Manila Standard - 2017 June 20 - Tuesday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 126 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

3-nation anti-terror patrols get under way

By John Paolo Bencito INDONESIA, Malaysia and the Philippines began joint naval patrols in their region Monday as threats from extremist groups increase.

The “trilateral coordinated maritime patrol” was launched amid continuing battles between Philippine troops and Islamist gunmen loyal to the Islamic State group, who have seized part of the city of Marawi in Mindanao.

Indonesia’s military chief Gatot Nurmantyo said the patrols are timely as his country tries to stop any militants from Marawi escaping to Indonesia while posing as refugees.

The three neighbors agreed in Next page

REMEMBERING RIZAL. Manila Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada (left) leads the wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Shrine in Manila on Monday in commemoration of the 156th birth anniversary of the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Norman Cruz

Maute, ASG men using shabu—AFP

By Florante S. Solmerin

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OVERNMENT troops seized 11 kilos of highgrade shabu left by Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists who fled after a firefight Sunday in Marawi City, Capt.

Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command said Monday.

Petinglay said at least 11 onekilo packs of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), with a street Next page

Another ‘Marawi’ ruled out

By John Paolo Bencito and Florante S. Solmerin TERRORIST with links to the Islamic State will not be able to launch another major attack like they did in Marawi City, the military said Monday.

Following the arrest of three individuals believed to have links with the Maute group in Iloilo Sunday afternoon, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that authorities have taken steps to safeguard communities against the growing extremist threat in Mindanao.

“Well, there’s a possibility of one or two making it through.

But being able to do something on the scale of Marawi, we don’t think so,” Padilla said.

There couldn’t be anything like that. And that’s why we have strengthened our security along the borders and the areas where they could possibly use as avenues of escape,” Padilla said.

He added that the military is still verifying the identities of those arrested, but confirmed they came from Cagayan de Oro Next page City.

SC aspirants support Duterte’s martial law PACKETS OF SHABU. Army troopers count packets containing 11 kilos of the illegal drug ‘shabu’ recovered along with an ISIS flag from an Islamist

militants’ position during a press conference at the provincial capitol in Marawi on June 19, 2017. Hundreds of Islamist militants—supported by foreign fighters—rampaged through Marawi on May 23 waving black flags of the Islamic State group. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao to counter the attack, which he said was part of a plan by IS to establish a base in the country. AFP

NPA raids smack of opportunism, says Palace

By John Paolo Bencito MALACAÑANG on Monday tagged the New People’s Army (NPA) as opportunists after they ransacked a police station in Iloilo over the weekend even though peace negotiators on both sides said they would refrain from at-

tacking each other as a confidence-building measure.

“Although the attack was not in Mindanao, the act was opportunistic in nature and disregards the nature of the NDF declaration,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, referring to the communist National Democratic Front.

“We ask the NDF to call on their armed comrades on the ground to walk the talk and to show genuine sincerity on the confidencebuilding measure initiated by the government,” he added.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig.

Gen. Restituto Padilla also said it was clear the NPA objective was

to get more arms.

He also said the NPA forces knew the government defenses elsewhere were weakened because reinforcements were sent to Mindanao.

“One of the reasons they did the attack on Maasin [is that] many Next page

By Rey E. Requejo SUPREME Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez on Monday said there is no need for Congress to convene in a joint session, unless they intend to revoke President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation 216 placing the entire Mindanao under martial law.

Marquez offered this opinion when he and other aspirants for a looming vacancy in the Supreme Court faced the Judicial and Bar Council and were questioned about various legal issues.

“I don’t think there is a need for Congress to convene on President

Duterte’s martial law after receiving his report. Congress only needs to convene if they intend to revoke martial law,” Marquez told the seven-member JBC. Marquez, who was first to face the seven-member council during the public interview for the post to be vacated by retirement of Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes next month, was asked for his opinion on President Duterte’s declaration of martial law.

“The Constitution is very clear, the President can declare martial law and it is very clear that the SC can look into the declaration.

Next page

‘Passport deal must be voided’

Pump price cuts 2nd in two weeks

By Sandy Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A LAWYER on Monday urged Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to cancel the 10year, P39-billion contract with a private printing company to produce new Philippine passports, saying the paper being used may not pass the security standards Next page worldwide.

CASUALTIES. This combination of pictures created on June 19, 2017 shows photos released by the US Navy’s 7th Fleet of four of the seven sailors onboard the USS Fitzgerald who died in the June 16, 2017 collision with the container ship ACX Crystal off Japan’s Pacific coast.The US Navy on June 19, 2017, identified all seven sailors killed after their destroyer was partially flooded following the collision. From left: Shingo Alexander Douglass, Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan, Dakota Kyle Rigsby and Ngoc T Truong Huynh. (Story on A3) AFP

THE oil companies on Monday rolled back pump prices by as much as P0.70 per liter effective Tuesday following the continuing supply glut in the global oil market.

They cut the price of gasoline by P0.70 per liter, kerosene

by P0.15 per liter and diesel by Next page P0.10 per liter.

News

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TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solons dig deeper into RW attack

By Maricel V. Cruz

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AWMAKERS on Monday vowed to pass a bill that will strengthen the internal security units of casinos by having those registered with the Philippine National Police Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies.

The committees on public order and safety, games and amusements and tourism led, respectively, by Reps. Romeo Acop of Antipolo City, Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City, and Lucy Torres-Gomez of Leyte will resume Wednesday their probe into the Resorts World Manila tragedy.

Thirty-seven people died of smoke inhalation on June 2, 2017 when a gunman entered the casino and set fire on the tables before locking himself in a room on the fifth floor and committed suicide.

The committees expect the presence of RWM chairman Da-

vid Chua Ming Huat after he was subpoenaed upon the motion of House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, who was piqued by Chua’s absence in last week’s hearing.

Fariñas said Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez would have wanted businessman and RW owner Andrew Tan to appear in the hearing but it turned out that Chua is the chairman of the corporation.

During the two hearings, the lawmakers agreed that the tragedy had put the competence of RWM’s internal security under question.

Acop proposed to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to

register the internal security units of all licensed casino operators with the PNP-SOSIA. “If we come up with legislation, would Pagcor not disagree with this?” Acop said.

Pagcor vice president Roderick Consolacion supported Acop’s proposal.

“Definitely not, your honor,” he said.

Acop, a lawyer and former head of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, also asked about the firearms inside room 510 of RWM. Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon of Muntinlupa City had inquired about the supposed misencounter

between the PNP Special Weapons and Tactics team and WM Special Reaction Team leader Bernard Cajigas.

Biazon cited the RWM manual on the “procedures that are to be followed by its personnel whenever law enforcement personnel enter its premises during a crisis.”

Biazon said RWM should perform its responsibility of conducting drills in accordance with what was written in its manual.

“If they had been doing their jobs in training their personnel and drilling them properly, then that misencounter would not have happened,” he said.

Solstice: Longest day on June 21 in Batanes THE longest day in the Philippines will take place during the solstice on June 21, with Batanes experiencing the longest duration of daylight, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

On that day sunrise in Basco, Batanes’ capital, will occur at 5:21 a.m. and sunset will take place at 6:42 p.m.

That means the daytime in Batanes on that date will be 13 hours and 21 minutes long, said Dario dela Cruz, head of Pagasa’s Space Sciences and Astronomy Section.

“Batanes folk will have some extra time for day activities,” he said.

Pagasa said daytime in Basco was shorter during this year’s March equinox, when the duration of the day and night were almost equal as sunrise occurred at 6:04 a.m. and sunset at 6:11 p.m..

Solstices happen twice a year: Around June 21 when the sun is

directly above the Tropic of Cancer and around Dec. 21 when it is over the Tropic of Capricorn.

Both tropics, the equator as well as the Arctic and Antarctic circles are the five major imaginary latitude lines circling Earth.

Batanes is the Philippine area nearest the Tropic of Cancer.

In the Northern Hemisphere where the Philippines is, the solstice in June is known as the summer solstice and it marks there the year’s longest day.

That solstice is called the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere and marks the year’s shortest day there.

While daytime will be longest in Batanes during the solstice on June 21, Dela Cruz said, Tawi-Tawi in the south will experience the shortest day.

He said sunrise in Tawi-Tawi’s Batu-batu area on that day will occur at 5:49 a.m. while sunset will take place at 6:14 p.m., resulting in a daytime of 12.5 hours only. PNA

SC...

something is being done [about EJKs],” he said.

Only eight of the 12 nominees for the vacancy faced the JBC since the four other aspirants - CA Associate Justices Japar Dimaampao and Amy Lazaro Javier, Centro Escolar University law school vice dean Rita Linda Ventura-Jimeno and Pasig RTC Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan--were already interviewed for the two previous vacancies from the retirement of Associate Justices Jose Perez and Arturo Brion in December last year.

The JBC, the seven-man council constitutionally tasked to screen nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman, is chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The two ex-officio members are Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for the executive and Senator Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali on a term-sharing seat for the legislative.

The regular members of JBC are Gutierrez for retired magistrates, lawyer Jose Mejia for the academe, lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and retired Judge Toribio Ilao for the private sector.

In the Palace, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said there would be no repeat of the human rights abuses committed under martial law during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, after Duterte said he plans to impose a “Marcos-copycat” martial law.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig.

Gen. Restituto Padilla said the President may have been speaking in jest, or referring to the “breadth and depth” of Marcos’ blanket implementation of martial law.

“He may had been very serious about tackling and dealing with the problems at hand and one of the solutions could be martial law but not to the extent of the abuses and we can be sure of that because of the previous guidance that he has already given,” Padilla said. With Macon RamosAranta and John Paolo Bencito

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This is a fair issue,” Marquez said when asked by regular member and retired SC Justice Angelina SandovalGutierrez about his views on the President’s proclamation of martial law.

Marquez, who rose from the ranks in the judiciary over the last 26 years, was endorsed by the Philippine Judge’s Association. He said he believes the Court should dismiss the petitions seeking to compel Congress to convene jointly and review the martial law proclamation.

Marquez said he also agreed with the majority decisions of the Supreme Court allowing former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to post bail in his pork barrel plunder case and allowing the burial of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani.

Seven other nominees--Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. and Associate Justices Ramon Bato, Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang, Stephen Cruz, Ramon Paul Hernando and Jose Reyes-were also interviewed by JBC. Reyes was also asked about martial law proclamation, an issue pending before the SC. He said he believes it is a power given to the discretion of the Chief Executive.

“When President Duterte declared it, he must have in possession sufficient factual basis which we do not have,” he said.

But Reyes said he would grant petitions seeking to convene Congress to review martial law.

Carandang declined to offer her opinion on the topic.

Bruselas, who was asked about a complaint filed against President Duterte before the International Criminal Court over extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs, said he believed the ICC has no jurisdiction over the matter, which the government has acted upon.

“I do not think the government is unwilling, nor is it unable to resolve extrajudicial killings. The fact that there is a Senate investigation means

Pump...

From A1 “This is to reflect the movements in the international petroleum market,” Seaoil Philippines said in its advisory.

On June 13, the oil firms cut the price of kerosene by P1.20 per liter, diesel by P0.95 per liter and gasoline by P0.80 per liter.

The ongoing oil drilling in the US has weighed down on global world oil prices despite the production cut implemented by members and non-members

of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Opec and non-Opec countries recently approved the extension of production cuts for another nine months to support oil prices amid the supply glut, but that has failed to make an impact on prices The Philippines imports over 90 percent of its fuel requirements and is merely a price taker in the global oil market.

Domestic pump prices are adjusted weekly to reflect market developments in the world oil market.

ON GUARD. Members of the Philippine Army onboard a speed boat patrol a lake near the frontline in Marawi City on June 19, 2017 as the armed conflict between government troops and Islamist militants enters its fourth week. AFP

Maute...

From A1

value of between P110 million and P250 million, were recovered during clearing operations after the firefight.

Members of Alfa Company led by 1st Lt. Emerson Tapang of the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion also recovered four high-powered firearms.

“Soldiers spotted men in black emerging from a cluster of houses that prompted troops to maneuver.

The terrorists put up a fight but fled while carrying items taken from one of the houses,” Petinglay said.

Since they began battling the terrorists who overran Marawi City on May 23, troops have found sachets of shabu in terrorist positions, she said.

“Troops in the frontline say they are facing drug-crazed individuals who are evidently high on illegal drugs,” Petinglay said.

Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez said the recovery Sunday was the largest so far since fighting started in Marawi.

“This strengthens our findings that these terrorists are using illegal drugs which according to Muslim religious leaders is haram (forbidden). These Maute and ASG terrorists are not Muslims. They have violated every tenet of the teachings in the Holy Quran,” he said.

On June 5, Marines found P79 million in cash and checks from a house abandoned by Maute terrorists.

“Aside from using and peddling illegal drugs, Maute and ASG terrorists are also using mosques as sniper posi-

tions, logistics hubs and safe havens for the command and control of their core group,” Galvez said.

Ground troops reporting to Brig.

Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said the terrorists were also using mosques as battle positions and drug dens.

“We condemn the acts of the Maute and ASG in using mosques as battle positions as we deplore their use of illegal drugs that is equally evil as both are un-Islamic,” he said.

The Palace said the recovery of 11 kilos of shabu on Sunday validated President Rodrigo Duterte’s statements that the narcotics trade fueled the ongoing siege in Marawi.

“We assume that that is so,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

These are among the firearms that have been confiscated and they are not ordinary firearms at all but highpowered firearms that can fire from afar, hit targets and destroy them,” he said.

“This is indicative of the length of planning that went into this operation...[that] they were able to get this number of firearms and bring them to the area of operations over a period of time,” he added.

Some improvised bombs were also confiscated.

An intelligence report obtained by the Manila Standard said the Abu Sayyaf Group has plans to launch a series of bomb attacks in General Santos City, Lanao del Sur and the cities of Zamboanga and Lamitan.

The report said that just recently the ASG sent some of its men in General Santos City to conduct “casing and recruitment” activities.

“New recruits will be utilized to execute said plan and probable targets include places of crowd convergence,” the report said.

The ASG led by sub-commander Isnilon Hapilon, the ISIS-recognized leader in Southeast Asia, was actively involved in the planning and execution by the Maute group of the Marawi siege.

The military and police have stepped up intelligence operations on the ASG amid reports that it was targeting another wave of kidnappings in Palawan.

It said one of the places in Palawan the ASG was targeting is Brooke’s Point.

“They could be targeting foreign nationals at beach resorts in the area to generate large ransom,” it said.

Also on Monday, jail officials said one of the 107 inmates freed by the Maute terrorists surrendered to to jail officials in Quezon City.

The escapee was identified as Mohaderin Banding Acampong, who is facing a murder case. Jail officials said Acampong stayed in Novaliches, Quezon City for weeks before he chose to surrender. With Rio N. Araja

won’t have to endure being barred from their ports of destination.”

Guevarra said he was able to get a sample of the unreadable paper for the passports from his contacts in Asian Productivity OrganizationPrinting Unit (APO-PU), which has been authorized by Foreign Affairs to make the passports.

The lawyer brought with him a sample of the paper and compared it with the old passport, explaining the security defects of the new paper being made by United Graphic Expression Corp. (Ugec), a private printing company, was also being investigated

by Congress.

APO-PU is a government-controlled corporation.

Guevarra said Ugec had entered into a 10-year contract with APO-PU on P3.9 billion per year for the production of 150,000 to 200,000 new passports and renewals annually.

“I have a number of communications with comrades from the Asian Productivity Organization, which is one of three recognized government printers,” he said.

“They have disclosed to me the danger travelers and Overseas Filipino Workers will soon be facing arising from the anomalous outsourcing and subcontracting by the government of our passports.

“The new passport paper won’t even pass in the passport reading machines locally and internationally. In exposing this, we would like to prevent the government from going through with the printing of this, with the use of this new passport paper.

“The previous printers of our passports should have been either the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Asian Productivity Organization-Production Unit and the National Printing Office.”

“The reason why this is animated by anomaly, by outright graft and corruption lies in the fact that even the former DFA Secretary Perfecto Yasay considered this as animated by the Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.” Guevarra said APO-PU had claimed that it would be in charge of printing the Philippine passports exclusively.

3-nation...

From A1 May 2016 to conduct the joint patrols and share intelligence, after a series of kidnappings of foreigners by the Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist group who beheaded several victims after ransoms were not paid.

“The series of piracy attacks accompanied by kidnappings that occurred frequently in the Sulu [Sea] waters have had a huge security impact on surrounding coastal countries... and have pushed us to conduct a coordinated patrol among three countries,” said Nurmantyo when the joint patrol was launched at the Indonesian island of Tarakan off Borneo island.

The three countries also set up maritime command centers -- in Tarakan for Indonesia, Tawau for Malaysia and Bongao for the Philippines -- to collect information and coordinate the patrols.

This will enable the closest ship from any nation to be sent to answer distress calls and allow for hot pursuit, Nurmantyo said.

The launch was attended by the three countries’ defense ministers and marked by an Indonesian navy sail-past and a fly-past of Sukhoi fighter jets.

The Armed Forces on Monday urged border officials to strengthen immigration controls to stop jihadists from using the country’s southern backdoor to gain entry and to reinforce Islamic State-inspired terrorists in Marawi City.

“I think we need to fortify and strengthen our immigration procedures. Because that is our first line of defense [against foreign jihadists],” Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said in a Palace news briefing.

“We likewise recommend that we review the Human Security Act to check what we can do to prevent the entry of these individuals,” he added.

The announcements came following a meeting with Defense officials from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia for the launch of joint sea patrols to curb piracy and terror activities in the high seas.

Two Indonesians and a Malaysian suspected of planning to cross over by sea in the Malaysian state of Sabah were arrested Friday by Malaysian authorities amid reports that they intended to join Islamic State-linked fighters battling military forces in Marawi.

Counter-terrorism officials, who are on heightened alert against possible militant attacks, arrested the three men a day earlier in Sandakan, Malaysia—where there are ferry services to the nearby Mindanao.

Malaysian Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the police’s counterterrorism team seized three knives from the Sabahan and two Indonesians who were arrested. With AFP

NPA...

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Another...

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This was the first time that authorities received a report that persons allegedly linked to the Maute group were monitored and apprehended outside of Mindanao.

The military earlier admitted that some members of the Maute group were able to slip past the Marawi City blockade and were able to escape to Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro. During the 21-day siege, the government has rescued 1,637 civilians, seized 250 firearms and killed 257 terrorists.

At least 62 soldiers were killed while thousands of people have been displaced since the siege started last month.

In the same news briefing, Padilla said soldiers also seized more than 20 high-powered firearms last Saturday in Marawi City.

“You may not be aware of the nature of the confiscated firearms.

‘Passport...

From A1 “In the very near future, if these new passports are used we will be facing a lot of Filipino workers and even travelers who may be detained and eventually repatriated to the Philippines,” said Argee Guevarra, an AntiCorruption Activist and Convenor of Action for Good Governance during the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum.

“I hope by this new information we could call on the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs to look into this and hasten his decision on the cancellation of this contract.”

Guevarra said Cayetano had told him during a meeting that he would review his request.

“But his review will be in the next few months. The [passports are] scheduled to be issued in the next few months,” Guevarra said.

“If you could act fast enough, you should order a stop to the printing so that Filipino workers and travelers

of our troops went to Mindanao.

That’s why we say it’s very opportunistic on their part,” Padilla said.

At least 50 suspected members of the New People’s Army ransacked a police station in Maasin, Iloilo province on Sunday morning, taking away several firearms from the police station including eight M16 rifles, four Glock 9mm pistols, five handheld radios, a base radio, and two laptops. The rebels also took P25,000 from the police station and a patrol car.

The NPA Coronacion “Waling-Waling” Chiva Command in Panay issued a statement confirming the attack, with its spokesperson, Ka Julio Montana, accusing the municipal police force of extorting from small vendors and allowing the proliferation of illegal drugs and gambling.

Abella, however, questioned the timing of the NPA attacks, coming as they did as both sides were discussing a ceasefire.

Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza said that they will be pushing for a nationwide ceasefire amid the government’s resolve to end the longest communist insurgency in Asia.

“The NPA attack in Maasin, Iloilo and elsewhere must be dealt with accordingly and decisively by the AFP and the PNP with the cooperation of civilian agencies and the affected communities,” Dureza said in a statement.

“It is disheartening to note that such attacks provide a negative impact in our mutual commitment with the NDF to provide that enabling environment conducive to the continuation of peace negotiations with them.”

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TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Fil-Am dies in collision of US Navy, PH ships

CA justices unperturbed despite disbarment threat

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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A FILIPINO-AMERICAN was among the seven fatalities of the collision between a US Navy destroyer and a Philippineflagged vessel off Yokosuoka, Japan.

This surfaced despite an announcement lby the Department of Foreign Affairs over the weekend that no Filipino died from the incident.

The Fil-American crew was identified as Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan, 23 years old, who hailed from Pasig City and is currently a resident of Chula Vista in San Diego, California.

Sibayan was one of the sailors trapped in the flooded hold of the destroyer Fitzgerald.

In a tribute written for Sibayan in the San Diego Union Tribune, the Fil-American sailor was described as witty and the kind of person that often makes everybody laugh.

“There was never a time that Carlos wasn’t making people laugh,” Sibayan’s fellow cadet in Chaparral High School’s Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Chase Cornils said.

“He always had a cheerful attitude and a smile on his face. When I think of Carlos, I can only remember an extremely happy guy who was willing to help all of his friends,” he added.

The news agency said that Sibayan and another sailor from San Diego, Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25. Yeoman 3rd Class, were among the fatalities of the collision.

The agency said that both will be remembered as brave and kind men who loved their country, their shipmates and their Navy.

The USS Fitzgerald collided with a Philippine-flagged merchant vessel on Sunday at 2:30 a.m. (Manila Time) within 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka.

The DFA had reported that no Filipino was hurt in the collision.

“Further to our earlier statement, the PHL Embassy in Tokyo has been advised

by Japanese authorities that there are no Filipino casualties so far from the collision that happened at 2:30 a.m. today about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan,” the DFA’s statement said on Saturday.

Atienza opposes bill renaming Philippines

By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has frowned on a measure renaming the Philippines as a way to severe its colonial bonds with Spain.

Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza said the bill that Magdalo Party-List Rep. Gary Alejano will have a hard time getting the approval of Congress, as this “will be like erasing our history.”

“I am not in favor with the idea of renaming the Philppines. We cannot change our historical identity by erasing our centuriesold ties with Spain by changing our name,” Atienza said.

Atienza said the name Philippines— whatever goes with it—is something that every Filipino should be proud of.

“We should in fact be proud of our heroic struggle to remove our yoke of being a Spanish colony and as a source of strength in our continuing struggle to establish our national identity. We succeeded in founding a liberated Philippines free from foreign domination and occupation,” Atienza said.

Atienza said renaming the Philippines as embodied in Alejano’s House Bill 5867, Atienza would only erase the “heroic struggle of our forefathers and our successful struggle to strengthen our nation’s sovereignty and national pride.”

He also cautioned Alejano about the latter’s effort to call for the creation of a commission that would conduct a comprehensive study for an appropriate name for the nation.

“We must be deliberate in our effort to impress to the world that we Filipinos have our independent foreign policy that should earn respect and admiration from all nations not by changing names but with our capacity to establish a Philippines that will be respected by all nations,” Atienza said.

“We have succeeded in establishing a nation that is not dependent on anyone but with our very own national efforts to give our people the kind of life everyone deserves,” he added.

Alejano had said that he filed HB 5867 or “An Act Constituting a Geographic Renaming Commission to Rename Our Country” for the country to be able to “move forward.”

of habeas corpus and show cause order against House sergeant-at-arms Roland Detabali.

“What we did was our duty,” he said, HE magistrates of the Court of Appeals who orwhen asked about Alvarez’s threat to dered the release of the six Ilocos Norte officials abolish the CA. detained by the House of Representatives for con“If we falter because of some threats, that would show our weakness as magtempt on Monday stood pat on their decision despite istrates.And as I have said a while ago, threats from Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that he would let justice be done though the heavens file disbarment case against them and to abolish the ap- fall. If we are wrong, they could always go up to the Supreme Court,” said pellate court.

Cruz, who is set to face the Judicial and Bar Council to apply for a vacancy Associate Justice Stephen Cruz, Fourth Division handling the case, in the Supreme Court to be left by the one of the three members of the CA said they are standing by their writ retirement of Associate Justice Bienve-

By Rey E. Requejo

nido Reyes next month.

Cruz said he would also welcome any disbarment case that the Speaker is reportedly planning against them. He explained that they issued the writ “to determine really if the detention was legal.”

“We want the bodies to be presented to the court and the person who is detaining them, and determine whether it is legal. Because if it is legal, we will dismiss the petition,” he said.

As for the release order, he said “that was pursuant to a case, Enrile vs Salazar wherein persons subject of writ of habeas corpus, while the merits are being determined can be released on bail.”

