Manila Standard - 2017 July 01 - Saturday

EXPERT: PEOPLE LIKE THE MAN

LENI: HE HAS DONE GOOD THINGS

By Karl Malakunas

By Rio N. Araja

RODRIGO Duterte ended his first year as President on Friday as a hugely popular leader, after taking Filipinos on a promised “rough ride” of drug war killings and foreign policy U-turns.

Duterte has been heavily criticized for his unprecedented

crackdown on drugs, which has claimed thousands of lives, and he marks 12 months in office enduring the biggest crisis of his rule as Islamist militants occupy parts of Marawi City.

The 72-year-old has also upended decades of foreign policy stability, launching verbal bombs against traditional ally the United

States while steering the Philippines closer to authoritarian regimes in China and Russia.

Yet an overwhelming majority of Filipinos support him, according to a series of surveys by pollsters over the past 12 months, with the most recent one showing 75 percent were satisfied with his administration’s performance. Next page

VICE President Leni Robredo said on Friday President Rodrigo Duterte has done many good things in his first year in office, but there were also some failures.

When asked, she refused to rate Duterte in a scale of 1 to 10.

“I think it is unfair if I grade

the President. For me, he has done many good things, and [has] many shortcomings. As far as his lapses are concerned, we must work together to help him out,” she said.

“Because the success of the administration is the success of all,” she said. “Let us help the President’s leadership be a success. It is

the obligation of each one of us.”

Robredo did not say what Duterte’s lapses were.

“There will always be shortcomings of the government because of the mounting needs of our citizenry no matter how hard one has worked,” she said.

She also declined to rate herself.

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ON HIS FIRST YEAR . Members of various militant groups march toward the Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola), a stone’s throw away from Malacañan Palace, to mark the first year of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term on June 30, 2017. Norman Cruz

‘My duty to kill drug users’

By John Paolo Bencito

VOL. XXXI • NO. 137 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

DEFENDING his bloody drug war in which thousands of drug suspects have been killed, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night insisted that it was his duty to kill people involved in the illegal drug trade and again took a swipe at human rights groups that have criti-

cized his campaign.

“It’s my duty to destroy people who will destroy my country. It’s a matter of principle for me, and a matter of my sense of duty,” the President said in a chance interview at Davao City.

Duterte said that those whom he wanted to kill were the drug users who endanger the future of civilians and the youth. Next page

Rody: War over soon But says fight with extremists to continue in next 10 years

By John Paolo Bencito and Florante S. Solmerin

T

HE ongoing siege of Marawi City will be over “in a matter of days,” President Rodrigo Duterte declared, saying the government was winning the war against Maute group terrorists in the besieged city.

“The way it’s being evolving now, I think it will be a matter of days...Before the end of the month, it will be over. We are winning the war, do not worry,” the President said Thursday night.

Duterte, however, admitted that “there’s no telling when” the fight with extremists will end.

“This will not go out of

the scene within the next 10 years. If you have a son in the Philippine National Police or the Philippine Military Academy, they’ll still be fighting this war. And this will be a bloody and brutal war,” he said in Filipino.

Once the situation in Marawi has stabilized, Duterte said he intends to look into how the Maute

group and the Abu Sayyaf fighters got hold of a large supply of guns, ammunition and money.

Duterte made these pronouncements even as the military said it has “continuously prevented the spillover or spread of the Marawi crisis” to other parts of Mindanao.

“To sustain the prevailing security situation, our efforts

are now geared in enhancing the existing security measures...We are strengthening maritime security and enhancing our border-crossing stations,” Eastern Mindanao Command deputy commander and Mindanao martial law spokesperson Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said.

Since the fighting started in May, Gapay said they

Marcos ignores arrest threat

have prevented terrorists from making Eastern Mindanao as their safe haven or transit point.

The military had “effectively shielded Eastern Mindanao” from further terrorist attacks and deterred any diversionary, retaliatory or sympathetic attacks by the local terrorist groups in the area, Gapay said. Next page

Public warned vs NPA attacks

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

By John Paolo Bencito

FORMER senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday shrugged off the threats against him by the House of Representatives over his advice to his older sister, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, not to attend a committee probing the alleged misappropriation of P66.45 million in public funds.

He said he was able to discuss the matter with his sister Imee but refused to comment further on the issue.

“Well, we’ve been threatened with arrest. The more, the merrier,” Marcos told reporters at the sidelines of the monthly members’ meeting of Philippine Constitution Association.

On Thursday, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez signed a subpoena to compel Imee Marcos to attend the July 25, 2017 resumption of the congressional probe on P66.45-million fund.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, head of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said the subpoena PHILCONSA MEET. Former senator Ferdinand ‘BongBong’ Marcos Jr. (left) confers with Philconsa chairman ad testificandum to Marcos dated June 25 had and chief executive officer Manuel Lazaro during the monthly membership meeting of Philconsa officers and Next page members at the Manila Golf Club in Makati City. Ey Acasio been signed.

MALACAÑANG on Friday warned the public against more attacks in Mindanao by the communist New People’s Army after their leaders ordered them to carry out more attacks against the Duterte administration.

“We also wish to forewarn the public of the reported planned attacks of the NPA on people-oriented programs and infrastructure projects and we request the citizenry of Mindanao and everyone else in the country to be on the alert and on the lookout,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters in Davao City.

“We also appeal to everyone to share information with the authorities on suspicious persons and activities in their communities.

“We don’t have details about the planned attacks except the warning is that we should be vigilant and careful about our surroundings.”

On Friday, the Communist Party of the Philippines described Duterte’s first year as one of “worsening crisis, death and destruction” and

Settle poll protests faster—Romualdez

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan FORMER Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Friday called on Congress and the judiciary to adopt measures that will give priority to resolving election protests.

In his speech delivered

by Philippine Constitution Association Deputy

Secretary General Romulo Lumauig, Romualdez said despite several election protests before the Commission on Elections or the Supreme Court, “none has been resolved.”

“There have been electoral protests but not a single election protest has been resolved,” said Romualdez who is also PhilConsa president. Next page

Next page

SANGYAW FESTIVAL.

Philippine Constitution Association president and former congressman Martin Romualdez and his wife Leyte Rep. Yedda Romualdez (left panel) throw apples at thousands of supporters along the main road of Tacloban City during the Sangyaw Festival Parade of Lights Thursday night.

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SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

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Rody’s Russia ‘junket’ yields P9b

By John Paolo Bencito

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday insisted his visit to Russia was no junket and defended his decision tagging along retired police officers, soldiers and their wives, saying he would have paid for the whole plane anyway.

“When I was in Moscow, Russia, it was reported that Marawi was being attacked. I was criticized because my trip was a junket,’ according to [former] Presi-

Rody:...

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Also on Friday, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded the administration’s ability to boost the morale of the soldiers and policemen in the battle for Marawi City.

Arroyo in particular praised President Duterte’s regular visits to the soldiers in the field and the pay and other increases in financial benefits given to members of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police since July 2016.

Among the latest benefits increased was the soldiers’ combat pay which has been raised to P3,000.00 monthly under President Duterte’s Executive Order 3.

“The least a leader can do to increase the morale of the defenders of our democracy and peace is to make sure that their families do not go hungry,” Arroyo said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has vowed to eliminate every single terrorist who brought chaos and destruction to Marawi City.

According to AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the military will not stand down from various pressures to stop its aerial bombings on terrorists’ positions while carefully avoiding targets where civilian hostages were being used as human shields.

Latest reports say that up to 300 hostages remained inside the warzone and the women were reportedly being used as sex slaves by the terrorists whose number could be up to more than 100 including some foreign personalities.

“We wish to reiterate that the government’s policy not to negotiate with terrorists remains. Hence, any demands made inside Marawi hold no basis,” Padilla said.

“Let us continue to remind the

Leni:...

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Former senator and vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Duterte remained popular after his first year because of the quality of his leadership.

“He has shown that leadership both in our local and foreign policies. For example, he has redirected our foreign policy and that is the reason why we have regained once again a crucial and important position in the international community to the benefit of the Philippines. It is the same with various domestic policies.

I think the Filipino people recognize that. Only a good leader can do that and he managed to do just that.”

Expert:...

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“People like the man,” Ricardo Abad, head of sociology and anthropology at Ateneo de Manila University said, referring to Duterte’s decisive leadership style.

“People may disagree with his policies, or are maybe ambivalent towards them, but because they like him, people will tend to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Many people overseas know Duterte for his apparent joy in prosecuting his drug war--he said he was “happy to slaughter” millions of addicts--as well as gutter language in which critics are frequently called “sons of whores.”

But many Filipinos look past the crass talk and see a down-to-earth, anti-establishment figure who empathizes with their struggles and is willing to take extreme actions to make dramatic change across all sectors of society.

“He brought an entirely new style of leadership, which people probably thought we needed,” Ed-

dent Ramos,” Duterte said in a speech at Camp Quintin Merecido in Davao City.

“It was not. We got about P9 billion of ready-made transac-

public that the gravity of the offense of all these terrorists and their supporters is immense and they must all be held accountable for all their actions,” he added.

As of Friday, Padilla said the number of killed terrorists was already at 303 with 382 recovered firearms.

“On our side, we’ve 82 killed in action. Our troops have already rescued 1,713 civilians from the warzone,” Padilla said.

Padilla said ground troops with close-air support have intensified their clearing operations on building still occupied by terrorists.

“Military offensive operations continue. Portions of at least four remaining barangays remain problematic,” he said.

According to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, they intend to finish off the remaining members of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups inside the battle zone before the 60-day martial law ends in Mindanao.

Padilla said the military is doing everything, using all its resources it can muster to finish the battle the soonest possible so rehabilitation will be started.

“An inter-agency meetings and consultations preparatory to the rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding of Marawi when hostilities end have begun and ongoing,” he said.

He said that one of their objectives is to rescue safe and alive all the remaining hostages from the terrorists.

“We have continuous clearing of Marawi of the remaining armed terrorists that continue to pose pockets of resistance to the advancing troops. We have to rescue all the trapped residents inside the warzone,” Padilla said.

While on the offensive, ground troops have also conducting the recovery of civilian casualties.

With Maricel V. Cruz Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, however, described Duterte’s first year in office as a “dangerous year to be a woman.”

“It is the year of misogyny and extrajudicial killings. It is a year of national grieving.” she said.

Speaking during a women’s forum at the Ateneo De Manila University, Hontiveros said Duterte’s first year in office should be a “day of remembrance” for the victims of extrajudicial killings.

Senator Francis Escudero, on the other hand, said the Philippines was still the star among Southeast Asian economies.

“To be fair to the Duterte administration, the economy has been relatively healthy,” Escudero said. With Macon RamosAraneta mund Tayao, a political science professor at the University of Santo Tomas, said.

Rough ride In his inauguration speech, Duterte typically sought not to sugarcoat his plans for the Philippines.

“The ride will be rough. But come join me just the same,” Duterte said.

The roughest part of the ride had for most of the past year been his crackdown on drugs.

Police killed 3,171 drug suspects, according to official figures.

Unknown assailants killed another 2,098 people in drug-related crimes, while there were 8,200 more murders with no known motive, according to the police.

Rights groups and other critics warned Duterte may be orchestrating a crime against humanity, alleging he had unleashed corrupt police and vigilante death squads on a campaign of mass murder.

Duterte had made the drug war the top focus of his presidency until May 23, when gunmen rampaged through the southern city of Marawi flying black flags of the Islamic

tions immediately.”

Even Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon were with him on the trip to talk about an arms deal with Russia.

But Duterte insisted that he brought along soon-to-retire police and military officials “as gratitude for their service.”

“Sabi ko you come with me because ‘yan lang din ang paraan na mapakita ko sa inyo na this is also a nation who has the gratitude for you, sumama kayo. Isama n’yo ‘yung asawa ninyo, ipasyal ko kayo,” Duterte said.

He said there had been no need to spend for their airfares because they hitched a ride on his chartered flight.

“You know, my payment for my plane, whether I am the lone passenger or I fill it with people, is the same,” Duterte claimed.

On May 26, Ramos slammed several government officials who, he said, had turned Duterte’s official visit to Russia into a junket.

Duterte had to cut short his trip to Russia after the Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23.

Without naming names, Ra-

mos said some government officials who had no role in the trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg joined the presidential delegation instead of manning their local posts.

Aside from Cabinet secretaries, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, some members of the Senate and the House, as well as assistant secretaries and staff members also joined the presidential delegation to Russia.

Duterte’s common-law partner Honeylet Avanceña and his children Sebastian and Veronica also accompanied the chief executive on the trip.

Public...

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called on its fighters to “continue to seize the initiative and carry out more and more tactical offensives nationwide in order to derail and blunt” the “Duterte regime’s all-out war,” which gave the rebels “no other choice but to intensify tactical offensives nationwide.”

“The crisis of the ruling system continues to worsen in the first year under the Duterte regime as it fails to fulfill its promises of change,” the CPP said in a statement on Friday.

“It has unleashed wars of death and destruction as it adopts iron-fisted tactics and fascist methods to secure its rule and serve the interests of the ruling exploitative classes and foreign big capitalists.”

Over the weekend, Abella said the NPA’s recent “serious offensives” cast doubt on the sincerity of the communists to talk peace with the government.

The CPP also denounced the administration’s failure to implement “serious policy reform in the social, economic and political fields.”

“Rodrigo Duterte has zero to show to buttress his claims of being a Leftist and socialist…

He has turned his back on his promise of sweeping changes made during the 2016 elections.

He has continued the neo-liberal policies of the past three decades which perpetuates the exploitation and oppression of the people,” the group said.

Marcos...

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PLANE JANE. Children play near an abandoned passenger airplane in Sucat, Parañaque City, home to

three international airport terminals. Lino Santos

‘My...

“If you destroy my country, I will kill you. What is wrong with that? If I tell the world, “Do not destroy the young people of my country.” For heaven’s sake, tell me what is wrong with that statement?” he said.

“Can you find a law which says I cannot utter those words in public to protect the Filipino nation?

That’s what the human rights groups have used against me,” he said.

On Wednesday, the New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch said that Duterte “unleashed a human rights calamity” through his “murderous ‘war on drugs’, drugrelated overcrowding of jails, and the harassment and prosecution of drug war critics.”

HRW’s Asia director Phelim Kine called Duterte a “boisterous instigator for an unlawful killing campaign” even as he had promised to protect human rights when he took office last year.

“Duterte has supported and incited ‘drug war’ killings while retaliating against those fearless enough to challenge his assault on human rights,” Kine said.

Saying that he won’t “throw the country for the dogs,” Duterte waged his controversial drug war that has resulted in the death of 3,151 from July 1, 2016 to June 13, 2016 alone, according to government statistics.

Official data from the Philippine National Police have also pegged the total number of homicide cases at 9,432 from July 2016 to March 2017.

Of this number, 1,847 deaths were said to be drug-related, while 1,894 were not. The remaining 5,691 cases, or about 60 percent of the total figure, were still under investigation.

Duterte’s anti-narcotics drive has also resulted in a 26.45-percent drop in the estimated total drug market, and 28.57-percent reduction in index crime, according to PNP data.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday claimed success in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

In a news briefing at Davao City, PDEA Director-General Isidro Lapeña said the efforts of the inter-agency committee on anti-illegal drugs, created through Executive Order No. 15, was successful.

“The purpose of that interagency is to unify all the efforts of all agencies concerned and then integrate and synchronize all actions and all the strategies against illegal drugs. I would say that we are successful,” Lapeña said.

He said, however, that there is a need to go deeper into the barangays to stop the drug menace.

Since Duterte took office a year ago, Lapeña said that they were able to confiscate more than 2,446 kilograms of illegal drugs worth P12.62 billion. Some 1,308,078 drug suspects had surrendered during the same time.

The number of drug suspects killed in legitimate operations was 3,171.

The PDEA chief reported that his agency conducted 64,397 antidrug operations, which was 77 percent higher compared to the

36,466 operations of the previous administration.

Some 86,984 drug personalities were arrested, a 364 percent increase compared to those arrested in the previous administration.

Lapeña pointed out that the barangay officials have also been warned of possible liability for neglect of duty if they refuse to help in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

The PDEA said a high 97.3 percent of Metro Manila barangays were affected by illegal drugs.

The region least affected by the drug menace was the Cordillera Administrative Region at 3.49 percent, Lapeña said.

A year after the war on drugs started, PDEA said 3,677 out of 42,036 barangays in the country have been declared clear of illegal drugs.

In the year since Duterte took office, the PDEA has seized 2,446 kilos of shabu, Lapeña said.

Lapeña said that the government is winning its war on illegal drugs with a total of 19,068 drug personalities apprehended including 302 government workers.

“The total value of drugs seized was P82.52 billion compared to the P4.8 billion in the previous year. This is a 283 percent increase,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government has signed an agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to cooperate in anti-drug operations.

The protocol of cooperation includes the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations and related activities in MILF-held areas.

With Rio N. Araja and F. Pearl A. Gajunera

State group.

He immediately imposed martial law across Mindanao, home to roughly 20 million people, to quell what he said was an IS bid to establish a local caliphate.

But despite a relentless bombing campaign backed by the United States, Duterte’s military has been unable to dislodge the militants.

The fighting has claimed more than 400 lives, according to the government, and it shows no signs of ending.

Super majority Another example of Duterte’s popularity is his “super majority” in the lower house of Congress, where there are just seven opposition members in the 296-member chamber.

Even one of the opposition lawmakers, Edcel Lagman, offered grudging praise this week.

“Despite his unpresidential demeanor, profane language, abusive rhetoric and flawed policy statements, President Rodrigo Duterte, in his own inscrutable way, has held the nation together,” he said.

But Lagman said, with Duterte’s

promises of “change” yet to become reality, his popularity had started to slide.

If that is happening, Duterte’s “super majority” could fall apart.

Lawmakers from parties across the political spectrum typically flock to a popular president in the early stages of his or her term.

But the politicians, driven by self-interest rather than ideology, have also in the past quickly jumped off the bandwagon when approval ratings dropped.

By the numbers Here are key numbers that help explain key events and issues surrounding his presidency: - 3,171 – The number of people police have reported killing as part of Duterte’s controversial campaign to eradicate illegal drugs from society.

Duterte has made his so-called “drug war” the top priority of his first year in office, saying that otherwise the Philippines will become a narco-state.

Critics allege that Duterte has unleashed a campaign of mass

murder by police and unknown assailants, urged on by the president who said he would be “happy to slaughter” millions of addicts.

While the government does not keep count of vigilante killings, it has recorded 2,098 “drug-related” homicides over the past year and 8,200 other violent deaths that are under investigation.

- 75 Percent of adult Filipinos who are satisfied with the Duterte administration’s performance, according to the latest nationwide public survey conducted by an independent research institute from March 25 to 28.

Only nine percent said they were dissatisfied, according to the survey, showing that many Filipinos back Duterte and his drug war tactics.

- 6.4 Percentage economic growth in the first quarter of the year. Although this was below many analysts’ expectations and the lowest quarterly expansion in a year, the Philippine economy remained one of the fastest growing in Asia Pacific. With John Paolo Bencito

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Pimentel said Marcos’ failure to attend the probe would be enough ground for her to be cited in contempt and to be arrested.

He said his committee will serve the subpoena.

“Failure to comply with this order is subject to penalty under the law,” the subpoena says.

Marcos earlier maintained she would not attend the congressional probe on the advice of her brother as she might also be detained at the Batasan Complex with the “Ilocos Six.” The six officials are accused of evading questions on the P66.45-million fund, Ilocos Norte’s share of the excise tax on tobacco products.

Pimentel earlier stood pat on the position of the House leadership to ignore Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s request not to push through with its “showcause order” against three Court of Appeals justices who ordered his committee to release the six officials.

Alvarez had called the three officials “idiots.”

Settle...

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“The Congress and the Judiciary must adopt measures to prioritize deciding election contests.”

Romualdez said those measures would protect the credibility of automated elections and help prevent electing “pseudo officials” in office.

He said the 2016 national automated elections spawned serious and credible doubts in the country’s electorate and deprived the supposed elected candidates to work and serve due to the slow resolution of election protests.

In a forum, former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong said PhilConsa was set to propose “a complete overhaul” of the Automated Election System law.

Chong, who is also a spokesman of the Reform Philippines Coalition, said Philconsa vice president for the National Capital Region Rodolfo Reyes, former Comelec commissioner Guz Lagman, Namfrel election observer and Philippine National IT standards Foundation president Maria Corazon Akol, and other IT experts had started crafting the reform bill since March 2017.

“This is not an amendment of the current AES law. It’s a complete overhaul or revision of most provisions,” Chong said in Philconsa’s monthly meeting at the Manila Golf and Country Club.

The proposed reform bill would focus on the revision of most of the provisions of Republic Act 9369, the act of amending Republic Act 8436 that authorized the Comelec to use the AES.

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‘VP Office underspent in 2016’

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Vice President has spent only P130.7 million to help the poor in 2016, according to the Commission on Audit in a report.

The CoA said Vice President Leni Robredo was not able to fully spend the P220million budget allocation for financial assistance.

The CoA report said the OVP showed poor or low absorptive capacity because of underspending that caused “undelivered services that could have benefited more indigents and underprivileged Filipinos.”

But such was not an isolated case, CoA said, adding that other government agencies had also experienced the same.

Despite this, CoA said, Robredo performed better in resource utilization for the first six months since her assumption into office in July 2016.

Out of the P130.7-million expenditure, 72 percent or P93.8 million went to the second half of 2016 from July 1 to Dec. 31.

The report said that if the OVP had fully used the remaining balance of P89,269,117.24, Robredo could have helped 3,500 cancer patients for their chemotherapy session at P25,000 each and 29,000 burials for a minimum of P3,000 each.

On the other hand, the OVP cited incomplete technical requirements, lack of manpower and transition period as among the reasons for the underspending.

Bam seeks passengers’ rights, welfare SENATOR Bam Aquino seeks to determine whether the Air Passenger Bill of Rights is being implemented properly amid reports that airlines still charge fees for rebooking, rerouting and cancellations and employ unclear policies that often lead to confusion among passengers.

He said air passengers still complain about excessive fees for rebooking and confusing services policies.

In Senate Resolution No. 414, Aquino said the probe will focus on service-related issues and the airline carriers’ policies on fares, fees and other charges.

In 2012, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Trade and Industry released Joint Administrative Order No. 01 or the Air Passengers Bill of Rights, with the goal of promoting balance, fairness, and reasonableness between the passengers and the airline carriers.

The senator cited the recommendation of the Department of Justice-Office for Competition, contained in its report dated Sept. 23, 2015, to air carriers operating in the Philippines to adopt international best practices and clarify their policies for rebooking and foregoing flights for various reasons.

While deregulation of the airline industry resulted in lower airfares, the DOJ-OFC Report indicated that it has given airline carriers much independence in determining their policies regarding fares, fees and other costs.

“It reached the point where customers have no choice but to accept their rules,” the senator said.

In addition, Aquino said airlines still charge customers substantial amount for rebooking, rerouting or cancellation of flights.

“Our airlines can do better.

Let’s improve our services for airline passengers and enhance the travel experience in the Philippines,” the senator said.

Macon Araneta

CLOSED FIST. President Rodrigo Duterte does his signature gesture as he poses with the personnel of the Police Regional Office 11 during his visit at their headquarters in Davao.

Presidential Photo

SC asked to stop Meralco’s bid for coal-powered plants T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court has been asked to stop the government from issuing new permits for the construction and operation of coal-fired power plants until a review and revision of air quality monitoring standards are threshed out.

In a 64-page petition, several environmental groups headed by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and the Philippine Earth Justice Center, Inc. pleaded for SC’s intervention to compel the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy to enforce the environmental laws and to carry out their duty as vanguards of energy security and

environmental sustainability.

