Manila Standard - 2017 June 26 - Monday

TERROR MAKES LIFE IN MARAWI MISERABLE

By Nash B. Maulana COTABATO CITY—Eid’l Fitr, one of the two colorful festivals that Muslims celebrate annually, will never be the same again after local terrorists overran Marawi City, the Philippines’ center of Islamic learning and culture.

Instead of preparing an array of food choices for reunions, Maranao families this year were rationed canned foods, rice and noodles in evacuation centers, mostly in Iligan City.

Luz Santos-Sani, a government engineer who assessed humanitarian facilities for refugees, said the condition of families sheltered in evacuation centers was miserable.

There was not enough water and they also lacked toilets.

With Mindanao placed under martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte, local officials issued an advisory prohibiting the holding of the Eidl Fitr prayer in public, open spaces—contrary to the usual Muslim practice.

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ISLAMIC FESTIVAL. Filipino Muslims gather at the Rizal Park’s Quirino Grandstand to offer prayers and celebrate the feast of Eid’l Fitr, a festival marking the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Norman Cruz and AFP

VOL. XXXI • NO. 132 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘Hostages collect bombs’ Military also checking Maute use of human shields

By Sandy Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

Another ‘Marawi’ foiled in Cotabato

T

HE military is checking reports that Maute terrorists are forcing their hostages to collect bombs in the battle zone in Marawi City, an Armed Forces spokesman said Sunday.

By Florante S. Solmerin THE military foiled a plan by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to launch a Marawi-like siege on Cotabato City, a security official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Sunday.

“The BIFF was able to mobilize maybe about 200 men plus more than 100 men from different private and criminal armed groups to launch a siege in Cotabato City. But they could not cross military lines so they just terrorized communities in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato,” a military commander based in Central Mindanao said.

The senior officer asked to go unnamed because he was not authorized to speak on the matter.

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Solon gets tough on ATM scam

By Rio N. Araja EASTERN Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Sunday his panel was now readying a proposal to classify as economic sabotage punishable by life imprisonment the use of skimming machines to make illegal withdrawals from the automated teller machines.

Evardone, the head of the committee on banks and financial intermediaries, said a tougher law was needed against ATM scams because those were considered merely theft despite the involvement of millions of pesos.

He said banks had been complaining that suspects could Next page

COMBAT-READY. Philippine Marines hold a drill at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa City while a C-130 cargo plane is on standby to take them to the battlefields of Marawi, where the IS-linked Maute terrorists are holding out after a failed siege. Manny Palmero

“We have reports on the ground that hostages are being used as human shields. They are using the hostages even for collecting bombs. These are things we need to verify,” said Lt. Col. Jo-Ar Herrera, speaking in Filipino.

There were also unconfirmed reports that the terrorists have killed several hostages, he added.

It is uncertain how many hostages are being held by the Maute group terrorists, but these include a priest, Chito Suganob, who was taken along with several churchgoers on May 23.

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House dared: Recall order vs CA justices

Marawi native tops UP batch ’17

By Rey E. Requejo

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines summa cum laude Arman Ali Ghodsinia lamented on Sunday the sufferings of those affected by the Marawi siege, saying it was difficult for him to celebrate his graduation day and commemorate Eid’l Fitr.

In his valedictory speech at the

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines has called on the House of Representatives to recall its show-cause order against three Court of Appeals justices who ordered the release of six Ilocos Norte officials being detained in

By Rio N. Araja

the House for contempt.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the IBP also urged the members of the House committee on good government and public accountability to exercise sobriety to prevent the conflict between the judiciary and the legislative Next page

Softdrinks tax plan goes against WTO, says Angara

By Macon R. Araneta SENATOR Sonny Angara said Sunday the proposed two-tiered excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages could violate the rules of the World Trade Organization.

“The WTO may find such twotiered taxation discriminatory as the trade body generally bars its members from taxing imported product at higher rates to favor

domestic products,” said Angara, chairman of the ways and means committee.

“As a member country of the WTO, we should ensure that our tax regimes fully comply with international rules.”

The tax reform measure recently passed by the House of Representatives includes a provision imposing a 10-peso excise tax Next page

UP, Diliman, Quezon City, Ghodsinia called for peace and unity.

“In Filipino, this is called pagmamalasakit [empathy],” Ghodsinia said in Filipino. “It is one of the most beautiful words. Pagmamalasakit.”

“The lives of our fellow Filipinos, both Muslims and Christians, have been at risk due to the aggression of certain groups. Rama-

dan just took place and yet many of our brothers and sisters have been forced to run for their lives.”

Coming from a poor family in Marawi, he recalled how his mother, Miriam, lost his sick brother because they did not have the money to bring him to a doctor.

“How painful it is to live in a society where people are left behind Next page

MALASAKIT. Arman ‘Ali’ Ghodsinia, a Marawi City native who graduated summa cum laude from the University of the Philippines Batch 2017, delivers a valedictory message with the theme ‘Pagmamalasakit’ during the 106th general commencement exercises at the UP Diliman Amphitheater in Quezon City. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and BioTechnology. Ey Acasio

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News

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

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Senate lifts 5% limit on donations S By the government’s count, 26 civilians have been killed by the Maute group.

Herrera said they were also validating reports that Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of Islamic Stateallied terrorists in the Philippines, had already left Marawi City.

“Our take is that because he has not been heard giving orders to the troops on the ground, it’s possible that he is no longer in the conflict area,” Herrera said in Filipino.

Only Abdullah Maute, one of the Maute brothers who head the terrorist group, could be heard on military monitors, he added.

The military on Sunday observed an eight-hour ceasefire to enable Muslim residents to celebrate Eid’l Fitr.

Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermosa of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said five rescue teams of Moro Islamic Liberation Front were to enter the conflict zone

before the end of the ceasefire to look for trapped civilians.

In the Palace, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the deployment of a 404-foot supply and operation ship, the BRP Davao del Sur in Cotabato, would help quell the rebellion in Marawi.

“Apart from delivering military supplies and relief goods, the vessel will be utilized as a backup floating medical facility to treat the wounded,” Abella said.

“BRP Davao del Sur is also ready to provide the support required once the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and rebuilding of Marawi begins,” Abella added.

Rear Adm. Rene Medina, commander of Naval Force Western Mindanao, said the ship will help secure the coastal waters of Cotabato and serve as a staging pad of the Augusta Westland attack helicopters.

“Its presence will boost the security in the area,” Medina said.

The Justice department on Sunday said two arrested Abu Sayyaf members who provided medical treatment to wounded terrorists fighting in Marawi City have been

subjected to inquest proceedings.

Jadzrie Harad Saabdula and Jamal Kalib Jamil were presented before the department’s special panel of prosecutors for inquest proceedings on rebellion charges.

The two Abu Sayyaf members were arrested pursuant to the arrest orders issued by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as martial law administrator.

The DoJ’s special panel of prosecutors are expected to issue a resolution and file the case against the two before the Cagayan De Oro regional trial court, which was designated by the Supreme Court to hear the cases against the Maute terrorists.

The hearing was held last Saturday morning at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan De Oro City, where most of the arrested Maute terrorists are temporarily detained, Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said.

Saabdula, 50, and Jamil, 18, were arrested Thursday while they were buying assorted medicines at a pharmacy in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

Saabdula, a nurse at the Banguingui (former Tongkil town) municipal hospital who went on absence without leave, is the brother of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Nadzmi Saabdula alias Commander Global.

The two suspects—both from Sulu—were reportedly buying antibiotics, antibacterial, pain relievers and other types of posttraumatic medicines.

The Justice department has already indicted several arrested members and supporters of Maute group, including Cayamora Maute and Ominta Romato Maute, alias Farhana, parents of the Maute brothers who led the attack in Marawi City on May 23.

Also charged with rebellion before the Cagayan De Oro RTC were former Marawi City mayor Fajad Salic; Mohaamad Maute, alias Abu Jadid, alleged bomb maker of Maute group; and Faridah Pangompig Romato, Aljadid Pangompig Romato and Abdulralman Dimakuta Sevad, the three Maute members were intercepted

by Coast Guard while on their way to Manila.

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Terror...

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on every liter of sugar-sweetened beverage containing locally produced sugar, while others will be taxed P20 per liter.

During last week’s Senate hearing on sugar-sweetened beverage tax, the Department of Finance, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Economic Development Authority likewise said they were not supporting the two-tier system to avoid possible challenge at the WTO. In 2011 the WTO ruled that the Philippines had violated its obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade by taxing foreign alcoholic beverages at rates 10 to 40 times higher than the brands made locally from home-grown materials such as sugar and palm.

Angara said his committee would consider lowering the rates, limiting the coverage and shifting to sugar-content taxation from volume-based taxation.

Under the House bill, sugarsweetened beverages include sweetened juice drinks, tea and coffee; all carbonated beverage with added sugar; flavored water; energy drinks; sports drinks; powdered drinks not classified as milk, juice, tea and coffee; cereal and grain beverages; and other non-alcoholic beverages that contain sugar.

Based on the latest price survey of the Department of Finance, the retail price of a one- liter CocaCola bottle will increase from P22 to P34; the sachet prices of powdered drinks Nestea, Tang or Eight O’ Clock will increase from P9 to P20; and 3-in-1 coffee from P5 to P8.

Angara said that, with the proposal, the prices of some sugary drinks would increase by 50 percent or much higher than in other countries.

Meanwhile, Senator Leila de Lima has called for a thorough review of the possible adverse impact of the administrationsponsored Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN program on millions of poor families.

She has filed Senate Resolution 407 urging the appropriate Senate committee to study the potential effects of the TRAIN, which has been passed on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

“There is an urgent need to investigate such impact in aid of legislation, especially in light of the TRAIN bill in the Lower House,” De Lima says in her resolution.

The TRAIN, a priority measure of the Duterte administration, seeks to lower personal income taxes and estate taxes but will impose higher excise taxes on fuel, sugar sweetened beverages and new cars to recover the losses from the lower personal and estate taxes.

Critics of the tax reform program claim that the increase in excise taxes will drive up the prices of basic commodities and added to the burden of the poor.

But Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani Sayadi said she had to toe the line for security. She said it pained her to prevent her fellow Muslims from holding prayers in public places, but a government security review of the events preceding the Marawi siege showed that terrorists took advantage of a huge religious assembly from May 16-17 to transport firearms and ammunition.

Santos-Sani, the district engineer of Marawi City, also reported to her superiors in the Department of Public Works and Highways cases in which food supplied by the government and humanitarian organizations was hardly enough, prompting her department to send in truckloads of food packs.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said he was tasked by Secretary Mark Villar to deliver the donation, consisting of 450 sacks of rice, 90 boxes of canned goods and 69 boxes of 3-in-1 coffee.

Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the region was profoundly grateful for the assistance which she and DPWH-ARMM Regional Secretary Don Loong received Friday. The truckloads of food assistance will

be turned over to the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Assistance Response Team.

Many evacuees have also not performed the Eid prayer because of the lack of water and lavatory facilities for personal hygiene.

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said this year’s celebration of Eid’l Fitr was the saddest in recent history.

“This local militant group robbed us of the chance to observe Ramadhan peacefully, and stole from us the opportunity to celebrate Eid’l Fitr and be with our loved ones in this religious occasion,” Adiong said in a statement on Saturday.

“For centuries, this Islamic tradition has been observed uninterrupted until now. It pains us to see families who can’t even share meals together, pray together and continue observing this Muslim tradition simply because our current state doesn’t permit such ‘family gathering’ to take place.”

Amid the ongoing crisis in Marawi City, President Rodrigo Duterte urged Muslims and Christians to build a society grounded on love, mutual respect and understanding.

“I join our Muslim Filipino community in celebration of Eid’l Fitr,” Duterte said in his message.

“The first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal always brings

great joy to our Muslim brothers and sisters. This signifies the successful journey towards spiritual purification through a month-long fasting. On this special day, remember to thank Allah for bestowing upon you the resolve, courage and fortitude to obey His commandments during the blessed month of Ramadhan,” Duterte said.

“May this renewed sense of spiritual accomplishments give you the strength and courage to cultivate our communities. In times when all odds seem stacked against us, it is our willpower and faith that will always see us through. Let us channel our energies towards fostering national unity—because dedicating our lives to the betterment of humanity is the best way to demonstrate our devotion to God,” the President said.

“Together, let us work towards building a society that is grounded on love, mutual respect and understanding,” he said.

Senator Grace Poe, in her message, said she hoped that Eid’l Fitr would serve as a symbol of the collective pursuit of peace and unity in a time that the country’s solidarity was being put to the test.

“Let us stand together against the forces that seek to instill fear in us,” Poe said. With Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta

sionary tactic to distract the military in Marawi.

The BIFF, founded by the late Ameril Umbra Kato, was known for its alliance with local terrorists groups such as the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups. The government had also declared the BIFF a terrorist group for coddling foreign terrorists and for supporting the Islamic State.

Based on an intelligence report, a copy of which was obtained

by Manila Standard, the BIFF was among “other possible threat groups” that could conduct terrorist acts in some parts of Cen-

tral Mindanao while government forces were focused on defeating the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups in Marawi.

“The BIFF’s plans will be mostly launched in Maguindanao and Cotabato City,” the report said.

A total of seven improvised explosive devices made of 60mm mortar shells with handheld radios as detonators were already transported to the city more than a week before the Marawi siege.

“These IEDs were manufactured during the second week of May,” the report said.

‘Hostages...

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By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III has issued a special order exempting the assistance to displaced Marawi residents from the five-percent limit set by the Senate.

He said the war against terrorism was not won with just bullets and bombs.

“It is won by the unity of the people and, through this measure, I hope to show our displaced brothers and sisters that they are not forgotten”, Pimentel said.

He said the fighting in Marawi between the military and the IS-aligned Maute terrorists had displaced thousands of residents as government forces closed in on the enemy He said the need for food of the Marawi residents in the evacuation centers was projected to increas, as the government must provide three meals a day.

He earlier said the Duterte administration should start planning the rehabilitation of Marawi as the government forces were getting closer to resolving the conflict.

Pimentel issued his statement after Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said government forces were now in control of 96 of Marawi’s villages and working to neutralize the remaining members of the Maute group still hiding in isolated sections of the city.

He said the government was prepared to invest as much as P20 billion to rebuild Marawi, but the private sector’s assistance would be needed to provide livelihood and economic opportunities to Marawi’s

more than 200,000 population.

“The financial resources the government is committing to Marawi City will help repair the infrastructure damage and help the residents to get back on their feet,” Pimentel said.

“But after we help the residents and the city heal, we must provide them with jobs and economic opportunities because while recovery is our initial objective, prosperity should be the ultimate goal. In this regard, the private sector can play a significant role.”

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella had earlier announced that the Executive Order for the P10-billion Bangon Marawi program was now being prepared for the President’s signature.

Malacañang has also endorsed a P10-billion-supplemental budget to finance the rebuilding efforts in Marawi City.

Pimentel said that business groups in Mindanao could take the lead in exploring investment opportunities in Marawi City after the government secures the area and restores normalcy in the city.

“I believe that if the government and the business community successfully rebuild Marawi City and show that we care for our distressed countrymen in Mindanao, this will help prevent the seeds of extremism from taking root,” Pimentel said.

House...

to question the order in a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 that may be filed with the Supreme Court,” the IBP says. ‘‘If, in the future the Court of Appeals should find that there was a violation of the constitutional right of the Ilocos Six against self-incrimination, the remedy is to appeal such a judgment to the Supreme Court.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other House leaders who issued the show cause order―Rep. Rudy Fariñas of Ilocos Norte and Rep. Reynaldo Umali of Negros Oriental―are lawyers and members of IBP. The IBP asked the House to respect the authority of the Court of Appeals to act and rule on the petition for habeas corpus filed by the detained Ilocos Six officials, and in the same way the contempt and detention power of the House must also be respected.

“A petition for habeas corpus was filed with the Court of Appeals questioning the propriety of their detention on the basis of the assertion that, in refusing to answer the questions of the committee, they invoked their constitutional right against selfincrimination,” the IBP says.

“The petition was acted upon by the Court of Appeals. Again, such a petition is clearly within the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals.”

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bodies from escalating, saying they should instead uphold the rule of law and exhaust all remedies provided by law.

“On its part, the Board of Governors [of the IBP] strongly urges the House of Representatives to reconsider its position by recalling the showgrowth given the opportunities in to his fellow Maranaos while cause order issued against the life like many other Filipino,” he thanking his family and friends, justices of the Court of Appeals,” says the IBP statement From A1 said. professors and other graduates.

“Here I am speaking to you as Miriam, for her part, said Eid’l signed by its national president and forgotten simply because they proof that regardless of religion, Fitr was a sorrowful one because Rosario Setias-Reyes. do not have enough money,” he socioeconomic status or ethnic of the Marawi siege.

“Under the circumstances, said. ties, anyone can excel if equal opShe said the Maute terror despite the public perception While the Autonomous Region portunities are available to all.” group could not represent Islam, it does not appear that the in Muslim Mindanao was rich in He said that as scholars of saying,”We Muslims are not bad Court of Appeals has infringed natural resources, the people still the nation, his fellow graduates people. They are just one group upon, interfered with or denied remained poor, he said. should aim for more. destroying the image of the Musthe power or authority of the He called on the minority peo“As a student of molecular biol- lims.” ple like him to strive hard, and ogy, I know that each and everyGhodsinia earned a degree of House of Representatives,” the said being a minority was not a one of us is made up of the same Bachelor of Science in Molecu- IBP says.

The mandatory organization setback. building blocks of life. Under- lar Biology and Biotechnology “Here I am standing in front of neath all of our differences, we are from the College of Science with of lawyers in the Philippines you today as a living proof that just all made up of the same mol- a general weighted average of echoed the appeal issued last members of the minorities like ecules that, aggregated, form the 1.176. He is one of the 36 summa week by Chief Justice Maria us Maranao can also do well and human body,” he said. cum laude graduates from UP Lourdes Sereno and CA Precontribute effectively to societal He dedicated his achievements Diliman. siding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. to the House leadership to morrow they are out on bail. That law would secure their extradition. instead avail itself of the remis a big problem for them because He said while banks had ad- edies available under the rules From A1 the law is obsolete.” opted safety measures to pre- of law in questioning the orders Evardone said an illegal with- vent fraud, criminals were clever issued by the appellate court’s afford to post bail of P15,000 to drawal made through a skimming enough to find ways to perpetuate Special Fourth Division.

P20,000. machine was a clear case of eco- ATM skimming.

“If the House of Represen“I have met with the secu- nomic sabotage and for which bail He appealed to the central bank tatives is of the position that rity heads of different banks and should not be allowed. to cut short the June 2018 deadline the grant of bail by the Court they have raised their problem,” And because many of the sus- to change the ATM cards of cliof Appeals was done in grave Evardone said. pected perpetrators were foreign- ents who are still using magnetic abuse of discretion, the remedy “You arrest the suspects and to- ers, Evardone said, the proposed stripes.

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Solon...

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On June 21, BIFF rebels attacked a school in Barangay Malagakit and took civilian hostages and used them as human shields when the military and police responded to the attack. The gunmen also shot dead a militiaman and destroyed a Christian church before they fled.

The military quickly dismissed speculation that the attack was a spillover from Marawi City, but said it could have been a diver-

It added that the BIFF plan was in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao; to support the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups’ siege in Marawi; and retaliation for military operations during the past months.

The military might have foiled a Cotabato City siege but it is closely monitoring the deployment of some BIFF elements in the Davao region.

“The monitored presence of BIFF elements in Davao region suggests that they could have established networks in the area as

well as focused their activities on trainings to enhance their military capabilities,” the source said.

The military was doing everything to avert “test mission bombings” after these BIFF training and surveillance activities.

It said key cities, including Davao, are “probable targets” of these terror acts.

Sources said a BIFF plan to conduct a series of bombings in Davao City last February was averted.

They said BIFF members conducted training on casing, surveillance and counter-surveillance for 28 people.

News ‘Extend IP claim period’ THE House of Representatives passed on third and final reading a measure extending for another 20 years the period during which cultural communities and indigenous peoples could claim ownership over their ancestral domain despite the death of the principal author of the measure.

House Bill No. 5350 aims to give the indigenous cultural communities and peoples more time to secure a land title.

Under Republic Act 8371 or The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, cultural communities and indigenous peoples only have until October 2017 to avail themselves of their right to own their ancestral lands.

The late Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog said the provisions in RA 8371 were never operationalized, citing the failure of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to come up with rules and regulations to implement the law.

As such, indigenous peoples never benefited from the law.

“It is imperative that the efficacy and efficiency of Section 12 of RA 8371 be extended for another 20 years upon the expiration of the first period if we are to give meaning to the intents and purposes of the said law,” read a narrative of Dalog, who passed away on June 3 due to sepsis secondary to pneumonia.

Apart from Dalog, the other authors of the bill were Representatives Maximo Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, Ronald Cosalan of Benguet, John Marvin Nieto and Edward Maceda of Manila, Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato, Jose Panganiban of ANAC-IP, Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela, Wilter Palma of Zamboanga Sibugay, Fredenil Castro of Capiz, Arlene Arcillas of Laguna, Gabriel Bordado of Camarines Sur, Sitti DjaliaTurabin-Hataman of AMIN, Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao, Arnolfo Teves Jr. of Negros Oriental, Marlyn Agabas of Pangasinan and Eleanor Bulut Begtang of Apayao. Rio N. Araja

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

Solon sees 20% income hike N

By Rio N. Araja

INE out of 10 taxpayers could expect their purchasing power to increase by 20 percent if the administration’s proposed tax reform measure is enacted into law.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said the pending bill could help improve the lives of many individual taxpayers.

“The tax reductions are

bound to rev up consumption spending by middle-class families, which may well help counteract possible delays in new business investments due

to the declaration of martial law in Mindanao and Marawi siege,” he said.

The Senate is anticipated to pass the tax relief measure once its regular session resumes on July 24, he said.

Citing the projections of COL Financial Group Inc., the country’s leading online stockbroker, Atienza said “the cut in the personal taxes will benefit mostly salaried workers.”

“It will lead to a 20-percent increase in disposable income

for 93 percent of taxpayers,” he said.

The House of Representatives approved on third and f inal reading House Bill No. 5636.

Under the bill, those receiving an annual compensation of not over P250,000 shall be exempted from paying income taxes.

On the other hand, workers receiving P250,000 but not over P400,000 shall be taxed 20 percent of the excess of

THE Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on Sunday urged the government to help rice farmers amid several issues besetting the industry, including reports on fake rice, high rice prices in Marawi, and the expiration of the quantitative restriction on rice importation.

“The rice industry remains in severe crisis despite programs and policies boasting

rice self-sufficiency. Landlessness remains a chronic problem of rice farmers,” the KMP said in a statement.

“Our agriculture remains vulnerable to calamities brought about by typhoons. Agricultural products are undervalued, thus farmers endures low income and wages, resulting into deep poverty and indebtedness,” the militant group added.

KMP said lowering the rice prices in the local market as well

as reports of rice shortage have been used by the government to justify grain importation.

Massive importation, however, has resulted in price increases and rampant rice smuggling, the KMP said.

Last week, the National Food Authority assured the public that there is no fake rice in the country.

NFA Administrator Jason Aquino made the statement to settle the controversy sparked by

social media posts alleging the sale of fake rice in local markets.

