Manila Standard - 2017 July 17 - Monday by Manila Standard

14 Jolo inmates bolt jail; 3 killed By Francisco Tuyay THREE inmates were killed Sunday and another was wounded after escaping from jail in Jolo, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group. The casualties were among 14 prisoners who escaped from a police station jail in the city, authorities said. Some of the inmates were linked to the kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf gang, said provincial police chief Senior Supt. Mario Buyuccan. “They cut the bars of the jail and jumped from the second ﬂoor to the roof of the municipal hall building next door. Our troops responded and the inmates were killed and wounded in hot pursuit operations,” Buyuccan said. “Some inmates are associated with the Abu Sayyaf.” The injured inmate was recaptured while soldiers

VOL. XXXI • NO. 153 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Troops press for Maute end Marawi residents told: Wait ’till fighting stops By Sandy Araneta

OVERNMENT forces continued to press their offensive Sunday against the remnants of the Maute group terrorists that overran Marawi City, clearing 60 more buildings previously used by the extremists.

ML extension up to Duterte By John Paolo Bencito DEFENSE Secretary Delﬁn Lorenzana on Sunday said he has submitted his assessment on the implementation of martial law to President Rodrigo Duterte, who will then decide military rule in Mindanao should be extended. “I have submitted my recommendation. Let us wait what the President will decide,” Lorenzana told Manila Standard in a text message. Duterte is expected to announce a decision on the extension of the martial law in Mindanao before it lapses on July 22, or two days before his second State of the Nation Address. Duterte placed Mindanao under martial law following the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City on May 23. Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Sunday said that any extension of martial law must not exceed the original 60-day period as provided by the 1987 Constitution. “We cannot have an unlimited or ‘unli’martial law in Mindanao,” Drilon, a former Justice secretary, said in an Next page

The military estimated there were only 60 terrorists left in the city, after killing 405 of them since fighting broke out on May 23. As the fighting entered its ninth week, government officials warned residents not to return to their homes yet as their safety could not be guaranteed.

WINSOME POSE. Karen Ibasco ﬂashes the winning pose that has won for her the title of Miss Philippines-Earth 2017 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, July 15. Ibasco gets the chance to represent the Philippines in the Miss Earth 2017 pageant in November. Right panel shows the beauty contest winners (from left): Miss Philippines Fire: Nellza Bautista Villanueva of Misamis Oriental; Miss Philippines Air: Kim De Guzman, Olongapo City; Miss Philippines Earth 2017; Karen Ibasco Manila; Miss Philippines Water: Jessica Marasigan,Caloocan City and Miss Eco-Tourism: Vanessa Mae Castillo, Lobo Batangas. The coronation night was held at the Mall of Asia Arena. Revoli Cortez

THE Court of Appeals has dismissed the petition ﬁled by victims of human rights violations during the Marcos administration seeking the enforcement of the ﬁnal judgment of a US court awarding them $2 billion in damages. In a 19-page decision, the CA’s Twelfth Division through Associ-

ate Justice Normandie Pizarro instead upheld the decision rendered by the Makati City Regional Trial Court dismissing the complaint for recognition and enforcement of foreign judgment ﬁled by Priscilla Mijares, Loretta Ann Rosales, Hilda Narciso Sr., Mariani Dimaranan and Joel Lamangan on behalf of the class plaintiffs in the US class action consisting of

By Rey E. Requejo

about 10,000 human rights victims during the dictator’s regime. The appellate court ruled that the ﬁnal judgment rendered by the Hawaii Court on Feb. 3, 1995 awarding a total of $1.964 billion in damages to human rights victims during the Marcos administration is not binding because the US court had no jurisdiction Next page

SENATOR Richard Gordon said Sunday he will push for a reopening of the Senate inquiry into the Mamasapano massacre, after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of criminal charges against former President Benigno Aquino III. “Why is it when powerful people are involved, they hesitate to let the truth come out?” he said in Filipino. Gordon hit the Office of the Ombudsman for recommending the filing of graft and usurpation of authority charges against

Oust-Leni campaign revived

Aquino, his former police chief Alan Purisima, and former Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas, saying the charges were weak. “I woud have ﬁled graver charges, multiple homicide through reckless imprudence,” he said, in line with the complaint ﬁled by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption before the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman, however, cleared Aquino of the homicide charge. Gordon said he may call Aquino to testify if the Senate reopens the Mamasapano hearing. “Nobody will be exempted

from this... He has to man up and face the consequences,” he added. In a separate radio dzBB interview, Aquino’s ally in the Liberal Party, Senator Franklin Drilon, said there was no need to reopen the Mamasapano hearing. The public order committee, then headed by Senator Grace Poe, had issued a report on the Mamasapano hearings, and found Aquino “ultimately responsible” for the carnage. The Justice department on Sunday supported the Ofﬁce of the Ombudsman holding Aquino criminally liable for the Mamasapano massacre in which 44 police commandos were killed. Next page

Back-on-duty policemen in mayor’s slay draw ﬂak

By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo and even Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno might face impeachment raps in August, Rep. Jericho Nograles said Sunday. He said he knew there would be an attempt to impeach the two officials. “But if there is someone who will file [against Robredo], there is already an endorser,” Nograles said. He said his camp also knew the people behind the plan but declined to name them. Earlier, two impeachment complaints filed against Robredo

Marawi residents to wait for the ﬁghting to stop before returning to their homes in the war-torn city. “We understand the sentiments of the residents of Marawi wanting to return home after being forced to ﬂee from the city,” said presidential apokesman Ernesto Abella. “The government, however, is concerned with the safety and welfare of all civilians, especially women and children,” said Abella. “There is no assurance that areas outside the main battle zone are already safe to live in, as cases of stray bullet victims have been reported. In addition, the clearing of the entire city of Marawi of IEDs [improvised explosive devices]

Gordon to reopen M’sapano inquiry

Court junks $2-b rights victims’ claim By Rey E. Requejo

At least one of the Maute brothers, Abdullah, was said to be leading the remaining terrorists. As of Saturday, government casualties had reached 95, while civilians killed by the terrorists stood at 45. Armed Forces public affairs ofﬁce chief Col. Edgard Arevalo sad 1,723 civilians have been rescued from the battle zone. Fighting broke out in Marawi City after government troops tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and the Islamic State “emir” in Southeast Asia on May 23. Hapilon is still at large, and it was unclear if he was still in Marawi City. The Palace on Sunday urged

BRAVERY. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte pins the wounded personnel medal to First Lieutenant Niño Paner during the Commander-in-Chief’s visit at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu on July 15, 2017. Paner was one of the soldiers wounded in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf Group on July 8, 2017. Presidential Photo

A GROUP of former government officials on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reverse the reinstatement of the policemen linked to the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. The group Former Senior Government Officials said the reinstatement of Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 of his men made the government look like it was condoning summary killings. “It displays Mr. Duterte’s contempt for national and international law and warns against expectations that the thousands of deaths from the drug war will undergo any credible investigation,” the group said in a statement. Some of the former government officials who signed the statement were Jose Cusia Jr.,

Karina David, Dinky Soliman and Florin Hilbay. Former Social Welfare Secratry Soliman said the government ignored the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Senate and the political and legal processes in reinstating Marcos and his men. An official earlier confirmed that Marcos was set to head the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Soccsksargen region. Senators were outraged after Marcos and his men were reinstated even though the results of a Senate probe into the Espinosa killing showed it had been premeditated. But Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella defended Duterte, Next page

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MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

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Phoenix leads oil price cuts PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines will cut pump prices by P0.50 per liter of diesel and P0.20 per liter of gasoline effective 6 a.m. today, Monday, the company said Sunday. The other oil companies were yet to announce if they would similarly cut prices as of press time. “Phoenix will decrease the prices of diesel by P0.50 per liter and gasoline by P0.20 per liter effective 6 a.m. of July 17, 2017,” Phoenix said in its advisory. Phoenix offered a 10-pesoper-liter discount across all products from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Tuesday last week at its 78 stations nationwide to celebrate the company’s 10th listing anniversary at the Philippine Stock Exchange. The discount offering caused trafﬁc jams near Phoenix stations in certain areas in Quezon City and other parts of Metro Manila. Last week, the oil ﬁrms raised pump prices by P1.20 per liter of diesel, P0.90 per liter of kerosene and P0.70 per liter of gasoline effective July 11. Alena Mae S. Flores

2 groups deny terror links T WO non-government organizations running two schools in the country on Sunday denied they were involved in terrorist activities as charged by Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur last week.

In a statement, senior ofﬁcials of the Integrative Center for Alternative Development Foundation Inc. or ICAD and Paciﬁc Dialogue Foundation Inc. or PDF said the schools were owned by the foundations set up by private Filipino and Turkish citizens. On Saturday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano ordered an investigation into an alleged Turkish terrorist group that had been in the Philippines since 1997. Cayetano said he had ordered

the Bureau of Immigration and Bureau of Customs to strictly enforce the law on foreign individuals and businessmen coming to the country. “First of all, let me thank the people of Turkey and the ambassador for their concern for the Philippines,” Cayetano said. “We are doing our own investigation together with other agencies that have the capability of doing that.” Cayetano said Foreign Affairs was verifying the alleged terror

links of the Fetullah Gulen Movement in Zamboanga. The foundations’ officials said the schools mentioned by the Turkish ambassador were offering secular education under the Cambridge system, and these were the FilipinoTurkish Tolerance School in Zamboanga City and Fountain International School in Metro Manila. The officials said these schools do not teach religion but accept students of all religious backgrounds as ICAD’s mandate was to promote peace and understanding through education among people of diverse cultures. “The schools’ students come from more than 20 countries, including children of foreign dignitaries, the foundations’ officials said in their statement. “With a Cambridge designed curriculum, aligned with [the Edu-

cation Department’s] standards, the schools focus on science and mathematics. Since its establishment in 1996, ICAD has graduated 358 from Manila and 773 from Zamboanga, around 150 of whom were scholars of ICAD.” The officials vowed full cooperation in a probe by Philippine authorities in response to the charges raised by the Turkish ambassador, and expressed confidence those would be found false. They said neither the Hizmet Movement nor its founder Fethullah Gulen had ever been involved in terrorist activities. The officials expressed support for Fethullah Gulen’s principles of openness and tolerance among all people by offering secular educational opportunities in the Philippines regardless of religion or beliefs.

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“It’s a welcome development. The factual bases of the resolution are by and large accurate,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said, in a text message on Sunday. Aguirre debunked the assertion of Aquino’s camp that the Ombudsman appeared to have misunderstood the facts in the case in approving his indictment before the Sandiganbayan. The Justice secretary said the findings of the anti-graft body on criminal liabilities of Aquino and former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima vindicated his former client, former PNP-Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr. “In fact, that was exactly his [Napeñas’] defense—that the liability was with higher officials and he was only following their orders,” he said. Prior to his appointment as DoJ chief, Aguirre served as lawyer of Napeñas—reportedly his relative—during the Senate inquiry and in succeeding criminal charges against the former police general. But Aguirre reserved his comment on the dissatisfaction of families of the so-called “SAF 44” because Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales dismissed their original complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide against Aquino and Purisima. “I have to yet to fully read the Ombudsman’s resolution to give a well studied opinion on the matter,” he said. The Ombudsman last week approved the indictment of the former president before the Sandiganbayan for usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Section 3 (a) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Aquino was found liable for allowing Purisima, who was suspended at the time as PNP chief due to a graft case, to play a “major role” in the raid. Purisima and Napeñas were ordered indicted together with Aquino. The deaths of the SAF commandos sparked public outrage and set back the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The trapped police commandos waited for reinforcements that never came. Purisima and Napeñas are already facing separate cases of graft and usurpation of authority before the Sandiganbayan also in connection with the Mamasapano massacre. The resolution, approved by Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales on July 1, resolved three separate complaints filed by the families of the slain SAF troopers in July and August last year, shortly after Aquino was stripped of immunity from suit following the end of his term.

They said the affiliated schools in about 150 countries, as allegedly linked to the same accusations by the Turkish ambassador, were legally operating in various countries including the United States, Belgium, France, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Germany. “At the outset, ICAD and PDF vehemently deny that they are terrorist organizations and that they participated in the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey,” the officials said. ““We do not and have never had any links with any group involved in terror attacks. “ICAD and PDF have never been involved in any criminal activities, much less terrorist activities in the Philippines or elsewhere. ICAD and PDF are also not affiliated with any terrorist organization.”

AFTER THE JAILBREAK. An armored truck is positioned in front of a police station in Jolo, Sulu in Mindanao on July 16, 2017 after 14 inmates bolted jail. Three of them were later killed by pursuing police who used K-9 and drones to track down the inmates. AFP

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and booby traps left by terrorists, unexploded ordnance and other explosives is still ongoing,” said Abella. “The danger and risks these pose still remain high,” said Abella. “For the safety of everyone, it is better to just wait for the end of hostilities and the completion of clearing operations,” said Abella. On Saturday, Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. urged organizers of the so-called “Occupy Marawi” to think twice before they force their way into the battle-scarred city as the plan would put people’s lives in danger.

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as the right to due process of all the unnamed claimants, as well as the respondent Marcos estate, had been violated. “To our minds, the failure of the final judgment to meet the standards of what a valid judgment is in our country compels us to deny its enforcement,” the CA said. “Rules of comity should not be made to prevail over our Constitution and we cannot allow foreign impositions to trample upon our sovereignty,” the appellate court added. It explained that the Hawaii District Court certified MDL 840 as a class suit, which should mean that the parties who file the case both for themselves and those they seek to represent share a common legal interest—“that is, the subject of the suit over which there exists a cause of action is common to all persons who belong to the group.” However, the appellate court said that in the final judgment issued by the Hawaii court and being sought to be enforced here, the purported claimants were classified into three subclasses according to the basis of their claims— namely, torture, summary execution and disappearance of victims.

“They said they already want to go home. We all want to go home, but how can we? The ﬁghting is continuing,” Adiong said. Adiong said unless the military gave its clearance, the safety of civilians who would return home could not be guaranteed. For his part, Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, spokesperson for Task Force Marawi, said those planning to go back to Marawi that the ﬁghting has not stopped. “Even in the capitol, which is considered relatively safe because it is outside of the main battle area, there are people being hit by stray bullets,” Herrera said. A group of women earlier said they planned to head back to the city on July 24, the day President Rodrigo Duterte was to deliver

his second State of the Nation Address. “Any right-minded Maranao and internally displaced person should go if only to show the world that we are coming home. We have been suffering in evacuation centers,” said Bai Sittie Marohomsar, a 52-year-old evacuee who echoed sentiments typically expressed by others displaced by the Marawi conflict. Marohomsar said they just want to go home. “We are not going to kill anyone … we are not going to fight with the government,” she said during a debriefing by a group of women in a Cagayan de Oro City hotel on Thursday. Adiong said he would help people return home, “but not now, not until the military gives

clearance.” Adiong said some quarters were taking advantage of the situation to push their own agenda and that certain civil society organizations, which he did not identify, “were not thinking about the welfare of the people.” “Please do not inject politics into this crisis. This is not the time to be politicking,” he said. Adiong said stray bullets have “rained” on the capitol and wounded at least three people since ﬁghting between government forces and Islamic Stateinspired gunmen from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups erupted on May 23. Earlier, Australian journalist Adam Harvey was the ﬁrst stray bullet victim. He survived a bullet to the neck.

According to the appellate court, such classification of the claimants is an obvious recognition that “no common question of law and fact exists between/ among the claimants.” “In other words, each claimant in MDL 840 had a right, if any, only to the damage that such individual may have suffered, and not one of them had any right to or can claim any interest in the damage or injury which another suffered,” it ruled. “Hence, MDL 840 was not and should not have been brought as a class suit.” The CA also ruled that the Hawaii Court failed to ensure that the 10 Filipino citizens who initiated MDL 840—Celsa Hilao, Josefina Hilao Forcadilla, Arturo Revilla, Jr., Rodolfo Benosa, Danila Fuente, Renato Pineda, Adora Faye de Vera, Domiciano Amparo, Christopher Sorio, and Jose Duran—were truly and legally authorized by the other purported claimants. It noted that Hilao, et al did not identify the other claimants they purportedly represented and also failed to present any power of attorney from any of them. “In the absence, therefore, of such authority, the final judgment rendered by said court is not binding because the right to due process of all the unnamed claimants,

as well as the herein respondent estate, had been violated,” the CA said. The appellate court added that the final judgment failed to meet the standards for a valid judgment considering that despite the complaint in MDL 840 was filed under the Anti Tort Claim Act, the said decision was, however rendered on the basis of a different law, presumably the Torture Victim Protection Act. ATCA is a law that grants jurisdiction to federal district courts over all causes where an alien sues for any harm resulting from a violation of international law, no matter where the harm occurred, or who inflicted the harm, as long as the plaintiff serves process in the US territory. The CA said the final judgment in MDL 840 used procedures, such as the classification of the purported claimants into subclasses, which are not provided for under the ATCA. Besides, the CA noted that the US Supreme Court had recently issued a ruling in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum that abandons previous rulings that the ATCA applies to claims involving human rights abuses or other international law alleged to have occurred in foreign countries. “Given the foregoing recent

development, it is our considered opinion that the instant ﬁnal judgment may not be enforced in this jurisdiction as it is clear that even the US Supreme Court has come to realize that American laws could not have jurisdiction over sovereign countries,” the CA pointed out. “As things stand, therefore, the claimants in MDL 840 have lost whatever right of action they may have under the ATS or the ATCA,” the decision said. Associate Justices Samuel Gaerlan and Jhosep Lopez concurred with the ruling.

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failed to get an endorsement from any member of the House of Representatives. Nograles cited House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s threat to ﬁle a separate complaint against Robredo and Sereno when Congress resumes its sessions on July 24. He said it was likely the complainants would approach him to seek his endorsement once the complaints had been ﬁled.

and policemen were chasing the remaining 10 escapees. The jail had a total of 32 inmates, mostly facing drug charges, Buyuccan added. In the country’s biggest jailbreak, more than 150 inmates escaped a prison in Mindanao in January after about a hundred gunmen stormed the facility. In May, Islamist militants waving black flags of the Islamic State group went on a rampage in the southern city of Marawi and freed 100 inmates from two jails there. The incident triggered an ongoing military offensive involving air strikes and artillery barrages to flush out the militants. Buyuccan said there was no connection between Sunday’s jailbreak and the fighting in Marawi, which had killed more than 500 people. Chief Supt Reuben Sindac, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said that 10 other inmates remained at large and the object massive manhunt by joint police and military forces. Sindac identified the slain detainees as Julbi Alinjani, Budda Basali and Midzar Sabli while the wounded and recaptured inmate as Gummi Maimbung. Sindac said military personnel equipped with drones and K-9 units helped the police track the jail breakers. With AFP

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interview with dzBB radio. “Given that the 1987 Constitution places utmost importance on our systems of checks and balances, any notion of perpetual or even a five-year martial law rule in any part of the country can never be allowed under the fundamental law,” he said. “Any declaration of Martial Law must be regularly reviewed, since it is the spirit of the present Constitution that that specific power of the President must be subject to a regular review. It should never be perpetual or even too long,” he said. In a statement issued by the Defense department, Lorenzana, chairman of the Task Force Bangon Marawi to rebuild and rehabilitate the war-torn city, said the work ahead after the fighting is even more daunting given the extent of damage done to the city. “We earnestly look forward to the end of fighting because we want our Maranao brothers and sisters who have left their homes to go back, reconstitute their interrupted lives and partner with us on how we can rebuild Marawi into a better and more beautiful city,” Lorenzana said.

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saying the President complied with the law and other procedures when he favored the reinstatement. Marcos was head of the PNPCIDG in Central Visayas when his men shot dead Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap, at the Leyte sub-provincial jail.

News

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Lawyers go after housing mess By Rio N. Araja

HE Commission on Audit has given the Pag-IBIG—Home Development Mutual Fund the green light to enlist the services of the Yorac Arroyo Chua Caedo and Coronel Law Firm to handle cases of housing irregularities involving Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. and its developer Delfin Lee.

In a five-page decision released on July 14, CoA’s Commission Proper ruled to partially grant the request of Pag-IBIG Fund to lift certain conditions earlier imposed by the CoA’s Office of the General Counsel,

Legal Services Sector on the payment for legal services to the law firm. CoA chairman Michael Aguinaldo, along with Commissioners Jose Fabia and Isabel Agito, affirmed that payment

of hourly rate or time charge to lawyers appearing in various Globe Asiatique/Delfin Lee cases was allowable, citing the complicated nature of the lawsuits and the amount of assets involved. CoA also granted to charge the out-of-pocket expenses, including claims for transportation and accommodation by the handling lawyers. But its Commission Proper overruled the billing of additional acceptance or retainer fees amounting P200,000 for additional cases arising from the same issue on top of the P1 million already paid under the original retainer proposal. Pag-IBIG raised from the

four “highly complicated cases” of two counts of estafa, syndicated estafa, and specific performance and damages suit in 2010, the law firm is now handling 23 cases, including nine before the Supreme Court en banc and 10 pending before various Pampanga courts. CoA declined granting additional P200,000 acceptance fees for the new cases “for being unreasonable.” Lee and Global Asiatique were accused of double sale to various buyers of subdivision housing units that had already been mortgaged or used as collateral for housing loans from Pag-IBIG Fund.

Due to the volume of cases and defendants and complexity of the issues, CoA said it was only proper to grant time charges or hourly rates subject only to the condition that the sum shall not exceed the amount set under the certificate of availability of funds. “We are aware of the exceptional and delicate nature of the cases currently handled by the Yorac Law Firm for the HDMF. With over a billion pesos involved in these alleged scandal of double sale, fictitious and special buyers and fraudulent documentations, full commitment is extremely necessary to ensure proper representation in courts,” its report said.

MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Former President Fidel V. Ramos (seated, center) does the thumbs-up sign with Nebu Alejandrino (Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s Chief of Staff),

Gen. Mitch Templo, veteran newsman Ben Cal, FVR family biographer Melandrew Velasco and RPDEV staff following a surprise visit at the National Defense building at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday to do an ocular of the building’s social hall, venue of the ‘Make Things Happen’ book launch on Monday, July 17, 2017 (Monday), 4:00 p.m. at the DND Social Hall, DND Building, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. As with earlier volumes in this series, Volume XII will be launched in time for the next State of the Nation Address, the second one by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, scheduled on July 24, 2017 in a Joint Session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa.

Broadband fund source identified BUHAY Party-List Rep. Joselito Atienza said on Sunday telecommunications firms must help pay for President Rodrigo Duterte’s national broadband network project that would improve public access to highspeed Internet services in areas with inadequate connectivity. “The President, who can be very forceful, should consider simply telling telecommunications service providers to put up a counterpart fund that would help pay for project. And they might just readily comply without complaining,” he said. “After all, these telecommunications companies have been raking in billions of pesos in profits every year from the use of our airwaves that are wholly owned by the State.” He said the government must not foot the bill for such project. “Besides, why should government alone shoulder the full cost of a project that is meant to extend a service that these telecoms firms should be providing to begin with?” “We are absolutely supportive of the President’s goal to deliver superior Internet services to the countryside. The lack of access to broadband is a roadblock to faster social and economic development.” He lamented the inaccessibility of the Internet services to thousands of public schools. “Our schoolchildren in the provinces are being deprived of the benefits of Internet access that their counterparts in highly urbanized areas are enjoying fully,” he said. Last March, the President directed the rollout of a national broadband network that could cost up to P200 billion, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said. Rio Araja

FVR book launching ahead of 2nd Sona

FORMER President Fidel V. Ramos will launch his latest book titled “Make Change Work!” on July 17, 2017 (Monday) 4:00 p.m. at the DND Social Hall, DND Building, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The book is co-published by the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation and the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. and it is logged as Volume XII of a series compilations of selected “sermons” from FVR column “On Empowering The Filipino People” in the Manila Bulletin every Sunday. As with earlier volumes in this series, Volume XII will be launched in time for the next State of the Nation Address, the second one by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, scheduled on July 24, 2017 at a Joint Session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa. As the title “Make Change Work!” suggests, this book aims to serve as a reference to the Filipino people and our leaders in achieving and effecting genuine change. Reflecting on our histories as a nation, it seems that the triumphs we have achieved are almost always equally offset by setbacks, constantly slowing the progress we make as a people. Given the recent events happening around the word such as the terrorist attacks in Marawi, Kabul, Paris, and London, the worsening effects of the climate change, and the increasing interconnectedness of the world, it is only apt that we as Filipinos start rethinking on our role as citizens of this planet we call Earth, and how we could be able to contribute to the positive change our world currently needs, FVR said. The book is part of of RPDEV’s continuing education advocacies and publication program areas namely: Enduring peace in the Asia-Pacific region, sustainable development, socioeconomic diplomacy, and democratic governance.