Aside from PMCJ, the other petitioners include Toribio R. Ortega Jr., Nestorio A. Castro, Rosalina R. Aritmetica, Cheryl L. Magracia, Environmental Legal Assistance Center Inc., SANLAKAS, Inc., and Philippine Earth Justice Center, Inc. The petitioners asked the SC to issue a temporary environmental protection order enjoining the DENR and the

DoE from processing environment clearance certificate applications for coal-fired power plants and issuing authority to construct and permit to operate coal plants.

They also appealed to the high court to require the DENR to “immediately review or revise” ambient air quality guideline values, emission standards for stationary sources, and effluent standards; disclose the coal plant companies operating without Continuous Emission Monitoring System and Continuous Emission Opacity Systems as required by the Clean Air Act. The green groups also underscored the need for the tribunal to compel the DENR to install proper ambient air monitoring equipment and delineate and designate attainment and non-

Ex-Antique gov faces graft raps FORMER Antique governor Exequiel Javier is facing a graft case before the Sandiganbayan for the alleged misuse of congressional fund when he served as lawmaker of the province’s lone district.

Assistant Special Prosecutor Jorge Espinal alleged that Javier conspired with Efren Esclavilla, Greater Antique Development Cooperative (GRANDCoop) board chairman, for the operation and maintenance of a 40-ton rice mill at P9.9 million for Patnongon town.

Based on the document, Javier “acted with evident bad

faith, manifest partiality, and/ or gross inexcusable negligence” in using his Priority Development Assistance Fund from January 2007 to February 2008 in favor solely of GRANDCoop without any financial consideration and research of the cooperative.

The other respondents were ex-Patnongon mayor Henry Mondejar; ex-vice mayor Johnny Flores Bacongallo; councilors Gemma Cepeda,Thomas Bacaoco, Al Brian Crespo, Felix Gregorio Barrientos, Rene Philip Cayetano, Teopisto Estaris Jr. and Erika Orcasitas.

On Feb. 5, 2007, the Department of Agriculture and the municipality of Patnongon signed a memorandum of agreement with the concurrence of Javier for the release of P10 million “for the implementation of the food security, livelihood and post-harvest facility programs.”

Of the amount, P9.9 million was used to buy a 40ton rice mill from ALHEED International Trading Corp.

The mill, however, was never brought to Patnongon, the complaint read.

Rio N. Araja

FARE INCREASE. Passengers sit comfortably aboard a PNR train at the Tutuban station on Friday. The state-run railways will implement a fare increase starting on Saturday, July 1, 2017. The increase will be from P10 to a minimum of P15 for the first 14 kilometers and an additional P5 for every zone traveled or seven kilometers per zone. Lino Santos

attainment areas, at least in areas with existing and proposed coal plants, and for the DoE to issue the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) Rules and establish the Green Energy Options Program.

The groups insisted that the DoE reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and comply with the Philippines’ commitments under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

They added that data from the DoE showed that coal share in the country’s energy mix has almost doubled, from 25.9 percent in 2008 to 47.7 percent in 2016, despite the passage of the Renewable Energy Act (Republic Act 9513) in 2008.

“As a direct result of the failure of DENR and DoE to do their duties specifically en-

joined by law and their respective offices, the country has had to rely on dirty energy generated by coal plants that have been operating without proper standards, without accountability, and without regard to their adverse impact on the environment and the people’s health,” said the petitioners represented by lawyers led by Jose Manuel Diokno.

“Unless this Honorable Court intervenes, the Philippines will be locked into costly and harmful coal contracts for generations to come, despite the existence of renewable energy that is cleaner, cheaper and better,” they said.

Named respondents in the petition were Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

PH, French senators tackle terrorism, climate

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Loren Legarda on Friday said that Philippine senators and their French counterparts have vowed to work together to address terrorism and climate change, recognizing that these issues are two of the greatest threats to humanity at present.

A delegation of Philippine senators led by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III made an official visit to France as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the Philippines and France. The delegation called on the President of the French Senate, Gerard Larcher, and had discussions on terrorism and climate change, among other issues.

Legarda said terrorism and climate change are two of the greatest threats to national security at present and added that France and the Philippines can be partners in addressing these concerns which affect everybody.

The senator, who is president and founding member of the Philippines-France Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Association, said that Larcher expressed appreciation for the Philippines’ ratification of the Paris Agreement and was likewise concerned with the United States’ withdrawal from the accord.

“While both nations agree that the withdrawal of the United States from the Agreement poses a great challenge to the achievement of the treaty’s goals, we remain optimistic.

The Philippine Senate delegation proposed that France take the lead in efforts to achieve the goals of and implement the Paris Agreement,” she said.

She also lauded France’s successful hosting of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) where the Agreement was adopted.

On the issue of terrorism, Larcher said that the French Senate is undertaking measures to address such grave concern; while the Philippine delegation explained the current situation in Mindanao, particularly in Marawi City, and assured that the Philippine government is doing its duty to resolve the conflict immediately.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Senate delegation also met with a member of the Constitutional Council, Jean-Jacques Hyest, who explained the key role the Council plays in supervising and monitoring public authorities and ensuring that pieces of legislation adhere to the principles of its constitution.

France has a parliamentary system with two houses in parliament—Senat (Senate) with 348 members and Assemblee Nationale (National Assembly) with 577 members.

One of the roles of the Constitutional Council, which was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic that was adopted in 1958, is to review the constitutionality of legislation. It supervises and monitors the parliament so that the parliament will not slip into the powers of the executive.

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

An abhorrent idea

T

HE leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, is popular because of his perceived open-mindedness and compassion, even to those who are in situations deemed problematic by conventional Catholic standards.

Francis has reached out, for instance, to homosexuals, and to those once married but who are now separated. He has also personally apologized to victims of clerical abuse.

For the first time, they are given hope that the Church would no longer play down accusations, or pretend to

punish erring priests just by transferring them to another parish or making them undergo treatment at some psychiatric facility.

Now comes the test.

A senior adviser to the Pope, the third highest official in the Vatican and head of the secretariat for the economy, Cardinal George

Pell, is facing charges of sexual abuse in his home country of Australia.

Australian police have not yet released details except to say that they were dealing with multiple charges and multiple complainants.

Pell, for his part, has branded the charges as “relentless character assassination.” At a news conference Thursday the 76-year-old cardinal insisted he is innocent and said: “The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”

He has been granted a leave of absence from the

Vatican; he will appear later this month in Melbourne for a hearing. He says he looks forward to finally defending himself against the claims.

Four years ago, Pope Francis named Pell and seven other cardinals to study reforms in the Catholic Church. It was his involvement here that the Vatican used to praise his work in fighting sex abuse. The Vatican Radio has quoted the Pope himself: “One musn’t judge before justice judges.”

Complainants against

Pell and victims of similar crimes can hope that law enforcement and the legal system in Australia would grant them a swift and fair trial. Even if they secure a guilty verdict, however, it remains to be seen how the Vatican will, or will not, protect Pell given his stature in the Church.

It is easy to be swayed by comforting words from a compassionate leader. It will be difficult and disheartening, however, to see that when it comes to real-life problems, promises remain just that.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Intellectual property issues

Anticipating the martial law decision NEXT Tuesday, 4 July 2017, promises to be a historic day.

On this day the Supreme Court will meet en banc, in the morning if the justices follow their regular schedule, to deliberate on the three petitions filed in the court questioning the validity of Proclamation No. 216, President Duterte’s martial law declaration covering the whole of Mindanao.

The decision is expected to be announced later that day or, at the latest, on Wednesday, July 5, the constitutionally mandated deadline of 30 days from the filing of the petitions.

Out of deference to the Court, I will not anticipate in this column how the Court will decide. I will instead focus on identifying the issues that it might rule on and what these could imply.

Whatever the decision of the Supreme Court here, the justices

will make history as this is the first time our Supreme Court will rule on the validity of a martial law declaration squarely and deliberately -- certainly not under the gun. Indeed, in my view, the Justice are free to decide where to go with these petitions.

This makes this case different from the other occasions when martial law was declared.

Our first experience of martial law was during World War II when Jose P. Laurel, on 21 September 1944, President of the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic, declared martial law throughout the country. We were then in a state of war, under Japanese occupation in fact but with an active guerrilla resistance, and martial law was a mere formality.

This was followed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos, also on the 21st of September in 1972, who distorted the use of martial law, from a legal weapon used in times of war, by using it to stay in power, suppress the political opposition, and plunder our

economy. The Supreme Court, on several occasions, declined to rule on the validity of martial law by considering such decision a political question left to

This is the first time our Supreme Court will rule on the validity of a martial law declaration squarely and deliberately.

the president alone to decide. In later cases, it ruled that martial law was already a fait accomplit and could no longer be questioned. There was also a strong

perception, in the early days of the Marcos dictatorship, that the Court was coerced to legitimize martial law by being threatened with abolition if it ruled against Marcos.

Our third experience of martial law was during the Arroyo administration when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo imposed martial law on Maguindanao on 5 December 2009, following the Ampatuan massacre. Congress was about to vote on the revocation of this declaration and the Supreme Court was also ready to deliberate on the petitions before it when martial law was lifted, scuttling the congressional vote and making the Supreme Court case moot and academic.

Duterte’s declaration of martial law, the fourth in our nation’s history, is the first time that we will have a Supreme Court freely decide the validity of a martial law decision.

This is the first time that the procedural and substantive safeguards of the 1987 Constitu-

tion will be interpreted by the Court. Thus, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has urged her fellow Justices of the Supreme Court to take pains in deciding this petition as it is their job “to give fealty to the words of the Constitution when martial law is declared,” because “if we [the Supreme Court] do not rule correctly and do not provide the guidelines, then it is possible that this Court will only add to the confusion rather than [to] clarify a situation. And it is only a voice of clarity and sobriety that is most necessary in times of emergency.”

As I wrote with colleague Regina Ongsiako in an article published in Rappler earlier this week, “In the decision of the Court, the 1987 Constitution will come alive.” In that article, we pointed out that before deciding on the merits of the petitions, the Court will likely dwell first on jurisdictional questions. One issue is the nature of this case as sui generis, as described by Turn to A5

IT ALMOST went unnoticed, if not for people with a penchant for noticing minor but tell-tale details in just about anything under the sun.

Last week, the Department of Tourism was the focus of controversy after it was discovered that an advertisement to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination seemed a little too similar to a like-minded advertisement in another country. In essence, both advertisements convey the message that a person does not need to see what he can enjoy and appreciate.

Whether or not the DoT advertisement is an instance of plagiarism is not the concern of this essay. What is important is that the advertisement elicited so much adverse commentary that the DoT decided to scrap its P650-million contract with McCann, the advertising agency that came out with the controversial promotional material.

There is, of course, the question as to how and why the advertising agency concerned could come out with an advertisement many considered as too strikingly similar to some other commercial of the same nature.

Being a large and famous advertising agency with an international clientele, McCann should satisfy the public demand for an explanation in that regard, especially since public money was spent in the process.

The DoT also has some explaining to do. Why did it approve the advertisement without ascertaining if it is too strikingly similar to other advertisements? Sure, the DoT cannot be expected to be familiar with all the advertisements in the world.

As the nation’s tourism nervecenter, however, the DoT ought to be familiar with the competing, promotional materials of the tourism bureaus of other countries—unless DoT officials have not been doing their requisite research work, and are simply enjoying the perks of public office without attending to their concommitant responsibilities. Attention, President Rodrigo Duterte!

Since millions of pesos in taxpayer money have been used in this advertisement, a state audit is certainly in order. Moreover, and because of the taxpayer money angle, a noted public interest advocate is now considering bringing this matter to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Turn to A5

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Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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ManilaStandard

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

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Opinion BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Fake news and the wayward Church OF THE many serious problems that need to be attended to, our wayward Church opted to choose the issue of fake news.

Understandably, their concern is on how to zero in on the credibility of the President.

For the understanding of many, the idea of fake news came with the advent of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Their application as a form of communication not only revolutionized our concept of freedom of the press and freedom of expression, but has created a new system called “interactive communication” between the writer and the reader. This has now empowered every individual to analyze every bit of information and react positively or negatively to it.

This is totally different from the practice of the traditional media that requires the hiring of enormous manpower to operate a big machinery to collect and disseminate information.

For the fact that aside from the government, only the wealthy can own a television station, run a newspaper, and operate a radio station, certainly only the owners have a feel of what it means to have freedom of the press.

The advent of the internet, the coming of the social media and the opening of blog sites resulted in the classification of the established media as the mainstream media. It is not so much that they represent the majority view but of the fact that they dominate and almost control the dissemination of information.

This is in contrast to the new and increasing popular source of information patronized by people known as “social media.”

Social media have gained acceptance that they have exceeded the number of people regularly reading the newspapers. In fact, social media have been dubbed the “magic genie” in communication. They made alive freedom of the press and freedom of expression because of interactive communication.

The social media user can deliver news and commentary in real time to audience anywhere in the world that counts him, online, as a “friend.” This explains why many newspapers and magazine have folded up with the remaining few making a break-even on what used to be a monopoly of the elite in the lucrative business of information —or as one would put it, disinformation.

Unlike the old system where readers are just fed with the news, social media give the reader not just the right to react but the choice to either share the posted views, oppose them by making his own commentaries, or delete altogether the posts of whose views he may not like.

Social media are different from the old system where one has to be emotionally affected to react. Under the old system, should one decides to answer, he runs the risk of not seeing his response on print given the usual reasoning of lack of space, except when the reactor is influential and powerful. But we know that the view of the paper often reflects the interest of the owner. In that, we could rightly conclude that the so-called freedom of the press before the advent of the social media was a myth.

Social media destroyed the traditional process on how the public should receive and assess the news. We were made to believe that our system

has a built-in mechanism to automatically accord us the license to engage in the free exchange of ideas. We never had any inkling that our media tycoons are businessmen who have their own interests to protect.

To the owners of the mainstream media, only the government is capable of censorship while their systematic filtration of news and opinion is treated as one for the common good.

Thus, when social media became viral, the public felt they have been liberated because for the first time since the ancient Greeks practiced direct democracy, they could participate in the discussion of any issue under the sun. It is freedom of expression in its purist form they could feel and see.

To counter that, the owners of the mainstream media came out with the crafty idea of creating fake news and attributing them as the handiwork of people indulging in social media networking. Some say the idea of fake news was conceived by the intelligence community.

Fake news is better than censorship. Being a form of deception is creates disunity and confusion to the targeted political enemy.

It is not really the loss of profit they fear that the mainstream media operators but the loss of credibility because for the first time, the so-called truth they have been propagating is slipping through their system of finely woven net of filtration. Notably, the mainstream media is fast losing ground because the reading public finally realized that the magic of social media has not only become their vehicle to know the truth but has become their lethal weapon to scandalize the dregs in government.

Instead of hitting head on the increasing number of social media subscribers, they now mislead them by branding some of the information they get through social media as fake news. They even create their own blogs where their selected subscribers only express the view that often run afoul with the view of the majority. As one observed, there is no way the mainstream media can roll back the advances of social media, for what is expressed is the sentiment of the people. They may be vulgar or uncaught in their language, but they speak of their class.

The collapse of the mainstream media has become what the determinists would call “exorable event”. Our mass media, customs, mores, moral standards or all that what Marx would call the superstructure of society are being exposed as either fake, artificial, completely wrapped with hypocrisy or do not reflect the real picture of our society and the sentiments of the people.

The Church is specially being affected because the circumstance of historical development it is the one that spearheads in promoting deceit and demagoguery. People know that where the Church makes a stand, one could tell where their interest lies. The tirades of President Duterte on the Church are not about their dogma but on the clerics’ hypocrisy and eclectic ambivalence. The Church cannot continue to castigate the government where it enjoys the rare privilege of tax exemption and protection by the state it now vigorously accuses of spreading fake news.

Social media destroyed the traditional process on how the public should receive and assess the news.

rpkapunan@gmail.com

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The dangerous simplicity of Donald Trump Bloomberg editorial PRESIDENT Donald Trump has always had a weakness for simple and fantastical fixes. Illegal immigration? Build a wall. Jobs moving overseas? Tax imports.

Unemployment in Appalachia?

Dig more coal. Rising medical costs? Repeal Obamacare.

Trump’s gift for simple slogans served him well as a candidate.

As president, however, it is failing him and endangering the country.

When the Supreme Court partially resurrected his executive order banning travel from six mostly Muslim nations, Trump called it “a clear victory for our national security.” It should be abundantly clear—by looking at the nationalities of terrorists who have plotted attacks against the US—that closing America’s borders to the countries on Trump’s list offers

only false comfort. It should also be clear that the rationale for the temporary travel ban—the need to review screening procedures— was little more than pretext.

In the original executive order, Trump directed his secretary of homeland security, secretary of state, and director of national intelligence to submit a report within 30 days detailing “the information needed from any country to adjudicate any visa, admission, or other benefit” necessary to verify an individual is not a security threat. The administration has yet to produce such a report, and has made few changes to the visa screening process.

Nor do Trump’s budget priorities indicate he understands how to keep the country safe. His executive budget proposes a sevenpercent increase for the Department of Homeland Security, but

much of that funding is directed to the Mexican border. A porous border is indeed a national security threat, but no wall would have stopped the Sept. 11 hijackers or more recent attackers, who also would have met the Supreme Court’s criteria for entry under Trump’s travel ban: Bona fide relationships with American people or entities.

Trump’s budget proposes a 25-percent cut to the Urban Areas Security Initiative, which provides counterterrorism funding to cities. Yet local police forces, in cooperation with federal agencies, have a played a vital role in thwarting numerous attacks.

The recent tragedies in London and Manchester underscore the importance of empowering and equipping cities to fight terrorism.

An effective national security strategy also requires the use of

soft power overseas, which rests partly on our commitment to humanitarian efforts, which Trump is proposing to cut back, and partly on America’s perceived moral authority, which Trump has been busy undermining.

A new survey shows that the world—including many close US allies—does not trust Trump to do the right thing. Little wonder, when he has failed to defend Nato’s Article 5, which has been the bedrock of transatlantic relations for nearly 70 years, while playing footsie with Vladimir Putin.

Trump can no longer lay the blame on the judiciary for any future terrorist attack, as he once shamefully did. Yet if he continues to focus on closing doors and building walls to the exclusion of more effective approaches, the risk of more deadly attacks will grow.

China won’t save the blockbuster

By Adam Minter IT CERTAINLY looked like a bomb. “Transformers: The Last Knight,” which cost Paramount Pictures Corp. over $350 million to make and market, earned a lame $69 million during its first five days in US theaters in mid-June.

Paramount executives could overlook that performance because in China, where the “Transformers” series has enjoyed a decade of wild popularity, the film earned over $123 million during the same period. But the time when Hollywood filmmakers could count on Chinese viewers to rescue them from disaster may be rapidly coming to an end.

The world’s second-biggest movie market (and soon to be its biggest), China has bailed out Hollywood’s box-office bombs for years. The list of examples is long, led by the first four “Transformers” films, all of which have been massive hits in China despite generally poor reviews elsewhere.

It’s easy to see why, too. To this day, Chinese films can’t match the technical and artistic standards found in Hollywood productions, even the clunkers (a state of affairs acknowledged by China’s best filmmakers). Government censorship worsens the problem.

In 2007, the first “Transformers” film was China’s top-grossing

Intellectual...

From A4

This is not the first time a controversy involving alleged plagiarism has haunted a Philippine government agency. A few years ago, the government agency which promotes the annual film festival in the national capital region every December came under fire because of the agency’s advertisement for the film festival. Critics argued that the agency’s advertisement was virtually identical to the colors and graphic design used in an earlier, foreign advertisement promoting a film festival abroad.

The private sector is not without fault, either.

Decades ago, a local real estate development company came out with primetime television advertisements. When it was discovered that the advertisements lifted from the musical score of an American motion picture about the mythical Shangri-La, the advertisements were discontinued.

Fortunately, the intellectual piracy was short-lived.

In the 1980s, a local meat processing company promoted its

Anticipating...

From A4

Justice Lucas Bersamin, as it is authorized by the Constitution and not the Rules of Court. Another is whether or not the Supreme Court is mandated by the Constitution to give due course to these kinds of petition given the language of Paragraph 3, Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution which states: “The Supreme Court may review, in an appropriate proceeding filed by any citizen, the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation of martial law . . .”

Another procedural question is the quantum of proof that is required of the Court in deciding the petition and the deference it will give to the President’s determination of the facts.

Although these are important procedural questions, Chief Justice Sereno reminded everyone of the constitutional duty of the Supreme Court “to ensure that rules do not arrogate from our substantive rights and that has

movie. (In the US, it was number three.) That was quite an accomplishment: Chinese authorities limit foreign theatrical releases to very limited runs, ideally at times they won’t compete against strong Chinese films. Pirated DVDs reached many more Chinese who couldn’t see the movie in theaters, and its 2009 sequel doubled the first film’s gross, becoming China’s second-biggest film of the year (just behind “2012,” another Hollywood shlockfest).

Since then, the audience for the “Transformers” series has grown roughly at the same rate as China’s box office, giving executives at Paramount and other studios good reason to believe that Chinese audiences had an inexhaustible appetite for nonsensical, humorless storylines about battling alien robots. Indeed, earlier this year, even the abysmal “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage” earned 47 percent of its $346 million gross in China (the US contributed a mere 13 percent).

Two years ago, after a string of US flops did particularly well in China, articles complained that the country had become a Hollywood “dumping ground.” China’s otherwise patriotic social media users largely dismissed the criticism, noting that “bad Chinese films are worse.”

The opening for “Transformers:

The Last Knight” would seem to confirm the pattern. But the numbers tell a different story. Although the movie’s China gross is expected to hit $250 million, that would be 17 percent less than its 2014 predecessor—at a time when China’s box office has grown 80 percent.

That’s a warning that China’s tastes are changing for the better, and Hollywood isn’t ready. In addition to “Transformers,” the pirated DVD boom of the 1990s and 2000s introduced Chinese audiences to a broad range of Hollywood and other fare otherwise blocked in China. More recently, smartphones and streaming video apps have brought an even more diverse set of entertainment options to Chinese audiences.

As a result, Chinese are becoming more discerning about what they pay to see, and are no longer as easily seduced by Hollywood spectacle. Last summer, Chinese box office receipts declined for the first time in five years (box office fraud may have also played a role).

The biggest Chinese box office surprise of 2017 wasn’t a sci-fi adventure, but “Dangal,” a critically acclaimed Indian family drama in which two young women push back against traditional gender roles. The theme resonated strongly in still-conservative China (even the country’s traditionally minded President Xi Jinping

praised the film), and so far it’s earned over $190 million—making it China’s fourth-biggest film of the year so far. And, unlike “The Last Knight,” which has experienced precipitously falling receipts since its release, the weekly take for “Dangal” actually increased over much of its run.

If, as expected, China expands the quota for foreign films, big Hollywood productions will face competition from smaller and more sophisticated US dramas, too. And it’s not just US and Indian movies that’ll tempt viewers. Chinese films continue to improve, with locally produced fare now successfully competing against Hollywood’s best (and worst). Last year, “The Mermaid,” a Hong KongChinese romantic comedy, earned the biggest box office in Chinese history, while other local comedies are regularly outselling the Hollywood competition.

That hardly means that Hollywood doesn’t have a future in China. Diverse, character-oriented action films like the “Fast and the Furious” series continue to do well on the mainland, and special effects blockbusters—especially good ones—will always be popular anywhere in the world. But the days of Hollywood being able to assume that its worst efforts will see their best returns in China are numbered. Bloomberg

meat products using an advertisement brazenly lifted from a segment of the American educational TV show The Electric Company.

Nobody from the USA appears to have protested because the meat company was the main sponsor of the Philippine broadcasts of the TV show.

Many congressional politicians in the Philippines have resorted to the unauthorized use of copyrighted music in their expensive radio and TV campaign advertisements. Ironically, while they seek to be elected or reelected to the legislature, they themselves violate the law against intellectual piracy.