“There is no fake rice. We appeal to the media to help us disseminate the correct information on the fake rice issue,” Aquino said.

Aquino said the NFA has already prepared flyers to help educate consumers on the issue.

The NFA chief backed his statement with test results submitted by the Food Development Center, which checked samples

of alleged fake rice in different parts of the country.

FDC director Jocelyn Sales gave a presentation on the tests made, based on microscopic, starch, and sensory analysis.

The tests disputed claims that the samples are fake.

“All these prove that there is no fake rice in the Philippines.

To those who could not get over whether this is real or fake rice, give samples to the NFA,” Sales said.

583 LGUs get funding support AT LEAST 583 towns across the country will be receiving funds from the national government amounting to P8.17 billion through the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities program being administered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The ADM program aims to contribute to the full attainment of empowered, responsible, and responsive local government units. The scheme of transferring funds through this program is expected to have a much stronger equalization effect among LGUs. In a statement, DILG officer-incharge Catalino Cuy said that funds will be used for 1,959 local projects such as water system, evacuation facility, local access roads, small water impounding, and sanitation and health facilities.

Cuy said the recipient municipalities belong to the second batch of recipients that have complied

over P250,000.

Those earning over P400,000 but not over P800,000 shall be taxed P30,000, plus 25 percent of the excess of over P400,000, while those earning more than P800,000 but not over P2 million shall be taxed P130,000, plus 30 percent of the excess of over P800,000.

Self-employed individuals and professionals shall also be taxed less on gross sales or receipts.

CELEBRATION. A girl looks at balloons for sale before ‘Eid’l Fitr’ prayers at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on June 25. The ‘Eid’l-Fitr’ festival marks the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

Militant group urges govt to help rice farmers

By Sandy Araneta

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with the DILG’s Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping and the assessment of their Performance Management System as well as the adoption of the corresponding improvement measures.

Early this year, the first batch composed of 547 towns received P8.15-billion ADM fund.

While the ADM fund empowers LGUs to propose and implement projects that are responsive to their constituents’ needs, Cuy points out that the beneficiaries are held responsible and accountable in using the funds to improve the performance of public services.

The ADM program is following a five-year governance roadmap that generally aims to contribute to the attainment of a fully decentralized basic service delivery in all municipalities.

This year, it aims to make Local Development Councils fully functional and responsive to national priorities.

ART ATTACK. Grade 11 learners of the Jose Rizal National High School in Makilala, North Cotabato create contemporary art work using organic materials during their class. Geonarri O. Solmerano

Senator: Abolish college tuition

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Sonny Angara on Sunday expressed optimism that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will sign into law the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education bill, recently approved and ratified by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“I am very optimistic that the President will sign this on or before his scheduled State of the Nation Address in July.

It could be his biggest and best announcement for all of us that day,” the lawmaker said in a press statement.

Angara, vice chairman of the education committee and a co-author of the bill, pointed out that once the bill becomes a law, poor students will be able to pursue their college education at no cost if they enroll in state universities and colleges (SUCs) as well as local universities and colleges.

Angara stressed that the bill will remove a major hindrance to tertiary education.

“With this law, even the financially incapable Filipino families can give their children college education without worrying how to pay for it because it will be for free,” he said.

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Opinion

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Jeepneys just part of the problem

W

ITHOUT a doubt, jeepneys are a dirty, uncomfortable and often unsafe way to travel.

Motorists also know these diesel-powered smoke belchers as a major cause of air pollution and traffic congestion.

A public utility vehicle modernization program launched last week by the Transportation department hopes to change all that, by replacing all jeepneys 15 years or older--there are about 200,000 of them— with more fuel-efficient and environmentally sound alternatives.

This is not the first time a jeepney phaseout has been

attempted, and it remains to be seen if the Duterte administration can succeed where its predecessors have failed.

The previous attempts ended in failure largely because the governments in power lacked the political will to stand up to a noisy minority of jeepney owners and drivers, who made their displeasure known by staging transport strikes and ac-

cusing those who supported the phaseout of being antipoor.

On paper at least, the new program addresses these problems by getting jeepney operators and drivers involved early in the planning.

At the program’s launch last week, 20 transport groups and cooperatives, including the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, aired their support for the program, and the government promised to ease the transition with a financing program that offers jeepney operators low equity, low interest rates and longer payment terms to acquire new vehicles.

The Department of Trade and Industry said local car manufacturers and body makers will be tapped to provide modern, safe and environment-friendly vehicles.

The Transportation department, on the other hand, sought to allay fears that the program would hurt PUV drivers and operators and emphasized that the government wanted to work with them to effect change.

This was a promising start, but still many things can go wrong.

Not all transport groups, for example, are behind the program.

In February, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at

Operator Nationwide staged a transport strike in Metro Manila and key cities across the country to oppose the modernization program.

Modernizing the mass transit system should not necessarily mean getting rid of jeepneys, they said.

Another possibility is that the program’s goals may become diluted as the government compromises to keep the support of transport groups.

Finally, there is no guarantee that the program’s driver retraining component will work, or that jeepney drivers, long accustomed to having their way on the road, will even go through the process.

Aging jeepneys, after all, are only half the problem.

The bigger problem is the lack of discipline shown by their drivers, who think nothing of stopping anywhere on the road to let off—and wait—for passengers, while stopping traffic behind them, with no regard for other motorists. Another problem is the attitude that we owe the operators and drivers a living, simply because they are poor, and that their economic status entitles them to special treatment.

It is attitudes such as this that also need changing, if the modernization program will have any chance of succeeding.

Roadshow

engaged in the art as well as the science of dealing with patients in their illnesses and treating or curing them. She is engaged rather in the scientific study of the very things that physicians treat and cure. She has the intelligence, the skill, the scientific acumen and the time to engage in the examination of those recondite scientific questions for which medical practitioners have neither time nor expertise. It is a like distinction you have between a lawyer and a jurist. And we need jurists now.

We need jurists because lawyers can agree about the provisions of the law but will wonder about how the discrepant provisions should be read together, and how all of them make up the framework of an ordered society.

The recent tiff between the House of Representative and the Court of Appeals is a good example—a stand-off that prompted the Chief Justice and the Presiding Justice

I MISSED sending an article last Wednesday because we were doing a roadshow—an investment forum in two major cities of Taiwan, the capital Taipei and Taichung City, which is the center of light manufacturing industries.

I thought I could dash off a column on the train from Taipei and Taichung, until I realized that we took the high speed rail transit, which zoomed at 270 kilometers per hour. In 40 minutes, we had traveled what would normally take 2 and a half hours by land, even through the island’s ultramodern superhighways.

Last June 19 and 20, the Department of Trade through its Board of Investments organized, along with Meco, two investment forums where we presented the case for the Philippine economic environment, as one ideal and sustainable for Taiwanese investors. In light of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, we want to entice more investors to come to the Philippines.

The delegation from the Philippines was headed by Trade undersecretary and Board of Investments managing director Dr. Perry Rodolfo, who did an excellent presentation of the advantages of doing business in our country.

Aside from Dr. Rodolfo, part of the team of speakers were Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator and CEO Atty.

Wilma Eisma, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority general manager Pocholo Paragas, who spoke about tourism joint ventures and the Build! Build! Build! Program as well, and a long-time CEO of the biggest Taiwanese locator in Subic, Mr. Jeff Lin. BDO’s Jonathan Ravelas also gave a situationer on the economy from a private sector standpoint.

Some 250 executives and entrepreneurs attended the Taipei presentation at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, while more than a hundred attended the Taichung event the following day. Earlier on Monday, June 19, there were business-matching talks in the Meco office in Taipei supervised by our outgoing trade attaché, Benedict Uy, and his replacement come July, Mike Ignacio, who was transferred from India to Taiwan. Ben Uy has done an excellent job promoting the Philippines to Taiwan businessmen in the four years that he has been posted there, one year of which was already under the Duterte administration. The incoming trade officer, Mike Ignacio used

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Now, let’s have more jurists!

IT WAS a record high for the Bar Examinations. It has been repeatedly asked since the release of the results why there was a radical departure from the 12 percent to 35 percent usual passing rate for Bar Examinees.

As a matter both of logic and of educational measurement, the following are plausible answers: First, the students this year were more clever than their predecessors. Second, the examination questions were easier. Third, the tests were more scientifically constructed and more pedagogically sound. I find that question legitimate—and the answer, whatever it might be, worth pursuing, because if the sharp improvement in results is attributable to tests that are more soundly constructed, then, by all means, the trend should continue.

But not all lawyers are happy, and the reason is obvious. For a long time now, the legal profession has been considered the privileged enclave of the few

who muster the Bar Examination, no matter that a good number make it through sheer happenstance. I have had a good number of students who hardly ever gave a correct answer in class but slithered their way through the Bar. And so, we now are awash in lawyers in this country, and while Shakespeare would have preferred to kill some of them, I am happy rather that one more reason for delays in the disposition of cases has been addressed: The dearth of lawyers actively involved in litigation. I found however insufferable arrogance the raised eyebrows of the deans of Manila’s so-called leading law schools about this year’s top-notchers. It seems to be the tacit assumption that the top positions are reserved for Manila graduates, with a sprinkling tolerable every now and then, from the provinces!

But I think we should have more jurists. And—to repeat a point I

The jurist is a scientist who investigates the law as a scientist does the object of his science.

made in the past—a jurist need not be a lawyer. The concerns are different, as are the methods and the goals of the study. The lawyer is formed and trained to take up one side of a legal dispute over legally demandable rights and to defend a client’s interests according to the dynamics of the adversarial process. The jurist is a scientist who investigates the law as a scientist does the object of his science. It is the jurist who

tells us the provenance of the law, the principles behind it.

It is the jurist who criticizes its assumptions, discusses its hermeneutics and relates it to social order and the goal of a coherent society. It is the jurist who examines the moral problem of justice in relation not the positivity of the law.

For a lawyer, every law, unless declared void by the Supreme Court, is valid. For the jurist, the facticity of the law is no guarantee of its validity—the latter, being a matter of rational consensus!

There are analogies in other disciplines. The present ChairDesignate of the governing board of the Cagayan State University, Dr. Lillian de las Llagas, is a highly trained medical entomologist-epidemiologist and parasitologist. She has been engaged in high-level research on dengue, among other projects. She is not a physician. She does not hold herself out to the public as

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

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

MEMBER

PPI

Chairman Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager OIC-Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors City Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Romel J. Mendez Art Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

A5

16 years of Epira IT WAS 16 years ago when Congress enacted Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electricity Power Industry Reform Act. The law was envisioned to make the local power supply reliable and affordable by fostering competition in the industry. Broadly speaking, anyone who is old enough to remember the blackout-laden years of the 1990s would perhaps agree that Epira achieved its minimum goal of at least bringing some semblance of stability into an otherwise volatile industry.

By a stroke of coincidence, this June saw a record decrease in electricity rates, perhaps a testament to Epira’s general effectiveness. After a P0.29per-kWh reduction in May, distribution utility firm Manila Electric Co. announced an additional P1.43 of decrease for June, effectively bringing down the rate to P8.17 per kWh, the lowest in nearly eight years, since December of 2009.

For a typical residential household consuming 200 kWh, this translates to a P285 decrease in electricity bill.

The June rate also reflects the refund of Meralco’s overrecovery on pass-through charges amounting to P6.9 billion from 2014 to 2016. Meralco successfully petitioned the implementation of the refund with the Energy Regulatory Commission, which granted the request on May 11.

To many, that current retail rates are the same eight years ago, combined with evidently

improved disto anticipate open tribution efburgeoning ficiency (sysdomestic dethoughts tems loss at mand for enorlando an all-time ergy, which oxales low), record some estilow outages, mates say will and increased triple by 2040. innovation, demonstrate that It thus recognizes the pivotal Epira was achieving its intend- role that a stable energy suped vision for the power sector. ply plays in economic developIt has let the market work as it ment, an area where a vibrant, should, foremost of which was competitive investment market successfully allowing private is non-negotiable. sector investments to drive Another of Epira’s innovastrong load growth. tions, the Wholesale Electricity Indeed, many stakeholders Spot Market (WESM), has, as believe that it is private sector envisioned, become a venue for involvement—the much-need- market competition, resulting ed lifeline to the then ailing, in fair and competitive power notoriously corrupt state-con- prices. In fact, overall generatrolled energy bureaucracy— tion charge has decreased this that has proven to be Epira’s June by P1.0253 per kWh, from most vital legacy. After all, the P4.88 in May to P3.86 this series of big-ticket investments month. A crucial factor here in the power sector could not is the P1.25-decrease in power have been possible without the sourced from WESM. It is imlandmark law. portant to note that this became “Epira came in June 2001. possible despite the expected Maybe, from the start, it was higher power demand in Luzon going slow. But from my per- in the summer months, in addisonal observation, there’s a lot tion to fewer plant outages. of power projects that came on In the last two summers, we stream for the last three or four thankfully did not see a repeat years, [and] a lot of capacity of the power price hikes of still coming on stream. Not bad 2013. Brown-outs were miniat all, because it takes years to mal. This is encouraging but put to bed a power project,” one or two breakdowns from Emmanuel de Dios, GE Philip- base load power plants will pines CEO and formerly De- quickly cause debilitating partment of Energy undersec- outages. To sustain economic retary, told Business Mirror. momentum, we need to enAmong others, this require- courage more investments ment for long-term big-ticket in power plants that use the investments is the wisdom newest technologies and opbehind Epira’s market-driven erate with the highest effistance. It had the foresight ciency. These power plants

will ensure reliable supply at the most affordable prices while at the same time being compliant with environmental regulations.

Environmentally friendly renewable energy, about which there is much hype, is still an expensive and unstable source that threatens to further burden all consumers with another move to increase rates. It is a policy that needs serious rethinking and merits a congressional investigation on how much and where all the Feed In Tariff—which by now might be in the billions —was spent.

At the end of the day, it is the consumers—from individual households to multibillion-peso industries—that ultimately benefit from an energized power sector. Stable prices lead to savings.

Increased operational efficiency of generation companies lessen blackouts. No one is exempt. Now on its 16th year, the Epira is by no means a perfect piece of legislation— domestic power rates remain one of the most expensive in the region—but it has successfully laid the groundwork for a buoyant energy sector.

Ambassador Del Rosario’s column will resume this week.

MAIL MATTERS

Customs Administrative Order still subject to consultation I WRITE in response to the article published by Othel V. Campos last June 14, 2017 entitled “Travel group slams Customs order on airport staff overtime fees.”

It must be emphasized that the draft Customs Administrative Order is not yet final and is still subject to public consultation wherein the affected stakeholders are given the opportunity to submit their comments and recommendations; The draft CAO finds strong legal basis in Section 1211 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act which specifically provides that Unloading of cargo from a vessel or aircraft from a foreigner port during official nonworking hours shall be allowed subject to payment of service fees by shipping lines, airlines, or other interested parties at rates prescribed by the Commissioner. In effect, Section 1211 will repeal the CAO no. 07-2011 mandating observance of the 24/7 shifting schedule. It is axiomatic that a mere Administrative Order cannot take precedence over a substantive law such as the CMTA; and The provisions of the Labor Code is NOT application to the employees of Bureau of Customs but the Civil Service Law’s rules and regulations. Under the said law, government personnel are required to render not more than forty (40) hours a week, in excess of which shall be subject to payment of overtime services. The rendition of services beyond the required hours under civil service law would be tantamount to involuntary servitude which is prescribed by our own Constitution, considered as the paramount law of the land form which all other laws must emanate from.

ALTHEA E. ACAS Project Manager CMTA-IRR Project Management Office Bureau of Customs

Roadshow From A4 to be in Brussels, London and San Francisco before his assignment to New Delhi, and now here in Taiwan.

Joining the delegation were top officials of the Clark Development Corp., Freeport Area of Bataan (formerly the Mariveles Export Processing Zone), Erlinda B. Pamintuan, chairman of the Subic-Clark Development Council, the policy-making body which synchronizes the investment programs for both important Central Luzon sites, as well as Meco directors.

The initial results were encouraging.

Right after the seminars, some 20 business groups engaged their Philippine counterparts, expressing interest in locating here. A meeting between Clark International Airport general manager Alex Cauguiran and both China Airlines and

of the Court of Appeals to issue an unprecedented joint statement. This is a departure from the Chief Justice’s position at the beginning of her term: that the High Court speaks through its decisions and resolutions. And so the matter must have been serious enough to warrant such a departure.

I am also told that the committee that has worked on an amended Code of Crimes is done with is drafting labors, and is ready to submit its handiwork to Congress. But my issue is more fundamental. If it is a matter of re-defining crimes, increasing penalties for some offenses, decreasing them for others, then there is really not that much progress made. I have called attention to the fact

IT WAS bad enough that the world saw that the Philippines had elected a senator who appeared incapable of responding directly to fairly simple questions asked of him in a 25-minute conversation with a television show host. What was worse was, Senator Antonio Trillanes’ interview at BBC’s HARDTalk, hosted by Stephen Sackur, showed that he was prepared and more interested to sow disinformation, dishing out information without factual basis. His objective was clearly to discredit, if not bring down, President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Unfortunately for him, he succeeded in accomplishing the very opposite. He embarrassed himself as he made statements which were completely not responsive to the questions. In no time at all, his interview spread on social media with comments that ranged from heckling to jeers, to outright revulsion and loathing.

Senator Trillanes may perhaps have banked on the fact that disinformation has effectively been Truth always used by leaders around the world to sway and control has a way of the minds of people. For catching up. instance, as written by Nour Salman, a media and cultural studies researcher, Russia has come to the forefront of the disinformation war in the digital media age. It has far exceeded the Soviet Union’s capacities with the flow of propaganda both internally and externally, Salman added.

With this, the Russian government is able to limit the Russian public’s access to information on internal problems, focusing on external threats to garner support for the Russian government’s foreign policy maneuvers.

In this age of digital media, one who seeks to earn the trust and support of the people must be ever-conscious of speaking the truth. In cases that are heard by courts, for example, one who foists lies loses his credibility and loses his case. *** What is disinformation and how is it different from misinformation?

Both entail the absence of truth, but disinformation entails intentional deception. James Fetzer of the University of Minnesota explains that misinformation can be defined as a false, misleading or mistaken information while disinformation entails the distribution, assertion, or dissemination of false or misleading information in an intentional, deliberate or purposeful effort to deceive, confuse and sway the audience’s perception.

While the age of social media has made the world smaller by connecting people and making access to information fast and easy, the downside is, it has also made it easier for people with their own agenda to create and disseminate inaccurate and false information. Disinformation is sometimes called the proliferation of fake news but Salman refers to it as the weaponization of information. What this essentially means is that both the state and non-state actors can play an influential role in changing public perceptions about a certain crisis, topic or person to push their own agenda. Weaponization of information or disinformation is a skill where the actors use the tools of a free society such as the media and social media to distort reality, Kenneth Weinstein explains.

Anyone who is minded to sow disinformation whether through mainstream media or the social media must remember that truth has a way of catching up and exposing the ill intention of the actor. One must remember too that there are laws that can make one answerable for his acts.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

EVA Airlines officials was likewise arranged.

On June 21, the Taiwan Food Fair was opened at the huge Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, where a dozen food producers from the Philippines exhibited their world-class products side-by-side with their counterparts from so many countries in Asean, Japan, Korea, Europe, North and Latin America.

Prior to the hectic three-day Philippine roadshow, DTI Undersecretary Rodolfo along with Atty. Bong Alikpala, Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez’s representative, also went to Kaohsiung City on June 6, along with this writer and Meco directors. Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s heavy industry center and is the site of one of the world’s largest and most modern seaports.

Through these all, we had to reassure potential investors that despite all the security issues that have hounded us these

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Disinformation

days specifically in Marawi City, the rest of the country and for that matter, the rest of Mindanao remains a safe and peaceful haven for foreign business and tourists as well. *** It wasn’t all business, though.

On June 19, the huge National Concert Hall of Taipei was filled to the rafters with a Taiwanese audience who enthusiastically applauded the Philippine Madrigal Singers on the last night of their Taiwan concert tour. Within a ten-day sojourn, our internationally acclaimed singers performed in Pingtung, Tainan, Taichung, and other venues in Taipei before their finale in Taiwan’s historic concert hall.

Aside from us in Meco, there were very few Filipinos in the audience, so I was pleasantly surprised at the following the Madrigals had among the Taiwanese.

They gave a deafening ovation that required three encores from the Madrigals,

that our congested jails and the brutal fact that no one ever becomes a better person by serving time should spur us to the re-examination of penal theory, the ends of punishment, the nature of punishment and the process of penalty. In fact, even calls for the restoration of the death penalty and spirited opposition to the proposals raise the same issue. But this is a task not for lawyers but for jurists, and the mistake, it seems, has been relying on lawyers—prosecutors mainly—to do the job. It is jurists who should have been tasked or, at least, consulted.

Recently, the Graduate School of Law of San Beda College granted its first “Doctor of Juridical Science” degree to Prof. Jeremy Gatdula of the University of Asia and the Pacific. He had earlier done his Master of Laws studies at the University of

followed by a bonus: our singers sang the Beatles’ “Let It Be” at the grand staircase of the National Concert Hall, and the audience was allowed to record it in their mobile phones as a memento of that beautifully memorable night. *** I recall that in October of 2000, when I headed the Philippine Tourism Authority, we sent the Pangkat Kawayan of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines to Babylon for the Arab Cultural Festival held in that cradle of ancient civilization which was once called Mesopotamia.

Before that in June of 2000, then-DTI secretary Mar Roxas and I were asked to substitute for President Erap, who had to cancel a state visit to the United Kingdom on account of the ongoing strife in Maguindanao against the MILF. And who did we bring along to regale the Brits in the Millennium Dome by the Thames?

Cambridge. His doctoral dissertation addressed the challenging if testy relation between natural law, the Constitution and the Supreme Court. When retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno opened the proceedings by commending Prof. Gatdula for having written “substantial work,” Justice Vitug interjected, with obvious praise for Jemy, that the Chief Justice’s characterization was “an understatement.” It was a great work—not only in the number of pages it covered (which really does not matter that much) but more in the depth and difficulty of the subject dealt with. But that is what it takes to be a scientist of the law—not merely one who reviews black-letter provisions in relation to a client’s plaint or demand. It is not, to be sure, a “practical work”: Neither bench book, nor reviewer, and the law student who hopes to find some sort of quick guide to the law will not

The Pangkat Kawayan, too, which was very well appreciated by the Brits who sponsored a Philippine Day in London, ably handled by then UK Ambassador to the Philippines Alan Collins and the late Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James, the very effective Cesar Bautista.

Through strife, through peace, through good times and bad times, music, the arts, and culture constitute a universal balm that bonds people of all races and beliefs together.

And the Philippines, with its plethora of talent and creativity, has so much to offer in this regard.

During the investments roadshow in Taiwan last week, I told the audiences that aside from business advantage or even personal security, the Philippines is a feel-good place any time and all the time, because it is “where Asia always wears a smile.”

have much use of it. But it is exactly the kind of critical examination that a scientist produces and that the evolution of the legal system calls for.