China schools beckon to Pinoy English tutors By Macon Araneta BEIJING—After the renewal of bilateral ties between the Philippines and China following President Rodrigo Duterte’s assumption of office, Beijing has set its sights on hiring Filipino teachers to teach in Mainland universities, said Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana. Although there are already Filipino teachers in China, Sta.

Romana said majority of them are handling preschool and grade school levels. He said the Chinese education officials are now coordinating with their counterparts in the Philippines’ Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education with regard to the qualification of the English Filipino teachers who can work in China. “They are laying the ground work. As long as you have qualification, meaning college degrees

particularly in teaching English, not only in elementary and high school but also in university. You have to have competitive degree,” said Sta. Romana. He related that talks are underway and Chinese authorities are conducting studies on how to handle this. “They are asking their counterpart agencies from the Philippines,” he added. “They laid the groundwork, meaning college degrees particularly in teaching English or

Nominations open for top CA post, 99 court judges By Rey E. Requejo THE Judicial Bar Council has announced the acceptance of nominations and applications for the post of Court of Appeals presiding justice, which was left vacant following the promotion of Associate Justice Andres Reyes as the new magisrtrate of the Supreme Court. Reyes took his oath Friday as the the third appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte in the 15-member bench. Reyes took over the position vacated by Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes who reached his compulsory retirement age of 70 on July 6, 2017. The former CA presiding justice was chosen from a shortlist of seven nominees submitted by the JBC. He topped the list after earning the unanimous votes of all seven members of the council tasked to vet nominees to judicial posts. Duterte earlier appointed Sandiganbayan Samuel Martires and CA Associate Justice Noel Tijam to the SC.

The President is also expected to appoint another SC magistrate to replace Associate Justice Jose Mendoza who will retire on August 13, 2017. President Duterte is expected to appoint at least 12 justices in the SC during his six-year term. The JBC concurrently chaired by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno also announced the opening for nomination for 99 vacancies for various courts in Region 4, composes of the provinces Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan, Quezon, Rizal and Romblon. Filing of nominations or application for judges of regional trial courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities in Southern Tagalog. The deadline for filing of applications or recommendations and complete documentary requirements is on Aug. 29, considering the date of actual receipt by the JBC of the application and complete documentary requirements shall be deemed as the date of filing.

education that you can actually teach not only in elementary and high school and also in the university if you have that competitive degree,” he also said. Sta. Romana said China is now planning to open opportunities for Filipinos’ legitimate employment as English teachers. “They expanded their definition of English-speaking countries. Because before, the concentration was native-speaking. And included therein is any

country where English is taught. They said native-speaking countries and countries that were colonized by these English-speaking countries,” Sta Romana told visiting Filipino journalists in China during an interview at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing. Under the expanded definition, he said the Philippines is included because it was colonized by the US colony and English is taught and spoken widely in the country.

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT of AGRARIAN REFORM ELLIPTICAL ROAD, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY • TELS. 928-7031 TO 39

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 04 Series of 2017 Subject : AMENDMENT OF SECTION 2 OF A. O. NO. 2, SERIES OF 2017 ENTITLED, “EXTENSION OF SPECIAL RULES ON APPLICATIONS FOR LAND USE CONVERSION NECESSARY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF RESETTLEMENT AREAS FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY TYPHOON YOLANDA”, EXPANDING THE TERRITORIAL APPLICATION TO INCLUDE REGION VI In view of requests from various government agencies and private stakeholders, Section 2. Territorial Application of A.O. No. 2, Series of 2017 is hereby amended to include Region VI among the covered areas specifically the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo. All orders, circulars, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, modified or superseded accordingly. This Order shall take effect five (5) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, and will adhere to the date of expiration of A.O. No. 2, Series of 2017. JUNE 30 2017, Diliman, Quezon City. RAFAEL V. MARIANO Secretary Standard – July 17, 2017

Opinion

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

EDITORIAL

Nobody is above the law

HE decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to reinstate a police superintendent and 18 of his men despite pending homicide cases against them is disturbing on many levels.

First, no less than a Senate investigation had recommended murder charges be ﬁled against Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 of his men, after they raided a Leyte sub-provincial jail and shot dead Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap in November 2016. At the hearings, senators from both sides of the political fence found Marcos’ ac-

Adelle Chua, Editor

count—that a swarm of armed policemen were defending themselves after two inmates, against all logic, pulled out pistols and shot at them—to be incredible. This was in line with the ﬁndings of a National Bureau of Investigation probe that Espinosa and Yap were killed in a rubout, and not a shootout as the raiding policemen claimed. The NBI

also pointed out that it was impossible for Espinosa and Yap to possess ﬁrearms and illegal drugs in their cells, which were recently included in a jail-wide search for contraband. Despite these recommendations, the Justice department downgraded the murder charges to homicide, allowing Marcos and company to go free on bail, serve their administrative suspension, then go back to active duty. Mr. Duterte makes it a point to note that Marcos had been suspended and served his suspension and can therefore be put back to work. He said he didn’t care

about the possible repercussions of his move despite the serious allegations against him. “There’s a case against him? So what? The son-of-abitch criminal can invoke presumption of innocence, and the government can’t?” Duterte said in Filipino. This brings us to the second troubling argument, which, at ﬁrst blush, seems eminently reasonable. Why shouldn’t policemen be afforded the same presumption of innocence that ordinary criminal suspects get? The fact is, policemen are given the same presumption of innocence. Until Marcos and his men are

proved guilty in a court of law, they must be presumed to be innocent. This presumption of innocence, however, should not extend to returning them to a position in which they can abuse their power or ofﬁce, particularly since they have not yet been acquitted of such charges. In comparing policemen to common criminals, Mr. Duterte also undercuts the long-held belief that public ofﬁcials—particularly those in law enforcement, should be held to a higher standard than ordinary citizens. But perhaps the most disturbing of all of Mr. Duterte’s pronouncements is the prom-

ise that he will pardon Marcos if he is convicted. Given the glacial pace at which our court system proceeds, of course, this seems more like rhetoric than a serious promise. After all, it is likely that Mr. Duterte’s term will have run out before a judgement his handed down in the Leyte rubout case. Still, the President’s promise to pardon all convicted policemen who are “doing their jobs” could be taken by law enforcers to be carte blanche to do whatever they want, even break the law. And we all know that nobody is above the law—not even presidents.

A sense of urgency

The judiciary in a federal Philippines WHERE you have two parallel political entities—the nation (or the Federal Republic) and the region (or the state)—then, as you have parallel legislatures and parallel executives, albeit subject to the supremacy rubric that must be inscribed into the Constitution, then it seems to follow as matter of necessity that there should also be parallel courts: regional courts and federal courts. But when we are reminded that there are many courts now over which no judges preside because the Bench is not too attractive to lawyers with high-paying and highly placed clients, then that does not seem like a very practicable proposal. The judiciary presently receives less than one percent, perhaps a little more, of the national budget. Many court houses are decrepit, and the salas of many courts do not inspire regard for the majesty of the law at all. It would be an ill-advised move to create another set of courts to compound the already existing problem. But the question of state or re-

gional courts is not only a matter of deciding cases and resolving disputes. It also has to do with checking state power and making available the necessary counter-weight within the state that the principle of checks and balances requires. The small claims courts must be separate courts—going by very simple rules that allow litigants to deal with their own cases pro se, by themselves. In this respect the simplified rules proposed by retired Justice Roberto Abad but apparently abandoned since his departure from the court should be helpful. The threshold of jurisdiction in civil cases should be increased so that these courts make a difference in the resolution of disputes that are not disposed of by mediation—whether courtannexed or voluntary. Our present first-level trial courts can very well be the courts of general jurisdiction for the region. In civil cases, they will take cognizance over all claims

This is a sketch of how things can be.

arising out of transactions, acts and relations within the region. In criminal cases, their jurisdiction is determined by the locus criminis… so that they pass judgment on the accused in crimes committed within the region. Even when resolving cases involving a common civil code, or a common penal code, or common corporation code (unless the region passes its own codes and is allowed to by the revised Constitution), there should be no need for another layer of courts to take cognizance over these “federal cases,” since the incorporation clause written into the charter

of each region automatically makes the national codes also regional codes. Our present Regional Trial Courts will have dual complexion, and this is not by any means unique. They are appellate courts in respect to judgments of what are now the First-Level Trial Courts that will be the region’s courts of general jurisdiction. But the present RTCs will also be federal courts when they try federal cases: contracts, transactions, deeds that cut across regions, or crimes the elements of which are committed in different regions, or that the national Congress defines as federal offenses. To rid the Supreme Court of the multifarious cases that swamp and cripple it—particularly appeals from lower courts and quasi-judicial bodies, the Court of Appeals must be thoroughly regionalized, with such a court in every region. Once more, it will have a dual character: on the one hand, it will be the regional supreme court in

relation to judgments rendered by the region’s courts of general jurisdiction, and already passed upon by the present RTCs sitting as appellate courts. But it will also be the court of appeals from the present RTCs sitting as federal courts of first instance. The regional court of appeals—siting as the region’s supreme court—has to be a collegiate court so that the benefits of collective deliberation and consensus are not missed. Only cases that raise a truly constitutional issue will be allowed, by certiorari to reach the Philippine Supreme Court, and it will be for the regional court of appeals to determine whether or not such a question does indeed arise, for lawyers are extremely clever at clothing neighborhood disputes over fallen fruit or pestilential dogs with the guise of constitutional issues bearing transcendental gravity! Challenges to state action— such as allegations of invalidity Turn to A5

A SEGMENT of the intelligentsia never tire of twitting the President for not insisting on our “historic” and “glorious” victory before the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West Philippine versus South China Sea issue. In a forum last week to “celebrate” the “landmark decision” at Den Haag, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio rued that President Duterte had “dropped the ball,” losing it just when he already held it and would only need to shoot. Duterte, as we realize after the fact, was just being practical. A decision such as that which favored us “legally” cannot be enforced except by using force against force. Force that we do not have; force that our so-called “allies” are not willing to expend to assist us. That, unfortunately, is the political reality that a leader must face. We can beat our breasts as much and as loudly as we want, but for what? To engage the “enemy” with force we do not have will make the so-called victory merely pyrrhic. How many lives must we expend for a foolhardy adventure to stake our claim? Would the United States of America—who a big segment of our population still looks up to as some kind of savior— come to our succor? Hah! They forsook us in Corregidor, because Australia was more important to defend, even if we were their prized colony in Asia back in 1941. We lost so many lives during that war which was not of our making. And when they finally “liberated” us, the American forces led by “Emperor” Douglas MacArthur destroyed Manila through thousands of aerially dropped bombs such that only Warsaw in Poland was more obliterated in the whole world. Who, then, would enforce the decision? The United Nations, which is more a debating club where “small” nations have little voice, and only the mighty permanent members of the Security Council matter? Before an intransigent permanent member like China, likely to be supported by Russia, what can the UN do? Send “peacekeeping” forces into the South China Sea? The problem is simple: Duterte knows his people. Those who carp about his “sellout” to the Chinese need to know the Filipino psyche and character better. Turn to A5

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

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Opinion

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Metro traffic madness THERE’S a new man at the helm of the Metro Manila Development Authority. But whether he can solve the monstrous traffic problem of the metropolis remains a big question mark. Retired Brig. General Danilo Lim comes with all the credentials needed for the job. He is a Philippine Military Academy graduate . He also attended West Point in the US and trained at Fort Benning in Georgia. But he is best remembered for his role in the attempted coup d’etat against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Imprisoned at Camp Crame from 2006 to 2010, he was later pardoned. While Lim has the credentials for the MMDA job, the awesome task of taming the Metro’s traffic madness might need more than sterling qualifications. Among those who want Lim to succeed is Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza. The former three-term Manila mayor said he sat down with Lim recently and poured out his frustrations on how Lim’s predecessors at the MMDA squandered solutions that could have at least alleviated the worsening traffic woes. Lim listened to Lito but whether he would implement measures to ease the urban traffic problem is another thing. For one, the perennial problem should also be coor-

dinated with the Department of Transportation which has supervision over the dysf u nct ional Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit . “Adding another day in the number coding scheme is not the solution. People who can afford it will just buy another car adding to the volume of vehicles on the road, ” said Atienza as he pointed out the reason for the increase every year in the number of vehicles. Without a viable and efficient mass public transportation system, our roads will continue to be clogged with vehicles as commuters seek alternatives of getting to work and school. Without a working public transport system, the traffic problem can only get worse. The proliferation of provincial buses plying Metro Manila’s main roads contribute to the choked flow of traffic. Atienza said he cannot understand why the LTRFB and the LTO continue to allow the buses to clog Edsa even as their operators put up bus terminals inside the Metro Manila. These bus terminals should only be located at the city boundaries . One, at the corner of Taft Avenue and Buendia, serves as the terminal for

southern Luzon buses often resulting resulting in gridlock in the area. While Atienza conceded that what he is saying is nothing new, he said the problem is that the LTFRB and LTO continue to issue franchises to buses, Uber and Grab taxis. Hmm. Why? Atienza does not want to imply any collusion between bus operators and LTFRB, LTO officials, But this is something commuters and motorists talk about in whispers even as they cope with the daily grind of Metro Manila’s traffic madness. The Duterte administration is embarking on a massive Build, Build Build infrastructure program to add more roads, skyways and bridges. But at the same time, the car dealers continue to make money as they sell, sell, sell. The result is that the volume of vehicles outpace the opening of new roads. Is a staggered working hours or a four-day work week the solution? That may be difficult to implement as that would depend on companies and commercial establishments whose productivity might be affected. Enforcing traffic rules to solve

the problem would need the cooperation of local governments in Metro Manila. Lim has to seek the cooperation of city mayors in clearing alternate streets from being used as parking space or basketball courts Atienza also suggests the construction of two more bridges under the government’s Build Build Build program. He laments motorists’ mindset that the only way to get from Quezon City, Pasig , Mandaluyong and San Juan to Makati is over the Guadalupe Bridge along Edsa. “Metro Manila mayors must look beyond their parochial interests. Perhaps a return to the Metro Manila governing council conceptualized by former first lady and Metro Manila governor Imelda Marcos might be the answer, said Atienza as he cites the need to coordinate the management of interlocking traffic flows within cities. Does that sound like the former Manila mayor is looking at a return to local politics ? That, he said is a little far off as he still has two years as Buhay Party-List representative in Congress. But since Lito did not totally rule it out, another run as Manila mayor is in the realm of the possible. Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is 80 and at that age the complexities and challenges of running a city could be more than he can handle.

Energy security to sustain growth A CONSIDERABLE swath of the Visayas—including entire provinces—succumbed to days-long blackouts following the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Leyte last week. The tremor damaged facilities in Ormoc and Samar, prompting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to place the Visayas grid under yellow alert as reserve power supply plummeted below the minimum of 647 MW. As of Saturday, July 15, power has been restored in the Leyte capital Tacloban and some parts of the province, but supply remains unstable resulting in continuous power interruptions. Notwithstanding the impaired facilities and transmission lines, that NGCP has been scrambling to source power from neighboring islands serves to underscore the crucial need for adequate supply buffers, especially during emergency situations (the central part of Negros Occidental, including the capital Bacolod, was spared from the blackouts because of approved reserve load). Going by the Philippines’ inherent and man-made vulnerabilities to natural disasters, this need becomes even more urgent, if not an utter necessity. The timely restoration of electricity after a calamity is crucial not only in guaranteeing the continuation of everyday life

but sometimes a matter of survival and, after that, the rebuilding of the local economy. An adequate, stable power supply has long eluded the Philippines. This, even as the Energy Regulatory Commission seems to dilly-dally on the approval of pending power supply agreements, which industry groups say is crucial in economic development. The Federation of Philippine Industries, an umbrella group that comprises 34 industry associations and 120 corporations, said the delays in more than 90 PSAs significantly affect the development of baseload power plants that can produce reliable, roundthe-clock electricity. Manufacturers, which create much-needed jobs, need stable and reliable energy supply for their unhampered operations, the group said. Affordable, stable energy also translates to cheaper production costs for the industrial, agricultural, and services sectors of the economy, which in turn can translate to cheaper goods and services and, broadly, a more vibrant economy. The inaction, they noted, also seems contrary to the spirit of

A sense... From A4

Without meaning to denigrate our fellows, just look at what happened to Andres Bonifacio in history. He wanted to fight to the last, only to be deserted by the rest. The enemy was simply too big to be vanquished. Mere valor and raw courage would not produce victory. What eventually happened? The Katipuneros deserted the Supremo, choosing the path of lesser resistance. “Tigas-ulo” and that Tagalog expression called “tigas—’’ does not pay off. Those who keep resurrecting the issue of the China “detente” and twit Duterte for being “less than macho” in various fora and in media, social as well as mainstream, do not quite know the Filipino. They can flog the issue forever. They can wave the flag forever. But they will not dent his public approval on this issue. Look at the latest survey results. *** The President will deliver the State of the Nation Address next Monday before the joint session of Congress and the people. Secretary Ben Diokno recently said that for the first time in history, the President

The judiciary... From A4 or grave abuse of discretion— will be passed upon by the regional court of appeals sitting in exercise of federal jurisdiction, with review by the Philippine Supreme Court available only on very limited grounds. But challenges of intrusion into state prerogatives, or usurpation of

President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 30, which created an Energy Investing Coordinating Council, envisioned to lead national government efforts to harmonize, integrate, and streamline regulatory processes, requirements, and is relevant to the development of energy investments in the country. Energy security is also a pillar in the government’s ambitious and much-lauded Build Build Build mantra, geared to boost and rehabilitate the country’s crumbling infrastructure. ERC’s slow action is ostensibly in reaction to calls by some groups who are against coal-based power plants for environmental grounds. It is important to put this into context. The country’s use of coal is miniscule vis-à-vis the rest of the region. In 2016, the Philippines consumed nearly half of what Malaysia and Vietnam used, just a third of Taiwan’s, and almost a fifth of Indonesia’s. In particular, anti-coal groups have targeted seven coal plants that entered into PSAs with Meralco in 2016, which all in all could produce a total of some 3,500 MW of stable and affordable energy for some 20-million Filipinos in Met-

will submit his budget for 2018 for congressional deliberation as early as on the opening session of Congress, simultaneous with his Sona. It’s a big one—P3.7 trillion. Which is fine, as properly placed government spending is the biggest driver of economic growth in a developing nation such as ours which has been trying for the longest time to finally take off. And I have no doubt that our economic managers know whereof they are coming, and where they want this nation to go. We have been so left behind by our neighbors in public infrastructure that catching up is a monumental undertaking. So many years have been laid to waste by inaction and indecision, and sure, we must cash in on the fact that we have a decisive, no-nonsense leader at last. What I worry about is the absorptive capacity of our bureaucracy. The Commission on Audit has recently taken some departments and agencies to task for their “under-spending,” their inability to use up the funds allocated to them by Congress. Sure, CoA reports straddle the transition period between PNoy and Digong. But judging from reports we get from the field and from many agencies, the first year of

national powers shall fall within the exclusive cognizance of the Philippine Supreme Court. The matter of the Bar will be interesting—and challenging. In an earlier piece, I suggested that some regions might be empowered to enact their own codes, in an asymmetrical federation. This will mean that a special Bar will be accredited for such regions, very much like the present Sharia’h Bar, and

ro Manila and nearby provinces, including Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and parts of Batangas and Quezon. The demand for power in the growing cities and municipalities in these provinces cannot be sidelined arbitrarily. The opposition, paired with the glaring lack of alternative to this ready supply, is suspicious at best. Given the expensive and paltry capacity provided by wind and solar facilities, it is fair to ask who could possibly benefit from this concerted campaign to pressure the ERC. If the seven coal plants are successfully blocked who will be happy to come in to take over the lost base load capacity and at what cost? Thus, the ERC must carefully consider the strategic impact of its policy decisions on energy security and ensure adequate supply of electricity at the lowest cost. The nature of the power sector as a long-term, high-investment industry must enter the picture. It must recognize the false dichotomy between energy security and environmental protection. The development of renewable resources can go hand-in-hand with improving energy efficiency and allowing our industries to exploit economic opportunities to sustain our growth and create millions of jobs. If we want more development, we need more megawatts now.

this presidency has been marked by too long a learning curve. The President and his economic managers have “hit the ground running” but seriously, the bureaucracy and their new or retained managers have not been in step. The President keeps warning his officials about being engaged in corruption, which aside from drugs and criminality, he abhors with a passion. He has made examples among those perceived to be close to him, on the basis even of “just a whiff of corruption.” But there does not seem to be an infectious sense of urgency in government. People who should be working their butts off in feverish catch-up are stalling, still going about with lethargic pace. They do a great disservice both to the President and to the public whose expectations have been quite high after electing a decisive leader overwhelmingly. Five years is too short, and before you know it, the days and weeks will have given the term of the President short shrift. I hope the Sona next Monday becomes a declaration of a real sense of urgency beyond the drug war, and gets the Build Build Build program taking off beyond mantra. The President should use the whip, just as a cochero does to get the horse to go faster. Public patience is not a permanent given.

that admission to practice in one region is now guarantee of admission to practice in others. But the problem of providing for interstate practice should not be unsurmountable. I return to one proposal I have consistently made. There should be a distinct article in the Constitution creating a Constitutional Court—distinct from the Philippine Supreme Court—whose sole jurisdic-

tion is over disputes involving the three branches of government, such as the present standoff between the Lower House and the Court of Appeals, on which a good mix of lawyers, jurists, political scientists and politicians —including former presidents (as in the case of the French Constitutional Council) should sit, with absolutely no jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters. Truly a “po-

Faith in the justice system THE institutions enshrined in our Constitution to put to the bar of justice those who commit crimes or acts of corruption are working. Two events of the past week demonstrate this in unmistakable terms. On Friday last week, the Ombudsman, Conchita CarpioMorales, a retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, issued a resolution indicting former Philippine president, Benigno Aquino III, for usurpation of authority and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over the botched police operation to arrest a Malaysian terrorist leading to the death of 44 Special Action Force personnel in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015. The resolution by the Ombudsman was especially significant because it came at a time when events have been pointing to the disturbing trend of vigilante killings where unidentified people take the law into their own hands. Vigilante killing is a sign that people no longer trust the justice system to work, or that they think the length of time for prosecuting criminals and convicting them to answer for their crimes Two is not acceptable. Take the case of the events of the Carlos family maspast week sacred in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan in the demonstrate last week of June. Five this in were killed, including three very young chilunmistakable dren, while the chilterms. dren’s mother, aged 35, and grandmother, aged 58, were both raped. In the days that followed, three “persons of interest” were summarily executed—one after the other—their bodies left with a placard saying “Drug addict at rapist ako, wag tularan (I’m a drug addict and a rapist, do not follow my ways.)” One of them was found with four fingers and his sexual organ cut off. Before the Resolution by the Ombudsman, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, an anti-crime watchdog, has been threatening the Ombudsman with impeachment for not indicting Aquino along with former Budget secretary, Florencio Abad, over the Disbursement Acceleration Program which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Recall that the DAP was alleged to have been used by the Palace during Aquino’s term as president to bribe the senators to convict impeached chief Justice Renato Corona. Because the Ombudsman was an appointee of Aquino, the VACC claimed that she excluded the former president from the indictment and filed charges at the Sandiganbayan only against Abad. Thus, the Ombudsman’s indictment of Aquino now for usurpation of authority under Art. 177 of the Revised Penal Code and for violation of Sec. 3(a) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for persuading a public officer to violate rules and regulations is a single act that can effectively restore the people’s confidence in our institutions and the judicial system. Before Aquino, the former Police director general, Alan Purisima and SAF director, Getulio Napeñas were charged by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan in January of this year for the same offense. In the eyes of the public, all the pillars of justice, from law enforcement to prosecution to judicial proceedings to the rendering of judgments, are a continuum of but one system—the judicial system. A failure in one pillar affects the people’s confidence in the entire judicial system. One other incident that effectively brought back the people’s faith in law enforcement and police investigation was the use of forensic evidence, such as DNA testing, by the police in investigating the Bulacan massacre. The DNA taken from the main suspect, Carmelino Ibañez, matched the swabs taken from the genitals of victim Estrella Carlos, proving that he had raped her. Ibañez’ DNA likewise matched the blood stains on the knife used in the killing of Estrella, Auring Dizon, the mother of Estrella, and the kids, Ella and Dexter. This made the police conclude that another knife must have been used to kill Donny, the eldest child of the Carlos spouses and that the main suspect, Ibañez, was not alone in committing the murders. Before this, the police have been stereotyped as using torture to extract confessions rather than solving crimes by evidence gathering and analysis. Add to this positive developments the latest move by the Supreme Court to speed up criminal proceedings in trial courts. Now, the system of continuous trial for criminal cases is in place. Soon, it is hoped, vigilantes will stop taking the law in their own hands. Not only are their acts unlawful—no matter how well-intentioned--they also destroy the institutions established by the Constitution to build a healthy and working democratic society for all Filipinos. Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

litical” court—in the sense that it resolves disputes having to do with the very structure of the body-politic but renders judgments in accordance with the Constitution and sound political theory! This is a sketch of how things can be—and it may very well be the case that how things eventually turn out will be far distant from these preliminary

musings. But in doing groundbreaking work like establishing a Federal Republic, I think that the travaux preparatoires should be sufficiently capacious to admit of all well-meant, wellintentioned, well-thought of proposals. rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

News

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

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CHED must clarify free tuition rules for SUCs By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Nancy Binay has called on the Commission on Higher Education to clarify its rules and regulations on its free tuition policy in state colleges and universities, which she described “vague.” While CHED and the Department of Budget and Management released in April a joint memorandum circular guiding the grant of free tuition to SUCs for 2017, Binay said it was not clear whether there will be a full or partial subsidy. “CHED’s memo regarding free tuition for SUCs is unclear. Our call is for them to immediately clarify this, especially now that enrollment period is over in many SUCs,” Binay said. The senator made the appeal following the decision of the University of the PhilippinesDiliman to temporarily stop collecting tuition for the ﬁrst semester until the government makes clear its plan on free education. “With the high tuition fee in UPD now, it is not clear if the free tuition policy will cover the entire P1,500 per unit cost, considering that around 16,000 are undergraduates here,” Binay said.