Intellectual piracy is also prevalent in TV programs and documentaries.

There was once a controversy surrounding two now-defunct TV game shows which had similar formats. The first one required studio contestants to choose between a sum of money offered by the game master, or the mysterious contents of a box. After some haggling, the contestant was asked to make up his mind. On the other hand, the second program asked its studio

contestants to select between a sum of money and the unknown contents of a shopping bag. As expected, an issue relating to intellectual piracy reached the courts.

In the early 1970s, a popular TV game show which went on the air every Sunday at noontime required its studio contestants to spin a rotary wheel, answer randomly selected questions, and collect prizes for each correct answer. The program was apparently discontinued when it was learned that it was similar to an existing American TV program.

Many local TV programs, past and current, are unauthorized copies of the original American show. US TV programs which have been imitated in the Philippines include Candid Camera, Bewitched, and Rowan & Martin’s Laff-Ins. A famous US TV comedy about a bungling secret agent who had a telephone hidden in his shoe, was also copied in a local film.

There is a Philippine film which is a virtual Tagalog version of the classic Hollywood masterpiece Wuthering Heights. Another local film from the 1980s

imitated the storyline of the Hollywood movie Karate Kid. Many local films produced between 1960 up to about 10 years ago used copyrighted songs in their soundtracks without securing the prior permission of the copyright owners. Some local movies used the melodies of copyrighted songs and supplanted the English-language lyrics with Tagalog ones, again without the consent of the copyright owners.

Singers and song writers of the 1960s were notorious for supplanting the English-language lyrics of hit pieces like Candida and Kiss Me, Kiss Me. American comic book superheroes have been copied and passed off as originals in Philippine publications. The characters imitated include “Wonder Woman,” “Captain Marvel,” and “Plasticman.”

Fortunately, a number of TV network managers in the Philippines have decided to obtain the requisite franchises to broadcast local versions of existing TV game shows abroad. That is a good start, and hopefully, the Philippine penchant for intellectual piracy will reach a downward trend at last.

always been a principal rule in any interpretative duty that we have.” According to her, “it is only commonsensical that the Rules of Procedure follow what the Constitution designs because we could not have promulgated rules for the protection of rights unless they are first defined by the Constitution and by appropriate legislation.”

From a substantive point of view, what then should we anticipate from the Supreme Court decision on these martial law petitions?

First and most important, it would be reasonable to expect that the Court will make a finding of the adequacy or inadequacy of the factual basis of the declaration to put the whole of Mindanao under martial law. This could include an enumeration of the facts President Duterte took into account in issuing Proclamation No. 216, which facts can be determined from the text of the proclamation itself, from the President’s report to Congress, and from the information the martial law administrators, Defense Secretary

Delfin Lorenzana and AFP Chief General Eduardo Año, provided the Court during their executive session meeting with the Justices.

One matter that would be interesting to look at is whether or not the Court will distinguish between the facts around Marawi and those that justified the declaration of martial law throughout Mindanao. As far as I can see, at least of the facts on the record, there is scant information about the latter while there is abundance of facts in the case of Marawi.

Second, one could also reasonably expect that the Court would lay down guidance on the legal meaning of actual rebellion, distinguishing as well as relating it to terrorism, and to meaning of the phrase “when public safety requires.” Perhaps, the Court could make it clear that these conditions must concur before a martial law declaration is justified.

Third and possibly more important in terms of long-term implications, the Court might include in its decision a delimi-

tation of what the government can and cannot do during martial law. This is very important because we know what martial law is not—it cannot be as harsh as Marcos’ as the President described because most of Marcos did when he declared martial law is now expressly prohibited—but it is not so clear what martial law can allow.

The Supreme Court will make a historic decision next week.

One can only hope it would be good for the country.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/deantonylavs/ Twitter: tonylavs

POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO Ms. Angsioco’s column will resume next week.

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SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte remains mum on Huang corruption

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has declined to speak on the probe in mainland China over the allegations of corruption against Chinese billionaire and philanthropist Huang Rulun—the man who played a central role in the revival of Philippines-China relations under the Duterte presidency.

“I don’t want to interfere in the investigation,” Duterte said in Filipino during a chance interview in Davao City on Thursday night.

“I would not venture any statement because people might not like it,” he added.

Despite this, he said he knew Huang to be a very wealthy man and has been “kind” to Filipinos.

“This multibillionaire has 20 hotels. I would not comment on the domestic affairs of China, especially [on] one who has been kind to us, did

First 4 MMFF entries known THE Metro Manila Film Festival Executive Committee (MMFFExecom) announced on Friday the first four official movies entries for the MMFF 2017.

Thomas Orbos, Metro Manila Development Authority general manager and MMFF 2017 executive committee chairman, said the committee said the following entries have been thoroughly evaluated by the body’s selection panel: Ang Panday, featuring Coco Martin, produced by CCM Creative Productions Inc. and directed

by Rodel Nacianceno; Almost Is Not Enough, starring Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales, produced by Quantum and MJM Productions and directed by Dan Villegas; The Revengers, produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films, directed by Joyce Bernal and starring Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach; and Love Traps, produced

by Octoarts Films, directed by Antonio Reyes and featuring Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta.

With the push for artistic excellence that began in 2016, the MMFF this year, under the leadership of MMDA chairman Danilo Lim, received an encouraging and diverse roster of 26 film-entries that already crossed the so-called commercial-indie divide.

“Our selection committee had a difficult time to choose, given the quality of films. We have to thank them for their exhaustive and thorough deliberation,” said Orbos.

“We also have to give credit to this year’s Rules Committee which devised the two-part selection process that gave a greater latitude to interested participants for this year,” Orbos said.

He was referring to the new vetting scheme that was initially applied this year to assure that no discrimination would arise among commercial and the socalled “indie” films.

The film-entries this year were evaluated based on the following criteria: 40 percent artistic excellence; 40 percent commercial appeal; 10 percent promotion of Filipino cultural and historical values, and 10 percent global appeal.

The next phase for the Full Length Feature category will be the finished film submission.

The films with the duly accomplished application forms and complete requirements can be submitted to the MMFF Secretariat until Oct. 2 for early birds, and until Oct. 30 for the regular submission.

The remaining four official entries shall be selected from the all submitted finished films to complete the eight official entries to the 2017 MMFF, which will be announced on Nov. 17.

The deadline for the Short Film category, on the other hand, will be on Sept. 1 while the announcement for the eight official Short Film entries is on Sept. 29.

Joel E. Zurbano

not ask for anything, just wanted to be of service to his fellowmen,” said Duterte.

The Financial Times on Tuesday reported that Beijing’s anti-cor r uption watchdog said Huang, whose worth is listed by the Forbes magazine at $3.6 billion, was being investigated over briber y allegations after getting removed from a high-level advisor y body in Fujian province last week due to suspicion of briber y.

The Chinese billionaire, who started his business in Binondo, Manila, donated P1.4 billion for two drug rehabilitation centers occupying a total area of 100,000 square meters.

Duterte indicated, however, that the probe would not have an effect on the country’s use of the rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay.

He said he was thankful for the assistance.

PROTEST RALLY. The Supreme Court has been asked Friday by the Movement for Climate Justice and other marginalized communities to stop the government from issuing new permits for the construction and operation of coal-fired power plants until a review and revision of air quality monitoring standards are threshed out. Lino Santos

MMDA resumes rescue operations of mendicants

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Metro Manila Development Authority has resumed its rescue operations of streetchildren, vagrants, street dwellers and mendicants in the National Capital Region.

More than 57 people, including minors, were rescued in the latest operations done by members of the MMDA Metropolitan Manila Social Services Office in Manila, Makati and Quezon City.

MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos said the agency resumed its series of rescue opera-

tions to prevent accidents as the street dwellers risk their lives approaching moving vehicles recklessly begging for alms.

The rescue operation was conducted in close coordination with local government, police and Department of Social Welfare and Development officials.

Last year, local government

officials appealed to the Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policy making body, to find and discuss with the national government the permanent solution to the worsening street dwelling problem in NCR. Government records showed there are more than 1,500 street families in the metropolis.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is considering putting up a housing facility for street dwellers.

He said the city government was looking for available land where this planned village for street dwellers would be put up.

“They can’t stay in temporary government shelters forever.

They should have a place of their

own where they can start their lives again,” the mayor said.

Arnold Pangan, officer-incharge of the Manila Social Welfare Department, said the National Housing Authority agreed to help in constructing the shelters.

He added the project was being handled by MSWD, Urban Settlement Office and City Planning Office.

Through the help of various non-government organizations, Pangan said at least 10 homeless families had been given their own houses in Nueva Ecija, with 20 to 30 more to follow.

The MSWD has been continuously rounding up street

dwellers in the city, including ambulant vendors who have no permanent place to stay in, in compliance with Estrada’s “zero street dwellers” campaign.

However, unlike the previous years, Pangan said they have been rescuing fewer street dwellers nowadays, from an average of 100 a day to only 20 because of their relentless operations.

He said most of them were not even from the city.

All the rescued street dwellers are fed, bathed, and subjected to medical checkup before being turned over to the city-owned Manila Boystown Complex in Marikina City, according to Pangan.

Labor group mocks govt’s work scheme

By Vito Barcelo

DEFIANT STAND. Members of the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura troop to Camp Aguinaldo’s gate in Quezon City Friday condemning what they described as the illegal arrest of Lito Lao, spokesperson of the UMA-Southern Mindanao Region and the imposition of martial law in Mindanao. Manny Palmero

Angara pushes for anti-discrimination measure

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sonny Angara is pushing anew for the passage of the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination bill which, he said, has been languishing in the legislative mill for decades.

“As the country celebrates Pride Month, we are joining the call to fight for equality and to end all forms of discrimination,” he said.

“We must protect every citizen against discriminatory acts to promote equal protection, equal opportunity, and to eliminate stereotypes and prejudices,” he added.

Angara’s Senate Bill 948 seeks to penalize discriminatory practices based on age, racial or ethnic origin, religious

belief or activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, marital or relationship status, disability, HIV status, health status or medical history, language, physical features, or other status.

Under the proposed measure, acts of discrimination include promoting and encouraging stigma, inciting hatred or violence, inflicting harm on health and well-being, and engaging in profiling.

Denial of political, civil and cultural rights; denial of right to education, right to work, right to organize, right to expression; and, denial of access to goods and services on the basis of personal characteristics cited above will

also be penalized.

Offenders may face penalties of not less than a year but not more than six years imprisonment, or a fine of not more than P500,000, or both.

“I’ve been filing anti-discrimination bill since my days in the Lower House.

Any form of discrimination threatens social instability and economic progress in our country. It is our hope that through this bill, discrimination will be minimized,” the senator added.

All government agencies, private companies, and educational institutions will also be mandated to pursue and implement programs and policies that would enable an environment free of stigma and ensure that discrimination and abuse are prevented.

THE labor group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) mocked the government’s much ballyhooed effort in regularizing 50,000 contractual workers since July last year.

It said the government failed to assist the five percent of the 25 to 30-million contractual workers in the country to become regular workers.

The ALU-TUCP said workers in the manufacturing, services and agricultural sectors nationwide were still employed under the contractualized work arrangement without security of tenure, deprived of the right to form unions, and unable to claim lawful benefits accorded to directly hired, regular workers.

“President Rodrigo Duterte should act on his campaign promise to eliminate the rampant temporary contractualized work arrangement and make an impact on the lives of workers by raising the level of the daily minimum pay,” the labor group said.

“Mr. Duterte had asked us on May 1 Labor day dialogue with labor groups to give him time on the issue of contractualization. We are calling on him to make up his mind now because millions of contractual workers are on the line, waiting and hoping to fulfill his promise to end it,” ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

The ALU-TUCP also urged Duterte to make a meaningful impact in the lives of workers by raising the level of the daily minimum wage and enforce policies toward lowering the rising cost of living.

The labor group claimed the purchasing power of the country’s highest minimum wage of P491 had eroded by 27 percent by second week of April 2017.

The real value of Metro Manila’s daily minimum wage is currently pegged at P357—excluding mandatory social insurance deductions, records from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the National Wages and Productivity Commission show.

“No family can survive with P357 per day. Mr. Duterte has to directly and indirectly raise the level of workers’ wages and enforce a set of policies that would lower the rising cost of living if he wants to fulfil his promise to improve the lives of the Filipinos under his presidency,” Tanjusay said.

The ALU-TUCP has also submitted a proposal to Malacañang calling on Duterte to give P500 monthly cash subsidy to all minimum wage workers through cash vouchers in the purchase of basic commodities and payment of utilities.

Sports

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SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Clutch putts, Ikeda’s mishaps lead to Del Rosario’s golf win B AGUIO—Pauline del Rosario held sway with clutch putts at the back then pounced on Chihiro Ikeda’s late-hole mishaps to fashion out a four-stroke victory with a 64 in the ICTSI Baguio Ladies Classic at the Baguio Country Club here yesterday.

Del Rosario kept an overnight four-shot lead up to No. 10 but dropped two strokes on the lone par-4 at the back on No. 11, enabling Ikeda to threaten within two. But she matched her FilJapanese rival’s birdie on the next and cruised to another win despite a bogey on No. 16 as Ikeda faded

whose seven-over 190 winning total completed a back-to-back feat following her breakthrough five-shot triumph over amateur Eagle Ace Superal at Orchard three weeks ago.

The victory, worth another P250,000, is also expected to boost the former Philippine Ladies Open champion’s confidence as she primes up for the rich Ladies European Thailand Championship next week against the region’s and Ladies European Tour’s leading players.

“I’m happy to have played here. I got to sharpen my short game extensively in preparation for Thailand next week,”

with double-bogey-bogey miscues on Nos. 16 and 17 to likewise finish with a three-over card.

“I never doubted myself even when the others were catching up. I knew some of them would make a charge. But I just told myself to match their intensity,” said the 19-year-old Del Rosario,

said del Rosario, who campaign is backed by Golf Depot’s Joey Mendoza and ICTSI. Ikeda, last year’s Orchard leg winner, had hoped to complete a big backside charge after pulling to within one with a birdie on the 12th. But that hardly rattled del Rosario, who displayed grace under pressure and matched that feat to keep a two-shot cushion.

After the duo traded pars in the next three, Ikeda dropped two shots on No. 16 in pursuit of a birdie, paving the way for another del Rosario romp in the P3 million sponsored by ICTSI. Ikeda also wound up with a 64 for second at 194 worth

Venus at fault in fatal car crash

P120,000 while Thai Ananya Vitayakonkomol rallied with two birdies in the last five holes to shoot the tournament-best oneunder 60. She salvaged joint third with compatriot Tiranan Yoopan, who carded a 63, at 197.

Each got P80,500.

Apple Fudolin, who shared the first round win with del Rosario but fell back with a second round 68, bounced back into early contention with a birdie-birdie feat from No. 4. But the Del Monte bet lost steam in the closing holes, dropping seven strokes in the last eight and limped with a 67. She ended up fifth at 199 and received P65,000

Explosive matches usher in PVL Open Games today

4 p.m. – Creamline vs Adamson-Akari 6:30 p.m. – Perlas-Bangko vs Air Force

THE Premier Volleyball League unveils its second offering on its inaugural season with two explosive matches kicking off the PVL Open Conference today (Saturday) at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Souped-up Creamline parades Ateneo star setter Jia Morado and former league MVP Mary Jean Balse as it tangles with newcomer Adamson-Akari at 4 p.m. while Perlas-Bangko and Air Force clash in the other match of the mid-season conference organized by Sports Vision, which hopes to sustain the momentum of the PVL’s successful Reinforced Conference recently.

Morado, UAAP best setter and member of the Phl team that saw action in the 2015 Singapore Southeast Asian Games, reunites with former Ateneo teammate Alyssa Valdez and coach Tai Bundit, while Balse, a two-time MVP in the VLeague and winner of five championships, comes out of retirement to provide the experience and poise for the Cool Smashers.

Morado and Balse are expected to bolster Creamline’s drive for a championship following its third place finish in the import-laced tournament two weeks ago.

But the Lady Falcons are coming into the event upbeat of their chances with American coach Airess Padda hoping to spring some surprise from her youth-laden squad headed by Jemma Galanza, who suited up for Creamline in the last conference before returning to her college team.

Perlas, which will carry Bangko or a subsidiary bank of Bank of Phl Islands for this conference, and veteran team Air Force collide in the main game at 6:30 p.m.

Both matches will be shown live on Sports+Action Channel 23 and can be viewed via livestream on www.sports.abs-cbn.com/ livestream/pvl.

The Bangko Spikers have made some changes during the break, naming Thai Nai Muhammad as coach vice Jerry Yee, who returns to University of the Phl side. Perlas also acquired Ateneo libero Gizelle Tan and Southwestern U spiker Raprap Aguilar to firm up the team’s rotation.

MALAYAN INSURANCE IS CHAMP. Malayan Insurance employees (from left) Bernard Sanchez, Cecile Orozco, Julian Fidel Rosario, Cyrus

Abeleda and Cesar Toledo triumphed over 12 other teams at the 7th Insurance Commissioner’s Bowling Cup at the AMF-Puyat Superbowl, Makati.

This marks the first time Malayan Insurance landed first place in the event. Hosted by The Society of Independent Insurance Intermediaries, Philippines (Triple I), the tournament is an annual one-day bowling event open to all insurance companies. Since its inception, the kegfest has been participated in by around 20 life and non-life insurance companies, including HMO companies. Founded in 1930, Malayan Insurance is the leading non-life insurer in the Philippines. It is a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, one of the largest conglomerates into financial services, banking, banking, investments, construction, education, energy, and information technology. To learn more, visit www.malayan.com.

FESSAP Regional 7 director takes oath Foton, Petron CEBU CITY—Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines president David Ong formally swore in former basketball star Julian Algoso Macoy as its Regional 7 Director during a ceremony held at the Allure Hotel in Metro Cebu.

Also in attendance to witness the oath-taking was Alvin Tai Lian, FESSAP Chairman of the Board, and University of Cebu’s Atty. Baldomero C. Estenzo, who is the FESSAP Assistant Corporate Secretary.

Highly recommended by Estenzo, Macoy is a product of the University of San Carlos.

Macoy, in his oath, vowed to enter into the performance of his duties and responsibilities “in accordance with the highest ethical standards of governance in the promotion, development and supervision of sports throughout the region, and in the entire country; collaborate and coordinate with the colleges and universities with regard to the National Student Championships and Philippine University Championship and in other cases, including the Philippines’ participation in any international championship; control and govern all competitions among FESSAP-

Julian Macoy takes his oath as FESSAP Regional 7 Director before FESSAP president David Ong and FESSAP officials Alvin Tai Lian and Attorney Baldomero Estenzo.

affiliated university leagueorganizations, which colleges/ universities/clubs teams are taking part; coordinate with the FESSAP Executive Board regarding Philippine participation in all International University Sports Federation (FISU)accredited championships and tournaments; and engage in any other activities that are necessary, beneficial or incidental to achieve FESSAP’s goals and objectives, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities pertaining thereunto.”

Born on Jan. 28, 1940, Macoy

grew up in Cebu and graduated from the University of San Carlos with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce, majoring Banking and Finance. He starred for the USC Warriors’ varsity team for four years and established a Philippine collegiate record for most points in a single game in 1958 when he tallied 126 points against CSAT in the old Cebu Collegiate Athletic Association, the forerunner of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. or CESAFI. In 1960, Macoy moved to Manila to play for Yutivo in the

old Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association. He saw action with the Opels for 10 seasons before dislocating his right hip in 1968.

In 1971, Macoy migrated to the United States and worked for four different companies before he landed a job with the United States Postal Service. He worked with the postal service for 24 and a half years before he returned home in 2004.

In 2004, Coach Joe Lipa hired Macoy to be one of his assistant coaches on the Philippine national team that saw action in an Asian tournament in Tehran, Iran under the auspices of the traditioned-steeped Basketball Association of the Philippines.

In 2007, he was back in Cebu, working as the CESAFI deputy commissioner under commissioner Felix ‘Boy’ Tiukinhoy Jr. for four years before he grabbed the opportunity to coach for his alma mater, USC. To date, he remains a team consultant for the school.

Of late, Macoy helped organize a a grassroots basketball tournament in Cebu, a program that was started by Governor Hilario Davide of the Cebu Province. Graham C. Lim

Rivera, Anton share Phoenix national slalom spotlight MILO Rivera and Inigo Anton shared the spotlight in the fifth leg of the Race Motorsports’ Phoenix National Slalom Series recently at Robinsons Novaliches.

Rivera of Tough Gear Racing snatched the overall best time of the day at 50.86, while grabbing the Production Wheel top clocking.

Dr. Peewee Mendiola of Team Big Chill followed at 51.12, while Estefano Rivera, Milo’s younger brother, placed third with a 52 flat.

The 12-year-old Anton, who is from Mark Young Cars, ranked fourth with 52.22, while his father Carlos Anton rounded out the Top 5 with 52.96.

The younger Anton also clinched the Front Wheel and Novice best time in the slalom event presented by Phoenix Premium 98 and Phoenix Accelerate Fully Synthetic Oil.

MIAMI—Tennis star Venus Williams was “at fault” in a Florida traffic accident that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man, police said in a report obtained Thursday

by AFP. Williams, 37, slowed in the middle of an intersection when her vehicle was hit by a car driven by the man’s 68-year-old wife, the report said.

The accident occurred on June 9 in Palm Beach Gardens, a small city north of Miami.

The driver’s husband suffered a head injury and died two weeks later at the hospital.

The winner of seven Grand Slam championships was not using her phone and had not taken drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash, police said.

The driver of the other vehicle told police she was approaching an intersection going westbound when Williams’ northbound utility vehicle suddenly cut across into the intersection, leaving no time to stop before her car hit Williams’s vehicle.

Williams told police she was trying to get through the intersection but had slowed to five miles (eight kilometers) per hour due to a traffic jam that left her car blocking the right of way.

The driver’s husband suffered head trauma and was hospitalized in intensive care prior to his death, according to the Miami Herald newspaper. His wife went to the hospital with broken bones and other injuries.

No charges have been filed, although Palm Beach Gardens police said the crash is under investigation.

“This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one,” said Williams’s attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, in a statement published by the paper.

Williams is seeded 10th at Wimbledon, the year’s third Grand Slam tennis event that begins Monday in England. AFP

It is also backed by major sponsors Federal Tyres and Outlast Battery, Robinsons Novaliches and Robinsons Malls, and supported by Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, medical team Aeromed, media partners Stoplight TV, C! Magazine, Auto Car Magazine, Power Wheels Magazine, Ride and Drive Philippines and Driven2ride.ph.

The event was participated in by Team Big Chill, Tough Gear Racing Team, AUTOFASTION Racing Team, JAF Racing Team, Kajega Racing Team and Mark Young cars.

The sixth leg will be held on July 9 at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga, with the seventh leg slated on Aug. 13 at Robinsons Antipolo.

For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at no. 09178119337 or like the event’s FB page racemotorsportsclub.

Some of the official results:

Novice Stock Injected: 1st Rainier Tinio 55.96; 2nd Rod Chang 59.04 Novice Stock Carburated: 1st Joseph Ortega 58.04 Novice Modified A: 1st Armand Marcaida 56.92; 2nd Powee Base 57.22; 3rd Rainier Tinio 60.60; 4th CJ Ramos 61.24 Novice Modified B: 1st Iñigo Anton 53.62; 2nd Vegil Calayo 55.18; 3rd Rainier Tinio 56.56; 4th Armand Marcaida 56.96; 5th Powee Base 58.80; 5th Powee Base 48.69; 6th Armand Marcaida 48.82 Novice Modified C: 1st Powee Base 57.22; 2nd Inigo Anton 57.52; 3rd Vegil Calayo 59.14 Novice 1A Class: 1st Inigo Anton 52.22 Pro Stock A: 1st Milo Rivera 50.86; 2nd Estefano Rivera 51.24; 3rd Dr. Peewee Mendiola 51.92 Pro Stock B: 1st Dr. Peewee Mendiola 53.52; 2nd Carlos

seek Superliga semis berths Games Today:

(Malolos Sports and Convention Center) 5 p.m. – Petron vs Sta. Lucia 7 p.m. – Foton vs Cherrylume

MALOLOS CITY—Powerhouse Foton and Petron shoot for the remaining semifinal slots when the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference fires off at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center here.