Ever since the Enlightenment, and its decline owing to its failure to deliver on its exaggerated claims and also after humanity saw the dark side of the virtual idolatry of reason, there have been attempts to re-think the role of science. One thing remains certain: We cannot, without serious threat to our own humanity and to the future of human cultural evolution, do without it. And we need it everywhere—even, I should say especially, in what relates to the law! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

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World

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

IN BRIEF Families on the border have brief reunion CIUDAD JUAREZ―After more than a decade apart, the Pastrana family on Saturday finally got to embrace during a special event allowing nearly 200 families separated by the US-Mexico border to spend three minutes together.

The meeting took place in the middle of the murky Rio Grande―which divides the Mexican city Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, Texas, and is crossable this time of year― under the watchful eye of Border Patrol agents.

“It has been a very long 11 years,” said Claudia Pastrana, a 42-year-old from Ciudad Juarez, after hugging her sister and niece who now live in Texas.

“It is an unforgettable moment.”

More than 2,500 people of the 195 families separated by immigration or deportations attended the event, dubbed “Hugs Not Walls,” which is organized by the non-profit Border Network of Human Rights group.

It is the fourth round of the event, and the second since the presidential election of Donald Trump, who has on numerous occasions targeted Mexicans with anti-immigration rhetoric.

“It is a way of protesting and raising a voice against aggressive policies of the current [US] president,” said Fernando Garcia, director of the Border Network.

Border patrol authorities stood on guard “so that no one is going to cross at the time of the hugs,” said Ramiro Cordero, spokesman for the El Paso sector’s border patrol.

After the brief but spirited meeting, Pastrana, who attended with her son and nephew, returned to the Mexican side.

From there she waved her arms in a long farewell to her sister, until she lost sight of her. AFP

Celebrating Incan festival of the sun CUSCO, Peru―At the highest point of the Coricancha temple in Cuzco at dawn, an indigenous actor interpreting a ceremony of the ancient Inca raises his hands to receive the sun’s first rays.

But these are changing times for the ancient Inti Raymi festival, one of the most important Incan religious ceremonies: nearby, a drone flies overhead, recording the staging.

For today’s South American civilizations, June 24 marks the southern hemisphere’s winter solstice. But for the country’s indigenous population it commemorates the beginning of the sun’s journey back to “Pachamama”―the word for “Mother Earth” in Quechua, a language spoken by some 3.2 million Peruvians.

Approximately 80,000 people crowd in and near Cuzco, a southeastern Peruvian city, for the celebration, many clad in vividly colored costumes.

The theatrical representation at the ancient Incan ruins Saksaywaman draws some 3,500 audience members, as locals and tourists alike observe the reenactment of ancient rites and sacrifices meant to ensure a good harvest.

Actors portraying the Incan emperor and his wife go from Coricancha to Cuzco’s main square, where ancient ruins of the Incan city stand along Baroque churches and palaces built by Spanish conquistadors.

“I feel happy and proud, like every Cuzco resident, to participate,” said Alexander Carbajal, who is taking part for the second year and portrays a soldier of the imperial guard of the Inca in the staging. AFP

Thai girls offered as ‘dessert’ B ANGKOK―When senior bureaucrats visited the remote Thai province where local official Boonyarit worked, the routine was often the same: welcome them with the finest food and drink and then bring out the teenage girls, often referred to as “dessert”.

DAY FOUR. Karen Gillan, recipient of the Rising Star Award, attends the ‘Taste of Wailea’ on day four of the 2017 Maui Film Festival at Wailea on June 24, 2017 in Wailea, Hawaii. AFP

The tradition―known by the euphemistic Thai phrase “treat to food, lay down the mat”―refers to the expectation that underlings lavish superiors and VIPs with local delicacies, top-notch accommodation and sex services.

Until recently, the most sinister part of that tradition, the procurement of underage girls, was wellknown but rarely discussed.

Yet a trafficking scandal involving teens, police and officials in Boonyarit’s province has flung the practice onto the nation’s front pages, prompting calls to root out a culture that helps fuel the kingdom’s infamous flesh trade.

While Thailand is known globally for flashy red-light districts that cater to foreigners, the bulk of its sprawling sex industry is geared mostly towards locals.

“This tradition became common a long time ago,” explained Boonyarit Nipavanit, a district official in Mae Hong Son, a poor and rugged province in the mountainous north.

“When groups of senior officials come for seminars or work trips, there is a custom of ‘treating them’, which means welcoming them with food, and then ‘laying down the mat,’ which means providing girls,” he told AFP. “Sometimes we received information about what type of girls they liked... sometimes officials had to prepare five to ten women for a senior to chose from.”

Boonyarit is comfortable speaking freely about the practice now that detectives have opened 41 cases into an alleged policerun prostitution network in his province.

The probe was launched after the mother of a victim fled to

Bangkok and told the media that her then 17-year-old daughter and other teens were blackmailed into sex work and forced to entertain officials and cops.

Some of the victims, she said, were branded with owl tattoos by the gang masters as a kind of ownership stamp.

Under pressure from the press, national police arrested a Mae Hong Son police sergeant accused of trafficking girls into the sex ring and charged eight other officers with sleeping with the minors.

Five administrators from central Nonthaburi province have also been charged for allegedly hiring the teens with government funds during an official visit to Mae Hong Son. “Since this story broke, many officials feel relieved that we don’t have to do it anymore,” said Boonyarit.

But the so-called tradition is far from unique to Mae Hong Son. Trafficking experts say it is widespread in a hierarchical country where subordinates― both in government and the private sector―are expected to pamper bosses to hold onto jobs or move up the career ladder.

“We don’t have a merit system in the bureaucracy, we have to bribe our bosses,” explained Lakkana Punwichai, a Thai columnist covering social issues.

The practice of arranging sex for superiors comes from “a culture that sees girls not as human beings but as property”, she added.

“She is a present. She is the same as food, as beautiful clothes―something that has a price.” AFP

123 dead, over 100 injured in oil tanker fire ISLAMABAD―At least 123 people were killed and scores injured in a fire that erupted after an oil tanker overturned in central Pakistan early Sunday and crowds rushed to collect fuel, an official said.

The tragedy came one day before Pakistan was due to begin Eid ul-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, with many roads crowded as people traveled home for the holidays.

The tanker carrying 40,000 liters of fuel overturned on a main highway while traveling from Karachi to Lahore, near the town of Ahmedpur East in Punjab state.

Details were unclear but some witnesses suggested the tanker had suffered a burst tire, said regional police chief Raja Riffat.

“When it turned over the residents of the nearby village of Ramzanpur Joya rushed to the site with buckets and other containers, and a large number of people on motorcycles also came and started collecting the spilling fuel,” Riffat told AFP. “After about 10 minutes the tanker exploded in a huge fireball and enveloped the people collecting gasoline. It was not clear how the fire started.”

Television footage showed shooting flames and a thick plume

of smoke as firefighters battled to extinguish the blaze.

The charred wreckage of dozens of motorcycles and cars could be seen scattered on the highway, along with kitchen utensils, pots, water coolers, jerry cans and buckets which victims had brought to collect the petrol.

Both Riffat and senior local government official Rana Mohammed Saleem Afzal, speaking to state television, said at least 123 people had been killed. Afzal said more than 100 were wounded.

“Many bodies could not be identified as they have been charred very badly,” Riffat said.

Pakistan Motorway Police

spokesman Imran Shah told AFP they received a call about the accident at around 6.30 am.

Motorway police raced to the scene and tried to keep people away from the tanker, he said, adding that they were ignored as residents continued filling their containers with fuel.

The military said it was sending army helicopters to evacuate the wounded and hospitals were put on high alert. The nearest burns center is believed to be more than 150 kilometers away.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his grief and directed the government of Punjab province, run by his brother Shabhaz

Sharif, to provide “full medical assistance”.

Pakistan has an appalling record of fatal traffic accidents due to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

At least 62 people, including women and children, were killed in southern Pakistan in 2015 when their bus collided with an oil tanker, starting a fierce blaze that left victims burned beyond recognition.

The country has also long struggled to contain a chronic energy crisis, with regular blackouts suffocating industry and exacerbating anger against the government.

AFP

Albania votes with EU accession talks in mind TIRANA―Albania votes in a parliamentary election on Sunday with Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama hoping to boost his grip on power and lead the Balkan country into talks on European Union accession.

The 52-year-old is calling for a second term to complete sweeping reforms of Albania’s notoriously corrupt judicial system that have been demanded by Brussels.

“One thing is certain: the cure to the cancer that took Albania hostage has already begun,” the premier told a campaign rally this week.

Opinion polls showed the Socialists slightly ahead of their rivals from the center-right Democratic Party, whose leader Lulzim Basha is an ardent admirer of US President Donald Trump.

The 43-year-old has accused Rama of links to organized crime and turning the country into a “drugstore”, referring to Albania’s lucrative but illicit cannabis trade. The premier rejects the accusations.

The Democrats had threatened to boycott the election until a month ago over fears the vote would be unfair, but they struck a deal giving them key ministerial posts in the run-up.

Basha pledges to create a “New Republic”, with “a program focused

on the economy and the future of citizens, tax cuts, internships for young people, subsidies for farmers,” he explained to AFP. Since communism collapsed in the early 1990s, Albanian elections have been marred by fraud, violence, disputed results and bitter rivalries bordering on hatred.

After a 2009 election, the Ramaled Socialist opposition cried fraud and urged supporters onto the streets for months of protests. Three people were shot dead at demonstrations in 2011.

This time “there is an agreement between the political parties... to have a calmer election campaign than we have seen previously,” said analyst Ardian Civici.

He believes a possible outcome is a “grand coalition” between the two main forces in the 140-seat parliament―pointing out that the overriding aim of both sides is to open EU accession talks.

Few campaigning banners or posters have graced the streets in the capital Tirana, where computer sciences student Ardiola Karalli, 23, said the economy would be foremost on her mind in the polling booth.

“Many young people want to leave the country, including me, because we have to find work.” AFP

DAY 3. Maddie and Tae (Madison Marlow - Taylor Dye) perform at Firestone during Kicker Country Stampede - Day 3 at Tuttle Creek State Park on June 24, 2017 in Manhattan, Kansas. AFP

Sports

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MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Radioactive tops PCSO Silver Cup S Guce, bested the 10-participant field in the annual 2,000-meter race reserved for local horses.

The duo of Radioactive and Jockey Guce timed two minutes and seven seconds in the long race, which has RP Healthcraft Carrier Foundation Inc. (Hospital on Wheels) as its beneficiary.

On behalf of SC Stockfarm horseowner Oliver Velasquez, winning trainer Chito Santos received the trophy from PCSO Racing ComThe 4-year-old Radioac- tive, ridden by John Alvin mittee Chairman Conrado Zabella.

ANTA Clara Stockfarm is on a roll.

Radioactive, one of SC Stockfarm’s stars in its elite stable of horses, ruled the 44th Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Silver Cup last June 11 at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

Joining them in the awards rites were members of the PCSO Racing Committee such as Rey Emprimiado, Orly Malaca and Atty.

Jose Malang, together with officials of the RP Healthcraft Carrier Foundation Inc. The PCSO Silver Cup win by Radioactive was just one of SC Stockfarm’s string of victories in just a month.

SC Stockfarm’s Selfie ruled the Philippine Racing Commission’s 3YO Locally Bred Stakes Race last May 31, while Brilliance topped the

Hopeful Stakes Race.

Sepfourteen then swept three of the Phiracom’s races by winning the 1st leg of the Triple Crown Series, before Hitting Spree made it four wins for SC Stockfarm of the eight races at stake during the Manila Jockey Club’s 150th Founding Anniversary racing festival, the richest in history, also at the San Lazaro Leisure Park.

Only last week, Sepfourteen moved on the cusp of Triple Crown history by winning the second leg of the series.

Raffle, cash prizes at stake in PTT run RAFFLE and cash prizes await participants of the firstever PTT Run for Clean Energy on July 16 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Grounds.

Android phones, a mountain bike, 50 gift packs from Leslie’s and first-aid kits from Medicard are some of the prizes up for grabs in the advocacy run aimed at promoting the call for clean energy in streets, work and homes.

The project, backed by Chris Sports, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Leslie’s, the National Capital Region Athletic Association, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Science in Sport, Medicard Foundation, Cafe Amazon, PTT Lubricants, Philippine Red Cross, Business Mirror and Business Mirror Health and Fitness Magazine, aims to demonstrate the power of collaborative efforts, using sports as one of the main tools, to provide information campaign

about the use of clean energy.

Race categories are 10k (P500), 5k (P300) and 3k (P220), all inclusive of race shirt, race bib and giveaways.

Top three male and female runners of the 10k and 5k will get cash prizes and medals. All runners are entitled to win in the raffle of prizes.

Registration is ongoing at Chris Sports SM Manila.

Listup is also accepted an hour before the categories during raceday at the CCP Grounds.

Interested runners may call tel. nos. 09182392009, 09953248315, and landline 9759584 for more details.

“It will be both a fun and competitive day at the CCP grounds,” said Matt Ardina of the organising Subterranean Ideas. “But this should not veer us away from the advocacy being promoted by this event, which is striving to save the planet in every which way we can through the clean power and energy that we use in our cars, industries and homes.”

Winning trainer Chito Santos of SC Stockfarm receives the winner’s trophy from PCSO Racing Committee Chairman Conrado Zabella after SC Stockfarm’s elite four-year-old horse Radioactive ruled the 44th PCSO Silver Cup at the San Lazaro Leisure Park recently. With them are the members of the PCSO Racing Committee (from left) Rey Emprimiado, Orly Malaca and Atty. Jose Malang, together with the officials of the RP Healthcraft Carrier Foundation Inc.

PH team joining Asean Para Games in Malaysia A CONTINGENT of 117 para-athletes, 25 coaches and 14 officials will compete in the 9th ASEAN Para Games 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sept. 17 to 23.

The PH Team supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and private donors will compete in 12 sports, such as athletics, archery, badminton, boccia, chess, cycling, goalball, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, tenpin bowling, and wheelchair basketball.

“Our participation is significant and will show the progress we have made in the Paralympic movement and para-sports in our country. Our

team has been training hard and we have streamlined operations so that we can better support our athletes, so we expect to perform well. Also, we are hosting the 10th ASEAN Para Games in 2019 so we will participate and note what Malaysia does well and translate these to our hosting efforts,” said Philippine Paralympic Committee President Mike Barredo.

Leading the team is 2016 Rio Paralympics table tennis bronze medalist Josephine Medina, who in spite of being afflicted with polio learned and competed against able bodied athletes to hone her craft.

She confidently asserted: “I will do

my best and hope to prevail in the regional competition.”

“Big things are happening in parasports here. We just had our Para Sports Summit with a theme ‘Breaking barriers through sports’ last June 9, which re-oriented all parasports stake holders so that we can unify our efforts. At that Summit, we also launched the Alay Para Atleta, a text based fund-raising campaign that will allow us to use texting and gaming to generate donations for the Paralympic movement,” Barredo said.

The PPC along with the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled, the National Sports Associa-

tion of PPC is being re-organized to better define roles of the National Paralympic Committee to, in turn, effectively meet the demands, requirements, and problems that beset parasports in the country. “I am hopeful that this new group will be more productive and responsive and bring Philippine parasports to new heights.”

Another notable accomplishment the country has had in the Paralympics is Adeline Ancheta’s bonze in the bench press at the 200 Sydney Paralympics. Past ASEAN Para Games campaigns have been modest successes, which this year’s team hopes to surpass.

Inaugural NBA Awards Show airs on Sports + Action FOR the first time, fans of the National Basketball Association will see their favorite players hoist their individual awards trophies not inside the court during the Playoffs, but in a grand awarding ceremony at the inaugural “NBA Awards Show,” which will be aired LIVE on S+A on free TV and on S+A HD on SKYcable this Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Hosted by hip-hop superstar Drake, the “NBA Awards Show” will fete players for their standout individual performances with awards including the Kia NBA Sixth Man for the best sub, Kia NBA Most Improved Player, Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Kia NBA Rookie of the Year (ROY), and the most coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the player with the best overall performance in the 20162017 regular season. Another featured award is Coach of the Year.

Nominees for MVP are Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, James Harden of Houston Rockets, and Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City Thunder. For ROY, nominees are Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks, and teammates Joel Embiid and Dario Saric of the Phila-

delphia 76ers. Battling for the Sixth Man award are teammates Eric Gordon and Lou Williams of the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala.

For the Most Improved Player award, nominees are Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee Bucks, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, who is also contending for the Defensive Player of the Year award against Leonard of the Spurs, and Draymond Green of the Warriors.

Meanwhile, up for Coach of the Year award are Mike D’Antoni of the Houston Rockets, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, and Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat.

Don’t miss the glitzy awards show to be staged at the Basketball City, Pier 36 in New York City to be attended by NBA’s biggest stars both from the past and the present. Watch the 2017 NBA Awards Show LIVE on free TV on S+A and on SKYcable in high definition on S+A HD this Tuesday (June 27) at 9am. For more information and stories on the NBA, visit ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn. com and follow @ABSCBNSports on Facebook and Twitter.

SPANISH midfielder Bienvenido Marañon fired a hattrick as Ceres Negros returned to its winning ways with a

3-1 triumph over Kaya FC Makati, while leader Meralco Manila was held to another stalemate last Saturday night in the 2017 Philippines Football League.

Marañon opened the scoring in first half stoppage time and added a couple of goals in the second half as the Busmen bounced back from back to back losses and hiked their tally to seven points from four matches.

THE Philippines took home four golds in the 2017 Hong Kong Invitational Athletics meet last Saturday.

Archand Christian Bagsit showed improved clockings in the 200-meter dash, and so did Eloiza Luzon in the distaff side, according to official results.

And they also got golds from long jumpers Janry Ubas and Katherine Kay Santos.

Bagsit took the 200-meter finals below 22 seconds and after he clocked 21.76 seconds in the heats.

This had Bagsit eclipsing the 22.25 seconds that he did in the National Open early this year.

He finished ahead of Li Chau Hsuan and Li Yili.

Luzon claimed the women’s honors in 24.94 seconds, prevailing over Chen Ka Yi (26.55) and Julian Rueven (26.75).

Santos leapt 6.06 meters in the women’s long jump for the gold.

Ubas, on the other hand, took the men’s long jump gold in 7.67 meters.

He outperformed Chan Ming Kai’s 7.5 and Wong Kan (7.25). Peter Atencio

Lavish wedding for Messi, fiancee

GOLF WINNER. Tony Lascuña (second from left) holds his trophy as he poses with (from left) Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. executive director Narlene Soriano, Forest Hills Golf and Country Club general manager Atty. Romeo Carlos, top amateur Raymart Tolentino and FHGCC golf director Jude Eustaquio after beating Zanieboy Gialon by three to retain the ICTSI Forest Hills Championship crown in Antipolo over the weekend.

Ceres returns to its winning ways with 3-1 dumping of Kaya MATCHES WEDNESDAY (Panaad Stadium) 4 p.m. Ceres-Negros vs Stallion Laguna (Davao del Norte Sports Complex) 4 p.m. Davao Aguilas vs Global Cebu

PH captures 4 golds in HK tilt

Kaya equalized 10 minutes into the second half through Robery Lopez Mendy, before Marañon replied with two goals for the hosts at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

“I’m so happy for the win and the three goals,” said Marañon, who was named Man of the Match. “This game was very hard after two losses, but we fought to win this game, and we deserved the result.”

Over at Rizal Memorial Stadium, Meralco dropped points for the second straight match after Stallion Laguna came from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw.

The Sparks took the lead through Phil Younghusband’s penalty in the 15th minute, but Laguna levelled at the hour mark when Jess Melliza finished off a quick counterattack.

Despite the draw, Meralco remained in top spot with 17

points from seven matches while Stallion stayed at seventh with three points after a third draw of the season.

“We were expecting our young players to step up but the demands of the game were very high,” said Meralco coach Aris Caslib. “Stallion was strong in the middle. They collected the ball in middle and passed to the flanks. They were faster in transition. For us it’s a setback.”

ROSARIO, Argentina—Security is at the top of everyone’s minds in Rosario, Argentina these days.

On Friday, soccer superstar Lionel Messi will be married there to Antonella Roccuzzo at a lavish celebration bringing together some of the world’s bestpaid soccer players, just up the street from one of the city’s poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods.

Some 21 members of the hugely popular FC Barcelona team, including Luis Suarez and Neymar, as well as stars like Gerard Pique -- accompanied by partner Shakira, perhaps more popular than the Catalan defender himself -- will be flying into this port city 180 miles (300 kilometers) north of Buenos Aires.

The luxurious City Center casino-hotel complex, where guests will stay and the ceremony is expected to take place, borders a poor neighborhood known as the birthplace of the bloody drug gang Los Monos.

“Messi’s marriage -- like the casino’s presence in the neighborhood -- is a metaphor for inequality,” provincial official Carlos Del Frade, author of several books on Rosario’s exploding drug trade, told AFP. A mere 400 yards (meters) from the bright lights and neon of City Center, two people on a motorcycle opened fire June 17 on four women belonging to Los Monos.

The attack claimed the life of Petrona Cantero, 56, the sister of Ariel Cantero, the historic leader of Los Monos, who is now serving a prison sentence. AFP

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

Sports

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

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MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

Birdie binge nets Spieth 1-shot lead WASHINGTON—Jordan Spieth birdied three of the last four holes, including the last with a dramatic 20-foot putt, to grab a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the US PGA Travelers Championship.

Sixth-ranked Spieth, the 2015 Masters and US Open champion, shook off back-to-back bogeys at 13 and 14 with a sizzling finish, curling in his final putt for a four-under par 66 to reach 12-under 198 after 54 holes.

The 23-year-old American, who won earlier this year at Pebble Beach, could complete a wire-to-wire triumph and claim his 10th PGA title Sunday at TPC River Highlands near Hartford, Connecticut.

American Boo Weekley, who hasn’t won a PGA title since 2013 at Colonial and hasn’t finished in the top 25 this season, fired a 65 to stand second on 199 with compatriot Daniel Berger third on 201.

Taiwan’s C.T. Pan fired the day’s low round, a 64, to join England’s Paul Casey and Sweden’s David Lingmerth in fourth on 202.

Spieth hopes to carry the momentum from his strong finish into the final round on Sunday.

“I’m going to go out there and play solid golf,” Spieth said. “That’s what we’ve been doing. That’s cliche, but a couple (birdies) a side on a round like today, I thought at the beginning of the week if you shot 4 under each day, you’d be right there. So I think that’s the goal.”

Spieth began the day with a onestroke edge and five opening pars solidified his spot. He found a bunker at the par-3 fifth but sank a clutch 15-foot par putt to stay ahead.

Spieth followed with birdies at the par-5 sixth and par-4 seventh. He blasted from a bunker to off the edge of the green then sank the birdie bid from 27 feet, then landed his approach inside three feet and sank the birdie putt to reach 10-under.

But Spieth closed the front nine with a bogey for the second time in three days and seconds later Charley Hoffman completed an eagle-birdiebirdie run by sinking a five-foot birdie putt at 15 to seize the lead by one at 10-under.

Spieth responded with birdies from eight feet at the 10th and half that distance at the par-3 11th to reach 11-under, jumping back in front as Hoffman made double bogey at the par-3 16th and closed bogey-bogey.

A splashdown second shot for Spieth at the par-5 13th led to a bogey, trimming his edge to one stroke over Daniel Berger. AFP

Manny Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion, said he is using his bout with Australian Jeff Horn as an opportunity to prove he remains a global force at the age of 38 as he juggles boxing with a full-time job as a senator in the Philippines.