WORRY-FREE. Children enjoy playing on a concrete drainage pipe along Ragang Street in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Govt to spend P497m for FA-50 maintenance THE Department of National Defense has earmarked P497.05 million for the acquisition of spare parts and other components needed for an unscheduled maintenance of the newly acquired FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea. The FA-50s, known as the “Fighting Eagle,” were part of an P18.9-billion contract for 12 units with South Korea. With a top speed of Mach 1.5, or one and a half times the speed of sound, and fitted with air-to-air missiles and heat-seeking missiles, the fighter jets were used in operations against the Maute terrorist group which has been holed up in Marawi City since May 23. The jets, however, have been grounded after a “friendly fire” incident killed two soldiers and injured 11 others last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. “The FA-50 will momentarily be pulled out from deployment until the investigation is finished and once we ascertain the reason why the bombs went off target,” AFP

spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said. “The AFP is suspending the use of that particular aircraft. For any further airstrike until such time that the cause of the accident has been determined, or the failure of the equipment has been determined,” he added. This was the second time troops were killed in a friendly fire incident in Marawi. In May, an Air Force SF260 jet dropped its payload on members of the 55th Infantry Battalion, killing 10 soldiers. Despite the incidents, Padilla said the FA-50 has been effective in providing air support. “The success rate of the aircraft is very high. Out of the 70 plus missions, this is the only time when you had one wayward bomb that didn’t hit its target,” he said. While the Korean jets are grounded, the military can still use its other air assets, including the OV 10 and MG-520 bombers, and attack helicopters against terrorist positions in Marawi City, Padilla said.

Fight environmental terrorism—Congress A

LAWMAKER has called on Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to intensify the government’s campaign against wildlife trafﬁcking in the country, which she described as a form of environmental terrorism.

Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato made the call following reports that the Philippine National Police recovered 70 dead marine turtles, locally called pawikan, in the northern Palawan town of Dumaran last week. Like Palawan, Occidental Mindoro boasts of diverse wildlife, Sato said, adding that the Mimaropa Region where the provinces belong to is teeming with natural wonders and diversity of wildlife.

Mindoro island is host to the iconic Philippine tamaraw, also known as the Mindoro dwarf buffalo—a critically endangered endemic species found only on the island. It is also a pathway of migratory marine wildlife, including marine turtles, making it vulnerable to wildlife trafficking as well. Sato said the turtles were discovered in a large motorboat off the shore of Barangay Bacao. The police have filed charges for violation of the Wildlife Act against two individuals identified only as Rico Gonzales and Kim Aristotiles from Taytay. “We need to intensify the campaign against wildlife trafficking and go after unscrupulous individuals who mercilessly hunt our already threatened wildlife,” said Sato, a member of the House committee on ecology. She said Cimatu, as a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has

the military expertise and experience which he can use to combat the rampant illegal wildlife trade. “I appeal to Secretary Cimatu to do something to protect our precious wildlife, too. Prevention is always better than cure. We can save them from wildlife trafﬁcking,” she added. The Philippines is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world but at the same time, it is also one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots due to the rapid rate of biodiversity loss. Sato noted that wildlife trafﬁcking is being facilitated, if not perpetrated, by locals themselves. “We should work doubly hard to protect our biodiversity against all forms of environmental terrorism that undermine our natural wealth—including our already endangered and threatened wildlife before they become extinct,” the lawmaker added.

NEW OFFICERS. Engineer Richard C. Tollo (seventh from left) was inducted as the 2017-2018 president of the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines for his professional success, distinguished service, and upstanding character during a ceremony at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park, Makati City on July 7. GEP tasks include soil marking to determine the safety and integrity of lands and providing data during emergencies. Other inductees include (from left to right) Mario Chilon Basco, Victorino Domingo, immediate past president Apolinar Lucido; Teoﬁsto Pagar, Erol Ayunon, Danilo Noveloso, Epifanio Lopez, Eduardo Sarmiento, Rommel Antonio, Ramoncito Tañola, Brian Jose Anos, Mario Jose Silvino, Pedro Noble; Ferdinand Quilop, Anelyn Camu; Joseph Suello, and Leonardo Nonan Jr.

OBITUARY M. TOMELDAN, 63 Marcelo Laroya Tomeldan III of Binalonan, Pangasinan passed away Saturday (July 15, 2017) at the age of 63. He is survived by his sisters Patricia, Estrella and Virginia; brothers Delﬁn Cesar, Ramonchito (Managing Editor of Manila Standard) and Arsenio; in-laws, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren. His remains lie in estate at the family’s ancestral home in Barangay Balangobong, Binalonan. Interment rites will be held on Thursday (July 20, 2017) at the Solemn Place Memorial Park after an 8:30 Mass at the town’s Catholic Church. The bereaved family, relatives, and his fraternity brothers request the readers to pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

SSS collects P5.22b in overdue loan payments THE Social Security System has collected more than P5.22 billion in overdue loan payments from member-borrowers who availed of its Loan Restructuring Program in the past 12 months. SSS president and chief executive ofﬁcer Emmanuel Dooc said the agency expects to collect nearly P9 billion more in the

next ﬁve years. He said the total condoned amount for more than 850,000 members who availed of the LRP reached P13.83 billion over the one-year period that the program was offered. “We are very much overwhelmed by the huge volume of applicants especially dur-

ing the last few days before the deadline. We hope that members will be faithful in paying their restructured loan amortizations to avoid further penalties. We are expecting P8.6 billion in collection until the end of the ﬁve-year installment term,” Dooc said. Due to the massive inﬂux of LRP applications received, SSS

plans to implement the loan condonation program regularly with the approval of its proposed charter amendments, Dooc said. One of the provisions of the proposed bill is to rationalize the power of the Social Security Commission, which includes making it an approving authority for loan condonation programs.

INC purchases 200-year-old abandoned USA town AS PART of its aggressive expansion in the United States, the Iglesia ni Cristo is not just establishing numerous chapels, it is also breathing new life into old, abandoned US towns. INC general auditor Bro. Glicerio Santos Jr. said the INC would be working to “restore, rehabilitate, and reinvigorate the town of Johnson-

ville, Connecticut” after acquiring the almost 200-year-old town which was abandoned for 20 years. The ﬁrst town that the INC acquired was Scenic Town in South Dakota. “We already have three congregations in Connecticut and we believe that restoring Johnsonville to its former glory is just part and

parcel of our responsibility as positive contributors in the state,” Santos said. Johnsonville is a 62-acre property with a church, meeting house, general store, pond, and covered bridge. Santos said that as it is, the town is “picture perfect,” but the INC would be doing its best to restore

the town as it looked like when it was established in the mid 1800s. “Johnsonville looks like it was frozen in time. It’s a beautiful, picturesque property, so all our efforts will be focused on restoration. We will also establish our ﬁrst ecofarming here in the US to create jobs and livelihood in this town,” he said.

Sports

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Valdez powers Creamline to PVL lead

LYSSA VALDEZ upstaged Myla Pablo in a clash of power hitters and Creamline clipped Pocari Sweat, 25-15, 1725, 25-19, 25-19, in a duel of unbeaten teams as the Cool Smashers wrested the solo lead in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The Cool Smashers charged back late coming off a lopsided setback in the second set, taking the third and fourth sets – and the match that bolstered their semiﬁnal drive in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision on a fourth straight victory. Valdez delivered as promised, hammering in 27 attack points while outhitting Pablo on the other end in the hyped-up face-off of the league’s top spikers. The former Ateneo star also scored

three aces and ﬂashed her defensive prowess with 16 digs. But Valdez credited her teammates and ace setter Jia Morado for the victory that also served as a ﬁtting sendoff to Creamline’s star player who will be joining the national team in its Japan as part of the latter’s buildup for next month’s SEA Games. “My teammates refused to be intimidated and all stepped up through Jia,” said Valdez. “But hats-

off also to Pocari, especially to (ate) Myla as they gave it their all.” Truly, after Valdez helped rally the team from a shaky start in the fourth to pull within 16-17, Rosemary Vargas, Chesca Racraquin and Pau Soriano, aided by the Lady Warriors’ attack errors, took nine of the last 11 points to pound out the victory that moved them a win from advancing to the Final Four of the tournament backed by Mikasa and Asics. Racraquin and Vargas scored on a pair of off-the-block hits to shove Creamline to an 1817 lead then after the two teams traded points, Vargas unleashed a down-the-line hit, Soriano scored on a quick attack and the Cool Smashers pulled away on their rivals’ attack errors, including two from Pablo. Soriano, the former Adamson star, capped her

game-long brilliance with a kill block off Pablo. The former National U star ﬁnished with 26 hits but faded in the stretch, including an attack error that put Creamline at match point and a failed bid against Soriano as the Lady Warriors dropped to 3-1. Soriano ﬁnished with 15 hits, Vargas had 10 markers while veteran Ivy Remulla also chipped in seven points. “Everybody contributed because they knew they need to help Alyssa,” said Creamline assistant coach Oliver Almadro. Earlier, newcomer Mega Builders regained the solo lead in men’s division, beating Instituto Estetico Manila, 25-14, 25-20, 25-19, to stretch its win run to four while Air Force improved to 3-1 with a 24-26, 25-18, 25-15, 25-20 victory over Café Lupe.

Harden plans to stay in Houston ‘forever’ HOUSTON—James Harden, who recently signed the richest contract in NBA history, says he wants to remain a Houston Rocket “forever”. The 27-year-old American agreed last week a four-year super-maximum contract extension that means he will make $228 million over the next six NBA seasons through 2022-23. “I know where home is,” Harden said. “I know where I want to be. I know where I want to retire ultimately and where I want to win a championship. Everything is going to happen here in Houston, and that’s the reason I’m here forever.” Asked Saturday how it felt to have the league’s top contract Harden replied, “It’s cool. I’ve worked extremely hard. But it doesn’t really mean anything without holding that championship up. That’s why I’m in the gym every single day, and I won’t stop until I get it.” The Rockets signed Harden to the extension despite his disappearing act in the Rockets season-ending playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs. In game ﬁve of the West-

ern Conference semi-finals, Harden delivered a listless performance and game six was even worse. He finished with 10 points, seven assists and six turnovers in the elimination game as they lost the series 4-2. That contrasted with his season averages of 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game which lead to him being named runner-up for the NBA MVP award. The Rockets traded for Harden in 2012 and built the franchise around him. He has been an all-star in all five of his seasons in Houston. If Harden’s playoff performance was the result of some missing pieces of the puzzle then the Rockets hope to have remedied that with the signing last month of nine-time all-star guard Chris Paul. Houston is also still trying to complete a deal with the New York Knicks for forward Carmelo Anthony. “You work your whole career if you’re myself to get a player of James’ calibre and now Chris’ calibre. We’re excited,” said general manager Daryl Morey. AFP

Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez (left) elevates to deliver one of her patented power hits against Pocari’s Audrey Paran and Jeanette Panaga during their PVL Open Conference clash last night.

PH ladies volleyball team will rely on speed By Peter Atencio SPEED will mean a lot. And this is expected to bring out the best in the Philippine national women’s volleyball team. National head coach Francis Vicente said this as the nationals start training with spikers from elite clubs and universities in Japan this week. “Ang kailangan nilang makuha sa training ay iyung bilis ng bawa’t isa. Ito ang nakikita kong ideal para sa team,” said Vicente. The trip was made possible

with the help of Asian Volleyball Confederation council members Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who made arrangements to make the trip happen. “It’s a very tight schedule for them. They will only have two days off,” said Suzara. Vicente and Suzara talked about the training stint during a sendoff last Friday at the Arellano gymnasium at Taft campus in Manila. The nationals will be in Kobe and Osaka from July 18 to Aug. 2. This will be part of their preparation for the 19th AVC Asian Se-

nior Women’s Championship set from Aug. 9 to 17 in Binan City and Muntinlupa City, and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur from Aug. 19 to 31. In their ﬁrst week in Osaka, the lady spikers will train with the ﬁrst division squad Okayama Seagulls in the morning before they have tuneup games in the afternoon. The following in Kobe, they will have trainings and tuneup matches with players from Ryokoku University, the Osaka Superiors, Shinwa University and Osaka University.

Berchelt retains WBC crown against Miura LOS ANGELES—Miguel Berchelt retained his WBC world title Saturday with a unanimous decision over former champion Takashi Miura in the first defense of his super featherweight belt. Mexico’s Berchelt won almost every round and it showed on the lopsided scorecards but the unflinching Miura fought on pride and looked like he could have knocked the champion out at any moment. “I was prepared because I knew I was facing an ex champion,” said Berchelt. “He has the toughest left hand in the division. He was hitting me and hurting me sometimes. “But I was always the better fighter.” The judges scored the fight 116-111, 120-109 and 119-108 for the 33-yearold Berchelt who won the title with an 11th round upset victory over Francisco Vargas in January. Japan’s Miura (31-4-2, 24 KOs) was hoping to reclaim the WBC title which he held for more than two years before losing to Vargas in 2015. Berchelt set the tone early in the 12-round clash at the Los Angeles Forum as he dropped Miura late in the first round and rocked him with a hard punch in the fifth round that snapped the challenger’s head back. Down on points heading into the sixth round, Miura went looking for the knockout and it didn’t seem like a bad strategy for the Japanese dynamo who had 24 career knockouts coming into

the bout. But Berchelt’s defense was too strong and his plan to land a mixture of head and body shots allowed him to score ample points with the judges. Miura took the fight to Berchelt (321, 28 KOs) in the seventh round as the Mexican appeared to tire, pawing at him instead of landing solid blows like earlier in the bout. Berchelt also had to deal the non-stop attack of Miura, who wouldn’t yield an inch, despite taking a massive amount of punishment to the head and body. Berchelt wobbled Miura in the eighth with a left hook but he couldn’t finish him off. Miura showed he has a steel chin and still had an opportunity to win the fight heading into the 11th round but only if he could score a knockout against Berchelt, who was in excellent condition. Asked if he was interested in a fight with the top fighter in the division, Vasyl Lomachenko, Berchelt said yes. “I beat Vargas, I beat Miura. I am ready to fight the best,” he said. On the undercard, champion Jezreel Corrales got the majority decision over Robinson Castellanos after the WBA super featherweight world title fight was stopped 31 seconds into the 10th round because of an accidental head butt. Corrales won by scores of 94-94, 9493 and 96-92. AFP

WBC World Super Featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt (left) of Mexico connects with a left against Takashi Miura of Japan in round three of their title ﬁght, July 15, 2017 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. AFP

Davao Aguilas hold favored Global Cebu FC to scoreless draw CEBU CITY—Visiting team Davao Aguilas FC, came in as an underdog in an exciting Saturday night match at the Cebu City Sports Center. The home crowd expected a third straight win from Global Cebu FC, winning over Ceres Negros FC and Stallions Laguna FC just days before. But the Agui-

las thwarted the crowd’s expectation and ended the match with a clean sheet and a score of 0-0. Davao Aguilas FC on the other hand, ’upped its game’ after its most recent setback in its own turf last week, after a loss of 5-1. Coach Gary Phillips says, “I’m very proud of the

team’s performance tonight, particularly at the back of last week’s results, which was unacceptable. But to play a strong team like Global Cebu FC and to stick together and maintain their discipline, and they kept a clean sheet. I’m very proud of the team’s effort.” Goalkeeper Marko Trkulja

was named Man of Match. San Miguel Brewery and the Sportswriters Association of Cebu also took the time out after the match, to hand over the award of recently signed Aguilas player, 19-year old Jordan Jarvis. Jarvis was conferred the 35th All Cebu Sports Awards Special Citation for

excellence in football and contributing to the professionalism of the sport. This was also Jarvis’ second award from the association. Jarvis was also named UAAP season 79’s Rookie of the Year for men’s football earlier this year, after Ateneo bagged its 7th UAAP championship.

The nationals will be skippered by Mika Reyes and Abigail Marano, and will be composed of Denise Lazaro, Kim Fajardo, Rhea Dimaculangan and Maika Ortiz. There’s Genevieve Casugod, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Aiza MaizoPontillas, Jaja Santiago, Alyssa Valdez, Frances Molina, Dawn Macandili and newcomer Kim Dy. Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) acting president Peter Cayco, volleyball ofﬁcial Joey Romasanta, Vicente and Rebisco executive Lulu de la Pena graced the occasion with their presence.

Veterans will lead Knights AS the Letran Knights try to get back on their feet this week, coach Jeff Napa in pinning his hopes on three veterans. Much is expected of senior players Rey Nambatac, Bon Quinto and JP Calvo in the ongoing 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament. “These three are the ones who lead the team,” said Napa. The three are expected to help push the Knights back up after they fell to a 75-78 loss to the Mapua University Cardinals on Tuesday last week. They will next meet the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, with Napa expecting a better performance. “Talagang inaasahan ko silang mag-lead ng team,” said Napa. The trio emerged as the squad’s key players after they lost Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal to graduation. Last year, the Knight ﬁnished season 92 with a 9-9 win-loss card. The team currently has a lot of new players in their roster who need experience and exposure as the season progresses. Among the young guns whom Napa is developing are Jerrick Balanza, Jeo Ambohot, Jeremiah Taladua, Lance Vacaro, Matthew Bernabe, Christian Balagasay, Daryl Pascual and Alex Mandreza. In last week’s game, the Cardinals trailed by as much as seven points and Estrella’s trey came after seven deadlocks. Peter Atencio

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Reed targets triathlon treble

TIM REED sets out for another crack at the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines crown with the be-medalled Aussie champ aiming for a rare threepeat against an elite field in the country’s premier triathlon, which unwraps on Aug. 6 at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu. Reed bested a world-class cast to rule the first Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship last year and complete a back-to-back title romp in the 1.9K-swim, 90K-bike, 21K-run event at the Ironman 70.3 home in the Queen City of the South. But though he’s upbeat of his chances for a rare treble, the reigning world champion remains wary of the cast of rivals, led by compatriot Tim Van Berkel, winner of this year’s Ironman 70.3 Vietnam, Xterra titlist Mauricio Mendez of Mexico, 2014 Ironman 70.3 Phl winner Brent McMahon of Canada, Kiwi Cameron Brown, winner of Ironman 70.3 Malaysia, Taiwan and Korea, and another Aussie ace Sam Betten, winner of the recent Regent 5150 in Subic. Also in the fold are Braden Currie, Eddie Rawles and Callum Millward of New Zealand, David Mainwaring, Alexander Polizzi and Luke Bell of Australia, Americans Brad Williams and Iain Alexandridis, Czech Jakub Langhammer, Johan Stofberg of South Africa, Italian Jonathan Ciavatella and Eric Watson of Bahrain, all raring to beat Reed’s 3:51:46 clocking last year. The organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. has guaranteed another successful staging of the grueling race that has lured a record 51 countries and more than 2,600 participants and backed by title sponsor Cobra Energy Drink and presentor Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and Summit Natural Drinking Water, also the official hydration partner. The chase for the women’s crown is also expected to be fierce with DimityLee Duke going for a follow-up to her breakthrough victory in Regent 5150 Triathlon in Subic recently. Spicing up the annual event are the IronGirl on Aug. 4, a 5km fun run for females 12 years old and above, and the ever-popular IronKids on Aug. 5. There will also be competitions among Filipino elites, CEO tri racers and close to 2,000 age-groupers and mixed, all-male, and all-female relay participants.

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza crumples into the grass as she celebrates after winning against US player Venus Williams during their women’s singles ﬁnal match of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 15, 2017. Muguruza won 7-5, 6-0. AFP

Muguruza crushes Venus to win 1st Wimbledon title G ARBINE MUGURUZA Muguruza stormed to her ﬁrst Wimbledon title and shattered Venus Williams’ history bid with a majestic 7-5, 6-0 victory in Saturday’s ﬁnal.

Muguruza overwhelmed Williams with a supreme display of power hitting in 77 minutes on Centre Court to become only the second Spanish woman to win Wimbledon. Watched from the Royal Box by King Juan Carlos of Spain, the 23-year-old finally got her hands on the Venus Rosewater Dish two years after losing to the American’s sister Serena in her maiden Wimbledon final. Fittingly, it was Muguruza’s current coach Conchita Martinez who was the first woman to raise the Spanish flag at

Wimbledon in 1994 when she defeated Martina Navratilova. “The first set was tough. We both had a lot of chances. I’m glad I took mine,” Muguruza said. “Two years ago I lost in the final against Serena and she told me I would win one day. Here I am. Finally!” She added: “I never knew how it was going to go because I was very nervous. I wanted it to go my way. “I was doing everything I could to be prepared. Once you step on the court, you see the crowd, you see the final, you see

I’m here playing another Wimbledon final. I am very satisfied the way I handled it.” Venezuela-born Muguruza’s second Grand Slam title, following her French Open triumph last year, denied Williams, 37, in her attempt to become the oldest Wimbledon champion in the Open era. Back in the Wimbledon final after an eight-year absence, Williams had hoped to clinch a sixth All England Club title, nine years after she last lifted the trophy. Instead, she paid the price for a surprisingly nerve-ridden display that condemned her to a second Grand Slam disappointment this year following her Australian Open final loss against Serena. “Congratulations Garbine. I know how hard you work,” Williams said. “I tried my best to do the things Serena does, but I think there will be other opportunities.”

Since winning her maiden Grand Slam title in Paris, Muguruza had endured something of a sophomore slump as her ranking dropped out of the top 10. But she has rediscovered her mojo on grass and will climb to fifth when the new rankings are confirmed next week. Remarkably, of her four tour-level titles, two are now Grand Slams. With persistent drizzle blanketing the All England Club, Williams and Muguruza were competing in the first Wimbledon final to begin under the roof, watched by a sell-out crowd including Hollywood actress Hilary Swank. Twenty years ago, Venus admitted she was a bundle of nerves when she made a losing Wimbledon debut against Magdalena Grzybowska and, in her ninth All England Club final, once again there was anxiety coursing through her error-strewn display. AFP

Kingad sees bright future inside cage FILIPINO standout Danny Kingad sees a bright future for himself inside the Mixed Martial Arts cage. Part of the talented new breed of Team Lakay fighters, Kingad battles a highly-regarded ONE Championship athlete on July 29 as he takes on China’s Hexigetu on the undercard of ONE: Conquest of Kings, which takes place at the GOR Kertajaya Arena in Surabaya, Indonesia. “It will be an exciting fight. I will do my best. If he wants to strike, then I will strike with him. I cannot say I will knock him out, but I can only say I will win this fight,” Kingad said. Kingad believes that his scheduled three-round flyweight encounter with Hexigetu could be his stepping-stone to the upper echelon of ONE Cham-

pionship’s 61.2-kilogram weight class. With ONE Championship housing high-caliber flyweights such as Akhmetov, Moraes, Geje Eustaquio, Eugene Toquero, Stefer Rahardian, Saiful Merican and Gianni Subba, Kingad asserted that his main objective in Asia’s largest MMA organization is to compete for the prestigious ONE Flyweight World Championship belt. “My goal is to be champion,” he said. “If I win this fight and ONE Championship wants to give me a chance to fight for the title, then I will be ready to do that. If not, then I will be training harder and I will continue to do my best.” Although Kingad has become a fan-friendly flyweight staple inside the

ONE Championship cage, the Team Lakay young gun has a tall order in front of him as he squares off with Hexigetu. With an inherent ability to strike and grapple coupled with a highly-aggressive style, Hexigetu is a Wushu Sanda practitioner who trains out of China Top Team. Ever since making his professional debut in 2014, the 32-year-old native of Inner Mongolia holds a 4-2 record, with three of those wins coming by way of submission. Even though Hexigetu may pose a threat to Kingad’s emergent stature in ONE Championship’s flyweight bracket, the latter leans on the learning from the forthcoming show- Filipino standout Danny Kingad unloads a sweeping side kick at opponent down as it can benefit his Muhammad Aiman. Kingad beat Aiman to preserve his unbeaten record. ONE maturity as a prizefighter. Championship

PHIDBC stages 42nd anniversary bowling tournament GIFT certiﬁcates and trophies will be up for grabs as the Philippine Duckpin Bowling Council (PHIDBC) stages its 42nd anniversary tournament on July 22-23 at the Marketplace Bowling Center in Kalentong, Mandaluyong City. Competition will be conducted in mixed doubles on Saturday (July 22) and team

event on Sunday (July 23), with the awarding ceremony set at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. According to PHIDBC president Inez G. Magbual, Congressman Conrado Estrella III, chairman of the Lower House Committee on Sports, has been invited to grace the awarding rites.