After emerging on top of the preliminaries, the Tornadoes tackle winless Cherrylume at 7 p.m. while the Blaze Spikers clash with Sta. Lucia at 5 p.m. in the sudden-death quarterfinals of this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Belo, Rebisco and Gold’s Gym with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

F2 Logistics and Cignal were the first to enter the semifinals after downing their respective foes late Thursday.

The Cargo Movers clobbered GenerikaAyala, 25-14, 25-18, 25-17, while the HD Spikers dominated Cocolife, 25-17, 25-10, 2520, in the second match of the explosive quarterfinal double-header that also has Senoh, Mueller, Mikasa, Asics and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.

Despite losing the crucial pieces in its championship cast, Foton remains a force to be reckoned with after winning five of its six games in the preliminaries to formally claim the top spot in the quarterfinals.

Its lone loss came from the hands of Petron last week, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 11-15, in a thrilling match that gave the massive crowd a glimpse of what to expect when these two titans clash in the semifinals on July 6 at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

But before thinking of moving into the next round, the Tornadoes have to overcome Cherrylume, a rising squad composed of college girls from University of the East.

Led by captain Mary Anne Mendez as well as Jana Sta. Maria, Judith Abil and Seth Rodriguez, the Iron Lady Warriors shut down their six-game campaign in the preliminaries without a singe victory.

LOTTO RESULTS Twelve-year-old Inigo Anton of Mark Young Cars scoots to victory in both the Novice and Front Wheel categories.

Anton 55.24 Pro Stock C: 1st Dr. Peewee Mendiola 51.80; 2nd Estefano Rivera 52.00 Group 2A: 1st Ryan

Ablang 54.24; 2nd Vegil Calayo 55.38; 3rd Powee Base 57.52; 4th Joseph Ortega 60.56; 5th Steven Valenzuela 60.72

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

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

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SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

Ordinary PH folks weigh in on Pacman tiff

Sports

By Peter Paul Duran IT’S NOW only less than 24 hours before eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao takes on undefeated Jeff Horn in Brisbane in what is dubbed “The Biggest Fight” in Australian boxing history.

The excitement is creeping, but the leadup to every Pacquiao fight always has the same recurrent verse: predictions and pre-fight fearless forecasts.

It’s not surprising. Every time a bout of this magnitude takes place, expect a frenzy of opinion brought by boxing analysts from legitimate pundits to the local inebriated tatang.

And every Pacquiao fight is a mega fight. So let the “experts” weigh in just before the Pacman and Jeff lock horns this Sunday.

“Di ko gaano kilala talaga ‘yung makakalaban ni Pacquiao. Pero dahil para sa Filipino pride, kay Pacman tayo!”—Crisal Jay Sabinorio, Manila “Palagay ko Manny pa rin. Pacquiao via decision. Kasi nandu’n pa rin naman ‘yung bilis ni Manny although ‘yung lakas ng suntok niya medyo wala na.”—Clarence Reyes, Antipolo “Ako siguro kay Horn ako dito. Mas bata talaga eh. Tumatanda na rin si Pacquiao. Unanimous win for Horn siguro.”—Joshua Lao, Manila “Sa tingin ko experience ang mananaig. Kay Pacquiao ako siyempre.

Aabot ng 12 rounds pero sa huli, Pacquiao ang panalo sa scorecards.”— Marcleowen Clutario, Quezon City “Pacman ‘yan! Round 10 KO!”— Abraham Valle “’Di ko masyado alam ang galaw ni Horn pero ang rinig ko undefeated pa rin daw. Feel ko Jeff Horn ito. Close fight hanggang huli.”—Danica Alfaro, Makati “Horn. Tale of the tape lamang na lamang si Horn. Though mas experienced si Pacman magiging factor pa rin ‘yung age nu’ng dalawa. Mataas ‘yung knock out rate ni Horn kaya malaki ‘yung tiyansa na makipagsabayan siya sa suntukan ‘di gaya kay Mayweather at Bradley na istilo. Dehado si Pacman sa ganu’ng style kase kulang sa training.”—Aljhon Amante, Antipolo “Manny Pacquiao pa rin. Nandoon pa rin ‘yung bilis ni Manny. Sure ako na hindi magpapatalo ‘yun sa mas bata at mas malaki.”—Alexandria San Juan, Pulilan, Bulacan “’Di ako mapalagay eh. Siguro draw nalang.”—Lorenzo Nicolas, Taytay, Rizal

Booters, track bets make up bulk of PH team

By Peter Atencio FOOTBALL and athletics will make up the biggest delegates in the national contingent that’s going to the action in the 29th Southeast Asian Games.

That’s according to a final roster that the joint task force of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee submitted to the Games’ Organizing Committee in Kuala Lumpur.

There will be 20 players in the national under-23 men’s football squad and an equal number in the women’s team.

On the other hand, athletics will have 25 in the men’s division and 13 in the distaff side.

The list was finalized after the POC approved on Wednesday the entry by names of 497 athletes that will see action in the Games starting Aug. 14.

Team Philippines will also be represented by 163 coaches and 70 support group that will include medical, secretariat and 13 technical officials.

PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said they have earmarked a total of P350 million for the preparation and participation of the Philippines in the Games.

“We are working with the national sports associations on this,” said Ramirez.

He explained that P247 million will be spent for preparations, while more than P80 million is for actual participation.

The Philippines will be competing in 37 out of 38 sports disciplines.

Pacquiao facing Horn, but in his mind is Mayweather B RISBANE—Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao faces unheralded Australian challenger Jeff Horn in Sunday’s world welterweight title fight in Brisbane in pursuit of a dream rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

The Pacquiao camp says it is anticipating a “short and sweet” win over the unbeaten Horn, a former school teacher and 2012 Australian Olympian, before an expected 50,000 crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

The eight-weight world champion, 38, one of the greatest fighters of his generation, is an overwhelming favourite to improve on his fabulous career record of 59 wins, six losses and two draws at the expense of Horn (16-0-1).

It is revealing that the Pacquiao camp has already spoken of setting up another showdown with the unbeaten ‘Money’ Mayweather, who outpointed

‘Pac-Man’ in the “Fight of the Century” two years ago.

“We’re chasing a rematch with Floyd Mayweather and we know he has to score a spectacular knockout win over Jeff Horn if that’s going to happen,” Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said.

“I’m looking for a big win in Brisbane so we can go on to bigger and better things.

“I’ve been looking for a big knockout from him for a long time now and I think you’re going to see it in this fight.”

While Pacquiao has been respectful towards his relatively novice Aussie opponent, members of his entourage have

talked dismissively of Horn’s chances of causing one of boxing’s greatest upsets.

“Manny is one of the greats and Jeff Horn is in a different league,” Pacquiao’s Australian strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune told reporters.

“If Manny puts his mind to it he destroys anybody in the world. He’s busted up some of the greats. Jeff Horn is the guy to knock out and we’re in the hurt business.”

Knockout drought Pacquiao has beaten some of the best—Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Jesse Vargas—while 29-yearold Horn is stepping up in class substantially in the World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight.

“This guy (Horn) has nowhere near the experience at all.

He hasn’t walked out in front of 50,000 people, ever,” Fortune said.

“Nerves take a lot out of you when you fight. Manny’s done it, he’s used to it, it’s no big deal.

Jeff’s not. I don’t think they’ve realised that.”

Pacquiao, who is also a senator in the Philippines, regained the welterweight world title belt he lost to Mayweather when he knocked Vargas down in the second round and cruised to a unanimous decision in November.

He will be making his first defence against Horn after a big-money fight with British boxer Amir Khan in the United Arab Emirates fell through earlier this year.

“In all my years of boxing, I have never been as motivated and fired up as this fight,” Pacquiao said.

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

Horn stands to make huge money—reported at seven

f ig u res —if he can defy the odds and inf lict only Pacquiao’s seventh defeat inside the ring.

“Even though Pacquiao is the smaller man he’s the biggest mountain I’ve had to climb,” Horn said.

Pacquiao hasn’t scored a knockout in eight years and Horn says he suspects Pacquiao fights more cautiously since his knockout against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

“Ever since that knockout loss against Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny doesn’t pull the trigger like he used to when he was on his big run of wins,” Horn said.

“He’s looked good in his last two fights but he hasn’t been able to win inside the distance for a long time and I think that’s because of the KO loss he suffered against Marquez in 2012.

“I don’t know if he has lost his knockout punch and I hope I don’t find out on Sunday.” AFP

ABS-CBN is Asian volley partner BROADCAST giant ABSCBN will serve as official broadcast partner of the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship from Aug 9 to 17.

Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. acting president Peter Cayco yesterday formally announced the partnership, marking the first time for the national women’s team to be featured on prime time television outside of international club competitions.

Cayco said the partnership is a massive boost to the country’s bid of growing the sport and making its presence felt in

the international arena.

“I’d like to thank ABS-CBN for helping us grow the sport,” said Cayco during the press conference graced by ABS-CBN head of Integrated Sports Dino Laurena. “It’s going to be a tough task ahead. We hope our team will make us proud as they compete in front of our countrymen.”

Sen. Pia Cayetano, a former national team member who saw action in this tourney’s 1983 edition in Fukuoka, Japan, congratulated the players, saying: “They should savor the experience because it’s a golden opportunity to

serve the country through volleyball. It’s amazing. I can’t forget the experience of representing the country.” Cayetano’s brother, Department of Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano, will head the organizing committee.

“It’s an experience you’ll never forget. You’ll learn a lot from that not only in the sport, but also in life in general,” said the congresswoman.

Bannered by team captain Mika Reyes of Petron, the Nationals landed on a light bracket in Pool A together with Kazakhstan and Hong Kong.

Members of the national team competing in the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship set Aug. 9 to 17 in the cities of Muntinlupa and Binan in Laguna pose with Congresswoman Pia Cayetano, Larong Vaolleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. acting president Peter Cayco and ABSCBN head for Integrated Sports Dino Laurena during yesterday’s team launch at the ELJ Center of ABS-CBN. Roman Prospero

PAL flies to Incheon from Bohol B2

Business

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

B1

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

Power firms get one-year reprieve

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Energy Regulatory Commission has given power generation and distribution firms until June next year to offer and sell a portion of not less than 15 percent of their common shares of stocks to the public.

The ERC in an order extended the deadline for one year pending the resolution of a request to include registration in the Securities and Exchange Commission as among the modes of offering approved by the regulator.

The Private Electric Power Operators Association sought clarification on the registration of common shares with the SEC that was inadvertently omitted as a mode of public offering.

The ERC earlier issued a directive providing a period of five years for generation companies and distribution utilities to offer and sell to the public a portion of not less than 15 percent of their common shares of stock.

The five-year period ended on June 29, 2016 but the ERC extended it to June 29, 2017 and then again to June 29, 2018.

The ERC said it was supposed to conduct consultations

on the issue but this was delayed due to the Marawi armed conflict, which forced the government to declare martial law in Mindanao.

“The commission, in order to complete the required public consultations, on the instant petition and due to the fortuitous event mentioned, has resolved, to extend for one year the compliance period provided in the said resolution pending final resolution on the petition,” it said.

The Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 directed the ERC to perform its functions to ensure the successful restructuring of the power industry, including drawing up the rules and guidelines on the listing of the shares of the generation firms and distribution utilities.

The ERC said generation and distribution firms or their respective holding companies already listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange were considered to have complied.

The ERC in May 2066 issued another resolution suspending the implementation of the listing requirement pending the conduct and termination of public hearings.

At that time, the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association asked the ERC to defer the implementation of the public offering rules as the “provision should be made under an environment that is conducive to the success of any public offering, and after relevant issues with regard to the public offering are resolved.”

“PIPPA, on behalf of all its members, respectfully requests the ERC to defer the compliance date of the requirement to such time when the conditions surrounding the undertaking of public offering would indicate greater opportunity for success,” it said.

The group said the ERC resolution failed to set rules and guidelines to be followed by generation companies which are in the form of partnerships or joint ventures.

“Not all generation companies are in the form of stock corporations. Hence, there would be difficulty for these generation companies to comply with the public offering as they do not have common shares of stock,” it said.

Citicore increasing capacity in hydro CITICORE Power Inc. is looking at hydro power investments as the company seeks to become one of the leading renewable energy companies in Southeast Asia with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts by 2020.

“Given that the Philippines is an archipelago offering large variety of bodies of water, we believe in the enormous potential of natural hydro power sources to produce clean electricity that can energize thousands up to millions of homes across the country,” said Manolo Candelaria, Citicore executive vice president for commercial and development operations, in a statement.

The company has pending several hydro power projects with the Energy Department.

Citicore is also currently an active member of PhilHydro Association Inc. The company is pushing for the development of hydro power facilities not only to energize homes and buildings, but also to preserve the environment by reducing carbon emissions from traditional power generation and to promote inclusive growth by creating economic opportunities to neighboring communities where it operates.

“We support PhilHydro Association in its thrust to encourage the usage and development of hydro sources and we are committed to explore opportunities in this area beneficial for us and for the communities,” Candelaria said. Alena Mae S. Flores

FASTFOOD giant Jollibee Foods Corp. plans to increase its network to 4,000 stores worldwide in 2017 with acquisitions and store expansion to achieve growth and profitability.

Jollibee chairman Tony Tan Caktiong said during the annual stockholders’ meeting the group would open 350 stores this year, including 250 in the Philippines and 100 overseas.

“We will continue to aggressively pursue acquisitions and organic growth to accelerate growth and profitability,” Tan Caktiong said.

The group has earmarked a record P14.7 billion in capital expenditures for 2017 to finance rollout of new stores and expansion of its commissary both here and China.

Aside from store expansion, the consolidation of Superfoods

5 economic zones eyed in Tawi-Tawi FIVE special economic zones are expected to rise in five TawiTawi islands to boost Mindanao as a viable investment site.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority approved the creation of the first Tawi-Tawi Special Economic Zone in May 2017 as part of a plan to create new economic zones in all idle lands in the country.

“We want to have five economic zones in Tawi-Tawi, one ecozone per island. We will build a transshipment port to support the export industry that will arise from economic zone operations,” Peza director general Charito Plaza said Friday.

The first ecozone is a 10-hectare private estate proposed by a former Mindanao governor.

Plaza said Peza planned to put up more public economic zones “because it is cheaper to locate in a government-owned ecozone.”

Othel V. Campos

Magazines name BDO ‘Best Bank’ BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest bank in terms of assets, was named Best Bank in the Philippines and awarded with a number of other accolades this year by various foreign financial publications.

The publications that gave the awards include Finance Asia, The Asset, Alpha Southeast Asia and the Asian Investor.

Finance Asia, a Hong Kongbased financial publication, handed BDO the prestigious Best Bank in the Philippines award in the concluded Country Awards for Achievement 2017. Apart from this, the bank also won the Best ECM (Equity Capital Markets) House award, the Best Private Bank for subsidiary BDO Private Bank, and the Best Investment Bank award for its investment banking arm BDO Capital & Investment Corp.

“The competition was extremely tight this year, with numerous financial institutions proving their resilience in a difficult regulatory and banking environment,” Finance Asia said in its statement.

UNIONBANK’S 25TH YEAR. UnionBank of the Philippines Inc. commemorates its 25th listing anniversary through a bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday. Leading the event are (from left) UnionBank senior vice president and general counsel Joselito Banaag, UnionBank executive VP Dennis Matutina, UnionBank EVP Genaro Lapez, UnionBank director Manuel Lozano; UnionBank directors Francisco Sandejas and Nina Aguas, UnionBank SVP Henry Aguda, UnionBank president and chief operating officer Edwin Bautista, UnionBank chairman and CEO Justo Ortiz, PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon; UnionBank directors Stephen Paradies, Sabin Aboitiz and Emmanuel Dooc, PSE COO Roel Refran and PSE director Alejandro Yu.

Expanded US GSP to raise exports by $100m

By Othel V. Campos TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez welcomed the approval of the Office of the United States Trade Representative to include Philippine travel goods, such as bags and backpacks, in the new and expanded general system of preferences scheme.

Effective July 1, 2017, all US GSP beneficiary developing countries will enjoy duty-free treatment for a number of their travel good exports to the US. The new GSP program expanded the coverage to include

23 tariff lines, allowing travel goods such as apparels, bags, wallets and backpacks, luggage, and sport and travel bags made in the Philippines to enter the US market duty-free.

“This expansion will boost the local manufacturing industry and eventually provide more employment opportunities for Filipinos, creating 70,000 new jobs and increasing our GDP to 0.5 percent,” Lopez said.

A number of American companies are currently manufacturing travel goods in the Philippines, including Coach, Tory Burch and

Michael Kors.

According to the US International Trade Center, the US imported an estimated $232 million from the 23 tariff lines of travel goods from the Philippines in 2016, making the country the fifth largest source of travel goods in the US. With the new GSP scheme, the duty-free treatment could increase Philippine travel goods exports to the United States by $100 million annually for the first five years.

“The inclusion of travel goods into GSP will certainly

provide benefits to our exporters, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises and export-oriented agri-businesses utilizing banana and other vegetable fibers and community based industries in the various regions of the country,” said Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo.

The Trade Department promised to sustain and strengthen its advocacy campaign through the Doing Business in Free Trade Area Program to encourage Philippine exporters use this access and generate jobs.

Group under Jollibee’s operations starting in May is expected to help the company achieve the 4,000 store network target this year.

Jollibee in May increased its stake in Superfoods Group to 60 percent. Superfoods Group currently operates the brands Highlands Coffee and Pho 24, and is a franchisee of Hard Rock Café.

Superfoods over the next three years plans to open 485 stores by expanding its presence in Indonesia, Cambodia Korea and Australia.

“We aim to make Highlands Coffee and Pho24 to be dominant market leaders and truly national brands of Vietnam,” Tan Caktiong said.

He said these plans would help the company achieve its long term vision to become one of the top five quick service restaurants in the world in terms of market capitalization.

Clark woos more foreign airlines CLARK International Airport Corp. said it is in talks with major airline carriers to launch more international flights out of Clark in Pampanga.

Alexander Cauguiran, president and chief executive of CIAC, said negotiations were ongoing with major carriers for flights to Los Angeles, which the governmentrun corporation hopes will start within the year.

“CIAC is also negotiating with airlines to mount flights via Clark to Japan, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan and Thailand,” he added.

Clark currently mounts daily and weekly flights to Incheon and Busan in South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Dubai, and Doha.

China Eastern Airlines will fly the Shanghai-Clark route Starting October this year.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, June 30, 2017

Jollibee hiking network to 4,000 stores this year

By Jenniffer B. Austria

IN BRIEF

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency Unit US Dollar Peso

RCBC AWARD. A financial literacy project of the RCBC Savings Bank MyWallet receives the “Outstanding Development Project Award” from the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific. Receiving the award from association secretary general Octavio Peralta (third from right) are (from left) Hector Sison, RSB My Wallet and payroll product manager; Guilberto Benedicto, product development and channel management division head; Vince Berdan, retail banking group head; Teresa Fajardo, head of electronic banking department; and Cynthia Bartolome, RSB My Wallet Visa product manager.

United States Dollar

1.000000

Japan

Yen

0.008916

0.4500

UK

Pound

1.300800

65.6462

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128115

6.4655

Switzerland

Franc

1.046463

52.8108

Canada

Dollar

0.769053

38.8110

Singapore

Dollar

0.725111

36.5935

Australia

Dollar

0.768200

38.7680

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654421

133.9580

Saudi Arabia Rial

0.266674

13.4580

Brunei

Dollar

0.722491

Indonesia

Rupiah 0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

1.4869

UAE

Dirham 0.272279

13.7408

Euro

Euro

1.144200

57.7432

Korea

Won

0.000872

0.0440

China

Yuan

0.147382

7.4378

India

Rupee

0.015467

0.7806

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.232992

0.029464

New Zealand Dollar

0.729700

Taiwan

0.032917

Dollar

50.4660

36.4612

11.7582 36.8250 1.6612 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rise; BDO leads gainers

T

HE stock market recovered Friday led by a rally in blue chips, ignoring losses in the region.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 55.10 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,843.16 on a value turnover of P9.9 billion.

Losers, however, beat gainers 118 to 89, with 38 issues unchanged.

Ayala Land Inc., a major property developer, climbed 1.9 percent to P39.75, while SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. advanced 1.6 percent to P803.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender, increased 2.5 percent to P124.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., an infrastructure hold-

ings company owned by HongKong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., added 0.3 percent to P6.39.

The rest of Asian markets went into reverse Friday after Wall Street and Europe suffered hefty losses in response to central banks’ signals that the end to the era of cheap-money was drawing to a close.

After years of loose monetary policies designed to navigate global economies out of the financial crisis, improving growth and easing unemployment have allowed banks to start flagging tightening measures including interest rate hikes.

While the upbeat outlook is welcomed as a sign of optimism—Asian markets rallied on Thursday—there are concerns the world economy can withstand a more stringent borrowing environment.

Wall Street’s three main indexes ended deep in the red, while European stocks were also well down.

The selling seeped through to Asia with heavy losses in technology firms continuing while banks were hit by profit-taking.

Tokyo ended 0.9 percent lower, Hong Kong fell 0.7 percent, Sydney sank 1.7 percent and Singapore shed 0.6 percent.

Wellington, Taipei and Bangkok were also well down.

Shanghai reversed early losses

to end up 0.1 percent following data showing a forecast-beating jump in an index of Chinese manufacturing.

The official reading of the purchasing managers index indicated the world’s number two economy was stabilizing, although analysts voiced concerns about an ongoing growth slowdown.

In early European trade, London fell 0.2 percent Paris added 0.1 percent and Frankfurt was flat.

“It’s the wild swings we are starting to see that worry me the most. Volatility begets volatility and the chances of a very big dip are growing,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

There is also fading optimism that President Donald Trump will

be able to push through promised market-friendly growth programs as he struggles to garner support for his health care bill despite controlling both houses of Congress.

The shift by central banks out of their easy-money policies— led by Britain, the European Central Bank and Canada—has also weighed on the dollar.

For years the greenback has benefited from a divergence between the Federal Reserve’s move to higher rates—including to rate hikes this year—and other regions. But analysts said the mood is changing.