Pacquiao vows to return to PH a world champion

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RISBANE—Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao arrived in Australia ahead of his title fight with Jeff Horn and declared: “I will be going home as world champion.”

The “Pac Man” touched down in Brisbane late Saturday from Manila with a large entourage for his World Boxing Organization welterweight title bout at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next weekend.

“In all my years of boxing, I have never been as motivated and fired up as this fight,” he told reporters at

the airport.

“My team is very happy with my preparation. I am looking forward to this and I will be going home as world champion.”

Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 knockouts) is a clear favorite against Horn, although the Filipino great has not stopped an opponent since his 12th round TKO of

Miguel Cotto in 2009.

The eight-weight world champion has said he is using the bout as an opportunity to prove he remains a global force at the age of 38 as he juggles boxing with a fulltime job as a senator in the Philippines.

“I’m so thankful for this great opportunity to be here in Australia and fight here, and the warm welcome of the people here,” Pacquiao said.

“I think this is one of the biggest crowds that I’m going to fight to. I love the fans shouting and cheering for me, or for Horn. I like that, it’s exciting.”

Pacquiao, who briefly retired early last

year before making a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November, will need to be on song against the unbeaten Horn, who has won 16 of his 17 fights with one draw.

A relatively unknown physical education teacher, the 29-year-old Australian has been dubbed the “fighting schoolteacher” by promoters, who say the 50,000-seat Suncorp Stadium is almost sold out.

“I consider him a tough opponent,” Pacquiao said. “I never underestimate my opponent. He’s undefeated, he’s young. I like aggressive fighters.”

Flying V puts clean slate on the line

Boliwong boy wins akkad relay of Indigenous Games

By Peter Atencio LAGAWE, Ifugao—A 10-yearold boy used his wooden stilts to help Boliwong Elementary School bounce back and take the akkad or stilt-walking relay race gold medal Sunday in the first Gender and Development Indigenous Games here.

Three of his teammates stumbled, so Roy Bumulo took charge as the last runner of the 10-member team and became the first to reach the finish line of the 30-meter course at the Provincial Capitol basketball court.

“Binilisan ko na lang po,” said Bumulo, who uses a personally-crafted pair of minila wood stilts to go home to school up in the highlands of Boliwong, one of the villages known for growing rice in the

famed mountain terraces of Banaue.

The kids of Boliwong earned P7,000 as cash prize for beating the boys of Burnay Elementary School and Caba, which settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

Meanwhile, a soccer player joined a team of four seasoned tracksters in ruling the elementary boys’ 5-kilometer relay run Luigi Atluna, the son of two police officers, reached the finish line all by himself and helped his team bag the top honors for Lagawe Central School.

One of the team’s coaches, Eddie Bert Paco, said he was not disappointed in choosing Atluna.

“Iyung iba niyang teammates tumatakbo talaga sa

mga provincial at district meets at short distances. Pero siya, takbo dito at takbo duon na walang pahinga sa soccer, kaya binigay ko na sa kanya,” said Paco.

This won them the top purse of P15,000, one of biggest in the meet, which features ethnic Ifugao sports.

Meanwhile, Boliwong ES relied on their barefoot runners to rule the girls’ action.

Pint-sized Armie Jade Lumauig of the Tuwali tribe, showed how comfortable she is without shoes when she reached the finish line with the baton.

Lumauig and her teammates outran rivals from Lagawe Central School and Caba.

“Binilisan ko lang po. Madalas ako mag-practice iskuwela,” said Lumauig.

She was joined by team-

Games Monday

(Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig) 3 p.m. - Racal Motors vs Wangs Basketball 5 p.m. - Flying V vs Marinerong Pilipino

An akkad relay racer in action mates Kryhz Hornog, Shadeil Pagal, Shardy Ayoc and Jeslyn Mae Bubod, who was the only one who raced with shoes.

Close to 450 elementary and high school boys and girls displayed delight and enthusiasm in the Ifugao traditional games, such as the batawel (rice-stalk relay race), guyyudan (tug-of-war), hinukting (shoulder wrestling) and bangn-

gugan (leg wrestling) at the Provincial Capitol Plaza grounds.

“We are delighted by the response of our children to these Ifugao traditional games.

They really seemed to enjoy the games, which encourage them to have a healthy lifestyle instead of just focusing on gadgets,” said commissioner Celia Kiram of the event.

Stags to use speed, versatility, aggressive defense EXPECT the San Sebastian Stags to be tougher this season.

That’s because coach Egay Macaraya and members of the team did a lot of “tweaking” during the off-season and before the start of the 93rd season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

The team worked on its speed, versatility and aggressive defense, making the Stags one of the contenders for the Final Four.

And they want to prove it when the season begins on

July 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

They believe that their efforts tweaking their game will help negate their size disadvantage, which was affected by the departure of big man Calvin Abueva and other big players from the team.

The Stags also boast of one of their their best players ever since Abueva’s time--Michael Calisaan, a 6’6” forward, who is taking and making three-point shots, while turning into a facilitator and a leader.

He will be backed up by veterans Ryan Costelo, Jerick

Fabian, Alvin Capobres and Jayson David.

But there are younger players who can step up, too, such as Lorenzo Navarro, a La Salle transferee, who played high school ball for San Sebastian, and second stringers like Alfren Gayosa, Ian Valdez, Allyn Bulanadi and RK Ilagan.

“We know we’re a smaller team compared to others, who have foreign players. What we did was to outrun our opponents, play tougher defense and be versatile,” added Macaraya. Peter Atencio

FLYING V stakes its unblemished record against Marinerong Pilipino when the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup returns on Monday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Coming off a 13-day break, the Thunder will try to shake off the rust and continue their winning ways as they remain as the lone unbeaten team in the tournament at 3-0.

And for coach Eric Altamirano, he believes that the game against the Skippers is just the first of a tough stretch for Flying V midway through the competitions.

“The next three games will be very tough for us. We’ll face Marinero, Racal, and Tanduay, so we’ll use this time to prepare and continue being sharp. Hopefully, di kami maging rusty,” he said.

The game also posts an interesting subplot as Thunder forward Gab Banal goes up against his family, with father Joel and uncle Koy at the helm for Marinerong Pilipino.

But for the younger Banal, he doesn’t want to put much focus on the familiar faces on the opposing sidelines as he’d rather contribute to his team’s cause.

Bank integration talks with Singapore B3 pushed

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

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MPIC readies C5 Expressway bid

By Darwin G. Amojelar

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LEx Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., is set to submit next month an unsolicited proposal to build a P50-billion elevated expressway along Circumferential Road 5, connecting Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City to ManilaCavite Toll Expressway or Cavitex.

“We are finalizing the sibility study. Maybe, we submit it by July to the partment of Public Works

fea- Highways,” NLEX president will and chief executive Rodrigo De- Franco said. and “Before, it was under TRB

[Toll Regulatory Board]. It was an extension of our franchise.

Now, it will be unsolicited. But because it will now be unsolicited, we have to refine the study,” he said.

Franco earlier said the company needed to complete first the P8.6-billion NLEx-C5 Link project before undertaking a new elevated expressway along C5 under an unsolicited mode.

The 7.85-kilometer NLExC5 Link will start from the end of Segment 8.1 of North Luzon Expressway at Mindanao Ave.

and end at Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.

The C5 Link aims to decongest Metro Manila as it would provide alternative access to mainline North Luzon Expressway further east of Metro Manila, bypassing Edsa and Balintawak toll plaza.

NLEx Corp. earlier reported a net profit of P1.07 billion in January to March, up 16 percent from P922 million in the same period last year.

Total revenues in the first quarter grew 8 percent to P2.79 bil-

lion from P2.59 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2016.

The average daily traffic at NLEx increased 7 percent to 229,633 daily vehicle entries from the same period last year, while average daily traffic at Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway went up 20 percent to 51,128 daily entries.

Non-toll revenues climbed 33 percent to P47.7 million from P35.7 million a year earlier, on higher income generated from toll service facilities and advertising revenues.

Govt set to launch P255-b Clark rail THE Transportation Department is marking today five stations of the P255-billion railway project that will connect Manila to Clark Freeport in Central Luzon ahead of the project’s construction.

The five stations that will be first marked among the 17 stations of the 106-kilometer Manila-Clark Railway Project are located in Marilao and Meycauayan in Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan and Tutuban in Metro Manila.

Apart from the marked stations, the 12 other stations are Solis, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, Calumpit, Apalit, San Fernando, Angeles, Clark, Clark International Airport and the proposed New Clark City in Pampanga.

“For the first time, a rail project will connect Manila to Central Luzon and it will be completed under the Duterte administration,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The project will start construction in the fourth quarter of 2017 and will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the agency.

The project will be funded through official development assistance loans from Japan.

The whole line will have 13 train sets with eight cars or coaches per train set. Each train can reach a maximum speed of 120 km per hour.

With the rail project, the twohour travel time from Manila to Clark will be cut down to just 55 minutes. The rail system stands to benefit 350,000 passengers daily in its first year of operations.

Philippine National Railways general manager Junn Magno said the project was seen to decongest Metro Manila and spread economic gains throughout the country.

Darwin G. Amojelar

IN BRIEF SSS collections rise 10% to P52b

STATE-run Social Security System said members’ contribution in the first four months increased 9.6 percent to P52.18 billion from P47.59 billion a year ago, as the agency intensified the campaign against delinquent employers.

Employers are considered delinquent if they don’t remit the monthly contributions of their employees, thereby denying their workers of benefits mandated under the law.

Data from its general accounting department showed the agency posted the highest revenue collection growth in January at 13.9 percent to P13.55 billion. February collections increased by 12 percent to P12.86 billon; March by 7 percent to P13.14 billion; and April by 5.9 percent to P12.63 billion.

“This was mainly driven by the aggressive contribution collection drive of SSS such as ‘Operation Tokhang’ dubbed as ‘Run After Contribution Evaders’ or running after delinquent employers,” SSS president and chief executive Emmanuel Dooc said in a statement over the weekend. Julito G. Rada

PSBank creates solution vs. scam

ASAHI EXIT. Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., a Japanese global glass manufacturing company, signs an agreement to sell 100 percent of its shares in AGC Flat Glass Philippines Inc. to TQMP Glass Manufacturing Corp. Asahi’s decision to sell its equity in AGPH paves the way for the return of the corporation’s ownership and control to Filipino hands. Shown sealing the signing of the share purchase agreement with a firm handshake are AGC Asia Pacific general division president Masahiro Takeda (left) and TQMP president Paul Go.

Duterte comments to undermine PH prospects PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s inflammatory statements and policy changes may undermine the country’s economic prospects, a London-based think tank said in a report over the weekend.

Capital Economics, however, said the president’s wisest move was to hand over the responsibility for economic management to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, who in turn has pushed through some useful reforms.

“The finance minister has lived up to his reputation as a safe pair of hands, and has provided some reassurance to investors concerned about Duterte’s controversial domestic policies,”

it said.

“Dominguez’s other main achievement has been to stick with the previous government’s plans of raising infrastructure spending. According to the latest budget, spending on infrastructure is set to reach 5.4 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] this year, up from 4.7 percent in 2016,” Capital Economics said.

Capital Economics also cited the government’s proposed comprehensive tax reform program, which aims to raise indirect and corporate taxes while reducing income tax. Finance officials earlier estimated that the reforms would raise 0.9 percent of GDP in extra revenue in 2018.

Capital Economics noted the

passage in May of a law designed to curb tobacco consumption by making it illegal to smoke in public places. Duterte also signed legislation ordering government agencies in the Philippines to offer free contraceptives.

“However, these achievements risk being overshadowed by a string of inflammatory comments and policy changes which have raised concerns in the minds of investors over Duterte’s judgement and commitment to the rule of law,” Capital Economics said.

“The bigger risks are over the medium term. The Philippines’ own history shows how poor leadership and political uncertainty can hold back an economy.

One of the key achievements of

Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, was the restoration of political stability,” it said.

It said military coup attempts and corruption scandals were a common feature of political life in the Philippines for much of the post-war period.

It said improved political stability, coupled with changes to the business environment, helped trigger an acceleration in investment growth and a rise in the country’s low investment rate, “which has been the Achilles heel of the economy for a long time.”

Capital Economics cited some signs that would show the country’s gains are “being put at risk

by Duterte.” Julito G. Rada

BSP vows to sustain reforms

By Julito G. Rada INCOMING Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the regulator will continue to pursue capital market reforms under his watch.

Espenilla will succeed outgoing Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., who will end his second sixyear term on July 2, 2017.

Espenilla said in a speech before the Bankers Association of the Philippines that his mentor was instrumental in transforming the Philippines from being the economic laggard in Asia into one of the region’s best performing economies.

“While I am delighted to succeed him, I know I have very big shoes to fill. The standard is set so high. So I intend to work hard, and with your support, we shall continue what Governor Tetangco has started,” Espenilla said.

He said Bangko Sentral would continue to move towards more marketbased execution of monetary policy.

He said aside from the deployment of interest rate corridor system, the regulator would continue to review

existing tools and policies to make the monetary system more efficient and market-oriented.

“We will continue to pursue capital market reforms to provide a viable alternative source of financing for longterm investments, including the development of the necessary financial market infrastructures,” he said.

Espenilla said he was also inclined to further liberalize the provision of financial products and services, including the existing rules on foreign exchange transactions, to achieve a more riskbased, transparent and market-determined policy framework.

“We are also highly interested in continually reshaping the financial system to be fully responsive to the needs of the domestic economy,” Espenilla said.

He said doing this would entail providing for efficient retail payments under the National Retail Payment System project and an enabling regulatory environment for financial technology and for digital finance to develop without sacrificing prudent credit underwriting and information security standards.

ABOTIZ POWER AWARD. The P4.1-billion project notes facility for Aboitiz Power Corp.’s

Hedcor Sibulan hydro power plant bags the Renewable Energy Deal of the Year-Hydro award from Hong Kong-based finance publication The Asset. Shown is a worker at Hedcor Sibulan Hydroelectric Power Plants which have been generating 42.5 megawatts of clean and renewable energy for the Mindanao grid since 2010. Composed of two cascading plants, Sibulan A Hydro produces 16.5 MW and the water it utilizes is re-used in the Sibulan B Hydro to produce another 26 MW.

PHILIPPINE Savings Bank said it created the ATM Lock feature in its mobile banking and internet facilities amid the rising number and different tactics for ATM and card fraud and various online scams.

PSBank said the ATM Lock feature was an additional tool to ensure PSBank clients’ accounts’ safety. ATM Lock empowers cardholders by giving them an additional layer of protection against unauthorized use of their ATM card, arising from ATM loss, theft, skimming, and other forms of electronic fraud.

Cardholders can activate the ATM Lock feature through PSBank Mobile or PSBank Online.

Locked ATM cards may not be used for any ATM and point-ofsale transactions, and online purchases that require use of the ATM card number.

“A lot of people are increasingly worried about the rising incidents in ATM fraud. It only takes less than a minute for ATM scammers to install their card skimming or copying devices on an ATM. Aside from being portable enough to be re-usable, these devices are well-hidden, too, and virtually impossible to detect on the ATM to the untrained eye,” PSBank vice president and information security division head Dan Jose Duplito said.

Peza seeks retention of VAT-free incentives

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority said about P24 billion worth of local purchases maybe lost to imports if the government will lift the exemption of small enterprises from value added tax.

Peza director-general Charito Plaza said suppliers of locallymanufactured raw materials for economic zone locators would face difficult challenges if subjected to a 12-percent VAT, a proposed measure under the tax reform program.

“If this happens, locators may consider bringing in imported materials using the tax and duty-free incentive given

by Peza. This will be a big loss to our local suppliers,” Plaza said over the weekend.

She said Peza, in behalf of local suppliers, was asking the government to keep the incentives regime in Peza economic zones at status quo.

Congress already passed the tax reform bill that slaps a 12-percent VAT on local purchases of export-oriented companies.

Plaza said while the agency would like to support the tax reform scheme, it would continue to lobby for the exemption of local purchases from VAT.

B2

Business

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Window-dressing to lift market

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

RADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to draw strength from the seasonal portfolio realignment as a result of window dressing that takes place near the end of the quarter, analysts said over the weekend.

Analysts said the market’s current sideways movement could also push investors to accumulate on stocks that were expected to perform well in the second half.

“Portfolio realignment as a result of the quarter-end season would likely take center

stage this week, as fund managers prepare their refreshed basket weighting for the second semestral wave,” 2TradeAsia.com said.

“Interest might skew towards sectors set to benefit during the fourth-quarter drive, specifically infra- and allied constructionrelated undertakings, as well as consumerspending plays,” it said.

Analysts said the market’s current sideways movement indicated it was gathering momentum for the next climb.

Given the positive outlook on the domestic economy and sound fundamentals and the nation’s ability to weather out political or economic storm, the local equities market was expected to sustain its upward channel, they said.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark, week closed lower by 0.9 percent last week to 7,814.17 on June 23, while the all-share index also dropped 0.3 percent to

4,679.29 amid the continued weakness in crude oil prices.

Investors also took profit, ahead of the long weekend.

Major sub-indices ended mixed with financials, holding firms and mining and oil closing higher while services, property and industrial declined.

Foreign investors were net buyers by P94.9 million last week.

Top gainers were Wilcon Depot Inc. which jumped 15.8 percent to P7.90; Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. which climbed 11.1 percent to P3.40; and Emperador Inc. which advanced 7.5 percent to P7.47.

Heavy losers included Belle Corp., which dropped 5.5 percent to P3.78, LT Group Inc. which retreated 4.8 percent to P14.48 and Ayala Land Inc. which went down 4.1 percent to P39.45.

Boracay Water set to spend over P4b

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales BORACAY Island Water Company Inc., a unit of Manila Water Company Inc. that distributes water in the resort island of Boracay, committed to spend P4.28 billion until the end of its concession in 2034 to improve services in the area.

Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority regulatory office officer-in-charge Maritess Alvarez said the amount would be spent for the establish-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JUNE 19-23, 2017 Close Volume

Value

JUNE 13-16, 2017 Close Volume

Value

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources China Bank COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

4.1 52 120.60 104.70 3.96 1.30 36.85 16.34 29.5 0.66 1.7 800.00 0.700 86.95 0.95 15.44 25.05 67.50 89 113 243.4 58.9 220.2 1595.00 85.20 1.28

297,000 281,810 11,209,510 8,646,160 88,000 430,000 1,547,600 176,100 10,021,500 1,000 44,000 890 18,641,000 6,990,750 10,048,000 189,600 10,100 681,420 6,950 820 22,490 1,311,150 2,910,780 500 307,390 141,000

FINANCIAL 1,211,560.00 14,340,571.00 1,353,453,776 908,068,762.00 348,630.00 558,250.00 57,063,780.00 2,840,778.00 287,344,025.00 660 74,930.00 724,970.00 13,241,730.00 599,880,798.00 9,671,900.00 2,924,790.00 258,865.00 46,039,182.50 613,527.00 89,729.00 5,413,632.00 77,154,916 642,667,944.00 809,725 26,190,697.50 180,240.00

4.17 50.25 122.00 105.00 3.95 1.33 37.1 16.2 27.65 0.66 1.72 840.00 0.740 85 1.02 15.46 26.00 67.00 88.05 110 238 56.2 222.2 1620.00 85.15 1.22

320,000 109,860 12,189,000 5,344,150 80,000 1,041,000 1,101,700 183,800 4,133,100 25,000 459,000 1,230 32,663,000 9,672,580 18,845,000 134,800 1,800 946,540 16,610 1,520 5,380 1,643,100 6,754,700 555 349,580 342,000

1,355,130.00 5,502,958.00 1,498,734,352 562,655,497.00 312,730.00 1,430,870.00 40,810,500.00 2,987,798.00 114,274,515.00 16,800 775,780.00 1,010,345.00 23,860,890.00 838,729,587.50 19,031,820.00 2,091,028.00 46,740.00 63,849,328.50 1,462,115.50 167,200.00 1,281,990.00 96,331,866 1,498,192,006.00 896,650 29,769,564.50 414,520.00

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement EEI Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide MG Holdings Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pilipinas Shell Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

39.75 7.96 0.85 1.57 27 0.275 104.7 14.16 7.2 18.4 165.3 24 76.55 82 2.03 5.41 11.8 12.340 16.08 9.76 7.47 6.07 1.81 19 70.4 15.20 13.30 13.5 1.770 211.00 61.00 3.86 3.7 24.95 31 19.48 19.08 0.246 261.00 7.45 3.16 9.62 6.32 10.70 1.95 9.45 69.55 6.91 4.45 2.05 5 319 2.52 12.9 5.16 0.148 1.42 161.5 4.24 2.2 32.00 1.07

8,398,200 7,017,100 6,797,000 5,889,000 841,300 25,850,000 130 25,000 14,000,300 4,462,400 30 11,690,000 5,860 17,840 7,393,000 113,100 57,800 17,059,200 36,153,900 5,966,800 16,249,900 68,468,600 10,000 5,770,300 295,790 426,800 1,264,100 15,872,400 8,716,000 2,553,010 5,730 1,723,000 154,000 1,800 7,800,700 1,865,200 7,198,500 20,680,000 6,102,390 1,454,000 36,433,000 15,738,600 2,658,800 14,800 61,261,000 3,143,300 4,161,210 7,866,400 457,000 84,000 2,493,300 229,350 19,692,000 10,734,100 593,000 6,580,000 889,000 13,567,580 3,000 102,160,000 4,500 3,374,000

INDUSTRIAL 332,534,255.00 56,347,835.00 5,734,820.00 9,090,550.00 23,604,275.00 6,925,650.00 14,788.00 352,738.00 103,662,085.00 81,687,766 4,959.00 277,919,355.00 453,136.00 1,375,575 15,153,850.00 619,929.00 667,424.00 206,018,530.00 582,372,760.00 58,415,880.00 117,029,127.00 415,714,962.00 17,400.00 109,498,860.00 20,820,103.00 6,411,998.00 17,097,596.00 211,123,794.00 15,685,380.00 546,921,426.00 353,482.50 6,862,290.00 554,860.00 45,135.00 242,580,600.00 36,124,568.00 67,508,218.00 5,093,920.00 1,606,462,230.00 10,417,348.00 114,696,400.00 151,984,792.00 16,681,876.00 152,776.00 118,461,260.00 29,625,788.00 289,673,410.50 52,804,336.00 2,058,380.00 171,600.00 12,633,268.00 71,973,926.00 50,838,130.00 140,227,746.00 3,042,393.00 972,930.00 1,236,360.00 2,264,381,375 12,710.00 231,307,050.00 143,870.00 3,653,460.00

38.5 8.13 0.82 1.52 29.6 0.270 114.9 14.22 7.29 17.92 165.2 24.15 80 78 2.05 5.34 11.68 12.160 15.58 9.91 6.95 6.10 1.72 19 70.55 14.80 13.70 12.7 1.730 217.00 64.00 4 3.6 25.90 30 18.96 19.26 0.250 262.60 6.63 3.25 9.70 5.94 10.68 1.95 9.50 70.7 6.65 4.50 2.04 5.13 304 2.52 13.5 5 0.147 1.37 164 4.05 2.09 35.50 1.09