Bowlers can play only with their respective associations in both the team and mixed doubles events. Gift checks worth P30,000, P20,000 and P15,000 await the champion, runnerup and third placer in the team event, respectively, and P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000, respectively, for the champion, runnerup and

third placer in mixed doubles, respectively. Mixed doubles action starts at 10 a.m. with the top 24 advancing to the semifinals and the top three to the finals, while the team stepladder matches begin at 2 p.m. Big items will be raffled off to make the PHIDBC anniversary celebration a festive and meaningful family affair.

Blu Girls demolish powerhouse Canada THE Philippine Blu Girls snapped out of a three-game skid and proved its worth again against world No. 3 Canada again, hacking out a 6-3 victory in the Canada Cup International Softball Championship playoffs in Surrey, Canada Saturday. Kailee Cuico and Hailey Decker took charge in the ﬁrst two innings which the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls dominated to set the tone for the win, virtually duplicating the world No. 17’s 6-2 romp over the host team in the early going of the event. Cuico belted a three-run homer in the opening frame to give the Blu Girls a hot start then Decker followed it up with a two-run double in the next. Cuico stretched the lead to six runs with her RBI single in the ﬁfth. The Canadians averted a shutout by scoring one in the sixth and added one more run in the seventh. “This is the second time that the Blu Girls have beaten powerhouse Canada, proving that our country is getting stronger while taking each game to heart,” said Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier, who is eyeing an Olympic stint for his wards in Tokyo in 2020.

SSS restructures loan terms B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

6 eye Laguna Lake power plants By Alena Mae S. Flores

HE Energy Department said it received six proposals from different companies to develop big hydro power projects harnessing Laguna Lake. Energy Department director Mario Marasigan told reporters that Laguna Lake, the country’s largest freshwater lake, could host ﬁve projects with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts. “There are proposals for pumped storage [power projects] using the lake….Right now we have accepted six proposals. That means service con-

tracts applications over Laguna Lake,” Marasigan said. He said the proposals came from local companies such as Phinma Energy Corp. (formerly Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.) and Citicore Power. “All of these projects would be pumped storage.They will pump water of the Laguna Lake

upward then if they need to generate they will also release the water there,” Marasigan said. He said the proposals were to develop power projects with a capacity of 400 MW to 600 MW each, depending on tfeasibility studies. These would be located in Tanay and Pililla in Rizal province or towns in Laguna. Marasigan said the government was studying if the lake could accommodate more power projects. “At the end of the day…can the lake accommodate it? Is there sufﬁcient water?” he asked. Marasigan said Laguna Lake currently hosts the Kalayaan

pumped storage hydro project with a capacity of 342.3 MW in Laguna operated by CBK Power Co. Ltd. under a build-rehabilitate-operate-transfer agreement with National Power Corp. The Kalayaan pumped storage project lies along the eastern part of Laguna Lake and utilizes excess power at times when there is low power demand to pump water from a lower reservoir (Laguna de Bay) for storage in an upper reservoir (the Caliraya Reservoir) at night. The stored water in the upper reservoir is released during times of high power demand and used to generate power as

it returns to the lower reservoir. Marasigan said there was now strong interest in the Laguna Lake hydro power development projects as a result of the passage of the Electric Power Reform Industry Act of 2001 and the Renewable Energy Law of 2008. “It requires huge investment. Before the RE Law, it was NPC only who has exclusive authority to develop our water bodies for power development. There was no private sector. It’s only after Epira and RE Law where there is direct private participation in large hydro,” Marasigan said.

Rockwell, Mitsui to build P9-b QC towers

Govt plans to set up tax academy in 2018 THE Finance and Budget Departments are now ﬁnalizing the establishment of a Philippine Tax Academy next year at the University of Makati to provide revenue and customs authorities a learning institution dedicated to their education and training on improving tax collection competence and efﬁciency. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Republic Act 10143, which was signed into law almost seven years ago during the 14th Congress, enabled the DOF to set up the Tax Academy to provide continuous training and education to personnel of the Bureaus of Internal Revenue, of Customs and of Local Government Finance. “We found that there is a law that was passed maybe 10 years ago that allow the Department of Finance to put up a tax academy, so we are going to implement that next year,” Dominguez said. Dominguez said the agency planned to offer courses at the academy inside the UMaK campus starting January 2018.

TPB eyes tourists from 4 continents

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Rockwell Land Corp. teamed up with Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd., Japan’s largest comprehensive real estate company, to develop a P9-billion residential project in Quezon City. Rockwell said in a statement it signed a partnership agreement that would give Mitsui Fudosan a 20-percent interest in the residential development called The Arton by Rockwell. “We are honored that Mitsui Fudosan chose to partner with us in their first foray in the Philippines and we hope that this will be the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership with them,” Rockwell Land president Nestor Padilla said. The signing of the agreement and the consummation and implementation of the transaction shall be subject to securing the necessary regulatory approvals, which includes the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission. The Arton, Rockwell’s newest high-end residential community in Katipunan, is a 1.9-hectare property that will have three towers at 24, 28 and 34 stories, respectively. The development will have a total of 1,700 units comprised of studios to three-bedroom units with unit sizes ranging from 27 square meters to 103 square meters. The first tower, Arton West, will officially be launched on July 29, 2017. The property firm said The Arton would elevate quality living within the area, as there was no existing development that offered the complete package of comfort, convenience and peace of mind for the end-user segment. It will feature as much as 80 percent open space which will be exclusively enjoyed by its residents.

IN BRIEF

FINANCIAL INCLUSION PARTNER. Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. is recognized as an Outstanding Financial Inclusion Partner by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas during the 2017 BSP Stakeholders Awards on July 11, 2017. This is in recognition of PDIC’s contribution to the BSP’s work to promote ﬁnancial inclusion through policy regulation, capacity building and consumer protection. Shown during the awarding ceremony are (from left) Monetary Board member Juan De Zuñiga Jr., PDIC vice president Jose Villaret Jr., PDIC president Roberto Tan and BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr.

MPIC keen on Clark airport contract bidding By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Paciﬁc Investments Corp. said it is interested in joining the auction for the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport. “Yes, we will take a look at it,” MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said when asked if he was interested in the ﬁrst project of the government that would be auctioned off under the hybrid public-private partnership model. State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority ear-

lier said it would roll out the bidding for the construction of the P12.5-billion expansion of Clark International Airport. The auction for O&M of Clark airport will immediately follow, after the award of the bidding for its construction. The winning bidder for the O&M will have inputs in the design of the new airport. MPIC earlier proposed a joint venture with BCDA and Clark International Airport Authority for the express rail services from Makati to Clark.

The proposed express rail services from Buendia to Clark will enable travelers to reach Clark from Makati within an hour at an average commercial speed of about 107 kilometers per hour. The JV also includes the expansion, operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport. JG Summit Holdings Inc., Filinvest Development Corp and Megawide Construction Corp. and partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India also separately submitted proposals to operate and maintain Clark airport.

The Transportation Department earlier said it would no longer entertain unsolicited proposals for Clark airport as the government was pursuing the hybrid PPP model. Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Airways, Cebu Paciﬁc, Tigerair Air, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air, Air Asia Berhad and Emirates Airlines. These airlines mount ﬂights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau, Pudong, Incheon, Doha, Dubai, Davao, Cebu and Kalibo.

Govt files charges vs miner By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Environment Department said it filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Palawan against Ipilan Nickel Corp., a unit of listed Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc., over its tree-cutting activities in Brooke’s Point town. The department said it was also looking into another violation by INC in connection with the alleged illegal construction of a mine yard road within its mining area. The complaint filed by Brooke’s Point Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Conrado Corpuz accused INC of cutting 677 trees, most of which were hardwood species, in an area not covered by the permit the company secured last year. “This is a clear violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines, according to the DENR,” the agency said. The case involves a 1.7-hectare area out of the 24-hectare forest cleared by INC in Barangay Maasin, which the

DENR claimed was undoubtedly outside the firm’s tree cutting permit. The DENR issued a one-year special tree cutting permit to INC in May last year as a part of its mineral production sharing agreement with the agency. Former Environment secretary Regina Lopez cancelled the company’s environmental compliance certificate on Dec. 16, 2016, rendering its tree cutting permit invalid. INC earlier insisted the tree cutting permit remained valid since it had filed a motion for reconsideration on the cancellation of its ECC. “Granting without admitting that INC’s tree cutting permit was valid, the DENR has a strong case against the company on the 1.7-hectare cleared area,” said DENR Mimaropa regional director Natividad Bernardino. Corpuz said the case they filed was “just the first in a series of cases against the INC.” He said the DENR would also file other charges against the mining company once the inventory of the trees cut in the remaining 22.3 hectares was completed.

BEST LOGISTICS PROVIDER.

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, is recognized as the Best Logistics Service Provider – Road at the 2017 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards in Singapore. Shown receiving the award is FedEx Express Singapore operations manager YeeYong Tan (left).

THE Tourism Promotions Board is targeting foreign tourists from four continents worldwide. TPB chief operating ofﬁcer Cesar Montano said massive preparations had begun for the arrival of some 250 travel agents from North America, Europe, Australia and various parts of Asia for the Philippine Travel Exchange slated in Manila on Aug. 29 to Sept. 5, 2017. “They [foreign travel agents] are huge buyers of tour packages for their captive clients in their respective countries. Through their participation in Phitex 2017, our tourism destinations will get promoted and marketed without our local sellers having to travel abroad,” Montano said. Now on its 16th year, Phitex is the country’s biggest travel-trade event, hosting key wholesale buyers from all over the world for one-on-one business meetings with accredited local tourism suppliers. About 201 buyers from 35 countries and 196 Philippine sellers joined Phitex in 2016. Phitex carries the theme Travel is our Business this year and is targeted at 250 buyers from Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, United States, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, United Kingdom, Middle East, Russia, India, and other European and Southeast Asian countries.

BOI sees P500-b projects this year By Othel V. Campos THE Board of Investments said it is on track to meet its P500-billion investment target this year, after approved projects increased 30 percent to P272.7 billion as of mid-July from P210.4 billion a year ago. Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing director Ceferino Rodolfo said the agency was expecting an additional P18 billion worth of projects for approval by end-July. “We still have more projects in the pipeline worth around P18 billion and is expected to be approved before July ends,” he said. The BOI said investments in the ﬁrst seven months would likely reach P290 billion representing nearly 60 percent the agency’s full-year goal of P500 billion in 2017. “This year is our 50th founding anniversary. We are on pace to achieve that mark,” Rodolfo said. One of the big ticket projects up for approval is a multi-billion integrated cement project, he said. Total employment to be generated upon full operations of approved projects reached 56,056, or 50 percent higher than 37,487 jobs created in the same period last year.

Business

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market awaits Duterte’s speech By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to keep moving sideways this week, as investors await the release of secondquarter corporate earnings reports and President Rodrigo Duterte’s State-of-the-NationAddress.

Analysts said investors were waiting for the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index to break out from the current consolidation mode, before going back to the market. A factor that could push the market higher would be the positive second-quarter reports of listed companies, they said.

Listed firms are scheduled to start releasing their second-quarter financial performance in the fourth week of July. Investors are also looking forward to President Duterte’s speech on July 24 which would spell out his plan for the next 12 months. “At this stage, the market is waiting for the PSEi to break out from its present trading range, especially with supply coming out every time barometers near the 8,000 mark. Any hint on the commencement of infra spending and efforts to support corporate earnings growth will reinforce investors’ valuation perception, especially those in the hunt for better returns,” 2TradeAsia. com said. The PSEi last week closed flat at 7885.90. The market started the week strong, spurred by US Federal Reserve

Chair Janet Yellen’s statement that the Fed would adopt a gradual approach to raising interest rates. But the gains were eventually wiped out due to proﬁt-taking. Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P862 million, while average daily turnover thickened to P8 billion from the previous week’s average of P6 billion. Among the top gainers last week were Lucio Tan-owned companies LT Group Inc. which jumped 15 percent to P17.88 and MacroAsia Corp. which advanced 14.1 percent to P9.70. Filinvest Land Inc. climbed 11.5 percent to P1.93. Heavy losers included Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. which dropped 17 percent to P4.29, Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. which declined 4.8 percent to P3.53 and Energy Development Corp. which dipped 4.8 percent to P5.76.

MRC pursues P1-b private placement By Alena Mae S. Flores THE board of listed MRC Allied Inc. approved the conduct of a P1billion private placement to ﬁnance the company’s diversiﬁcation into power projects. MRC Allied said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the private placement of 1,904,761,905 common shares from the unissued and unsubscribed authorized capital stock and the issue price of P0.525 per share.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

JULY 10-14, 2017 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources Citystate Savings COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp. PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

3.75 58.5 123.50 102.70 36.6 3.98 1.31 10 16.2 33.4 7.93 0.67 1.72 880.00 0.700 92 0.83 15.5 24.60 67.80 88.15 117 245.6 59.2 220 1660.00 86.20 1.43

63,000 288,820 13,596,640 6,268,140 1,767,700 22,000 362,000 10,100 171,000 17,146,500 10,600 211,000 267,000 1,920 10,566,000 27,853,540 5,100,900 126,000 9,800 1,119,550 2,010 14,380 8,030 828,500 3,478,620 1,730 84,770 1,694,000

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp. Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Conc. Aggr. ‘B’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp. First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co À’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phil H2O Pilipinas Shell Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Pryce Corp. À’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods À’ SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp. Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Ind’l.

40.05 9.15 0.84 1.46 30.5 0.270 190 14.14 7.35 18.5 71 92.25 29.6 68.5 2.04 5.35 11.44 12.460 15.54 7.80 5.77 11.20 1.78 18.8 67.9 14.80 13.68 16.02 2.000 215.00 64.00 4.01 3.4 24.95 32.5 20.15 18.3 269.80 0.247 8.36 3.2 9.58 7.88 67 10.40 1.95 10.58 6.37 4.55 2.1 5.12 302 2.95 13.36 4.49 0.146 1.40 161.5 4.28 2.09 30.10 1.03

4,681,600 15,273,800 14,153,000 9,831,000 864,600 43,910,000 8,500 17,100 14,939,200 5,862,100 4,700 20 2,953,200 1,370,460 2,492,000 319,500 255,600 9,323,000 13,946,800 14,290,000 133,793,900 22,711,400 177,130 6,535,000 756,620 161,500 730,100 24,211,600 45,903,000 1,962,780 25,580 2,654,000 239,000 1,900 3,922,400 10,390,900 18,053,000 3,339,580 19,600,000 854,300 5,466,000 13,159,200 4,341,000 2,081,190 119,800 10,275,000 18,881,600 589,400 1,053,000 2,000 2,758,500 129,910 37,530,000 15,788,300 2,478,000 7,070,000 693,000 6,260,150 315,000 50,213,000 2,200 321,000

Abacus Cons. À’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor À’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp À’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ F&J Prince ‘B’ Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings À’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. LT Group Mabuhay Holdings À’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacifica À’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp À’ Seafront À’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.370 75.00 14.00 1.19 6.85 0.340 0.340 853 8.04 15.10 5.91 6 7.80 0.220 1200 7.79 79.00 5.8 5.55 5.79 6.97 0.98 17.88 0.440 6.7 3.6 0.0520 1.100 2.220 2.56 102.50 2.69 789.50 1.49 0.93 304.000 0.2900 0.2120 0.280

4,680,000 5,489,810 31,315,600 831,000 475,700 12,170,000 3,017,860 649,920 4,389,800 68,561,600 12,700 9,800 347,800 5,770,000 560,060 343,800 6,445,540 202,800 4,000 14,400 8,744,700 8,525,000 31,004,800 130,000 154,469,100 33,000 149,450,000 1,297,000 11,076,000 3,000 611,290 129,000 2,223,300 3,237,000 647,000 39,420 750,000 2,040,000 19,520,000

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop À’ Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. À’ Cebu Holdings CEB Landmasters Cebu Prop. `B’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport À’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind.

5.910 6.40 1.43 2.400 1.130 41.200 3.78 5.28 5.31 5.65 0.630 1.18 1.550 0.197 0.530 47.1 0.780 0.161 1.69 1.93 1.07 4.62 0.350

4,106,100 1,100 57,127,000 3,462,000 22,932,000 45,776,200 15,087,000 18,600 29,306,600 2,000 663,554,000 1,872,000 16,494,000 241,040,000 23,347,000 5,121,200 48,692,000 4,230,000 396,683,000 340,489,000 196,971,000 152,157,000 509,080,000

Value FINANCIAL 241,440.00 16,693,180.50 1,686,441,801 646,515,833.00 64,884,515.00 87,240.00 487,390.00 101,000.00 2,745,958.00 544,731,505.00 84,207 139,530 470,490.00 1,675,650.00 7,293,780.00 2,629,531,876.50 5,481,610.00 1,954,000.00 243,340.00 75,956,364.50 177,585.00 1,693,240.00 1,982,622.00 49,060,160 766,190,008.00 2,858,850 7,252,395.00 2,357,930.00 INDUSTRIAL 188,136,275.00 135,081,303.00 11,960,160.00 14,337,330.00 26,942,540.00 11,896,900.00 1,320,735.00 240,758.00 106,232,204.00 110,750,130 333,509.50 1,905.00 88,883,940.00 95,135,746 4,973,080.00 1,698,155.00 2,963,478.00 115,276,648.00 217,770,048.00 115,524,539.00 775,564,492.00 249,849,986.00 96,930.00 122,168,572.00 52,534,537.00 2,429,336.00 9,846,658.00 383,965,094.00 91,229,450.00 417,823,270.00 1,629,202.00 10,893,320.00 822,420.00 90,175.00 127,004,420.00 218,151,482.00 329,494,698.00 893,755,144.00 4,967,590.00 6,802,438.00 17,418,750.00 126,976,564.00 31,022,112.00 141,709,458.00 1,235,436.00 19,968,920.00 191,547,609.00 3,742,053.00 4,729,030.00 4,200.00 14,938,797.00 39,617,630.00 103,738,300.00 215,619,988.00 11,207,070.00 1,024,190.00 954,510.00 1,015,864,669 1,314,940.00 106,894,310.00 67,450.00 335,820.00 HOLDING FIRMS 1,726,450.00 411,995,008.50 438,606,926.00 1,013,170.00 3,155,979.00 4,078,800.00 313,097,360.00 559,229,820 35,306,595.00 1,021,131,548.00 75,507.00 58,814.00 2,612,090.00 1,201,490.00 672,459,235.00 2,621,747.00 515,106,311.00 1,217,194.00 21,750.00 79,132.00 62,320,744.00 8,442,980.00 525,411,910.00 54,200.00 675,701,993.00 118,370.00 7,927,450.00 1,405,220.00 25,491,930.00 7,680.00 62,857,400.00 344,910.00 1,758,046,960.00 4,730,350.00 592,140.00 11,925,992.00 214,700.00 458,410.00 5,451,610.00 PROPERTY 24,558,308.00 7,040.00 81,713,470.00 8,414,960.00 26,005,480.00 1,876,528,750.00 57,277,120.00 98,203.00 155,056,570.00 11,315.00 439,479,550.00 2,230,930.00 26,177,410.00 48,368,570.00 12,366,940.00 244,925,195.00 38,220,120.00 693,910.00 691,840,380.00 641,218,330.00 217,510,290.00 712,725,400.00 179,669,550.00

JULY 3-7, 2017 Volume Value

3.93 57.9 123.80 102.90 36.75 4.07 1.32

128,000 272,830 5,188,180 8,545,510 1,628,300 152,000 626,000

505,310.00 15,403,229.50 640,557,061 910,998,156.00 59,798,635.00 397,930.00 793,950.00

16.2 32 7.92 0.67 1.8 860.00 0.690 92.75 0.89 15.62 25.75 67.45 90 120 253 59.6 220.6 1625.00 85.20 1.45

82,600 25,939,600 8,300 467,000 727,000 3,480 12,088,000 18,253,220 3,732,000 243,300 10,400 523,190 5,000 4,730 22,180 908,890 1,406,790 720 109,770 6,019,000

1,336,260.00 826,404,195.00 68,075 313,780 1,319,840.00 2,905,395.00 8,393,740.00 1,632,028,543.50 3,356,060.00 3,799,916.00 269,110.00 34,547,303.00 446,542.50 592,295.00 5,511,906.00 53,499,424 272,701,928.00 1,169,085 9,349,460.00 8,918,520.00

40.2 8.47 0.85 1.45 32.8 0.270 115.8 14.14 7.15 18.7 74.5 95.25 29.2 66 1.98 5.28 11.88 12.300 15.86 8.03 6.04 9.99 1.7 18.7 70 15.40 13.64 14.9 1.730 208.00 60.00 3.82 3.59

10,880,600 19,444,300 20,842,000 21,683,000 990,900 125,010,000 3,060 6,500 8,852,800 7,929,300 7,180 290 5,481,900 1,460,620 2,265,000 261,400 189,800 8,201,800 9,860,200 13,279,200 63,739,100 5,552,400 46,000 4,805,100 442,030 242,700 2,576,700 22,328,900 3,434,000 2,753,950 6,610 2,261,000 241,000

431,728,015.00 567,739,270.00 17,567,600.00 31,793,720.00 31,297,490.00 34,925,800.00 351,127.00 92,208.00 63,220,664.00 146,710,400 529,190.00 24,868.50 152,813,635.00 97,009,500 4,400,950.00 1,382,438.00 2,250,250.00 100,770,190.00 156,652,200.00 104,101,501.00 386,599,284.00 56,254,648.00 78,460.00 89,836,996.00 30,950,261.00 3,706,166.00 34,647,560.00 323,310,798.00 5,773,970.00 570,483,446.00 396,989.50 8,807,850.00 839,800.00

31.9 19.9 18.84 266.60 0.249 7.30 3.25 9.77 6.96 69.2 10.50 1.98 10.22 6.45 4.40 2.05 5.03 309 2.39 13.96 4.5 0.146 1.40 164.3 4 2.13 30.95 1.08

8,638,300 3,694,200 10,958,400 3,775,170 3,310,000 336,000 4,157,000 16,206,600 2,520,000 12,641,050 38,000 22,111,000 15,100,500 857,700 1,407,000 5,000 1,498,500 68,260 15,249,000 10,650,100 4,046,500 5,690,000 2,805,000 3,877,170 22,000 50,296,000 30,200 340,000

275,754,895.00 72,440,378.00 202,128,382.00 1,004,485,080.00 810,240.00 2,453,910.00 13,428,230.00 161,361,828.00 16,993,180.00 871,869,707.50 396,244.00 43,920,810.00 153,427,594.00 5,702,835.00 6,157,700.00 10,250.00 7,615,641.00 21,212,856.00 35,560,130.00 146,718,766.00 18,350,049.00 828,760.00 3,843,390.00 633,902,551 88,050.00 107,336,900.00 940,625.00 356,010.00

0.365 75.35 14.16 1.25 6.53 0.335 0.335 870 8.2 14.70 6.49

3,380,000 3,545,340 14,340,100 3,639,000 108,400 15,490,000 3,140,000 888,440 6,479,800 55,394,300 68,200

1,244,850.00 268,614,670.00 203,902,778.00 4,697,870.00 703,235.00 5,241,350.00 1,073,150.00 764,214,670 52,761,611.00 802,513,734.00 435,154.00

7.76 0.193 1200 7.70 80.00 6.3 5.37 6.12 7.29 0.98 15.5 0.415 6.7 3.6 0.0560 1.050 2.400 2.70 103.50 2.7 791.00 1.47 0.91 303.800 0.2850 0.2070 0.241

256,500 1,920,000 606,205 103,300 3,769,890 1,701,900 6,600 11,800 6,855,000 10,888,000 20,373,200 450,000 130,207,400 359,000 179,750,000 2,969,000 21,776,000 16,000 315,360 77,000 1,169,780 3,539,000 415,000 21,990 1,990,000 1,210,000 900,000