“A game changer of a week as hawkish central bank commentary steamrolled the markets,” said Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.95 58,000 55.7 43,510 104 3,126,950 124 2,406,330 1.26 21,000 36.7 150,800 9.99 200 16.3 19,900 28.4 5,224,400 8 33,100 0.69 257,000 1.78 84,000 835 200 0.7 1,520,000 87.5 1,616,880 0.91 816,000 15.5 38,500 66.75 26,450 243.6 3,530 141 5,060 58.5 145,180 217 761,130 85.15 38,400 1.36 874,000

229,660 2,413,310 324,387,572 295,334,039 26,490 5,494,180 1,998 322,898 147,384,820 264,496 171,730 148,430 167,000 1,044,620 139,602,475 744,990 593,008 1,755,545 848,150 602,105 8,488,953.50 165,201,514 3,269,454.5 ( 1,227,130

1,525,500 -99,739,957 64,633,596 4,402,415 -11,270 -72,649,960 7,040 -44,200 20,850,566 22,750 -9,216 -6,675 1,582,760 6,875,906 397,626.9997) -

38.45 7.75 0.84 1.46 28.95 0.255 7.1 17.8 25.6 14.14 85 73.8 1.94 5.26 11.86 11.98 15.76 10 7.44 5.99 1.68 18.74 69.9 15.1 13.2 13.12 1.6 202.4 60 3.4 3.55 30.55 18.9 18.16 259.4 0.243 7.18 3.17 9.65 6.17 10.7 1.91 9.3 67.5 7 310 4.45 2.04 4.99 2.32 12.9 5.1 0.145 1.35 160.1 2.01 31.5 1.01

INDUSTRIAL 38.9 1,112,300 8.06 2,728,300 0.85 182,000 1.47 1,701,000 29.05 227,600 0.26 10,770,000 7.1 2,589,800 18 6,253,000 26.5 1,547,400 14.22 2,500 85.4 50,060 73.8 7,760 1.96 738,000 5.26 12,400 11.98 22,700 12.02 4,633,100 15.8 7,368,800 10 1,490,100 7.54 2,957,900 6.05 10,675,500 1.68 78,000 18.9 3,007,100 70 44,390 15.1 44,100 13.2 213,800 13.3 2,303,500 1.62 1,268,000 204 764,880 64 1,020 3.47 165,000 3.55 50,000 31.05 9,671,200 18.92 831,200 18.68 3,250,700 260.8 529,590 0.243 900,000 7.24 32,900 3.26 157,000 9.68 7,324,100 6.21 177,900 10.98 4,600 1.95 8,479,000 9.5 1,227,600 67.6 42,320 7 216,700 316.6 8,400 4.45 91,000 2.04 6,000 5 177,000 2.34 2,886,000 12.96 543,900 5.1 5,100 0.145 470,000 1.35 710,000 162.9 927,770 2.08 9,197,000 33.35 21,800 1.01 605,000

43,106,395 21,749,125 153,950 2,508,440 6,799,145 2,808,850 18,436,933 113,884,490 9 40,912,435 35,462 4,273,078.50 577,509 1,436,880 65,224 270,860 55,707,540 116,650,982 15,196,842 22,290,193 64,290,266 132,170 56,760,284 3,108,204.50 667,186 2,830,780 30,696,550 2,061,250 155,928,130 63,240 572,710 178,160 302,358,480 15,791,712 60,215,300 137,759,748 219,690 238,444 499,590 71,363,767 1,103,371 49,818 16,259,120 11,636,192 2,862,933 1,516,972 2,618,504 405,700 12,280 884,880 6,780,480 7,047,292 26,025 68,190 960,880 150,212,472 18,906,180 696,210 619,210

-10,831,680 -687,705 -737,570 260,000 -9,703,409 ,180,856.0001 -262,350 -1,531,557 -100,716 8,162,894 -6,098,350 933,682 13,687,109 8,161,559 -1,899,750 729,641 -1,296,834 -3,487,072 -54,220.00 -78,796,610 -53,250 6,782,805 -2,397,022 -33,611,624 24,517,934 34,020 282,130 9,202,108 3,820 46,550 -139,884.50 3,168 109,560 4,942,404 8,480,158 1,258,350 297,750 -

0.36 74.45 13.98 1.18 6.3 0.335 0.36 837 7.85 14.04 7.9 0.205 1,188 7.6 80.2 5.48 5.42 6.13 0.98 7.15 14.56 6.28 0.052 0.95 2.16 102 2.65 776 0.88 1.42 300.2 0.285 0.21

HOLDING FIRMS 0.365 1,630,000 76.15 2,011,610 14.3 6,447,200 1.18 53,000 6.3 39,000 0.35 4,020,000 0.365 650,000 850 485,680 7.9 658,100 14.1 19,168,800 7.9 500 0.207 250,000 1,210 79,270 7.6 21,100 81 3,093,630 5.8 21,200 5.42 27,400 6.13 100 0.99 1,323,000 7.22 3,743,500 14.7 1,015,100 6.39 48,386,200 0.054 40,690,000 0.95 300,000 2.2 676,000 104 79,840 2.65 21,000 803 1,559,090 0.88 166,000 1.43 1,778,000 303 6,740 0.29 680,000 0.21 1,050,000

593,650 152,858,437.50 91,913,132 62,540 245,729 1,375,200 237,200 412,269,740 5,195,283 270,513,388 3,950 51,330 95,668,650 162,386 251,031,306.50 116,460 148,772 613 1,306,440 27,022,107 14,910,896 309,080,498 2,161,310 285,500 1,469,290 8,241,882 55,870 1,247,168,800 146,730 2,565,110 2,039,212 194,350 221,940

4,842,398 24,314,818 174,996,165 1,251,566 19,495,182 36,183,850 165,493,865.50 -4,652,856 9,934,326 233,659,949 -244,400 442,061,295 22,820 -632,458 -

6.6 1.35 2.55 1.22 39.75 3.83 5.36

6.1 1.27 2.47 1.12 38.45 3.78 5.44

PROPERTY 6.6 3,704,300 1.31 22,259,000 2.54 315,000 1.17 13,405,000 39.75 11,355,200 3.83 272,000 5.27 5.34

23,785,645 29,020,070 788,090 15,830,560 445,528,800 1,038,810 7,458,400

-6,209,097 -2,503,640 58,130 141,368,725 -22,710 39,767,773(8,

5.27 0.56 1.14 1.68 0.186 0.51 48 0.72 0.158 1.72 1.27 1.04 4.41 0.405

5.27 0.54 1.06 1.57 0.183 0.5 47.4 0.71 0.156 1.67 1.25 1.01 4.25 0.37

5.27 0.55 1.09 1.58 0.185 0.51 47.75 0.71 0.158 1.67 1.25 1.02 4.3 0.4

227,137 11,073,450 438,780 9,019,570 2,747,170 349,960 14,372,370 410,450 29,950 8,638,650 10,318,760 120,690 304,386,090 71,863,200

-2,076,600 9,540 419,230 23,000 -1,020,975 -712,100 -126,000 -56,002,930 -7,490,000

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.01 ASIA UNITED 55.55 BANK PH ISLANDS 104.5 BDO UNIBANK 121 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.27 CHINABANK 36.5 CITYSTATE BANK 9.99 COL FINANCIAL 16.04 EAST WEST BANK 28.9 FILIPINO FUND 7.81 FIRST ABACUS 0.67 IREMIT 1.76 MANULIFE 835 MEDCO HLDG 0.68 METROBANK 86.05 NTL REINSURANCE 0.97 PB BANK 15.4 PHIL NATL BANK 66 PHIL STOCK EXCH 243.6 PHILTRUST 113 RCBC 58 SECURITY BANK 217 UNION BANK 85.15 VANTAGE 1.51

4.01 55.8 104.5 124 1.27 36.7 9.99 16.3 29 8 0.69 1.8 835 0.7 87.5 0.97 15.5 66.75 243.6 141 59.1 219.8 85.3 1.52

3.95 55 103 120.2 1.26 36.25 9.99 16.04 27.9 7.81 0.66 1.76 835 0.68 85 0.91 15.36 66 240 113 57.5 216 85.1 1.3

ABOITIZ POWER 38.9 AGRINURTURE 7.75 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.84 ALSONS CONS 1.49 ASIABEST GROUP 29.95 BASIC ENERGY 0.26 CEMEX HLDG 7.15 CENTURY FOOD 18.22 CIRTEK HLDG 26.65 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.14 CONCEPCION 85 CONCRETE A 76.1 CROWN ASIA 1.97 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.26 DEL MONTE 11.86 DNL INDUS 12.1 EAGLE CEMENT 16.02 EEI CORP 10.3 EMPERADOR 7.6 ENERGY DEVT 6 EUROMED 1.7 FIRST GEN 18.78 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70 GINEBRA 15.18 HOLCIM 13.3 INTEGRATED MICR 13.6 IONICS 1.62 JOLLIBEE 205.4 LIBERTY FLOUR 60 LMG CHEMICALS 3.56 MABUHAY VINYL 3.69 MANILA WATER 30.8 MAXS GROUP 19.2 MEGAWIDE 18.64 MERALCO 260 MG HLDG 0.25 PANASONIC 7.3 PEPSI COLA 3.17 PETRON 9.81 PHIL H2O 6.2 PHINMA 10.7 PHINMA ENERGY 1.93 PHX PETROLEUM 9.4 PILIPINAS SHELL 67.5 PRYCE CORP 7 PUREFOODS 317.4 RFM CORP 4.46 ROXAS AND CO 2.06 ROXAS HLDG 5 SFA SEMICON 2.49 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.16 SPC POWER 5.25 SWIFT FOODS 0.146 TKC METALS 1.37 UNIV ROBINA 162.5 VITARICH 2.08 VIVANT 31.8 VULCAN INDL 1.04

38.9 8.06 0.86 1.5 30.5 0.265 7.17 18.4 26.7 14.22 85.5 76.1 1.97 5.26 12 12.24 16.04 10.3 7.65 6.07 1.7 18.9 70.75 15.3 13.32 13.7 1.65 205.4 64 3.56 3.69 31.4 19.2 18.9 261 0.25 7.3 3.27 9.99 6.25 11 1.95 9.6 68 7.01 317.4 4.46 2.06 5 2.49 13.16 5.25 0.146 1.37 162.9 2.09 33.35 1.06

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

0.37 76.15 14.5 1.18 6.4 0.35 0.365 855 7.95 14.4 7.9 0.207 1,210 7.87 81.9 5.8 5.44 6.13 0.99 7.27 14.72 6.42 0.054 0.96 2.2 104 2.72 804 0.91 1.5 303 0.29 0.214

0.37 75.7 14.1 1.18 6.3 0.34 0.36 840 7.89 14.4 7.9 0.206 1,188 7.87 80.5 5.48 5.44 6.13 0.99 7.27 14.58 6.33 0.054 0.96 2.16 103.7 2.72 785 0.91 1.5 302.6 0.285 0.214

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

0.35 0.62 4.09 24 1.74 3.2 32.7 1.03 7.28 0.9 5.88

0.37 0.63 4.09 24.4 1.75 3.23 33 1.03 7.28 0.91 5.88

0.35 0.61 4.03 23.8 1.72 3.2 32.15 1.01 7.28 0.9 5.73

0.36 0.63 4.03 24.25 1.75 3.23 33 1.02 7.28 0.9 5.81

660,000 6,527,000 236,000 1,626,300 89,000 308,000 10,710,600 1,101,000 100 216,000 7,014,800

233,300 4,046,200 954,850 39,288,905 153,670 985,840 350,432,405 1,122,410 728 194,500 40,679,655

3,050 4,080 3,814,935 -68,800 81,321,080 -12,418,489

2GO GROUP 23.75 ABS CBN 42.65 ACESITE HOTEL 1.59 APC GROUP 0.51 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.044 BERJAYA 5.32 BLOOMBERRY 9.12 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.088 CALATA CORP 2.05 CEBU AIR 98.5 DFNN INC 8.5 FAR EASTERN U 970 GLOBE TELECOM 2,020 GMA NETWORK 6.15 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.9 GRAND PLAZA 13.22 HARBOR STAR 2.95 IMPERIAL 3.4 INTL CONTAINER 99.2 IPEOPLE 12.06 IPM HLDG 8.75 ISLAND INFO 0.19 ISM COMM 1.36 JACKSTONES 3.54 LBC EXPRESS 15.8 LEISURE AND RES 4.3 LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.65 MACROASIA 6.7 MANILA BULLETIN 0.62 MELCO RESORTS 8.88 METRO RETAIL 4.7 NOW CORP 2.63 PAL HLDG 5.12 PAXYS 2.91 PHIL SEVEN CORP 177 PHILWEB 10.86 PLDT 1,794 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.54 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.4 PUREGOLD 45 ROBINSONS RTL 86.7 SBS PHIL CORP 5.98 SSI GROUP 4.14 STI HLDG 1.45 TRAVELLERS 3.46 WATERFRONT 0.85 WILCON DEPOT 7.95

23.75 42.65 1.65 0.51 0.044 5.64 9.34 0.088 2.05 98.5 8.6 970 2,048 6.15 15.98 13.22 2.95 3.4 99.2 12.68 8.75 0.19 1.4 3.54 15.88 4.34 1.94 7.2 0.62 9 4.74 2.63 5.12 2.92 181 10.86 1,798 1.55 0.4 45 87.95 6.17 4.16 1.45 3.48 0.85 8.05

23.2 42.2 1.55 0.495 0.043 5.31 8.8 0.086 2.03 97 8.5 970 1,995 6.13 15.68 13.22 2.82 3.4 97.6 12.06 8.7 0.186 1.36 3.5 15.72 4.23 1.6 6.5 0.59 8.69 4.55 2.58 5.05 2.9 177 10.72 1,760 1.52 0.39 44 86.45 5.9 3.9 1.4 3.38 0.79 7.71

SERVICES 23.25 328,100 42.3 173,000 1.57 447,000 0.495 111,000 0.043 40,800,000 5.6 56,900 9.25 13,611,900 0.088 9,120,000 2.04 1,136,000 97.9 550,670 8.55 78,400 970 6,580 2,048 61,670 6.15 183,200 15.98 38,100 13.22 800 2.86 2,319,000 3.4 60,000 97.8 1,979,190 12.68 26,800 8.74 302,000 0.187 4,730,000 1.4 285,000 3.5 44,000 15.74 10,200 4.33 388,000 1.77 8,923,000 7.1 7,168,200 0.59 413,000 8.74 24,797,400 4.59 16,848,000 2.61 1,144,000 5.05 35,800 2.91 28,000 181 850 10.76 397,800 1,798 155,860 1.55 106,032,000 0.395 1,290,000 44.55 1,955,600 87 1,030,890 5.98 442,700 4.11 50,997,000 1.43 13,093,000 3.46 10,073,000 0.81 22,577,000 7.94 16,453,600

7,685,320 7,304,675 704,680 55,170 1,759,100 307,097 124,399,736 796,190 2,318,000 53,924,597.50 671,575 6,382,600 125,674,605 1,125,068 607,206 10,576 6,625,360 204,000 193,939,866.50 339,142 2,634,250 890,260 395,420 154,080 160,792 1,659,760 15,992,710 49,827,145 244,630 217,029,119 77,822,600 2,963,070 182,587 81,500 151,510 4,287,690 277,732,650 164,136,350 504,000 86,933,295 89,668,320 2,653,351 207,797,380 18,688,540 34,701,530 18,268,500 130,077,356

-117,450 -77,400.00 -28,534,123 -465,620 7,477,213 -3,343,880 39,380 3,400 -5,346,108 325,876 -89,280 35,000 -3,176 71,980.00 13,160 -285,837 4,031,784 -34,494,740 35,328 15,930 404,942 2,939,540 93,040 245,700 40,884,610 45,211,752.50 -71,760 -21,942,410 -1,412,730 7,217,320 -139,400 12,286,610

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

0.003 1.72 5.2 2.15 2.05 0.91 0.385 8.7 2.52 0.285 0.177 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.93 6.35 2 0.7 0.97 0.01 0.01 7.1 0.012 2.88 8.89 3 161.5 0.0085

0.0031 1.74 5.21 2.15 2.07 0.94 0.41 8.9 2.53 0.29 0.18 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.96 6.4 2.08 0.74 0.97 0.011 0.011 7.26 0.012 2.88 9 3 161.5 0.0085

0.0029 1.68 5.19 2.15 2.05 0.9 0.385 8.48 2.47 0.285 0.177 0.185 0.011 0.011 1.91 6.26 1.99 0.65 0.95 0.01 0.01 7.05 0.012 2.7 8.88 2.96 160.3 0.0085

MINING & OIL 0.0029 901,000,000 1.72 5,489,000 5.21 493,600 2.15 3,000 2.07 12,000 0.92 1,822,000 0.39 980,000 8.5 129,700 2.51 1,612,000 0.285 80,000 0.179 4,840,000 0.186 8,900,000 0.011 32,600,000 0.011 3,700,000 1.96 113,000 6.4 1,998,500 2.03 246,000 0.7 11,699,000 0.95 311,000 0.011 9,300,000 0.011 1,800,000 7.1 209,400 0.012 27,700,000 2.8 154,000 9 369,700 2.98 318,000 160.5 2,539,300 0.0085 7,000,000

2,693,200 9,377,540 2,570,700 6,450 24,640 1,653,720 389,200 1,101,024 4,024,130 ( 22,850 862,440 1,669,350 358,600 40,700 217,730 12,677,453 495,490 8,194,840 295,670 96,600 18,400 1,489,530 332,400 424,110 3,300,103 947,150 407,821,242 59,500

-23,400 636,170 -50,005 -20,500 -301,850 -8,000 -8,510 250,999.9997) -2,850.00 257,320 -114,840 -3,663,646 -10,670 -14,100 -2,750 -859,849 2,970 33,269,978 -

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

41.95 105.5 105 110.3 5.88 1,005 1.07 1,039 1,100 1,015 106 76.1 82 76.15 79 80 78.9 78

42.6 105.5 105.6 110.3 5.96 1,005 1.07 1,039 1,100 1,017 106 77 82 76.15 79 80 78.9 79

41.1 105.5 105 110.3 5.88 1,000 1.06 1,039 1,100 1,015 105.9 76.1 82 76.15 79 80 78.9 78

PREFERRED 41.75 104,500 105.5 1,000 105.6 2,990 110.3 1,350 5.96 1,999,200 1,002 5,350 1.07 172,000 1,039 150 1,100 400 1,017 2,695 106 40,500 77 320 82 180 76.15 1,600 79 5,000 80 18,400 78.9 5,700 78 80,750

4,364,650 105,500 315,324 148,905 11,766,111 5,362,750 182,420 155,850 440,000 2,735,545 4,292,500 24,370 14,760 121,840 395,000 1,472,000 449,730 6,355,140

-1,339,060 11,406,736 -

LR WARRANT

2.34

2.34

2.25

WARRANTS 2.33 60,000

135,530

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.92 5.87 8.64

3.95 5.96 8.64

3.86 5.8 8.35

SME 3.95 5.94 8.47

229,610 740,385 37,682,424

12,981,100

118.2

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 117.1 118.2 10,620

1,246,794

-

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

MS FIRST METRO ETF 117.9

8990 HLDG 6.1 A BROWN 1.35 ARANETA PROP 2.54 ARTHALAND CORP 1.12 AYALA LAND 39 BELLE CORP 3.82 CEB LANDMASTERS 617,304.0001) CEBU HLDG 5.27 CENTURY PROP 0.55 CITY AND LAND 1.14 CITYLAND DEVT 1.68 CROWN EQUITIES 0.186 CYBER BAY 0.5 DOUBLEDRAGON 48 EMPIRE EAST 0.71 EVER GOTESCO 0.156 FILINVEST LAND 1.7 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.25 IRC PROP 1.04 MEGAWORLD 4.39 MRC ALLIED 0.38

43,100 20,164,000 399,000 5,637,000 14,900,000 690,000 300,900 578,000 190,000 5,124,000 8,203,000 118,000 70,776,000 182,980,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

18,992,664

INDUSTRIAL

113,227,788

HOLDING FIRMS

140,265,922

PROPERTY

405,867,485

SERVICES

363,290,008

MINING & OIL

1,025,624,336

GRAND TOTAL

2,071,930,663

59,000 126,700 4,466,100

VALUE 1,937.94 (up) 9.28 1,271,770,762.17 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,963.35 (up) 5.94 1,634,472,570.48 HOLDING FIRMS 7,889.12 (up) 80.24 2,913,565,953.515 PROPERTY 3,606.79 (up) 35.39 1,687.64 (down) 8.14 1,584,374,546.72 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,567.75 (donw) 11.56 1,997,893,619.921 PSEI 7,843.16 (up) 55.10 461,185,847.809 All Shares Index 4,692.03 (up) 29.38 9,903,162,741.62 Gainers: 89; Losers: 118; Unchanged: 38; Total: 245

PAL flies to Incheon from Bohol

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines has mounted its first international flight out of Tagbilaran, making Bohol’s capital the fifth Philippine gateway for foreign travelers.

PAL operates daily Tagbilaran-Incheon (South Korea) flights, allowing travelers to reach their destination conveniently with no stop-over in Manila.

The new Cebu-Tagbilaran route, the first domestic link to Bohol outside of Manila, likewise opened.

“Making Tagbilaran a new international gateway provides foreigners with the fastest link to the attractions of Bohol and nearby Visayas cities,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista, “Linking international points to sought-after places in the Visayas through convenient connections is the flag carrier’s way of catering to the travel needs of our patrons,” he added.

Other Philippine cities with international PAL flights include Manila, Cebu, Clark and Kalibo.

PAL also launched daily flights from Tagbilaran-Cebu.

The new service has increased domestic connections of the Queen City of the South to 13 which already include Cebu, Bacolod, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan, Caticlan, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Surigao and Tacloban.

PAL recently signed an agreement with Bomardier Commercial Aircraft Inc. for the purchase of seven more Q400 new generation aircraft for $235 million.

The new aircraft, which is expected to take delivery in July 2017, will be utilized on specific PAL domestic routes.

Century bullish on net profit this year

By Jenniffer B. Austria CENTURY Pacific Food Inc. said it sees net income and profits growing by double digit level this year even if increased prices of raw materials put pressure on margins.

CNPF president Christopher Po said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the company’s first-quarter performance of 10 percent income growth and 17 percent rise in revenues set the tone for the group’s performance for the remainder of the year.

“2017 will be a period of normalization as commodity prices are started to come up and the peso has weakened against the dollar for the past 12 to 18 months,” Po said.

“What were tailwinds at the end of 2016 are now the headwinds for 2017. There is a bit more uncertainty right now but we are still cautiously optimistic about the business prospects. But we do expect to have margin pressure,” Po added.

The company’s recent investments and acquisition are expected to contribute to the group’s growth.

Po said recent investments in China and expansion to other markets like the United States and Middle East were showing positive growth.

CNPF in December completed the acquisition of three China distribution companies in for $2.56 million.

With the acquisition, the company said it planned to widen its product portfolio and expand the distribution network in China.

The company is also studying opportunities to enter adjacent categories to take advantage of the new market.

Home / Design

B3

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bacolod.... From B4 Negros Occidental Federation for ICT (BNEFIT) led by Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Dr. Elsie Coscolluela of the University of St. La Salle, David Leechiu of Leechiu & Associates (L&A).

Seeing the city’s expanse of land, infrastructure, and large pool of talent, they saw how Bacolod could become a logical destination for IT-BPM firms.

In 2003, Leechiu consulted with Coscolluela and Batapa-Sigue who both believed in harnessing the potential of the city as an ITBPM center. Determined to carry the idea forward, Batapa-Sigue, together with her fellow information and communications technology (ICT) advocates, formed BNEFIT. The group’s goal was to ensure the city’s ICT-readiness and competitiveness.

Fostering economic growth Determined to achieve its goal, BNEFIT worked with Leechiu to bring the government, academe, business, and private sectors together to make Bacolod the next IT-BPM hub. The groups also developed a comprehensive plan to help Bacolod rationalize its programs for infrastructure and human resource development.

Today, Bacolod is a vibrant city with a strong economy. The people are no longer dependent on sugar or agriculture as they now have a thriving IT-BPM industry, along with many entrepreneurial endeavors that have grown with the IT-BPM sector.

“When cities like Bacolod learn to harness the expanse of opportunities in the IT-BPM sector it means the industry is successfully fostering economic growth for cities outside the capital,” said Leechiu.

ASTERIA ON TAP. Three more buildings of DMCI Homes’ Asteria Residences in Sucat, Paranaque City are set for turnover before yearend in addition to the Vinca and Nerine.

DMCI Homes project development manager Karen Joyce Bautista said the 2.7-hectare development, with a neo-Asian minimalist theme, is almost sold out a year before the last building is turned over to unit owners middle of 2018— five months earlier than scheduled. She attributed the robust sales of the mid-rise development to the heavy presence of upgraders in the highly residential area.

‘REST HOUSE’ OR ‘CURB APPEAL.’

ON THE RIGHT PATH. Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) recently won “Benchmark

of Excellence” awards in the areas of IR, Environmental Communications and Corporate Governance in the 7th Asian Excellence Awards 2017 organized by Corporate Governance Asia, a corporate governance journal in Asia. The Award recognizes excellence in financial performance, investor relations, business ethics, corporate social responsibility and the environmental practices of companies around Asia. “The MPIC team behind this award is deeply honored for this recognition of the challenging task to promote and encourage environmental, social, investor relations as well as promote the values of corporate governance in the Philippines,” said Melody del Rosario, VP for Corporate Communications of MPIC (Seen in this photo taken at the Asian Excellence Awards 2017 ceremony held in Hong Kong.). “These awards will inspire us to continue on the right path, which I am sure will encourage others to follow.”

A recent study by international media research firm TNS Global, commissioned

by PHINMA Inc., reveals that Filipino families, young and old, yearn for homes that are free from urban life stresses, but still accessible to modern comforts and luxuries of city living— something that makes the southern metropolis a real estate hotspot.

Data shows that soonto-be “empty nesters” or those approaching retirement age look for properties that will be comfortable in their retirement years, and which their children can later on inherit. Their ideal home is a cleancut, simple and spacious “rest house” amid greenery for a more relaxed and laid-back ambience. But young and growing families prefer homes that have “curb appeal”, a more sophisticated layout and design, and offer more room for their children to run and play. “These insights give us a better grasp of the market and a glimpse of their evolving wants and needs,” said Raphael Felix, vice president housing division.

GATEWAY TO THE SOUTH. Ovialand recently unveiled its newest development , Sannera, a 5.2-hectare property that will have 340 premiere house and lot units. Located along the Maharlika national highway in San Pablo City, Laguna, Sannera will have 55% open spaces using a modern Asian motif while keeping the lush greens the province is known for. Sannera comes after the success of Terrazza de Sto Tomas, another Ovialand project in Batangas. Properties at Sanerra is priced from P1.7 million up to P2.9 million. "We want to promote 'resort living' in this residential community since Laguna is known for its hot spring resorts," said Fatima Olivares-Vital, business unit head of Ovialand.

CEMENTING ITS FOOTHOLD IN CEBU. Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. recently broke ground

for new store in Danao City, Cebu, a two-storey Metro department store and supermarket. The site is expected to strengthen the retail giant’s business foothold in Cebu, as Danao City is considered one of the primary commercial hubs in the Central Visayas region. Shown in photo are (from left) Danao City Mayor Ramon Durano; MRSGI President and COO Arthur Emmanuel; Marco Gaisano Ang; MRSGI VP for store Ooperations Luz Bitang; and MRSGI construction group head Bernard Loh.

LOOKING SOUTH WHERE THE SHOPPING, AND PLAYING, IS EASY. AboitizLand, one of the biggest real-estate

developers in the country, is building The Outlets at Lipa, its first commercial venture in Luzon. “The Outlets at Lipa will offer a 365-day shopping experience, providing easy access to premium brands at discount prices every day of the year,” said John Amon, AboitizLand’s vice President and head of innovation. He added that the development will have a multi-sports field and outdoor spaces (See photo). “When people actually drive to the place, they can spend an entire day shopping, eating, with the kids playing football, watching live concerts—it’s really designed as a destination worth visiting,” he said.

“More than two-thirds of the buildings that will exist by the middle of this century have already been built in most cities, so the critical issue is how to get people to retrofit existing buildings, he said.

Changing the perception that green is expensive The three resource persons agreed that the biggest obstacle to adoption is the perception that green buildings are prohibitively expensive.

But Guerrero said this perception can be reversed.

One simple solution, he said, involves natural ventilation. “If apartment building windows on the same wall are hinged to open in opposite directions, there is a resulting increase in windflow, compared with if they both open on the same side,” he said. “All condominium windows should be made to incorporate opposing hinges on the same wall to create airier living spaces,” he suggested.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

BETTER COMMUNICATION.

At the kickoff briefing for BEX Asia were (from left): Mike Guerrero, founding member of Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines (GreenAP); Choong Chow Neng, regional director of Singaporebased G-Energy Global ; and Lucille L. Sering, president of Greenwarehouse and former Philippines Climate Change secretary.

CHANGES AHEAD IN ASIA’S GREEN BUILDINGS SCENE BEX Asia 2017 vows plethora of sustainable solutions in Singapore

By Joel D. Lacsamana

M

AKATI, Philippines - Green buildings do not only make cities healthier environments to live in: they save money.

Resource speakers and organizers behind Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia 2017, which kicks off in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands from 12 to 14 September, preached this mantra at a kickoff event held in Manila this week. They expressed optimism that cities, particularly in Southeast Asian, are gradually embracing sustainable thinking as the number of green buildings double in the region every three years.

BEX Asia will be held in conjunction with Mostra Convegno Expocomfort

(MCE) Asia, a regional HVAC-R, water and energy exhibition and International Green Building Conference (IGBC).

The conference will encourage the sharing of ideas among stakeholders, policymakers and government agencies all over the world.

Faster pace of sustainability awareness a must But the same resource persons acknowledged that the pace for more buildings piercing the Southeast Asian skylines with sustainability in mind, could be faster.

Lucille L. Sering, president of Greenwarehousel and former Philippines Climate Change secretary, pointed out that while major European cities such as Paris and London had a high percentage of green buildings (64 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively), Asian cities were only just making the switch.

BEX Asia data showed that only Singapore has a relatively high penetration

(30 per cent) of green buildings. Beijing (11 per cent), Shanghai (15 per cent), Tokyo (8 per cent) and Hong Kong (4 per cent) are playing catch up.

Sering told the Manila Standard that a “short-term investment focus” in many Asian real estate markets is a key factor, as is a low level of awareness of the benefits of green buildings.

“The real estate sector clearly needs more insight into the business case for going green,” she said.

The benefits of green buildings include improving the health of occupants and boosting productivity, the economic return of premises that have reduced operational expenses, and the environmental benefits of lower greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste.

Moving out of the “push phase” But since awareness of these benefits has been low, so the industry has been reluctant to pay the upfront costs required to build a green building or

convert an old one, said Mike Guerrero, founding member of Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines (GreenAP).

The green buildings market in Asia has only recently moved out of the “push phase”, he says, when it was led primarily by government regulation rather than market demand.

But as adoption accelerates, particularly in fast growing Southeast Asian markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and even the Philippines, so the need for government interference will diminish, he said.

What is needed now, said Guerrero, is for certifiers to get better at marketing green building labels to end users and real estate firms to speed up the rate of adoption.

Meanwhile, Choong Chow Neng, regional director of Singapore-based GEnergy Global, said constructing new green buildings will only cut a fraction of cities’ water and energy use.

Cooling cities down What about parks? Guerrero highlighted its key role in urban sustainability and its cooling effects on cities.

He noted that a one-degree Celsius increase in temperature over 29 degrees Celsius in a city can increase mortality rates by two to four per cent among the population as a whole, with the elderly particularly at risk.

Concrete buildings, roads and the infrastructure of large cities have a tendency to absorb sunlight and raise temperatures, a phenomenon known as the urban island effect.

Green areas such as parks, rivers and wooded areas, besides making an area more attractive, tend to cool cities down.

Choong talked about his hometown in Jurong, previously an industrial estate in Singapore which is now a thriving mixed township. The area’s storm drainage areas had been beautified through a combination of careful planning and lush greenery, and is now appreciated by residents there.

The consensus among the resource persons was that greening does not have to be expensive, but it does have to be better communicated. As Sering said: “We need to make it easier to access information on green building design and operation. Where they can it be sourced, and how price-competitive is it?”

“If we have government-approved sites that make it easier for developers and building renovators to find and source green buildings-related materials - combined with easy pay-back calculators showing clients the potential savings over time, then we will be more likely to see better uptake of green buildings,” Guerrero added.

Change in mindset This year, BEX Asia looks ahead to push forth a change in mindset to accelerate Asia’s green building developments. Topics such as sustainability in interior design, intelligent green buildings, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for intuitive and smart buildings will be discussed at the event.

Sering told the Manila Standard she has witnessed remarkable progress in sustainable buildings particularly in the Southeast Asian region. In the Philippines, the green building sector has seen promising growth over the past few years, especially in the number of certified sustainable buildings. There are a total of 245 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects in the market currently, and 61 have already received the certification.

For the Green Mark certification scheme originating from Singapore, there are two certified Green Mark projects in Manila, namely Citadines Salcedo Makati and Ascott Bonifacio Global City, with more in the pipeline.

Leading to an estimated 20-40 percent savings on utilities for the average Filipino family, more developers are expected to make the switch to sustainable green buildings.

BACOLOD RISING City of smiles now one of PH’s IT-BPM hubs UNTIL 2004, Bacolod was largely a sleepy city, largely known for sweet piyayas, majestic sceneries, and idyllic haciendas. No one ever thought of the city as a business hub, much less an Information Technology—Business Process Management (IT-BPM) center.

Today, Bacolod ranks high on the list of the Philippines’ most competitive cities, and is a top choice of IT-BPM companies in search of places to set up operations. Bacolod City ranks 85th in the Tholons 2016 Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations. It was also included in the Top Ten Next Wave Cities in 2009 and 2011.

Center of excellence In May 2013, it was recognized finally as an IT-BPM center of excellence when it joined the ranks of Metro Manila, Cebu, and Clark.

Among the IT-BPM companies that have set up operations in the province are TeleTech, Transcom, Teleperformance, Convergys, and Panasiatic Solutions, all providing training and growth opportunities for its employees.

Bacolod’s ascent to becoming a top IT-BPM destination entailed foresight, planning, and execution, sparked by the efforts of the BacolodTurn to next page

ASCENT TO THE TOP. In a little more than a decade, Bacolod has gone through a transformation that can inspire many other Philippine cities who are eager to reach the next level of development.

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

C1

GRAZING DUCKS. A farmer in Salinas, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya watches his flock of ducks graze freely on an idle rice paddy in town. The high demand for salted egg compels many farmers in the industry to produce more egg-laying ducks. Ben Moses Ebreo

QC eyes more sectors for disaster readiness

By Rio N. Araja

M

AYOR Herbert Bautista unveiled on Friday plans to engage members of the lesbian, gay, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens in efforts to reduce disaster risks at the local level, including disaster preparedness and awareness raising activities.

This was to ensure Quezon City’s disaster risk reduction program would be made inclusive to all sectors of society, Bautista said.

“What the city will be doing is to equip even vulnerable members of society with knowledge and skills that will capacitate and empower them to become resilient in times of emergency

situations,” he said.

“The involvement of the senior citizens and PWDs is very important because they are usually the ones being left at home.

They should know how to protect themselves, especially at times of emergency or calamity,” the mayor added.

On Bautista’s orders, the city’s disaster risk reduction and man-

agement office shall formulate policies toward a training program that would strengthen the QC disaster response capability in emergencies.

Karl Michael Marasigan, DRRMO chief, said Quezon City would be the first local government unit in the National Capital Region to pilot-host the initiative.

It forms part of the new global framework for disaster risk reduction “providing for the empowerment and inclusiveness of people disproportionately affected by disasters” in policies and practices in disaster risk reduction and management.

“We should treat those as vulnerable but rather as capacitated and empowered,” he said.

To implement the initiative, the DRRMO will host a forum

on the inclusiveness of PWDs, LGBTQ community, and senior citizens for disaster risk reduction to provide an opportunity for local authorities to move the city’s inclusive-sensitive disaster risk reduction agenda forward.

Invited to the forum are representatives from various national, local and civil society and people’s organizations; the Office of Civil Defense; National Council on Disability Affairs; Philippine Commission on Women; the University of the Philippines Center for Women and Gender Studies; Senior Citizen’s party-list; Center for Disaster Preparedness; Rainbow Rights; ProGay Philippines, and Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

NPAs force miner to ship gold early

By Abe Almirol SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela— Gold bars produced in the test run of the Runruno mine’s gold processing plant here were shipped out immediately due to “security concerns,” a government bureau director said.

FCF Minerals Corp., the Philippine subsidiary of UK mining firm Metals Exploration PLC, is now on the final stages of “debugging” its gold processing plant in Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya.

During the “Environment Month Forum” held at the Zen Hotel here on Thursday, Regional Director Mario Ancheta of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 2 responded to an inquiry about helicopters landing in Runruno, reportedly to fetch an unspecified amount of gold bars.

“While the formal declaration of commercial operation is underway, we saw helicopters land-

Foundation unveils improved Tandag health center A RURAL health unit rehabilitated by BDO Foundation in the Caraga region of Mindanao is seen to benefit more than 57,000 people from 21 barangays, a population that includes an estimated 2,000 indigenous people.

The renovation of the Tandag City Health Office and Birthing Clinic in the provincial capital of Surigao del Sur helps improve the delivery of healthcare services to residents that include the lumad. A group of Lumad joined the inaugural ceremonies celebrating the rehabilitation of the health center.

According to Tandag City health officer Dr. Ruth Arraz, the people of Tandag are very grateful to BDO for choosing to rehabilitate their health center.

“To the people of BDO and One Network Bank, who made the rehabilitation a reality, thank you very much. We are all very

happy to have a beautiful health office. The improved working environment definitely enables me and my staff to provide health services more efficiently to our patients,” Arraz said.

Local officials represented by Arraz, Tandag City Mayor Alexander Pimentel and City Administrator Roxanne Pimentel graciously accepted the rural health unit.

The rehabilitated structure was officially turned over by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa, and One Network Bank Tandag branch head Rolmar Basalan.

Officers of the ONB Tandag branch assisted BDO Foundation in coordinating the renovation of the Tandag City Health Office and Birthing Clinic, the seventh rural health unit successfully rehabilitated by the foundation so far in 2017.

BDO Foundation made a difference in the lives of Mindanaoans through the rehabilitation of the Tandag City Health Office and Birthing Clinic, a health center that serves thousands of indigenous people including the Mandaya, Mamanwa and lumad.

Total’s back to school promo winds up DRIVERS and the riding public are encouraged to top up at their nearest Total Philippines gas station to get a chance to win school supplies in their “Back to School” Promo, which ends July 5.

Every P1,000 single or accumulated single-receipt purchase from Total Petroleum gives the customer the chance to win a P50 gift certificate from National Book Store.

While fueling up at Total, other items can make the stopover even better, as customers can enjoy an array of snacks, savories, nuts, sandwiches and even pastas that are available at Cafe Bonjour.

Beyond food and beverages, different local and imported items, including car accessories, newspapers, magazines, and even travel items are also available at Café Bonjour.

For those in need of cash, select Bonjour stores are equipped with ATMs and E-Pass loading machines.

Customers can claim their prizes within 60 days from end of the promo period. See posters and print ads for more details. For more information about Total and its promos, visit the nearest Total station or log on to www.totaloil.com.ph, and the official Facebook page TotalinthePhilippines.

ing in the Runruno mine site. We heard they are already transporting gold bars. Are they allowed to do that?” Josie Guillao, a Runruno resident, asked the MGB during the open forum.

“We approved the request of FCF to ship out gold produced in the test run due to security concerns. Of course, corresponding taxes were all paid. The Bureau of Customs has properly documented the shipment,” Ancheta responded.

In the past few months, the communist New People’s Army raided several police outposts in the Cagayan Valley region, including an attack on a police station in Maddela, Quirino where a cop was killed.

Ancheta mentioned an “unguarded back” around largescale mine sites in the region, referring to NPA guerrillas believed to be hiding in mountainous barangays not being effectively reached by government forces.

Munti plants 2,000 trees TO CELEBRATE World Environment Month, the local government of Muntinlupa took the lead in planting 2,000 tress across different communities along with a citywide cleanup drive with civic and non-government organizations.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Conservation and Development Division chief Arturo Calderon, and Laguna Lake Development Authority Community Development Officer Marigold del Prado spearheaded the tree planting activity at Filinvest City, Alabang on Friday simultaneous with other volunteers in nine barangays.

Fresnedi said in the ceremony that following this year’s Environment Month theme “Connecting People to Nature,” everyone is accountable and should take responsibility in caring for the environment.

The mayor hopes that Muntinlupa residents will look after and nurture the trees planted in their areas.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

Republic of the Philippines GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308 GSIS ACQUIRED ASSETS FOR DISPOSITION

PROVINCE District

/Subdivision

City /Municipality

1 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Narra FRANCISCO HOMES III, Muzon FRANCISCO HOMES III, Muzon FRANCISCO HOMES III, Muzon STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Guijo STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

Meycauayan

2 Bulacan 3 Bulacan 4 Bulacan 5 Bulacan 6 Bulacan 7 Bulacan 8 Bulacan 9 Bulacan 10 Bulacan 11 Bulacan 12 Bulacan 13 Bulacan 14 Bulacan 15 Bulacan 16 Bulacan 17 Bulacan 18 Bulacan 19 Bulacan 20 Bulacan

Property Location

Minimum Acceptable Offer / CMV ( ₱ )

Property Occupancy Bidding Date Place of Bidding Classification Status

C2

TCT/CCT No.

Lot Area (sqm)

T-59.892 (M)

248.00

San Jose Del Monte City

B004A L015 Ph 3A (1) St. Anthony/St. Vincent St. B001 L003 Ph C1

T-153803 (M)

133.00

2,198,400.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17 Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building, Financial Center, 1,449,700.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L020 Ph C1

T-161730(M)

258.00

1,174,466.67 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L021 Ph C1

T-156434 (M)

126.00

638,466.67 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B003 L019 Ph C1

T-153824 (M)

137.00

845,766.67 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B003 L030 Ph C1

T-148779 (M)

110.00

579,666.67 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B003 L032 Ph C1

T-148781 (M)

128.00

1,105,200.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B005 L015 Ph E1

T-281841 (M)

150.00

732,000.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B005 L017 Ph E1

T-281824 (M)

150.00

1,149,000.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L019 Ph F1

T-15693-P (M)

221.00

1,051,800.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B003 L009 Ph F1

T-15397 P(M)

120.00

726,000.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B005 L014 Ph F1

T-15383-P (M)

120.00

622,666.67 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B005 L016 Ph F1

T-15111-P (M)

120.00

624,000.00 House & Lot Unoccupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B005 L017 Ph F1

T-15612-P (M)

120.00

702,666.67 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B006 L020 Ph F1

T-15386P(M)

120.00

859,000.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B002 L004

T-340782 (M)

100.00

568,333.33 House & Lot Unoccupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B009 L018

T-368322 (M)

100.00

568,333.33 House & Lot Unoccupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B028 L009

T-342801 (M)

80.00

549,333.33 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B002 L014 Ph A2

T-347440(M)

150.00

783,600.00 House & Lot Unoccupied 15-Aug-17

San Jose Del Monte City

B002 L002 Ph B

T-343113(M)

121.00

660,000.00 House & Lot Occupied 15-Aug-17

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

Ilocanos urge more flights via Clark

By Dexter A. See

C

LARK FIELD, Pampanga—The Clark International Airport should mount additional international flights to service hundreds of thousands of Ilocanos abroad, an executive of the Department of Tourism said during the sixth leg of the airport’s North Luzon Road Show in San Fernando City, La Union.

“The Ilocano community in Region 1 is urging Clark airport to market itself to other carriers to service more destinations, particularly Clark-Honolulu and to other parts of the US,” Martin Valera, DOT Region 1 director, said, adding that Ilocano migrants and overseas Filipino workers will greatly benefit from Clark’s direct flights abroad.

Valera said around 3 million Ilocanos and their relatives live in the West Coast of the United States.

California accounts for 47 percent of Filipinos in the US while Hawaii comes in second, hosting 10 percent of US-based Filipinos, according to statistics from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

“In Hawaii, there are more than 250,000 Ilocanos living there. If there will be direct Clark-Honolulu flights, that would be beneficial for Clark and for the Ilocano community as well, as more people will be

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offer shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes inside the designated bid box will be on the date of auction from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Opening of Bids will immediately follow.

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he wants to buy, as long as, he posts a bidder’s deposit for each property in an amount provided below. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or through External Financing Institution.

6.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a. Name and complete address of the bidder b. Exact address of property you are interested to bid c. Transfer Certificate of Title No. d. Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) e. 10 % Bidder’s Deposit equivalent to 10% of the total amount of bid offer f.

Signature of the bidder/representative

7.

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and shall not be lower than the Minimum Bid Price of the property published in the newspaper or posted in the GSIS website. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

8.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System

9.

The following shall be inserted on the sealed bid envelope: a. the properly accomplished downloadable bid form b. Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative d. pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable e. proofs of occupancy (see No. 12.c.1 and c.2)

10. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope) Address of Property you want to bid) Block No. ______ Lot. No. ______ Phase No.____ Name of Subdivision Address of Subdivision TCT NO. _______ Mode: __________ Cash __________ thru External Financing Institution

(

able to visit Region 1,” he added.

The Ilocos region comprises the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Filipinos, specifically Ilocanos, are the third largest ethnic group in Hawaii, next to the Chinese and Japanese.

“When we use Clark International Airport, we think of convenience as we save time when we get to our destinations,” Valera said.

At present, CRK mounts daily and weekly flights to Incheon and Busan in South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Dubai, and Doha. Starting October this year, China Eastern Airlines will fly the Shanghai-Clark route.

Alexander Cauguiran, president and CEO of Clark International Airport Corp., said negotiations with major carriers are ongoing for flights to Los Angeles, which the government-run corporation hopes, will commence within the year.

Searca trains 31 on crop viability

By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—At least 31 researchers involved in various projects funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research have completed on Friday training on financial viability of high-value crops necessary in the borderless trade among Southeast Asian nations.

Organized and hosted by the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, the training was conducted under the auspices of the DA-BAR-funded project.

According to SEARCA Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., the training course covered cost and return analysis, partial budget analysis, break-even

analysis, and financial cash flow analysis to enable the participants to conduct financial viability and profitability analysis of new technologies and enterprises.

“The need to inject new technologies and innovations into agricultural production has become a prerequisite for the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations so they can competitively participate in the borderless trade brought about by regional integration,” Saguiguit said.

He said the researchers are the second batch that has undergone the training course on “Financial Viability and Profitability Analysis of New Technologies and Enterprises under the High Value Crops Development Program.”

IN BRIEF DSWD gives P7.8m to typhoon victims

Name of Bidder: Mailing Address: 11. Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1 Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13. If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS). The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount.

14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: (a) duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); (b) photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); (c) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; (d) Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; (e) current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding.

16. In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

17. In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount.

18. Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

19. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit.

20. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS. 21. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

22. For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619.

(MS-JUNE 29/30 & JULY 1, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Department of Social Welfare and Development has released more than P7.8 million in assistance to typhoon victims in the province.

Laura Donato, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Provincial Link officer, said the amount will benefit more than 2,000 victims of typhoon “Lawin” that devastated villagers’ houses here last year.

“The beneficiaries already received P5,000 each last year.

The balance is still in process and the mode of payment will be through cash card from the Land Bank of the Philippines,” she said.

Typhoon victims are entitled to receive P10,000 for partially damaged houses and P30,000 for totally damaged houses through the DSWD’s Emergency Shelter Assistance program.

Ben Moses Ebreo

Tibig reappointed to AFAB board BALANGA, Bataan—City native and businessman Paulo Tibig has been reappointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as member of the Board of Directors of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, representing domestic investors.

Tibig was also an AFAB board member during the last administration. He is president of VCargo Worldwide, a logistics company he formed in 1999.

Tibig is also a motivational speaker and bestselling author.

He coined the moniker “Entrep Champ” as a sought-after business resource speaker in the country and abroad In 2014, he was named top entrepreneur in the first Asean Business Awards held in the country. Butch Gunio

World IN BRIEF A Japanese on the moon by 2030 TOKYO―Japan has revealed ambitious plans to put an astronaut on the Moon around 2030 in new proposals from the country’s space agency.

This is the first time the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has said it aims to send an astronaut beyond the International Space Station, an agency spokeswoman told AFP on Friday.

The idea is to first join a NASA-led mission in 2025 to build a space station in the moon’s orbit, as part of a longer-term effort by NASA to reach Mars.

Tokyo hopes that contributing to the multinational mission and sharing Japanese technology will land it a coveted spot at the station, from which it could eventually send an astronaut to the Moon, the spokeswoman said.

The plan was presented at an education ministry panel this week, with a more formal blueprint expected next year, according to public broadcaster NHK. The announcement comes as China and India develop their space programs.

In November, China’s Shenzhou-11 spacecraft returned to Earth, bringing home two astronauts from the rising power’s longestever orbital mission.

Beijing has also unveiled illustrations of a Mars probe and rover it aims to send to the Red Planet at the end of the decade.

NASA and other global space agencies are working hard on sending astronauts to Mars by the 2030s.

In March, the US Congress passed a bill―signed by President Donald Trump― directing NASA to send a manned mission to Mars in 2033. AFP

Renovators at tower asked to cuts costs LONDON―Contractors working on the renovation of London’s Grenfell Tower were asked by the building’s managers to reduce costs, with cheaper exterior cladding suggested as one alternative, The Times reported Friday.

At least 80 people were killed in the blaze that consumed the tower this month, with the cladding blamed for spreading the fire throughout the 24-floor block.

An “urgent nudge email” sent to contractor Artelia UK from the Kensington and Chelsea tenant management organization, which runs the tower block on behalf of the local council, said “we need good costs” for council leader Rock Feilding-Mellen.

One suggestion was the use of aluminum panels instead of zinc, which is more fireresistant, leading to a “saving of �293,368”.

Retired judge Martin Moore-Bick was on Thursday appointed to lead a public inquiry into the fire, which engulfed Grenfell Tower on June 14.

Residents have expressed anger at the authorities’ handling of the fire, leading protesters on June 16 to storm the town hall, which manages the social housing block, though there is no suggestion that fire safety concerns were ignored.

Victims identified so far include a six-month-old baby, her eight-year-old sister and their parents, who lived on the 20th floor.

The baby was found in her dead mother’s arms.

As part of an emergency fund, the government announced this month that each household whose home was destroyed would receive at least �5,500 ($7,140, 6,250 euros). AFP

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

C3

US travel ban takes effect W

ASHINGTON―Lawyers and rights activists took up positions at the major US airports as a weakened version of President Donald Trump’s travel ban took effect late Thursday.

VISIT TO DEATH CAMP. This file photo taken on January 27, 2005 at Auschwitz-Birkenau shows former Auschwitz prisoner and

former French Health Minister Simone Veil visiting the so-called ‘Jewish ramp’ in Auschwitz’s Nazi death camp before the ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the biggest Nazi death camp, where more than one million people died. AFP

0.5 Celsius boosted extreme weather PARIS―Half a degree Celsius of global warming has been enough to increase heat waves and heavy rains in many regions of the planet, researchers reported Friday.

Comparing two 20-year periods―1960-79 and 1991-2010―between which average global temperatures jumped 0.5 C (0.9 F), scientists found that several kinds of extreme weather gained in duration and intensity.

The hottest summer temperatures increased by more than 1 C (1.8 F) across a quarter of Earth’s land areas, while the coldest winter temperatures warmed by more then 2.5 C (4.5 F).

The intensity of extreme precipitation grew nearly 10 percent across a quarter of all land masses, and the duration of hot spells―which can fuel devastating forest fires―lengthened by a week in half of land areas.

These changes were well outside the bounds of natural variability, according to the study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

“We have to rely on climate models to predict the future,” said lead author Carl-

Friedrich Schleussner, a researcher at the Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research.

“But given that we now have observational evidence of around 1 C warming, we can also look at the real-life impacts this warming has brought,” he said in a statement.

In science, observed trends are generally seen as more reliable than projections, which can vary sharply depending on the assumptions made.

Changes in climate -- sometimes defined as “average weather” -- can only be detected across time periods measured in decades or longer.

Global warming caused mostly by the burning of fossil fuels began slowly in the early 19th century with the onset of industrialization, but has accelerated rapidly over the last 50 or 60 years.

The 196-nation Paris Agreement, inked in the French capital in 2015, vowed to cap the rise of the planet’s average surface temperature at “well under” 2 C (3.6 F), and to “pursue efforts” to block it at 1.5 C (2.7 C).

To inform that effort, the Intergov-

ernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)―the UN’s top science advisory group―will issue a report for policy makers in September 2018 on the feasibility of the 1.5 C target, and what impacts might be avoided if it is met.

The new study―one of thousands that will be reviewed by the IPCC―suggests even a half degree rise is significant.

“With the warming the world has already experienced, we can see very clearly that a difference of 0.5 C really does matter,” said co-author Erich Fischer, a scientist at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

Earlier research based on computer models, also led by Schleussner, concluded that 2 C of warming would― compared to 1.5 C―double the severity of crop failures, water shortages and heatwaves in many regions of the world.

It also found that holding the rise in temperature to 1.5 C would give coral reefs―the cornerstone of ecosystems that sustain half-a-billion people and a quarter of marine wildlife―a fighting chance of adapting to warmer and more acidic seas. AFP

But there were no signs of the chaos that erupted when the first version of the restriction, derided as discriminatory against Muslims, was abruptly imposed back in January.

Attorneys working pro-bono set up makeshift, justin-case legal aid stations―some with signs in Arabic―at airports serving New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington and other cities, news reports said.

Protesters angry over Trump’s immigration policies also turned out, with some in Los Angeles holding black-and-white placards denouncing Trump as a fascist.

But the first hours of the new version of the ban, as allowed by the Supreme Court, appeared to unfold calmly.

Gone were the dramatic scenes of some people arriving from seven mainly Muslim countries being detained and questioned for hours, with some even deported on short order to where they came from.

“We’re not really expecting any issues at the airport.

But we’re here just in case, to monitor, to tell people what’s going on, and to report back what we’re seeing,” Camille Mackler, director of legal initiatives at the New York Immigration Coalition, told The Daily Beast.

She was among volunteers at JFK Airport in New York awaiting flights from London, Istanbul, Doha and Abu Dhabi. “We think we’re going to see it abroad, because it’s really for people applying for visas,” Mackler added.

The Trump administration says the temporary ban is necessary to keep terrorists out of the country, but immigrant advocates charge that it illegally singles out Muslims.

Under a Supreme Court ruling this week that allowed part of the ban to take effect―and ended, for now, five months of skirmishes in lower courts―the 90-day ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, and a 120-day ban on refugees, will allow exceptions for people with “close family relationships” in the United States.

Activists said the government has defined that too narrowly, excluding relationships with grandparents and grandchildren, aunts and uncles and others.

The Department of Homeland Security, which was heavily criticized for mishandling many arrivals when the ban was first attempted in January, promised a smooth roll-out this time. The new ban took effect at 8:00 pm Thursday Eastern time (0000 GMT Friday).

The department said that anyone with a valid visa issued before the ban began would still be admitted, and that all authorized refugees booked for travel before July 6 would also be allowed.

“We expect business as usual at the ports of entry starting at 8 pm tonight,” a DHS official said. “Our people are well prepared for this.”

But the ban’s implementation, even with exceptions, was claimed as a political victory by Trump, after federal appeals courts twice blocked his order, saying it violated constitutional protections of religion and overshot his presidential powers.

Immigrant rights groups and Democrats in Congress continued to label Trump’s order illegal and said the exemptions provided in a Supreme Court ruling on Monday remained unfair.

According to guidelines issued by the State Department, people with “close family relationships” would be exempt from the ban. It defined that to include parents, spouses, children, sons- and daughters-in-law, siblings and step- and half-siblings. AFP

Ex-bosses stand trial over plant meltdown TOKYO―Three former executives from the operator of Japan’s tsunami-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant went on trial Friday, the only people ever to face a criminal court in connection with the 2011 meltdowns that left swathes of countryside uninhabitable.

Ex-Tokyo Electric Power chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, 77, and former vice presidents Sakae Muto, 66, and Ichiro Takekuro, 71, all pleaded not guilty to charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury, more than six years after the worst atomic accident in a generation.

Katsumata told the Tokyo court it was impossible for him to have directly foreseen the risk of the towering waves that pummeled Japan’s northeast coast in March 2011.

“I apologize for the tremendous trouble to the residents in the area and around the country because of the serious accident that caused the release of radioactive materials,” Katsumata said in a barely audible voice, as he bowed.

But “I believe I don’t have a criminal responsibility in the case”.

The indictments are the first― and only―charges stemming from the tsunami-sparked reactor meltdowns at the plant that set off the worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.

If convicted, the men face up to five years in prison or a penalty of up to one million yen ($9,000).

Prosecutors had twice refused to press charges against the men, citing insufficient evidence and little chance of conviction.

But a judicial review panel composed of ordinary citizens ruled in 2015 that the trio should be put on trial, which compelled prosecutors to press on with the case under Japanese law.

“Since the accident, nobody has been held responsible nor has it been made clear why it happened,” Ruiko Muto, who heads the group that pushed for the trial, told AFP outside the Tokyo District Court Friday morning.

Evacuee Yoshiko Furukawa was outside the courthouse Friday with dozens of others who fled their homes after the accident.

“What I lost on March 11, 2011 was a normal life,” said Furukawa, who now lives in a different city.

“As someone who knew nothing (about the risks of an accident), I’m now in my seventh year as an evacuee.”

The prosecutor told the court Friday he would try to prove that the three defendants were able to foresee the risk of a huge tsunami and failed to take necessary steps to counter the risk. AFP

BOOK LAUNCHING. Indian Bollywood actress Isha Koppikar and her daughter Rianna Narang attend the launch of the book ‘Eat Delete Junior’ in Mumbai. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

World

US-supported forces cut off last IS escape route in Syria B EIRUT―US-backed forces cut off the last escape route for the Islamic State group from Raqa on Thursday, trapping the besieged jihadists inside their de facto Syrian capital.

But IS fighters hit back with a counterattack that included several suicide bombings against the Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters trying to seize control of the city.

The SDF captured two villages on the southern bank of the Euphrates River that the jihadists had been passing through to withdraw from the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

“The SDF has been able to completely encircle Raqa,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based monitoring group, which relies on a network of sources on the ground.

It was the latest setback for IS, also known as ISIS, which declared its “caliphate” straddling Syria and Iraq three years ago but has since lost most of the territory it once controlled.

It came too as Iraqi forces announced the recapture of an iconic mosque in IS’s last major Iraqi bastion Mosul, prompting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to declare “the end” of the “fake” jihadist state.

The SDF, backed by the US-led anti-IS coalition, broke into Raqa on June 6 after spending months chipping away at jihadist territory around the city.

Its fighters have since captured two eastern and two western districts of the city and are pushing towards its centre, where IS fighters are holding tens of thousands of civilians.

Around 2,500 jihadists are fighting in the city, according to British Major General Rupert Jones, a deputy commander for the US-led coalition.

The SDF had surrounded the jihadists from the north, east and west but they were still able to escape across the Euphrates, which forms the southern border of the city.

Thursday’s advance saw SDF fighters capture the villages of Kasrat Afnan and Kasab on the southern bank of the Euphrates, cutting off the route the jihadists were using to withdraw to territory IS controls in the Syrian desert and in Deir Ezzor province.

The SDF has “continued to advance eastward south of the Euphrates River, moving to completely encircle ISIS in Raqa,” said Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the US-led coalition.

“The SDF now control all high-speed avenues of approach into Raqa from the south,” he added.

But the jihadists appear determined to make a bloody last stand.

Several dozen jihadists disguised in SDF uniforms launched an attack from the city center, which they still control, on two districts in the southeast of the city.

They carried out three suicide car bomb attacks, deployed drones armed with explosives, seized six SDF positions and killed several fighters, Abdel Rahman said.

“Even totally besieged, jihadists are able to carry out operations,” he added.

The war in Syria, which has seen jihadists, moderate rebels and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pitted against each other, has killed more than 320,000 people since the spring of 2011.

A recent fact-finding mission by the UN’s chemical watchdog found that sarin was used as a chemical weapon in an April 4 attack in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun, which killed at least 87 people including many children. AFP

LAUNCH PARTY. Guests attend Calvin Harris’ album launch party at a private residence on June 29 in Los Angeles. AFP

US to sell arms to Taiwan for $1.3b WA S H I N G T O N ― D o n a l d Trump’s administration has approved $1.3 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, a US government official said Thursday, in a move likely to provoke the ire of Beijing which considers the island a rebel province.

The US official emphasized that there is “no change to our longstanding ‘One China’ policy”―stating that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of it―which Beijing says is a prerequisite for maintaining relations.

The announcement of the sale comes at a sensitive moment for the US and China, as President Trump is working to establish a partnership over trade differences and efforts to curb North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy but China sees it as part of its territory to be reunified, by force if necessary.

The US is the island’s most powerful ally and arms supplier despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979.

The latest plans are consistent with the terms of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the US official said, under which Washington keeps trade ties and sells Taipei weapons to “maintain a sufficient self-defense capability”.

Taiwan thanked the US for its continued commitment under the legislation and said the deal “increases Taiwan’s confidence and ability to maintain the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.

“We will continue to seek constructive dialogue with Beijing, and promote positive developments in cross-strait relations,” said a statement from Taiwan’s Presidential Office.

“At the same time, we will continue to increase our defense investments, including in indigenous defense industries and defense-related research, in order to demonstrate our commitment to Taiwan’s self-defense,” it added.

The defense ministry said the sales will boost the island’s air and sea combat capabilities.

The Trump administration has formally notified Congress of the defense sales comprised of seven parts, the US official said, which are “based on an assessment of Taiwan’s defense needs” and include upgrading defense systems from analog to digital.

The last US arms sale to Taiwan was in December 2015. AFP

China’s Xi takes over Hong Kong’s luxury hotels HONG KONG―China’s President Xi Jinping will want for nothing during his three-day visit to Hong Kong after taking over two entire luxury hotels with more than 1,300 rooms between them.

The glitzy harbor-front Grand Hyatt and Renaissance, in the business and commercial district of Wan Chai, are usually bustling with guests as well as visitors to their popular bars and restaurants.

But now all entrances are blocked by metal barricades or guarded by security as the politically turbulent city remains in lockdown for Xi’s landmark trip to mark 20 years since it was handed back to China by Britain.

Xi checked in Thursday and will leave Saturday, and it’s unclear who is footing the extensive room bill.

Local media said he would stay in the lower-profile four-star Renaissance for security reasons, with the five-star Hyatt for his entourage.

Staying at the Renaissance reportedly costs as much as HK$28,000 ($3,586) per night, with the presidential suite including living and dining rooms, a conference room, and a marble bathroom.

A presidential suite at the Grand Hyatt costs three times as much, according to local media, with guests asked to call direct to organize bespoke facilities.

One high-end suite at the hotel comes

equipped with a giant glass-walled infinity bath and in-room spa treatments, according to the website.

Booking out both hotels for two nights at even the most basic standard room rate would be worth more than five million Hong Kong dollars, or over 700,000 US dollars.

The Grand Hyatt confirmed to AFP that “one group of people” had booked out all its rooms, while the adjacent Renaissance would not comment on arrangements.

High-profile visitors usually choose the Hyatt, but stop short of booking out the whole hotel and the one next door.

The hotels are next to the conven-

tion center which is the focal point for the anniversary celebrations and is protected by a massive security cordon, including machine-gun toting police officers and two-meter high (6.56 feet) water-filled barricades.

Authorities are anxious to keep protesters away from Xi, who is visiting for the first time since he became leader in 2013, as political tensions remain high and concerns grow Beijing is threatening the semi-autonomous city’s freedoms.

The nearest protest area to the hotels is almost 500 meters (1,640 feet) away and the famous Victoria Harbor has become a restricted flying zone. AFP

Dogs help restore burned forests TALCA, Chile―Forest fires in Chile ravaged vast swathes of land this year, leaving patches once thick with sturdy old trees reduced to burned landscapes. Now, three plucky dogs are helping replant it all.

The blazes blackened the El Maule region of central Chile as part of a series of fires that claimed 11 lives and charred a total of 457,000 hectares.

But since March three Border Collies have been scampering through the charred remains with special satchels that spread seeds as they run to sow seedlings, grass and flowers.

A major goal is for animals that fled the fires to come back.

“The main thing is for the fauna to be able to live,” said Francisca Torres, the owner of the three dogs tasked with this big mission.

The female dogs are named Das, Olivia, and Summer.

They jump out of Torres’ truck and run into the forest they are charged with bringing back to life by spreading seeds from the satchels, happily oblivious to the benefit they are providing.

When the job is finished they get treats from Torres, 32, who also trains dogs to work with

people with disabilities. Then she fills their satchels up with more seeds and sends them out again.

Torres, who runs an environmental NGO, says these dogs―bred to herd sheep―are smart, vibrant and fast and therefore just right for the job.

In any case, they are better than humans, she said.

The dogs can cover a range of 30 kilometers in a day and sow up to 10 kilos of seeds, whereas a person could only do three kilometers in a day.

This work has been under way for three months now in 15 forests of the El Maule region.

In some of them, grass is back and seedlings, vines and mushrooms have pushed through the blackened earth, thanks to the moisture that comes with the winter of the southern hemisphere.

“We have seen some fields that are now totally green thanks to the work of Summer, Olivia and Das,” said Torres. She pays for this work largely out of her own pocket, and with some donations.

Torres expressed hope that this summer the seeds will have germinated and some animals like foxes, hares and lizards will have returned to the forest. AFP

SEX DOLL. In this picture taken early on June 14, 2017, 62-year-old Senji Nakajima hugs his silicone sex doll Saori while sleeping at a love hotel in Yachimata, Chiba prefecture. AFP

By Bernadette Lunas

W

E ALL know Cebu is a popular tourist destination. It has beaches, diving sites, waterfalls, natural forests, churches and monasteries, museums and ancestral houses, and a lot more other famous landmarks.

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

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But just when you think you’ve seen the entirety of this province, the Queen City offers up something new to her eager tourists.

Flower power

Colorful blooms abound the highland area of Cebu. About 17 kilometers from the city proper is Sirao Flower Garden in Barangay Busay. If you’ve heard about it, it’s because the said garden has made its rounds on social media when tourists discovered that a “Little Amsterdam” exists here in the country.

Take your photos amid the flame-like celosia (locally known as burlas) flowers in the 8,000 square meter uphill land, and almost instantly, “hearts” and “likes” will come flooding your profile.

A few patches of land are planted with other flowers such as sunflowers, dahlia, China aster, everlasting, Guernsey lily, yellow bell, and petunia. Windmills, fountains, and gazebos serve as added attraction or photo background—however you see it.

Entrance to Sirao Garden is P30 per person.

Another colorful attraction a few kilometers from Sirao is the charming Terrazas de Flores Botanical Garden in Malubog. This garden grows over 120 species of flowers planted on the hedges of terraces cascading down the slope.

Terrazas has cozy cabanas in which weary travelers can reflect and relax; there is also a small cafe that offers a view of the flower terraces located on top of the hill, perfect for unwinding with loved ones while enjoying a glass of wine or cup of tea.

Spend a few hours at Terrazas for an entrance fee of P100 per person.

There is always something new in

CEBU

LITTLE AMSTERDAM IN CEBU. Cebu’s highland attractions include the 8,000-square meter Sirao Flower Garden, which is a perfect pictorial spot for those who love colorful blooms. Bernadette Lunas

View from the top

If you want to see Cebu from above, specifically 2,000-feet up, head to Tops Lookout. This spacious viewing deck in Busay offers a panoramic view of the province. It has several sitting areas where visitors can relax and eat food sold at the kiosks around. Go here in the evening for a stunning view of Cebu.

Lantaw Restaurant, meanwhile, offers a wide selection of Pinoy fare, cool breeze and, stunning view—an ideal venue for your lunch or dinner.

Take a dip in one of Bluewater Maribago’s three lagoon-shaped swimming pools

Grand gesture of love

A highland tour in Cebu wouldn’t be complete without visiting the grandiose, yet unfinished, Temple of Leah.

The temple, which is also called the “Taj Mahal of Cebu,” is founded by business Teodorico Adarna, grandfather of actress/model Ellen Adarna, as a testament of his love to his late wife Leah Villa Albino-Adarna.

The Roman-inspired temple attracts visitors who want to immerse themselves in European architecture, those curious about a man’s love to his wife—so much so that he’s building such a structure for her, and basically anyone dazzled by the imposing edifice

The Temple of Leah is a man’s grand testament of love to his late wife. Bernadette Lunas

Don’t worry, Bluewater’s cantilevered beds are as comfortable as they are sturdy

and everything inside of it.

Tropical paradise Resting near a body of water after The temple also serves as a repository of antique vases, jars, statues, and other a gratifying yet exhausting tour up in Cebu sounds like a better, not to menitems Leah collected from her travels. tion, unusual plan. But hear this out: Entrance to the temple is P50.

in this way, you can enjoy the best of both worlds in the province—beach and mountainside.

An hour and a half away from Cebu highland attractions and 30 minutes

from the airport is Bluewater Resorts’ flagship property, Bluewater Maribago.

The seven-hectare tropical paradise on Mactan Island offers deluxe amenities Turn to D2

TRAVEL DEALS

Stunning South Africa WITH its diverse natural wonders and luxurious lifestyle attractions, South Africa is easily a bucket list destination.

Many desire to see the abundant wildlife and exotic bird species in Pilanesberg Big 5 national park, visit the academic city of Pretoria where nature and dynamic lifestyle coexist, head to the Sun City where luxury hotels and tourist attractions are aplenty, and take a stroll along the vibrant Johannesburg.

Through the Bucket List promotion of Citi Credit Cards and Ark Travel Express, you can travel to South Africa for four nights and get two additional nights for free—to let you visit

more places. You can also pay for your trip with 0 percent Citi PayLite terms.

Through the Bucket List promotion, you will also visit the famous Nelson Mandela Square, V&A Waterfront, Cape Point Funicular, Neethlingshof, Cape Town City, Table Mountain Cableway, Canal Walk Shopping Center, and Cape Wineland, among others.

Invite a friend or a loved one with you and experience all these with Citi PayLite for only $2,778/per person based on twin sharing. Book at Ark Travel Express now. Travel period is ongoing until Sept. 30.

Go to www.citibank.com.ph/mybucketlist for more details.

Incredible Iceland TAKE off to the other end of the world and discover the scenic Nordic island nation of Iceland.

Visit the country’s famed golden waterfall, Gullfoss, which is iconic for its unparalleled landscape of cascading water, towering canyons, and long rivers in a Golden Circle tour.

You can also walk the footpath in a cave behind another majestic waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, or follow the path leading to the top of Skogafoss and discover a dramatic waterfall of sheer beauty.

Join the South Northern Lights tour and watch the breathtaking display of Aurora Borealis. Cap your trip with a relaxing geothermal

spa in one of Iceland’s most famous attractions, Blue Lagoon.

Take this breathtaking tour now with a friend or a loved one with Citi Credit Cards’s Bucket List promotion with Ark Travel Express. Get two additional nights for free when you book for four nights.

You may also avail 0 percent Citi PayLite for three months on hotel, flights, and tour packages.

Citi PayLite for as low as $3,548 per person based on twin sharing. Book at Ark Travel Express now until July 31. Travel period is from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.

More information is available on www.citibank.com.ph/mybucketlist.

Life

D2

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

L

THE STRUGGLE

for Sustainable Tourism

AST week was a busy one for those of us involved with the local Tourism industry. I saw myself having a meeting with Tourism secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, and an Open Forum moderated by Tourism Undersecretary Ricky Alegre, where the recent brouhaha on DOT’s new ad campaign was explained to us, including the Nickelodeon Project in Palawan.