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Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Basking in the glow

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T the commemoration of national hero’s 156th birth anniversary Monday in Calamba, Laguna, Philippine National Police chief DirectorGeneral Ronald dela Rosa claimed to be a descendant of Jose Rizal.

One of the hero’s grandmothers was named Inez dela Rosa, he said. He believed she was their connection.

Love of country was a trait he got from his ancestor, he added.

Mr. Dela Rosa is a man known for cracking jokes, so we don’t really know whether

Adelle Chua, Editor

he even actually believes his claim or if it was only something he drummed up as guest speaker for the occasion.

We can appreciate, however, that many politicians got to where they are not because of some prior achievement or proof

of competence but because they basked in the glow of their kin, sometimes living but most conveniently dead.

What further example do we need than the previous president, Benigno Aquino III, who suddenly became a serious presidential contender when his mother, the former President Corazon Aquino, died of cancer in the year before the polls?

Mrs. Aquino herself

reaped the benefits of being the widow of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. who was assassinated in 1983.

Not to look any further from this administration is Vice President Leni Robredo, who became popular upon the death of her husband, the former Naga City mayor Jesse Robredo, who died in a plane crash in 2012 when he was secretary of the Interior and Local Government.

There are many

other examples.

It appears Filipinos believe leadership traits can be transferred like magic from the dead kin to the living. It appears, too, that no matter how many instances we have been proved wrong, we continue to believe this yarn and keep electing strangers with familiar names into office.

This is also why others not blessed with prominent kin attach themselves to

those they perceive could boost their stock. Look at the personalities that swarm around whoever is in power, for instance, or those who abandon their party affiliations when it becomes less than convenient for them.

There is a reason Rizal remains a national hero and martyr—and he did this on his own, not by brandishing a famous last name or cozying up to some famous figure.

Oral arguments on martial law

Wonder Women LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES “THE Wonder Women,” one unabashed admirer called them recently—that collection of female politicians who have made it their business to be on the wrong side of President Rodrigo Duterte by repeatedly calling him out on practically every issue. And they were all over the place yesterday, cluttering social media news feeds with their antics and statements, making you, yes, wonder if something is afoot involving these super-heroines of the Yellow persuasion.

On top of the list, all the way from Los Angeles, California, is Vice President Leni Robredo, in La-La Land to attend a $500-aplate fundraiser for her pet projects. Robredo is hands-down the winner of the long gown

competition in a dark blue number reminiscent of the outfits of Imelda Marcos, the Iron Butterfly herself, as she smiles in photographs while hobnobbing with the crème de la crème of the Fil-Am West Coasters whom she dunned for donations.

You’ve come a long way, baby, as the old cigarette commercial said. Indeed, Robredo has leveled up from the lowly “lugaw” that she used to push before the 2016 elections.

If her filings with the Commission on Elections are to be believed, the rice porridge gimmick was such a lucrative fund-raising offering that she was able to collect hundreds of millions of pesos and end up a heartbeat away from the presidency. So why not bring the same business model, mutatis mutandis, to LA and raise greenbacks instead?

Leni’s latest sojourn to the land of Hillary and Loida raised questions not only about the timing of her visit, since

everyone knows that there’s a war going on in Marawi City.

The visit also made people wonder (that word, again) what

No matter what they do and no matter how noble their professed plans, they never seem to win the people over.

Robredo needs the money for, since no elections are in sight.

Of course, all the poor, hardscrabble Duterte supporters who have been clucking their disapproval on Facebook will

probably never receive a reply retically, with congressional from Madama Vice President. approval, martial law can go Let them eat their lugaw, for “unli.” pete’s sake.

But Hontiveros already got into trouble recently because of *** her understanding of what the Then there’s Senator Risa Hon- 1987 Constitution provides betiveros, who advised Duterte fore any martial law proclamayesterday that “[t]here is no such tion can be issued. Hontiveros thing as an indefinite martial law.” got so tangled up in making a In a text message to reporters, distinction between rebellion Hontiveros quipped: “Walang unli and invasion, which she first [unlimited] martial law.” attempted in a television interAgain, Hontiveros seems view, that she eventually just to have joined an intellectual said she was in favor of whatknife fight armed only with a ever Duterte was doing to put toothpick. She seems to be say- down the takeover of Marawi ing—against all evidence to the City by the IS-inspired Maute contrary—that Duterte cannot gang. declare martial law once again But give Hontiveros a litafter the 60-day period for im- tle credit from attempting a posing military rule expires. comeback. Although, like her This is so laughable that it previous experience in definnormally shouldn’t need fur- ing rebellion and invasion, I ther comment. After all, what wonder (yes, wonder) if she’s the 1987 Constitution merely not setting herself up for more says is that the president, once grief. the 60-day martial law period “Unli” grief, if I may say so. expires, may go to Congress Turn to A5 to seek an extension, so theo-

THE Supreme Court last week conducted for three days oral arguments on the three consolidated petitions assailing the constitutionality of Proclamation No. 216, declaring martial law in the entire Mindanao area.

The three consolidated petitions were filed by opposition lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, local Mindanao leaders led by lumad leader Eufemia Campos Cullamat and a group of women from Marawi led by Norkaya Mohamad.

At the onset of the oral arguments, Lagman, upon questioning

by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, said that there is no sufficient factual basis that warrants the implementation of martial law in the entire Mindanao region. Lagman stated that some of the factual bases as contained in the Proclamation and Executive Report are inaccurate and/or outright false. Assuming, he said that the first element of rebellion—rising and taking up of arms by the Maute Group against the government—may be present, the second element, i.e., the culpable purpose of rebellion, is absent. He insisted that there is no actual rebellion since the second element is not present. He likewise clarified that in case there is conflict in the decisions of Congress and the Supreme Court as to the factual basis of the declaration, the decision of the latter shall prevail.

Upon interpellation by Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on the territorial coverage of martial law, Lagman said that there is no actual rebellion in other provinces of Mindanao which would warrant the exercise of the extraordinary power of martial law in the entire Mindanao area. He noted that under the Constitution, there must be an actual rebellion for martial law to be declared. Public safety must also be compromised by that rebellion, as there have been ongoing rebellions for many decades which have not required the imposition of martial law.

During his turn for questioning, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said that martial law “should have clear operational guidelines because it’s not simple declaration but, rather, it has real effects.” Leonen said that the SC has the power to review the declaration and should not give full deference to the chief executive and dismiss the petitions on technicalities.

Marlon Manuel, legal counsel of a group of women from Marawi, who also argued for the petitioners, insisted that the military forces can quell the ongoing atrocities in Marawi without the need for Proclamation 216. He asserted that “Under the 1987 Constitution, martial law must be an instrument of last resort.

If there is a remedy less severe than Turn to A5

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Opinion

THE President’s health is always a matter of national concern and interest. It is also an issue of national security, whether the President likes it or not.

Thus, when people did not see Mr. Duterte for almost a week —he even missed Independence Day celebrations—speculation about his health arose.

The excuse was that the President had to take time off because of his brutal schedule. That’s a fact—being president is indeed a stressful, exhausting job.

But whether Mr. Duterte was ill or just resting is not the case.

To end all speculation, would it really be so much trouble if Malacañang issued a medical bulletin on the President’s health?

regard for what is actually happening in Mindanao.

Are the justices out of touch with reality?

The fact that the ISIS is already here with foreign jihadists already joining the war is worrisome.

It is so easy to recruit young people from Muslim communities. All they need to do is give arms and some cash to them.

This has a lot of appeal, especially among the poverty-stricken.

I believe that martial law in Mindanao should be extended to enable government forces to prevent the ISIS from putting up sleeper cells.

*** In my six decades as a jour*** nalist, I have heard some of the The Islamic State-inspired most ridiculous statements out siege of Marawi City by the of the mouths of members of combined Maute Group, Abu Congress. An example would Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic be “What are we in power for?”

Freedom Fighters and oth- uttered by Senator Jose Avelino. er Moro groups is definitely The late House Speaker Ramon spreading.

Mitra said his colleagues would In fact, some Maute fighters enact legislation if you gave have already them a piece of left Marawi toilet paper. He City disguised said this in exas evacuees. asperation.

The terrorists They have reBut nothing portedly gone want to expand can compare to to the cities of to other cities.

Speaker PantaIligan, Cagayan leon Alvarez’s de Oro, Cotaarrogance. He bato, Zamboanbranded several ga and even Court of ApDavao. peals justices as idiots, and even Who knows if they have set said the CA was a mere creation up camps already in Visayas and of Congress. Does he think he is even Luzon? Isn’t this the goal above the law? of the terrorists—to establish He also prevailed upon his a caliphate in the Philippines, colleagues to file a petition for with Isnilon Hapilon as the first disbarment of the three justices, emir? who asked him to release the six This Friday, June 23, the siege employees of the Ilocos Norte will turn a month old. The gov- provincial government. Is this ernment has not liberated Mara- because his ally, Ilocos Norte wi. Military intelligence has at- Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, is having tested that the terrorists seem to political trouble with the goverhave endless stocks of arms and nor, Imee Marcos? ammunition. They also know how to hide from government *** forces. This only means the I am surprised why the Marawi siege had ben planned government peace panel talkfor some time now. ing peace with the commuThe question now is wheth- nist insurgents are still bent er the Marawi siege has been on meeting with the National known by other Muslim rebels. Democratic Front. They know That remains to be seen. that the communists cannot be There is also speculation that trusted. Take for instance that even if the government liberates attack on a police station in Marawi, the terrorists will make Maasin, Iloilo. their hub in other Mindanao citCommunist leader Jose Ma. ies.

Sison already said that the NDF can no longer give orders to the *** NPA because the latter is ruled If some of the Supreme Court by new commanders. If this is justices are not convinced that the case, why continue with the the siege of Marawi is not an act peace talks at all? of rebellion, they must be naive.

Mr. President, you are just They sit in their comfortable air- wasting time and resources talkconditioned chambers without ing to these communists.

Wonder...

From A4 *** And last but not the least, all the way from her detention cell in Camp Crame, we have the most assiduous handwritten letter-writer in the land, Senator Leila de Lima. In the senator’s latest outburst, she declares that she never knew that Duterte would turn out to be so “vindictive.”

“I never, for a single moment, ever imagined that he would be this vindictive,” the famous detainee said. “I never anticipated that I would be imprisoned, ever. I was [justice] secretary. I was putting people behind bars. Now, I am here.”

Unfortunately for De Lima, victimhood doesn’t become her. As she implied, she was the one “victimizing” people by throwing the book at them —people like former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Chief Justice Renato Corona and even the two former senators with whom she now shares a prison compound.

I wonder if De Lima has

asked herself why, if she is such a martyr, she cannot get the people to sympathize with her. Yes, I wonder if it’s not vindictiveness on the part of Duterte, as De Lima claims, but karmic justice putting in a quick appearance and reminding her that you can’t always be on top.

De Lima attributes her incarceration to vindictiveness because she never mentions that she is locked up, as the charge sheets say, because of her alleged involvement with illegal drug syndicates. And that the President who threw her in jail was elected into because he pledged to do something about the problem of illegal drugs; it was De Lima’s old boss who made political vendetta his foremost priority, with Leila was his chief implementor.

All these wonderful women.

Makes you wonder why no matter what they do and no matter how noble their professed plans, they can never seem to win the people over.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Airports

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

ISIS won’t stop in Marawi

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR I LOVE the sight of airports, especially at the end of a long flight.

If I’m sleeping through the touchdown, I’m always happy to wake to the sight of the familiar jetway and terminal, and not, say, a set of pearly gates flanked by winged angels with harps—or, who knows, a bunch of evil-looking dudes with horns and pitchforks. You can never be sure where you’ll end up.

One of my memorable flights—one where I really thought I’d end up in either of the two scenarios above—was many years ago, when I flew into Denver from New York for a lender’s conference on the city’s plan to build a new airport to replace the old and cramped facility at Stapleton.

Sure enough, we ran into one of those Rocky Mountain blizzards as we were approaching Stapleton.

The plane began heaving and bucking like a rodeo bronco, and it didn’t help that my seatmate was a retired US Navy flyer who insisted on regaling me with war stories about planes crashing and burning up.

It was all white snow outside, zero visibility, and I was painfully aware that this was also what the pilots were seeing through their windshield as they tried to land the plane amid the Colorado mountain peaks, blind and guided only by instruments.

Needless to say, this white-knuckle experience convinced all the bankers on the plane about the dire need to replace Stapleton, and so, a couple of years later, voila! Denver had its brand-new airport, today the largest

airport by land area in the US as well as one of the busiest hubs there. *** Luckily, we don’t have to worry about blizzards here. Our real issue when it comes to airports is the sheer lack of them, considering not only our overloaded international gateway in Manila (which I still maintain should be renamed Manila International Airport and not Ninoy Aquino International Airport), but also out in the provinces where airports should be driving tourism and general economic growth.

Naia accounts for nearly 90 percent of all domestic passengers and over 80 percent of international passengers.

Last year it served about 39.5 million passengers, or 30 percent more than its design capacity of 31 million a year.

Clearly, not just our tourism growth, but even human life, is at risk here from this under-capacity.

By contrast, Clark handled only about 25 percent of its 4 million passenger capacity. The two runways are extra sturdy, thanks to the Americans, but they’re also designed for quick-takeoff military aircraft. At only 400 meters long, they are still way shorter than the ideal length of one kilometer, especially for today’s super-stretch passenger planes. And of course, as people who’ve used Clark will tell you, the airport terminal could stand a whole lot of improvement.

Thus, full deployment of Clark as an international gateway, together with capacity rebalancing between NAIA and Clark, are obviously the very first order of the day for our transport planning officials.

At NAIA, scrapping the shorter intersecting runway will actually increase its capacity. And at Clark,

we’re looking at no less than a new passenger terminal and, down the road, a 3.2-kilometer long third runway.

Of course, capacity rebalancing between both airports won’t be possible without fast passenger and cargo interconnections between the two. This calls for some kind of high-speed rail link—something the aborted Northrail project was intended to be—or else some cheaper and lower-tech variant that could be quickly built, such as a long-distance bus rapid transit scheme that could utilize the median strip along NLEX. *** But there are also other fixes that need to be made to the country’s airport infrastructure, not just the gateways.

One is the installation of a modern Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system at Naia. This will ensure on-time, safer, and more efficient flights. It’s expected to be completed this year-end.

Another is installation of night landing capabilities at all of our provincial airports. Nineteen have already been completed and another nine are ongoing. By enabling more night-time flights, this also helps to decongest Naia (and, later, Clark) where most of these flights originate and terminate.

A third initiative is building more international airports to accommodate more point-to-point international visitors to our major tourism destinations, further also relieving Naia.

Expected to be completed by next year are ongoing projects in Legazpi, Albay; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Panglao, Bohol; and Mactan, Cebu.

With all this flurry of activity,

what will have to take a backseat for now are ambitious proposals from the private sector for brand new mega-airports around Metro Manila.

One proposal, from San Miguel, was to build a P700-billion “aerotropolis” spanning 2,500 hectares in Bulacan.

Another, from a group led by the Sy family, was a P1.3-trillion proposal to reclaim about 2,500 hectares offshore from Sangley Point, Cavite. In lieu of this proposal, government will instead spend only P600-700 million in order to redevelop the existing Sangley facility to handle turboprops and general aviation traffic that presently utilize Naia. Again, decongestion is the name of the game. *** Government plans to finance all these airport projects on a pay-as-yougo basis, from tax revenues and the general budget. This has raised a minor flap among adherents of private-public partnerships, who are upset that government discarded pending proposals to build multiple provincial airports on a package basis.

These PPP loyalists raise many valid points, including the superior quality and inherent self-checking nature of private proposals. But at the end of the day, they can’t get away from the dismal record of PPP under PNoy, who only finished one such project per year.

They may complain that, like Clark Airport, they need a longer runway from which to take off. But, fairly or not, sometimes it’s more bother to build out that runway than it is to simply switch to smaller and more nimble aircraft so we get where we want to go, faster.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Grace Poe’s newest publicity stunt HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA APPARENTLY aware that her fouryear stint at the Senate has been pointless and lackluster, Senator Grace Poe has decided to ride on the current issues of the day by making motherhood statements disguised as calls for a congressional investigation of anomalies.

Several days ago, Poe called for an investigation of the proliferation of fake news in the media. Poe’s call came in the wake of a recent revelation that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had less-than-accurate basis for accusing several solons of involvement in the unrest and turmoil going on in Marawi City in Mindanao.

Of course, nobody in his right mind will approve of fake news in the media. Fake news misleads and deceives readers, listeners, and viewers, and it has no place in the legitimate media industry. Thus, while Poe’s call against fake news is welcome, she is not a credible crusader against fake news. On past occasions, Poe herself had not been straightforward in her dealings with the media.

Recall that when Poe was running for president in the May 2016 elections, the issue that stalked her was her citizenshp. Under the Constitution, a president or a senator must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines.

The records disclosed that Poe is a foundling abandoned in a church, and she was later adopted by Philippine cinema’s box office king Fer-

nando Poe Jr. and his actress-spouse Susan Roces. Arguing that it is legally impossible for a foundling to be considered a natural-born citizen, Poe’s opponents filed two cases —one to unseat her as an incumbent senator, and another to prohibit her from running for president. Poe’s critics also revealed that in at least one public document, Poe made it appear that her actual parents were Poe and Roces.

It was also established that on one occasion, Poe renounced her Philippine citizenship to attain American citizenship. That renunciation, local opinion leaders posited, was enough reason for voters to reject Poe’s quest for the presidency. One who turns one’s back on one’s native country, they said, has no moral right to seek the presidency.

As expected, Poe’s camp insisted that their candidate was a naturalborn citizen because it wasn’t Poe’s fault that she was a foundling. Although Poe tried to contact somebody who was believed to be able to shed light on the identities of Poe’s biological parents, her efforts proved futile. Meanwhile, the Poe camp played down allegations that she made it appear that her adopting parents are her biological parents as well.

Poe camp’s complemented their denials with an aggressive public relations campaign which suggested she is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines.

Eventually, a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court allowed Poe to run, albeit on grounds not sustained by the text of the Constitution. It wasn’t a convincing court victory for Poe because the dissenting opinions were too substantial to be ignored.

During the campaign, Poe was asked about her American husband.

That was an important query, because if Poe got elected president, the first gentleman would be an alien. Poe’s critics were unsettled by the idea of an alien living in Malacañang Palace at public expense. In the course of her campaign, Poe told the news media that her husband was already applying for Philippine citizenship.

However, after Poe lost the election to rival Rodrigo Duterte, Poe’s camp remained silent on the status of Poe’s husband’s application for Philippine citizenship.

The public has a right to know about the status of that application because Philippine citizenship is priceless and invaluable, and a promise to acquire it, made by a candidate’s spouse during an election campaign, should not be relegated to oblivion like other unfulfilled campaign promises, simply because the candidate lost.

There was also the issue about Poe’s son’s remarks about a certain brand of imported sneakers. Poe’s handlers merely avoided a public discussion about it.

Poe may not be aware of it but, surely, a deliberate omission to disclose the truth to the public is just as objectionable as fake news.

Instead of projecting herself as an advocate against fake news, Senator Poe should focus her time and attention on another matter that has attracted the attention of several senators, namely, government officials who tag along on overseas junkets at government expense. At one time or another, Poe also expressed her displeasure at this nefarious, bad habit of many politicians.

One example is the case which

the Philippines filed against Communist China in the United Nations Arbitration Tribunal regarding Beijing’s patently illegal island-grabbing excursions in the West Philippine Sea. At the hearing held by the arbitration court at The Hague in the Netherlands, then-President Benigno Aquino III sent a legal panel led by Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio and then-Solicitor General Florin Hilbay. Their presence at The Hague was justified because Carpio is the leading Philippine expert on the issues regarding the West Philippine Sea, and Hilbay, as solicitor general, was the lawyer of the Republic of the Philippines. Although the Philippine case was argued by American legal experts in International Law hired by the Aquino government, Carpio and Hilbay needed to hear for themselves if the hired lawyers were doing their job.

What was alarming was that Aquino allowed the legal panel to be accompanied by an entourage of dozens of political allies led by then-House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and thenJustice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Belmonte and De Lima are not known to be experts in International Law, much less specialists in the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea. Why were they there at government expense?

Would they have gone there if they were to pay for their travel, food and lodging?

It’s time this unconscionable wastage of public funds on needless overseas junkets of government officials be ended once and for all. If Senator Poe wants to redeem herself, this is one area she ought to pay attention to.

grave abuse of discretion on the part of the President.

On questioning by Bersamin as to what standard of magnitude of violence is needed to declare martial law, Cortez said that the standard should be if the safety of the public is already being endangered. It cannot be determined based on the number of bodies or damaged properties. Bersamin clarified that there is no standard but the sufficiency of fact will be based on the sound judgment of the court as the proclamation of martial law will be left to the good judgment of the president. Bersamin asked counsel how the court could properly review the factual basis considering that it does not have the materials which would be the basis for the review of the factual basis. Counsel said government should provide the materials.

However, Justice Carpio observed that the Proclamation and the Comment of the Solicitor General containing the facts used by the President to declare martial law would be enough for the Court to make a proper review.

Hence, according to Carpio, to which Cortez agreed, there is no need to go outside these two documents.

Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo questioned Lagman on his basis for claiming that the situation in Marawi does not necessitate martial proclamation in Mindanao considering that he did not personally visit Marawi City to know the actual situation there. “So it would really (be) difficult to say that the situation there does not amount to rebellion. I mean you have not been there, you have not been on the ground. You don’t know what the situation is there. How can you dispute now the findings of the sufficiency of the factual basis for the proclamation?” the justice asked. For Lagman, however, there is no need for the petitioners to be in Marawi since their review of the report submitted by the President to the House and the Senate already revealed insufficiency of factual basis for such declaration.

For his part, Solicitor General Jose Calida, defending the position of the government, rebutted the allegations

of petitioners and maintained that there is a rebellion with the Maute group and other terrorist group to strip the government of control in southern Philippines. He insisted that there is rebellion because “ISISinspired local rebel groups have taken arms against the Philippine government for the purposed of removing Mindanao from its allegiance, and of depriving the Chief Executive of his prerogatives therein.”

He hinted that he would reveal information on the matter once it’s his turn to speak before the high court.

Calida added that Duterte could also disregard the counsel of military officials as these “would merely be advisory.” He said that instead of the focus on the lack of recommendation by defense authorities, the question should be on whether the proclamation was founded on facts as the President enjoyed access to a vast intelligence network.

Oral...

From A4 martial law, such less severe remedy must be resorted to. Only when there is a showing that the situation cannot be contained unless martial law is declared, can the use of such extraordinary power of the President be justifiable”. Leonen asked the anti-martial law petitioners if Duterte’s martial law is too expansive and not limited to where the actual conflict is. Lawyer Marlon Manuel said “what may be necessary for one area may not be necessary [for] another area.”

Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, directing questions to petitioners’ counsel Ephraim Cortez, asked if the elements of rebellion are present to which he answered in the negative.

Given the situation in Marawi, the government, Cortez insisted, should submit sufficient proof that there is rebellion to necessitate the declaration of martial law. Bersamin cited the presumption of validity of the declaration by the President, who should be given reference on the matter as the Commander-in-Chief, and both put on petitioners the burden to prove the

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News

A6

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tap local market, Binay urges DoT

On-duty Naia security men told not to use mobile phone

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE advertisements that the Department of Tourism are releasing abroad would just be a waste of money “if we will find it difficult to sell the Philippines abroad,” Senator Nancy Binay said on Monday.

She added that it would be best for the DoT to redirect its marketing initiatives on the local market instead of spending taxpayers' money on advertisements that are counter-productive.

She said the DoT can still reverse the foreign visitor downtrend if it would start reassessing its strategies to promote the country as a tourist destination abroad, and instead focus also on the domestic market.

“There could be a reassessment of strategy that instead of focusing on the foreign market, we can concentrate on the domestic market,” said Binay, who added that the local market is also a growth area in terms of tourism.

“Focusing on domestic tourism could stem the shortfall that the country may experience due to the negative perception of the Philippines abroad,” she said.

“Is it not we're saying we should not be foreigners in our own country? The element of “experience” in the marketing campaign of the DoT is also good but we have to address first the ‘disconnect’ in the messaging,” she added.

She said the DoT may have a hard time promoting the country abroad due to what is happening in the country today.

“It is our country which suffers from the negative image projected abroad. Many canceled bookings and the left and right travel advisories issued due to the conflict in Mindanao and the impression brought about by the martial law,” she said.

“We might find it more difficult to promote the Philippines due to longer airtime at newscast on what's happening in the Philippines compared to the 30-seconder TV commercials. That does not include what came out in the social media,” Binay said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, domestic tourism expenditure grew by 19 percent from P1.7 trillion in 2015 to P2.1 trillion in 2016.

Domestic tourism expenditure includes expenditures of resident visitors within the country either as a domestic trip or part of an international trip, the PSA said.