7,022,800 8,765,000 1,284,000 13,533,000 911,700 40,370,000 270 17,000 13,042,300 13,960,700 100 4,119,100 3,130 10,870 1,216,000 619,400 14,500 18,265,100 13,077,700 5,953,000 6,753,100 97,442,500 17,000 18,784,000 179,150 398,400 1,131,900 14,664,600 2,818,000 1,904,940 1,180 585,000 188,000 100 12,919,500 20,203,700 4,740,200 64,310,000 10,112,880 126,000 598,000 41,252,400 3,151,100 15,400 4,637,000 4,843,600 23,132,770 1,757,200 229,000 81,000 2,250,300 83,160 11,767,000 2,719,700 184,900 3,830,000 594,000 6,306,130 108,000 22,924,000 2,700 316,000

271,145,265.00 70,286,490.00 1,053,170.00 20,755,350.00 27,514,610.00 10,936,200.00 31,130.00 242,876.00 95,121,091.00 118,732,843,907 16,526.00 98,436,335.00 251,321.50 819,333 2,495,540.00 3,204,747.00 170,474.00 222,571,876.00 204,363,348.00 59,181,450.00 47,291,270.00 596,820,767.00 29,370.00 352,391,892.00 12,738,838.50 5,984,426.00 15,621,822.00 183,373,628.00 4,861,320.00 409,886,672.00 77,782.50 2,436,310.00 657,440.00 2,590.00 402,421,295.00 399,787,584.00 91,695,680.00 17,295,500.00 2,623,865,980.00 835,096.00 1,973,760.00 401,882,742.00 17,655,694.00 164,030.00 9,034,980.00 46,122,171.00 1,633,134,144.50 11,633,452.00 1,035,620.00 173,740.00 12,053,744.00 24,965,288.00 30,115,720.00 36,765,982.00 922,738.00 566,800.00 807,320.00 1,022,992,706 440,180.00 47,772,130.00 96,265.00 343,980.00

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

Lopez Holdings Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.375 75.85 14.54 1.24 6.56 0.355 0.360 840.5 7.89 14.64 6.2 7.75 0.207 1206 7.88 79.00 5.92 5.81 6.48 1 7.4 14.48 0.440 6.2 3.2 0.0540 0.950 2.160 2.55 102.60 2.69 783.00 1.62 0.86 303.600 0.2850 0.2150 0.244

8,440,000 4,729,420 27,472,600 4,217,000 309,700 23,570,000 2,820,000 1,199,880 5,277,300 43,340,700 47,400 116,300 2,120,000 1,213,780 58,200 5,463,850 132,200 210,300 770,400 8,579,000 4,349,900 21,661,200 190,000 63,579,900 13,000 82,620,000 231,000 27,742,000 254,000 583,440 383,000 2,054,450 18,512,000 38,000 32,670 870,000 1,050,000 720,000

HOLDING FIRMS 3,089,700.00 356,059,640.00 391,623,348.00 5,313,510.00 2,000,301.00 8,135,750.00 981,350.00 1,018,094,385 41,703,011.00 631,641,846.00 293,643.00 886,823.00 428,960.00 1,456,400,085.00 445,459.00 431,654,405.00 751,395.00 1,250,454.00 4,862,062.00 8,617,030.00 32,479,713.00 320,977,136.00 79,250.00 393,433,644.00 41,690.00 4,470,130.00 226,910.00 61,458,010.00 653,080.00 60,831,371.00 1,015,990.00 1,621,068,570.00 28,797,510.00 32,680.00 9,949,650.00 245,900.00 227,130.00 177,180.00

0.375 73.55 14.14 1.17 6.55 0.345 0.340 850 8.1 14.42 6.17 7.65 0.204 1200 7.88 78.90 5.72 4.83

14,500,000 5,726,480 26,298,900 310,000 2,230,500 8,760,000 420,000 1,392,360 6,764,600 55,175,400 3,000 28,500 390,000 2,293,155 222,000 7,590,340 141,000 2,000

5,413,750.00 429,241,011.50 370,875,492.00 362,150.00 14,441,108.00 2,976,350.00 143,050.00 1,098,311,670 54,300,397.00 810,909,136.00 18,307.00 216,579.00 78,880.00 2,771,500,480.00 1,680,433.00 602,649,791.50 758,562.00 10,020.00

1.01 7.2 15.22

12,373,000 39,983,100 8,268,000

12,534,040.00 301,148,504.00 128,658,382.00

6.2 3.25 0.0530 0.910 2.020 2.60 106.00 2.74 775.00 1.41 0.86 306.000 0.2850 0.2170 0.244

118,719,800 23,000 148,710,000 422,000 611,000 46,000 621,460 190,000 1,933,820 784,000 103,000 160,370 2,200,000 1,110,000 360,000

743,514,698.00 74,750.00 8,087,880.00 390,430.00 1,241,670.00 118,840.00 65,801,868.00 509,330.00 1,525,176,295.00 1,097,280.00 88,670.00 49,069,250.00 623,150.00 245,030.00 87,920.00

9,802,700 128,145,000 1,455,000 29,802,000 48,899,800 9,031,000 88,271,200 169,200 400 131,842,000 467,000 1,893,000 877,460,000 12,996,000 1,051,000 28,844,000 2,190,000 68,590,000 94,289,000 2,744,000 22,000 120,331,000 666,840,000 2,760,000 67,989,000

PROPERTY 59,188,803.00 203,165,860.00 3,668,380.00 34,522,520.00 1,982,887,685.00 34,907,740.00 500,963,002.00 893,881.00 2,392.00 69,904,150.00 502,780.00 2,698,910.00 172,895,030.00 6,686,150.00 40,367,660.00 20,344,990.00 349,230.00 117,249,900.00 119,321,440.00 2,723,910.00 91,100.00 552,750,890.00 257,255,200.00 993,400.00 43,786,390.00

6.000 1.45 2.580 1.190 41.150 4 5.37 5.29

7,659,100 39,094,000 1,760,000 21,963,000 243,022,700 19,027,000 23,090,700 489,300

45,891,149.00 57,236,530.00 4,517,740.00 26,455,090.00 9,976,061,685.00 75,727,060.00 125,317,114.00 2,592,375.00

0.520 1.09 1.480 0.181 0.520 46.9 0.700 0.156 1.65 1.24 0.99 4.15 4.41 0.410 0.3750 0.650

31,745,000 344,000 1,641,000 177,090,000 9,034,000 5,232,100 18,664,000 1,890,000 17,244,000 79,269,000 1,187,000 3,000 146,583,000 832,940,000 1,800,000 67,285,000

16,303,800.00 382,460.00 2,406,860.00 31,520,390.00 4,627,870.00 254,854,665.00 13,107,380.00 296,140.00 28,613,950.00 94,067,710.00 1,160,230.00 12,440.00 658,630,490.00 360,574,150.00 659,550.00 43,834,640.00

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ CEB Landmasters Cebu Holdings Cebu Prop. `A’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Filinvest Land,Inc. Global-Estate Interport `A’ Keppel Properties Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’

6.080 1.57 2.520 1.140 39.450 3.78 5.65 5.27 5.98 0.540 1.09 1.470 0.193 0.510 47 0.710 0.158 1.73 1.26 1.02 4.14 4.54 0.375 0.3600 0.630

STOCKS

JUNE 19-23, 2017 Close Volume

JUNE 13-16, 2017 Close Volume

Value

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

32.00 4.2 24.10 1.76 3.23 33.20 1.02 7.29 0.910 5.930

1,900 5,064,000 6,186,000 1,536,000 1,981,000 54,899,100 22,048,000 2,600 2,287,000 26,710,100

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

DFNN Inc. Discovery World Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

24.6 42.9 1.7 0.495 0.045 10.9 5.55 9.58 0.0910 2.14 97 9.52 8.60 2.52 3.20 970 2118 6.13 15.94 13.20 3.05 98.25 3.46 12.66 8.80 0.193 1.3800 3.56 16.32 4.32 1.63 6.35 15.60 0.620 2.34 9.38 4.60 2.630 11.28 5.20 3.08 169.00 11.06 1829.00 0.390 1.560 45.10 87.90 6.80 3.60 1.430 1.86 3.4 0.880 7.900

3,197,900 125,200 2,270,000 4,411,000 420,700,000 25,800 36,400 79,612,000 208,110,000 28,387,000 1,172,560 10,400 1,662,600 32,000 15,000 310 192,240 672,800 191,600 27,600 20,209,000 11,064,460 185,000 5,400 1,754,000 93,000,000 601,000 291,000 84,500 3,709,000 15,775,000 25,097,000 1,100 16,359,000 212,000 55,970,600 153,701,000 7,049,000 93,400 246,700 2,000 17,860 6,439,900 471,240 4,520,000 27,589,000 7,371,300 4,175,390 32,131,300 149,428,000 201,257,000 7,000 29,601,000 104,104,000 170,892,600

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Atok-Big Wedge `A’ Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

0.0030 1.63 5.00 14.98 2.0600 2.2500 0.91 0.400 9.03 2.460 0.295 0.182 0.192 0.011 1.95 6.25 2.05 0.5000 0.9900 0.0100 0.0100 6.03 8.90 2.97 0.0130 160.40 2.7 0.0088

MINING & OIL 2,251,000,000 6,565,200.00 19,927,000 32,519,340.00 690,500 3,451,542.00 4,800 69,320.00 248,000 548,510.00 202,000 454,540.00 2,281,000 2,056,810.00 720,000 283,350.00 90,200 819,986.00 6,325,000 15,458,010.00 5,820,000 1,677,250.00 36,730,000 6,611,280.00 2,300,000 441,920.00 285,000,000 3,015,000.00 994,000 1,897,280.00 5,568,200 34,501,720.00 204,000 428,700.00 2,565,000 1,336,875.00 388,000 371,570.00 84,000,000 867,300.00 45,200,000 457,000.00 939,200 5,591,047.00 3,097,300 27,688,622.00 17,089,000 50,138,830.00 23,200,000 286,000.00 5,307,490 850,918,031.00 292,000 795,220.00 8,000,000 67,000.00

Leisure and Resort GMA Holdings Inc. ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred I SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred C Alco Preferred B DD PREF PNX PREF 3A MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3B First Gen G First Gen F FPH Pref C Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ GLOBE PREF P GTCAP PREF A PF Pref 2 GTCAP PREF B PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B

1.07 5.85 42.2 77 77.8 78.05 78.5 78.5 79 79.55 80.3 105 105 106 108.8 113.5 114.5 116.5 500 512 515 520 1011 1013 1017 1020 1129

209,000 3,822,500 78,700 34,950 22,930 306,100 38,500 682,000 25,350 28,320 150,790 6,300 242,620 196,400 60 100 20,220 1,060 39,180 830 10,760 6,640 8,785 10,970 170 6,300 315

LR Warrant

2.270

WARRANTS & BONDS 1,422,000 3,417,050.00

Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

3.08 4.06 6 8.08

5,000 1,714,000 1,255,100 12,689,400

First Metro ETF

117.9

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 35,370 4,188,129.00

USD DMPL A1

10.5

31,420

57,600.00 21,132,380.00 152,164,115.00 2,725,020.00 6,352,400.00 1,868,986,030.87 22,463,250.00 17,553.00 2,031,940.00 158,663,500.00 SERVICES 79,998,710.00 5,418,305.00 3,853,940.00 2,195,545.00 18,526,700.00 282,546.00 201,791 759,689,052.00 18,656,980.00 62,454,850.00 115,261,034.50 100,135.00 14,183,578.00 77,540 48,810.00 300,700.00 407,947,130 4,135,881.00 3,014,762.00 364,320 62,448,800.00 1,119,782,113.00 629,300 67,180.00 15,479,321.00 17,883,930.00 829,720.00 1,013,980.00 1,328,884.00 16,233,950 22,897,590.00 149,330,525.00 17,640 11,845,810.00 484,140.00 535,842,919.00 679,367,500.00 18,369,920.00 1,063,518.00 1,269,899 6,180.00 2,891,354.00 70,876,088.00 869,416,975.00 1,764,400.00 43,131,150.00 333,564,270.00 367,244,345.50 209,665,546.00 533,988,420.00 286,094,050.00 13,060.00 97,668,210.00 94,493,170.00 1,291,554,602.00

PREFERRED 217,600 22,294,839.00 3,337,870.00 2,685,688.50 1,753,309.00 23,979,676.00 3,026,100.00 53,975,160.00 2,031,650.00 2,262,518.00 12,160,570.00 663,325 25,460,056.00 20,730,569.00 6,529.00 11,350.00 2,324,670.00 120,675.00 19,941,800.00 425,255 5,516,245.00 6,188,800.00 8,875,855.00 11,118,565.00 173,470.00 6,456,950.00 350,125.00

SME 15,390.00 6,796,920.00 7,261,562.00 102,844,177.00

DDS 329,345.00

Value

27.80 3.86 24.95 1.77 3.25 34.25 1.04 7.28 0.910 5.950

1,000 1,182,000 5,454,400 2,448,000 2,312,000 52,261,200 47,889,000 2,900 4,053,000 30,500,200

27,795.00 4,538,250.00 135,293,960.00 4,336,470.00 7,502,730.00 1,791,811,305.00 49,801,690.00 20,483.00 3,721,610.00 174,503,037.00

25.7 43.45 1.77 0.500 0.043 11.3 5.66 9.36 0.0890 2.13 100.9 10 8.56 2.55 3.30 970 2156 6.16 15.90 13.20 2.89 102 3.41 12.66 8.89 0.185 1.3700 3.54 15.18 4.18 0.93 5.12 15.52

6,873,800 144,900 2,485,000 5,922,000 56,140,000 17,900 27,200 71,390,900 649,060,000 10,842,000 1,450,880 2,000 176,300 27,000 4,000 760 955,925 1,712,400 158,700 4,500 2,468,000 33,766,570 150,000 17,600 1,330,500 10,870,000 740,000 900,000 61,500 6,818,000 203,000 9,658,000 4,500

175,594,075.00 6,268,385.00 4,220,510.00 2,967,715.00 8,474,300.00 202,780.00 152,052 686,813,990.00 60,237,840.00 22,766,170.00 143,688,191.00 20,000.00 1,502,392.00 68,460 13,200.00 737,200.00 2,061,240,150 10,488,145.00 2,524,606.00 59,378 7,080,170.00 3,471,404,575.00 521,680 218,452.00 11,821,538.00 1,991,770.00 1,033,760.00 3,167,630.00 936,426.00 30,028,650 186,390.00 48,609,080.00 70,334

2.22 9.5 3.85 2.620 11.5 5.28

584,000 76,987,700 46,355,000 10,749,000 29,300 48,900

1,322,280.00 698,734,801.00 176,790,500.00 28,758,470.00 337,388.00 251,725

170.00 11.10 1900.00 0.395 1.590 45.00 87.95 6.10 3.37 1.280

405,400 8,953,300 3,304,395 3,710,000 179,568,000 7,212,500 4,903,740 1,597,600 85,438,000 110,969,000

64,980,330.00 97,026,604.00 6,270,912,380.00 1,462,400.00 283,913,930.00 324,959,365.00 430,892,189.50 9,696,878.00 277,010,880.00 144,028,030.00

3.06 0.970 6.820

16,182,000 113,169,000 63,462,000

48,873,960.00 102,462,530.00 425,901,109.00

0.0030 1.64 5.09 14.68 2.1600 2.2500 0.87 0.390 9.25 2.400 0.300 0.181 0.193 0.011 1.91 6.14 2.06 0.4900 0.9700 0.0100 0.0110 6.11 9.00 3.03 0.0120 159.90 2.8 0.0082

2,021,000,000 22,778,000 492,500 29,000 44,000 13,000 1,178,000 2,120,000 56,900 8,395,000 2,970,000 53,210,000 3,520,000 71,800,000 1,312,000 27,546,000 389,000 2,240,000 245,000 98,700,000 10,800,000 489,800 21,046,900 9,913,000 302,500,000 4,340,470 282,000 25,000,000

6,092,000.00 37,678,170.00 2,463,708.00 406,976.00 97,580.00 28,520.00 1,038,280.00 820,500.00 524,999.00 19,868,230.00 896,300.00 9,572,720.00 680,490.00 793,400.00 2,629,800.00 169,156,439.00 793,210.00 1,151,750.00 240,920.00 1,026,900.00 113,100.00 3,031,382.00 189,736,639.00 30,006,910.00 3,771,500.00 693,563,276.00 795,010.00 205,500.00

1.05 5.83 43.4 77.8 76 77.5 79.3 78 80.45 81 80.95 105.5 105 104.5 107.5 114 115.5 112.5

390,000 1,870,100 197,800 1,370 66,060 161,500 210,200 410,490 60,550 232,310 400,870 120,690 39,120 5,240 18,600 80 880 550

411,450 10,906,922.00 8,600,420.00 106,763.00 5,112,344.00 12,603,485.00 16,346,431.00 32,047,450.00 4,871,625.50 18,855,174.50 32,858,883.50 12,746,160 4,124,865.00 547,610.00 1,996,860.00 9,120.00 101,640.00 61,575.00

516.5 513 520 1009 1012 1021 1040 1100

30,280 2,420 2,340 1,410 52,065 4,075 2,160 2,785

15,533,640 1,233,305.00 1,155,200.00 1,421,890.00 52,590,530.00 4,157,875.00 2,230,800.00 3,063,610.00

2.360

1,122,000

2,663,180.00

4.06 5.9 7.78

946,000 288,400 13,019,000

3,737,850.00 1,716,503.00 100,227,961.00

119.2

19,800

2,375,871.00

10.48

21,770

226,232.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Crown Equities Inc. MRC Allied Ind. Apollo Global Manila Mining `A’ Boulevard Holdings STI Holdings Wilcon Depot Metro Retail SSI Group

VOLUME 2,251,000,000 877,460,000 666,840,000 420,700,000 285,000,000 208,110,000 201,257,000 170,892,600 153,701,000 149,428,000

STOCKS Universal Robina Ayala Land `B’ SM Prime Holdings SM Investments Inc. Mla. Elect. Co `A’ GT Capital Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Wilcon Depot I.C.T.S.I. Ayala Corp `A’

VALUE 2,264,381,375.00 1,982,887,685.00 1,868,986,030.87 1,621,068,570.00 1,606,462,230.00 1,456,400,085.00 1,353,453,776.00 1,291,554,602.00 1,119,782,113.00 1,018,094,385.00

ment of new water source including the construction of a 15-million-liter-per-day raw water facility.

Boracay Water was formed through a 25-year concession agreement between Manila Water Philippine Ventures and Tieza in 2009.

The feasibility study for the new water source facility is expected to be completed within the next two years, according to Tieza.

“The amount will also be used to energize new pumping stations at its mainland facilities, upgrade island pumping stations, network pipe laying projects, water meter replacement and standardization, and equipment and vehicle replacement,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said Boracay Water would construct another used water facility in Barangay Yapak. The facility is estimated to treat 5 million liters of used water a day.

Boracay Water now has two sewage treatment plants in the island located in the barangays of Balabag and Manocmanoc. Boracay Island is the only island, among all beach destinations that has a world-class centralized sewer system.

“The Balabag STP will rehabilitated to further comply to stricter effluent standards of DAO 2016-08 Class B. Also the Manocmanoc STP will be upgraded to 8.5 million liters treatment capacity, and include Biological Nutruent Removal Technology also to further compliance with the stricter DENR standards,” said Alvarez.

Primex unveils four new projects LISTED real estate developer Primex Corp. unveiled four new projects, including a 50-story tower along Edsa in San Juan City.

Primex president Ernesto Ang said Primex Tower would rise at the corner of Edsa and Connecticut Street at a cost of P3.6 billion.

“The estimated cost of the building is P2.6 billion while the lot is almost close to P1 billion, so the total project cost for Primex Tower will be around P3.6 billion,” Ang said.

Ang said other projects in the pipeline are Vistas Terrazas, a 7-hectare project in Tagaytay City; Twin Golf Tower on Annapolis Street in Greenhills; and 30-story Lyf Residences Tower near Gilmore Street, in partnership with a foreign serviced apartment operator.

Primex, whose completed projects include high-end residential projects Goldendale Village and Tresor Residences in Malabon City, The Richdale in Antipolo City and The Stratosphere in Makati City, booked a net income of P23.7 million in the first quarter, slightly up from P25.1 million a year ago, as gross revenue increased to P88.4 million from P78.4 million.

Ang said the company planned to keep some commercial space on the ground floor of The Stratosphere to have a recurring income.

“Income for this year is definitely more than last year. We have incoming transactions that will generate income, so the expected income will be more than last year,” said Ang.

Business

B3

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Bank integration talks with Singapore pushed

By Julito G. Rada

B

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas is looking forward to possible negotiations on the entry of banks between the Philippines and Singapore under the Asean Banking Integration Framework.

Outgoing Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., who will end his second six-year term on July 2, 2017, said he was expecting talks on the mutual entry of banks between the two Asean countries in the coming months.

“We have one with Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. We have not started yet (the negotiations) with Singapore but it might happen soon... Maybe over the next few months,” Tetangco told reporters in an interview.

Tetangco earlier said the entry of qualified Asean banks between neighboring Asean countries would further boost and investments in the region.

In April this year, Bangko Sentral and Bank Negara Malaysia signed in Cebu City the declaration of conclusion of negotiations between Malaysia and the Philippines. Sealing the declaration at the sidelines of the 12th Asean Finance Ministers Investors seminar were Tetangco and Bank Negara Governor Muhammad bin Ibrahim.

Tetangco said the signing came at the time of heightened uncertainties in the global financial markets which warranted a closer cooperation between the two countries.

Bangko Sentral and Bank of Thailand also signed a letter of intent to begin bilateral talks on qualified Asean banks under the ABIF framework. Tetangco and BoT Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob signed the letter of intent.

And just recently, Bangko Sentral signed a letter of intent with Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, the monetary authority of Indonesia.

Asean Banking Integration Framework provides the general principles for the entry of qualified Asean banks from one Asean member state to another.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., however, said local banks had not yet signified to expand overseas, saying any intention to go regional would be their business decisions.

For one, BDO Unibank Inc., the largest bank in the Philippines, said it would be prioritizing the domestic market because of the untapped potentials in other areas, particularly in the provinces. BDO is the country’s leading bank in terms of assets and size.

Under the Asean Banking Integration timeline, each Asean-5 country is to conclude at least one bilateral agreement with another Asean-5 country by 2018. Asean-5 refers to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

By 2020, ABIF targets the conclusion or near conclusion of at least one bilateral agreement for each of the 10 Asean members.

SUN LIFE-VOYAGER DEAL. Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. signs a partnership agreement with PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc.’s Voyager Innovations Inc. to help more Filipinos begin their journey to financial security. Signing the contract are (from left) Sun Life head of telco assurance + fintech solutions Mary Grace Yap-Aguinaldo, Sun Life chief business development officer Michael Manuel, Sun Life chief agency distribution officer Alex Narciso, Voyager business managing director and head of Voyager business Dindo Marzan, former Voyager managing director for digital commerce and current Smart head of product management Mitch Padua and Voyager head of operations for digital commerce Joel Cordova.

ERC to schedule hearings vs 12 power companies

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission will schedule the longdelayed hearings against 12 companies charged with anticompetitive behavior, which increased prices at the wholesale electricity spot market in November and December 2013.

