big project” that requires intense physical training. She couldn’t reveal the nature of the role but admitted she had already started having loop tests in preparation for the project.

Now, as the official word is out that showbiz’s one of the most beautiful faces will be playing the role of Darna, fans are curious about how the new Darna would look like – her costume, her physique, and her “angas,” the intimidating sophistication of a super heroine made popular

by Locsin in 2005 Darna TV series that aired on GMA 7.

A few days after the official announcement of anointing the Kapamilya star as the next local Wonder Woman, 19-year-old Soberano immediately kicked off her extensive training in prepa-

ration for the forthcoming movie. For the next few weeks, Liza will endure strenuous physical activities ranging from morning jogs to core workout, all with the help of a celebrity fitness trainer.

Since our screen hero now has a face, we all know that no matter how powerful Darna is, she can’t truly shine without the schemes of villains. According to sources, Anne Curtis will be playing Valentina, a role inspired by Medusa.

Curtis will be following in the footsteps of Celia Rodriguez, Pilar Pilapil, and Pilita Corales, who played the role in previous Darna movie versions.

Meanwhile, Iza Calzado has been cast as an undisclosed villain.

Both Curtis and Calzado are said to have been keeping fit in the past months to prepare for their roles in the project.

Another surprising name that is part of the project is that of Maricel Soriano, who will be playing the mother of Soberano’s character in the movie.

With this remarkable project, Soberano now joins the ranks of the country’s most celebrated actresses like Vilma Santos, Lorna Tolentino, Marian Rivera, Sharon Cuneta, Angel Locsin, and Regine Velasquez, who have previously played the coveted role.

The millennial version of Darna, which aims to introduce the character to a whole new generation of Filipinos, will be helmed by Erik Matti and is scheduled to be Star Cinema’s entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival happening later in the year.

THE summer movie season in the United States is usually very predictable but this year it’s going to be a big exception.

We are listing down 6 big movies that are poised to shape up 2017 to be a record-breaking year in movie history, with tons of sequels, origin stories, and event pictures.

Wonder Woman Who runs the world? Girl power is back on the big screen. Directed by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman is based on the DC Comics character of the same name and is the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe. Amazon Princess Diana who lives on the island meets American pilot Steve Trevor after a crash. He then tells her about the conflict in the outside world and leaves home to bring an end to the war. It stars the exciting screen tandem of Gal Gadot and Chris Pine.

Baywatch Look who’s bringing sexy back. Directed by Seth Gordon (Identity Thief, Horrible Bosses) gives global audience his version of the ‘90s TV phenomenon. The film, which is top billed

by Zac Efron, Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, and Jon Bass, is a 116-minute feature full of witty one-liners, over-the-top action scenes, and references to the original Baywatch television series and cast members’ previous movies (such as Efron’s High School Musical).

MCCOY AND ELISSE MAKING GOOD MUSIC TOGETHER FROM starring in a viral music video in September 2016, former PBB celebrity housemates and upand-coming love team Elisse Joson and McCoy de Leon are trying to conquer the airwaves with a song they recorded together.

The duo, known to their fans as McLisse, has recorded a single entitled “If We Fall In Love” and was released simultaneously on YouTube and Spotify yesterday.

Produced by Rox Santos under Star Music, the sweet ballad is their rendition of the Yeng Constantino and RJ Jimenez original hit.

“We decided to record ‘If We Fall In Love’ because it perfectly suits their love team. A lot of people are following their love team, and the song just fits the kind of kilig the fans feel

every time they see the two together,” said Santos.

Elisse recalled joking about having an album with McCoy back in their days inside the Pinoy Big Brother house during its “Lucky Season 7” edition.

And now, they have a single, an album is also currently in the works.

She also agreed with Santos’s observation on the song being a fitting “soundtrack” to her “love story” with McCoy. “When I read the lyrics, I said that na parang ang hirap sabihin na bagay pero ‘yung na-feel ko parang sakto sa’min,” Elisse giggled.

Hashtags member McCoy feels it’s a “coincidence” that their song is entitled as such.

“We still have a lot of questions regarding our love team. It’s a coincidence I guess. Kumbaga, hindi pa namin alam kung anong meron din kaya sakto rin ‘yung kanta,” he said.

Can We Still Be Friends?

On the local front, Star Cinema is fielding another romcom with Gerald Anderson and Arci Muñoz playing the lead. Can We Still Be Friends?, which begs the question “Can ex-lovers still be friends?” revolves around the story of Diego (Anderson) and Sam (Muñoz) whose relationship takes a rollercoaster ride from being lovers to exes, and then peers. Turn to E3