1,982,085.00 376,380.00 728,216,320.00 793,328.00 303,641,097.00 11,640,763.00 35,738.00 64,210.00 48,989,234.00 10,664,120.00 311,624,476.00 186,750.00 861,327,802.00 1,187,750.00 9,787,480.00 3,509,710.00 50,965,740.00 43,200.00 32,564,448.00 207,340.00 926,940,425.00 5,103,960.00 376,660.00 6,666,974.00 568,400.00 260,330.00 217,840.00

6.100 6.40 1.36 2.490 1.140 40.000 3.88 5.3 5.36

1,956,700 2,700 42,987,000 1,164,000 64,358,000 32,254,000 6,077,000 586,900 21,645,000

12,092,734.00 17,572.00 57,307,580.00 2,907,260.00 74,921,150.00 1,288,240,595.00 23,769,320.00 3,095,156.00 117,346,952.00

0.650 1.19 1.540 0.184 0.550 47.2 0.790 0.157 1.58 1.73 1.15 4.59 0.380

750,314,000 3,136,000 9,521,000 48,940,000 32,316,000 1,051,200 78,205,000 2,800,000 129,616,000 33,336,000 10,470,000 140,206,000 374,760,000

460,315,150.00 3,722,730.00 14,599,770.00 9,071,640.00 17,003,320.00 49,468,480.00 59,519,300.00 444,090.00 179,896,510.00 56,345,130.00 11,521,640.00 639,601,450.00 147,554,450.00

STOCKS

JULY 10-14, 2017 Close Volume

Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A’ Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry Primex Corp. Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

0.3750 0.650 36.80 4.62 24.45 1.78 3.28 33.00 1.03 7.38 0.940 5.940

2GO Group’ Aboitiz Transport ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ. Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. À’ IPeople Inc. À’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp. Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp. Pacific Online Sys. Corp. PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp. Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp. SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils. Wilcon Depot

23.5 41.95 42 1.83 0.500 0.043 11.16 5.57 9.95 0.0880 98 98 9.57 2.39 8.65 3.20 970 2070 6.23 15.44 13.20 3.11 101.4 3.48 12.12 8.50 0.185 1.5200 3.44 15.8 4.96 1.83 9.70 16.70 0.620 2.32 9.01 4.29 2.600 11.5 5.29 2.86 8.23 180.00 10.84 1720.00 0.440 1.600 46.30 87.00 6.05 4.86 1.550 1.9 3.53 1.320 8.250

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

0.0030 1.72 5.23 14.90 2.0500 2.0100 1.05 0.385 8.50 2.710 0.290 0.200 0.206 0.012 0.0120 1.85 6.33 2 0.6300 1.0800 0.0100 0.0100 7.11 8.99 3.05 0.0130 2.7000 160.30 0.0085

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ Alco Preferred B DD PREF First Gen F First Gen G GLOBE PREF P GMA Holdings Inc. GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B Leisure and Resort MWIDE PREF PCOR-Preferred A PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I Swift Pref

42 516 515 107 104.9 112 114 516.5 6.05 1003 1018 1.05 108 1036 1100 1015 106 113.5 76.6 81 77 78 80.5 78 77.6 79 2.32

LR Warrant

3.020

Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

2.97 3.92 5.83 8.06

First Metro ETF

119.1

USD DMPL A1

10.66

Value

31,060,000 157,611,000 27,900 14,945,000 13,062,600 8,089,000 2,962,000 35,320,400 23,268,000 2,300 4,625,000 17,990,900

12,238,050.00 104,394,760.00 1,032,950.00 61,747,530.00 315,987,715.00 14,778,270.00 9,639,070.00 1,174,456,015.00 24,288,850.00 15,821.00 4,383,600.00 106,926,752.00 SERVICES 8,717,600 189,797,751.00 27,600 1,158,150.00 98,000 4,113,710.00 14,150,000 26,576,410.00 2,471,000 1,220,900.00 88,300,000 3,820,200.00 22,200 241,480.00 74,000 393,122 55,971,200 542,578,787.00 110,430,000 9,641,390.00 49,260 4,828,535.50 688,430 66,925,972.50 42,600 411,125.00 41,000 96,500 1,338,600 11,568,280.00 5,000 16,150.00 1,190 1,155,350.00 201,050 414,627,820 1,278,400 7,964,957.00 153,200 2,378,950.00 1,000 13,200 12,623,000 38,324,180.00 8,218,730 842,580,943.00 392,000 1,363,410 10,000 121,200.00 1,750,500 15,140,249.00 20,760,000 3,824,690.00 16,103,000 25,078,500.00 820,000 2,804,330.00 166,500 2,663,424.00 19,330,100 97,017,260 13,714,000 25,561,410.00 21,430,000 197,494,835.00 6,200 100,740 863,000 561,030.00 661,900 1,572,340.00 18,702,100 168,532,833.00 86,848,600 396,179,549.00 18,588,000 48,343,360.00 55,100 634,392.00 63,800 335,690 1,768,000 5,627,790.00 409,500 3,370,185.00 94,220 16,049,720.00 18,872,800 214,550,948.00 612,195 1,051,107,150.00 53,600,000 23,252,900.00 20,057,000 31,814,290.00 10,033,400 463,246,595.00 2,973,900 260,465,350.00 5,750,000 35,131,875.00 129,499,600 637,791,624.00 156,445,000 245,054,940.00 42,000 78,300.00 15,721,000 55,765,820.00 524,357,000 630,270,690.00 69,302,000 589,256,603.00 MINING & OIL 2,532,000,000 7,455,300.00 38,664,000 67,403,570.00 874,100 4,579,478.00 6,100 87,660.00 90,000 182,620.00 39,000 79,480.00 26,626,000 27,953,750.00 6,560,000 2,545,200.00 95,500 817,871.00 26,405,000 71,389,370.00 500,000 144,300.00 117,370,000 23,412,150.00 27,802,000 5,754,600.00 78,000,000 861,500.00 36,500,000 455,300.00 2,817,000 5,354,310.00 14,894,900 94,467,415.00 871,000 1,717,970.00 9,033,000 5,793,120.00 5,623,000 6,130,800.00 81,400,000 872,900.00 1,800,000 18,700.00 917,600 6,587,032.00 7,609,200 68,007,164.00 13,306,000 41,383,810.00 229,800,000 2,762,500.00 241,000 639,680.00 4,985,640 799,934,493.00 12,000,000 101,900.00 PREFERRED 2,078,300 87,295,765.00 6,060 3,124,270.00 2,650 1,364,750 97,300 10,411,100 127,870 13,464,819.00 5,720 642,040.00 2,500 287,000.00 3,160 1,636,705.00 3,846,600 23,152,119.00 19,420 19,559,980.00 5,590 5,693,900.00 1,915,000 2,010,930 26,640 2,871,651.00 2,500 2,587,000.00 4,530 4,988,085.00 7,810 7,945,805.00 38,300 4,059,800.00 100 11,341.00 6,620 507,120.50 156,690 12,781,387.00 309,270 23,775,850.00 161,510 12,676,240.00 26,320 2,115,680.00 20,110 1,575,181.00 124,410 22,044,632.50 642,370 50,548,260.50 8,000 18,140.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 22,086,000 66,673,910.00 SME 30,000 95,100.00 1,118,000 4,353,840.00 2,731,400 16,043,659.00 11,258,400 92,988,457.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 250,050 29,738,362.00 DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 15,100 158,566.00

0.3550 0.630 34.50 4.1 24.45 1.78 3.28 33.30 1.06 7.29 0.980 6.000

JULY 3-7, 2017 Volume Value 5,730,000 42,759,000 4,400 4,486,000 16,326,600 592,000 1,461,000 23,890,000 29,119,000 12,400 9,665,000 22,915,900

2,056,000.00 26,967,180.00 147,315.00 18,379,480.00 398,963,060.00 1,031,990.00 4,681,600.00 791,020,525.00 30,360,010.00 86,686.00 9,114,200.00 135,735,151.00

23.3

4,656,500

113,466,730.00

41.95 1.63 0.495 0.043 10.76 5.3 9.79 0.0880

198,500 4,196,000 1,956,000 109,335,200 200 53,800 54,493,100 253,930,000

8,366,250.00 6,698,200.00 968,135.00 6,304,600.00 2,176.00 288,768 527,729,431.00 22,185,100.00

96.65 9.7 2.41 8.75

1,056,060 15,400 28,000 2,869,200

101,672,515.50 150,046.00 66,690 22,806,505.00

970 2060 6.25 15.64 13.20 2.94 101 3.42 12.68 8.72 0.185 1.4400 3.53 15.94 4.65 1.76 8.50 16.46 0.610 2.21 8.9 5.16 2.600 11.52 5.34 2.92

690 96,165 1,690,600 234,800 100 4,720,000 10,742,690 221,000 319,100 1,639,100 30,570,000 9,711,000 286,000 26,500 19,237,000 12,297,000 16,518,500 24,700 1,798,000 147,000 25,476,200 72,367,500 4,705,000 30,200 139,600 43,000

669,300.00 197,447,380 10,511,939.00 3,695,176.00 1,320 14,053,890.00 1,055,726,355.00 755,180 3,875,388.00 14,293,632.00 5,630,340.00 14,685,940.00 1,004,520.00 420,912.00 90,044,180 23,006,810.00 128,303,533.00 378,380 1,101,950.00 327,390.00 227,593,005.00 363,448,959.00 12,263,930.00 347,602.00 751,086 124,490.00

180.00 10.90 1759.00 0.395 1.570 45.15 88.00 6.09 4.69 1.570

113,620 12,556,200 452,465 5,980,000 40,158,000 2,504,500 5,299,700 9,031,000 120,993,000 227,197,000

20,499,768.00 139,621,136.00 798,451,375.00 2,382,500.00 62,562,240.00 112,868,960.00 469,051,739.50 55,206,125.00 527,154,210.00 359,666,670.00

3.71 0.930 8.610

30,781,300 121,785,000 80,564,700

117,521,060.00 108,496,890.00 673,363,131.00

0.0030 1.81 5.12 14.82 2.0800 2.0500 1.03 0.390 8.50 2.600 0.290 0.184 0.192 0.011 0.0110 1.92 6.3 2.01 0.6300 1.0000 0.0100 0.0100 6.97 9.04 3.01 0.0130 2.7000 160.30 0.0085

3,138,000,000 39,866,000 1,677,600 11,700 8,000 93,000 25,944,000 4,470,000 53,500 13,720,000 1,560,000 20,100,000 1,400,000 142,100,000 2,000,000 2,971,000 37,554,400 1,157,000 17,687,000 945,000 135,700,000 3,400,000 1,739,100 6,448,700 5,193,000 70,300,000 827,000 5,476,600 5,000,000

9,095,000.00 70,171,330.00 8,929,698.00 168,054.00 16,660.00 193,290.00 26,380,550.00 1,727,700.00 458,067.00 35,531,540.00 445,750.00 3,660,580.00 264,940.00 1,525,600.00 22,000.00 5,842,990.00 249,514,756.00 2,309,450.00 11,703,210.00 944,650.00 1,408,900.00 34,000.00 12,391,885.00 58,087,697.00 15,733,120.00 849,400.00 2,201,670.00 877,936,703.00 43,100.00

41.9 514.5 512 107 105 112 115 525 6.04 1002 1018 1.05 108 1030 1129 1016 106 113.4 77 81.75 76.3 79 80.5 78.5 78 78 2.35

59,500 3,230 4,450 4,280 285,260 4,010 60,910 410 16,031,400 6,520 4,600 560,000 54,140 1,125 5 7,875 34,990 13,780 6,030 43,930 57,090 13,500 136,210 18,400 219,520 465,910 3,000

2,495,000.00 1,662,880.00 2,311,250 458,100 29,971,080.00 449,125.00 6,979,464.00 213,750.00 96,982,285.00 6,551,130.00 4,682,780.00 589,350 5,756,930.00 1,161,665.00 5,645.00 7,995,545.00 3,702,395.00 1,467,154.00 460,836.50 3,583,676.50 4,349,824.00 1,066,650.00 10,943,986.00 1,445,290.00 17,301,099.00 35,971,934.00 6,700.00

2.470

8,133,000

20,687,590.00

2.95 3.89 5.89 8.22

33,000 1,090,000 243,200 25,959,200

97,300.00 4,265,260.00 1,426,126.00 223,036,700.00

119.2

28,040

10.5

13,920

3,321,564.00 147,668.80

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Century Property Waterfront Phils. MRC Allied Ind. Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Crown Equities Inc. Philodrill Corp. À’ Interport À’ Phil. Realty À’

VOLUME 2,532,000,000 663,554,000 524,357,000 509,080,000 396,683,000 340,489,000 241,040,000 229,800,000 196,971,000 157,611,000

STOCKS Metrobank Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. SM Prime Holdings PLDT Common DMCI Holdings Universal Robina Mla. Elect. Co `A’ I.C.T.S.I.

VALUE 2,629,531,876.50 1,876,528,750.00 1,758,046,960.00 1,686,441,801 1,174,456,015.00 1,051,107,150.00 1,021,131,548.00 1,015,864,669 893,755,144.00 842,580,943.00

The board earlier approved a private placement of up to P1 billion worth of common shares at a minimum issue price equivalent to the 30-day average rate from transaction date and downpayment of 50 percent of the issue price upon signing of the term sheet with the 50-percent balance payable within 30 days from downpayment. MRC Allied executed a memorandum of understanding with local company Merge Energy and Environment Corp. or MEEC for possible acquisition opportunities. “The purpose of the MOU is to conﬁrm that both parties have an interest in developing renewable energy projects in the properties identiﬁed by MEEC as target or locations,” MRC Allied said. MEEC is a domestic private corporation engaged in the business of exploration and development of renewable energy resources such as but not limited to biomass, geothermal, oil and gas. “The MOU is a preliminary agreement between the parties. It is basically exploratory in nature and it will allow us to look into the projects of MEEC,” MRC Allied president Gladys Nalda said. The MOU involves the conduct of due diligence within 60 days from the MOU signing.

CebuPac wooing Korean travelers By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Pacific Air is offering more promotional travel packages for Koreans to revive their appetite to travel to the Philippines following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao in May and a gunman’s attack in Resorts World Manila in June. Darron Kang, sales supervisor of Cebu Pacific in South Korea, said travel bookings to the Philippines were affected by the negative news in the country. Kang said Cebu Pacific incurred about 3,000 flight cancellations in the last 20 days because of the martial law declaration in Mindanao and the Resorts World attack. He said despite the negative news in the Philippines, he was optimistic that travel bookings would recover in the second half as Cebu Pacific offered more promotional campaign and package tours. “We have to make feel that Koreans are safe in the Philippines,” Kang said. Cebu Pacific is targeting 80-percent to 85-percent load factor between Korea and the Philippines. The average load factor in the first five months was 78.5 percent. For Cebu to Incheon, the load factor was 76.6 percent; Kalibo to Incheon, 88.4 percent; Manila to Incheon, 81.2 percent; and Manila to Busan 68 percent. Cebu Pacific offers flights to over 60 destinations including Dubai, Tokyo, Beijing, Bali and Sydney. The airline’s 61-strong fleet, comprised of four Airbus A319s, 36 Airbus A320s, 8 Airbus A330s, 8 ATR-72 500s and 5 ATR 72-600s, is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world.

Business

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

FPI urges approval of power contracts THE Federation of Philippine Industries, which is composed of 34 industry associations and 120 corporation manufacturing members, has urged the Energy Regulatory Commission to act on pending power supply agreements. FPI chairman Jesus Lim Arranza expressed concern over the delays being encountered by several power projects that would ensure the country’s supply in the coming years. “Energy security is a very important concern for FPI since all of our members are manufacturers that need stable and reliable supply for their operations,” Arranza said. “That is why we are concerned on the reported delays of several projects because of the lack of PSA approvals,” he added. FPI agreed that delays in the approval process significantly affect the development of base load power plants, which could produce reliable electricity 24/7. These plants take around three to four years to build. “Power plant developers should start constructing their projects now to ensure that we will have sufficient supply that will support the country’s economic growth,” Arranza said. FPI has backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build! Build! Build!” infrastructure program, which can only be supported if the industries work together. The energy sector plays a crucial role in ensuring affordable and reliable supply. “And as part of this sector, we enjoin the ERC to do its role by acting on the more than 90 PSAs pending with the commissions since April last year,” Arranza said. The FPI also lauded the administration’s move to declare energy projects as of national significance.

IPP ROADSHOW. Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo (left) and BoI executive director for Industry Development Service Ma.

Corazon Halili-Dichosa discuss the changes and improvements in the 2017 IPP during the ﬁrst 2017 IPP Roadshow for stakeholders in the National Capital Region and Regions 4A and 4B at the Philippine Trade and Training Center on July 14, 2017.

SSS restructures loan terms By Julito G. Rada

TATE pension fund Social Security System plans to collect around P9 billion worth of overdue loan payments from memberborrowers in the next ﬁve years under its loan restructuring program. SSS president and chief executive Emmanuel Dooc said in a statement over the weekend the agency had collected over P5.22 billion of overdue loan payments from member-borrowers who availed of the program in the last 12 months. “We are very much overwhelmed with the huge volume of applicants, especially during

the last few days before the deadline. We hope that they are more persistent in paying their monthly obligations so they could avail of the condonation of penalties as soon as they have paid in full their outstanding loan,” Dooc said. “We are expecting P8.6 billion in collection until the end of the ﬁve-year installment term,” he said.

Dooc expects the regularity of offering loan condonation program for its members will be easier to implement in the future with the approval of the proposed SSS charter amendments. One provision of the proposed bill aims to rationalize the power of the Social Security Commission, which includes making it an approving authority for loan condonation programs, instead of the President of the Philippines. Launched on April 28, 2016, the LRP provided relief to delinquent borrowers to settle their unpaid SSS loans through ﬂexible payment terms of up to ﬁve years at a low interest rate of 3 percent a year.

“We would like to remind our LRP availers that loan penalties will be completely waived after full payment of total loan principal and interest under the restructured loan. So they are advised to pay their ﬁnancial obligations on time to prevent an additional penalty of 0.5 percent per month,” Dooc said. Members who availed of the program have the option to pay their past due loans in full within 30 days with no additional interest, or through installment basis of up to ﬁve years with a minimal interest rate of 3 percent per annum. As part of the program’s terms and conditions, members who availed of the LRP are already

excluded from future condonation programs. However, members can apply for another SSS loan six months after they have fully paid their ﬁnancial obligation under the LRP. Majority of the LRP applicants were employee-members who contributed P3.23 billion worth of collection. Voluntary members who represented 27 percent of the overall total, meanwhile, paid an initial P1.38 billion. Over 39,000 self-employed members also availed of the LRP with an equivalent collection of P194.37 million, while more than 46,000 overseas Filipino worker-members beneﬁtted from the program with a total remittance of P412.76 million.

What are business schools for? By Patrick Adriel H. Aure AS he enters a good-for-forty-people classroom, he searches for the seat farthest from the whiteboard. His signature on the course attendance sheet is supposed to signify his being present in that day’s class, but his blank stares, which barely recognize the bullets in the PowerPoint slide flashed on the white screen, prove otherwise. His mind is similar to a high-tech browser powered by fiber-fast internet—multiple tabs of thought categorized by extra-curricular schedules, social activities after school, and random distractions from a seemingly boring lecture... all loading at the same time. As if on cue, his Facebook news feed is suddenly flooded with the funniest content and memes anyone has seen in a while, while the faculty member tries to emphasize an important point in that day’s lesson. “Anyway, everything can be searched by Google,” the student reassures himself. Years ago, that undergraduate business student was me. Fast forward to today, I am now the faculty member witnessing another student reenact the exact experience I have lived through before. In today’s world where Google and Facebook are everyone’s know-it-all best friends and management education is not a hard prerequisite to business success (see: Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg), business schools need to ask: What are business schools for? What are business faculty for? Finding the answer to this question is more urgent than ever in the Philippines, where we are experiencing how the K-12 program changes not only secondary education but also tertiary education as well. Our college and my academic department is continuing to explore changes in subjects, course content, and learning outcomes in preparation for 2018, where majority of the first wave of K-12 graduates will enter college. Aside from reconfiguring our existing courses, we realize that the new generation of students are very dif-

ferent from the previous ones. In the past, the power resides in the teacher—lecturing course content and testing the enrollees learnings. Today, the content-provider role of teachers is obsolete thanks to Google and the internet of things. Limited attention span In my experience, undergraduate students are not anymore as receptive as in the past in terms of the more ‘traditional’ means of teaching—lectures, group reports, reading long articles, and even watching educational videos. I have personally learned that the duration of these activities cannot exceed 20 minutes at a time, or else students start to disengage by checking their smartphones or entertaining whatever distractions they fancy. As such, I was challenged to find other means of discussing the course content. In the previous weeks, instead of the usual reporting of case study answers (e.g. a group goes in front of the room and echoes the answers to the class), I experimented a ‘case study gallery’ approach where groups are assigned stations and other members roam around, emulating a gallery. Also, instead of lecturing content first before assigning a case, I did the reverse. I assigned the case first, let the groups present, then I gave feedback whether their understanding and application of concepts were accurate—a simulation of an ideal learning-by-doing scenario. Prefer learning-by-doing From these experiments, I learned that students of today are more receptive to activities that encourage interaction and rapid feedback while reconciling engaging activities with the course content. They prefer learning-by-doing over the traditional information dumping lectures tend to focus on. My most important insight is that teachers should celebrate— not lament—the fact that teaching is not anymore about faculty members relaying content. The job of Google and the internet of things is to make information more accessible, and it is intuitive enough that I find it reasonable to expect students to take care of

themselves in searching for the content they need to master. What are business schools for? What are business faculty for? My initial answer is that business schools and faculty should pivot from relaying content to designing a true learning platform—a space, physical or digital, where students can learn applicable tools, frameworks that make sense of their intuition, and most ideally, learn how to learn. In today’s time, I realize that the ideal learning environment is not where students are sponges that absorb knowledge until they are full; rather, it is where students are experimenters that test their own ideas, fail, and learn new ones. What remains is the role of schools to be the advocates of a strong moral compass, where future managers are prepared a world of sustainability and common good. To end, I share to you a quote by best-selling author and entrepreneur, Seth Godin: “If you want people to become passionate, engaged in a field, transformed by an experience—you don’t test them, you don’t lecture them and you don’t force them. Instead, you create an environment where willing, caring individuals can find an experience that changes them.” – Seth Godin, ‘Will this be on the test’, www. medium.com Patrick Adriel H. Aure is currently a faculty member of the Management and Organization Department of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of business, and is a junior research fellow of the DLSU Center for Business Research and Development. Having earned his MBA from De La Salle University, he is excited about rethinking business education and exploring cases on social enterprises, sustainability, innovation, and new business models. You can reach him at aure.patrick@gmail.com. The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

KING SISIG OUTLET. The friendly staff of King Sisig Market! Market! headed by restaurant manager Rosie Fe Eledia (third from left) welcomed customers and visitors at the recent opening of the food chain’s newest branch at the Fiesta Market Area of Market!Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

WHO hit on e-cigarettes info Consumer groups criticized local anti-tobacco advocates for rehashing findings by the World Health Organization, claiming they are flawed and old. WHO is seeking to ban indoor use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or “vapes”) based on rehashed flawed information. Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said the Department of Health was open to adopting the WHO’s recommendation. “Local anti-tobacco groups should realize that the WHO is not infallible and repeating wrong information on e-cigarettes will not make it correct,” said Tom Pinlac, president of The Vapers Philippines. “The WHO, which believes that the only way to reduce smoking is for smokers to ‘quit or die,’ should open its eyes to the evidence and consider the potential for new technologies, such as e-cigarettes, to reduce smoking-related harms.” “Local health experts and anti-tobacco advocates should look beyond the WHO and consider the findings of independent studies on e-cigarettes. There is strong

evidence that e-cigarettes can serve as a safer alternative to tobacco. Let us provide smokers who are trying to quit with accurate information on e-cigarettes,” said Joey Dulay, president of the Philippine ECigarette Industry Association. The WHO’s recommendation to ban indoor use of e-cigarettes is based on its report on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems that the agency released in August 2016. The report claims, among others, that metals exposures among e-cigarette users are higher than in second-hand smoke and could be harmful to bystanders. The WHO report was analyzed and criticized by the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies, which includes as authors John Britton (head of the Royal College of Physicians Tobacco Advisory Group), Ilze Bogdanovich (Cancer Research UK), Ann McNeil (Professor of Tobacco Addiction at King’s College London and Trustee of the Society for the Study of Addiction and Healthier Futures), and Linda Bauld (Professor of Health Policy at the University of Stirling).