The regulator could not move forward with the hearing until a legal issue was resolved, ERC spokesman Floresinda Digal said.

Digal said with the latest decision of the commission to deny the consolidation of the 11 cases against the 12 companies, the hearings could now proceed.

The ERC’s Investigating Unit earlier sent separate notices of pre-trial conferences asking the 12 companies to submit their respective positions on the charges.

The IU on June 10, 2015 filed 13 complaints against the several companies for violation of Section 45 of Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Re-

form Act of 2001.

The Epira states that “no participant in the electricity industry or any other person may engage in any anti-competitive behavior including, but not limited to, cross-subsidization, price or market manipulation, or other unfair trade practices detrimental to the encouragement and protection of contestable markets.”

The cases were filed against the 12 companies for allegedly withholding capacity at the WESM during the Malampaya

natural gas project maintenance shutdown.

The companies are Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (for Malaya and Casecnan plants), Therma Mobile Inc., Manila Electric Co., 1590 Energy, CIP II Power Corp., Trans-Asia Power Generation Corp., AP Renewables Inc., Udenna Management Resources Corp., Strategic Power Development, GN Power Mariveles, Panasia Energy Inc. and SEMCalaca Power Corp.

Commuting for work?

MOSES G. MANALANG

GREEN LIGHT THE office of the past was a literal box of cubicles and desks, meeting rooms and common spaces. In the office of the future, we’ll be thinking and working outside it. One of the modern workspace designs and work strategies is telecommuting. Its benefits range from creating a work-life balance for individual employees, increasing firm’s optimal performance to even improving traffic in the metro.

About time to adopt telecommuting Telecommuting, sometimes referred to as telework, or work from home, is working at home or at another alternative location using information technology to communicate with supervisors, peers and customers. It seems, however, telecommuting in the Philippines is not yet fully utilized. Businesses still adhere to the old employer-employee set up where there is close supervision to ensure optimal team performance. Is it about time for the local firms to adopt this new corporate work set up?

A study revealed that communication behaviors and relationship duration between an employee and his supervisor affect the participation in a work-fromhome program. I believe that to effectively initiate a work-fromhome program, the supervisor and his subordinate must have

known each other well. With this strong relationship, trust and confidence in achieving optimal performance is already well built and minimal supervision is expected to be incorporated in it.

Mutually beneficial Telecommuting is mutually beneficial for both employees and employers. Some of the perceived benefits for telecommuters are higher job satisfaction and autonomy perceptions, better work-family balance, lower stress and reduced motivation to leave their firm.

As I see it, many entry-level workers in the Philippine corporate arena are millennials and the aforementioned benefits of this program could certainly attract them. Millennial workers want autonomy, the freedom to do the task on their own and how they want to do it, not discounting the fact that they are tech-savvy and can search manuals and demos in the internet quickly.

On the other hand, many organizations could benefit from it as one of its business continuity strategies where critical processes continue to run even during unpredictable and extreme weather conditions and other uncertain events like earthquakes, fire and terrorism. The firm can also create a competitive advantage by being able to keep valuable talents through this flexible program as they foster loyalty and commitment from employees in the long-run.

Another study found that telecommuting is most commonly found in smaller firms, when

there is higher percentage of international employees and conducive to be adopted in firms with continent reward leadership style or rewards based on results, and it is also associated with outcome-based control system in which variable compensation is a key component of pay strategy.

BPOs strong potential I observed that the Philippines is now a haven for business process outsourcing companies or the contact center industry wherein local firms offer technical skills services in finance, IT and marketing. As a former employee of a multinational bank’s BPO arm, I know these firms adopt a different time or work shifts providing these services to off-shore clients whether they are United States-based for night shifters, United Kingdombased and Europe, Middle East and Africa-based for middle day shifters and Asia-Pacific based for early day shifters.

These firms hire many expatriates and offer additional bonuses to employees who reach or have exceeded their service level agreements, which is considered a variable pay strategy. Adopting a work-from-home program for these firms is highly probable as the measures to control optimal performance is based on results.

Means to ease traffic As I see it, perhaps a properly implemented telecommuting or work-from-home program may also contribute to easing traffic in the metro. Employees of these firms which offers wholeday shifts contribute to the daily

traffic experience in the country’s central business districts.

Aside from the proposed House Bill No. 5068 which seeks to “increase the normal hours per day under the compressed work-week scheme”—in which at the option of employers they may allow their employees to render maximum six-day work at 8-hours per day or four-day work at 12-hours per day—local firms might also want to consider telecommuting as an alternative.

Telecommuting reduces traffic volume and congestion during peak times by removing commuters from the road. By working in a home office during the most congested parts of the day, WFH workers reduce the overall demand on the local road and public transportation system.

If more people work from home, savings in commute time, energy used, improved productivity and reduced costs (office space, electricity, etc.), may make the challenge of changing work and compensations systems well worth the effort!

The author is a Doctor of Business Administration student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal he kept in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Strategic Human Resources Management.

The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

With Senators Franklin Drilon and Edgardo Angara

THE HIGHEST HONOR I MISSED paying tribute to fathers last week, but it is never too late nor too seldom to honor your father or, perhaps, those who you look up to like a father.

In my last column (“Amigos Para Siempre”, June 12, 2017), I mentioned that Senators Edgardo J. Angara and Franklin M. Drilon were conferred with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by Emperor Akihito of Japan – Senator Angara in 2013 and Senator Drilon in 2016.

The Grand Cordon is the highest class of the Order of the Rising Sun, a form of Japanese Honor System patterned after the Europeans. A quick search on the Internet revealed that the Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. It was the first national award conferred by the Japanese government. The order is awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in the fields of international relations or in advancements in the awardees’ field of expertise.

Senator Angara was the third Filipino to be conferred with such an honor and Senator Drilon, the fourth, after former Foreign Affairs Secretary and Statesman Carlos P. Romulo and former Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco. Other known personalities who received the award in the past were Singapore founding father and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and former British Prime Minister John Major.

The Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices or ACCRALAW recently hosted a reception in honor of the Grand Cordon recipients, Senators Angara and Drilon.

Atty. Victor P. Lazatin, ACCRALAW Of Counsel and “Boy Laz” to his friends, introduced the honorees in a unique way: simultaneously, because of the many parallelisms between the two.

Just to cite a few: both excelled academically in law school; both were partners in ACCRALAW, Senator Angara being one of the founding partners; both served as Executive Secretaries under different Presidents; both served as Secretaries of different Departments; and both served as Senators and Senate Presidents.

While listening to Boy Laz introduce the honorees, I could not help but wax sentimental in the thought that I had so many touch points with both iconic leaders in my personal and professional life .

I cut my teeth as a lawyer in ACCRALAW. When I joined the firm, Senator Drilon was the Managing Partner and Senator Raul Roco was the hiring part-

H.E. Amb. Kazuhide Ishikawa

ner. It was in ACCRALAW that I learned the rudiments of the practice of law. I also had the pleasure of serving with both Senators Angara and Drilon in the Aquino (Cory), Ramos and Estrada administrations. My training in legislative work was enhanced and exposure to politics broadened when I worked as a member of Senator Angara’s staff in the Senate. He chaired the committees of education and health and was a member of the committees on energy and finance. Elections made me dive into the realm of political campaigns. Both Senators won their seats in very convincing fashion and thereafter made their mark in the passage of several landmark legislation.

Senator Angara was a founder of the ASEAN Law Association (ALA) and served as its first President, a position now held by the indefatigable Atty. Avelino Cruz, another founding partner of ACCRALAW. Sen Drilon is an active member. I continue to work with ALA in several capacities. Now, we are busy preparing for the ALA Ministerial meetings to be hosted by the Philippines in October.

Aside from the ALA, we are also members of the Philippine Bar Association or PBA, the oldest lawyers’ organization in the country. And, as if that was not enough, we also serve in the University of the Philippines College of Law Alumni Foundation or UPLAF as members of the Board of Trustees.

It has always been my privilege to serve and work with both Senators Angara and Drilon.

Indeed, being pillars in Philippine politics and society, they both have been influential in how I built up my own legal and professional career. Both were like fathers and mentors. This is my humble way of giving honor to them.

To both, I can only say Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu!

(Ret.) Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, ACCRALAW Founding Partner and Former Senate President Edgardo J. Angara, SEC Chairperson Teresita J. Herbosa, ACCRALAW of-Counsel, Atty. Eusebio V. Tan

With ACCRALAW Managing Partner Emerico De Guzman, Amb. Kazuhide Ishikawa, Atty. Alfonso R. Reyno, Jr., ACCRALAW Of-Counsel Victor P. Lazatin, BDO Unibank Chair and SM Investments Corp. Vice Chair Tessie Sy-Coson, ACCRALAW Founding Partner Avelino V. Cruz

With Sen. Franklin Drilon, First Pacific Company Ltd. Chair Manny Pangilinan, Amb. Kazuhide Ishikawa

With Amb. Kasuhide Ishikawa and Amb. Manolo Lopez

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

B4

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada awards licensed veterinarian Maria Gail Tobes, 22, as this year’s Miss Manila, as the coronation night ceremonies at the Philippine International Convention Center capped the week-long 446th Araw ng Maynila celebrations. Tobes (in her swimsuit, right) bagged a P500,000 cash prize and a management contract with Viva Live Entertainment.

Licensed vet wins Ms. Manila beauty pageant

By Sandy Araneta MATCHING beauty with brains, a licensed veterinarian was crowned Miss Manila 2017 by Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada during the coronation night of the city’s prestigious beauty pageant Saturday night, which capped the weeklong celebration of the 446th Araw ng Maynila.

Maria Gail Tobes, 22, bested 29 other Manileña beauties as she took home the most coveted crown and P1 million worth of prizes, consisting of P500,000 in cash and a management contract with Viva Live Entertainment.

Miss Manila 2016 Cristelle Tolentino passed the crown to Candidate No. 11 Tobes, who was born in Northern Samar, during a star-studded coronation night led by Mayor Estrada, former senator Loi Estrada, and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Coming in second was Francesca Camargo (Candidate No. 23). Diana Mackey (No. 18) finished third, followed by Sofia Sibug (No. 7). Rounding out the Top 5 was Naelah Alshorbaji Almazik (No. 21).

Tobes, who was crowned by Wurtzbach, also joined Binibining Pilipinas early this year. Tobes graduated cum laude at the University of Eastern Philippines.

In congratulating Tobes, Estrada said the new Miss Manila queen “personifies what our beloved Manila is — beautiful, exquisite, empowered, and full of grace and passion.”

The pageant’s beneficiary for this year is the MARE Foundation, chaired by Estrada’s daughter Jackie Ejercito.

The foundation regularly conducts medical missions and other socio-civic programs in Manila.

“That is why I can tell all our candidates that even if they were not chosen as Miss Manila, they are already winners because you have helped the poor of our city,” Estrada pointed out.

Estrada revived the annual Miss Manila pageant when he assumed office in 2013 to bring attention to the city’s rich culture, and “to the beauty, intelligence, inherent generosity, and kindness of the Manileña.”

The beauty pageant, Estrada said, symbolizes his administration’s continuing vision to bring back Manila’s old beauty and as Asia’s “Pearl of the Orient.”

He recounted that Miss Manila originated from the Miss Carnival Queen in the early 1900s. In 1925, his late mother Maria Marcelo was crowned Miss Carnival Queen.

Apart from Wurtzbach, the other judges during Saturday’s coronation night include Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev and actress Nadine Lustre.

‘Employ locals to rebuild Marawi’ H

city by the end of Ramadan’s observance so the recovery process can finally begin.

OME-GROWN labor should be used He said that utilizing the city’s in the reconstruction of Marawi City mostly Maranaw labor force in once it has been rid of the ISIS-inspired the reconstruction efforts will help hasten the healing proMaute terrorists who continue to occupy at least also cess, because many of them now four barangays, a large Moro business group find themselves jobless in the wake of the month-long siege. proposed.

Macatoman explained that Marawi residents, especially tion fund, the Bangsa Moro Federal while the fighting is confined those who have lost their homes Business Council Inc. said. within less than 10 percent of and livelihood, should be allowed BFBCI chairman Abdulgani the city, a big question mark still to enjoy the economic windfall that Macatoman expressed hope that hangs over the local economy will arise from the Duterte admin- government troops can regain because many businesses remain istration’s P10-billion reconstruc- full control over the southern closed.

By Miguel C. Gil

“The Maranaw people are mostly traders, so what is happening now really hurts their livelihood,” he added.

At a business forum in Quezon City last week, Macatoman said the sheer extent of the damage to the city’s infrastructure will surely open many opportunities for the business sector once the reconstruction process gets underway.

He said the construction sector and connected enterprises are certain to experience a boom, as damaged roads, bridges as well as private and public buildings must be rebuilt.

“This will also be a godsend to the tens of thousands of Marawi’s now unemployed labor force,” he added.

Macatoman lamented that his own family’s three-storey ancestral home, which was located at the heart of the conflict zone, had been destroyed by the aerial bombardment. He said the same thing happened to the ancestral home of his wife, who is a scion of the influential Alonto clan.

“The terrorists chose to take cover inside the big concrete houses and buildings for protection.

Most of the well-made structures

IN BRIEF

23 drug dealers fall to police

3k Yakal seedlings planted at eco-park DIADI, Nueva Vizcaya—At least 3,000 Yakal (Shorea Astylosa) tree seedlings have been planted at the eco-park here as part of the provincial government’s effort to rehabilitate its forest landscape.

The trees were provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which was earlier requested by the provincial government for the 410-hectare Teak plantation of the Lower Magat EcoTourism Park located in barangay San Luis in this town.

Nequita Castro, park manager, said this was implemented through a Memorandum of Agreement between the provincial government and the DENR. The partnership is aimed at improving the forest cover of the LMETP and provide livelihood for the neighboring villagers, she said.

“The provincial government will be leading the effort for the massive planting at LMTEP along with other sectors of the province,” Castro added. Ben Moses Ebreo

164 Navoteños get tech-voc training NAVOTAS Mayor John Rey Tiangco has handed to 164 graduates of the city’s manpower training center their certificates for various short technical vocation courses.

Twenty students received National Certificate II papers for electrical installation and management, 22 for shielded metal arc welding, nine for gas tungsten arc welding, and 20 for automotive servicing.

Seven also graduated with electronic product assembly and servicing NC II, 12 in dressmaking NC II, at 20 in refrigeration and aircon servicing NC II. Furthermore, 11 earned certificates for beauty academy (beauty care and hairdressing NC II), 33 for bread and pastry production NC II, and 10 for computer hardware servicing NC II. Jun David

Baguio anti-dengue ‘Tireless Day’ set BAGUIO CITY—The local government, through the City Health Services Office, has launched an anti-dengue program dubbed “Juan Tireless Day” to help curb the breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes in households across the city’s barangays.

Dr. Donabel Tubera, CHSO medical officer, said that under the program, members of the district health and sanitation teams in the barangays will visit households in their areas to look for unused and stored rubber tires.

The inventoried tires will then be collected by the members of the teams and placed in a staging area, where a company will buy the good ones at P50 to P100 per tire depending on its condition, while the bad ones will be taken for free. Dexter A. See

could end up destroyed when this is over,” he said.

Meantime, BFBCI members are looking forward to playing a significant part of the expected reconstruction phase, and the business opportunities that it would certainly open, Macatoman revealed.

He explained that while it may sound highly unlikely right now, Marawi City and its environs can also be tapped as the next big tourist destination in Southern Philippines soon. “Lake Lanao can be cultivated as the Lake Tahoe of Southeast Asia,” he insisted.

By Joel E. Zurbano

FEDERALISM TALK. Former Laguna governor Jeorge ER Ejercito delivers his message on ‘Federalizing the Philippines’ as guest speaker during the 51st Founding Anniversary of Ifugao province ‘Gotad Ad Ifugao’. Ifugao Governor Pedro Mayam-O, Vice Governor Jose Gullitiw, and Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. listen to Ejercito at the Plaza Grounds of the Provincial Capitol in Lagawe. Roy Tomandao

Cagayan mayors urge board to pass budget

By Jessica M. Bacud TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan—Tuao Mayor Francisco N. Mamba Jr., Cagayan Chapter President of The League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the 24 mayors in the province have signed a resolution urging the Provincial Board to approve the 2017 annual budget.

Mamba Jr., also a lawyer, said the provincial board should consider the plea of the local executives for the passage of the province’ annual budget, since “Cagayanos will benefit from the programs and projects to be implemented by the provincial government.”

“Put people first and set aside personal political affiliation,” Mamba Jr. stressed.

The resolution itself signed by the local

leaders “is a clear manifestation that the populace in the province are being deprived of the services while the annual budget has not been passed,” the mayor added.

Despite belonging to different political parties, 25 of the 28 mayors of Cagayan recently signed the resolution in support of the CAGANDA (Cagayan Development Agenda) of Governor Manuel Mamba, who belongs to the opposition Liberal Party and is the Tuao mayor’s brother.

Mamba Jr. said the mayors believe in the governor’s developmental agenda.

In a resolution, the Cagayan mayor’s league said all the 16 mayors present during an En Banc Meeting of the Provincial Development Council had approved the Provincial Development Investment Program.

TWENTY-THREE suspected drug dealers, most of them operating in Taguig City, have been arrested during separate police operations to combat illegal drugs in southern Metro Manila.

The drug operations, involving police operatives from cities of Makati, Taguig, Pasay and Parañaque City, were made in cooperation with community members who gave the authorities valuable information about the illegal transaction of the suspects.

Police said residents had also witnessed drug transactions out in the open in the subject areas.

Supt. Jenny Tecson, spokesperson of the Southern Police District, said 13 persons were arrested during series of operations conducted in barangays Ususan, Lower Bicutan and Western Bicutan in Taguig City.

The suspects were Alvin Sibayan, 37; Rex Recto, 30; Regie Bautista, 27; Abraham Ludsiman, 40; Edward Baja, 30; Ely Torrendon Jr., 37; Norhan Akmad, 37; Edgar Allen Valles, 25; Fernando Reblando, 30; Huderi Joel Lumambas, 37; Rolando Espiritu, 34; Federico Belmonte, 50, and Allan Belmonte, 40.

MIXED ENERGY SPECIAL REPORT

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Energy and Economic Boom I

N APRIL this year, the Duterte administration unveiled an ambitious Build Build Build Program embodied in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) of 2017 to 2022.

The Build, Build, Build program aims to roll out trillions of pesos of infrastructure to support the country’s economic development as embodied under the PDP. The PDP is anchored on the Ambisyon Natin 2040 collective’s long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipinos for a better life by 2040 backed by a stronger economy, which would also require a more resilient, stable, affordable and efficient energy sector.

Thus the Department of Energy (DOE) launched its own Philippine Energy Plan 2040 in anticipation of the higher energy demand between now and 2040.

According to the DOE’s projections, the country’s demand for energy will triple between 2016 to 2040. Petroleum products will continue to dominate the country’s final energy demand by 2040 to 40.5 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE) by 2040 from 13.9 MTOE in 2015, representing a three-fold increase.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said electricity demand is anticipated to grow four times from its 2015 level.

“On a sectoral basis, the transport sector will have the highest demand in 2040 at 30.08 MTOE. As a likely result of the government’s push towards industrialization and urbanization, the energy demand for the industrial and residential sectors is projected to double or even triple by 2040,” said Cusi.

Cusi said the total energy supply

requirement of the country is seen to reach 134.2 MTOE by 2040 from 52.2 MTOE in 2016 with fossil-based sources continuing to get the lion’s share in the total supply mix.

The DOE’s primary energy mix shows that coal’s share in the primary energy mix will reach 41.6 percent in 2040 from 20.5 percent followed by oil at 32.2 percent from 35.5 percent.

The average share of RE resources, according to DOE, shall be 28.2 percent across the same period.

Biomass will get a 9 percent share of the mix in 2040 from 14.4 percent in 2016 while geothermal

will go down to 7.1 percent from 18.2 percent last year.

Natural gas’ share is also expected to go down to 4.1 percent from 6.3 percent and hydro at 1.9 percent from 3.9 percent.

Other technologies are projected to get a 3.1 percent share in 2040 which Cusi views “as a calculated result of the DOE’s pursuit of a policy that aims to develop technology-neutral energy sources in meeting the ideal proportion of 70 percent busload, 20 percent mid-merit and 10 percent peaking requirements for power generation.

Cusi said the forecasted new technologies in the mix may include nuclear although this still

needs careful study.

“This is the so-called 70-20-10 ordeal proportion…Rather, it is the ideal energy mix targeted by the Administration as part of its inclusive growth agency in the energy sector,” Cusi said.

According to Cusi, the Philippines will need an additional capacity of 43,765 megawatts by 2040 of which 25,265 MW are baseload requirements, 14,500 MW are mid-merit capacity and 4,000 MW are peaking power plants.

“Hopefully, with Dutertenomics attracting the adequate level of private investments, we can reach our targeted additional power

capacity by year 2040--43,765 MW,” he said.

DOE records showed that the Philippines’ installed capacity has reached 21,423 MW as of 2016 from 18,765 MW in 2015 while dependable capacity was placed at 19,097 MW. The increase in capacity was attributed to the commercial operations of several power plants such as the 300 MW Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp., 450 MW San Gabriel natural gas plant, FDC Misamis coal plant, 150 MW SMC Malita coal plant, 135 MW Palm Concepcion coal plant and 132.5 MW Helios solar farm.

Energy Security Cusi said the energy sector’s strategic directions are aligned with the administration’s vision of inclusive growth, high trust society and a globally competitive knowledge economy.

“They may be encapsulated in the following bite-sized elements: energy security; expanding energy access; low-carbon future; strengthened partnerships, both local and international; consistency with plans and roadmaps, proactive pursuit of relevant legislative agenda and strengthened consumer protection,” he said.

Cusi assured that the department will continue to ensure energy security through the development of proven indigenous energy resources.

“We are determined to achieve the ideal and dependable 70-2010 energy mix, through massive infrastructure and development with the indispensable participation of the private sector,” he said.

“The quest to explore and use local or indigenous sources of energy, like renewables, fossil fuels and alternative fuels, will continue as a matter of policy. And this age of rapidly developing technology, as we will even encourage the entry of clean, efficient and smart technologies in the market,” the energy chief said.

Cusi said the downstream natural gas industry shall be developed to attract further investments and in the short-term, the government will build a common liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving and distribution infrastructure.

“We will also develop and retrofit our energy infrastructure to not only be efficient but also resilient against natural and man-made disasters, and with the necessary and effective response emergency measures,” said Cusi.

Crucial to the strategic directions of the department in ensuring energy security is the issuance of the executive order on DOE Turn to C4

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MIXED ENERGY SPECIAL REPORT

Renewed high hopes for RE T

HE Philippines attracted thousands of megawatts of renewable energy projects shortly after the passage of the Renewable Energy Act of 2001 but the concerns have been raised on the future of RE without the new feed-in tariff rates.

Renewable energy currently accounts for 32.5 percent of the country’s installed capacity in 2016 amounting to 21,424 MW of which geothermal contributed 8.9 percent, hydro at 16.9 percent and biomass, wind and solar at 6.6 percent.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi wants to increase the renewable energy capacity level to 15,000 megawatts by 2040 from around 5,000 MW in 2010.