But, for the greater part of last week, I was kept busy by the three-day UNWTO International Conference on Sustainable Tourism at the Marriott Hotel, with the Opening Ceremonies at Resorts World’s Newport Performing Arts Theater. I have to say that it was quite an achievement for our country to have attracted that many participants, in spite of the recent tragic incident at the venue’s premises, the ongoing Marawi crisis, and the perceived negative implications of Martial Law in Mindanao.

There were a total of 973 attendees from 89 countries all over the world, and the foreign delegates were all raving about our hospitality, our food, our destinations, etc. The DoT put its best foot forward and showcased our country’s most important tourist attraction—our people! In fact, the crew of usherettes/ ushers deployed to all sections of the conference venue was the best looking set I’ve seen, and each one was equipped with exemplary communication and PR skills. It certainly was an event that proudly highlighted why “It’s More Fun In The Philippines.”

But the topic that was being tackled during the conference was anything but fun. In fact, it was very serious business because Sustainable Tourism delves into three dimensions of the Industry—economic, social, and environmental—and this multidisciplinary concept still has to gain ground

The colorful production number during the UNWTO International Conference showcased indigenous Filipino talent

Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo welcomes delegates to the three-day conference

Senate President Koko Pimentel says the government’s mantra of “Build, Build, Build” will benefit our Tourism industry

UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai addressing the crowd composed of 973 delegates from 89 countries

everywhere in the world. see two opposing concepts.

UNWTO defines SustainConsidering all the aspects able Tourism as “Tourism of Sustainability, what is that takes full account of of utmost importance is The young snail begs his mother: “Mother, please its current and future ecoTourism’s impact on the let me cross the rail road.” Mother answers, “Thunder, nomic, social and environenvironment, how volumes dear, not now. In five hours the train passes.” mental impacts, addressof tourists could disturb ing the needs of visitors, the ecological balance of a Taking a closer look at the phrase the industry, the environparticular destination. To “Sustainable Tourism,” we right away prevent that from happening, the local ment, and the host communities.”

YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE

community should limit the freedom of tourists to do anything they want in a particular place.

On the other hand, the world sees Tourism mainly for its economic benefits. It is the fastest growing economic sector. Last year, 1.2 billion tourists traveled all over the world, and the industry’s financial gains represented 10 percent of the world’s GDP, meaning, one in 10 jobs globally.

When we take into account the economic viability of this industry, all Tourism Master Planners aspire for volumes of tourists to rake in the desired revenues, and these volumes put the environment in danger because it is difficult to control large groups once they enjoy themselves in a particular place.

So when we put together Sustainability and Tourism, linking their environmental and economic aspects, there is no perfect fit. In fact, I am beginning to think that the phrase “Sustainable Tourism” is an oxymoron, and I am not alone in this belief. This is why UNWTO put together this conference to discuss at length how the world’s Tourism industry can make a go of Sustainability, to benefit the future generations, and still be able to achieve desired revenues.

Right now, there still is no framework on how to measure any success on Sustainability development in a particular area, neither are data and statistics readily available to help experts construct such framework. Speakers from various countries have expressed the same sentiments, verbalizing their frustration over how to get started with this Herculean task to better understand and track the progress of sustainability in our respective countries.

But, as they say, even a million-mile journey starts with one simple step towards the chosen direction. The work that was done during this 3-day conference here in Manila will be used as a preliminary draft for Measuring Sustainable Tourism Framework, and will serve as a launch pad with which to further the global discussion on the subject, and appreciate the significant progress achieved to date through pilot studies and other relevant work at the international, national, and local levels.

I have to admit that, before this conference came about, I felt that those of us who desired Sustainable Tourism for our industry were like The Man From La Mancha and his Impossible Dream. But, what was accomplished during this Conference showed us the right direction in achieving such goal. It may be a long, arduous journey, a continuous struggle, but it is consoling enough to know that we have taken the first step towards reaching that goal, and are now on our way.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

Travel gear for smart adventurers REAL adventurers know that preparations kick off an awesome trip long before the plane takes off. And when it comes to travel prep, packing the right stuff is key to a journey that’s safe and hassle-free.

If you’re a frequent traveler or planning a getaway soon, here are some smart and functional essentials to make your journey an enjoyable one.

Start your vacation on the right note by flying on Air Juan Seaplane

Discover the Philippines FLY to Boracay, Puerto Galera or Subic via the Air Juan Seaplane and land on a paradise destination where you can enjoy a relaxing and discounted vacation.

Citi Credit Cards offers up to 35 percent discount at the Shangri-La Resort & Spa in Boracay and up to 33 percent off at Le Soleil de Boracay from today until July 31 Stay for 3 days and 2 nights in Shangri-La’s Deluxe Room at a special rate of P80,198. Or try the Premiere Seaview Room at a rate of P89,061 with 33 percent discount. Another choice is the spacious Seaview Suite with a generous rate of P101,130 at 34 percent discount.

For the Treehouse Villa, the rate is an exclusive P111,597 at 34 percent discount. Lastly, the exclusive one-bedroom Pool Villa is yours for P127,037 at

33 percent discount.

Enjoy cool service at a hot location in Le Soleil de Boracay for a 3 days and 2 nights stay. Enjoy the Premier Suite at 30 percent discount during high season and during low season at 33 percent discount.

Meanwhile, at the Buri Resort & Spa in Puerto Galera, enjoy an overnight Pool Villa stay for two for as low as P24,052.

Enjoy a seaside respite in Subic’s The Lighthouse Marina Resort with almost 50 percent discount. Stay at the Aqua Veranda Room for 3 days and 2 nights for two for P20,340. You may also choose to stay at the Aqua Spa Suite room for the same period and enjoy up to 47 percent slashed off the room rates.

There is always...

island, and three lagoon-shaped swimming pools. There’s also a children’s playground, recreation and water sports center, full service restaurants (Allegro Restaurant, The Cove, Oyster Bar, Delfino’s, and Amuma Juice Bar), and the brand’s very own Amuma Spa—whose facilities are first-class and services are truly rejuvenating.

From D1

and world-class service that are distinctly Filipino.

The beach resort’s 174 well-appointed rooms (87 Deluxe, 54 Amuma Wing, 30 Premier Deluxe, and three Royal Bungalows) are perfect to relax in after a tiring day of tour or a laid back weekend of doing nothing.

Guests may enjoy frolicking on the 110-meter beachfront of pristine white sand and clear blue waters, a private

For more information, log on to www.citibank.com.ph.

Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort is at Buyong, Maribago, Mactan Island, Cebu. Call (032) 402-4100 or email maribago@bluewater.com.ph for inquiries and more information.

Packing cubes

Everything has to be in its proper place, even when traveling.

Travel brand Lewis & Clark has several sizes of lightweight, expandable packing cubes that will make arranging travel items a cinch. Featuring multiple colors and durable silnylon, a synthetic fabric that’s both water and stain-resistant, they’re essential for mobile and rough adventures. Mesh panels make its contents easily identifiable and properly ventilated. Packing cubes also make small electronics intact and clothing wrinkle-free.

RFID-blocking mini stashes

Identity theft is a real thing, and that’s the last thing anyone would ever want to happen to them while traveling.

Thieves have a way to obtain personal information through breaking into RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips present in credit cards and several passports.

Lewis & Clark’s collection of mini stashes (waist stashes,

neck stashes, document organizers) comes with built-in RFID blockers. Made with TravelDry fabric, these stashes resist moisture, shrinking, dust, and mildew.

Portable coffee and tea press

Buying a cup of coffee every morning during trip can put a huge dent in one’s travel budget, but this doesn’t mean having to contend with instant coffee.

Espro offers coffee- and t e a - l ov i n g travelers portable coffee and tea travel press. Espro’s patented double filter separates the grit from the cup; taste levels are controlled as the press stops extraction, and the paper filter press coffee option makes you have pour-over style coffee even on the go. It has stainless steel double-wall vacuum insulator and leak-proof lid.

Collapsible water bottles

Bringing reusable water bottle during trips is good for your budget and the environment, but while this item comes with several benefits, it can be a hassle to pack a bulky container. For this, Hydrapak has developed Stash, its line of collapsible water bottles that allows you to carry water with ease and lightness. Stash can reduce its size to around one-fifth the filled size, making it a compact travel companion.

Lewis & Clark, Espro, and Hydrapak are available in all Urbanize stores. Urbanize is located at Gateway Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, U.P. Town Centre, Glorietta 3, Uptown Mall BGC, Alabang Town Centre and Kiss & Fly in NAIA 3. It is also available in Soledad Nuvali, Serin, and The District in Cavite.

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

T

HE Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino has announced the nominees for the country’s much-awaited film award recognition, the 40th Gawad Urian, happening on July 20 at ABS-CBN’s Studio 10 and will be airing live on Cinema One.

Leading this year’s list is the film Women of the Weeping River produced by Southern Lantern Studios, Haut Lesmains and TBA, with 12 nominations including best picture and best direction for Sheron Dayoc.

Paglipay, produced by Milagros Ong How, follows with 11 nominations. Ma’ Rosa, from Centerstage Productions and Solar Pictures, Pamilya Ordinaryo, by Found Films, Quantum Films and Cinemalaya Foundation, and Ang Babaeng Humayo, produced by Cinema One Originals and Sine Olivia Pilipinas, all have 9 nominations.

This year’s Natatanging Gawad Urian award will go to the Star for all Seasons — Vilma Santos — who won the most number of acting awards, a total of 8 best actress nods, from the esteemed body in the past years.

Aside from Women of the Weeping River, the nominees for Best Film include Ang Babaeng Humayo, Paglipay, Ma’ Rosa, Pamilya Ordinaryo, and Baboy Halas from Origane Films, Timewrap, Oya Film Productions, Alchemy of Vision, Lights Productions and Three Six-Zero Industries.

The nominees for Best Actress are Charo Santos (Ang Babaeng Humayo), Laila Ulao (Women of the Weeping River), Jaclyn Jose (Ma’ Rosa), Cherry Pie Picache (Pauwi Na), Ai Ai de las Alas (Area), Elizabeth Oropesa (MRS), Irma Adlawan (ORO), Hasmine Kilip (Pamilya Ordinaryo), Angeli Bayani (Ned’s Project), and Nora Aunor (Hinulid).

Khalil Ramos (2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten), Tommy Abuel (Dagsin), Bembol Roco (Pauwi Na), Garry Cabalic (Paglipay), Paolo Ballesteros (Die Beautiful), Ronwaldo Martin (Pamilya Ordinaryo), and Pepe Smith (Singing in Graveyards) are the Best Actor nominees.

Aside from Dayoc, nominated for best direction are Lav Diaz (Ang Babaeng Humayo), Brillante Mendoza (Ma’ Rosa), Eduardo Roy, Jr. (Pamilya Ordinaryo), Zig Madamba Dulay (Paglipay), Bagane Fiola (Baboy Halas), Paolo Villaluna (Pauwi Na), Avid Liongoren (Saving Sally), and Lemuel Lorca (Ned’s Project).

For best supporting actor, the nominees include John Lloyd Cruz (Ang Babaeng Humayo), Nonie Buencamino (Ang Babaeng Humayo), Taha Daranda (Women of the Weeping River), Christian Bables (Die Beautiful), Jess Mendoza (Hinulid), and Julio Diaz (Ma’ Rosa).

Nominated for best supporting actress are Rhed Bustamante (Seklusyon), Barbie Forteza (Tuos), Sharifa Pearlsia Ali-Dans (Women of the Weeping River), Anna Luna (Paglipay), Joan Dela Cruz (Pagligay), Lui Manansala (Ned’s Project), Lotlot de Leon (MRS), Janine Gutierrez (Dagsin), Mariam Zimadar Haji Caranay Raper (Women of the Weeping River) and Meryll Soriano (Pauwi Na).

Other categories in this annual film recognition include Best Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Sound, Best Short Film and Best Documentary.

This year marks Gawad Urian’s 40th year in the industry. Since its inception in 1977, it has become one of the most prestigious and most respected film awards in the country.

The nominees and winners are chosen by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino composed of reputable pillars in Philippine cinema led by its chairman Tito Genova Valiente together with members Rolando Tolentino, Grace Javier Alfonso, Butch Francisco, Mario Hernando, Bienvenido Lumbera, Miguel Rapatan, Benilda Santos, Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, and Lito Zulueta.

Catch the 40th Gawad Urian on Cinema One (SkyCable ch. 56, Destiny Cable Digital Channel 56, and Destiny Analog Ch. 37) on July 20 at 9 p.m..

To see full list of nominees, visit www.cinemaone.ph or the official website of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (www.manunuri.com). For other updates, like Cinema One’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Cinema1channel).

40th

GAWAD URIAN nominees revealed

Nora Aunor as Sita in Kristian S. Cordero's “Hinulid “

Ai Ai delas Alas as an aging prostitute in “Area”

Charo Santos as Honoracia in “Ang Babaeng Humayo”

Jaclyn Jose in a scene from Brillante Mendoza’s “Ma’Rosa”

Irma Adlawan as the feisty Kapitana in “Oro”

Hasmine Killip as a teen mom in “Pamilya Ordinaryo”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

ACROSS 1 Optimistic investor 5 Blue cartoon character 10 Brief times 14 Columbus’ home 15 Combined amount 16 Donkey pin-on 17 Without feeling 18 “Maria —” 19 18th-century English composer 20 Pastimes 22 Created coifs 24 Itches 25 Roller coaster cry 26 Small birds 28 Big bashes 32 Demi or Dudley 33 Window covering 34 Wood ash product 35 Non-flying birds 36 Pitch 37 Snowman accessory 38 Columnist — Hentoff 39 Used a pen 40 Join, as hands 41 Removes, as a

cap 43 Sycophant 44 Long-tailed animals 45 Gull cousin 46 Thrilled beyond words 49 In a tizzy 52 Tree anchor 53 Sudden inspirations 55 Winged god 57 Nor’easter 58 Family member 59 Colosseum site 60 Lost fur 61 Vapors 62 Blizzard maker DOWN 1 — appetit!

2 “No way!” (hyph.)

3 Luxury transport 4 Influencers of legislators 5 Rathskeller mugs 6 Tunnel makers 7 Sporty vehicles 8 Took part in a 10K 9 Blinking 10 Stuck around 11 — Derr Biggers 12 Movie theater

13 Husky’s vehicle 21 Singer — — King 23 Water the houseplants 25 Complain 26 Amazon, e.g.

27 Chases away 28 Opens a letter 29 Epic by Homer 30 Kind of cab 31 Ooze out 32 Bill of fare 33 Thar she —!

36 Worrying 37 Flower boxes

39 Coat or sweater 40 Crib filler 42 Ready to ship 43 Makes fun of 45 Vestige 46 Joule fractions 47 Flood survivor 48 Kind of model 49 Service charges 50 Taconite yield 51 “Catch a Falling Star” crooner 54 Day in Madrid 56 Work on a quilt

“Assassination Classroom” follows the daily lives of an extremely powerful octopus-like teacher and his students dedicated to the task of assassinating him to prevent Earth from being destroyed

‘Assassination Classroom’ returns on Animax GET ready for another semester filled with studying, intense training, and new ways to kill the teacher in the latest season of the highly popular anime series Assassination Classroom, which premieres on July 10 on Animax.

The second semester is about to begin at the Kunugigaoka Junior High School. While some things have changed, the assignment of Class 3-E remains the same: to kill Koro-sensei, their tentacled, smiley-faced teacher, before the school year is over.

Nagisa Shiota and his classmates take another chance at redemption as they devise more ingenious plans in killing their alien teacher.

But Koro-sensei has become

the class’ favorite teacher as more and more lessons are learned, and the skills and confidence of the students are developed.

In the end, their loyalty will be put to the test as they are faced with a dilemma more challenging than any final exam they have ever encountered: Will they choose to save the world? Or will they choose to save the world’s greatest teacher?

Assassination Classroom Season 2 airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m., with 2 episodes back-to-back, first and exclusively on Animax.

Animax is available on SKYCable Channel 46, Cignal Channel 73, Dream Satellite TV Channel 07, Destiny Digital Channel 46 and G Sat Channel 24.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017

By Nickie Wang

S

HE was bullied and bashed, labeled as “pretty face with no skills,” but in the end, the last Filipina standing in the modeling contest emerged victorious.

From an insecure teen who keeps bringing up that she lacks the height to be a top model, Maureen Wroblewitz emerged as the first Filipina to win “Asia’s Next Top Model” search.

MAUREEN

WROBLEWITZ is ‘Asia’s Next Top Model’ Alden Richards in new TVC

PAMBANSANG Bae Alden Richards is featured in a new TV commercial, and as expected, everybody in AlDub Nation is “loving it.”

In the new black-and- white TVC for McDonald’s Alden portrays the amiable prince Prinsipe Cariñoso. The hero is seen riding a horse en route to an enchanted spring to fetch some water for the king. Clad in boots and a cape, he channels the iconic Filipino fantasy prinsipe of classic Pinoy films as his character traveled through mountainous terrain.

Suddenly a hungry and temperamental giant giant blocks his way saying that nobody can go to the enchanted place because it’s forbidden.

Tension rise when the prince insisted that he needs to complete the task. Then the situation turns in his favor when the prince offers the latest product of the fast food chain.

The TVC is an ode to the early days of Pinoy storytelling that kept gen-

erations of Filipinos glued to their screens, as it was shot in black and white and completed with grainy effect and dramatic scoring. Inspired by Filipino epics like Ibong Adarna, with a comedic and charismatic exchange between Alden’s charcter and the temperamental giant, the commercial stood out and made an impression on viewers. Since its release on Wednesday, it has been viewed more than 1 million views.The hashtag #MeronNaNgayon that accompanied the TVC release on Facebook and YouTube trended on Twitter as well peaking at third spot on the same day of its release.

In the Wednesday episode of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 5, 19-year-old Filipina model Maureen Wroblewitz was declared winner of the popular modeling reality search.

Maureen, who stands 5-foot-6 and the shortest among this year’s contestants, won against Malaysia’s Shikin Gomez and Vietnam’s Minh Tu Nguyen in the finale challenge, where they had to walk at a fashion show in Singapore wearing the designs of Xiaoqing Zhang, the model-turned-designer behind Shanghai-based fashion label X.Q.Zhang In the model contestants’ penultimate challenge, they had a photo shoot titled “Motherland,” where they modeled traditional outfits from their countries. Maureen stunned in a sparkling white mestiza gown she accentuated with pearls.

“Maureen, your gorgeous face has been a great advantage to you, but you also worked hard to prove that you were worth more than just a pretty face as you finally broke free of that mold throughout the weeks,” host Cindy Bishop, a professional model who is one of the judges for this season, told the teen model before she was announced the winner. “You’re not only the youngest, you’re also the smallest of the competition. But you have stood tall, and silenced anyone who ever doubted you.”

Referring to Maureen’s performance during the final shoot, the host added, “That image is exactly what I wanted to see from you at the end of this competition.

You delivered that quiet confidence, which showed that you have been soaking up everything we’ve been telling you, that you’ve been taking everything in and just completely laid it all out for us. And I am so, so happy to see that.”

Discovered on Instagram by a modeling agent when she was only 15 years old, according to her profile on Asia’s Next Top Model (ANTM) website, Maureen completed her studies and took a leap of faith, moving from Germany to the Philippines to pursue a bona fide modeling career. And like any teenager, she’s full of dreams and believes that all of them are possible if you just go for them.

Maureen’s ANTM journey was not an easy one. In one of the earlier episodes of the modeling search, Maureen was confronted by challenges including what many thought of as a form of bullying when her fellow contestants, led by Indonesia’s Clara Tan, labeled her as just a “pretty face with no skills.”

“They were bullying me and tried to bring me down but that just motivated me. It’s so nice to show them that I’m not just a pretty face,” Maureen said in a recent interview.

In the early part of the show, the Filipina model opened up about her insecurities for having little modeling experience compared to the other contestants. She also said that she tends to overthink every time she does photo shoots.

On Thursday, fashion magazine Nylon Singapore released its official July cover with Maureen. The cover is part of her prize for winning the show. Aside from the magazine spread, she also won a car from Subaru and will be represented by Storm Models Management in her modeling engagements moving forward.

Virgin at 13

THE Cultural Center of the Philipplays include: Ang Sugilanon ng Kabipines, in partnership with its resident guan ni Epefania written by May Cartheater company Tanghalang Pilipidoso and directed by Charles Yee; Ang no and the playwright group Writer’s Bata sa Drum by Dominique La VictoBloc Inc., is hosting the 13th Virgin ria and directed by Dudz Teraña; and Labfest, an annual theater festival Mula sa Kulimliman by Carlo Vergara that is dedicated to providing an opand directed by Hazel Gutierrez. portunity for aspiring playwrights to The Staged Readings will feature create new works for the stage.

Point and Click by playwright Jamie The three-week festival, which Bautista, directed by Mara Mararuns until July 16 at various venues sigan; Vertigo by playwright Nicko of the CCP, promises to be a specManipis de Guzman, directed by Yong tacular one offering twelve unpubTapang; Walang Forever Virus by playlished and unstaged plays and five wright Fatrick Tabada, directed by Elnew staged readings, written by 21 mer Rufo; Ang Pag-uulyanin ni Olivia virgin playwrights, and three revisitMendoza by playwright Rolin Migyuel ed plays all performed by 76 theater Cadallo Obina, directed by Emmanuel thespians and stalwarts and directed dela Cruz; and Andiyan Lang by playby 20 upcoming and established diwright Kevin Tabora, directed by Denrectors. nis Marasigan.

With overall theme “Wagas,” the The main play features will be staged festival of untried, unstaged and unat Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP tested one-act plays offers a chance Little Theater), while the VLF Revisited for new writers to see their creative will be performed at Tanghalang Huseng skills taken from script to the stage. Actor and stage director Topper Fabregas (left) with the cast of Batute (CCP Studio Theater), and the “Ang Bata Sa Bus Stop” Now on its 13th year, the annual Staged Readings will be at Tanghalang theater festival has picked 12 new Amado V. Hernandez. featured one-act works, out of more The much-awaited 3rd Virgin Labng Masa by Joshua Lim So and directed by than 190 manuscripts submitted, with each ex- Guelan Luarca. fest Anthology, composed of selected plays presses the complexity of human experience, Meanwhile, Set C is comprised of Si Dr. featured in the latest editions of the festival, create dialogues on social issues, and engage Dolly Dalisay at Ang Mga Ladybugs by Lay- will be unveiled during the festival. The Virthe audience to reflect. eta Bucoy, directed by Jonathan Tadioan, Ang gin Labfest Writing Fellowship Program, a The new plays are divided into four sets. Set Bata Sa Bus Stop by Sari Saysay and directed two-week mentorship program on the study A includes: Loveteam, written by Oggie Ar- by Topper Fabregas, and Dear and Unhappy and practice of dramatic writing for the stage, cenas and directed by actor-director Michael by Carlo Vergara and directed by Ricky Villa- will also be held as part of the festival. The felWilliams; Pilipinas Kong Mahal with All The bona. lowship program aims to train young aspiring Overcoat, written by Eljay Castro Deldoc Sincerity Biker’s Club by playwright Adrian playwrights through a series of lectures, script and directed by Roobak Valle; and Birdcage, Ho and director Jenny Jamora, Nothing But critiquing, writing sessions and interactions written by Rick Patriarca and directed by Ian Dreams by playwright Dingdong Novenario with known playwrights, directors and selectSegarra. and director Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, and Ang ed actors.

For Set B, audience can look forward to Ang Bahay sa Gitna ng Kawalan by playwright Tickets are for sale at the CCP and all TickMga Puyong, penned by Ryan Machado and Eliza A. Victoria and director George de Jesus etWorld outlets. For ticketing information, call directed by Ricardo Magno, Hindi Ako Si Dar- complete the list. the CCP Marketing Department at 832-3706 or na by playwrights Maynard Manansala and U Three plays in the 2016 edition of the VLF 832-3704 or email the Sales and Promotions DiEliserio, directed by Andoy Ranay, and Boses will be mounted again this year. The revisited vision at ccpsalesandpromo@gmail.com.