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

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Business

Chinese wind power giant seeks app store ENVISION Energy, one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, has bigger ambitions. Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Lei Zhang laid out a vision for a global “ecosystem” of energy in which solar and wind farms, power plants, utilities, big electricity customers and all of the application and software developers that support them are connected to each other on a single, digital platform. And of course, Envision would supply the platform. The company wants to serve as an “enabler,” Zhang said in an interview in San Francisco, where he announced an alliance with companies including Microsoft Corp. and Accenture Plc that’ll promote digitalization in the energy industry. The system is about “connecting so many assets around the world so that any application developer can plug in like the Apple Store,” Zhang said. “We’re helping them reach more customers.” It’s a potential solution to a notoriously fragmented, so-called

Internet of Things industry that’s rapidly expanding into the energy space, allowing power suppliers and customers to track realtime data and control operations using devices. Such technologies are giving people more power over their energy demand and stand to accelerate the adoption of wind and solar resources by giving investors, lenders and insurers the data they need to make sound bets, Zhang said. While Envision’s best known for its wind business, the company has offered a platform for power generators for years as part of its digital-services unit. Developers that have linked to it include Sonnen GmbH and AutoGrid. The system already manages about 100 gigawatts of power resources, with the majority of that being wind, solar and storage resources, according to Zhang. Envision’s goal now is to “go beyond renewables, go beyond generation,” he said. “We are thinking about it holistically― generation, distribution, consumption.” Bloomberg

Tourism magnet. Revelers raise red scarves and candles as they sing the song ‘Pobre de Mi,’ marking the end of the San Fermin festival in

Pamplona, northern Spain on July 15, 2017. Each day at 8:00 a.m., hundreds of people race with six bulls, charging along a winding, 848.6-meter (more than half a mile) course through narrow streets to the city’s bull ring, where the animals are killed in a bullﬁght or corrida, during this festival, immortalized in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises” and dating back to medieval times and also featuring religious processions, folk dancing, concerts and round-the-clock drinking. AFP

US banks register solid earnings By John Biers

EW YORK—Credit cards were a strength and trading revenues a weakness in the solid US bank earnings released Friday, as JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon erupted in frustration at political gridlock in Washington. JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup all reported better-than-expected earnings, and bank executives described US economic growth as solid, if unspectacular, as moves by the US Federal Reserve to lift interest rates have enabled banks to charge more for loans. Yet Friday’s deluge of results, the unof-

ﬁcial start of the second-quarter corporate earnings period, drew a lackluster reaction from Wall Street, with shares of all three banks falling after the reports. At JPMorgan, the biggest US bank by assets, second-quarter net income rose 13.4 percent to $7.0 billion. Net revenues climbed 4.7 percent to $26.4 billion. Key factors behind the earnings jump included higher net interest income due to the rising interest rate environment, as well as higher overall loans, often seen as a proxy of economic activity of ﬁrms and households. But JPMorgan’s trading divisions suffered compared with the year-ago period, with the bank citing “sustained low volatility.” Analysts also were disappointed by a $500 million cut to JPMorgan’s 2017 projection for growth of net interest income to $4 billion, implying it sees weaker loan growth in the second half of 2017, due in part to the Fed’s policy of only raising interest rates gradually.

“We’re looking at a slower rise in interest rates in general and that speaks to Fed funds rate policy,” said CFRA analyst Ken Leon. “I believe you’re not going to see significant contributions of net interest income from rising rates until 2018 and 2019.” JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon also made waves with a colorful tirade against Washington gridlock that he blames for blocking progress on tax reform and other growth measures needed to boost the economy. Dimon, who is a member of President Donald Trump’s business advisory council, warned the US will have trouble accelerating growth from its current 1.5 to 2.0 percent trend if it fails to come together in favor of probusiness policies. “It’s almost an embarrassment to be an American citizen traveling around the world and listening to the stupid shit we have to deal with in this country,” Dimon told analysts on a conference call.

“It’s not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue and it doesn’t matter who the pilot is.” Dimon’s remarks come amid lagging progress on President Donald Trump’s economic agenda, with the outlook highly uncertain for a Republican health care law that has been seen as important to tax reform. Citigroup chief ﬁnancial ofﬁcer John Gerspach expressed cautious optimism about the outlook for pro-growth measures from Washington. “The hope is still there,” Gerspach said in a conference call with reporters. “Obviously it’s taken a little bit longer than anybody would want.” Citigroup’s net income came in at $3.9 billion, down 3.2 percent from the year-ago period, but better than analysts expected. Revenues rose two percent to $17.9 billion, with revenues from Citi-branded credit cards jumping 10 percent following a venture with Costco Wholesale. AFP

Australian malls turn to village life as retailers feel pinch By Glenda Kwek SYDNEY, Australia―As Australia’s local merchants struggle with an influx of global names, leading malls are considering returning to their village center roots to woo new tenants by moving away from shops and offering medical facilities, more restaurants and even amusement parks. Several top retailers have recently succumbed to pressure from foreign giants such as Japan’s Uniqlo and Sephora of France and with Amazon plotting its debut in the country, the future looks tough. The response from developers has been to redefine the mall away from a “shopping” focus to become a more community-driven service and entertainment space. While cafes and restaurants have long helped attract shoppers to malls, they are now filling shopping centers, providing some buzz even as an eerie quiet fills some nearby clothing stores. With the big global names pouring huge sums of cash into the country, once popular clothing chains such as David Lawrence, Pumpkin Patch, Herringbone, and Rhodes & Beckett have bitten the dust, while others scramble to reduce costs. This has included cutting back on bricks and mortar stores, and steering center owners towards food, entertainment, healthcare and childcare providers. Major landlords such as Vicinity and Westfield spinoff Scentre, which this year have seen their share prices slip to one or two-year lows, are already redeveloping their arcades. Vicinity’s Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia’s largest mall, is now the site of the southern hemisphere’s first massive amusement park Legoland. The company is also tapping into newer technologies such as facial recognition to identify consumers through their age and gender and analyze their shopping habits. “What we are seeing is the malls starting to pivot away from commodity-type products... towards retailers that offer a service which isn’t physical,” real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield’s retail investments head Nick Potter told AFP. “Shopping centers are the modern village, it’s where everyone comes together. These centers are typically located in the center of towns, they’ve got strong infrastructure... and that offers up the ability to move with the times.” Utopian vision The move is a return to the vision of Victor Gruen,

This photo taken on July 5, 2017 shows shoppers passing by a retail store in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall. Foreign retail giants are devouring customers and devastating local merchants, leading Australian shopping malls to revive their original roles as community centers in the hunt for new tenants, analysts say. AFP

an Austrian-born American who in the 1950s developed the concept of the arcade as a public space akin to the market place of centuries past, where civic life played a central role. Adding to the shift is the growth of online shopping, which offers shoppers the same options but with the added bonus of not being subject to general sales tax (GST) for anything below Aus$1,000 (US$760). Canberra has sought to end the loophole by imposing a 10 percent levy from next July but the lower margins for online store such as eBay and ASOS still makes them attractive. While online shopping is estimated to make up a little more than 10 percent of total retail sales, future arrivals such as Amazon could change that. “If (online shopping) jumps up in a big way, how does that affect bricks and mortar? Maybe all shopping centers

just become cafes,” University of Technology Sydney accounting expert David Bond told AFP. “You’ll probably see it move more towards just products being sold online, versus services, cafes, cinemas, game centers an creches (at malls).” The University of Canberra’s Lisa Scharoun, who analyses the cultural role of shopping centers in societies, has seen the changes first-hand, with more than half of a local mall now filled with restaurants and cafes. Scharoun said developers were moving away from hosting consumption-driven stores and were more willing to lease space to other users such as churches and libraries. “I think that the mall is evolving back to what it was actually intended to be when it was first conceived,” she told AFP. “It was supposed to be like an enclosed community space... a utopian vision of Victor Gruen.” AFP

China’s economy slowed in Q2—poll BEIJING―China’s economy lost momentum in the second quarter, a survey shows, as Beijing’s efforts to curb risky lending and investment took a toll on the Asian powerhouse. The world’s second-largest economy expanded by 6.8 percent in the April-June period, compared with a year ago, according to the median forecast of 12 analysts polled by AFP. That follows a better-thanexpected increase of 6.9 percent in the first three months of the year. The estimate comes ahead of the official release on Monday of China’s closely-watched GDP growth data for the second quarter. Debt-fueled investment in infrastructure and real estate has underpinned China’s growth for years but warnings of a potential financial crisis have spurred Beijing to clamp down. In the latest alert, Fitch Ratings on Friday said China’s growing debt could trigger “economic and financial shocks” even as it maintained its A-plus rating on the country. That follows Moody’s decision in May to downgrade China for the first time in almost three decades on concerns over its ballooning credit and slowing growth. Tighter restrictions on property purchases and bank lending will continue to weigh on the economy in the months ahead, said Larry Hu, head of China economics at Macquarie Group. “We expect GDP growth to trend down in the second half of 2017 on slowing property sales and tight liquidity,” he said. The economy is likely to face further headwinds as consumption also comes under pressure from slowing income growth, said Fan Zhang, senior China economist at RHB Bank. UBS chief China economist Tao Wang said “higher funding costs due to supervisory tightening” will impact fixed-asset investment―which measures spending on real estate, roads and bridges. AFP

LGUs

Port of Subic income up 11%

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT―The Port of Subic posted an impressive 11-percent growth in revenue in the first five months of this year, despite less ship calls recorded in the same period. According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma, total port revenue logged from January to May 2017 in Subic reached P488.82 million, which was 11 percent higher than the P440.99 million recorded in the same period last year. “Considering that there were less ship calls this year than last year―we had a total of 1,164 in January to May 2017 compared to P1,414 in 2016―then that was still a remarkable achievement for Subic,” Eisma said. She said Subic port also registered a 23-percent increase in export value, with total exports reaching US$1.06 billion in the first five months of 2017, compared to just US$865.26 million in the same period last year. Similarly, Subic’s import value also rose by nine percent in the same period, or from US$628.65 million last year to the current US$682.18 million, she added. Eisma said that much of the growth in port business in Subic involved containerized cargo, which increased in volume from 51,346 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in January-May 2016 to 55,516 TEUs this year, for an eight percent increase. However, non-containerized cargo volume suffered a five percent decrease, as only 2.96 million metric tons passed through the Port of Subic this year, compared to 3.12 million MTs last year. Still, the Port of Subic continues to attract more business, as 10 shipping lines now regularly call on Subic, said Ronnie Yambao, head of the SBMA port marketing office. The shipping lines, Yambao said, include major players like the Taiwan-based Evergreen, which is the fifth biggest shipping company in the world; the Singapore-based American President Lines; Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha of Japan; Mitsui O.S.K. Lines also of Japan; SITC Container Lines of China; and Wan Hai Lines, also of Taiwan.

TROLLEY BAG DONATION.

Pupils from Simlong Elementary School in Batangas City show off their new trolley bags with their teachers and Philippine Business for Social Progress employees. The bags were donated by PBSP membercompany Fluor Philippines as part of the organization’s participation in United Way Day of Action 2017 which was joined by many countries. Manny Palmero

Macea vows more projects A By Joel E. Zurbano

GROUP of investors in Makati City has inaugurated the first of two new pedestrian overpasses on Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue as part of their tri-level pedestrianization program to help the local government in promoting healthy environment in the central business district.

Officials of the Makati Commercial Estate Association said the construction of the P55-million roof-covered footbridge— with glass railings and escalators stretches from the RCBC Plaza Building to the Columns Ayala Avenue—is also meant to ease traffic by supporting walking as the safer, more convenient, and affordable option to move around the business district.

Macea, represented by its vice chairman architect William Coscolluela and Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, led the simple inaugural ceremony for the new footbridge, which the group said will benefit thousands of pedestrians and motorists who traverse the busy road day and night. Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue is a major arterial street in Metro

Manila that runs on an east-westeast course through the cities of Makati and Pasay, from Epifanio de los Santos Avenue on the east to Roxas Boulevard on the west. Formerly called Buendia, the avenue honors the late statesman who served as senator for 21 years with five terms as senate president. Macea has set the second overpass for completion in April 2018. The covered footbridge, which cost about P70 million, will link the People Support building to the Makati Post Office and will be constructed with the same quality standards. The group, composed of 391 businessmen in the country’s main financial and commercial district, is also undertaking the escalator modernization program in the area. It has also recently completed the replace-

ment of 11 escalators at the Legazpi Underpass, V.A. Rufino Street, Paseo de Roxas and the elevated walkway entrance to Greenbelt 5 shopping center. A total of 29 escalators are set for upgrades, including escalators in the kilometer-long elevated pedestrian walkway from Greenbelt to Salcedo Street near the Makati Medical Center. “We envisioned the program as a network of tri-level pedestrian pathways composed of underground passageways, ongrade covered sidewalks, and elevated walkways,” said Macea president David Balangue. Macea also made improvement on way-finding system in the central business district where the new street signs are larger, bigger fonts with reflectorized text and graphic designs on the side to represent the colors

Czech Republic have implemented projects in Samar Island, while the Czech branch of ADRA helped the people in Panay. PIN continued their long-term reconstruction and development programs in the sectors of livelihood and market development, agriculture, land issues and civil society development. On the other hand, Caritas Czech Republic followed their initial aid with the renewal of schools and support for agriculture, which includes cultivation of low cost rice and alternative crops and the use of natural fertilizers. ADRA Czech Republic transitioned their focus on shelter, livelihood and disaster risk reduction. As Ambassador Olša believes, I hope the parliamentarians, through this joint study trip, will be familiar with the needs of Asian countries stricken by natural disasters... The joint study trip was aimed to introduce the parliamentarians to the mechanisms of development cooperation s implementation, monitoring, evaluation and how it should be, based on country and community needs. According to Jan Vytopil, Deputy Head of Mission at the Czech Embassy, I hope this visit shows that help from smaller countries are as much meaningful as the aid coming from the traditional large players. Optimistically, the journey would open doors to deeper apprecia-

Turn to C2

300 in Navotas take part in dzRH medical mission

Euro solons visit Czech projects in 2 towns in Samar CONGRESSMEN of five Central European countries visited the humanitarian and development projects provided to those affected by Typhoon “Yolanda.” During the three-day stay, the representatives were able to visit the Philippine Congress as well as the people living in the infamous Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila. Furthermore, an inspection of several Czech-run projects in and around Basey and Guian in Samar, through the assistance of both People in Need and Caritas Czech Republic, was made possible. The journey of the congressmen of Czechia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia was organized by the biggest Central European non-governmental organization, the Czech PIN— People in Need, headed by its Manila-based Philippine Country Director Canny Geyer. Before bidding farewell to Manila, the Slovak congressman Ľuboš Blaha says: Hats down to People in Need organization and to all those who helped not only in the Philippines but around the world, in those countries most stricken by poverty. What I am happily bringing back in memory are the faces of Filipinos, capable of enjoying life despite living in underprivileged areas in the country. They are beautiful, optimistic people of good and vibrant spirit, Blaha added. The Czech organization, People in Need as well as Caritas

of “Make It Makati” and the Macea logo, which are also visible at night. “Twenty-eight new street signs have been installed in all the street corners along Ayala Avenue, from Apartment Ridge near Edsa all the way to Gil Puyat Avenue. Eventually, the new way-finding system will cover all the street corners in the entire business district,” said Balangue. “This will aid the general public in navigating through the dynamics streets and iconic landmarks of the central business district,” he added. Macea has been a primary mover in the district’s development, building some seven underpasses, on grade covered sidewalks, and the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway.

ALMOST 300 Navoteños received medical attention at the Makabagong Bayanihan Medical Mission held by the Navotas City Government in partnership with dzRH, the radio company celebrating its 78th anniversary. The participants underwent medical consultation as well as blood sugar and blood pressure testing. They also received free medicines and vitamins. They also engaged in lectures on family planning, how to avail of the services offered at the newly established hemodialysis unit at the Navotas City Hospital, and disaster preparedness. “Every Navoteño is our city’s strength and treasure. We want to take good care of their health so they will have strength to improve their lives,” said Mayor John Rey Tiangco. Central European Representatives (from left) Hon. Rainer Varka of Estonia, Hon. Rihard Kols of Latvia, Hon. Virginijus Sinkevicius of Lithuania, Hon. Lubos Blaha of Slovakia, Hon. Pavel Plzak of Czechia with Provincial Manager of People In Need-Samar Pavel Muron and Vice Governor Marcel Picardal and fellow LGU officials visiting the Cacao Nursery in Salcedo, Eastern Samar.

tion of the benefits of aid and development projects. The delegation was represented by Hon. Pavel Plzák, Member of the Committee on Petitions and Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Hon. Rainer Varka, Head of the Committee on Environment of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia, Hon. L uboš Blaha, Head of the Committee for European Affairs and Member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of the Slovak Republic; Hon. Virginijus Sinkevicius, Head of the Committee for Economic Affairs of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania and Deputy Chair of Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union and Hon. Rihards Kols, Deputy Head

of the Committee for Foreign Affairs and Member of the Committee for European Affairs of the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia. Furthermore, in lieu with the visit, H.E. Jaroslav Olša jr. of the Czech Republic hosted a reception to meet and talk about possible European projects for the country representatives. Noted attendees were various international development cooperation agencies which have long been based in Manila, namely Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional Para el Desarrollo, Agence Française de Développement, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees to include a few.

Cavite’s Salazar starts legislative academy at LPU GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite―Cavite Councilor’s League Federation president and Ex-Officio Provincial board member Kerby Salazar has organized an academy that aims to educate local legislators on legislation and good governance. Salazar launched recently the Cavite Councilor’s Legislative Academy, the pioneer legislative academy here in the country, in cooperation with Lyceum of the Philippines University General Trias City campus in Manggahan. On the maiden semester, around 64 councilors enrolled in Masters in Public Administration, Legal Studies, Communications, and Operations Management. “As the leader of hundreds of councilors here in Cavite, I would like them to learn how to craft a good ordinance or resolution on their respective cities and towns.” Salazar said. Salazar, also the topnotch councilor of progressive city of GenTri is planning to institutionalize the CCLA for it to continue even if his term ends in June 30, 2019.

LGUs

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Philex pours in more EPEP funds T By Dexter A. See

UBA, Benguet—Philex Mining Corp. hopes to continue taking care of the environment beyond what is required by law, as it spent P89.53 million, or 20.5 percent of its total budget of P436.94 million for this year’s environmental and enhancement projects, including the management of land and water resources, hazardous waste, and air quality, as well as the third-party monitoring of mine facilities.

In a report submitted to the said water-resource manageMines and Geosciences Bureau, ment, which covers mainly the the gold-and-copper producer improvement of its open spill-

way and the maintenance of the offset dike at its Tailings Storage Facility No. 3, ate up P64.44 million between January and March, or 19.7 percent of its whole-year budget of P326.95 million. It also told the MGB, an office under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, that it spent P23.67 million for the various reforestation and forest-protection projects for the first three months, or 24.2 percent of the P97.87-million fund allocated for the land-resource management aspect of its 2017 Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP). “We have just started imple-

menting our reforestation projects, as we have done this annually during the rainy season starting from June until December,” Julius Bayogan, manager at the Environmental Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Department of Philex Mining’s operations in this town’s Sitio Padcal, said. “The other programs are done year-round or as needed.” He added that spending for the mine rehabilitation and regular monitoring of TSF3 by a multisectoral committee reached P692,246 while that of airquality management amounted to P579,100, both for the first quarter, or 36.41 percent and

22.7 percent of the respective allocated funds of P1.9 million and P2.55 million for the whole year. “We have 14 sampling stations within the area of our operations and another 12 sampling stations in the adjoining areas of Padcal mine as part of our commitment to follow and implement regulations on clean air and water,” Eulalio Austin Jr., CEO and president of Philex Mining, said. “And we have passed all the water quality standards imposed by both local and international regulatory bodies.” Bayogan said money spent for the disposal and treatment of used oil, hospital waste, cupels,

asbestos, and transformer oil, meanwhile, reached P149,917 between January and March, or almost two percent of P7.67 million allotted for the hazardousand toxic-waste management under the 2017 Annual EPEP. Philex Mining SVP and Padcal resident manager Manuel Agcaoili said environment-related expenses for 2016 had reached P446 million, or 12 percent of the company’s direct mine and milling costs of P3.696 billion for the same year. In 2015, the company shelled out P269 million for its AEPEP, or 4.5 percent of direct mine and milling costs amounting to over P6 billion.

Bridge has Bataan looking for answers BALANGA CITY―“We are answerable to the people of Bataan.” This was the statement of Vice Governor Cris Garcia during an inquiry on last Monday’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan regular session regarding the construction of bridge along the national road in Barangay Ibaba, Samal. Present in the inquiry were DPWH Unified Project Management Office engineer Solomon Vinta, DPWH First District Engineer Erlindo Flores, and Tokwing Construction Corp. engineer Chito Sampang. SP called on the inquiry following complaints from local residents particularly in first district about the long construction, and the no work development in site. “The people are asking us regarding the project, why so long and why no one is working in the site and they see no development. The project has brought so much inconvenience to the people,” she queried to guests. “We want to know because the people are asking us at SP, they ask even the governor, and other elected officials,” she said. Vinta said the bridge project is

under DPWH Central UPMO and the DPWH Bataan First District is mere coordinating. He admitted the detailed design of the bridge has not yet approved by the DPWH only the concept design, and that Tokwing is “doing the project in their own risk.” He explained why the people currently see no actual construction in site, parts of the bridge are being assembled in San Fernando, Pampanga. Vinta said the P18.7-milion bridge project got notice to proceed on October 2015 and should be finished in two years. He said the firm already got 60 days extension on the project, which is until November this year. He divulged Tokwing is constructing 10 bridges in Central Luzon including the Samal bridge project. He also admitted project had been subcontracted in the past. Board Member Rolly Tigas pointed out Tokwing should had not destroyed the old bridge without the approved detailed design unless DPWH said the old bridge was already collapsing. Butch Gunio

GARDENING. Three students of Kinabuksan Integrated School in Barangay Cawag, Subic, Zambales, assisted by their teacher, start to plant an idle garden plot using the seeds and implements provided by RP Energy in line with its ‘Project Seeds’ initiative. Butch Gunio

Firm to expand Benguet hydro plant

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard Republic of the Philippines TODAY

Province of Bataan City of Balanga

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE OFFICE

INVITATION TO BID NO. GOODS-049-2017 The Provincial Government of Bataan, through the General Fund49 intends to apply the below listed procurement w/ corresponding Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected a bid opening. Name of Project

Approved Budget of the Contract (ABC)

1. Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Training of one (1) Unit Mobile Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System for Industrial Perimeter And Urban Air Quality/Air Pollution Monitoring for the Use of PG-Enro, Province of Bataan

=P=15,000,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan now invites bids for the above listed Procurement. Delivery of goods is required on or before the maturity date stipulated on contract. Bidders should have completed, at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

ABOITIZPOWER is set to triple the combined capacity of its Bineng hydro power plant facilities to up to 19 MW by 2019 after receiving the approval of the municipal council of La Trinidad, Benguet. The Bineng Combined Hydropower Project, to be carried out by AboitizPower subsidiary Hedcor, will increase the capacity of the three Bineng plants from the current 5.48 MW to 19 MW. Hedcor and the local government unit of La Trinidad signed on June 27 the Memorandum of

Agreement to cover the project and the benefits for the locality. Since its entry in Benguet in 1986, Hedcor has sustained its growth momentum. Starting from the rehabilitation of four hydroelectric power plants owned by the City of Baguio, the company later on constructed its own generation facilities in the municipalities of La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, Bakun, and Itogon. Mayor Romeo Salda of La Trinidad welcomed the project. “We are positive that this development will have great impact

on the municipality’s growth. The local government will play an active role in making this project a success,” he said. In addition to being a reliable power supplier, Hedcor and AboitizPower are strong partners in the socioeconomic development of the community. In 2016, the La Trinidad local government unit received about P77 million as its barangay and municipal share from the operation of the hydropower plants. Moreover, Hedcor’s business tax, real property tax, and national wealth tax in 2016

Macea... From C1

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Office of Bataan Bids & Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same office. Bid documents will be available only to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of using standard rates approved by GPPB as stated on their Resolution No. 042012 listed below. Maximum Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Peso)

Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000 and below

500.00

More than 500,000 up to 1 Million

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

More than 50 Million up to 500 Million

50,000.00

More than 500 Million

75,000.00

The Provincial Government of Bataan will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 20, 2017 at 11:00 A.M at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. Bids must be delivered on or before August 2, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Provincial BAC Office, PEO Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated on IRR of RA 9184 or Bid Securing Declaration in standard form. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend opening of Bids at Bataan BAC Office. Late bids shall not be accepted. In case of the above dates is declared a special Non-Working Holidays, it will automatically reset on the next working days. Other necessary information deemed relevant by the Provincial Government of Bataan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Activities Advertisement/Posting of Invitation to Bid Eligibility Check Issuance and availability of Bidding Documents Request for Clarification Opening of Bids

Schedule July 13 -19, 2017 Refer to date of Opening of Bids July 13 – Aug. 2, 2017 July 21, 2017 August 2, 2017

The Provincial Government of Bataan reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Aileen C. Sagun Provincial BAC / PEO Bataan Provincial BAC / PEO Office, Capitol Compound, Balanga City, Bataan 047-237-9316 bac@bataan.gov.ph

(MS-JULY 17, 2017)

(SGD.) ENRICO T. YUZON BAC CHAIRMAN

reached P67 million. The municipality of La Trinidad has also received corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects worth P13 million, to date. These projects include farm-to-market roads, school buildings, and loans to cooperatives involved in the cut flower business. Barangay Bineng started cut flower production in early 1990s when they had steady access to electric power, which is needed for the greenhouses. Today, Bineng is one of the largest producer of cut flowers in Benguet.