“We are poised to increase our RE capacity from its 2010 level of 5,000 MW to 15,000 MW,” he said, adding that the DOE will promote technology innovation through research and development, demonstration and deployment.

Investments in new solar and wind projects, however, has slowed down recently due to the absence of clear government policies on the Renewable Portfolio Standards and the Green Energy Option in the absence of the feedin tariff.

As a result, developers have raised questions on the way forward for RE development in the Philippines.

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas said wind power development has come to a near halt in the Philippines due to the lack of an operational wind regulatory framework.

“Since the FiT2 (feed in tariff 2) came to an end, and until other policies come into effect, there is no operational wind regulatory framework. As a result, wind development has come to a near halt while conventional fossil fuel generation continues to grow significantly,” Clive Turton, Vestas Asia Pacific president said.

Vestas is servicing 183 megawatts of wind projects in the country, including the 150 MW Burgos wind power plant in Ilocos Norte, one of the largest wind energy project in South East Asia.

The feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism that promotes the rapid deployment of renewable energy by offering developers a guaranteed rate for the electricity they produce.

FITs have been the main drivers of renewable energy additional capacity in the Philippines to date. The FIT guaranteed a rate of P8.53 and P9.68 for every kWh produced by a qualified wind and solar project, respectively.

The FIT was later revised downwards for the second round to P7.40 per kWh for wind and P8.69 per kWh for solar to reflect technology improvements and cost reductions.

“A wind energy pipeline of several hundreds of megawatts stands to be unlocked with clear policy in place. Vestas is committed to help write the next chapter of wind energy deployment in The Philippines, and work with all government and private sector partners to that effect!” the Vestas official said.

Turton said the Philippines has some of the most abundant wind resources in Southeast Asia and a modern wind energy technology is able to generate more power, at a lower cost than ever before.

“With thermal power, and particularly coal projects moving forward while RE developments are at a near standstill, the country’s growing electricity needs will be fulfilled thanks to an increasing share of coal, at the expense

of RE – at least in the near-term,” Vestas said.

“Indeed, wind and solar projects are virtually all halted. This is mainly due to the current RE policy vacuum, which follows the full allocation of the first two rounds of FiTs, and the freeze, of an expected third round of FiTs,” the company said.

Cusi has announced that he is not supportive of a third round of feed-in tariff for solar and wind projects as it will push up power rates.

The DOE has also not acted on the pleas of some solar developers who failed to get a feed-in tariff despite completing their solar projects in time for the March 15, 2016 government-imposed deadline.

These solar developers are now looking at shutting down their operations and some are selling out due to the very low rates at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the country’s trading floor of electricity.

“With no other RE policy mechanism operationally in place, The Philippines is effectively putting to a halt an otherwise flourishing local industry,” Vestas said.

Vestas also expressed support to the renewable energy portfolio standards or RPS and any other policy tool, which aims to drive renewable energy development.

RPS is a policy instrument which aims to drive renewable energy development by mandating load-serving entities (such as distribution utilities), to procure a minimum percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources.

“However, RE Industry stakeholders express concern about the current RE policy gap (no new FIT, no defined new procurement mechanism, and RPS yet to be implemented), which is delaying new RE installations to the benefit of conventional fossil fuel generation – particularly coal,” Vestas said.

National Renewable Energy Board chairman Jay Layug said, however, expressed optimism and high hopes on renewable energy development in the country inspite of the ongoing challenges.

“By sheer geographic location, we Filipinos are all impelled by a shared desire to grow the country’s renewable energy sector. We do not have massive production and of conventional energy resources to fuel our economy. By default therefore and following all legislative mandate, we should continue to pursue the acceleration of renewable energy sources development in the Philippines,” Layug said.

“But we should think of RE not just as a means to increase our energy capacities. More importantly, we should think of RE to serve legitimate ends of development especially in our rural communities,” he said.

Layug said the National Renewable Energy Program as it stands represents the government’s unbending resolve to carve out a clear roadmap towards utilising emerging technologies in the renewable energy field.

“The NREP is our guidepost toward ensuring that while we strive to sustain industrial growth and create better lives for the Filipinos, we are likewise putting in place climate protection policies, securing energy supply for an endless time and sustaining economic development for decades to come. We all have to support renewable energy development and fulfil the spirit and intent of the RE law. In doing so, we also have to fulfil our obligation to provide renewable energy to our people in ways that would ensure fair and electricity pricing for all,” Layug said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, however, urged the department to come out with a written policy on the feed-in tariff so as not to confuse investors.

“We really need to have a department order in writing for the industry,” Gatchalian said.

Nuclear still an option for PH well in place,” he said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has set 19 issues that need to be addressed to assist countries considering nuclear energy for power generation.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has said that government will come out with a final recommendation on way forward for the mothballed 620 megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

The Bataan Nuclear facility has not operated for the past 30 years amid safety concerns.

Cusi earlier said that in the event that repowering the Bataan nuclear power plant is not feasible, the Philippines can also look into

THE Philippines is studying including nuclear energy in the primary energy mix by 2040 but a nuclear policy that will address safety and acceptability concerns has yet to be put in place.

Studies are ongoing at the Department of Energy to include nuclear energy for power generation in the 3.1 percent projected share of new technologies in energy mix.

Energy Undersecretary Jess Posadas said the Philippines is open to the use of nuclear energy to power its economic development from the P8.9 trillion worth of investments in infrastructure in the next five years.

Posada said the Philippines is presently in the process of developing and formulating its national position on nuclear energy but admits that this will not be easy.

“If the infrastructure projects will be built, the Philippines will need huge amounts of energy,” he said, adding that nuclear power has the potential of meeting such huge energy demand.

Posadas said one gram of uranium is equivalent to 1.8 million cubic meters of oil and three million grams of coal.

“Nuclear energy would last longer than other fuels,” said Posadas.

He stressed that the country has always viewed nuclear energy as a long-term option for power generation that will provide supply security, stability and reliability.

“Should this be the path that the country will take, nuclear further diversifies our existing generation mix comprised of coal, natural gas,

geothermal, hydropower, oil, wind, biomass and solar,” the official said.

He said that owing to its baseload characteristics allowing it to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, nuclear can support the thrust of the Philippine government which is the realization of the Philippine Development Plan’s drive for industrialization and urbanization.

“It is central for a country towards the path of development to have the available and required capacity to meet the nation’s increasing demand requirements,” Posadas said.

He said nuclear’s pivotal role to augment supply will also aid in accomplishing Ambisyon Natin 2040, a long-term vision that highlights the aspirations, values and principles of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country.

Posadas also said the Philippines is “privileged to have a President that personifies strong political will which is essentially one decisive factor if a country is to embark on a nuclear power program.

The DOE official said discussions on nuclear energy as well as radioactive sources tend to attract issues on security.

“We are cognizant of this and must admit that this issue cannot be discounted as people and the environment must always be protected. As you would note, security and physical protection is just one of the 19 infrastructure issues identified by the IAEA for countries pursuing nuclear power development. When we talk about radioactive sources, there is also emphasis on security. There must be a security culture practiced and a system

using modular or smaller sized nuclear facilities.

“We can be cautious. We can move with caution so we can start with modular. We have to listen to the experts,” he said.

President Duterte has given his go signal to Cusi to study nuclear as an option for the country’s long-term power requirements.

Cusi has since then issued department order DO2016-10-0013 creating the nuclear energy program implementing organization or NEPIO in the DOE. The NEPIO will produce produce a comprehensive study and prepare a national infrastructure for the first nuclear power plant.

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PH eyed as LNG hub in Southeast Asia NATURAL gas has been one of the cornerstones of the Philippine energy sector since the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan started contributing to the Luzon grid in 2002.

The Malampaya gas project is touted as one of the largest and mort significant industrial projects in Philippine history, delivering around 3,211 megawatts of capacity to five natural gas plants in Batangas namely Ilijan, Sta. Rita, San Lorenzo, San Gabriel and Avion power plants.

The eventual depletion of the Malampaya gas reserves in the next decade and the lack of a new gas discovery given the ongoing challenges in the upstream petroleum industry has prompted the government to look at the viability of putting up a liquefied natural gas infrastructure (LNG) in the country.

While several industry players have expressed interest to put up their own LNG facilities, the move recently gained traction with the decision of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to direct the Philippine National Oil Co. to put up the country’s first LNG facility.

With a project cost estimated at P100 billion and target completion by 2020 or 2021, the plan has gained strong support from the investors here and abroad.

“In the short-term, we seek to build a common LNG receiving and distribution infrastructure as part of the future clean energy city,” Cusi said.

Cusi said LNG can provide the demand from baseload, mid-merit and peaking requirements “and can compete with other fuel sources that can address the least-cost optimal electricity from such demand centers.

Cusi wants the Philippines to become the hub for LNG in the Southeast Asian region after missing being the hub for aviation and maritime sectors.

“LNG should have been done long time ago because

the Malampaya undergoes maintenance every 18-24 months. Every time it goes under maintenance, it costs the consumers a lot because we have power plants that are dependent on natural gas would have to switch to expensive adjustment and its costing the Filipinos,” he said.

The maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya power plant in 2014 cost consumers around P10 billion, he said.

“We could have avoided that if we have LNG terminal Aside from maintenance, preparation for eventual depletion, that study became a little bigger when we saw the PH can become LNG hub, and we’d like to give it a shot,” Cusi said.

More than 30 industry players have expressed interest in the country’s first integrated LNG terminal in Batangas that will also supply a new 200 MW LNG power plant.

Government is utilizing its banked gas from the Malampaya gas project as the government’s equity into the LNG project, PNOC president Reuben Lista said.

Lista said the LNG will be undertaken government to government (G2G) and they expect to make an announcement on the partnerships for LNG project before June 30.

Lista also addressed concerns that competition as the power sector has largely been private sector driven as a result of the passage of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

The EPIRA prohibited National Power Corp. from engaging in power generation anew and unbundled the power sector thus resulting to more private sector players.

“We are not competing with the private sector.

This project will actually help the private sector. We will assure that there is a source of LNG if and when Malampaya sizzles out,” Lista said.

MIXED ENERGY SPECIAL REPORT

Power consumption

soars in 2016 T

HE Philippines saw an unprecedented 10.2 percent growth in electricity demand last year driven by higher temperatures and increased economic activity, according to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Philippine Power Situation Report for 2016.

DOE said the higher electricity consumption to 90,797,891 megawatthours (MWh) in 2016 from 82,413,213 MWh was driven by the strong El Nino which affected the county in the ďŹ rst half last year. “This increase is primarily driven by the growth of residential consumption at 12.7 percent from 22,747,049 MWh (2015) to 25,631,254 MWh (2016) due to high requirements for cooling system,â€? it said.

Mindanao’s electricity consumption grew the highest last year at 12 percent boosted by the own-use consumption of newly operational and large coal-ďŹ red power plants.

Luzon’s peak demand, meanwhile, reached an all-time high at 9,726 megawatts which occurred on May 3, 2016 at 1:52 pm, higher than the 2015 peak demand of 8,928 MW. As a result of the increase in demand, several yellow and red alerts were declared by the system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in Luzon and Visayas.

Fortunately, the entry of new generation capacities eased power demand. The country’s supply base grew 14 percent

to 21,423 MW in 2016 from 18,765 MW with majority of new capacity coming from coal plants. “This increase in capacity is associated with the commercial operation of new power plants in Luzon such as the 2x150 MW SLPGC coal plant. 450 MW San Gabriel natural gas plant; Visayas the 135 MW Palm Concepcion coal power plant unit 1, 132.5 M Helios solar farm; and Mindanao the 2 x 135 MW FDC Misamis coal power plant and 150 MW SMC Malita coal power plant,� DOE said.

The country’s dependable capacity reached 19,097 MW last year or about 89 percent of the total installed capacity which has been delivered to the grid.

The department also reported that a total of 5,068 MW of committed power projects are expected to come online from 2017 to 2025 but the department wants to entice more investors in the country’s power sector. “The DOE is continuously encouraging investments in power generation in view of the increasing peak demand which is expected to grow by more than triple in 2040,� it said.

From C1 -declared energy projects as national signiďŹ cance, he said. “Energy efďŹ ciency and conservation, natural gas, liqueďŹ ed petroleum gas and declaring energy projects of national signiďŹ cance are particular areas of concern that are in urgent legislation right now,â€? he said.

He said DOE will also ensure transparency and predictability in the power generation, transmission and distribution permitting process and accelerate the privatization of energy

assets of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. to meet the mandated goals prior to the end of its corporate life in 2026. PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp.

Cusi adds that the department will expand energy access to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable and modern energy for all.

DOE will exert best effort to achieve 100 percent electriďŹ cation of targeted identiďŹ ed households in three major islands and connect the Mindanao grid with the Visayas and Luzon grids to increase power supply reliability and resilience. As of 2016, household electriďŹ cation stands at 90.7 percent.

“It is our ultimate desire to make the vision of one-grid Philippines a reality, where there is grid interconnectivity between and among our major island regions. While we pursue the vision of an integrated national grid, the DOE is now studying the implementation of distributed generation which may be more natural and appropriate to our archipelagic nature,� Cusi said.

The DOE will also continue to promote a low carbon future by increasing renewable energy capacity and promoting technology innovation through research, development, demonstration and deployment of clean, efďŹ cient and smart energy technologies and infrastructure for next

 2016  PHILIPPINE  ELECTRICITY  DEMAND-­SUPPLY  SNAPSHOT    Â

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1 Total  Average  Available  Capacity  Notes:  Shaded  blue  and  white  portions  of  the  Philippine  map  correspond  to  on-­grid  and  off-­grid  areas,  respectively    Totals  may  not  correspond  to  the  sum  of  all  figures  due  to  rounding Â

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 year  2016  is  characterized  by  a  significant  increase  in  electricity  consumption  at  10%  and  peak  The  demand  at  8.7%  attributed  to  several  factors  such  as  the  increase  in  temperature  and  utilization  of   cooling  equipment  aggravated  by  the  strong  El  NiĂąo,  the  conduct  of  National  and  Local  elections  during  the  first  half  of  the  year,  increase  in  economic  growth,  and  entry  of  large  power  generating  plants.  The   residential  and  industrial  sectors  remained  the  major  drivers  of  electricity  consumption  in  the  country  while  Luzon  remained  the  largest  on  a  per  grid  basis.   Notably,  the  g! &# # $ #!'*" "$ ' " "$ # # ! " & # # ! &#  of  total  installed  capacity  at  14%  from  18,765  MWh  (2015)  to  21,423  MWh  (2016)  majority  coming  from  coal-­fired  power  plants.  Among  the  three  grids,  Mindanao  has  the  highest  recorded  growth  in  terms  of   capacity  at  31%  from  2015-­2016.  From  2017-­2025  a  total  of  5,068  MW  committed  projects  are  expected  to  come  online.  The  DOE  is  continuously  encouraging   investments  in  power  generation  in  view  of  the  increasing  peak  demand  which  is  expected  to  grow  by  more  than  triple*  in  2040. Â

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Along  with  supply  security,  the  DOE  also  embarks  on  increasing  the  reliability  and  resiliency  of  the  system.  In  2016,  several  yellow  and  red  alerts  were  declared  by  the  system  operator  in  Luzon  and   Visayas  in  addition  to  the  major  grid  disturbances  and  load  dropping  incidents.  Among  the  three  major   grids,  Mindanao  was  adversely  affected  by  El  NiĂąo  which  caused  the  decline  in  hydro  power  generation  and  curtailment  of  supply  during  the  first  half  of  2016.  The  entry  of  large  coal-­fired  power  plants  in    Mindanao  on  the  latter  part  of  2016  has  addressed  these  supply  shortfalls . Â

*  Based  from  the  Power  Demand  and  Supply  Outlook  of  the  Power  Development  Plan,  2016-­2040 Â

Courtesy of Department of Energy Â

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MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 advertise@thestandard.com.ph

1  |  D O E -­ E P I M B  2 0 1 6  P h i l i p p i n e  P o w e r  S i t u a t i o n  R e p o r t Â

generation vehicles. “While we remain closely attuned to the marching order of President Duterte to ready the energy to fuel our industrialization and agricultural development, we remain equally mindful of our social and international obligations to protect the environment and lessen our carbon footprint,â€? the ofďŹ cial said.

Cusi said DOE is committed to increase RE capacity to 15,000 MW in 2040 from 5,000 MW in 2010.

Challenges Ahead “All these ambitious energy plans are not without their share of challenges that delay or prevent their fruitions,�

Cusi said.

These challenges includes ensuring energy security, reliability and reasonably-priced energy, passage of energy-related bills; harmonization of laws/policies; social acceptability of energy resources or technologies; energy resource development hindered by transnational/geographical boundaries; among others. “With tenacity and consistency in adhering to all these well-considered plans and roadmaps, we will prevail against the usual bane of ningas-cogon, mediocrity and shortsightedness, and prove capable of achieving the long-term energy objectives of the country for the beneďŹ t of the present and future generations of Filipinos,â€? the energy secretary said.

Recognized for its commitment to empowering host communities as its contribution to nation building

WINNER Social Empowerment & Green Leadership Categories Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards recognizes and honors Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship.

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

FOOD

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

D1

W

HEN kitchen power couple chefs Rolando Laudico and Jacqueline Laudico started their catering business in 2000, they opted to buy a La Germania range oven.

Seventeen years later, it is still working – a testament to the brand’s long history of creating durable appliances that started in 1909 under Bertazzoni SPA of Italy.

“Sometimes I wonder how La Germania makes revenues at all when their products are so well-crafted and have become known for their longevity,” Chef Rolando said during a cooking demonstration at Guevarra’s in San Juan, which uses La Germania range ovens and stoves.

“What I love about La Germania products is they do not breakdown easily, so that saves me money and time,” he added.

In between preparing classic local dishes with innovative twists such as lechon sisig served on mini-baskets made from crispy wonton wrappers with quail egg topping and garlic aoili drizzle as well as palabok roll served a la Vietnamese fresh spring roll, Chef Rolando demonstrated how La Germania’s latest gas range and mounted microwave combination oven have been meticulously engineered to be tough enough to withstand the constant heat and grind of the modern Filipino kitchen.

“We are generally viewed as an old brand. A lot of us probably grew up in kitchens with La Germania appliances.

But old does not mean outdated. We have a solid history and a rich heritage to back us up,” said Leslie TagleDinglasan, executive vice president of General Heat Corporation, manufacturer of La Germania products locally.

“La Germania is evolving with the times. For us, it is a matter of staying true to your principles while living up and adapting to the demands of our clients,” Dinglasan told Manila Standard.

According to Felimon Te, general manager of TW & Company Inc., distributor of La Germania across the country, the company does not sacrifice quality and design just to appear modern.

COOKING BEAUTIFULLY

La Germania, which has been part of countless of Filipino homes since the 1970s, is constantly evolving to cater to modern kitchens while staying true to its brand principles.

With a wide range of kitchen appliances and accessories, you can cook just about anything with La Germania, from Italian tagliatelle to chicken rotisserie and grilled vegetable skewers.

“We have updated our products in terms of aesthetics, but we still emphasize on quality,” he said in a separate interview.

Part of evolving and adapting to the kitchen requirements of modern Filipino homes is developing built-in stoves and ovens to cater to clients who live in condominiums where each square

meter space has to be maximized.

The price range of La Germania is also extensive enough to cover lowincome to high-income buyers, starting from less than P10,000 to as high as more than P100,000 for stoves, range ovens, range hoods, cookers and accessories that are prized for their superior quality and performance.

And with a network of 11 distributors from Luzon to Mindanao, Te said sales continue to rise, with about 50,000 units being moved annually.

Dinglasan said year-on-year growth is pegged at a “conservative but consistent five percent.”

“La Germania products make you feel at home, because really, Filipinos

love to eat and we share food with people we love,” she said.

“I think that sums up the La Germania commitment,” Dinglasan added.

“What we really stand for is passion for the products we come up with.”

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

Go bright, eat healthy at SaladStop!

SALADSTOP! has the freshest and brightest flavors with its newest offer – the all-natural Smoothie Bowls.

For the go-getters and active athletes, SaladStop! delivers its promise of healthier, more flavorful dishes with its new all-natural Smoothie Bowls. Bringing together fruits and veggies, these power-packed smoothie bowls boost the immune system with fruits and veggies high in antioxidants.

Choose between two delicious smoothie bowl flavors – Tropical Harvest and Hey Sunshine! Tropical Harvest is a smooth blend of melon, mango, avocado, banana, yoghurt, soy milk, and honey. This refreshing mixture is topped with mixed nuts, dried fruits, chia seeds and granola, giving you that wonderful crunch and texture.

How about a bowl of Hey Sunshine! for something bright and invigorat-

ing? This fruity bowl has juicy bits of mango, pineapple and melon, whipped up with coconut water and honey. It’s topped with green apple, pomelo, strawberry, chia seeds and granola.

Bright, fresh and full of summery flavors, these Smoothie Bowls are the perfect pick-me-ups.

Smoothie Bowls are available from 2-5 p.m. at SaladStop! Central Square and SaladStop! One Palanca only.

Tropical Harvest is a smooth blend of melon, mango, avocado, and banana

Chefs Mikel Zaguirre, Dennis Uy, and Kalel Chan cook for F1 Hotel’s Luzviminda event

Gastronomical fusion called Luzviminda

Hey Sunshine is a fruity bowl with mango, pinepple, and melon

F1 HOTEL Manila lands its fifth year of sumptuous buffet spread of Filipino wonders, a dynamic fusion of traditional recipes is offered, being modernized and recreated, to serve cutting-edge Filipino cuisine with the hotel’s annual Filipino feast - Luzviminda 5: Gastronomical Fusion.

Three guest chefs work with Executive Chef Deceker Gokioco to enliven the classical recipes from the country’s island groups, using modern technics in cooking: Chef Mikel Zaguirre (Locavore) for Luzon, Chef Dennis Uy (Meximama) for Visayas, and Chef Kalel Chan (Museum Café) for Mindanao.

Since 2012, Luzviminda has been the annual celebration of F All-Day Dining to commemorate Independence Day. Launched June 8, the buffet spread is open until June 30, either for lunch or dinner at P1,699 nett per person. Get 40 percent off when you use your Maybank Credit card.

Explore more of what your home island has to offer by traveling the whole country with your palate. Have dinner or lunch at Luzviminda buffet spread at F1 Hotel Manila, BGC inTaguig. For inquiries, call 908-7888 or visit www. f1hotelmanila.com.

Life

D2

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Mom’s love and Gardenia

make a pocket full of fun, filling treats for kids

W

E KNOW that Mom stands for “Master Of Making-things-workout.” And the cliché of the tired moms doing all of these chores, cooking, and taking care of the kids has evolved into an empowered woman who could still do everything in house but still manages to work with their chosen career paths, whether they go to the office or work from home.

Busy as she is juggling various roles, from taking care of the household to also providing whatever the whole family needs, she is best known for her foremost role: to be a loving, caring, giving mother.

But being a “M-O-M” is no easy feat, and sometimes, moms do need some help in order to make things work out with not just paying the bills, helping out in bringing some food on the table, or sending their kids to school.

Most importantly, moms are expected to be there for their children, in taking care of them and witnessing the milestones that their children achieve— showing much of their love for their kids. When kids are attending school or having some fun times with their playmates, they could only feel their mom’s love most of the time with

Freshly-baked bread in a convenient pack

Busy moms have one less problem to worry as Gardenia Pocket Sandwich makes it easier to pack healthy baon for kids

the baon she prepares for them.