A

LL security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been ordered not to use mobile phones and other personal gadgets while on duty.

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal came up with the directive in line with the heightened security measures being enforced in the four terminals of the Naia in light of the threat posed by members of the extremist Maute group.

“Be vigilant and let’s do this in all areas—parking, arrival, lobby, departure, check-in, immigration, boarding, waiting and greeting areas.

We must have roving organic and security personnel,” he said.

On May 23, the Maute group attacked Marawi City resulting in

the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

The MIAA is closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group and the Office for Transportation Security in imposing measures to ensure the safety of passengers and airport personnel.

Security personnel strictly inspected the luggages while passengers underwent rigid body frisking to ensure that no firearms or explosives are brought inside the airport undetected.

Monreal appealed to civilians

including passengers to report any unattended baggage or suspicious persons roaming inside and outside the airport.

He said Avsegroup policemen with bomb sniffing dogs as well as intelligence personnel were deployed with other government agencies as part of the security measures.

The airport authority is likewise keeping strict surveillance of passengers within the airport and implement strict car inspection.

The Airport Police Department personnel, on the other hand, manned the entrances of the airport terminals and outer perimeters.

“The APD usually takes cursory examinations of luggage in cars before waving them through,” a MIAA security official said.

On Friday, Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade ordered

his key officials to put in place heightened security measures in all transport hubs in the country, and emphasized that public safety is the topmost priority of his administration.

He also stressed the need for consistent visibility of security personnel in transport facilities to prevent untoward incidents and to deter lawless elements from conducting activities detrimental to passengers.

Tugade likewise underscored the need for all security personnel to always be on alert and adopt the “buddy system” while roving.

Last year, the MIAA forged an agreement with the International Criminal Police Organization to strengthen border control which is part of an intensified international campaign against illegal trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.

Secure water supply —MWSS

GROUNDBREAKING. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (left), shown here in photo with Metro Pacific Investment Corp. Chairman Manuel

Pangilinan, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, led the groundbreaking ceremony using a backhoe signaling the start of construction work for the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Project (Calax) on Monday, June 19 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. CALAX is a four-lane, 44.20 kilometer closed-system tolled expressway connecting Cavitex and SLEX with a budget of P35.682 billion. When finished on 2020, it will reduce the travel time of 45 minutes from Cavitex to SLEX. It is expected also to ease traffic congestion along Governor's Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Santa Rosa-Tagaytay road. Norman Cruz

Don’t be complacent in fight vs dengue—Ubial DESPITE a decreasing trend of reported dengue cases, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial has exhorted the public not to be complacent in their efforts against dengue.

Statistics from the Department of Health National Epidemiology Bureau from Jan. 1 to May 20, 2017 showed that there were a total 35,973 dengue cases nationwide, which is 31.8 percent lower compared to the same time period last year (52,780).

But even with the decline, Ubial cited the need to strive harder to eventually make Philippines a dengue-free country.

Majority of the cases were from the following regions: Central Visayas Region (15.5 percent), Central Luzon Region (13 percent), National Capital Region (12.2 percent), Calabarzon Region (11.4 percent) and Soccsksargen Region (11.1 percent).

Ages of cases ranges from less than 1 month to 98 years old (median - 13 years).

Majority of the reported cases are males (54

percent). Most (21.5 percent) of the cases belongs to the 5-9 years age group. There are 207 reported deaths with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 0.58 percent while the age group that has the highest CFR is 0-4 years old (0.86 percent).

In celebration of the Asean Dengue Day last June 15 as per declaration of Asean Health Ministers during their meeting held in Singapore on July 22, 2010, the Philippines, a constituent of the Asean joined fellow country members in urging the public to strengthen forces in the continuous pursuit to defeat dengue.

This year, DoH Regional Office V (Bicol Region) led efforts to promote the local Asean Dengue Day with a theme focusing on “Search (and destroy mosquito-breeding places) and Seek (early consultation).”

The event aimed to focus on two core actions of the 4S strategies as a shared responsibility for effective dengue prevention and control program.

The 4S implementation enjoins everyone to become prime movers in achieving substantial change and positive influencers to others within the community.

“The significance of addressing dengue at the barangay level is to overcome its detrimental impact of instigating economic burden and hindering our development goals. The first step to prevent dengue is within our homes, it is important to instill cleanliness in our surroundings and empty containers with stagnant waters to eliminate the breeding places of mosquitoes. If fever is persistent, with or without rashes, it is imperative to seek early consultation in the health facilities for proper medical management and to avoid serious complications,” explained Ubial.

Ubial noted that the fight against the dreaded virus needs a multi-sectoral approach towards a sustained integrated vector management.

“We need everyone’s support, the DoH together with the local government unit, other government agencies and private sectors will

Dismissal of 5 ex-NCMF officials upheld

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman on Monday upheld the dismissal of five ex-officials of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos for their complicity in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales affirmed the dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public office of then secretary/commissioner Mehol Sadain, director III Galay Makalinggan, ex-acting chief accountant Fedelina Aldanese, ex-acting chief Aurora AragonMabang and cashier Olga Galido for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s one-year salary,” the resolution read.

The exercise, dubbed Operation Conduit, involved the use of specialized portable radiation detection equipment of the Interpol placed at passenger movement areas at Terminal 3—including the screening checkpoints and the immigration area.

These devices trigger an alarm if passers-by are positive of radioactive material.

A mobile facial recognition system was also set up which identifies people involved in nuclear trafficking or with cases recorded in the Interpol database.

Results of the operation showed that no baggage or passenger was found to be with radioactive material. Training was also provided to local enforcement agencies involved in airport operations on nuclear trafficking and coordination procedures in such cases.

The former NCMF officials are also facing trial before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the anomalous utilization of the pork barrel fund of former Maguindanao representative Simeon Datumanong, who passed away in February 2017.

In May 2012, the Department of Budget and Management issued a special allotment release order covering P3,800,000 in favor of NCMF the livelihood programs of the towns of Mamasapano, Ampatuan and Datu Abdullah Sanki.

To facilitate the fund utilization, Datumanong requested the P3.8 million be coursed through the Maharlikang Lipi Foundation Inc. Upon audit, the Commission on Audit found the selection of the non-government organization was undertaken in

violation of CoA Circular No. 2007-01 noting the absence of public bidding in the NGO-selection process.

“Respondents miserably failed to measure up to the procurement policy standards when they failed to strictly comply with the Government Procurement Reform Act,” the Ombudsman said.

The Ombudsman also announced the conviction of ex-Amadeo mayor Albert Ambagan Jr. of Cavite for two counts of graft raps.

Ambagan was sentenced by the Sandiganbayan to imprisonment of six to 10 years for each count.

During the trial, the Ombudsman prosecutors proved Ambagan caused undue injury to the family of Simplicio Lumandas when he unlawfully caused the demolition of their ancestral home in February 2008 to give way to the development of Balite Falls as an ecotourism area.

visit households and educate the residents on the importance of preventing the spread of dengue,” the Health chief added.

She said the challenge to adhere an enhanced 4S implementation is doing them consistently and regularly.

A great example, Ubial said, is the reactivation of the 4 o’clock habit, a once a week search for key containers and other breeding sites of mosquitoes and eventually destroy them at 4 o’clock in the afternoon in every household.

To institutionalized this “Search and destroy breeding sites” in the locality, the passage and implementation of an ordinance is hereby recommended.

“Dengue prevention should start from us.

Make 4S a habit so that together, we can fight and eliminate dengue-carrying mosquitoes and protect ourselves and loved ones against dengue. Let us unite in one goal of all for health towards health for all, ACHIEVE!” added Ubial. Macon Ramos-Araneta

“MUCH needs to be done for the country to become water secure,” declared Reynaldo V. Velasco, chairman of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, before the Environment Committee of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines.

Velasco pointed out that the Philippines’ national water security score stand at 40.4 out of 100, which means that the nation is not quite secure in its water supply.

“Water supply must be secured through additional water sources. We cannot depend solely on the Angat Dam especially when the ‘Big One’ or a 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes,“ Velasco added, citing that MWSS is pursuing the Laiban and Kaliwa water dam projects to ensure adequate, steady and sustainable water supply for consumers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the next 25 to 50 years.

The MWSS chief spoke at Finex’s “Water Security Forum Series 4: Averting a Crisis,” in Finex’s bid to raise awareness on how government and private agencies can work together to reduce risks and improve capacity to ensure longterm water security.

The fourth segment of the water security forum shed light on the overall water situation in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. Presented during the forum were the Duterte administration’s new water source projects that will impact the water supply needs of the country.

Key private sector speakers in the forum were the Presidents of the two Metro Manila water concessionaires― Ferdinand M. dela Cruz of Manila Water Co. and Ramoncito S. Fernandez of Maynilad Water Services Inc. The government side was represented by Velasco and Water Resources Board executive director Dr. Sevillo D. David.

“It is encouraging to see the government and private sectors working together to push various plans and measures for water sustainability,” said Finex Environment Committee Chairman Rodrigo E. Franco.

Dela Cruz said his company has reduced water system losses and saved 700 million liters per day. He also noted the importance of investing in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects to prepare for the ‘Big One’ and the need to build more sewerage treatment plants.

STATEMENT SHIRT. In

support of the soldiers fighting to free Marawi City from the Maute terrorist group, Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel in Camp Aguinaldo sell personalized shirts printed with the words ‘Support Our Troops’ as a way to give moral support to the soldiers and also to raise funds for their needs.

Manny Palmero

Sports

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TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Lewis calls Floyd-McGregor August fight as ‘ridiculous’

L

OS ANGELES —Boxing hall of famer Lennox Lewis won’t be spending his money on the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight, saying he “can’t take it serious” because the outcome is too predictable.

The former undisputed world heavyweight champion said the combination of Mayweather’s boxing experience and hand speed will be too much to handle for McGregor, who has made him name as a mixed martial arts fighter.

“It’s ridiculous to me,” Lewis told US sports broadcaster ESPN. “You are talk-

ing about one discipline where you can use only your hands and only a few can do it.

“Every battle sport always starts with your hands, but they are two totally different sports.”

The fight is being held in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and promoters are hoping to make millions

off the pay-per-view sales.

Scheduled as a 12-round boxing match with 10 ounce gloves, three-time world heavyweight champion Lewis says it won’t go the distance.

“I can’t take it serious,” Lewis said. “Mayweather is the best in his weight class, no one can touch him in boxing.

“Floyd will stop him. He’s just too good at boxing for McGregor and McGregor is just too inexperienced.

“I wouldn’t buy it—but I would be interested in the result. To me, I know who is going to win already so there’s no use in watching it.”

Lewis, who fought for Canada at the 1984 Los

Angeles Olympics, joins a growing list of boxing purists who have come out against the much-discussed fight which will take place August 26.

The 40-year-old Mayweather has been retired since beating Andre Berto in September 2015 and improving his career record to 49-0.

The matchup with McGregor gives Mayweather a chance to reach the 50-0 career milestone.

Former champ Oscar De La Hoya and promoter Kathy Duva have also slammed the event as an exhibition spectacle, pointing to the fact that the 28-year-old McGregor has never had a professional

boxing match and only dabbled in the sport as a teenager.

But unlike those two, Lewis doesn’t feel the novelty matchup will hurt boxing’s image.

“I don’t believe it would damage boxing .... I love Bruce Lee and the other disciplines and when he fought against other fighters, you wanted to see the differences, so I can see the appeal,” Lewis said.

Mayweather-McGregor have yet to get together faceto-face since the announcement but they are expected to announce a promotional tour that will take them to a couple of major US cities. AFP

Montessori bet tops Checkmate TEN-YEAR-OLD Allan Gabriel Hilario of Montessori School of Pulilan, Bulacan ruled the intermediate division for the second batch of the Milo Checkmate Summer Clinics held over the weekend at the Starmall Edsa Shaw in Mandaluyong.

Hilario posted a perfect score of 5.0 points after five rounds of play in this one-day event aimed at monitoring the performance of the students after having given them a series of chess lessons for three weeks.

Tied in second and third places with 3.0 points apiece were Jalen Rose Iral of San Sebastian College and Marcus Timothy Imperial of Reedley International School, respectively. In fourth place was Arlan Agascon.

Other winners in their respective groups were: Beginners 2 levels: 1st—Jet Mendoza; Gabriel Galay; Frederick Subido; God Grace Morales and John Rasel Laluna; 2nd —Macus Gawaine Lumbis; Vic Peter Jecino; Justin Llyod Floro; Yushua de Leon and Samuel Zantua Jr. 3rd—Vermont Casas; James Bajande; Chloe Lynette Lee; Savitri San Juan; and Josh Sebastian Ang. Group results for Beginners 1 levels: 1st—Jairo Aban; Job Tecson and Saphala San Juan; 2nd—Edmar Hufano Jr; Santino Abrantes and Zacarias Del Rosario; 3rd—Alina Morales; Lorenzo Portugal and Brent Yaomuntek.

Receiving trophies for their special performance were: Hilario—Most Improved; Aban - Best Newcomer; Morales —Top Lady; Iral—Most Organized; and Trevys Gan—for his Exemplary Display of Sportsmanship.

Gialon seeks 2nd triumph in a row ZANIEBOY Gialon brims with confidence as he sets out for a second straight championship in the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship beginning tomorrow, unfazed by the souped-up field and the wind-swept Forest Hills Golf and Country Club course in Antipolo.

Coming off a six-stroke triumph in Calatagan that snapped a three-year title spell, the diminutive Davaoeño shotmaker said he’s in top condition, ready to take up the challenge and expects to figure for the championship for the second straight time.

“So far, so good. I’m pretty confident with my shots and putting and I expect to contend again,” said Gialon, who put in four impressive under-par cards to produce a 16-under 272 total and beat Jhonnel Ababa by six in Calatagan.

But he admits it will be tough to score back-to-back, particularly with the power-hitting Angelo Que joining the title hunt in the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI. The three-time Asian Tour winner is also coming into the event in top form following a joint fifth place finish in Japan three weeks ago and a sixth place effort at Queen’s

Cup in Thailand last Sunday.

“It will not only be Angelo, but a lot of players to watch out for,” said Gialon. “So I will also need some luck in order to beat them.”

Que, winner of the Philippine Golf Tour’s kick-off leg at Anvaya last February, is taking a break from the Japan PGA Tour where he campaigns to lead the chase for the top P550,000 purse in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Gialon, Que and the other leading pros tune-up for the big event in today’s (Tuesday) pro-am where they will be paired with officials and guests of the event’s chief backers, including ICTSI, Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.

Meanwhile, Clyde Mondilla, who scored back-to-back wins at Southwoods and Villamor, is also expected to bounce back from a joint fifth place effort at Calatagan together with Tony Lascuña, who is out to end a series of heartbreaks that saw him finish tied for second to Mondilla and wind up third behind Gialon and Ababa.

The diminutive Zanieboy Gialon said he’s in top condition, ready to take up the challenge and expects to figure for the championship for the second straight time.

Pangilinan, Concio rule Shell Batangas chessfest PSA Forum STEPHEN Rome Pangilinan swept his last three matches to capture the juniors’ crown, while Michael Concio Jr. nipped Mark Jay Bacojo in the tiebreak to snare the kiddies’ plum in the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Southern Luzon leg at SM Batangas in Batangas City last Sunday.

Pangilinan sustained his impressive run in the last three rounds as the Philippine Science High School ace dismantled Dennis Gutierrez II, Brien Palasigue and Jethro Aquino to post an 8.5-point total in the 13-16 age category of the 25th

staging of the annual event.

The top-seeded Daniel Quizon, who closed out with victories over Jarvey Labanda, Jesca Docena and Christopher Kis-ing, placed second with eight points.

Kylen Joy Mordido of Dasmariñas National High School, who also placed fifth overall, was named top female player and will thus join Pangilinan and Quizon in the grand finals of the country’s longest talent-search sponsored by Pilipinas Shell.

Jonathan Jota, meanwhile, dominated the seniors division, finishing with 8.5 points and leading a 1-2-3 finish by the

Lyceum bets in the 17-20 category of the event, which kicked off the fivestage regional circuit culminating in the grand finals in October at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay.

Maeleen Pastrano, Shell Tabangao Refinery Manufacturing Excellence Manager, graced the awards rites of the two-day, nineround Swiss system tournament sanctioned by NCFP, which drew close to 350 participants.

Concio and Bacojo finished tied for first in the 7-12 side with eight points but the former, the spearhead of Dasmariñas National High in Cavite, took the crown with a superior tiebreak

score. Bacojo, from San Miguel Elementary School, settled for second while Our Lady of Pilar’s Angele Biete took third place with 7.5 points.

Concio foiled Emerson dela Cruz and Jorge Delgado Jr. then drew with Biete while Bacojo defeated Jerlyn San Diego, Del Emerson dela Cruz and Robert Perez.

The top-ranked Jota, who led after six rounds, halved the point with Louie Alegria at resumption then ripped No. 3 Romulo Curioso Jr. and Spencer Real to post a huge 1.5-point win over Curioso and four others.

Curioso, Jhoemar Mendiogarin, Lawrence Magura, Rafael Dionisio of Univ. of Batangas, and Jesiah Mendoza all finished with seven points but Curioso and Mendiogarin took the next two spots after the tiebreak to complete Lyceum’s domination.

Joining the top two players in each division in the national finals slated from October 7-9 are the top finishers in the girls’ division, including Daren dela Cruz (kiddies) of Villa Nueva Memorial School, also in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Mordido (juniors) from Dasmariñas NHS, and Venice Vicente (seniors) from FEU Manila.

Castro named Best Player after import-like numbers JAYSON Castro dished off import-like numbers in a game TNT just refused to lose to secure the Katropa’s return stint to the PBA Finals for the first time in 2 seasons.

With bulky TNT import Joshua Smith playing through a torn ligament on his right foot, the 5’8” Castro took charge on Saturday, firing 38 points, dishing off 11 assists Jayson Castro’s awe-inspiring effort when his TNT team defeated Gine- and grabbing 7 rebounds to bra earned him the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of eliminate Barangay Ginebra, June 13-18.

122-109, and complete a 3-1

semifinal series win in the process.

The 30-year-old Castro was at his best in the fourth period when he knocked down 10 of his team’s 17 points down the stretch to break the hearts of the Kings and their legion of fans.

More importantly, the win sealed TNT’s entry in the mid-season conference Finals where it is set to face San Miguel Beer starting Wednesday.

The “Blur’s” awe-inspir-

ing effort earned him the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of June 13-18, nosing out San Miguel veterans June Mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross for the weekly citation.

The Katropa are back in the championship round and will try to end a two-year title drought, having won their last PBA crown in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup behind flamboyant import Ivan Johnson.

Colegio de San Lorenzo routs PH National Police, 106 to 64 COLEGIO de San Lorenzo-V Hotel routed Philippine National Police, 106-64, and Diliman College-JPA Freight Logistics outsteadied Manuel Luis Quezon University-Victoria Sports, 69-59, to clinch the last two semis berths in the 2017 MBL Open basketball tournament at the PNP Sports Center in Camp Crame.

The Griffins brushed aside the disappointments of their previous setback and vented their ire on the Responders to arrange a semifinal duel against No. 2 seed Philippine Christian University.

The Blue Dragons of coach Rensy Bajar played inspired basketball and held off repeated rallies by the Stallions to set up a

semifinal encounter against top seed FEUNRMF-Gerry’s Grill.

The Tamaraws and the Dolphins, who finished 1-2 in the elimination round, enjoy twice-to-beat advantages in the semis of the tournament sponsored by Smart Sports, Star Bread, Dickies Underwear, Ironcon Builders and Gerry’s Grill.

Five mainstays, led by James Castanares and Algie Baldevia, scored in double figures for the Griffins of manager Jimi Lim and coach Boni Garcia.

Castanares topscoredcwith 15 points, gollowed by Baldevia with 13 and Jon Gabriel and Dominic Borja with 12 points apiece.

Julius Criste carried the fight for PNP

with points.

The 42-point winning margin by CdSL over PNP was one of the biggest in recent history of the 18-year-old league, surpassing the previous high of 37 points established

by FEU over Emilio Aguinaldo College last April..

Diliman College, which is still fresh from winning the Fr. Martin’s Cup earlier in the week, relied on Rickson Gerero, Jonathan Regencia and Kristoffer Torrado to eliminate MLQU-Victoria Sports.

Gerero, one of the team’s most dependable scorers, fired 16 points while Regencia added 14 points in another solid effort by the Jerry Alday-backed Blue Dragons.

Kristoffer Torrado had 10 points.

Jayson Grimaldo finished with 20 pounts for the Rainier Carpio-coached Stallions, who bowed out with a 3-5 record.

The scores: First game CdSL-V Hotel (106)—Castanares 15, Baldevia 13, Gabriel 12, Formento 12, Borja 10, De la Cruz 8, Chabi Yo 6, Calizo 6, Laman 5, Vargas 4, Paclarin 4, Callano 3, Gohar 3, Rosas 3, Nuyda 2.

PNP (64)—Criste 16, Cabrera 11, Elopre 10, Gonzales 6, Dia 4, Nicolas 4, Santiago 4, Ongutan 4, Tolentino 3, Bayabao 2.

Quarterscores: 35-22, 66-34, 87-52, 106-64.

tackles boxing, collegiate cage leagues REIGNING International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas joins officials of both the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Athletic Association of Schools , Colleges, and Universities as special guests of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum today at the Golden Phoenix Hotel (along Macapagal Ave. Sunrise Drive) in Pasay City.

Ancajas will be talking about his coming title defense against Teiru Kinoshita of Japan in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn World Boxing Organization welterweight fight in Brisbane, Australia on July 2.

Trainer-manager Joven Jimenez and former Olympian and now pro Mark Barriga are joining Ancajas in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix Hotel, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Fr. Glynee Ortega, OAR, of host San Sebastian and chairman of NCAA Season 93, along with vice chairman Col. Jeff Tamayo will discuss about the coming edition of the country’s oldest collegiate league set to open on the first week of July.

NAASCU is also set to unveil its new season, and to expound about the matter in the session aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918. Representing the league are president Dr. Jay Adalem, John Saladas (La Salle-Araneta), Ryan Sabinian (Holy Angel University), and Jose Luis Monfort (Saint Francis).

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

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

A8

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

Sta.Lucia, F2 try to extend win runs

Sports

Games Today

(Filoil Flying V Center) 3 p.m. – Petron vs Generika-Ayala 5 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Cherrylume 7 p.m. – Sta. Lucia vs Cocolife

AFTER finally finding their groove, F2 Logistics and Sta. Lucia Realty seek to extend their winning ways as they tackle separate foes today in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Cargo Movers battle a struggling Cherrylume at 5 p.m., while the Lady Realtors face Cocolife in the 7 p.m. night cap of this prestigious club league bankrolled by Belo, Rebisco and Gold’s Gym with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Also seeing action is powerhouse Petron, which will clash with Generika-Ayala in the 3 p.m. curtainraiser of this tourney that also has Senoh, Mikasa, Mueller, Asics and Grand Sport as official broadcast partner.

Foton, a squad bannered by national team member Jaja Santiago, remains on top of Pool C with four straight victories following a massive four-set upset of powerhouse Cignal late Saturday.

The HD Spikers fell to the second spot with a 3-1 card, while the Blaze Spikers and the Life Savers are not far behind at 2-1.

In Pool D, F2 Logistics is at the ceiling with a 2-2 mark, while Sta. Lucia and Cocolife are knotted at 1-3 ahead of winless Cherrylume side.

That makes the next few games exciting as everybody is tipped to go all out to gain better ranking in the crossover quarterfinal round.

The survivors of the quarters will figure in the semifinals before marching into the best-of-three finals showdown starting July 11.

For reigning champion F2 Logistics, punching a return trip to the finals remains very possible after hacking out convincing victories over Sta. Lucia and Cocolife, respectively.

Cargo Movers’ head coach Ramil de Jesus said they are looking to emerge on top of Pool C so they have to work doubly hard in their next two assignments in the preliminaries.

Brooks Koepka of the United States poses with the winner’s trophy after his victory at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Hartford, Wisconsin. AFP

Koepka’s odyssey lands him on fairway to heaven E RIN—Brooks Koepka’s globe-trotting golfing odyssey landed on a fairway to heaven at the US Open on Sunday as he celebrated a brilliant first major victory.

The 27-year-old American took an unconventional route to the top, choosing to launch his career in the relative backwaters of the European Challenge Tour in 2012.

From those unglamourous beginnings, Koepka worked his way up to the full European Tour before later earning his PGA Tour card in 2014.

Along the way, Koepka has won titles in Turkey, Spain, Italy, Scotland and Japan.

But the biggest one of all arrived on Sunday with his win at Erin Hills, which matched the record of 16 under for the lowest winning total in US Open history.

“It’s pretty cool,” Koepka said after clinching a $2.8 million winner’s cheque and the famous US Open trophy. “I’d like to get a map and just look at all the places I’ve won.”

Yet Koepka revealed that his decision to launch his career in Europe, far from the support structure of family and friends in the United States, had almost become unbearable.

During a tournament on the Challenger Tour, he had come close to quitting, telling his manager he wanted to go home.

“There was a low point. Right before I won the final Challenge Tour event to get to the European Tour.

And I think it was the night of the third round,” Koepka revealed. “I called him and I was like, I don’t even want to play.

“I just want to go home. I was kind of—I don’t want to say homesick, it was just tired of golf. Tired of travelling. I just wanted to be home, even though I think I had the lead at that point and was about to

win the third one.

‘No fan of losing’ “For some reason I just wanted to get out and go home. I don’t know why.”

A fourth place finish at the 2014 US Open had given Koepka a taste of what it might be like to challenge for a major.

Three more top 10 finishes followed, including a tie for fourth at last year’s PGA. Koepka said Sunday he had been determined not to let his latest opportunity slip away.

“I felt like I put myself in contention so many times,” he said. “And I don’t want to say I got unlucky, I felt like I just never fully came together. I put myself in some good chances over the majors over the last few years and never really quite came through.

“I just felt like I should be winning more. I don’t know why. It’s one of those things, not a big fan of losing.”

In recent years Koepka has forged a tight friendship with world number one Dustin Johnson, last year’s US Open champion.

Koepka revealed Johnson, who

missed the cut in Wisconsin, had called him after Saturday’s third round to offer advice about how to cope with the final round.

“He told me ‘Just stay patient. Just keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to win the thing, and just don’t get ahead of yourself,” Koepka revealed.

“It was a long phone call. For us it was like two minutes.”

Koepka, who played a leading role in helping the United States wrest back the Ryder Cup from Europe last year, said the experience of playing in the bearpitlike conditions of the competition had prepared him for Sunday.

“I think the Ryder Cup was kind of the first real taste of true pressure I think I’ve ever felt,” Koepka said.

Koepka meanwhile added that he was unaware that his 16 under total was a record low score when he walked up the 18th fairway.

“I did not know that. I wish I’d have gotten up and down on 18, I know that,” he joked.

“It would have been nice. But it’s still a pretty cool accomplishment.” AFP

Global Cebu blanks Ilocos, 3-0

Pandoo Nation/Singapore stuns local team, wins title

By Peter Atencio DAVID Goodman struck with four goals to lead Pandoo Nation of Singapore to a 7-2 beating of local squad Island Red on Saturday night.

His big game in the final round gave Filipinos a chance to see how tough and fun the game is, allowing the Singaporean-based team to claim the crown in the Philippine International Ice Hockey tournament at the SM Megamall.

The Singapore squad stepped on the gas right from the start, hitting four goals in the first period with Goodwin making two separate markers in the 12-minute first period.

“We had a blast. We had a ton of fun,” said the 28-year-old Goodwin, who is part of a marketing arm of an online game developer.

PBA WAR IS ON! The protagonists in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Finals are shown here with PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa during their pre-final conference at the Sambokojin, Eastwood City on Monday. On the side of the San Miguel Beermen are Governor Robert Non, Team Manager Gelacio Abanilla, head coach Leo Austria and players Chris Ross, Arwind Santos, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and Charles Rhodes. The TNT KaTropa, on the other hand, were composed of Team Manager Virgil Villavinencio, head coach Nash Racela and players Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy, Joshua Smith, Moala Tautuaa and Kelly Williams. Game 1 of their best-ofseven championship showdown is on Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Filipinos got a glimpse of what to expect in international competitions since ice hockey is a new sport in the Philippines, said their team captain Anthony Blass.

While Goodwin hit the first goal in the last 8:04 of the initial period, Rob Martini and Peter Nesbit followed up in the remaining 5:13 and 3:15, respectively.

The Islanders scored only two goals, both courtesy of Tyler Staton.

Pandoo Nation reached the finals after routing Seoul Thunder, 3-0, and stunning Singapore Sting, 11-0, and Korea, 4-0, in the event supported by SM Skating, SM and Flying V. To the reach the finals, the Islanders stunned Southeast Asian Games-bound Team Pilipinas, 4-1.

Before that, the Islanders put away Singapore Sting.

“Bringing high-caliber ice hockey

Games Tomorrow

(Davao Del Norte Sports Complex, Tagum) 4 p.m. - Davao Aguilas vs Meralco Manila (Quirino Stadium) 7 p.m. - Ilocos United vs JPV Marikina

Members of Pandoo Nation of Singapore are shown after winning the Philippine International Ice Hockey tournament at the SM Megamall at the expense of local team Island Red.

teams from abroad to play here (Manila) against our local talents could boost our sports tourism and improve the level of skills of our players,” said Chris Sy, president of the local ice hockey federation.

Sy awarded the trophies to the winners, together with Edgar Tejero, president of SM Lifestyle and Entertainment, Inc. and Steve Hontiveros, the secretary-general of Philippine Olympic Committee.

JAPANESE winger Shu Sasaki bagged a brace as Global Cebu blanked Ilocos United, 3-0, even as Davao Aguilas and Stallion Laguna battled to a goalless draw in the Philippines Football League held over the weekend.

Sasaki scored his two goals in a five-minute span at Quirino Stadium in Vigan, after Paul Mulders opened the scoring from the penalty spot as Global moved up to third by improving to 10 points in five matches.

It was Global’s third victory of the season and it came at a time when the club was going through a rough patch after defeats to Home United of Singapore in the AFC Cup and CeresNegros two weeks ago.

Coach Marjo Allado got the response he needed from his wards with Mulders slotting home a penalty past Ilocos goalkeeper Baba Sampana in the 23rd minute, before Sasaki found the back of the net in the 25th and 30th minutes.

“It’s a good result for us,” said Allado, whose side claimed only its first clean sheet of the season.

“We played well in the first half, but credit to Ilocos because they also made it difficult for us in the second half. We needed this win.”

Market rebounds; Metro, SSI rise B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

Closing June 19, 2017

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,943.75 61.33

By Julito G. Rada

PESO-DOLLAR RATE Closing June 19, 2017

45.00 46.50 48.00

P49.910 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P49.805 LOW P49.930 AVERAGE P49.859 VOLUME 572.600M

P435.00-P680.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.40-P49.21 Unleaded Gasoline P28.05-P40.95 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

ECO-FRIENDLY SCHOOLS. The Environment Department and Nestlé Philippines Inc. sign a memorandum of agreement for the 2017

National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools. The search, held every two years, marks the third time Nestlé entered into such a partnership, which includes a special category called the Nestlé Water Leadership Awards. Shown during the signing of the agreement are (from left) Nestlé Philippines senior vice president and head of corporate affairs Ernesto Mascenon, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones, Nestlé Philippines chairman and chief executive Jacques Reber and Environment Management Bureau officer-in-charge and concurrent assistant director Jacqueline Caancan.

P32.85-P41.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, June 20, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.8500

Japan

Yen

0.009019

0.4496

UK

Pound

1.277000

63.6585

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128199

6.3907

Switzerland

Franc

1.027855

51.2386

Canada

Dollar

0.757002

37.7365

Singapore

Dollar

0.723327

36.0579

Australia

Dollar

0.761500

37.9608

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656395

132.4213

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

13.2923

Brunei

Dollar

0.720721

35.9279

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029455

1.4683

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5735

Euro

Euro

1.121100

55.8868

Korea

Won

0.000883

0.0440

China

Yuan

0.146767

7.3163

India

Rupee

0.015521

0.7737

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233973

11.6636

New Zealand

Dollar

0.724900

36.1363

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032948

1.6425 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF Pangilinan hikes First Pacific stake BUSINESSMAN Manuel Pangilinan is raising his stake in Hong Kong-based conglomerate First Pacific Co. Ltd. as the group is expected to post a turnaround in terms of financial results.

First Pacific said in a disclosure to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Pangilinan, who is also the company’s managing director and chief executive, is increasing his stake in the company by 3 million shares to 70.3 million shares, using proceeds from a share sale and from his personal resources to finance the exercise and hold his share options.

Pangilinan sold 12 million shares of First Pacific over the past few days, raising funds to finance the exercise of 15 million First Pacific share options at a price of HK$4.9457. These options are due to expire on Sept. 4, 2017.

The result of these transactions will be a net increase of 3 million shares in the chief executive’s shareholding in First Pacific to 70.3 million shares.

“I think now is a great time to increase my stake in First Pacific. We expect our 2017 results to mark a turnaround in the financial and operating results of the businesses we are invested in and signal stronger dividend income to First Pacific from next year,” Pangilinan said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

BSP revises foreign direct investment goal THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised the foreign direct investments target this year to a net inflow of $8 billion from the previous estimate of $7 billion, on sustained investors’ confidence in the Philippine economy.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a news briefing the bank also took into consideration the actual net inflow of $7.9 billion in 2016.

The FDI net inflow of $7.9 billion last year surpassed the target of $6.7 billion. The 2016 figure was also 40.7 percent higher than the $5.72-billion net inflow in 2015.

Net inflow of foreign direct investments in the first quarter rose 16.6 percent to $1.6 billion from $1.3 billion a year ago. Net investments of debt instruments more than doubled to reach $1.3 billion.

Equity capital investments posted net inflows of $101 million, lower than $550 million a year earlier.

FDI’s net inflow grew 30.6 percent in March to $509 million from $390 million in the same month last year.

Julito G. Rada

B1

FMIC keeps 7% growth forecast

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX

49.50

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

MPIC set to sign P24-b loan for Calax toll road

By Darwin G. Amojelar

A

UNIT of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is set to sign this month a loan agreement with up to five local banks worth P23.6 billion to fund the construction of the Cavite Laguna Expressway.

MPCala Holdings Inc., a unit of MPIC, held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the Laguna side of Calax, a 45.5-kilometer closed-system tolled expressway connecting Cavite Expressway and South Luzon Expressway.

“We started our kick-off lenders meeting last month. We should be closing the deal this month. It’s about P23.6 billion. It’s be-

ing handled by HSBC. There are four or five banks that will contribute,” MPCala president Luigi Bautista said after the groundbreaking ceremony.

MPCala tapped DMCI Consunji Inc. to construct the Laguna side of the project and Leighton Holdings of Australia to build the Cavite side.

“We expect to complete and operate Calax by third quarter or fourth quarter of 2020,” Bautista said.

Calax involves the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the four-lane expressway.

The P35.4-billion expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at the SLEx-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

Calax will have interchanges in eight locations in Kawit, Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang East, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Rd., Laguna Blvd. and Tech-

nopark.

Aside form the P35.4 billion construction cost, MPCala paid the government P27.3 billion in premium bid upfront.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the whole project which have one main toll barrier was expected to reduce travel time from Cavitex to SLEX by 45 minutes from the current 1.5 hours.

“The road construction project from Tirona Highway to the end of Greenfield near Mamplasan Exit, Laguna will be closely monitored so that by 2020, our travel time from Cavitex to SLEx will be reduced to only 45 minutes,” he said.

“Calax will be one of the most advanced highways in the Philippines. It is expected to ease traffic congestion along Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway and Sta. Rosa Tagaytay Road,” Villar said.

Once completed, Calax operations and maintenance will start from 2020 up to 2050.

THE Philippine economy still has the potential to grow 7 percent this year, despite the lackluster performance in the first quarter, economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific said in a joint report Monday.

The economists said in the June issue of Market Call capital markets research report that the recovery of consumer spending, public construction and sustained strength of remittances in the remaining months of 2017 would help achieve the 7-percent growth target.

The economists said the gross domestic product could have grown 7 percent in the first quarter, if not for the slowdown in construction and the impact of former Environment Secretary Regina Lopez’s antimining initiatives.

First-quarter GDP growth settled at 6.4 percent, slower than 6.8 percent a year ago and 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016.

“While the 6.4 percent GDP growth in Q1 disappointed investors mildly, they could be explained by the effect of the former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez’s anti-mining initiatives [-0.2 percent total impact], construction slowdown especially infrastructure spending [another -0.2 percent], and electricity-water-gas weak 1.7 percent gain [a final -0.2 percent deduction],” they said.

“In short, GDP growth could have been 7 percent. But although it didn’t happen in Q1, we still expect a very strong [and lower base] second half to offset the H1 “weakness” and still reach 7 percent growth for the full year 2017,” they said.

Lopez sought to shut down 28 of the nation’s 40 mines and cancel the contracts of dozens of others, a move countered by the government’s economic managers because of its impact on revenue generation and national economy.

Cimatu assures foreign investors about responsible mining

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales clearances for investors.

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu said Monday the government will push for clean and green energy, promote proper management of water resources and solid waste and ensure responsible mining.

Cimatu, speaking at the gathering of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in Makati City, said his department remained committed to its role in facilitating environmental

Cimatu told ECCP members the Environment Department recently introduced improvements in the implementation of the Environmental Impact Statement system and the processing and issuance of tree cutting permits for development projects.

“One, we have provided facilities for online application for environmental compliance certificate to shorten the process,” Cimatu said.

“Two, authority to issue cut-

ting permits of planted trees has been delegated to the regional office. Further delegation to the Penro [Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office] and Cenro [Community Environment and Natural Resources Office] is being considered,” he said.

Cimatu said the department would continue to “strictly enforce mining and environmental regulations, and mining operations found violating laws, rules and regulations shall be subject

to penalties, suspensions and/or cancellation.”

“Mining in the Philippines can only be responsible if the development of the country’s mineral resources will be on the basis of technical feasibility, environmental sustainability, cultural and social acceptability and financial viability. The absence of one will not render the project responsible,” Cimatu said.

Cimatu said the streamlining of issuance of water permit was

also being undertaken.

Cimatu said the agency was also fully supporting the Energy Department in the implementation of Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

He said the department was actively promoting the deployment of clean and green energy sources through the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanismand the recently signed Joint Credit Mechanism between the Philippines and Japan.

DD, Ascott to build serviced apartment

By Jenniffer B. Austria DOUBLE Dragon Properties Corp. teamed up with Ascott Limited of Singapore to build a five-star serviced apartment in the former’s 4.8-hectare property in Pasay City.

DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its unit signed an agreement with Ascott to develop a 300-room luxury apartment called AscottDD Meridian Park Manila at Bay Area on the corner of Macapagal Ave. and Edsa Extension.

Ascott-DD Meridian Park Manila is set to break ground within the year and is slated for completion by 2020.

DoubleDragon said the location is very ideal given its close proximity to the Manila domestic

and international airport, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mall of Asia and Entertainment City.

“The development of AscottDD Meridian Park Manila is the third phase of the complex and is expected to further enhance the profile of the entire development and meaningfully contribute to the recurring revenues of DoubleDragon,” the company said.

The 4.8-hectare DD Meridian Park will consists of eight towers with a combined 230,000 square meters of leasable space.

The first phase including four towers called DoubleDragon Plaza is set to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2017, while the second phase called DoubleDragon Center-East and DoubleDragon CenterWest is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2018.

MOTORCYCLE HUB. KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing Inc., a partnership between Adventure Cycle Philippines Inc. owned by AC Industrial Technology Holdings Inc. and KTM AG of Austria, inaugurates a stateof-the-art manufacturing facility at Laguna Technopark in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The plant will have an initial production run of 6,000 motorcycles, with the goal of eventually expanding to 20,000 units annually.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rebounds; Metro, SSI rise Aboitiz Power gets S nod on P30-b bonds TOCKS rebounded Monday, tracking the movement of other Asian markets and following another record close on Wall Street.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 61 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 7,943.75, as all six major sectors advanced.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also rose 28 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,723.21, on a value turnover of P7.1 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 102 to 91, while 49 issues were unchanged.

Thirteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Metro Rail Stores Group Inc. which jumped 8.8 percent to P4.19 and retailer SSI Group Inc. which climbed 7.4 percent to P3.62. Food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. gained 3

percent to P168.90.

Meanwhile, stocks in Asia rose, with a weaker yen supporting Japanese equities and technology stocks rebounding after their biggest weekly selloff since November.

Global equities are climbing back after a technology-sector selloff last week sparked by concerns about low volatility among the largest US companies.

The Dow in New York closed at a fresh alltime high thanks to a bounce in energy stocks, providing a positive lead for Asia, with a weaker yen helping Tokyo rally.

The dollar climbed above 111 yen Monday after Japan posted a surprise trade deficit for May. The Nikkei ended 0.6 percent higher, although troubled airbag maker Takata plunged 16.5 percent on reports it plans to files for bankruptcy and sell its assets to a US firm.

“With stocks on an uptrend for quite some time, and the global economy seen to keep expanding, the general risk positive sentiment is continuing,” Masafumi Yamamoto, chief

currency strategist at Mizuho Securities in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News.

“In that regard, the yen is bound to come under selling pressure.”

Hong Kong added one percent and Shanghai finished up 0.7 percent, while Seoul gained 0.4 percent and Sydney 0.5 percent. Wellington and Taipei were also sharply higher.

In early European trade London added 0.7 percent, while Paris and Frankfurt each rose 0.8 percent.

With few drivers for business this week, eyes will be on the start of talks between Britain and the European Union on its extraction from the economic bloc.

The negotiations come after the ruling Conservative party lost its parliamentary majority in elections this month, weakening the government’s hand.

“How these negotiations evolve will likely hold the near term fate for the Pound,” said Stephen Innes, a senior trader at Oanda. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp. said Monday it secured a certificate of permit from the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue P30-billion fixed-rate retail bonds.

Aboitiz Power said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the first tranche would involve P2 billion, with an oversubscription option for another P1 billion and would be issued on July 3. The balance would be

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.04 16,000 50.5 19,980 105.2 1,639,670 3.93 5,000 121.3 2,655,380 1.3 310,000 37 53,700 16.1 800 27.7 849,500 1.72 16,000 820 270 0.73 2,831,000 86.1 1,074,490 0.97 2,395,000 25 9,800 67.9 75,900 238 2,380 108 550 88.05 2,090 59.45 507,200 221.6 437,140 1,620 195 85.2 146,590 1.27 25,000

66,300 1,004,520.50 172,199,726 19,650 322,191,483 403,350 1,986,995 12,940 23,558,135 27,480 223,250 2,060,880 92,434,037.50 2,340,950 251,350 5,139,270 566,860 59,400 184,024.50 29,771,387.50 96,728,512 315,675 12,489,688.50 31,750

633,565 -57,274,301 -18,333,645 -495,805 8,996,645 597,600 -14,243,748 3,285,960 10,486,905.50 19,377,274 -

38.6 7.91 0.81 1.49 29 0.265 116 7.2 17.94 165.3 23.65 14.18 76 78.5 2.03 5.34 11.58 11.96 15.4 9.84 6.95 6.09 18.96 70.4 14.8 13.62 12.3 1.72 214.8 64.5 4 3.6 25.2 30.55 18.96 19.1 262.2 0.248 6.63 3.18 9.65 5.7 10.22 1.91 9.44 69.65 6.28 304 4.5 5.1 2.5 13.26 5.05 0.147 1.35 164 4.23 2.09 1.13

INDUSTRIAL 39.2 1,071,200 8.15 2,323,200 0.83 502,000 1.55 2,389,000 29.05 83,500 0.265 5,940,000 116 20 7.2 1,639,700 18.3 1,532,900 165.3 10 23.95 2,778,100 14.18 1,100 77.9 10,070 78.5 710 2.03 904,000 5.5 52,100 11.82 6,200 12.02 6,458,100 15.56 3,215,200 9.9 72,300 6.99 2,165,800 6.11 8,836,000 18.98 1,287,900 70.55 62,970 14.8 25,100 13.7 59,300 12.32 1,332,400 1.74 479,000 216 486,210 64.5 1,060 4 65,000 3.6 25,000 25.2 700 31.15 2,007,900 19.32 819,900 19.2 345,800 263.8 1,748,540 0.25 5,220,000 6.92 469,800 3.19 129,000 9.66 3,936,600 5.92 271,000 10.72 7,100 1.92 1,419,000 9.5 672,800 70 2,659,480 6.64 1,483,700 312 118,290 4.5 30,000 5.1 1,165,700 2.59 2,022,000 13.4 767,800 5.1 117,400 0.147 100,000 1.35 38,000 168.9 1,377,050 4.24 3,000 2.26 34,679,000 1.14 216,000

41,847,240 18,780,566 413,450 3,623,830 2,431,850 1,577,000 2,320 11,865,814 28,077,552 1,653 66,217,535 15,618 766,341 56,885 1,840,990 286,107 72,166 77,535,382 49,852,392 712,726 15,138,499 54,076,362 24,450,380 ( 4,434,996.50 376,140 811,404 16,556,738 832,040 105,020,504 68,380 260,910 90,000 17,640 62,552,370 15,785,244 6,642,738 460,942,402 1,299,550 3,260,229 416,780 38,255,451 1 1,576,707 72,636 2,725,190 6,400,619 186,164,610 9,358,592 36,969,622 8 135,000 6,057,090 5,232,540 10,276,714 594,734 14,700 51,320 231,025,755 12,710 76,678,010 246,040

-15,930,290 2,800,435 15,100 -174,300 5,300 -149,895 11,692,350 -26,296,940 -152,888 231,480.00 1,182 -22,271,678 -758,362 201,260 4,391,100 -176,311 556,128.0003) 607,252 -424,842 103,286.00 -18,090,706 -43,200 -4,588,745 2,364,712 -510,962 -279,184,730 -262,380 ,544,175.0003 -679,135.50 ,004,561.9997 49,500 1,379,100 -1,654,028 304,515 80,488,252 -6,900,120 -

0.375 75.25 14.32 1.2 6.95 0.34 0.35 864.5 8.1 14.8 7.65 0.206 1,209 7.88 80 5.72 1.03 7.6 15.32 6.27 3.23 0.055 0.91 2.05 2.51 107 2.74 796 1.41 306 0.245

0.365 73.65 14.14 1.17 6.42 0.335 0.34 850 7.86 14.44 7.6 0.201 1,188 7.5 78.9 5.37 1 7.27 15.22 6.18 3.21 0.053 0.91 2.02 2.51 106 2.66 788 1.39 305 0.244

HOLDING FIRMS 0.365 1,660,000 75 1,018,660 14.3 4,075,800 1.2 453,000 6.49 104,100 0.34 1,440,000 0.35 60,000 860 144,370 7.91 3,076,300 14.64 7,928,400 7.65 19,000 0.206 250,000 1,192 232,325 7.8 1,300 79.3 725,110 5.37 3,000 1.01 610,000 7.6 611,100 15.22 2,086,400 6.19 12,212,200 3.21 6,000 0.055 16,480,000 0.91 60,000 2.05 761,000 2.51 40,000 107 96,830 2.73 68,000 792.5 341,810 1.41 195,000 305.8 3,150 0.244 100,000

606,800 76,359,814.5 ( 58,054,282 540,550 683,890 489,100 20,500 123,919,695 24,297,909 116,034,374 144,510 51,430 277,134,625 10,088 57,634,336 16,810 616,690 4,625,242 31,814,920 75,854,234 19,320 889,770 54,600 1,550,260 100,400 10,314,954 181,110 271,121,960 272,610 963,000 24,410

27,818,824.5) -16,305,854 -6,937,755 718,730 49,544,206 -126,592,165 -10,108,227 158,920 -2,364,500 -15,410,046 -10,455,360 6,890 -656,333 35,253,245 1,410 -308,858 -

6 1.58 2.56 1.2 41.5 3.98 5.37

5.93 1.45 2.52 1.17 40.5 3.92 5.44

PROPERTY 5.99 210,400 1.51 29,608,000 2.56 429,000 1.17 6,960,000 41.5 9,958,600 3.95 1,636,000 5.37 5.39

1,258,678 45,373,930 1,085,410 8,206,670 410,938,615 6,457,930 4,905,700

-333,605 -5,384,530 67,860 115,977,820 138,110 26,498,018

5.29 0.53 1.1 1.48 0.187 0.52 47.9 0.71 0.155 1.66 1.28 0.99 4.6

5.29 0.52 1.08 1.4 0.179 0.51 46.9 0.7 0.155 1.64 1.24 0.97 4.47

5.29 0.52 1.09 1.42 0.18 0.51 47.75 0.7 0.155 1.65 1.26 0.99 4.51

444,360 5,700,400 127,840 1,419,010 9,401,560 1,510,120 9,922,510 1,304,150 27,900 20,257,790 24,055,100 413,940 102,710,310

-1,011,150 36,800 -2,550,840 -1,274,750 -7,466,330 -4,266,830 39,523,100

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.03 ASIA UNITED 50.25 BANK PH ISLANDS 106.1 BDO LEASING 3.93 BDO UNIBANK 122.2 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.33 CHINABANK 37.2 COL FINANCIAL 16.2 EAST WEST BANK 27.55 IREMIT 1.7 MANULIFE 835 MEDCO HLDG 0.74 METROBANK 85 NTL REINSURANCE 1.02 PBCOM 26 PHIL NATL BANK 67 PHIL STOCK EXCH 240 PHILTRUST 108 PSBANK 88.05 RCBC 56.2 SECURITY BANK 222.2 SUN LIFE 1,620 UNION BANK 85.15 VANTAGE 1.27

4.19 50.5 106.1 3.93 122.2 1.35 37.2 16.2 27.95 1.72 835 0.74 86.7 1.02 26 67.9 240 108 88.05 59.45 222.2 1,620 85.3 1.27

4.03 50 104.5 3.93 120.9 1.3 36.95 16.1 27.35 1.7 820 0.72 85 0.96 25 66.8 238 108 88.05 56.2 219.2 1,615 85.15 1.27

ABOITIZ POWER 38.85 AGRINURTURE 8.13 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.82 ALSONS CONS 1.51 ASIABEST GROUP 29.6 BASIC ENERGY 0.265 BOGO MEDELLIN 116 CEMEX HLDG 7.29 CENTURY FOOD 17.94 CHEMPHIL 165.3 CIRTEK HLDG 23.95 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.2 CONCEPCION 77.9 CONCRETE A 80 CROWN ASIA 2.05 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.34 DEL MONTE 11.68 DNL INDUS 12.14 EAGLE CEMENT 15.6 EEI CORP 10 EMPERADOR 6.95 ENERGY DEVT 6.1 FIRST GEN 19 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.55 GINEBRA 15.2 HOLCIM 13.7 INTEGRATED MICR 12.6 IONICS 1.73 JOLLIBEE 217 LIBERTY FLOUR 64.5 LMG CHEMICALS 4.01 MABUHAY VINYL 3.6 MACAY HLDG 25.2 MANILA WATER 31 MAXS GROUP 19 MEGAWIDE 19.26 MERALCO 263 MG HLDG 0.249 PANASONIC 6.63 PEPSI COLA 3.24 PETRON 9.7 PHIL H2O 5.8 PHINMA 10.34 PHINMA ENERGY 1.95 PHX PETROLEUM 9.44 PILIPINAS SHELL 70.7 PRYCE CORP 6.4 PUREFOODS 304 RFM CORP 4.5 ROXAS HLDG 5.2 SFA SEMICON 2.5 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.46 SPC POWER 5.1 SWIFT FOODS 0.147 TKC METALS 1.37 UNIV ROBINA 165 VICTORIAS 4.23 VITARICH 2.09 VULCAN INDL 1.13

39.25 8.17 0.84 1.56 30 0.27 116 7.29 18.52 165.3 24 14.2 77.9 80.5 2.05 5.54 11.82 12.14 15.6 10 7 6.15 19.08 70.75 15.2 13.72 12.7 1.74 217 64.55 4.12 3.6 25.2 31.2 19.34 19.3 265 0.255 6.97 3.25 9.79 5.95 10.72 1.95 9.7 70.7 6.65 320 4.5 5.2 2.65 13.5 5.1 0.147 1.37 168.9 4.24 2.26 1.14

ABACORE CAPITAL 0.375 ABOITIZ EQUITY 74.7 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 14.16 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 1.17 ANSCOR 6.56 ATN HLDG A 0.335 ATN HLDG B 0.34 AYALA CORP 850 COSCO CAPITAL 8.1 DMCI HLDG 14.46 FILINVEST DEV 7.6 FORUM PACIFIC 0.205 GT CAPITAL 1,200 HOUSE OF INV 7.5 JG SUMMIT 78.9 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.72 LODESTAR 1.01 LOPEZ HLDG 7.27 LT GROUP 15.24 METRO PAC INV 6.21 MJC INVESTMENTS 3.23 PACIFICA 0.055 PRIME MEDIA 0.91 PRIME ORION 2.02 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.51 SAN MIGUEL CORP 106 SEAFRONT RES 2.66 SM INVESTMENTS 794 SOLID GROUP 1.41 TOP FRONTIER 305 ZEUS HLDG 0.245 8990 HLDG 6 A BROWN 1.48 ARANETA PROP 2.54 ARTHALAND CORP 1.19 AYALA LAND 40.7 BELLE CORP 3.98 CEB LANDMASTERS -4,596,261 CEBU HLDG 5.29 CENTURY PROP 0.52 CITY AND LAND 1.1 CITYLAND DEVT 1.46 CROWN EQUITIES 0.182 CYBER BAY 0.51 DOUBLEDRAGON 47 EMPIRE EAST 0.7 EVER GOTESCO 0.155 FILINVEST LAND 1.65 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.25 IRC PROP 0.99 MEGAWORLD 4.47

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VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

MRC ALLIED 0.41 PHIL ESTATES 0.37 PHIL REALTY 0.66 PRIMEX CORP 3.86 PTFC REDEV CORP 30 ROBINSONS LAND 24.95 ROCKWELL 1.77 SHANG PROP 3.29 SM PRIME HLDG 34.05 STA LUCIA LAND 1.04 STARMALLS 7.29 SUNTRUST HOME 0.91 VISTA LAND 5.9

0.42 0.37 0.66 4.42 30 25.2 1.8 3.29 34.55 1.04 7.29 0.92 5.95

0.385 0.36 0.64 3.86 30 24.55 1.76 3.29 34.05 1.02 7.29 0.91 5.81

0.395 0.36 0.65 4.42 30 25 1.8 3.29 34.45 1.02 7.29 0.91 5.95

207,640,000 730,000 4,737,000 2,968,000 600 675,300 691,000 3,000 7,194,200 4,210,000 300 215,000 4,985,100

82,856,500 265,200 3,071,960 12,387,140 18,000 16,869,180 1,231,460 9,870 247,710,025 87 4,323,640 2,187 196,450 29,438,325

80,000 64,000 -2,660 651,455 -69,900 ,884,574.9999 10,624,260

2GO GROUP 26.5 ABS CBN 43.45 ACESITE HOTEL 1.79 APC GROUP 0.5 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.043 ASIAN TERMINALS 11.3 BLOOMBERRY 9.38 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.09 CALATA CORP 2.14 CEBU AIR 100.9 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.99 DFNN INC 8.5 GLOBE TELECOM 2,156 GMA NETWORK 6.16 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.9 HARBOR STAR 2.91 IMPERIAL 3.41 INTL CONTAINER 102 IPM HLDG 8.85 ISLAND INFO 0.184 ISM COMM 1.42 JACKSTONES 3.53 LBC EXPRESS 15.18 LEISURE AND RES 4.2 MACROASIA 5.22 MANILA JOCKEY 2.23 MELCO RESORTS 9.5 METRO RETAIL 3.81 NOW CORP 2.62 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.5 PAL HLDG 5.3 PHIL SEVEN CORP 160.1 PHILWEB 11 PLDT 1,890 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.57 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.39 PUREGOLD 45 ROBINSONS RTL 87.95 SBS PHIL CORP 6.1 SSI GROUP 3.37 STI HLDG 1.28 TRAVELLERS 3.1 WATERFRONT 0.98 WILCON DEPOT 6.85

26.5 43.45 1.81 0.51 0.044 11.3 9.56 0.09 2.18 100.9 9.99 8.69 2,156 6.2 15.9 3.03 3.41 102.9 8.9 0.19 1.43 3.59 16.5 4.45 5.7 2.33 9.8 4.19 2.64 11.5 5.3 170 11 1,900 1.58 0.395 45.85 88.1 6.29 3.64 1.39 3.14 0.98 7.05

24.8 43.3 1.71 0.495 0.042 10.9 9.3 0.088 2.13 99.5 9.99 8.5 2,140 6.14 15.68 2.9 3.4 101.6 8.85 0.182 1.38 3.46 14.74 4.18 5.22 2.23 9.48 3.81 2.58 11.48 5.25 160 10.62 1,866 1.57 0.385 45 87.9 6.08 3.26 1.27 3.06 0.9 6.85

SERVICES 24.85 740,600 43.4 11,100 1.75 447,000 0.5 703,000 0.043 47,100,000 10.94 8,800 9.3 26,761,000 0.089 34,440,000 2.15 3,709,000 99.7 109,550 9.99 100 8.57 24,100 2,144 76,660 6.15 272,800 15.68 13,100 3.01 3,566,000 3.4 66,000 102.8 3,091,770 8.9 340,000 0.186 12,620,000 1.4 46,000 3.59 83,000 16.5 35,500 4.4 1,007,000 5.68 6,484,300 2.23 36,000 9.7 7,874,900 4.19 34,620,000 2.62 1,408,000 11.5 5,300 5.25 12,100 160 16,000 10.7 1,424,300 1,890 103,850 1.58 5,360,000 0.39 2,070,000 45.4 1,798,500 87.95 1,141,840 6.29 3,066,900 3.62 38,699,000 1.38 41,250,000 3.07 1,132,000 0.92 28,103,000 7 30,050,600

18,559,000 481,670 797,500 351,525 1,994,200 96,964 250,576,866 3,059,500 7,989,030 10,929,796 999 208,949 164,396,880 1,681,008 207,840 10,604,450 224,430 317,163,430 3,019,500 2,371,130 64,980 289,610 539,154 4,394,220 35,358,598 80,480 75,935,800(9, 141,285,310(49 3,659,890 60,930 63,796 2,575,734 15,303,006 196,122,085 8,468,790 806,600 81,865,335 100,431,584.50 19,083,190 136,258,760 55,326,080 3,495,150 26,134,370 210,098,371

-4,228,410 4,300 -50,222,939 1,780 -79,200 -4,598,580.50 -45,851 5,241,810 -218,760 -28,180,421 111,850 223,900 4,097,198 745,388.9996) ,625,030.0001) 7,770 -22,575 -287,020 -1,550,036 -10,341,860 1,264,010 19,500 52,878,750 8,275,248.50 15,962,550 8,004,440 114,310 1,745,450 93,747,738

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

0.003 1.62 5.05 2.03 0.87 0.39 9.25 2.4 0.295 0.18 0.193 0.011 1.91 6.13 2.09 0.475 0.97 0.011 6.14 0.012 8.86 3.04 160 2.8

0.0031 1.63 5.05 2.03 0.87 0.39 9.28 2.41 0.305 0.181 0.193 0.012 1.91 6.2 2.18 0.475 0.97 0.011 6.14 0.013 9 3.05 160.6 2.8

0.003 1.61 4.99 2.03 0.85 0.39 9.02 2.38 0.295 0.179 0.192 0.01 1.85 6.12 2.03 0.475 0.97 0.01 6.01 0.012 8.86 2.95 160 2.7

MINING & OIL 0.003 109,000,000 1.62 4,464,000 5 512,700 2.03 5,000 0.85 206,000 0.39 160,000 9.05 7,700 2.41 821,000 0.295 1,340,000 0.18 19,150,000 0.192 540,000 0.011 240,700,000 1.87 372,000 6.2 899,700 2.06 102,000 0.475 60,000 0.97 31,000 0.01 6,600,000 6.01 171,100 0.013 3,300,000 9 579,900 2.99 2,758,000 160.4 1,109,000 2.75 80,000

327,100 7,220,580 2,564,767 10,150 175,540 62,400 70,727 1,966,830 395,800 3,447,640 103,700 2,527,900 695,830 5,544,931 216,400 28,500 30,070 69,300 1,032,740 42,700 5,180,885 8,226,040 177,782,762 218,990

162,000 -31,993 86,400 -126,760 1,002,450 717,719.00 -5,984,050 22,851,483 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F FPH PREF C GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

43.25 513 512.5 105 112 510 5.83 1,009 1,021 1.04 108.9 1,010 105 77.8 81 76.15 80.45 80.95 78.5 78 79.2

43.25 513 512.5 105 112.5 510 5.83 1,010 1,021 1.04 108.9 1,015 105 77.8 81 76.15 80.45 80.95 78.5 78 79.2

43.25 513 512 104.8 112 510 5.82 1,009 1,021 1.04 108.9 1,010 105 77 80.5 76.15 80.45 80 78.5 78 78

PREFERRED 43.25 500 513 8,610 512 450 104.8 57,500 112.5 650 510 35,180 5.83 660,400 1,009 1,395 1,021 20 1.04 2,000 108.9 10 1,015 3,435 105 85,400 77 60 80.5 43,850 76.15 3,200 80.45 20,000 80 1,300 78.5 8,300 78 57,800 78 623,900

21,625 4,416,930 230,485 6,035,060 73,070 17,941,800 3,848,672 1,407,610 20,420 2,080 1,089 3,482,620 8,967,000 4,636 3,531,075 243,680 1,609,000 104,285 651,550 4,508,400 49,374,200

51,200 -2,045,747 -

LR WARRANT

2.36

2.44

2.36

WARRANTS 2.4 184,000

440,120

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4 5.9 7.78

4.04 5.9 7.88

3.88 5.41 7.7

SME 3.94 5.61 7.72

917,370 2,493,144 5,659,855

19,400 -311,164

FIRST METRO ETF 119

119.8

119

USD DMPL A1

10.5

10.48

NAME

OPEN

MS 84,000 10,851,000 117,000 997,000 51,170,000 2,961,000 210,000 1,863,000 180,000 12,278,000 19,115,000 419,000 22,624,000

10.5

TRADING SUMMARY

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.8 4,670 DDS 10.48

SHARES

VALUE

FINANCIAL

13,775,516

824,142,457.3

INDUSTRIAL

108,324,229

1,814,157,451.954

55,644,688

1,200,551,872.651

410,708,884

1,081,620,831.24 1,916,821,650.65

HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY

234,000 441,400 732,100

SERVICES

340,792,071

MINING & OIL

393,141,395

241,957,417.848

GRAND TOTAL

1,323,799,297

7,088,880,119.36

12,750

556,388

-

133,660

-

FINANCIAL 1,930.25 (up) 4.22 INDUSTRIAL 11,158.48 (up) 116.24 HOLDING FIRMS 7,834.49 (up) 94.95 PROPERTY 3,744.94 (up) 28.24 SERVICES 1,748.44 (up) 1.37 MINING & OIL 12,465.65 (up) 5.41 PSEI 7,943.75 (up) 61.53 All Shares Index 4,723.21 (up) 28.06 Gainers: 91; Losers: 102; Unchanged: 49; Total: 242

lodged under the shelf registration program of the SEC and would be issued in future tranches. The public offer for the first tranche will commence on June 20 and will end on June 23. Aboitiz Power engaged BPI Capital Corp. as the issue manager and underwriter for the first tranche, BPI Asset Management and Trust Corp. as the trustee and the Philippine Depository & Trust Corp. as the registrar of the bonds.

“AboitizPower intends to list the bonds with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. The bonds earlier received the highest possible rating of ‘PRS Aaa’ from the Philippine Rating Services Corp.,” the company said.

Aboitiz Power said the final approval of the registration statement of the bonds would be issued upon compliance of certain conditions including the submission of certain documents to the SEC. The company announced in March that it would undertake a peso denominated bond issuance of up to P30 billion this year to finance potential acquisitions and future projects.

“The company will use the proceeds of the retail bonds to finance potential acquisitions, future investments, and other general corporate requirements,” Aboitiz Power said.

The company targets to achieve a 4,000-megawatt net sellable capacity by 2020.

Wilcon opening 7 stores this year

By Jenniffer B. Austria WILCON Depot Inc., a leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer, said it expects revenues to grow at a low double-digit this year as it continues to open more stores.

Wilcon chairman Willam Belo said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting that the company was slated to open seven more stores this year, after opening an outlet in Butuan City.

He said of the seven stores, three would be located in Mindanao, two in the Visayas, one in Northern Luzon and another in Southern Luzon.

Wilcon spends about P150 million per store, excluding inventory. A store has an average size of 7,000 to 10,000 square meters.

Wilcon also lined up five new store openings in 2018, all of which would be outside Metro Manila.

Belo said as the company continued to expand outside Metro Manila, he was expecting the contribution from stores in the Visayas and Mindanao to to increase in the coming years.

He said the company, using proceeds from recent initial public offering, aimed to have 65 stores by 2021.

Wilcon reported a net income of P390.5 million in the first quarter, as sales increased 14.1 percent to P4.18 billion from P3.667 billion a year ago.

The three new depot-format stores which opened between April 2016 and January 2017 contributed 5.27 percent of the company’s first-quarter sales.

Business

B3

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

DBS predicts rate increase in August BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas will likely to keep policy rates this week but may start tweaking its stance in August with a 25-basis point increase to prevent further weakening of the peso, DBS Bank of Singapore said Monday.

DBS in a report said on a nominal effective exchange rate basis, the peso had depreciated about 6.7 percent year-to-date (as of May 17), making it one of the worst performers in Asia “At the same time, the current account balance has also slipped into a deficit. It is likely to widen going forward, assuming strong investment growth is sustained.

While we are not overly concerned about the current account situation, it may affect sentiment on the peso,” DBS said. “... Since April, the BSP seemed to be no longer tolerant of excessive weakening of the unit. Expect the BSP to raise its policy rate by 25 bps to 3.25 percent at its meeting on Aug. 10. If so, this will also be the first policy move under its new central bank governor,” the bank said.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. will end his second six-year term on July 2 and will be succeeded by Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. Latest data from Bangko

HANABISHI PARTNER. Officials of leading homegrown appliance manufacturer Hanabishi renew their partnership with the GMA Kapuso Foundation for another year. Hanabishi will carry out a series of appliance donations composed of electric fans and water dispensers to help more financially challenged communities in keeping with its commitment to make a difference through the reconstruction of schools and post-rehabilitation efforts.

Sentral showed that the current account, one of the vital components of the balance of payments, reversed to a deficit of $318 million in the first quarter this year from a surplus of $730 million a year ago, as the tradein-goods deficit widened on the back of the faster growth in imports.

Meanwhile, the local currency’s weakest level was recorded on March 3, 2017 at 50.40 to a dollar. The peso on Friday closed at 49.90.

DBS said Bangko Sentral was expected to deliver another 25 basis points’ hike by year-end and pause till mid-2018. Thereafter, the bank said the risks for more hikes would depend on the success of the government’s infrastructure overhaul in generating demand.

“Public spending spurred strong investment growth in the economy. Investment growth has averaged 20 percent since 2015.

And loan growth is currently back near its historical-highs of around 20 percent. If the government manages to push through its tax reforms, expect the expansionary fiscal policy stance to be sustained in the mediumterm,” DBS said. Julito G. Rada It said core inflation trend re-

May BoP swung to $59-m deficit

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE country’s balance of payments position in May 2017 reversed to a deficit of $59 million from a surplus of $241 million a year ago, driven mainly by the government’s payment of maturing foreign exchange obligations, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Monday show. “(The deficit was) mainly due to foreign exchange operations of the BSP and foreign exchange payments by the national govern-

ment on its maturing obligations even as these were cushioned

by FX deposits by NG and investment income of BSP from

Enter the (Double) Dragon UP until now, whenever they have thought of commercial malls, three names have come to the minds of Filipinos: SM, Robinsons and Ayala. In the near future they will have another name to that list. That name is City Mall.

“Enter the Dragon,” announced the Bruce Lee blockbuster film of several decades ago. With the entry of City Malls into the business, it will be a case o enter the Double Dragon because the upcoming malls will be constructed

by Double Dragon Properties Corporation, which is jointly owned by Jollibee Foods Corporation and Injap Investments Inc. For people who follow the business news closely the name Injap should ring a bell. Injap is the nickname of Edgar J. Sia II, who founded the company that owned the chain of Mang Inasal restaurants – Mang Inasal Investments Inc. –70 percent of which he sold to Jollibee Corporation for a reported P3 billion.

Those who wondered what Edgar J. Sia II would do with his P3 billion war chest got their answer. The then-37-year old Visayan entrepreneur invested the money in a real estate development venrure with his Mang Inasal Investments partner, Jollibee Corporation.

That Edgar J. Sia II and co-chairman Tony Tan Caktiong intend to place Double Dragon Properties right up there among the giant mall developers is indicated by its announced goal for the period up to 2020.

Between the current year and 2020 Double Dragon intends to develop and place on the market 7,000,000 square meters of leasable space. Of this total 70 percent will be in the provinces. One hundred City Malls, each with 7,000 square meters of leasable space, will be put in place in provincial cities and towns ranging from Aparri and Baler in the north to Kabakalan City and Koronadal City in the south. Its Metro Manila projects will consist of the Jollibee Tower in Ortigas Center, which will house the company’s head office, and DD Meridian Park, which will offer 280,000 square meters of leasable space.

Jollibee Corporation resources and the money that Injap Sia received from the sale of Mang Inasal shares to Jollibee guarantee that Double Dragon will be financially robust. At the end of 2016 the company had assets totaling P49.5 billion, of which almost P20 billion was equity. With cash totaling P5.4 billion and a 2016 net income of P1.7 billion, Double Dragon had abundant resources for operations generally and for acquisitions in particular. At the end of 2016 it had a market capitalization of close to P120 billion.

With its parentage, and given its muscular finances, Double Dragon’s drive to become a leading player in the mall industry can be taken seriously. The Double Dragon has entered.

Mang Inasal rose to fortune and fame on the strength of its innovative “unlimited rice” concept. With Double Dragon Properties the business community will likely witness a case of unlimited rise.

abroad,” Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a statement.

“These bookings must have been driven by merchandise trade as imports continue to increase on account of good growth numbers and outflows in the foreign portfolio account,” he said.

The May deficit was also a reversal of the $917-million surplus recorded a month ago. The May figure brought the balance of payments in the first five months to a deficit of $136 million, a turnaround from a $216-million surplus in the same period last year.

The balance of payments summarizes the country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world, with a deficit indicating that foreign exchange payments exceed inflows. A BoP deficit affects the value of the peso against the US dollar and eats into the country’s gross international reserves.

Guinigundo on Friday announced that the regulator revised its BoP position projection this year to a deficit of $500 million from the earlier assumption of a $1-billion surplus made in December last year, on the back of the subdued outlook for

emerging market economies and possible impact of the policies of US President Donald Trump.

The projected deficit is expected to result in gross international reserves of $80.5 billion in 2017, lower than the previous projection of $84.7 billion.

Guinigundo said monetary authorities also considered the upward revision of the global growth this year, recovery of the global trade, China growth outlook which could be at risk with high debt load, and the pace of the monetary policy tightening in the US in the new assumptions.

Guinigundo said global growth this year was seen at 3.5 percent, higher than the 3.1 percent in 2016.

He cited the firming of commodity prices and strong domestic growth prospects. “We hope that the numbers will continue to improve as the year unfolds, especially in the second half of the year,” Guinigundo said.

He said the positive global growth prospects could result in higher exports this year by $5 billion from the earlier assumption of $2 billion. Import growth, meanwhile, was maintained at $10 billion.

Consumer group slams filing of new salt tax bill

By Othel V. Campos CONSUMER welfare advocacy group Laban Konsyumer on Monday criticized the filing of the Asin bill, saying it was untimely and could further heat up discussions in Congress following the ongoing debate on the sugar tax.

Laban Konsyumer president Victorio Dimagiba said health issues were not the compelling reason for the bill.

“Health issue should not be always (be addressed) by imposing new taxes. In the case of salt, there is a national program on iodized salt through the Asin law administered by the National Nutrition Council. So why always taxes?” he asked.

If the objective was health, then the author of the bill should review and study the effective implementation of the Asin Law which was passed in 1995,

Dimagiba said.

“Salt intake per se is not the issue,” he said.

HB 3719, or the Asin Bill, was filed in Congress imposing a new excise tax on the salt content of manufactured and processed foods. The bill purportedly aims to address the health issue of too much salt intake by consumers.

The bill proposes a tax of P1 on every milligram of sodium in excess of one-third of the allowable

daily intake of sodium chloride as prescribed by the Department of Health.” The bill applies “on manufactured goods that have sodium chloride, or any of its derivatives, as an ingredient and which include but are not limited to canned goods, processed food, and junk food.”

The Asin Law, meanwhile, declared that the proper consumption of salt was a nutrition policy of the state.

SECURITY BANK AWARDS.

Security Bank Corp. emerges as winner in two public sector categories at the recently concluded The Asset Triple A Awards 2016 held in Hong Kong. The bank was named ‘Best Regional Specialist Award’ and ‘Best in Treasury and Working Capital for the Philippines’ under the public sector category in recognition of its efficient government payment services and performance in corporate treasury management, trade finance, supply chain and risk management.

PAL expecting delivery of 5 Bombardier turboprops

By Darwin G Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines said it expects the delivery of five Q400 turboprops from Bombardier before the end of the year to replace older aircraft.

“We’re taking delivery of our first Q400 next month, this is an 86-seater airplane which we will fly domestically, we will use this for our Cebu hub to replace older Q400,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista

said.

“The delivery will be July, August, September, October, November, every month starting July until November,” he added.

PAL last year ordered six Q400 aircraft with option for another six planes worth $401 million to expand its inter-island domestic operations.

PAL currently owns four Bombardier DHC 8-300 aircraft and five Bombardier DHC 8-400 aircraft which PAL dry leased to

sister company PAL Express. A dry lease is a leasing arrangement in which an airline provides an aircraft, without crew, to another airline.

PAL Express uses these aircraft to fly to provincial destinations.

PAL’s domestic network, including those operated by PAL Express, covers 31 cities and towns in the Philippines.

It serves Bacolod, Basco, Butuan, Busuanga, Cagayan, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu,

Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Jolo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Manila, Masbate, Naga, Ozamiz, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Surigao, Tablas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.

The airline led by tycoon Lucio Tan expects delivery of two Boeing 777-300 ER in December and ordered six A350s, with an option for six more. The aircraft is capable of flying non-stop from Manila to New York.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

Business

SinoPac head held over ‘illegal loans’ TAIPEI―The head of a major Taiwanese bank has been detained on suspicion of granting illegal loans, just months after another banking scandal rocked the island’s financial sector.

SinoPac Holdings chairman Ho Shou-chuan and two others are being probed over an alleged Tw$5 billion ($164.8 million) of loans made to an “offshore company with no real operations.”

It is not yet clear what relationship they have with the firm that received the money. The case comes after the ex-chairman of Mega International Commercial Bank was indicted in December on charges including insider trading.

That followed a massive $180-million fine slapped on Mega

by American authorities after they said they found “suspicious transactions” between its New York and Panama branches.

Taipei District Court approved on Sunday a request by prosecutors to take Sinopac’s Ho and the other two suspects into custody, saying there was a risk of evidence tampering or collusion.

Local prosecutors investigating the case searched Ho’s residence and office last week. “(Ho) and the others are suspected of jointly violating laws including the Securities and Exchange Act and breach of trust,” prosecutors said.

No formal charges have been made yet.

The case revolves around alleged illegal lending to a company called J&R Trading Co. by a SinoPac subsidiary since 2009.

Local media said the funds were routed to finance an investment into a commercial building in Shanghai.

According to the court statement, Ho insisted at most he is accountable for “administrative negligence” and did not cause the company any damage.

SinoPac held an emergency board meeting Saturday and appointed an acting chairman following Ho’s arrest.

The bank said it will cooperate with the investigation and that its operations are continuing as normal.

Two other people critical in the probe have not been questioned yet as they are out of the country, the court said Sunday. AFP

RODEO DRIVE SHOW. Car enthusiasts pose beside a 1916 La Bestioni modified with a Batman theme and on display at the Rodeo Drive Concours D’elegance car show in Beverly Hills, California on June 18, 2017. The annual car show held on the city’s exclusive shopping street Rodeo Drive, is now in it’s 27th year. AFP

Britain, EU start historic Brexit talks

By Danny Kemp

B

RUSSELS, Belgium—Britain starts formal talks to leave the EU on Monday, seeking a deal “like no other in history” despite entering fiendishly difficult negotiations with a badly weakened government.

A year after Britain’s seismic referendum, Brexit minister David Davis and the European Union’s French chief negotiator Michel Barnier will meet at the European Commission in Brussels at around 0900 GMT. At stake in hugely complex talks facing a March 2019 dead-

line is not just Britain’s future but a western political order that would be badly shaken by a failure to reach a deal.

The situation is very different from 12 months ago when the Brexiteers were riding high, with Prime Minister Theresa May’s entire approach called

into question after a disastrous election performance on June 8.

“While there is a long road ahead, our destination is clear—a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU. A deal like no other in history,” Davis said in a statement as he headed into the talks.

“I look forward to beginning work on that new future.”

British foreign minister Boris Johnson, like Davis a prominent backer of the leave campaign, also sounded an upbeat note.

“I think the whole process will lead to a happy resolution which can be done with honor and profit to both sides,” Johnson said as he

went into an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

There will be haggling over the terms, over money, but “the most important thing is to raise our eyes to the future... and think about the deep and special partnership that we want to build with our friends,” he said.

Britain appears to have given in on the EU’s insistence that talks first focus on three key divorce issues, before moving onto the future EU-UK relationship and a possible trade deal.

Those issues are Britain’s exit bill, estimated by Brussels at around 100 billion euros ($112 billion), the rights of three mil-

lion EU nationals living in Britain and one million Britons on the continent, and the status of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

“Sitting down for a first formal negotiation round is something in and of itself,” an EU source told AFP. Talks will begin at 0900 GMT with a joint press conference by former French foreign minister and European commissioner Barnier and Davis at around 1630 GMT. After the initial shock of last year’s Brexit vote and faced with rising anti-EU sentiment, the bloc at 27 appears to have steadied in recent months and got a real boost with the

Israelis are getting a taste for the good life—and leverage

By David Wainer IF you’ve been driving on Israel’s roads over the past decade, you’ve probably noticed that every year the highways get more congested and the cars flashier.

Households that used to have just one car now allow themselves more. Changes are evident inside Israeli homes too, with a proliferation of tablets, smart-phones and flatscreen TVs. The consumption craze isn’t just for the upper-middle class: It’s poorer Israelis that are delivering the sharpest surge, according to a recent Finance Ministry study.

While interest rates remain anchored at record lows, workers are taking advantage of pay increases and lower borrowing costs to upgrade everything from computers to cars. That’s propelling economic growth, but also leverage in a country that until recently had been rather conservative about borrowing money.

So far, the consumption boom has been good news.

The economy grew 4 percent last year, far above the developed-nation average. But the leverage is starting to worry policy makers.

Yoel Naveh, the Finance Ministry’s chief economist, warned earlier this month that the 9 percent growth in household credit last year made him think of the US sub-prime crisis. His comments came after Bank Supervisor Hedva Ber warned that the financial sys-

tem may be adding too much risk from consumers.

“Credit is like salt in food: Food with no salt is tasteless, but too much salt tastes bad and is unhealthy,” she said at a lateMay press conference in Tel Aviv. “If we think that the problem is persisting and growing, we’ll intervene as necessary.”

Audits of Israeli banks last year revealed a sharp increase in consumer defaults, Ber said. Though the banks remain strong―they weathered the 2008 financial crisis without any bankruptcies―risks have increased, Ber said.

Politicians are warming to the issue: In a recent parliamentary hearing, lawmaker

Zehava Galon of the left-wing Meretz Party said she was concerned by a sharp increase in personal bankruptcy filings after household loans rose 23 percent in the last three years.

For now, the Bank of Israel, which is fueling the credit growth with its 0.1 percent benchmark rate, isn’t too concerned. A central bank official told the parliamentary hearing that Israeli debt levels are still low compared to other nations.

Even so, he warned that government reforms to bolster competition in the credit industry could exacerbate the situation.

There also has been a rise in non-banking loans, which are harder for the government

and central bank to track. Ber noted that her 13-year-old son recently received a text message offering him a loan, a common way to attract borrowers in Israel.

Few Israelis are complaining, however, as they enjoy more vacations, better cars and fancier gadgets. And the consumption craze isn’t moving the dial on inflation, which remains below the government’s 1 percent to 3 percent target as competition-boosting reforms drive down prices and a strengthening currency cools inflationary pressures.

One worry is that consumption-driven growth may give the government a false picture

of the economy’s strength and its ability to generate tax receipts. Most economists agree that Israel, a country of just 8.5 million people, needs to develop its export industry to grow in a sustainable way, an expansion that’s being challenged by a currency that can’t seem to stop strengthening.

“Expanding demand is healthy and natural as unemployment is low, house prices are high, so there’s a wealth effect leading to growing consumption,” said Michael Sarel, former chief economist at the Finance Ministry. “But it’s unsustainable to rely on this kind of consumption for growth.”

Bloomberg

election of new French President Emmanuel Macron in May. Macron, a committed pro-EU leader and ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, easily won French legislative elections on Sunday, cementing his power base.

Worried by immigration and loss of sovereignty, Britain voted last year to end its four-decadesold membership of the 28-country bloc—the first state ever to do so.

An increasingly concerned EU has been pushing London to hurry up, with time running out for a deal and three months already gone since May triggered the two-year Article 50 EU exit process. AFP

No need to change dollar peg, says HK HONG Kong’s pegged exchange rate should stay as it has served the city well through financial crises for more than 30 years, the chief of its de facto central bank said.

“Hong Kong is a small and open economy,” Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chief Executive Norman Chan said in a statement as the city heads for the 20th anniversary of Chinese rule. “Keeping a stable exchange rate between the Hong Kong dollar and the US dollar is the most suitable arrangement. We have no need and no intention to change such an effective system.”

The city linked its currency to the greenback in 1983, when negotiations between China and the UK over Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule spurred a capital exodus.

The peg has shown resilience since the change of sovereignty in 1997, surviving a 1998 attack by speculators during Asia’s financial crisis as well as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and almost threemonths of pro-democracy protests in late 2014. Hong Kong’s dollar trades between the permitted range of HK$7.75 and HK$7.85 per greenback.

There has been talk that Hong Kong should switch its peg to the Chinese yuan amid closer economic links. Chan listed four “essential conditions” for such consideration: A fully convertible yuan. Open capital account with no capital controls. A financial market with sufficient depth and width that allows Hong Kong’s Exchange Fund to hold assets to support the city’s monetary base. Synchronized economic cycles between Hong Kong and China. Bloomberg

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

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ANNIVERSARY DANCE. Residents of San Juan City perform ‘zumba,’ a dance fitness program created

by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto Perez that features dance and aerobic movements performed to energetic music, on the streets during the recent 10th anniversary of the cityhood of San Juan, as a kickoff activity to the city’s ‘Wattah!

Wattah! San Juan Festival!’ on June 24.

Full slate for Manila’s 446th W

By Sandy Araneta

EEK-LONG festivities await Manileños in the upcoming 446th Araw ng Maynila on June 24, Mayor Joseph Estrada said over the weekend.

The celebrations started Sunday with a Grand Parade, and will be capped by the Grand Coronation Night of the annual Miss Manila 2017 beauty pageant at the Philippine International Convention Center on Saturday.

“The City of Manila has gone a long way from being a ‘Pearl

of the Orient’ and ‘Paris of Asia’ to a highly urbanized Global City. Together, we will celebrate our 446th Foundation Day with a vision of bringing back our beloved city’s former glory and beauty,” said Estrada.

From a cash-strapped city that had unpaid debts of P5.5 billion

in 2013 when he assumed office, Estrada said Manila has fast regained its financial stability, which he credited to the cooperation and sacrifice shown by the Manileños.

“In the next years to come, I am sure the City of Manila will continue to realize gains in economy, education, employment, health, and housing, among others, because we have proven that we can work together,” he added.

Established as a city on June 24, 1571 under Spanish rule, Manila had become the “Pearl of the Orient” due to its central location in the Pacific sea trade

routes, and the “Paris of the East” for its exquisite beauty.

In 2012, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network listed Manila as a global city.

Since 2013, Estrada has been working to bring back the beauty and old glory of the capital city through his P100-million urban renewal program, and a wide range of projects and promotional activities.

The Grand Parade, held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, saw participation from the different offices and units of city hall, featuring their different programs and services for Manila residents,

as well as the city government’s private sector partners.

On June 19 and 20, Estrada will bestow honors to outstanding city employees, teachers, judges, prosecutors, and policemen. The following day, June 21, he will also honor exceptional Filipino artists who have excelled in the fields of architecture, painting, and other art forms and culture through the yearly “Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Awards.”

From June 19 to 21, the city government will launch an outdoor exhibit called “Balik-Tanaw sa Turn to C2

Creative teachers’ confab set July LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The Arts Research and Training Institute in Southern Tagalog, Inc. (ARTIST, Inc.) will be holding the 4th Malikhaing Guro International Conference on July 4 to 7, with the theme “Culture-Based Education and Asean Integration: Multiple Voices, Multiple Contexts.”

The event will be held together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Linang Arts and Culture Network Inc., Department of Education, and the University of the Philippines in Los Baños.

ARTIST, Inc. is a non-government organization that formally launched Malikhaing Guro in 1995 as a series of workshops, with the objective of establishing a creative training program for primary and secondary school teachers. This is in line with the group’s advocacy to create a meaningful and creative teaching-learning experience for both the student and teachers.

Literally translated as “creative teacher,” Malikhaing Guro was the response of ARTIST, Inc. to the Filipino’s continuous cry for relevant and quality education.

The workshop asserts that with the use of arts, the creative teacher becomes a performer, an innovator, a facilitator and a critic.

The program became pivotal for collaboration with teachers in the formal institutions, environmental advocates, development Turn to C2

INAUGURATION. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco (center in blue shirt) and Mayor John Rey Tiangco (in white shirt) lead the reopening of the Bangkulasi Bridge, which underwent repair in 2015, to the public on Friday. They also led the inauguration of school buildings in Navotas Elementary School (Central) and Daanghari Elementary School, which now have additional four- and three-story school buildings with 12 and nine classrooms, respectively. Mayor Tiangco also turned over 14 50-inch smart TVs to Daanghari ES as part of the city government’s efforts to support the use of information and communications technology to improve the quality of education provided to young Navoteños. Andrew Rabulan

Pangasinan govt honors fallen Marine LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Pangasinenses paid tribute to the bravery and heroism of Pfc. Eddie C. Cardona Jr., who recently died in a clash with members of the Maute terror group in embattled Marawi City.

Cardona was among the 13 Ma-

rines who were killed during a 16hour firefight against the Maute group in Barangay Lilod Madaya.

He was posthumously awarded the Military Merit medal by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 12.

In an official statement, Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III noted:

“There is no greater love than to offer one’s life for others and for his country... Surely, the fallen soldier’s noble deeds will not be forgotten, as the whole nation will forever remain grateful for his ultimate sacrifice.

To mourn Cardona and other Filipinos who fought and died in

Marawi, the provincial government hoisted the Philippine flag at half mast at the Capitol Plaza.

Espino also expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Cardona, who hails from Brgy.

Goyoden, Santiago Island in Bolinao town. Dexter A. See

Parañaque tops poll on cutting red tape FOR two consecutive years, the Civil Service Commission has awarded the City of Parañaque as the top-performing city in Metro Manila for its excellent delivery of frontline services without red tape and corruption.

The city was commended for its efforts to implement the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 in improving quality customer service to the public, according to the survey conducted by CSC-NCR in July last year.

Judith Dongallo-Chicano, CSC Director IV, said the local government of Parañaque received an overall score of 92.70 percent, “which is equivalent to excellent” in the ranking among the 16 cities and the town of Pateros in the metropolis.

Dongallo-Chicano said Parañaque, under the leadership of Mayor Edwin Olivarez, also “received a final score of 92.70 with a descriptive rating of excellent” in 2015.

Arta Watch is a mechanism to spot the local government agencies’ compliance with the provisions of the Anti-Red Tape Act, such as the “no noon break” policy and its anti-fixer campaign.

For the “no lunch break” provision, the city scored 100 for following the regulation on work hours of local government officials and employees of rendering eight working hours a day for five days a week.

When he assumed office in 2013, Olivarez ordered a crackdown on fixers after receiving several complaints about them camping at city hall, enticing the public to expedite transactions and documents for a price.

Parañaque, dubbed “The City by the Bay,” also received 97.71 points for their anti-fixer campaign, Chicano said.

PH wins gold, bronze in international skills tilt

By Jun David THE Philippines won gold and bronze medals in the 1st China International Skills Competition 2017 held in Suzhou and Shanghai this month.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Guiling Mamondiong praised Joven Hayagan, who got a gold medal in the IT Software Solutions for Business, and Jalanie Dimacal-

ing, for bronze in the web design development category.

Up to 21 competition skills and 24 demonstration skills were displayed during the CISC 2017 event, in which the Philippines only sent two del-

egates this year.

Hayagan has already given honor to the country through various skills competitions.

He was a silver medallist in the 11th Asean Skills Competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

last year.

He also won gold in the Philippine National Skills Competition (2016); the Bicol Regional Skills Competition (2017); and the Province-wide Computer Programming Challenge (2015).

LGUs

Standard TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 C2 TODAY Manila

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

‘Superbridge’ to break ground soon

By Robert A. Evora

C

ALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro—The longest cross-sea bridge in the country, spanning 15 kilometers, is due for formal groundbreaking before the year ends, Gov. Alfonso V. Umali Jr. said Monday.

Umali said the groundbreaking will be undertaken this December after the Oriental Mindoro Sangguniang Panlalawigan formally endorsed the proposal of a private company to be its “lead project management team”

to conduct the project’s feasibility study and detailed engineering design.

Engineer Ronald E. Javellana, chief executive officer of Far East Mega Builders Corp., recently submitted his proposal to

Creative...

From C1

ists and educators to revisit our taken-for-granted assumptions about culture, heritage and arts.

With the curriculum shift to K-12 and Asean integration knocking at the doorstep of the Philippine educational system, the Malikhang Guro manual accompanied recently implemented workshops and provided a handy guide for teacherparticipants and their colleagues to help their learners recognize the richness of their own heritage and culture, and respect other cultures.

workers, government organizations and artists.

In the year 2012, with the assistance of the NCCA, ARTIST Inc. published the Malikhaing Guro Manual.

It documented the colorful journeys and experiences during the Malikhaing Guro workshops and also opened up spaces for art-

the provincial government.

It asked Umali for a provincial board resolution for endorsement so that it can proceed within 90 days the engineering pre-construction feasibility study and detailed design of the superbridge.

Upon the receipt of the SP endorsement in 30 days, FEMBC will proceed with its environmental impact assessment study (EIAS); requirements for a geologic, fathometric, and environmental compliance certificate (ECC); detailed seismologic and seismotectonics analysis; and tsunami impact

and other minor studies.

“The construction of the floating bridge is an extreme engineering challenge that safety is the highest priority,” Javellana explained.

“Given the significance of the project’s contribution to the sustainable economic growth and development not only of the province but of the entire Mimaropa region, it is incumbent upon us to take advantage of these opportunities for the provincial and national governments to avoid incurring the cost of such feasibility study and of undertaking

the project,” Umali said in his letter to the provincial board.

The governor describes “Mindoro Superbridge” multibillion-dollar infrastructure project as the “first floating bridge in Asia.”

The ambitious infrastructure project has a construction cost of US$2.6 billion (about P130 billion). A Qatar-based foreign investor, identified only as Mr. Al Ahmad, will shell out 25 percent or $520 million for the project, while the rest of the cost will be shouldered by other local and foreign banks and investors.

“The Philippines and Mindoro and Batangas national and provincial governments will not spend a single penny in the construction of this expensive bridge project,” the governor said.

The bridge is on the National Economic and Development Authority’s list as one of the top priority projects of the government under the Public-Private Partnership framework, Umali explained.

The Mindoro Superbridge would be constructed in two stages, the Mindoro and Batangas sides, with Verde Island connecting the two stages.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING EASYCALL COMMUNICATIONS PHILS,INC., NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting of EASYCALL COMMUNICATIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. scheduled on 2017 July 13 at 10:00 a.m. at F1 Hotel Manila, 32th Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig with the following agenda: I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX.

Call to Order.

Determination and Certification of a Quorum.

Approval of the previous Minutes of the Annual Stockholders' Meeting and Organizational Meeting held on 2016 July 14.

Report of the President • 2016 Highlights • 2016 Performance Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the calendar year ended 2016 December 31.

Certification and Ratification of Corporate Acts for the year 2016.

Election of the members of the Board of Directors.

Appointment of External Auditors.

Other Matters

Only stockholders of record date at the close of business hour of 2017 June 01 the record date and time fixed by the Board of Directors are entitled to notice and to vote at said meeting.

Registration for the stockholders' meeting shall start at 9:30 am. If you cannot personally attend the meeting and would like to be represented by a proxy, you may accomplish and sign the attached proxy form (Annex "A"), which must be received by the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the office of the Corporation The Penthouse, Net Quad Building, 4th Ave. cor. 30th St., E-Square Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig not later than forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled meeting.

The Corporation or any of its directors or officers is not soliciting any proxy.

Taguig,__________ FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR (SGD) MELITHA F. GASAPOS Corporate Secretary ( M S - J U N E 2 0 , 2 017 )

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID HIRING OF AN EVENT ORGANIZER FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE ASEAN BREASTFEEDING FORUM AND HAKAB NA! - REBID 1.

The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act CY 2017 intends to apply the sum of Twenty Seven Million Three Hundred Fifty One Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Nine Philippine Pesos and Twenty Eight Centavos (PhP27,351,739.28) for the project listed below. Bids received in excess of each ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening:

IB No.

Name of Contract

ABC (PHP)

Single Largest Completed Contract

IB No. 2017248-A

Hiring of an Event Organizer for the Conduct of the ASEAN Breastfeeding Forum and Hakab Na! - Rebid

Cost of Bidding Documents (Php)

27,351,739.28

25,000.00

At least Fifty Percent (50%) of the ABC within the specified period in the Section III. Bid Data Sheet

2.

The DOH now invites Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the above-caption projects. Delivery of the Goods as specified in Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within the specified years from the date of submission and receipt of bids a contracts similar to each of the above-cited procurement projects stated in the Bidding Documents. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila and inspect the Bidding Documents at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents for each procurement package listed above may be acquired by interested bidders on 20 June 2017 to 11 July 2017 from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB Resolution No. 04-2012, dated 24 February 2012, in the amount specified above.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders who are interested to participate shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

Bidding Documents Fee may be refunded in accordance with the aforementioned Guidelines based on the grounds provided for under Section 41 of 2016 Revised IRR of RA 9184.

6.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference and the Submission and Opening of Bids at the COBAC Conference Room, G/F, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be opened to all interested parties on the schedule given below: Activity (Date & Time) IB No.

Name of Contract

Pre-bidding Conference

Submission and Opening of Bids Hiring of an Event Organizer for the Conduct 28 June 2017; 11 July 2017; of the ASEAN Breastfeeding Forum and 10:00 A.M. 09:00 A.M. Hakab Na! - Rebid Bids must Bids must be delivered to the address stated below. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated below: IB No. 2017-248-A

7.

Form of Bid Security

Amount of Bid Security (Not less than the required percentage of the ABC)

Cash, Cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank.

Bank draft/guarantee or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank: Provided, however, that it shall be confirmed or authenticated by a Universal or Commercial Bank, if issued by a foreign bank.

Surety bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security.

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—The Division of City Schools on Monday reported that 20 students from Marawi City have transferred to some of the elementary schools and a secondary school here as of June 15.

In his letter to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, Dr. Federico P. Martin, Baguio Schools Division superintendent, said 19 students from Marawi City were able to enrol in the elementary schools, while one high schooler was able to transfer into the city.

Martin disclosed that Baguio Central School and Emilio Aguinaldo Elementary School had five enrolees each from Marawi, Apolinario Mabini Elementary School had three transferees, Jose P. Rizal Elementary School

and Josefa Cariño Elementary School had two transferees each, and San Vicente Elementary School and Crystal Cave Elementary School had one transferee each from the conflict-stricken area.

The lone secondary student transferee was reported to have enrolled at the Pines City National High School for the current school year, he added.

Earlier, Domogan ordered the Division of City Schools to submit a report on the number of students from Marawi that actually transferred to schools in the city, so they could be monitored and counseled by concerned personnel of government agencies and the local government.

The report from the DCS will be given to the concerned offices of the local government to

validate the students’ identities in coordination with the leaders of the Muslim community “so that they will be accorded whatever assistance,” the mayor said.

Domogan had solicited the support of the Muslim community’s leaders to provide local officials and police the identities of their fellow Muslims from Marawi, who have sought refuge in Baguio.

Baguio and the concerned government agencies “are just taking the necessary precautions” to prevent the occurrence of untoward incidents that could compromise the peace and order situation in the city, he said.

The local government will be consulting other government agencies to prepare the appropriate programs for the Marawi transferees.

Vizcaya LRA lists 3k land titles

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Land Registration Authority here has completed close to 3,000 land transactions under its Land Titling Computerization Program.

Lawyer Melba Nina Quinto, deputy LRA chief, said they have already registered 2,889 land transactions from January to May 15 this year.

She said that out of the 2,889 registered land transactions, 2,078 documents were already released.

Quinto said the various land transactions registered and released were 385 chattel mortgag-

es, 71 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program transactions, and 1,674 requests for electronic copies of titles and certificates.

She added that 1,041 titles were also released from various conveyances such as sale, donation, extrajudicial partition, and subdivisions.

At least 156 free patent titles were also distributed to different beneficiaries in barangay Binogawan in Kasibu town through the “Handog Titulo Program.”

“Our land-titling computerization program is continuously under system updates and innovation, under which is the conversion of manually issued

titles into electronic certificates of title, or Philaries title, within a period of three years,” Quinto said.

LRA is now on its seventh year of LTCP implementation, which is designed to maintain online information on titles that are current, complete and accurate, to maintain the security and integrity of records by safeguarding them from tampering or destruction and to protect land titles from loss due to fire, theft and natural disasters.

Quinto said their LTCP is being implemented in partnership with the Municipal and Provincial assessment offices and Provincial Treasury.

will lead a fun-filled game of “Jack En Poy” for city officials and employees at the City Hall quadrangle starting at 4 p.m.

Like he did last year, Estrada will also cite top individual and corporate taxpayers in Manila on Friday, June 23, at the Manila Hotel at 6 p.m.

On June 24, Estrada will

grace a Thanksgiving Mass at San Agustin Church at 8 a.m., then at 7 p.m. he will attend the Grand Coronation Night of the annual 2017 Miss Manila pageant at the Philippine International Convention Center, which he revived in 2013 in a bid to cement Manila’s place in the world map of tourism.

Two percent (2%)

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

The DOH reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

For further information, please refer to: COBAC-C Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830

(SGD) NESTOR F. SANTIAGO, JR, MD, MPHC, MHSA, CESO III Assistant Secretary of Health COBAC - C Chairperson (MS-JUNE 20, 2017)

20 Marawi pupils in Baguio

Five percent (5%) No percentage required

Bid Securing Declaration

‘DRUG-FREE HOMES.’ Liliw, Laguna Mayor Ericson Sulibit (center) walks with Calabarzon Police Chief Ma. O R. Aplasca (left), local police and barangay officials as they walk to homes in the town to be marked ‘drug-free’ under the regional police’s project. (See ‘In Brief’ story below) Roy Tomandao

Full...

From C1 Maynila” along Roxas Boulevard.

The three-day event will give the public a “throwback” experience of what the city looked like during the early 19th century.

On June 22, Thursday, Secretary to the Mayor Ed Serapio

IN BRIEF ‘Drug Free Home’ project launched LILIW, Laguna—Police Regional Office-Calabarzon recently launched its “Drug Free Home” Project at the Liliw Covered Court in Barangay Pagasa here, with Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Ma. O R Aplasca leading local officials.

The highlight of the activity was the application of “Drug Free Home” stickers on the walls of the homes of residents along Barangay Rizal in Liliw, as certified by the barangay council and Barangay Captain Celeste Salariosa as free of illegal drugs.

The project is an extension of the PRO 4A’s Drug Free Family project in 2015. Aplasca said they changed its name to Drug Free Home “in realization that Filipinos observe extended families or multiple families residing in one household.”

The event launch started with an opening prayer led by Pastor Jann Ryan Cordoves, followed by welcome remarks from Liliw Mayor Ericson J Sulibit.

Police Supt. Elmar B Sillador, Chief of the Regional Police Community Relations Division, presented an overview of the project. Roy Tomandao

Secretaries lead Calax launching PUBLIC Works Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Manny Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Corp. on Monday led the groundbreaking of the CaviteLaguna Expressway (Calax).

Also present during the ceremony were Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez, Laguna Rep. Arlene Arcillas, Sta. Rosa Mayor Dan Fernandez, and provincial board members of Cavite’s seven districts.

Calax is a 44.20-kilometer four-lane closed-system toll expressway connecting the existing Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World IN BRIEF Iraq tells IS fighters to give up or die MOSUL-Iraqi authorities have dropped leaflets over Mosul warning civilians to stay inside and are telling jihadists to “surrender or die” after launching an assault to retake the Old City.

Iraqi forces launched an assault on Sunday to recapture the Old City, the last district of Mosul still held by the Islamic State group after a months-long offensive.

Commanders say the jihadists are putting up fierce resistance and there are concerns for the more than 100,000 civilians believed to remain inside the Old City.

Late on Sunday, Iraqi forces dropped nearly 500,000 leaflets over the city, warning that they “have started attacking from all directions”.

The leaflets calls on civilians to “stay away from open spaces and... to exploit any opportunity that arises during the fighting” to escape.

Iraqi forces have also stationed Humvees by the Grand Mosque on the eastern side of Mosul, which faces the Old City and is mounted with speakers.

The loudspeakers have been blaring messages to civilians, saying Iraqi forces “are about to end your suffering”.

Messages were also being broadcast to IS fighters, telling them: “You have only this choice: surrender or die”.

The push into Mosul’s Old City―a densely populated warren of narrow alleyways on the western side of Iraq’s second city―marks the culmination of a months-long campaign by Iraqi forces to retake IS’s last major urban stronghold in the country.

The loss of Mosul would mark the effective end of the Iraqi portion of the crossborder “caliphate” IS declared in the summer of 2014 after seizing large parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

AFP

Indian gives birth at 35,000 feet MUMBAI―An Indian woman gave birth to a baby boy on an international commercial flight as it flew at 35,000 feet, the airline said on Monday.

The unnamed woman, in her 20s, went into premature labor on Sunday’s Jet Airways flight between Damman in Saudi Arabia and Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

“The guest delivered a baby boy at 35,000 feet,” Jet Airways said in a statement, adding that a paramedic on board and airline staff helped with the delivery.

The Boeing 737 flight, which had 162 passengers on board, was diverted to Mumbai where the woman and her newborn were rushed to a hospital near the airport.

An official at Mumbai’s Holy Spirit hospital told AFP on Monday that both the mother and baby boy were doing well.

The woman was believed to have been around 32 weeks pregnant when she gave birth.

Jet Airways said it was the first time a baby had been born on one of its flights and that it had given him free travel for life on the airline.

In August last year a woman gave birth on a flight from the United Arab Emirates to the Philippines.

The plane made an emergency landing in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad so the mother and newborn could receive medical attention before continuing their journey to Manila. AFP

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

C3

65.6m displaced worldwide G ENEVA-Devastating conflicts, violence and persecution in places like Syria and South Sudan had left a record 65.6 million people uprooted from their homes by the end of 2016, the UN said Monday.

That number marks a jump of just 300,000 from the end of 2015, but is more than six million higher than at the end of 2014, according to a fresh report published by the UN refugee agency.

This is “the highest figure since we started recording these figures,” UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi told reporters ahead of the report launch.

“By any measure, this is an unacceptable number, and it speaks louder than ever to the need for solidarity and common purpose in preventing and resolving crises,” he said.

The figures released ahead of World Refugee Day showed that a full 10.3 million of the world’s displaced people fled their homes last year alone, including 3.4 million who crossed international borders to become refugees.

“This equates to one person becoming displaced every three seconds―less than the time it takes to read this sentence,” UNHCR pointed out in a statement.

Most people who have been forced from their homes flee within their own country, and are defined as internally displaced people, or IDPs. At the end of 2016, there were some 40.3 million IDPs in the world, down slightly from 40.8 million a year earlier, with Syria, Iraq and Colombia accounting for the greatest numbers.

Another 22.5 million people― half of them children―were registered as refugees last year, the UNHCR report showed, pointing out that this is “the highest level ever recorded”.

Syria’s six-year conflict alone has sent more than 5.5 million people seeking safety in other countries, including 825,000 last year alone, making it the world’s biggest producer of refugees.

Along with the 6.3 million Syrians displaced inside the country, these numbers show that a nearly two thirds of all Syrians have been forced from their homes, the report said.

As the Syrian civil war rages on, desperately needed funding for humanitarian aid in the country has begun to dwindle, Grandi said, lamenting that very little of the billions promised at an international donor’s conference in Brussels in April had so far materialized.

The Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 320,000 people, “is becoming a forgotten crisis,” he warned.

The UN refugee chief meanwhile voiced most alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in South Sudan, which he said was currently the world’s “fastest growing refugee crisis and displacement crisis.”

South Sudan’s civil war, which began in December 2013, has left tens of thousands dead and forced a total of 3.7 million people from their homes―nearly a third of the population.

Overall, the refugee population from the world’s youngest country swelled 85 percent last year to reach 1.4 million by the end of 2016, the UNHCR report showed.

And that number has ballooned by a further half million people since then, the agency said, stressing the most of the refugees had left since the “disastrous breakdown of peace efforts” last July.

Syria and South Sudan were far from the only countries where people were being uprooted en masse, with Monday’s report also pointing to large-scale displacement in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan, just to name a few. AFP

ANNUAL CARNIVAL. This is the general view during the 21st annual Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on June 18, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Two dead as suspected jihadists attack resort BAMAKO, Mali―Suspected jihadists crying “Allahu Akbar” stormed a tourist resort popular with foreigners on the edge of the Malian capital Bamako on Sunday, briefly seizing more than 30 hostages and leaving at least two people dead.

The assault on the Kangaba Le Campement resort comes after a similar strike less than two years ago on a luxury hotel in Bamako, which lies in the south of the troubled country.

Security forces who battled the gunmen at the site were continuing Sunday evening to search for the assailants who fled.

Nearby residents had first reported the attack after hearing shots while smoke billowed into the air, with at least one building ablaze.

“It is a jihadist attack. Malian special forces intervened,” Security Minister Salif Traore told AFP. They were backed up by UN soldiers and troops from a French counter-terrorism force.

“Unfortunately for the moment there are two dead, including a Franco-Gabonese,” he said, adding that the second body was being identified.

At least “32 hostages” were freed, Mali’s army said in a statement, adding that one of the at-

tackers was wounded and gave up his weapon. He also left behind “bottles containing some explosive substances”, the security ministry said.

At least 14 people, both Malians and foreigners, were injured, according to the ministry.

A witness interviewed on local television ORTM said he saw a man arrive on a motorcycle who “started shooting at the crowd” followed by “two or three people” who came in another vehicle.

The landlocked west African country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for several years, with Islamist fighters roaming the

north and centre of Mali.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is scheduled to visit Bamako on July 2 for a meeting with five Sahel countries, “is following the situation very closely,” the presidency told AFP Sunday.

Several people rescued at Kangaba said assailants had shouted “Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest)”, although no group has yet claimed responsibility.

The US embassy in Bamako had warned earlier this month “of a possible increased threat of attacks against Western diplomatic missions, places of worship, and other locations in Bamako where

Westerners frequent”.

At a France-Africa summit in Bamako in January, the owner of Kangaba, Herve Depardieu, had complained about the “alarming security information” given by foreign consulates “which seriously disturb our love of life and our freedoms”.

In November 2015, gunmen took guests and staff hostage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako in a siege that left at least 20 people dead, including 14 foreigners.

That attack was claimed by AlQaeda’s North African affiliate Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). AFP

At least 43 people killed in Portugal’s forest fires

MEMORIAL FOR KOHL. Maike Kohl-Richter, widow of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and Salomon Korn, chairman of the Jewish community of Frankfurt am Main, stand next to a makeshift memorial of candles and flowers in front of Kohl’s house in Oggersheim near Ludwigshafen, western Germany, on June 18, 2017, two days after Kohl died. Helmut Kohl, the former German chancellor who seized the chance to reunite his country after years of Cold War separation, died at the age of 87 on June 16, 2017. AFP

PENELA―Raging forest fires in central Portugal have killed at least 43 people, most of whom burned to death in their cars, and injured scores of others, the government said Sunday.

Nearly 600 firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched late Saturday to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande, about 50 kilometers from Coimbra, before spreading fast across several fronts.

“Unfortunately this seems to be the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires,” a visibly moved Prime Minister Antonio Costa said.

“The number of fatalities could still rise,” he said at the Civil Protection headquarters near Lisbon.

“The priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger.”

Portugal was sweltering under a severe heatwave Saturday, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several regions.

Some 60 forest fires broke out across the country during the night, with around 1,700 firefighters battling to put them out.

Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said 43 people burned to death, mostly trapped in their cars engulfed by flames in the Leiria region. At least 59 were injured.

The flames spread “with great violence”, moving out on four fronts, Gomes said. “It is difficult to say if they were fleeing the flames or were taken by surprise.”

Dry thunderstorms could have been the cause of the fatal blaze, according to the prime minister.

A number of villages were affected by the main fire and evacuation procedures had been put in place for some of them, Costa added. Officials were not immediately able to comment on the extent of the damage.

Spain dispatched two waterbombing planes on Sunday morning to aid the Portuguese fire service on the ground, Costa said.

He added a period of national mourning would be announced shortly.

“My thoughts are with the victims in Portugal,” EU commission head Jean-Claude Juncker tweeted. “I commend the bravery of the firefighters. EU civil protection mechanism activated & will help.” AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

Man in van kills 1 in London

World

Rich enjoy sushi amid chaos C ARACAS―While most Venezuelans struggle to buy food and make ends meet, a small group still manages to eat sushi and sip cocktails in exclusive discos and country clubs.

The country may be stricken by poverty and political violence, but a rich minority acts like they are untouched by the crisis.

Case in point: Caracas, one of the world’s most violent cities, is the first in South America to open a branch of the trendy Buddha Bar international nightclub chain.

In a country where basics such as flour and sugar are in short supply, Buddha Bar guests can order tuna steak, pork ribs or fish tacos―as long as they have dollars to pay.

“You can have as good a time here in Caracas as in New York, Dubai or Saint Petersburg,” says one of its owners, Cristhian Estephan.

Eight pieces of salmon and shrimp sushi here cost 55,700 bolivars, or the equivalent of more than a quarter of the country’s official monthly minimum wage.

Scenes of flames, tear gas and water cannons in the streets have dominated foreign coverage of Venezuela during recent months.

While the mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro show that Venezuelans’ anger at their hardship is boiling over, the well-off are still managing to have fun.

Behind tightly guarded and fortified walls, posh bars and eateries are full. The Buddha Bar opened in 2015, when the economic crisis was already well underway.

One customer, Ahisquel, says she joins in the protests herself but still comes to the bar once a week with her husband, an oil executive. Like most customers interviewed, she declined to give her full name.

“By day we throw stones and by night we come here,” she says.

“After the protests it is good to have a moment to relax -- though we’ll never relax until this government is gone.”

Even rich Venezuelans are affected by the country’s soaring inflation rate. But protected by their US dollars, they are better off than most.

For ordinary Venezuelans, “it’s very difficult,” says Ahisquel’s husband.

“In this country, if you are not paid in foreign currency, it is impossible to live.”

Many rich Venezuelans have left the country for Miami, Los Angeles or Madrid since Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez launched his socialist “revolution.”

But some of them like Lorenzo Mendoza―Venezuela’s richest man and the owner of Polar, the country’s largest food company―are content to stay.

Some are known as “boli-bourgeois,” champagne socialists who grew rich from Chavez’s “Bolivarian revolution.”

“We run when we see the boli-bourgeois. We can spot them a mile off,” says Carlos, a 49-year-old lawyer, sitting beside the tree-lined swimming pool near the golf course of the Caracas Country Club in the north of the capital.

The rise of the Chavistas changed life for traditional rich families like his.

“Everything is really expensive and only they can afford to live around here.”

New money talks in a country where Maduro is striving to continue Chavez’s “revolution.”

Venezuela’s economy logged strong growth before prices for its crucial oil exports started a downward spiral in mid-2014. AFP

RAMADAN. This general view shows Iraqi Shiite Muslims praying at the Great Mosque of Kufa in the city of the same name, 10 kilometers northeast of Iraq’s central shrine city of Najaf on June 18, 2017 during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

Attacker says he likes to kill all Muslims LONDON―Worshipers leaving a London mosque just after midnight on Monday were helping an unwell elderly man when a van deliberately targeted them, eyewitnesses said, driven by an attacker who shouted: “I want to kill all Muslims”.

The van swerved towards the people outside the Finsbury Park Mosque in north London just as they began to assist the man, who had collapsed.

“He turned left into the alleyway, and he just drove at people,” eyewitness Abdiqadir Warra told AFP. “Some of them he took a few meters.

A man was inside in the van, I saw with my eye, and the old man was also on the ground, and I see some people were also injured. Some of them were very bad.”

Locals then pounced on the driver and pinned him down while waiting for the police to arrive.

“The man, he tried to escape... but they caught the driver,” Warra said.

Eyewitness Khalid Amin told BBC television that the van turned deliberately left and “just hit the people”.

One man was trapped under the van and people tried to lift up the vehicle to free him.

Amin said that when people seized the driver, “he was shouting: ‘All Muslims, I want to kill all Muslims.’ Literally, he said that. Word by word.”

Police said that one man had been arrested at the scene and that no further suspects had been identified.

Another eyewitness, who gave his

name as Athman, told AFP: “People were screaming: ‘It’s a terrorist attack, it’s an attack, this guy attacked us’, and I had to run back and tried to save people who were still alive and giving water, helping the police.

“While he was in the police van he was waving for victory, he was very happy.

“He chose the time and he chose the place and he chose his target. So, it’s the holy month of Ramadan.

“The time, he was planning for it, the target, he was planning for it, and the place―outside a mosque.”

Mohammed Kozbar, chairman of the Finsbury Park Mosque, called for Prime Minister Theresa May’s government to take action. AFP

LONDON―A van plowed into pedestrians near a London mosque in early Monday, killing one man and injuring eight other people in what Prime Minister Theresa May said was “a potential terrorist attack”.

The 48-year-old driver of the van was detained by members of the public and then arrested by police.

Muslim leaders said worshipers were specifically targeted after leaving prayers near Finsbury Park mosque in north London shortly after midnight and linked the incident to a recent rise in anti-Muslim hate crime.

Witness Abdiqadir Warra told AFP the van “drove at people” and some of the victims were carried for several meters along the road.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it was a “horrific terrorist attack,” calling it “deliberate” and aimed at “innocent Londoners, many of whom were finishing prayers during the holy month of Ramadan”.

May was due to hold an emergency ministerial meeting later on Monday to discuss the attack.

It comes after two deadly Islamist attacks this year that used vehicles to ram pedestrians―one earlier this month in the London Bridge area and a March attack in which a man drove a car into crowds on Westminster Bridge.

One witness, Abdul Rahman, told the BBC he saw the van “deliberately run over about 10 or 15 people”. Rahman said he and another man wrestled the suspect to the ground and held him down for 20 to 30 minutes before police arrived.

A police statement said “One man was pronounced dead at the scene... Eight people injured were taken to three separate hospitals.”

Two other people were treated at the scene for light injuries.

Police said the male driver had also been taken to hospital as a precaution and would receive a mental health assessment.

Amateur video footage seen

by AFP showed at least three people lying on the ground, including one who was receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

“Due to the nature of this incident, extra policing resources have been deployed in order to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan,” the police statement said.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), an umbrella body for British Muslims, said the incident occurred outside the Muslim Welfare House on Seven Sisters Road, near the Finsbury Park mosque.

“Over the past weeks and months, Muslims have endured many incidents of Islamophobia and this is the most violent manifestation to date,” MCB head Harun Khan said.

AFP reporters saw a helicopter hovering overhead and several emergency vehicles blocking a section of Seven Sisters Road, a busy thoroughfare. AFP

‘Vietnam dissidents being harassed’

ARRIVAL. US actress Isabela Moner poses upon arrival for the global premiere of the film ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ in central London on June 18, 2017. AFP

HANOI-Plainclothes ‘thugs’ suspected of having links to Vietnam’s government have attacked dozens of dissidents since 2015 in a bid to silence critics in the one-party state, Human Rights Watch and activists said.

Freedom of expression is severely restricted in communist Vietnam, where independent media is banned and dissidents are routinely thrown in jail.

The government also has a long history of harassing bloggers and activists, with awareness of violent attacks growing in recent years as dissidents turn to social media to share accounts of bloody wounds and bruised limbs.

In a new report Monday, Human Rights Watch described 36 incidents of physical assault on dissidents by men in civilian clothing across Vietnam between January 2015 and April 2017.

“While the precise links between the thugs and the government are usually impossible to pin down, in a tightly controlled police state there is little or no doubt that they are aligned with

and serving at the behest of state security services,” the report said.

In many cases, the violence took place publicly in the presence of uniformed police officers who did not intervene, it added.

“The fact that thugs abducted activists in broad daylight, forced them into vans, and beat them demonstrates the impunity with which activists are persecuted,” said HRW Asia director Brad Adams.

The US State Department and other rights groups such as Amnesty International have previously reported harassment and abuse by plainclothes police.

The Vietnam government did not respond to a request for comment on the report.

Dissident La Viet Dung told AFP he was attacked by six men in July 2016 after playing a football match with other activists in Hanoi.

He was smashed in the face with a brick, and still bears a scar above his eye today.

“The attacks on me and others came from plainclothes men,”

said the 42-year-old software developer, who continues to face surveillance by authorities.

Fellow activist Pham Doan Trang, 38, said she has faced harassment at the hands of plainclothes police several times, including being physically assaulted at a protest in April 2015.

Activists also reported being punched, beaten with metal tubes or dragged into vans and abandoned in deserted areas, HRW noted.

Because the attackers are unidentified, victims say they have no legal recourse if they are harassed.

The rights watchdog called on international donors and trade partners to demand an end to the abuse in Vietnam, a leading recipient of foreign aid.

One of the fastest growing economies in the region, it has also attracted heaps of private foreign investment in recent years.

But moves to liberalize its economy have not been accompanied by a loosening of civil liberties. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

CULTURE & MEDIA

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

D1

LOCAL LUXURIES. Accents such as this Filipiniana Jeepney, along with other refined pieces that highlight Filipino creativity and ingenuity are displayed at Rustan’s and DTI’s ‘The Art & Soul of the Filipino’ exhibit.

F

ILIPINO talent is well known around the world—from their drive and passion in sports, to their grace and beauty on the pageant stage, down to their world-class, well-crafted indigenous products. The world has come to know the Philippines as a place of immense talent and great promise.

Filipinos are embraced abroad, and even more so at home, where there is a growing appeal in décor and furniture made from the country’s natural gifts.

This June, celebrating culture, creativity and nationalism, Rustan’s, in partnership with the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), presents The Art & Soul of the Filipino, a showcase of all things proudly Pinoy.

Until July 9, visit the exciting displays of Rustan’s Filipiniana Our Very Own products, which highlight Filipino creativity and ingenuity in design through a wonderful selection of accents, dinnerware, and linens. Local luxuries such as carved wood tabletop decor and refined pieces made of delicate capiz shells reflect the distinguished history and cultural heritage of the Philippine islands. Find as well an array of elegant linens and fabrics that will definitely elevate the ambience of the home, bringing in a touch of warmth to any room.

Alongside these designs, find other exciting creations at Go Lokal!, an inspiring initiative by DTI, which brings to the market new designs from aspiring designers and home brands.

Rustan’s, as the leader in lifestyle luxury and a staunch supporter of arts and culture, opens up its doors—offering opportunities and a great platform for these talented entrepreneurs.

Launched by DTI in collaboration with select retail partners, Go Lokal! was initially developed as an opportunity for the country’s micro and small enterprises. Here, entrepreneurs can test their consumer appeal and gauge the marketability of their products for export. From bags and shoes to decor made from indigenous materials, Go Lokal! promises an exhibit of exceptional one-of-a-kind merchandise that are uniqely Filipino. Catch the Go Lokal exhibit on the 5th level of Rustan’s Makati.

During this month of patriotism and pride, also gain a deeper appreciation and love for the Motherland through compelling narratives as captured by the award-winning photography group, TP5. The photo exhibit, which will showcase the works of Adel Samson, Bien Bautista, Jijo de Guzman, Kakai Manotok-Arroyo, and Jan Aliling, on the 5th Level of Rustan’s Makati until July 9.

See, feel, and experience the true breadth, depth, and beauty of Filipino creativity at Rustan’s The Art & Soul of the Filipino.

For more information, visit www.rustans.com.ph or drop by Rustan’s today.

CELEBRATING

‘The Art and Soul of the Filipino’ Exceptional one-of-a-kind merchandise from the Go Lokal! showcase at Rustan’s

Rustan’s Fil Kalesa Co ipiniana Small lored w G lass Base

Uniquely Filipino-made goods

Rachy Cuna’s

‘Arte Filipino’ PINOY Kami, Bow, an installation of 30 bamboo poles topped by slightly bent salakots painted in the colors of the Philippine flag, include Salo Salo, a stylized orange table with white plates, glasses, a pitcher, lamp, and kaldero, and Sa Pula Sa Puti, an iconic Filipino pastime depicted with red rooster cages and white metal roosters.

These were among the nine amazing installations in Rachy Cuna’s Arte Filipino exhibit at S Maison that the country’s premier floral architect prepared in celebration of Heritage Month.

A joint project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Filipino Heritage Festival,

The breathtaking Bangko Dance by the Bayanihan Dance Company ‘Arte Filipino’ celebrates Heritage Month at S Maison with Her Excellency Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Kok Li Peng (center) joined by (from left) Filipino Heritage president Armita Rufino, SM SVP for Marketing Millie Dizon, Floral architect of the Philippines Rachy Cuna, SM AVP for Operations Premier 3 Perkin So, Filipino Heritage finance director Araceli Salas and NCCA executive director III Rico Pableo

The Bayanihan Dance Company performs a variety of dances representing the different cultural influences that the country has embraced over the centuries.

Inc. and S Maison, the event brought together lovers of Filipino arts and culture who were awestruck at the works.

Rachy’s love for flowers was evident in his Bulaklakan installation of golden coffee branches abloom with large red hibiscus shaped plates; Hulog ng Langit created a golden reflection with oval shaped dried rattan sticks designed with hundreds of fossilized leaves and flowers; and Grande Flora, Rachy’s own painting of orchid flowers highlighted with crystals, amethyst, and jade in a chartreuse background.

The artist’s playful side was revealed in Bongga Bingo, the face of a woman with bingo baskets for her hair and cards for her earrings; the 20-foot Sorbetes Pinoy dressed up with moss and pandan leaves; and Sayaw Sayaw, Igorot dancers with Ifugao fabrics and antique baskets.

Singaporean Ambassador Kok Li Peng was the guest of honor during the launch, and took the lead in the ceremonial crowning of the bamboos with salakots. She was joined by Cuna, Filipino Heritage president Armita Rufino, FHFI finance director Araceli Salas, and NCCA executive director III Rico Pableo, as well as SVP for Marketing Millie Dizon and SM AVP for Operations Premier 3 Perkin So. The Bayanihan Dance Company opened the launch with dance performances that showcased our preserved indigenous Philippine art forms in music, dance, costumes and folklore. Harpist Holly Paraiso then serenaded guests with her own rendition of Original Pilipino Music.

Arte Filipino is one of the many exciting cultural events of S Maison at the Conrad Hotel.

Life

D2

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

The 1966 winners of the Van Cliburn Competition among them the Filipino fourth place winner Maria Luisa Vito from Iloilo (9th from left first row)

MUSIC CONCOURSE

Van Cliburn piano competition attracting hundreds of applicants

By Pablo A. Tariman

T

HE name of pianist Van Cliburn—the first American to win the first Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958—remains alive with the international piano competition named after him.

This year, 290 applications were received out of which 146 were selected for live Screening Auditions in London, Hannover, Budapest, Moscow, Seoul, New York, and Fort Worth, where they were heard by a screening jury of five accomplished, highly regarded pianists (Dmitri Alexeev, Russia; Michel Beroff, France; Janina Fialkowska, Poland/Canada; James Parker, Canada; and Pamela Mia Paul, United States).

Indeed, the competition attracts the world’s most promising piano talents to Fort Worth, Texas to compete for the coveted Cliburn gold medal. For the first time in its history, the 17-day competition will culminate on the big screen with concerto performances by six finalists accompanied by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Leonard Slatkin.

The Boston Globe once called The Cliburn “a cross between the Miss America Pageant, the Olympic Games, the Academy Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize.”

By coincidence, the American pianist who died in 2013 was a frequent Manila

visitor and probably the first classical pianist to perform at the Araneta Coliseum with the CCP Philharmonic, now known as the Philippine Philharmonic.

Fourteen years after the ticker-tape parade in honor of a classical pianist that beat Russian pianists, Cliburn was one of the visitors of Imelda Romualdez Marcos when she was hospitalized after an assassin tried to kill her with a bolo during a speaking engagement in 1972.

The friendship between the former first lady and the American pianist blossomed to such heights the latter agreed to give a fund-raising concert for the benefit of young talented Filipino musicians.

When Cliburn arrived in Manila in the early ‘70s for such a concert, the one who gave him the welcome bouquet at the airport was no other than Cecile Licad, Mrs. Marcos favorite prodigy.

That Cliburn concert was able to generate funds for the Young Artists Foundation, which funded several aspiring musicians among them Licad, Rowena

Van Cliburn in the company of President Marcos and former first lady Imelda Marcos, former CCP president now National Artist for Music Lucrecia Kasilag and Dame Margot Fonteyn at the National Arts Center in Mt. Makiling. (Photo: Malacanang Press Office)

Arrieta, Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz, the Bolipata brothers and Noel Velasco, among others.

In another fund-raising concert at the Araneta Coliseum with the CCP orchestra (now the PPO), Cliburn played the Tchaikovsky Concerto without the benefit of a rehearsal. The pianist was stuck in Leyte with the former First Lady and arrived in Manila just in time

for the concert, after which then CCP President Lucrecia Kasilag greeted Cliburn and orchestra conductor Luis Valencia backstage saying, “Amazing how this concerto went very well without a rehearsal.”

To be sure, the international piano competition carrying Cliburn’s name has Filipino connections. Two Filipino musicians—the late conductor Luis

Valencia and National Artist for Music and Kasilag—were once invited to be in the jury of this competition.

But so far, only one Filipino pianist made it in this competition: Iloilo-born Ma. Luis Lopez Vito who placed fourth in the 1966 edition of the Van Cliburn Competition with Romania’s sensational Radu Lupu as the first prize winner. On the other hand, two of the top prizewinners, Brazilian Cristina Ortiz and American Steven de Groote, had performed at the CCP to great audience reception.

Like Licad, Cliburn was a recipient of the Leventritt Gold Medal along with another frequent Manila visitor, Gary Graffman.

Reflecting on his 1958 musical triumph in a PBS interview where the topic shifted to Time Magazine describing him as the Texan who conquered Russia, Cliburn didn’t consider the event a big deal.

He said, “If they appreciate what you did—I am so grateful, because Russians were wonderful to me. They were such great audiences; I cannot begin to tell you. I didn’t conquer anything. As a matter of fact, they conquered my heart.”

By coincidence, Cliburn appeared many years back in the cartoon, Iron Man playing himself in the episode “Silence My Companion, Death My Destination.”

EDUCATION

SPIRITUAL PATH

Breeding innovative teachers for next-generation learners

Experiential series marks International Yoga Day

WITH holistic learning rapidly evolving the country’s educational landscape, it is crucial for it to be supported by teachers who can impart classroom instruction that works for 21st century Filipino learners.

With its commitment to help educators provide quality higher learning routes that go beyond traditional classroom practice, REX Book Store, Inc., in partnership with St. Paul University Manila, developed the Teacher Certificate Program (TCP-CDDS) as a special training program designed for Senior High School teachers to introduce concepts and procedures relevant to designing and supervising classroom instruction and in-depth mastery of content per subject area or discipline.

The 2017 batch of TCP-CDDS (composed of 442 senior high school teachers representing 230 private schools from all over the country) has graduated. The participants were given their shared-earned certificates during the culmination of their four-day Demofest held at St. Paul Manila.

Apart from increasing teachers’ capacities in developing and adopting innovative curricula, tools, and instruction strategies, the program awarded successful participants 12 units of credit (out of the 18 MA units equivalency of the TCP program) should he or she decide to pursue full graduate studies.

The training program was conducted from August 2016 to May 2017, and engaged 12 groups in intensive curric-

ulum development and instructional teaching training. The schedule has been made student-friendly to help schools comply with DepEd’s requirement for certification.

Optimized, purposeful teaching

To keep up with the learning styles of this generation, educators must have academic mastery, most especially the vision and leadership skills, in order to influence the success of their students.

Moreso, teachers need to depart from old ways and become bold advocates of innovative teaching, which is crucial for students’ learning and future careers.

In his speech, REX Book Store’s COO Don Timothy Buhain congratulated the teachers for their accomplishments. He also reiterated that to instill the needed reforms, the “seeds” of change must be planted now, in the classroom.

“Books alone won’t make the child better. It’s an ecosystem of things—the books, the assessment, the intervention, but most importantly, you, the teachers. At the end of the day, you are the ones who will inspire the students to become better. REX Book Store sees you as partners in reaching our highest aspirations for our Filipino youth; the program Para sa Bata, which aims to provide excellent professional development programs for our teachers, would not be successful without you at the helm,” he said.

Rex Publishing COO Don Timothy Buhain

Modern teaching advocates

During the ceremonies, group leaders—Mark Daniel Cruz (Columban College of Olongapo City), Andy Boncayao (Mt. Carmel High School-General Nakar, Quezon), Mary Joy Duhay Lungsod (Lyceum of Iligan Foundation), Allan Capunfuerza (Dominican College of Tarlac), and Nesie Fe Binatero (Bohol Wisdom School)—representing the five major subject areas shared their training experiences.

In its 67 years of existence, REX Book Store, one of the country’s oldest and leading publishing houses for educational materials, has been at the forefront of reforming the Philippine education system through academic resources and programs that advocate wholistic learning. To date, it has a network of 24 standalone branches and two showrooms to serve clients’ requirements nationwide. REX Book Store has published over 8,000 titles for pre-elementary, elementary, secondary, tertiary, and post collegiate studies, including law titles.

JUNE 21 is International Yoga Day. The United Nations made this declaration in December 2014, adopting a measure proposed by then Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who endorsed yoga as a method to discover “oneness with oneself, with the world and with nature.”

In a statement following the signing of the resolution, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed out the holistic benefits of the practice: “Yoga can contribute to resilience against noncommunicable diseases. Yoga can bring communities together in an inclusive manner that generates respect.

Yoga can even help people in emergency situations to find relief from stress.”

Some of the most famous practitioners agree that yoga transcends physical exercise. One of them, the late B. K. S. Iyengar, famously said, “Yoga cultivates… a balanced attitude in day-to-day life.”

The Brahma Kumaris, a UN Peace Messenger that advocates Raja Y o g a med i-

tation, commemorates International Yoga Day with a series of experiential programs across the country. The common theme of the free public events is, “Serving the world with minds that are in touch with inner treasures of peace and with The One Source.”

The first twin events were held last Sunday, June 18, at the Peace Villa in Tagum City; and at Inner Space in Ermita, Manila.

On Wednesday, June 21, the program goes to Davao Medical Foundation School, 5-7 p.m. (call 082 2858899); Thursday, June 22, Naga City, 5:30-7 p.m. (054 881-1939); and Makati, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

(0917 834-0118); Saturday, June 24, Davao People’s Park, 3-6 p.m. (082 285-8899); Baguio, 4-6 p.m.

(074 445-5935); and Quezon City, 4-6 p.m. (02 414-9421); Sunday, June 25, Legazpi City, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (052 480-1458).

For details, visit brahmakumarisph.org, or register at www.brahmakumarisph.org/ homeraja-yoga

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT in ANC leadership series this July

FORMER US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is headlining ANC’s Forum on Global Governance & World Economy on July 19 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.

In 1997, Dr. Albright was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government.

As Secretary of State, Dr. Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated for democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade, business, labor and environmental standards abroad. From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Albright served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and was a member of the President’s Cabinet.

ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel, continues to raise the level of discourse on global issues in the country by bringing one of the most influential women in history, to speak at the ANC Leadership Series this July.

Today, Madeleine K. Albright is a Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group and Chair of Albright Capital Management, an affiliated investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. Dr. Albright is a Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and she is the Chair of the National Democratic Institute. Dr. Albright is the author of five New York Times bestsellers.

In July’s forum, which will be moderated by multi-awarded broadcast journalist Karen Davila, Dr. Albright will share her views on the worlds current dynamic political and economic situation.

This is the second time that ANC is featuring a worldrenowned speaker at the ANC Leadership Series. Last year, ANC brought in Virgin Group founder and philanthropist Sir Richard Branson, who shared his life story and business knowledge to a crowd of business leaders, celebrities, and professionals in the forum moderated by Cathy Yang.

Tickets to “A Forum on Global Governance & World Economy: An ANC Leadership Series” featuring Madeleine Albright are priced at P35,000 and P20,000.

For inquiries and reservations, visit TicketNet or TicketWorld outlets or visit their websites at ticketnet. com.ph and ticketworld.com. ph. You may also call9115555 (TicketNet) or 8919999 (TicketWorld).

FRENCH HIP-HOP SHOW

The Swaggers is an all-female French group known for their contemporary and hop-hop dance shows

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two rehabilitation sites in Northern Cebu for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Part of the proceeds of the show was used to complete the third village, which will soon rise in Bogo City in Cebu.

The Swaggers, a group of six all-female performers founded by French dancer and choreographer Marion Motin in 2009, showcased real-life images through dance.

The group, which includes Laura Defretin, Lyd Ie Alberto, Carmel Loanga, Julie Moreau, Diana Ukbulut, and Oumoo Sy, won the Dance Delight Contest in France in 2010. During the same year, they became vice-champions of Hip-hop International in Paris; and in 2012, they also topped the Hip-hop Games Contest in Lille.

The performance demonstrated the sharing of emotions among the group and its consequences to others. The light inspired by photographs or cinematic sets of the show was meant to be exhilarating and enigmatic to move the viewers from different imaginary worlds.

The performance gave mallgoers a different perspective of hip-hop.

The In the Middle Hip-hop Dance Performance by The Swaggers was one of the At the same time, it was able to raise funds for the benefit of the housing projects of France-Philippines United Action Foundation (FPUA). The Foundation already completed many exciting cultural events at SM Aura Premier.

HE In the Middle hip hop show by the all- female French group, The Swaggers, shook the cultural world with a new and alternative approach to this dance genre. Held on June 6 at Samsung Hall at SM Aura Premier in Taguig City, it was ajoint project of Alliance Française de Manille, the Embassy of France to the Philippines, and SM Aura Premier.

‘Rogue One’ ad dominates Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards 2017 GLOBE Telecom continues to garner recognition for its acclaimed advertisement for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, entitled “Mask”. After its recognition at the prestigious Brand Film Festival New York, at the local Kidlat creative awards, and at last week’s PANAta Awards, Globe most recently received six more citations, this time from the AsiaPacific Tambuli Awards 2017.

The telco’s winning campaign took home one of just five Grand Prix awards for the Media, Branded Content and Entertainment category. The rest of its recognitions included a Gold award for Media, Video Screen; Gold for Humanity and Culture, Responsible Citizenship; Silver for Creative, Creative Effectiveness; and finally, Bronze for Creative, Public Relations.

Rounding up its wins was the award for Advertiser of the Year alongside its agency partner PublicisJimenezBasic who won Creative Agency of the Year.

The Globe advertisement told the story of a young Star Wars fan who hides her sickness behind a Stormtrooper mask, and whose mask helps her to be bold even when facing others whom she fears may harshly judge her. Beyond the ad, the #CreateCourage campaign also made waves with its engaging social media executions as well as the company’s use of the material to call for donations for the rehabilitation of the pediatric cancer clinic of the Philippine General

Executives from Globe Telecom show off their iconic Tambuli Awards trophies during the awards show held recently

Hospital that Disney also supported.

“It is meaningful campaigns like this that keep us inspired to develop more relevant content online,” said Albert de Larrazabal, chief commercial officer, Globe Telecom. “We are honored to be bringing home the Tambuli awards and we look forward to another opportunity to give our customers more compelling content that is as captivating and engaging as this.

The Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards is the pioneer award show globally on effective advertising for good. It honors brands that do good and do well — the seamless integration of creativity + human good + results. The AsiaPacific Tambuli Awards began in Manila in 2005, and opened up to the Asia Pacific region in 2012. The Tambuli (a native Filipino horn) is organized by the School of Communication of the

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, June 20, 2017

ACROSS 1 Lean-tos 5 Fortune 500 abbr.

8 Lunch hour, often 12 Hibachi residue 14 Hairy twin 15 Fifi’s friend 16 Distrustful 17 Bridge bldr.

18 Pier foundation 19 Yule tree decoration 21 Held up 23 Tarzan’s kid 24 Photo 25 Almost-grads 26 Ads 30 Sorority members 32 Kingly 33 Lisa Marie’s mom 37 “Fatha” Hines 38 Signified 39 Roulette color 40 Most squalid 42 Impressionist painter 43 Egg parts 44 Thinks fit 45 Increases 48 Gives the goahead 49 Soup cooker 50 Deli purchase

at SM Aura Premier

52 Pilot’s concern 57 Salt Lake state 58 Parrot 60 Like a Renoir model 61 Wealthy, to Pablo 62 Slough off 63 Avarice 64 Snail-paced 65 Comic — Conway 66 Catch sight of DOWN 1 Aura 2 PC owner 3 Later on 4 Inoculants 5 Can’t be 6 Nitpick 7 Most frizzy 8 Enjoys a siesta 9 Fails to include 10 OPEC vessel 11 More than wants 13 Icon 14 Counting-out word 20 Aurora, to Plato 22 Heavy-metal band 24 Show the way 26 CEO, often 27 Authentic 28 Human eater

29 Borneo’s archipelago 30 Gross 31 Red Sea peninsula 33 Has a quick look 34 Yearn for 35 Bank holding 36 Muses’ domain 38 Most whitish 41 Skyrocket 42 Doling out 44 Tiny circle 45 Commandeer 46 Barbecue spot

47 Not taut 49 Galumph 51 Nautical greeting 52 Beg pardon!

53 Weight rebate 54 Mini-guitars 55 Thoughtprovoking 56 Bandleader — Duchin 59 Fraternity letter

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) in collaboration with the industry, to create positive impact in society through marketing communications.

When the Rogue One video was launched in December 2016, the ad hit viral status in a matter of days, reaching 45 Million views from around the world. In the first two days of the campaign, the ad received 3.9 million views, 88,000 shares, and 144,000 reactions on the Globe Facebook page. It was also the only Filipino ad to be featured in CNN International’s article on 2016 Holiday Videos, a selection of ads which highlighted tolerance and togetherness; this despite the fact it was not a Christmas-themed story. It has also been featured in international websites such as The Huffington Post, Adweek, and Mashable to name a few.

B

ROADCAST giant GMA Network inked on June 15 a partnership agreement with boxing promoter ALV Events International to air the much anticipated bout between the Pambansang Kamao and boxing’s only eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and tough Australian fighter Jeff Horn aptly dubbed as the Battle of Brisbane: Pacquiao versus Horn on July 2.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017

From left: ALV Events International Chairman Arnold L. Vegafria (center) with GMA Network top guns Gilberto Duavit, Jr. (left) and Felipe L. Gozon (right)

Kapuso’s free TV broadcast rights

PACQUIAO versus HORN FIGHT to

MAJA SALVADOR on doing fight scenes in high-heels

Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee

Drama series inspired

by Bruce Lee CINEMAX has picked up the straight-to-series drama Warrior. Starting production on its 10-episode season this fall in Cape Town, South Africa, the action-packed series will premiere on Cinemax in Asia.

The show is inspired by an idea from Bruce Lee and created and executive produced by Jonathan Tropper under Tropper Ink Productions. Justin Lin and Danielle Woodrow will executive produce on behalf of Perfect Storm Entertainment, and Shannon Lee will executive produce for Bruce Lee Entertainment.

Warrior follows in the spirit of the tradition of adrenalized Cinemax dramas that we established with Strike Back and Banshee,” said Kary Antholis, president, HBO Miniseries and Cinemax Programming. He further adds, “We are brimming with excitement for this unique martial arts series combining Bruce Lee’s inspired conception with the immense storytelling talents of Jonathan Tropper and Justin Lin.” Warrior is a gritty, action-packed crime drama set during the brutal Tong Wars of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the second half of the 19th century.

The series follows Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who migrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances, and becomes a hatchet man for one of Chinatown’s most powerful tongs a Chinese organized crime family.

“As a show that proudly bears the imprimatur of Bruce Lee, it’s our intention to deliver not only explosive martial arts action – which we will – but also a powerful and complex immigration drama that is as relevant today as it was in the 1870s,” says Tropper.

“I’ve always admired Bruce Lee for his trailblazing efforts opening doors for Asians in entertainment and beyond,” notes Lin. “So I was intrigued when Danielle (Woodrow) told me about the urban legend of his never-produced idea for a TV show and suggested we bring it to life. Then, when Shannon shared with us her father’s writings – rich with Lee’s unique philosophies on life, and through a point of view rarely depicted on screen – Danielle and I knew that Perfect Storm had to make it.”

“Partnering with Cinemax has led to a wonderful collaboration with Jonathan Tropper, who has created a fantastic series inspired by Lee’s writings.

We are all honored to continue what he started,” he adds.

GMA will exclusively air the match on free TV starting at 10 a.m. with a replay at 11 p.m. on the same day.

The Network’s flagship AM station dzBB 594, FM station Barangay LS, and all RGMA stations nationwide will also air action beginning at 9 a.m. a live blow-by-blow account of the fight.

According to GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., the Kapuso Network is glad that fight fans can watch Pacquiao defend his WBO Welterweight title against Horn on GMA. “Nasisiyahan tayo na sa GMA muli mapapanood ang susunod na laban ni Manny. Alam natin na nasa kondisyon si Manny at bukod tangi naman lagi ang kanyang pinakikitang performance.”

Meanwhile, ALV Events International Chairman Arnold L. Vegafria is thrilled to team up with the Kapuso Network and looks forward to Manny’s triumph next month, “We’re very excited and it’s an honor to partner with GMA. We are one with the Filipino people in praying that Manny will win in his fight against Jeff Horn.”

Also present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon and Manny Pacquiao’s legal counsel Atty. Brando Viernesto.

Maja Salvador in an intense scene from the weeknight drama, 'Wildflower"

AFTER her trending and well-lauded fight scenes in Wildflower on the Independence Day episode, Maja Salvador reveals the struggles she went through to show that her character Ivy Aguas is not a woman to mess with.

“I’ve had action scenes in my past projects but so far, this is the toughest routine I did and I had to do it all in heels!” the star shares. “If you really love your character and you are giving your 100 percent to the show, there is really nothing you cannot do even if it’s really hard.”

“I would like to thank our fight instructor for guiding me all throughout the scene and to my heels for not giving up on me,” she jokingly added.

When asked if she is open to doing more action projects, the star answered back, “Why not? Just like what Ivy Aguas said, ‘bring it on!’ I like doing challenging projects because I can explore myself further and see what else I can offer as an actress.”

More action and more fierceness are expected of Salvador in Wildflower as the story heats up with Emilia’s (Aiko Melendez) evil plans to destroy Ivy. Will Emilia finally get the job done and kill Ivy? Wildflower airs weeknights on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

For updates, follow @wildflowerabscbn on Instagram, @RSBDramaUnitNew on Twitter and like the show’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ wildflowerchannel2/. Catch its latest episodes on iwantv. com.ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

Iñigo Pascual tops first Billboard Philippine Charts

Iñigo Pascual makes history as the first local artist to dominate BillboardPH Charts

MULTI-TALENTED artist Inigo Pascual leads the first ever Billboard Philippines Top 20 for his single “Dahil Sa’yo,” making him the first OPM artist to hit the no.1 spot in the BillboardPH Charts.

Pascual’s feel-good song is the top pick in BillboardPH’s June 12 chart, composed of 20 of the most popular local tunes across all genres.

“I was emotional when I first learned the news.

As a kid in the States, I’ve always dreamt of being in the Billboard charts,” shares the young singer.

The chart reflects current favorite hits of Filipinos in listenership and purchases across different platforms. According to Billboard.PH, streaming activity figures from Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube as well as download sales data from Apple iTunes rank the songs. From these sources, Nielsen Music collated to arrive at an average data to determine the final list of hits and hit makers.

Pascual wrote the song “Dahil Sa’yo,” the carrier

single of the eponymous album (Star Music). It has become a certified hit among today’s listeners since its October 2016 release.

The young singer’s chart-topping single is also included in BillboardPH’s Hot 100, ranking no. 21 in the most popular local and international songs of the same period.

Coming on the heels of his chart success is his digital concert for ABS-CBN’s music portal One Music PH (www.onemusic.ph) called “Inigo’s Playground,” which happens 6 p.m. on July 2.

His fans around the world can get to watch Inigo perform songs he wrote himself, as well as the performances by his special guests Ylona Garcia, Mariz Racal, Kyle Echarri, Moira Dela Torre, and mixes by Kidwolf, the producer of his debut album.

Like One Music PH’s previous digital concerts, the show will be available online to fans anyone with an Internet connection and a mobile device or desktop computer. Fans can also interact with him and get to watch hi digital concert in all angles with the show’s multi-camera setup.

The music portal is only one of the digital initiatives of ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment company, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

To watch the digital concert for free, all fans have to do is create an account on www.onemusic. ph, where they can also get instant access to music playlists, charts, videos, news and features about their favorite artists.

Meanwhile, three of Jona’s songs—“Pusong Ligaw,” “Maghihintay Ako,” and “You”—also made it to the first BillboardPH Top 20 Charts released on June 12, making the power belter the first Filipino artist to achieve such a feat in the highly anticipated music charts.

The Kapamilya singer shares that when she learned that BillboardPH was coming up with their own charts, she only wished that one of her songs

would get included. “I’m so thankful that not just one, but three made it. I’m grateful for the fans who continue to listen to my songs.”

Jona’s “Pusong Ligaw” is the biggest winner, ranking no. 3 in the first BillboardPH Charts. This is the theme song of the hit ABS-CBN afternoon teleserye with the same title.

“Maghihintay Ako,” ranked no. 6, is the track the Birit Queen member interpreted for Himig Handog P-pop Love Songs in 2016, while the song “You,” which is part of the “My Ex and Whys” movie soundtrack, is ranked no. 9.

All three songs are included in Jona’s self-titled album released in February this year, her first album under Star Music.

For more updates on Jona’s music, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at For more updates on Jona’s music, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/starmusicph, Twitter.com/starmusicph, and Instagram.com/starmusicph.

Power belter Jona debuts on Billboard PH Charts with three singles from her latest album