OATHTAKING. Former Laguna governor Jeorge ER Ejercito (right) take his oath as national adviser and secretary general for Region IV-A of the Mayor Rodrigo Roa DuterteNational Executive Coordinating Committee/People’s National Movement For Federalism before Tesda secretary general Guiling ‘Gene’ Mamondiong, national chairman of the federalism advocacy group, at the latter’s office in Taguig City. Roy Tomandao

The latest 305-meter extension from VA Rufino Street to Salcedo Street was built at a cost of P110.6 million over a year and eight months. This brings the Dela Rosa Elevated Walkway to about 1,100 meters long, making it the country’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway. Macea will be having more projects to benefit residents, workers and visitors to the country’s premier finance, business and commercial district. This include the bus rapid transport lane system fro Edsa-Ayala in Makati City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. The proposal for the P1-billion BRT project has already been submitted to the Department of Transportation. Coscolluela said the BRT project will give convenience to the public, especially to the people working at the Central Business District. “If you notice, most people hanging out on Ayala Avenue during peak hour. It’s a long line, they’re going to Edsa [Makati] to Taft Avenue [Pasay]. With the cooperation of the city government to work on BRT system, everything is in place. We already proposed this to the DOTr. It will be the first in Manila if we do the BRT system. Like in Cebu and Indonesia which are very successful. We’ll soon we’ll work on this development,” he said. The project has been proposed in 2011 but it was not pushed during the term of then President Benigno Aquino III. Then Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay even wrote a letter to former DoTC secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and sought urgent action on the proposal, which he had favorably endorsed to Abaya’s predecessor Jose de Jesus. Based on the original proposal, the BRT will connect Metro Railway Transit Ayala Station to the Light Railway Transit Buendia Station, starting from the corner of Edsa and Ayala Avenue and traversing Ayala Avenue, turning left at Gil Puyat (Buendia) and ending at the LRT Line 1 Buendia Station along Taft Avenue.

World IN BRIEF 4 killed in floods in India AHMEDABAD―Heavy monsoon flooding has killed four people in western India, officials said Sunday, with grave fears held for at least six others still missing following torrential downpours. Major rail networks and dozens of highways in Gujarat state have been interrupted by floodwaters, and power to more than 120 villages cut in badly-hit areas. “Four people died after being swept away in rain waters since Saturday morning. Six others are missing”, Pankaj Kumar, a senior state government official, told AFP, adding the National Disaster Response Force was searching for survivors. The force, plus India’s military, had rescued more than 2,000 people from the worst-hit regions and relocated them to higher ground. The Indian Meteorological Department predicts heavy rain to batter the state for another two days, especially in coastal areas, the department’s Manorama Mohanty told AFP. Monsoon rains have caused serious flooding in other states including Bihar in the east and Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in India’s remote northeast. The latter two states are enduring their worst floods and landslides in years amid more than a week of incessant rain. Nearly half a million people in Assam have been affected, and more than two dozens killed in the downpours. India’s junior home minister Kiren Rijiju posted on Twitter from Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday that funding for medicines and relief efforts had been released to assist those struggling in the aftermath of the disaster. AFP

2 Iranians killed in border attack TEHRAN—Two Iranian civilians were killed in a cross-border attack by Pakistani insurgents, the Revolutionary Guards said. “On Saturday evening, a terrorist team... fired (ammunition) from within Pakistani territory toward the Iranian border region of Saravan” in Sistan-Baluchistan province, the Guards said in a statement on their Sepahnews website. “Two local workers in the region were martyred in this terrorist attack,” it added. Forces from the Quds force—the Guards’ foreign operations wing—killed one of the attackers and wounded two, while others fled back into Pakistani territory, the statement said. The insurgent group was not identified, but for years the region has been the site of frequent attacks by the Jaish al-Adl jihadist group, which Tehran says has links to Al-Qaeda and is based in the restive Pakistani province of Baluchistan. Jaish al-Adl was blamed for an attack in April that killed 10 Iranian border guards in the nearby Mirjaveh region. President Hassan Rouhani wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif calling for greater efforts to prevent insurgent attacks along the border. The Guards also said on June 19 that they had killed the leader and four members of another jihadist group called Ansar alFurqan in the Iranian port city of Chabahar in SistanBaluchistan province. AFP

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Turkey marks coup defeat A

NKARA―Turkey on Saturday marked one year since the defeat of the failed coup bid with mass nationwide rallies seeking to showcase national unity and a stern warning by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to “chop off the heads” of traitors.

COMPETITION. Competitive drummers compete to see who is the fastest drummer during Summer

NAMM Show Music Industry Day at the Music City Center on July 15, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

The authorities declared July 15 an annual national holiday of “democracy and unity”, billing the foiling of the putsch as a historic victory of Turkish democracy. In an intense program aiming to hammer home the anniversary’s importance, Erdogan attended a special session of parliament in Ankara, spoke to a mass rally in Istanbul and then flew back to the capital for a rally outside parliament and a special event at the presidential palace in the early hours of the morning. Speaking to hundreds of thousands by the bridge across the Bosphorus in Istanbul that was a fighting flash point, Erdogan warned Turkey could reintroduce capital punishment. “First of all we will chop off the heads of those traitors,” Erdogan said, reaffirming he would sign any passed by parliament bill on resuming executions. Any move to restore capital punishment―which Turkey abolished in 2004―would effectively end Ankara’s European Union membership ambitions. Erdogan also said the suspects being tried over the failed coup should wear uniform clothing like the notorious orange jumpsuits used at US military prison at Guantanamo Bay. “When they appear in court, let’s make them appear in uniform suits like in Guantanamo,” Erdogan said to cheers. Supporters chanted “we are soldiers of Tayyip [Erdogan]”, with some even brandishing nooses in a symbol of their support for the death penalty. In the later speech to thousands outside parliament in Ankara which was bombed by warplanes that night, Erdogan declaimed

“our nation showed the whole world what a nation we are on July 15.” The crowds later made their way to the palace where dozens had camped outside for the final official event during which Erdogan inaugurated a monument to the victims which has people hold up the crescent and star symbols of the Turkish flag. Two hundred and forty nine people, not including the plotters, were killed when a disgruntled faction of the army sent tanks into the streets and war planes into the sky in a bid to overthrow Erdogan after one-and-a-half decades in power. But they were thwarted within hours as the authorities regrouped and people poured into the streets in support of Erdogan, who blamed followers of his allyturned-nemesis, the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. “Did my citizens have weapons? They had their flags like today but they had a more efficient weapon: their faith,” Erdogan said in Istanbul. Murat, an Erdogan supporter at the Ankara rally, said: “If that happened once more, I would stay out again. That night, it was like a war. We take ownership of this country and this people.” In the wake of the failed coup bid, authorities embarked on the biggest purge in Turkey’s history, arresting 50,000 people and sacking almost three times as many. Erdogan also shored up his position by winning a referendum on enhancing his powers earlier this year. In the latest dismissals, another 7,563 police, soldiers and other state employees were fired late Friday under the state of emergency that has been in place since July 20 last year. AFP

Venezuelans cast ballots in opposition vote CARACAS―Venezuelans go to the polls Sunday in a vote organized by the opposition aimed at gauging public support for Maduro’s plan to rewrite the constitution, against a backdrop of worsening political violence. With authorities refusing to approve a vote presented as an act of civil disobedience and supporters of President Nicolas Maduro boycotting it, voters seemed set to reject the president’s controversial scheme. The symbolic “plebiscite” comes two weeks ahead of a Maduro-backed vote to elect a citizens’ body that would revise the constitution. The opposition has told its

supporters to stay away. The cross-purpose initiatives have given rise to international worries -- voiced by the Catholic Church and the head of the UN, Antonio Guterres -- that the chances of bringing both sides together for dialogue has become more remote. That, in turn, is stoking fears of more protests and running street battles with police, which have been persistent for the past three and a half months. Nearly 100 people have died in the unrest since the beginning of April. While Maduro is deeply unpopular―with 80 percent of Venezuelans criticizing his rule, according

to the Datanalisis survey ﬁrm―he enjoys backing from some, mostly poor, parts of the population and, most importantly, from the military. Many Venezuelans, though, are less focused on the political power play than they are on getting by day by day under their country’s crushing economic crisis, which has meant shortages of food and medicine. The opposition, which accuses Maduro of trying to gather dictatorial powers with the constitutional rewrite and other steps, said all was prepared for Sunday’s vote. “Everything is ready,” one opposition ﬁgure, Maria Corina

Machado, told AFP. She predicted the vote would “not only reject the Constituent Assembly”―the body Maduro is seeking to have elected to come up with a new constitution―”but will give a mandate for a change of the regime, the end of the dictatorship and the start of a transition with a government of national unity.” But Maduro, giving a national radio and TV broadcast, portrayed the vote as merely an “internal consultation by the opposition parties” with no electoral legitimacy. “I call on all Venezuelans to participate peacefully in political

events tomorrow, with respect for others’ ideas, with no incidents. Peace is what I ask,” he said. He directed his followers instead towards a rival poll exercise that, unlike that of the opposition, has been approved by electoral authorities: a dry-run simulation of the election to take place on July 30. He also repeated claims the opposition was tied to foreign powers-implied to be the “imperialist” United States―with the aim of toppling his government. The international media, he railed, was covering the opposition vote in a way to justify foreign intervention. AFP

Israel to reopen sensitive Jerusalem site after attack JERUSALEM―Israeli authorities were to reopen an ultra-sensitive holy site Sunday that was closed after an attack that killed two policemen, but new security measures including metal detectors and cameras were being put in place. Three Arab Israeli assailants opened fire on Israeli police Friday in Jerusalem’s Old City before fleeing to the nearby Haram al-Sharif, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, where they were shot dead by security forces. Israeli authorities said they had come from the flashpoint holy site, which includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, to commit the attack. It was among the most serious incidents in recent years in Jerusalem and heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Israel took the highly unusual decision to close the Al-Aqsa mosque compound for Friday prayers, leading to anger from Muslims and Jordan, the holy site’s custodian. It remained closed on Saturday, while parts of Jerusalem’s Old City were also under lockdown. Israeli authorities said the closure was necessary to carry out security checks. The site was to be reopened around noon on Sunday. Police spokeswom-

an Luba Samri said the metal detectors were being installed at entrances to the holy site and cameras were also being mounted in the area. It was to be reopened gradually, police said, without providing details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of the security measures late Saturday before departing for a trip to Paris. “This evening I held a discussion with the top security leadership and I instructed that metal detectors be placed at the entrance gates to the Temple Mount,” he said. “We will also install security cameras on poles outside the Temple Mount but which give almost complete control over what goes on there.” Netanyahu spoke by phone with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Saturday night, a statement from Amman said. Abdullah condemned the attack, but also called on Netanyahu to reopen the Al-Aqsa compound and stressed the need to “avoid any escalation at the site.” The new security measures are likely to be controversial. A plan developed in 2015 between Israel and Jordan to install cameras at the site itself fell apart amid disagreement over how they would be operated. AFP

CONVENTION. Fans and gamers pose during the D23 expo fan convention at the Convention Center in Anaheim, California, on July 15, 2017. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Fans cheer stars at movie awards

World

WINNER. Alia Bhatt reacts after learning she got the award for Best Actress as she arrives with Varun Dhawan on stage during the IIFA Awards July 15, 2017, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during the 18th International Indian Film Academy Festival. Bhatt is winner for her performance in a Leading Role-Female for ‘Udta Punjab.’ AFP

Marvel’s Avengers gathering stuns fans LOS ANGELES―Marvel brought thousands of fans to their feet on Saturday as it assembled a stellar panel of superheroes to preview “Avengers: Infinity War” at Disney’s D23 convention. The movie, which comes out next year, unites the characters from all 16 films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe―and most of the actors who play them took the stage at the star-studded fan event in Anaheim, southern California. The packed 7,000-capacity convention hall cheered as Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle and Benedict Cumberbatch were introduced one by one. Tom Holland, Benicio del Toro, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff and Chadwick Boseman and codirector Joe Russo were also part of the star-studded panel. “I’ve got to admit, these guys have not been together on stage for a long time, and even I find myself geeking out,” said Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige before introducing world-first “Infinity Wars” teaser footage. The movie opens in May 2018―the 10th anniversary of the US release of the original Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, “Iron Man.” “It’s funny to think Kevin and I figured all of this out at Randy’s Donuts shooting ‘Iron Man 2,’” quipped Downey, who plays the titular superhero. The panel was part of a presentation of the next two years of live-action movies from Disney, which owns Marvel and Lucasfilm. Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars” panel has become one of the most talked-about panels at the biennial D23. But here were no new announcements or footage this time around. The 2018 Han Solo spin-off movie, which fired directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in favor of Oscar-winning Ron Howard last month, was largely glossed over, with no cast appearances or footage. But Rian Johnson, who directed the forthcoming eighth installment of the main series, “The Last Jedi,” delighted fans by introducing much of the cast, including Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Gwendoline Christie. AFP

EAST RUTHERFORD―India’s biggest Bollywood stars led a triumphant celebration of dance, music and fashion at the International Indian Film Academy awards Saturday, cheered by thousands of ecstatic fans just outside New York. The five-hour show at an American football stadium in New Jersey, where the glittering Manhattan skyline was visible from the parking lot, was a riot of color, glitz and stunning dance routines. Best picture went to “Neerja,” a thriller based on the true story of a purser who helped save the lives of more than 350 passengers when Libyan-backed hijackers stormed Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi in 1986. The hijackers killed the purser and she posthumously became the youngest person to receive India’s highest civilian award for bravery. “Udta Punjab,” a gritty crime drama spotlighting the huge problem of drug abuse among young people in Punjab, scooped Shahid Kapoor best actor and Alia Bhatt best actress in a leading role. The movie angered politicians in the state and the filmmakers took India’s censor board to court over a number of cuts it tried to make. The trio of serious-minded films winning major awards was rounded out by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury taking home the award for best director for “Pink,” about sexual violence against women. The culmination of a three-day celebration of Indian cinema, the 18th edition of the awards ceremony was held just outside New

York at the American football MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The awards, which some have likened to the Oscars of Bollywood, is India’s biggest media event and one of the world’s most-watched annual entertainment shows, with an audience of nearly 800 million people. Held in a different city overseas each year to showcase what is the most prolific film industry in the world and the soft power of India, the 2017 event comes with Indian film on the up in North America. From a Donald Trump impersonator named Ronald Grump, to a closing song and dance routine from Bollywood bad boy Salman Khan, which had love-struck women screaming in delight, and signature Bollywood formation numbers with eye-popping costumes galore, it was a festive night. Thousands of delighted fans, dressed to the nines in evening gowns, cocktail dresses, saris and jewel-encrusted shalwar kameez, shrieked with delight, declared love for stars and laughed at the jokes of funny men hosts, actor Saif Ali Khan and producer-director Karan Johar. There was glamor from winner Alia Bhatt in a crystal-studded strapless ballgown and Katrina Kaif who shimmered in a limegreen bra top, spray-on black pants and silver tassels through an upbeat dance. Actress Shilpa Shetty, who won fame for being subjected to alleged racist taunts and winning Britain’s “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2007, looked statuesque in shimmering one-shoulder peach lashed to the thigh. AFP

Pence walks the tightrope as scandal hobbles Trump W

ASHINGTON— Mike Pence is the loyal wingman, the ever-discreet figure who rises above the Washington fray. But as the Russia scandal encroaches ever further on Donald Trump’s White House, the vice president is also walking a political tightrope.

ATMOSPHERE. A general view of the atmosphere at Cinespia Presents “The Fifth Element” at Hollywood Forever on July 15. AFP

Britain celebrates literary icon Jane Austen WINCHESTER―Two hundred years after Jane Austen’s death, Britain is celebrating one of its best-loved authors, who combined romance with biting social commentary that still speaks to fans around the world. The author of the classic novels “Pride and Prejudice”, “Emma” and “Sense and Sensibility” had only just become known when she died on July 18, 1817, aged 41. But her six novels, dissecting the lives of 19th century rural aristocracy, have since sold millions of copies, led to ﬁlm adaptations and even spawned a zombie spin-off. She has inspired countless other authors, from Virginia Woolf, who praised her “genius”, to

Helen Fielding of the best-selling “Bridget Jones” series. Next week the Bank of England will issue a new 10-pound note bearing Austen’s image, during this year of special events including walks through her native Hampshire in southern England and exhibitions about her life. Part of Austen’s appeal rests on her depiction of a romanticized England with love affairs, tea and parties in the glorious surroundings of sprawling stately homes. Some have even compared her to Barbara Cartland, the late English romantic novelist. But Austen’s novels have long been studied for their critique of a world of rigid class

structure that was nevertheless in ﬂux thanks to the Napoleonic wars. “One of the things she is concerned with as a moral writer is social responsibility,” said Professor Kathryn Sutherland of the University of Oxford, cocurator of a new exhibition in Winchester. Austen also shone a harsh light on the status of women, for whom a good match in marriage was considered the only goal. “She was very conscious of the plight of women, of women’s dependence on men and she found that frustrating,” Sutherland said, calling her a feminist. The daughter of a clergyman, Austen herself remained unmarried despite a proposal, and spent

most of her life with very little money. “She always had to hide it, to give the appearance of wealth that she didn’t have,” said Catherine Rihoit, a French author writing a biography of Austen. Austen sought to earn money by getting her work published. The manuscript of “Sense and Sensibility” was ﬁnally accepted in 1811, after several attempts. “Sadly, the success and the money only began coming in when she died,” Rihoit told AFP. Austen is buried in the cathedral in Winchester, the Hampshire town where she died and where Sutherland and Louise West are staging their exhibition, “The Mysterious Miss Austen”. AFP

The 58-year-old former governor of Indiana is currently the man closest to the US presidency—either as Trump’s immediate successor should his term end prematurely, or as his heir apparent in the 2020 or 2024 elections, depending on how many terms Trump serves. As the troubles of his boss grow deeper by the day, ensnared in a widening investigation into his campaign ties to Russia, experts say the 48th US vice president remains compelled to stand by his man—at least for now. “Pence is in a very difﬁcult position,” Joel Goldstein, an expert on the vice presidency at the Saint Louis University School of Law, told AFP. “A vice president is expected to be loyal to the president, but President Trump imposes a heavy burden on his subordinates by saying and doing things that often are hard to defend.” The two men could hardly be more different: where Trump likes to blur ideological lines, Pence is a committed Christian conservative, as stiff and disciplined as his boss is exuberant and unpredictable. While Trump tweets about a highstakes health care bill, it is Pence who has been shuttling between the White House and Congress in a behind-thescenes effort to rescue the imperiled legislation. In Trump’s turbulent Washington, Pence is seen as the administration’s steadying force, the “ax behind the glass you’re supposed to break in case of emergency,” as The Daily Beast news website put it recently. Pence offered a glimpse Wednesday of what it’s like on the Trump rollercoaster, as number two to arguably the most controversial US leader in modern times. “You need to keep your arms and legs in the ride at all times,” he told student leaders at American University. “Pull the roll bar down, because you just got to hang on.” AFP

By Elizabeth Marquez

N A recent visit to Manila, celebrity chef and TV food show host Anthony Bourdain had glowing things to say about sisig, that it “is perfectly positioned to win the hearts and minds of the world as a whole.”

“Well, Bourdain may be right in a way, but I believe that these iconic dishes are the ones that will put the Philippines in the global food map: Crispy Pata, Kare-Kare, Caldereta, Sinigang, Mechado, Adobo, Fresh Lumpia, and Garlic Rice,” says Chito Bautista, a banker and foodie, turned restaurateur. He owns Kuya’s At QC. Bautista is no stranger to cooking and restaurant entrepreneurship, having hailed from a family of gourmet cooks and foodies. He attributes his love of food to his mother, who treats each dish she cooks as a work of art, and his unusual discerning taste to his Bautista DNA. His mom, Madge Angeles Bautista studied all dishes of the world and had three kitchens at home. Her son learned valuable tips and tricks from her. His foodie instinct motivated him to experiment on traditional recipes to make them even better but without losing their traditional features. “I offer only items that I truly enjoy, but I am always open to suggestions from our customers,” enthuses Bautista. One customer suggested eating dinuguan with our home-made special bibingka. Foreigners rave about our food. One customer told me that I would be crazy not to expand outside of the Philippines.” At Kuya’s At QC, you get three establishments under one roof, along with Jed & Julian’s and Bote Bar. “Diners can choose from Filipino, Italian, Spanish, American, British, and Mediterranean offerings in its extensive menu. So you can have your lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and even after-dinner drinks and pulutan from 11 a. m. to past midnight without having to brave traffic to go elsewhere to satisfy your cravings,” Bautista. Many of the international recipes were derived from Bautista’s own dining experiences abroad, especially through small talk with chefs of specialty restaurants. He adds, “The Filipino diner does not follow any set convention or pairing of food items the way Western diners do, and can spontaneously order pizza as appetizers, sinigang and paella as main courses, and canonigo or bibingka as desserts, completing a full meal combination. Even millennials love good old Filipino cuisine aside from burgers and pizza, while older people like burgers and pizza, too.” To name even one “best entrée” among the restaurant’s menu offerings would really be quite an ordeal, as almost all of them are worthy to mention. Each one is faithfully cooked according to tradition, yet is enhanced with Bautista’s own special touch. Their flagship entrée: the Crispy Pata al Ajillo TKO (Total Knuckle Obsession) is a heaping serving of pork leg lavishly garnished with sliced chili and sautéed garlic. Through a secret technique, the pata is deep fried to a perfect golden brown, with crackling-crisp skin yet tender chewy meat. There are absolutely no tough spots to damage grandma’s dentures. Truly a knockout. Where else can you choose from at least seven different kinds of sinigang: baboy, tadyang, malaga, talakitok, hipon, bangus, or the house specialty, anghang? This sinigang is made even more special with the combined goodness of mango, kamias, and guava. The already popular sisig also comes in several forms: traditional (with pork “mascara”), sisig Kano (with liempo), and sisig Española (actual ground chorizo), which makes a great breakfast item coupled with garlic rice. The all-time favorite kare-kare is made with honest to goodness oxtail and, unlike most other restaurants’ versions, with two kinds of tripe. The same thing goes for callos (under Jed & Julian’s menu). That way, you can savor different textures

Life FOOD

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Crispy Pata Al Ajillo TKO is Kuya’s At QC’s flagship entrée

A Homegrown Resto out to conquer the world... and your taste buds

as well as full-bodied flavor from these dishes. Most restaurants serve dinuguan with only pork shoulder meat (laman), but Kuya’s dinuguan includes entrails as well as beef and pork, smothered with vinegar. They also have several kinds of rice like kuripot rice, sisig chorizo rice, bagoong dilis rice, and yangchow. “All of our desserts are homemade. The bibingka and puto bumbong are my own concoctions,” raves Bautista. The bibingka is extra-rich in texture and super moist, because the kesong puti and salty duck eggs have already been blended into the batter before cooking. The puto bumbong is made with natural ingredients (purple rice) and topped with shavings of panutsa (crystallized muscovado sugar) instead of just the regular brown sugar, and has an al dente feel to it. Jed & Julian’s has its own stock of diner’s favorites, from specialty burgers and pizzas to Spanish and Mediterranean fare. Bautista himself painstakingly researched, developed, and tested these dishes to make sure they appeal to both local and foreign tastes before he included them in his menu. “We also have three types of paella: Basque (with chorizo, pork, and white beans), Valenciana (seafood and meats), and Negra (with squid black ink), not to forget our Cochinillo with toasted garlic and chili, Lechon de Leche with Kuripot rice, and Roast Turkey complete with cranberry, gravy, and mashed potatoes,” says Bautista. Bote Bar, the third of the Kuya’s “trinity,” serves alcoholic beverages and cocktails as well as coffee Turn to D2

THE WORLD UNDER ONE ROOF. Kuya’s At QC offers a variety of cuisines, including Filipino, Italian, Spanish, American, British, and Mediterranean. Diners can enjoy (from left) Pizza Margherita and Chili Burger, among other food choices.