Moms could whip up some meals that her kids will definitely love because of how very well she knows her children, but when she is pressed with the time needed to prepare she would definitely find a great ally in Gardenia-- a soft, freshly-baked bread that is great-tasting and nutritious. Helping hardworking moms everywhere to show their kids a pocket full of fun and a mother’s love, the country’s leading bread maker now introduces its newest product that kids will surely enjoy --the Gardenia Pocket

Sandwich.

Made with two slices of soft and luscious white bread, Pocket Sandwich has no edges and is perfectly sealed, making it a convenient snack for the kids and not messy to eat. Because it is made by Gardenia, it is guaranteed safe because these sandwiches are produced in a clean and sanitized environment. Now, moms need not worry about sandwich preparations every morning and can now have more time for their kids. Gardenia pocket sandwich is easy to carry around in their lunch boxes or

bags, so kids could bring them to school and enjoy the energizing baon during break time or in-between playtimes.

The sandwich is baked fresh every day so kids can enjoy chocolate and peanut butter sandwiches anytime and anywhere. While kids are at school or around the neighborhood playing with their friends, any mom would know that their kids need all the energy and nutrition from what they eat.

Any mother knows that a growing child who eats all the right healthy food could enjoy more from their childhood,

and grow up strong and fit.

Which is why both Gardenia Pocket Sandwich variants are high in iron, which contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin; high in Vitamin B1 that helps release energy from proteins, fats and carbohydrates; and has vitamin A, which is essential for the function of the eyes. Gardenia understands the plight of any mom who wants only the best for their kids. And they hope that with these new Pocket Sandwiches, Gardenia can ease off some of the workload from the busy life of a mom.

For only P15.00 (SRP), kids can now enjoy the newest Gardenia Pocket Sandwich, available in leading supermarkets and convenience stores near you. For more information and pocket full of fun, like Gardenia on Facebook at GSnack Treats or visit www.gardenia.com.ph.

B ITES

Triple Ube Macapuno Delight THE Philippines’ very own ube, the latest ingredient and trend taking over the culinary world, is highlighted through the Triple Ube Macapuno Delight at the Andrew Cafe.

This enhanced reinvention of the traditional classic combines three fluffy layers of purple yam chiffon cake, thoroughly coated in between with luscious preservativefree ube halaya done from scratch, then fully blanketed by crunchy ube crumble bits.

The confection is topped with succulent macapuno then crowned with piped cream cheese.

This dessert, along with several other cakes and pastries, are original creations of chefs Timothy Robert Gonzalez and Erna Canatoy.

For inquiries, orders, and reservations, call 230-5100 local 1888.

Andrew Café is in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Taft Campus, corner Estrada and Leon Guinto Streets in Malate, Manila.

It is open Mondays to Fridays from 7 AM to 6 PM, and on Saturdays from 7 a.m.to 5 p.m..

Celebrate early, even on a Thursday THURSDAYS are for more than just throwbacks. On the flipside, it actually makes you look forward, especially since the weekend is so close. You’ve made it this far, so it’s fair to say that you at least deserve a treat. There’s no better place for that than Wingstop, especially with the return of the Eyes On The Sides promo.

And a treat it shall definitely be—as Wingstop hits its third year in the Philippines, featured sides at on P33 every Thursday until July 20. That’s less than half the price for most of the ever-popular sides.

Cheesy Salsa Nachos? There’s a Thursday for that.

Fancy some savory Onion Rings? There’s a Thursday for that, too. Whether you like to mix it up with the crunch of Nachos and Sweet Potato Chips, or want some fun with Fries in seven delicious flavors, you can try them all just by dropping by on a Thursday. There will be 14 featured sides for a total of 14 Thursdays, so there’s always something new to tickle your taste buds with. Enjoy them with the trademark wings or get them on their own for snacking. It’s a flavor feast, guaranteed.

And if you think you’ve already tried them all, think

again. Ever thought about biting into the warm goodness of cheesy potatoes, deliciously battered to perfection?

How about a pop of Jalapeno waiting inside? You’ll get to discover these, too, as Wingstop introduces two new sides—Cheddar Poppers and Jalapeno Poppers.

Jazz up your meals and treat yourself to a side. Or two. Or three! There’s no limit, so bring the crew along. For more information, visit wingstop.com.ph, LIKE Wingstop Philippines on Facebook and FOLLOW @wingstopph on Instagram.

Up to 53% off with Citi Credit Cards EAT to your heart’s content and enjoy a generous discount of up to 53 percent off when you use your Citi Credit and Debit Cards for buffet lunch or dinner at Dusit Thani Manila’s The Pantry.

Savor delicious farm-to-fork fare until June 30 and lavish on the buffet spread of The Pantry featuring different food stations offering Asian and International cuisine.

Pay only these amazing rates when you use your Citi Credit Card: (1) Monday to Saturday, lunch or dinner buffet and Sunday dinner for only P1,110 net per person; (2) Crossover Sunday Brunch priced at P1,500 net per person that includes unlimited soda, chilled juice and Iced Tea; (3) or P1,770 net per person if you upgrade to sparkling red or white wine.

To avail, be sure to reserve in advance by calling Dusit Thani Manila’s Restaurant Reservations at (+632) 238 8888 local 8430, 8838 or 8841.

Discounts are applicable up to a maximum of 10 guests. For more inforEnjoy discounted farm-to-fork fare at The Pantry mation, log on to www.citibank.com.ph.

Costa Coffee offers the new Caramel Coffee Crunch, Tiramisu, and Coffee Cream frostinos

BREW AND SIP

New flavors at Costa Coffee COSTA Coffee recently opened its flagship store at Robinsons Galleria.

The 135-sqm store is the first to sport the current look and feel of Costa Coffee shops around the world –contemporary Atlas interior.

Instead of the usual Union Jack pop art interiors, it has a new lighting design, a simpler and more streamlined array of wood and polished materials, and berry hues of purple and green. These rich tones and other stylish aspects will be splashed in its interior—from the tiles to the furniture, to still allude to London’s rich and iconic culture.

Better baristas craft better coffee

At Costa Coffee, baristas prepare coffee with a combination of technical skills and art that takes time and patience to perfect. “The machines just provide support because our baristas are professionally trained. They are experts who prepare coffee with passion and precision. They can tell the perfect espresso (hazelnut colored crema, no bubbles and with red tinges) through sight, taste and smell. These are what make Costa different from others,” explains Justin de la Fuente, Costa Coffee Philippines Barista of the Year 2016.

There are a lot of beverages to choose from. The signature Flat White has extracted shot of Cortissimo; then topped with textured milk resulting in an intense and rich coffee mellowed with velvety smooth texture. Other bestsellers are Capuccino, Latte, Café Caramella, Mocha and ice-blended Frostinos.

Stars of Costa

Costa Coffee invites you to grab new Frostinos and Coolers with flavors that will give your days that much-need boost.

The Caramel Coffee Crunch Frostino (Primo-P185; Medio-P200; MassimoP205) is a flavor-wonderland where caramel melds seamlessly with a shot of Mocha Italia espresso, finished with cookie crumbs. Indulgent is the word to describe Tiramisu Frostino (PrimoP185; Medio-P200; Massimo-P215).

Delight in its rich smoothness, infused with a perfect espresso shot of Mocha Italia blend and topped with cocoa dusting. Coffee Cream Frostino (PrimoP145; Medio-P155; Massimo-P165) is an instant classic. There is the Mocha Italia’s wonderful balance of berry fruitiness and caramel-hazelnut blended with cream that presents a fine and luxurious taste.

Meanwhile, Costa Coffee’s Coolers are meant to refresh and invigorate you amidst the sweltering heat. They’re a harmonious blend of fruits and the aroma of flowers. Try Watermelon Rose (Primo-P155; Medio-P170; MassimoP185); Lychee Blossom (Primo P175; Medio P190; Massimo P205) and Hibiscus Strawberry Cooler (Primo P175; Medio P190; Massimo P205) Along with these drinks are new savory offerings. Order the Bacon Croissant (P100) with either smoked or honey-cured bacon and enjoy with Caramel Coffee Crunch Frostino. Another choice is Ham and Egg Croissant (P150). You’d love this sandwich with Tiramisu Frostino. The Pork Curry Turnover (P140) goes well with Coffee Cream Frostino.

MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

RYZA CENON explores world outside of GMA Artist Center ACCORDING to Ryza Cenon, it wasn’t easy for her to change management: leave GMA in favor of Viva Artist Agency.

“I think it’s understandable since I’ve been with Artist Center for the last 12 years,” she says. “I practically grew up with them. They made me who I am in the showbiz industry. The feeling is comparable to that of breaking-up with your boyfriend.

Yes, it was that painful. But I have to make such decision. I felt the need to explore. I want to try new things, something I’m hoping Viva can really give me. This early, I’m excited with this new phase in my career.”

The pretty StarStruck alumna pointed out though that there’s no bad blood between her and the Kapuso network.

“I left in good faith. As I’ve said earlier, it’s a long process. My contract with GMA ended in February 2016. I really made (a) deep introspection on this after Viva made the offer. Actually, I requested Viva that before I’d sign-up with them, I would talk to GMA first to have a graceful exit.”

“It’s good that the management understood my point. I told Artist Center my desire to explore new avenues and horizons.

I consider my big bosses there as second parents. And as such, they gave their permission and wished me luck. It was a very pleasant transition.”

Ryza is excited with this new phase in her showbiz career.

“This time around, I want to grow as an actress. I want to leave my comfort zone, so to speak. It would bring me fulfilment if I do something new, like movies. There’s also my dream of having endorsements. I’m hopeful that now that I’m Viva, I’d really be able to maximize all my potentials as an artist.”

Despite the new road she treks, the pretty lass reiterates that as much as possible, majority of her projects would still be with her former mother studio.

“Yes, I would like still to remain a Kapuso even if I’m no longer their contract star. Just like now, I’m being seen as the antagonist Georgia in the top-rating afternoon drama Ika-6 na Utos opposite Gabby Concepcion and Sunshine Dizon. I made that request to Viva: that as much as possible, I would like to do more GMA projects. They’re my priority. So I’m still a Kapuso, right?” ends Ryza. ******** Mikael Daez is supportive of his girlfriend Meagan Young’s Hollywood dream.

“That’s right! She doesn’t have to ask permission from me actually. Whatever she wants to do or wherever she wants to go, it’s okay with me. It’s no big deal!” he states.

For the Kapuso hunk, trust and support should be there all the time.

“I believe that women should do what they feel like doing regardless of what their families or boyfriends think. It’s their life in the first place. If they would consider what others think about them, how can they realize their personal goals? It’s important for any individual to feel that he or she has done everything so as not to have future regrets!”

Is he ready for a long-distance relationship if ever?

“I don’t think she’s going to stay that long in the States for this. She can’t commit a life there right now in a super longterm basis since she also has work commitments here. As of now, let’s play it by ear. Anyways, whatever the development maybe, I can always fly there to visit,” Mikael avers.

T

OP celebrities Nico Bolzico and Laureen Uy recently joined hordes of shoppers during the first day of the Landers Superstore’s Super Crazy Sale, an exclusive shopping event for members.

With Landers’ Super Crazy Sale, members availed of exclusive promos and up to 50 percent discount on all their home and lifestyle needs. Only in Landers Superstore can shoppers find Woolite Extra Dark Care Laundry Detergent or Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes on the Go for only P1.00. You can also get Bella Lux Fine Linen for only P299.75 and get another one for free. Or celebrate with a bottle of Baron de Bellac Brutus for only P199.75 from an original price of P399.75.

Landers Superstore even takes its first anniversary celebration to a whole new level with a 50 percent off on membership renewal, buy-one-get-one free for new membership applications, super fuel sale, and many more SurPrices.

Deemed Landers Superstore ambassadors, Bolzico and Uy, together with other excited members, had a blissful shopping experience as they delighted in the Superstore’s 8,000-square meter vast shopping space, well-lit aisles, and a wide array of quality local and imported products. Landers Superstore is also the first membership superstore in the country to have a cozy coffee shop (Doppio), a comfortable diner (Landers Central), and a delectable bakery (Dough & Co.). Plus, it exclusively offers all-year round discounts at its very own fivestar gasoline station, Caltex.

Join the craze and rush to any Landers Superstore near you. You may visit Landers Superstore – Balintawak at 1240 EDSA Balintawak Apolonio Samson, Quezon City or Landers Superstore - Otis at 1890 Paz Guazon St., Paco, Manila. But if you’re in the Queen City of the south, you may go to Landers Superstore – Cebu at #23 Minore Park, Cardinal Rosales Ave. cor Pope John Paul II Ave, Cebu. Branches are all open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m..

BEFITTING its status as a global, fashionable brand, Huawei is proud that its new ambassador of leading aesthetic excellence is Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.

Wurtzbach exemplifies the stunning beauty and intriguing aptitude Huawei hopes to bring with its tech influence to the Philippines.

The Miss Universe title holder loves the new Huawei P10’s monochrome and bokeh features, as she’s very particular about capturing her smiles and of the people with her, highlighted with sharp focus cementing its reputation as an impressive device used for capturing captivating portraits. “A portrait photo is really worth a thousand words because you can have so many interpretations on every subject, even how you take the photo tells a whole story. So that’s why I think it’s very personal. Like each photo is a part of you and is something you can always look back on. After a while and you look back at any portrait, a wave of memories instantly return,” she describes.

DOWN 1 Hamlet, e.g.

2 Heavy hydrogen discoverer 3 Ontario neighbor 4 Ships’ journals 5 Unmannered one 6 Unseal, to Blake 7 Large numbers 8 Ski lift (hyph.)

9 Watering hole 10 Hayworth and Coolidge 11 Gladden 13 Eye parts 14 Merry sound (hyph.)

20 New draftees 22 Verdi opera

crazy over Landers Super Crazy Sale

Sealing the deal, Pia connects with Huawei’s no-compromise philosophy in aesthetic/ performance on a personal level. Stemming from childhood life lessons, Pia deeply appreciates the value of doing the best you are capable of – a perfect match for Huawei’s vision of excellence in mobile experiences.

Monday, June 26, 2017

(3 wds.)

57 Tiny stream 58 And others (abbr.)

60 Virginia caverns 61 Numerical prefix 62 Email option 63 “The Wreck of the Mary —” 64 Bluebird’s home 65 Give in the middle 66 Kitchen meas.

NICO BOLZICO, LAUREEN UY

Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach new brand face of Huawei

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Face-off 5 Soft toss 8 Shredded 12 Traffic indicator 14 Kachina maker 15 Pitch water 16 Whinny 17 “The Valley of Horses” author 18 Whodunit terrier 19 It may be keen 21 Rodeo rope 23 Pablo’s aunt 24 Cato’s dozen 25 NNW opposite 26 Tacks 30 Rockhound’s find 32 Yearns for 33 Possible to achieve 36 An astringent 37 Boxcar riders 38 Acorn droppers 40 Not yet tried out 42 High mountains 43 Fixed a squeak 44 Most arid 45 Pertinent 48 Sewing kit item 49 Chili — carne 50 No longer in bed 52 Deteriorate

Celebrities Nico Bolzico (left) and Laureen Uy take a snap during Landers Superstore's exclusive shopping event for its members

24 Inert gas 26 Moo companion 27 Freedom org.

28 Rebuff 29 Pace 30 Taunted 31 Tropical wood 33 Like a basket 34 Put cargo on board 35 Barely makes do 37 Sanctity 39 Mach 2 flier 41 Ready to eat 42 Palmer of golf

44 Fleck 45 Burr or Copland 46 Haggling point 47 Inclinations 49 Unfriendly 51 Coin eater 52 Work crew 53 Bird-feeder treat 54 Distinct periods 55 O.K. Corral name 56 Does batik 59 Herbal infusion

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

GROOMING SECRETS OF Robi Domingo, Kiefer Ravena, John James Uy and David Guison M

EN are now more conscious than ever about their looks—and it’s not just because they want to get the attention of the fairer sex.

The willingness to do something to improve one’s appearance doesn’t mean that men are becoming more vain and insecure; and isn’t it reassuring to know that men are getting more interested in looking after themselves?

“At a time when so much more is expected from men, it’s a good thing that men are raising their game when it comes to personal grooming.

Nowadays, looking your best isn’t about vanity, its about showing the world that you are capable of taking care of yourself, says Rizzalyn Tianzon, Watsons Sr. Category manager for Men’s Grooming.

To help the average man get to the next level of grooming, Watsons held the first ever “Bro Bootcamp,” a crash course to teach guys how to master personal care. From basic cleansing training, to showering, shaving and scent, all the way up to moisturizing.

“We’re here to help the modern gentleman upgrade and complete his grooming regimen by arming him with the “right weapons” - and by weapons, we mean the essential products that cleanse, refresh, moisturize, and shave,” adds Tianzon.

Bro to bro Leading the “Bootcamp” were basketball star Kiefer Ravena, TV host Robi Domingo, actor John James Uy, and Fashion Blogger David Guison -- four Bros who definitely know what they are talking about.

“As athletes we are taught to maintain a very fit and active lifestyle, so aside from team practice I also go to the gym a lot. You need to be very careful in taking care of our bodies kase eto ang puhunan namin so kasama na lahat dun from taking multivitamins, eating right and of course keeping ourselves clean,” says Ravena.

Ravena said grooming and hygiene are even more important for athletes since they perspire a lot and often interact with fans after games when they are very sweaty.

“Always look sharp and clean,” is his advice to his Bros. “Good grooming speaks volumes about a man, it develops confidence and adds that much needed boost we need to accomplish the many different things they need to do in a day,” adds the Gillette brand ambassador.

“A man should have a go-to trusty razor and shaving cream to achieve the manly art of shaving without hurting themselves. Remember to wash your face first with warm water for up to three minutes to remove dead skin and avoid cuts, use a shaving gel to prevent razor burns, and let your shaver do all the work for you, then rinse it all out with cold water before finishing off with a splash of moisturizing aftershave. It will make you feel great and smell even greater,” suggests Ravena.

The next session was all about cleansing

TV host and Belo endorser Robi Domingo talks about facial cleansing

Fashion blogger David Guison shares tips on looking good and smelling good

Top cager Kiefer Ravena talks about grooming and basic hygiene

Actor John James Uy discusses steps on how to keep your skin hydrated

where Robi Domingo shared his tips on how to rid themselves of dirt and have a “clean base.”

“Cleansing preps the whole grooming process,” says the TV host. “Shower once or twice a day and don’t forget to wash your face. Taking good care of your face and your body will lead to a good-smelling you, earns you a lot of pogi points during close encounters which, of course, is always a turn on.”

Although he admits he is one of the cheapest and simplest guys you will meet, Domingo says he takes personal hygiene and grooming seriously, after all, both his parents are doctors.

“Millennials are expected to always succeed. So we have to look the part, and good grooming is one way to do it,” says the Belo Man. The next level of the Camp was perhaps the most overlooked step in their grooming regimen-moisturizing.

Cleansing may leave your skin free from impurities, and that’s good, but sometimes this also leads to dry skin.

“Most men are guilty of taking for granted their skin. We tend to underestimate the power of a well-hydrated skin, says Nivea Men ambassador John James Uy. Nivea Men is the pioneer brand when it comes to men’s grooming and the new Nivea Men Crème is the male version of the 100-year old classic Nivea Creme.

“Men need to moisturize because it can prevent the effects of damaging environmental influences and stress and to restore nutrients to the skin.”

“The Nivea Men Creme is a face moisturizer developed specifically to meet the needs of men’s skin; the light and non-greasy formula absorbs super fast and leaves nothing but well-moisturized and healthy looking skin and it comes in a fresh masculine scent.

Finally, it’s not enough to be clean; you’ve got to smell clean too. So the Bro Camp ended with a “refreshing” session with David Guison who talked about the Axe Effect.

“A lot of guys underestimate the importance of getting that scent in check. Start with the basic deodorant; then spray on a light fragrance or cologne to complete your look, says Guison.

“Fragrances are a great, yet simple way to express yourself. Every guy has their unique personality and it’s great that Axe really helps them bring this out with their wide range of fragrances. Each one is unique, so you know that no matter what your personality is, there is a right fragrance for you.”

“Gone are the days when people judge you as vain for trying to look your best. It’s about taking full advantage of every edge you can. Whether it’s for a job interview, a first date, or in pretty much every other daily battle you face- the guy who looks like he’s got it together has the upper hand,” says Tianzon.

Armed with manly knowledge and a swag bag full of grooming goods from Nivea Men, Gillette, Belo Men, Axe, Pond’s Men, Old Spice, Freshman, Adidas, Watsons Men Razor, Watsons Nose Pore Strips, and Press N’ Mix Hair Color, Watsons recruits left the even fully equipped to up their grooming games.

If you want to do the same, then do yourself a favor, Bro and head to a Watsons and pick up some essentials from the Men’s Zone.

Feeling ‘Hungry with Chef JP’ CNN Philippines is airing the second season of Hungry with Chef JP, a documentary series that combines three of the most-loved leisure activities of every Filipino —cooking, eating and the beach. Chef JP Anglo travels around the Philippines in search of the best surf spots while whipping up unique local dishes in between riding the waves.

Bacolod-bred JP Anglo has food deeply rooted into his family life, as they used to own a restaurant in his hometown—these culinary beginnings served to frame the chef’s deep passion for cooking which he eventually developed into successful ventures in Manila: Filipino restaurant Sarsa is highly regarded for its fresh take on local cuisine, while concept food counter Liberation Shawarma is placed in one of the hippest, most-visited food halls in the city.

Outside of the kitchen JP Anglo takes to the waves with equal enthusiasm, and in Hungry, both of JP Anglo’s worlds come together as he surfs in the most coveted spots in the country, all while cooking and enjoying his time with the locals. Here, he strikes a connection with these surf town natives as he discovers how they make a difference in the community through food and their unique practices. Hungry with Chef JP inspires weekend warriors, slow living learners and island life enthusiasts to

approach food and leisure with the constant thirst to get absolutely stoked.

The first episode of Hungry Season 2 finds Chef JP in Real Quezon, where he explores the surf town, tackles the waves and cooks up a feast with the locals. From there, he roams the country and develops friendships with the people he meets, all through a love of food and surfing. This season zeroes in on local artisans and individuals with oneof-a-kind lifestyles, making this program’s second season one to watch out for.

Hungry with Chef JP airs 7:30 p. m.

Saturdays on CNN Philippines on Free TV Channel 9 or livestream on cnnphilippines. com/video.

CNN Philippines is seen on free TV in Manila RPN – TV9, Cebu RPN – TV9, Davao RPN – TV 9, Zamboanga RPN – TV5, Baguio RPN – TV12, Bacolod RPN – TV8; Cable TV thru Sky Cable - Channel 14 (Metro Manila), Sky Cable – Channel 6 (Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo and Baguio), Destiny Cable – Channel 14, Cablelink Channel 14, Cignal – Channel 10, Dream Cable- Channel 13.

Connect and engage with CNN Philippines through web (cnnphilippines.com), Twitter (@cnnphilippines), Facebook (facebook. com/cnnphilippines) and Instagram (@ cnnphilippines).

"Hungry Chef" JP Anglo takes viewers for the ride while whipping up unique local dishes