Drink and be merry YOU deserve nothing but the best, so raise your glasses to cheer you up. Matching wine and food has been a favorite past time, and skill set that any true modern foodie should have up their sleeve. Now, Gin has made its way back onto the scene and has opened our eyes to a whole new world of food pairing potential. For starters, the classic Gin & Tonic is such a perfect pre-dinner drink that it can stand on its own or with just a bag of chips or nuts. For those who love sweet and spicy, a Marinated Cold Beef Salad and a hot, spicy and tangy Pani Pouri with Potato Chat Masala, Fresh Tamarind and Mint Chutney were paired with a sweet and smooth Mango Paradise Cocktail. For those who prefer smokey, salty, or creamy food, a Cold Smoked Salm-

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

on Savory Cone with Caper Cream and Fresh Dill and an Iberico Ham Carving on Spanish Tomato Bread and Stilton Cheese in Cucumber Tartlets were paired with a citrusy Calamansi Surprise Cocktail. Craving for lobster? A Warm Lobster & Prawn Sesame Toast with Sweet Chili Sauce is best paired with a Sweet Lemony Martini. You can’t end a meal without dessert. Conclude the scrumptious meal with the Juniper Berry & Gin Sorbet with Assorted Fresh Berries that also goes with a Sweet Lemony Martini. For more on GSM Premium Gin and its handcrafted cocktail mixes, visit www.facebook.com/GSMPremiumGin or www. gsmpremiumspirits.com.ph.

Pair your food with different cocktails you can make using Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin

Life

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

‘JOLLY-ER’

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

OR 20 years now, Jolly Food Line has become a staple in most Filipino homes, with its canned mushroom and corn products enjoying the top spot in their respective categories in the market. What started as a humble stall in Binondo has become a top-of-the-mind brand with the widest offering of canned vegetables and fruits. “We are happy with what we have achieved. We are a strong number one for the canned mushroom and corn lines. But we know we can do so much more with innovation,” Abbie Ng-Reyes, Jolly’s assistant vice president for marketing, told Manila Standard in an interview. “The Philippines is a small-sized market. We want to make our products more affordable to penetrate and reach a wider market share. So in the coming months, we will be releasing Jolly products in pouches and foil packs,” she added. Jolly is the first brand owned by homegrown firm Fly Ace Corporation, which now handles more than three dozen brands, including Doña Elena for its Mediterranean products and Good Life for its Chinese line.

HRM graduate herself, as “having the jolliest personality among our young artists today who is also very comfortable in the kitchen.” “Maine’s fun-loving spirit, bubbly personality, as well as inspirational achievements in life make her the fitting choice as brand ambassador to represent the positive, unstoppable energy of today’s younger generation,” Fly Ace President Lucio Cochanco Jr. said. Cochanco said in keeping with the company’s expansion efforts, it has set up three state of the art temperaturecontrolled facilities in Novaliches, Cebu and Davao City to ensure the highest quality for its canned products. Aside from consistent brand leadership, Jolly has also launched several programs to help both budding professional chefs and at-home chefs. These include the Jolly University, the brand’s campus-wide culinary search and food business and entrepreneurship training program for the youth, and a digital library of easy to prepare, costefficient recipes through the Jolly Eats Facebook page. Jolly also attempted to achieve a Guinness World Record for the largest serving of sautéed mushrooms during the History Con 2016 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. “Our parents taught us the values of integrity, discipline, and to have the entrepreneurial spirit in doing our business. This is the backbone of how we manage our brands and Fly Ace Corporation,” Cochanco said. “We will continue to be the leader in Pinakbet with a twist – Jolly whole mushrooms and premium shiitake mushrooms add more flavor to this Ilocano dish. making Filipino household meals nutriJolly has enjoyed double digit growth es. We have introduced a wide array of evision host and actress Maine Men- tious and cost efficient for the next 20 years and beyond. We aim to make the over the past years, with consumers main- products that cater to the evolving con- doza as its celebrity endorser. ly from middle-income households. sumer landscape and are widely avail“Jolly mushrooms are really my fa- Jolly brand fly greater heights,” he added. “What sets Jolly apart as a brand is able in most channels,” Ng-Reyes said. vorite. I eat mushrooms for merienda,” For feedback, send comments to our consistency in coming up with high Part of the company’s effort to main- Mendoza said. joyce.panares@gmail.com quality products sold at affordable pric- stream its products further is to tap telNg-Reyes described Mendoza, an

in smaller packages

Easy to cook recipes using Jolly products, such pork humba, pancit, and honey almond milk bars, can be found at the Jolly Eats Facebook page.

New campaign for market leader CDO Funtastyk CDO Funtastyk, known for its young pork tocino, launched a new campaign with Maine Mendoza dubbed as “Basta Tocino, Forever Young, Forever Funtastyk.” The campaign highlighted the brand’s superior attributes—made from 100 percent young pork and no need to boil—to which CDO Foodsphere largely attributes its success. “Our desire to ensure consumer satisfaction is very strong. Definitely, our 100 percent young pork proposition is one strong reason why our consumers remain loyal to the brand. This is also a major reason for non-users to switch to us,” Inna Ong, brand manager, said. The brand continues to dominate the tocino market nationwide based on the Kantar Consumer Home Panel Household Survey for MAT January 2017. “We are glad that more and more mothers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are shifting to CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino,” Ong shares. “We are also happy to work with Maine again for this campaign. She has been very instrumental in carrying our brand message across our market.” When asked about her new campaign, Maine likewise points to how she has always been a fan of the brand. “Basta tocino, forever young, forever Funtastyk lang talaga,” Maine added. “Sobrang tender nito, hindi tulad nung kino-consume namin before na tough ang meat.” It is with this that the product can be fried directly; one does need to boil it prior frying as it is already tender. “Dahil gawa sa 100 percent young pork, there’s no need to boil pa,” Maine shares. As much as Maine enjoys her favorite tocino, she shared how she also enjoyed

A Homegrown... From D1 varieties and its unique Margarita TKO, with the refreshing taste of basil and a slight chili bite. Being a music enthusiast (musical talent runs in the Bautista

Maine Mendoza is the face of CDO Funtastyk’s ‘Basta Tocino, Forever Young, Forever Funtastyk’ campaign

doing the shoot for the brand’s new TV commercial. “Very unique ang concept. Parang ilo-launch namin na very mysterious sa tao—kung ano nga ba ito at kung anong klase ng beauty product. Sa bandang huli, magugulat sila na tocino pala. I think it’s very fresh for consumers to see this kind of campaign. I enjoyed shooting the material.”

“In most things, wala talagang forever. Buti pa sa tocino, meron. Aside from 100 percent young pork and no need to boil, tinatangkilik din nang marami ang CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino dahil wala itong salitre at hindi gaano lumillit kapag niluluto.” Maine concludes, “Sa mga hindi pa nagta-try, lipat na sa country’s topselling tocino.”

family), Chito offers musical entertainment for patrons: open mike on Friday evenings with Wendy Mia and a live band on Saturday evenings, Groove Power. There’s also a private function room where you can have karaoke sessions while enjoying your meal. Kuya’s caters to all types of parties

with a 100-person seating capacity in its premises. Or if you prefer another venue, Kuya’s can cater for your special occasion either with or without a band. Kuya’s At QC is located at 147 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City; telephone number (02) 709-7880.

Chef Sandy Daza shares family-inspired recipes LEARN Filipino, Japanese, and Spanish recipes from Chef Sandy Daza in the comfort of your home from the allnew episodes of Casa Daza on Lifestyle TV this month. Casa Daza showcases recipes that are inspired by Chef Sandy’s own family favorites. He shares easy-to-follow steps, from preparation to plating, while revealing interesting stories behind each recipe. Newbies and seasoned cooks will delight in the dishes that will encourage viewers to cook, eat, and celebrate with the whole family. Today, Japanese cuisine takes centerstage as the kitchen master features easy-to-cook Japanese restaurant bestsellers like chicken kara-age, sukiyaki and tonkatsu. Get to know some of the Dazas’ favorite classic Filipino recipes such as kare-kare with bagoong alamang guisado, bistek Tagalog, and Sa ndy’s famous chicken a n d

pork adobo on July 24. Discover how to prepare Spanish tapas perfect for hosting dinners and get-togethers on July 31 with the chef’s easy-to-follow steps on making patatas bravas with spicy aioli sauce, bacalao ala viscayna, and the fresh fruit wine cocktail sangria. Lifestyle TV, a pioneer in local lifestyle programming, serves as a TV guide with a wealth of relevant and insightful content for the multi-faceted Filipino women. It balances a mix of acquired and locally produced programs that bare the ever-changing wellness, living, and entertainment cravings of its viewers. Casa Daza airs every Monday at 9 p.m. on Lifestyle TV, available on SkyCable and Destiny Cable channel 52, and Sky Direct channel 31. Follow Lifestyle TV on Facebook at facebook.com/ lifestyletvph, and @lifestyletvph on Instagram and Twitter.

Chef Sandy Daza shares his family’s favorite recipes in ‘Casa Daza’ on Lifestyle TV

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

Light sked made Regine accept role in ‘Mulawin vs Ravena’ ASKED what made her accept the role of the nature goddess “Sandawa” in the currently airing hit GMA prime time offering Mulawin vs. Ravena, Regine Velasquez points out to its light and convenient work schedule as primary reason. “That’s true!” she avers. “For one, I’m not required to tape every day. Sometimes, it’s twice or thrice a week. There are weeks as well when I don’t have tapings. And you know what? It’s only now that I experience going home at 10 p.m. from the set, which is great. “Yet, Sandawa is a major character in the program. It’s good that it’s an ensemble production. We are so many in the cast so I don’t have to be there all the time. Still, the importance of my character in the story remains intact and that’s what matters, right?” The singer-actress-TV host recalls how tight her taping schedule is in her previous soaps. “Oh yes! For years, I’ve experienced that. Like when I did Poor Señorita last year. I remember that in the usual 40 sequences we did, I’d be in 39 of those so you can just imagine! Ha-ha-ha! But now in Mulawin vs. Ravena, I’m not under pressure to be present in all the scenes. It’s really light for me!” Apart from this, Regine is also happy to be working with her co-stars. “Of course!” she states. “There’s Dennis Trillo, Lovi Poe, Angelu de Leon and yes…Ariel Rivera whom I haven’t shared the screen with for quite some time now. It’s nice that I get to talk with them on the set. It’s fun. “People may think it’s hard to organize the taping schedule of everyone considering it’s a very huge cast, but surprisingly, everything’s smooth-sailing so far. Maybe that can be attributed to the fact that we are all into our respective roles, specially that most of our lines are in pure Tagalog. Everyone comes to the set with all of his or her lines memorized so we still have time to do some chit-chat with one another.” Meanwhile, many of her fans got excited with the news that she will do a new album in celebration of her 30th anniversary in the ‘biz. “That’s right! After five years, I’m back to recording. It will be under Viva and the title of the album is R3.0. Actually, I’m excited to work with Viva once again. Everybody knows that it’s my original music label. They keep a huge library of my songs.” Interestingly, the concept of her latest album is unique. “In ‘R3.0’, I would re-record my old classic ditties. It’s a compilation of three CD’s. It can be bought individually or as a box set. It would really be a collector’s item,” Regine avers. ******** According to Bela Padilla, she sees nothing wrong if she and Angel Locsin will collaborate for one screen project in the coming days. “Definitely, I would love to work with her!” she states. “She’s not only alluring but is one good actress who’s exciting to watch on screen. It will be an honor if ever!” Many ask if they can be possible friends considering that her former beau, film producer-businessman Neil Arce is rumoured to be playing beautiful music with Angel at present. “Yes, why not? I’m open to that. Actually, she invited me to her recent birthday celebration.” With regards to Neil and Angel’s rumoured relationship, Bela opts to keep mum about it. “Well, it’s good for them. Actually, I have nothing to say about them since it’s their life, right? I’m not part of what they share right now. I believe I shouldn’t be asked to react about it anymore!” When it comes to her own love life, many are curious if Zanjoe Marudo, her leading man in her recently-concluded soap My Dear Heart is indeed courting her nowadays. “Well, we text each other once in a while. Date? No, since I just came back and is busy interning under Ms. Joyce Bernal and Mr. Dan Villegas. I don’t know if he’s planning to court or what. I think he’s the best person who can answer your query,” ends Bela.

Amy Perez still a Kapamilya SHE is still a Kapamilya. Amy Perez signed an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN recently. She will continue hosting the morning show Umagang Kay Ganda, noontime variety show It’s Showtime, and DZMM’s magazine talk show Sakto. Present in the signing were the head of ﬁnance for broadcast and news & current affairs, Cat Lopez, ABS-CBN COO of broadcast Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN Pesident and CEO Carlo Katigbak, Head Of Integrated News And Current Affairs Ging Reyes, and Amy Perez’ manager Boy Abunda.

TV host Amy Perez renews her ties with Kapamilya Network

Jessica Soho

DOWN 1 Mumble 2 Roman historian 3 Bede of fiction 4 Practice 5 Post Office code 6 Form a thought 7 Knight’s weapon 8 Voucher 9 Fast-selling 10 Leave no trace 11 Music and dance 12 Liquefy 13 Foots the bill 19 Marsh stalker 21 Clarinet kin 25 Germane 26 Dissenter

“Meant to Be” cast led by Barbie Forteza (center)

nationwide ratings lead in June

N ANSWER to the Kapamilya claim, GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) said it remains the most watched television station in the country. That is based on data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement, the industry’s widely trusted ratings service provider.

From June 1 to 30 (with June 25 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA led competition across all time blocks in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) with an average total day people audience share of 42.3 percent; besting ABS-CBN’s 37.6 percent by 4.7 points. The Kapuso Network likewise kept its winning streak in Urban Luzon, which accounts for 77 percent of the total urban TV household population in the country, with total day people audience share of 49.2 percent; way ahead of competition by 18 points.

More GMA shows also made it to the lists of top programs nationwide and in Urban Luzon. Multi-awarded public affairs program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho was the most watched GMA show during the said period. It also grabbed the top spot in Urban Luzon, where 9 out of 10 shows were from GMA Network. Closely following KMJS were Mulawin vs. Ravena, Magpakailanman, 24 Oras, Pepito Manaloto, My Love from the Star, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Ika-6 Na Utos, and the recentlyconcluded romantic comedy series Meant to Be. Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population. In 2016, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 36 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; 5 regional clients; 2 blocktimers and 17 media agencies.

With Vin Abrenica’s comeback and Yen Santos’s ﬁrst appearance

‘Wildﬂower’ hits new all-time high rating

Yen Santos (left) and Vin Abrenica add tension in "Wildﬂower" as the story faces new dramatic turns

FANS have been eagerly anticipating the comeback of Vin Abrenica as Jepoy and the appearance of Yen Santos as the fake Lily Cruz in ABS-CBN’s hit primetime series Wildflower. According to the data from Kantar Media on July 3, Wildflower hit a new all-time high with a national TV rating of 25.8 percent from combined urban and rural homes compared to its rival program, which only got 10.7 percent. The episode featured Natalie holding both Emilia (Aiko Melendez) and Ivy (Maja Salvador) captive, and Raul (Wendell Ramos) saving his son Diego’s (Joseph Marco) life. As Diego finds out about his father’s secret persona as Jaguar, will he join him in his mission to put the Ardientes down? What will happen when Jepoy finally returns? How will the fake Ivy

Monday, July 17, 2017

48 “— Miserables” 49 Spy mission 50 Hypnotized 53 Gotcha! 54 Sleeper’s sound 58 Making more uncouth 61 Mountain goat 62 Let borrow 63 Ms. Zellweger 64 Tide type 65 Questions 66 Garbo or Bergman 67 Pita sandwich

“My Love from the Star” lead cast Jennylyn Mercado and Gil Cuerva

Kapuso Network keeps

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Lasting aftereffect 5 Zippo 10 Shoe part 14 Put cargo aboard 15 Russet potato 16 General vicinity 17 Bryce Canyon locale 18 In a contrite manner 20 Bard’s teen 22 Quit stalling 23 Essential points 24 Let up 26 Sluggers’ stat 27 Water-ski gear (2 wds.) 30 Honey factory 34 Artist’s gum 35 Dainty pastry 36 Thieves’ hangout 37 Inventory wd. 38 Chicago’s airport 40 Encompass 41 Animal friend 42 Well-briefed (2 wds.) 43 Monarch’s chair 45 Wartime offense 47 Restricted

“Ika-6 na Utos” stars (from left) Sunshine Dizon, Gabby Conception and Ryza Cenon

27 Entice 28 Gavel-banger’s cry 29 Squander 30 Disallow 31 — box 32 Father of sci-fi 33 Done with 35 Get some sun 39 Term of endearment 40 Looking pleased 42 Opportunists 44 RN employers 46 Puts on guard

47 Tilted 49 River to the North Sea 50 Stanford rival 51 Turndowns 52 Cold and wet 53 Freshly 55 Submit 56 Bring up 57 Montreal athlete 59 Uh cousins 60 Thousand bucks

Aguas shake things up? Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,610 urban and rural homes that represent 100 percent of the total Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen reportedly has only 2,000 homes based solely in urban areas that represent only 57 percent of the Philippine TV viewing population. Wildflower airs weeknights before TV Patrol on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). For updates, follow @ wildflowerabscbn on Instagram, @RSBDramaUnitNew on Twitter and like the show’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ wildflowerchannel2/. Catch its latest episodes on iwantv.com. ph orskyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

UNE was a busy month for Kapuso stars as they went around the country and treated fans in various festivals and mall shows.

Kicking off the series of regional events last month was the cast of the recently concluded Afternoon Prime program Legally Blind. Lead actors Janine Gutierrez and Mikael Daez with co-stars Rodjun Cruz and Lauren Young were featured in back-to-back Kapuso Mall Shows in Gaisano Capital South and Gaisano Capital Island Mall Mactan in Cebu on June 3. On the same day, the all-original Pinoy comedy game show Celebrity Bluff brought fun to the Kapusong Pangasinense in Magic Mall Tayug. Comedian Boobay and Kapuso boy band One Up brought good vibes and kilig during the Kapuso Mall Show. Meanwhile, the cast of the hit GMA telefantasya Mulawin vs. Ravena (MvR) celebrated the Silay Charter Day with Negrense fans in Bacolod on Independence Day, June 12. The hottest young Kapuso actors Bea Binene, Derrick Monasterio, Kiko Estrada, Bianca Umali, and Miguel Tanfelix were the stars of the Kapuso Fiesta at the Public Plaza in Silay. Starstruck 6’s Ultimate Male Survivor Migo Adecer, who currently plays the role of Yuan in My love from the Star (MLFTS), hosted the show. He then travelled to Iloilo that week and joined the Philippines’ Matteo Do, Gil Cuerva, to promote MLFTS. Ilonggos that ﬂocked to Festive Walk, Iloilo Business Park on June 17 were unablr to resist the charm of Gil Cuerva, the newest Kapuso heartthrob. Adding more kilig to the night was the sizzling tandem of Sanya Lopez and Rocco Nacino. Hot on the heels of the success of their last project, Encantadia, the Kapuso love team showed their fans a glimpse of what to expect from their newest drama series Haplos, which premiered on July 10. Meanwhile, the cast of MvR headed

‘Legally Blind’ cast (from left) Mikael Daez, Janine Gutierrez, Lauren Young, and Rodjun Cruz in a back-to-back Kapuso Mall Shows in Cebu

Kapuso stars indulge fans in various regional shows north on June 20 to celebrate the Dagupan City Charter Anniversary in Pangasinan. MvR stars Valerie Concepcion, JC Tiuseco, David Licauco, and TJ Trinidad were in the Kapuso ﬂoat with Sanya Lopez and Rocco Nacino. Another set of MvR stars ﬂew to Tacloban City on June 22. Derrick Monasterop, Kiko Estrada, Bianca Umali, and Miguel Tanfelix with costars Martin del Rosario and Dion

‘Mulawin vs. Ravena’ celebrates Silay Charter Day in Bacolod. (From left) Derrick Monasterio, Bea Binene, Kiko Estrada, Miguel Tanfelix, and Bianca Umali

MLFTS and Haplos Kapuso Mall Show in Iloilo. (From left) Migo Adecer, Sanya Lopez, Rocco Nacino, and Gil Cuerva

Ignacio were at the Robinson Place Tacloban for a Kapuso Mall Show. The Kapuso artists even participated in a tree-planting activity during their short stay. Rounding off the month’s regional activities was the Kapuso Mall Show of Haplos in CSI Mall in Tayug, Pangasinan on June 23. Together with Sanya Lopez and Rocco Nacino was their co-star Pancho Magno with

Marika Sasaaki as host. “We are happy that our Kapuso followers can see their favorite celebrities up close through our various regional events. The warm reception we get from the audience in every mall show and festival we participate in is a testament of how well-received our shows and Kapuso artists are by viewers all over the country,” says Oliver Amoroso,

ofﬁcer-in-charge of GMA’s Regional TV Department. “And they can only expect more exciting activities in the future,” he adds. To know more about the Network’s regional events, follow GMA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ gmanetwork and GMA Regional TV atwww.facebook.com/ GMARegionalTV and on Twitter and Instagram via @GMARegionalTV.

Filmmakers urged to tap Internet TV INDEPENDENT Filipino filmmakers should capitalize on Bollywood and South Korea, Atienza said. Under Atienza’s bill, movies graded “A” by the Film the international streaming of movies over the Internet as a way to reach a bigger audience and generate new income Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) shall be streams, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Buhay entitled to a financial reward equal to 100 percent of the amusement tax collected from exhibitions. Representative Lito Atienza said. Movies graded “B” shall get a reward equal to 65 percent “If entertainment firms that provide video-on-demand services online can help struggling Filipino filmmakers make of amusement tax generated, with the balance of 35 percent more money, and create more jobs here at home, then we are accruing to the FDCP. The bill also empowers the FDCP to: all for it,” Atienza, a backer of the Philippine movie industry Exempt from taxes and duties all imported machinery and and former three-term mayor of Manila, said. “We cannot fight technological advances, so we might equipment and corresponding spare parts used to produce as well take full advantage of Internet TV networks to help local movies; Grant tax credits to domestic manufacturers of promote highly relevant Filipino movies for global viewers, machinery and equipment including Filipinos based overseas,” Atienza said. Los Gatos, California-based Netflix Inc., which already has used in producing local more than 100 million subscribers in 190 countries, including movies; Waive taxes on the the Philippines, delivers streaming content through Internetconnected screens – from smart TVs, personal computers, rental of machinery and equipment used to laptops to tablets. A smaller rival of Netflix, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based produce local movies; iFlix Sdn Bhd, or simply iflix, also offers streaming media to and Free from taxes the more than five million subscribers in 18 countries in Asia, the editing, promotional and Middle East and Northern Africa. But unlike iflix that simply buys the exclusive rights to marketing fees paid stream movies in other countries, Netflix also produces, co- by local movie produces or commissions original series, documentaries, and producers. feature films. It may now be possible for independent Filipino producers to sell their films to the likes of Netflix for online streaming abroad, according to Atienza. Netflix already offers several Asian films, mostly from India, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Japan and Taiwan, for international streaming. Atienza is author of the proposed Philippine Film Industry Tax Holiday Act, or HB 2624, which seeks to grant new tax privileges to local producers who have been reeling from intense foreign competition. Local producers desperately need financial encouragement to be able to compete here and abroad against movies made in Hollywood, Rep. Lito Atienza supports international streaming of movies online

Coco Martin back on the combat front as plot thicken in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano”

Coco returns to combat in ‘FPJ’S ANG PROBINSYANO’ VIEWERS witnessed a grittier Cardo (Coco Martin) when he went back to service as part of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force (SAF), ready to go into battle against the troops of rebel group Pulang Araw in the country’s most watched program FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. Expect more heart-pounding action every night as Cardo continues his duty as a police ofﬁcer to avenge the death of his son and save innocent lives from the hands of rebels. For his ﬁrst mission as a SAF member, he was sent to San Gabriel to seize the operations of Pulang Araw, who brought chaos to and killed dozens of civilians in the town. Another enemy, Director Hipolito (John Arcilla), who is conniving with the rebel group to make it look like he puts effort into keeping residents safe in order to secure a seat in the Senate,

continues to manipulate Cardo. Meanwhile, as Cardo faces new challenges, viewers were recently introduced to new characters who add more action to the series every night. Joining Cardo in maintaining peace and ﬁghting rebels are SPO2 Gerardo Dela Paz (Ejay Falcon), PO3 Christian Clemente (Dominique Roque), SPO2 Bernardo Quinto (Ron Morales), and PO3 Katrina Velasco (Louise de los Reyes). What dangers will Cardo face as a SAF member? Will he be able to get justice for the death of his son? How soon will he ﬁnd out who his real enemy is? FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano airs weeknights on ABS-CBN or on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable Ch 167). Viewers can also catch up on the program’s past episodes via iWanTV. com and skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers.