Manila Standard - 2017 July 29 - Saturday

PINAY BRAVES ARCTIC FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

By Ronald O. Reyes JOANNA Sustento lost most of her family along with 7, 000 other people in her city when Super Typhoon “Yolanda” battered Central Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013.

Four years later, the 26-year-old Tacloban native is traveling to the Arctic, along with other climate change advocates from Greenpeace, to confront the Norwegian government and a giant oil company, Statoil, which has another gas drilling project in the Barents Sea in the Arctic Ocean.

“I consider this story my reason, my purpose, as to why I was given another chance to live,” Sustento said.

She said her stay aboard the Greenpeace ship “Arctic Sunrise” in the Barents Sea from July 18 to Aug. 6 is “very personal.”

Sustento, who has not seen the remains of her father and nephew, said being in the Arctic was like “meeting the monster” that killed her family and left her city in ruins.

“For every Filipino bearing the

ARCTIC PROTEST. Climate advocate and Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ survivor Joanna Sustento, who lost most of her family members when the howler hit the central Philippines in 2013, travels Next page to the Arctic with the international group Greenpeace to protest oil drills in the Barents Sea. Greenpeace Photo

Twin trouble for Du30 CHR chief clings to post, bucks abolition

Morales takes new swipe at Duterte

COMMISSION on Human Rights chairman Jose Luis Martin Gascon on Friday shrugged off calls for his resignation and dismissed accusations that he was biased.

He and the commission are apolitical, he said.

“I assure the public… that none of my previous or future actions in public office would ever be motivated by vengefulness, vindictiveness, or subjectivity. We shall always abide by constitutional and human rights precepts in the performance of our duties as we shall keep faith that truth and justice shall ultimately prevail,” he said.

He said he will respect what other people would think of him.

“Every person has his or her opinion about how each of us should perform our respective mandates. I stand by the full record of my public service, including my current tenure as chairperson of the CHR,” he said.

“I will, to the best of my ability, perform my lawful mandate as head of an independent non-partisan constitutional office given the duty to protect and promote human rights in this country.”

He vowed not to be cowed by threats or be influenced to give special treatment to anyone.

“I will continue to do so without fear or Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 165 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales hit out at President Rodrigo Duterte Friday, saying he has no business meddling in the affairs of the Office of the Ombudsman.

At the Integrity and Anti-Corruptoin Initiative in Changing Times forum held at the Novotel Manila, Araneta Center in Quezon City, Morales reacted to the President’s stance that he had the final say on whether or not to allow policemen and soldiers to be summoned for investigation by the Ombudsman or the Commission on Human Rights.

The President called on the Ombudsman to “refrain from citing them for contempt because I have the authority to give the final say whether they attend or not.”

“Ano pakialam niya [What’s his business] under the law? We have subpoena powers,” Morales said.

While she was not invited to attend the State of the Nation Address on July 24, she said she was told about the President’s statement during a press conference.

“We have orders for particular officials, including police and soldiers, to show up or to file pleadings. If they don’t file pleadings, that’s their lookout,” Morales said.

GASCON

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CARPIO-MORALES

59 Maute ‘reinforcements’ now in detention

By Rey Requejo

REBELLION charges have been filed against 59 suspected militants trying to reinforce Islamist gunmen holed up in Marawi City since May 23 before the Department of Justice.

Escorted by police commandos, the 59 – 58 alleged recruits and one suspected recruiter – were presented before prosecutors headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter Ong after being flown to Manila from

By Rio N. Araja

Zamboanga del Sur on Friday through a C-130 cargo plane.

The suspected recruiter was identified as Moro National Liberation Front member Nur Supian, who was pointed to by the 58 suspects as their recruiter.

During the proceedings, the suspects signed their waiver of detention and decided the panel proceed with their preliminary investigation, scheduled on August 14 when the suspects are set to submit their respective counter-affidavits.

In the meantime, they are detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Of the suspects, 32, including Supian, were arrested by the police and military manning a check point last July 25 in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The other 27 were arrested by police, also on July 25 in Zamboanga City, after barangay officials reported a suspicious group of persons.

Security officials said martial law authorities seized from the

suspects military uniforms, boots and MNLF identification cards which are not clear if these are fake or authentic.

According to a military statement, the group was suspected of planning to sneak into Marawi to help militants who have been on a rampage since May 23, battling government troops, holding numerous hostages and burning buildings while flying the black IS flag.

“They [the troops] have just Next page

Driver’s license card good for 10 yrs?

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

BEMEDALLED POLICE. President Rodrigo Duterte awards a Wounded Personnel Medal to PO3 Jordan Balderas during his visit at the Silliman University Medical Center in Dumaguete City on Thursday. The President also extended financial aid to the police officer, wounded in an attack by suspected NPA in Guihulngan City on July 21. Malacañang Photo

THE public may soon enjoy a reprieve from application fees and having to line up every three years to renew their drivers’ licenses, as a measure that seeks to extend the licenses’ validity to five years or even 10 years is awaiting the signature of the President.

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services and sponsor of the Senate version, said the measure – ratified by both chambers on May 31 – was transmitted last July 11 to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.

Next page

Rody to Joma: Come home, fight your war

By John Paolo Bencito THE word war between President Rodrigo Duterte and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison continued as they traded barbs against each other Friday, with the President daring The Netherlands-based rebel leader to return to the country and fight his war.

But Sison lashed back at Duterte, saying he did not need to prove himself to anyone in the arena of revolutionary struggle.

“If you are truly a revolutionary leader, my god, come home and fight here,” he said in a media interview on Thursday night, after

visiting the wake of the six police officers killed in an operation in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

Duterte criticized the self-exiled Sison for living a good life in Utrecht while members of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the CPP, struggle daily in the mountains.

“Your people here -- you NPA members -- have been dying, losing their husbands. You have not even seen Sison. Your leader is a coward. Is there a leader who just rest in Utrecht?”

“What kind of leader is he?”

Duterte asked in Filipino.

But Sison he did not have to Next page

Traffic gridlock looms over road re-blocking

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday advised commuters and motorists to brace for traffic gridlock in some parts of Caloocan, Pasig and Quezon City this weekend after it allowed the Department of Public Works and Highways to resume its re-blocking operation and road repairs.

The MMDA’s public information office said Public Works will do its road re-blocking and repairs starting 11 p.m. on July 28 until July 31 in the following areas:

Quezon City: -2nd southbound lane of Bonifacio Avenue from Malindang Street to Labo Street.

-2nd southbound lane of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue near Roosevelt Avenue -southbound lane of Circumferential Road - 5 (C-5 Road) near Julia Vargas -northbound lane tunnel of Mindanao Avenue -3rd northbound lane of Congressional Avenue from Tandang Sora Avenue to Luzon Avenue -2nd northbound lane of Quirino Next page

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SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bomb threat vs illegal schools

By John Paolo Bencito

T

HE military on Friday refused to follow President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to “bomb” the schools being attended by the lumad, the tribal minorities of Mindanao.

Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said Duterte was simply “communicating a tough stance” after he threatened to bomb the indigenous peoples’ schools that were allegedly flouting government regulations.

“It was just a matter of strongly communicating a strong position on behalf of government

to warn this illegal educational centers who are not complying with government regulation,” Padilla told reporters. “[It’s] not intended to really destroy the community but to extend a message, a very strong message, to the people behind the organization of this illegal learning institutions to comply

with government regulations.”

Padilla said the President’s threat was merely a strong style of messaging to emphasize his disdain for schools that “brainwash” children into hating the government.

“So whatever step will be asked from the Armed Forces, we will do it but not in this manner,” Padilla said.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones likewise tried to deflect criticism from her department after it kept mum on the issue for days.

“As a general principle we do not favor bombing, but he [Duterte] did not say he would bomb the children but told them to get

out,” Briones told dzRH radio.

On Thursday night, Duterte clarified the remarks he made after his second State of the Nation Address, saying while he would continue bombing the “rebel” schools for the lumad he did not intend to kill lumad students.

He likewise stressed that those schools,which he did not identify, were not registered with the Department of Education and were just being used to “poison the minds” of children “who grow up hating the government.”

Following clarifications from the Education department, Communications Assistant Secretary Ana Maria Paz Banaag claimed

that there were “three main groups of left-oriented lumad schools that still had not complied with the department’s regulation.”

Among those named by the department were the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development Inc. or Alcadev, the Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services Inc. or CLANS and the Salugpungan Community Learning Center.

The department claims that Alcadev “has no permit to operate and refuses to get a permit from the Department of Education while CLANS “has been given three months to comply with the department’s requirements.”

Weather may improve Sunday as ‘Gorio’ exits IMPROVED weather may prevail in the country beginning Sunday, with authorities expecting severe tropical storm “Gorio” (international name “Nesat”) to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

“Gorio,” expected to exit the country en route to Taiwan, continues enhancing the southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ which is dumping rains in Luzon and Western Visayas, said weather forecaster Lori dela Cruz from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

“Such enhancement of ‘habagat’ will increasingly lessen as “Gorio” leaves PAR and moves away from the country,” she said.

But a high-pressure area may be in the country anew next week—further raising prospects for better weather in the country, she continued.

Until “Gorio“ exits PAR, however, Dela Cruz said the enhanced ‘habagat’ might still bring moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall this weekend in Luzon’s western section.

Western Visayas and the rest of Luzon may experience light to moderate rains, she continued.

In its Severe Weather Bulletin 9 released Friday, Pagasa located “Gorio” at 360 km east of Batanes’ capital Basco as of 10 a.m. of the same day.

“Gorio” then packed maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 130 kph, said Pagasa.

Tropical cyclone warning signal 1 still prevails in Batanes as Pagasa earlier forecast 30 kph to 60 kph winds.

Government may cancel such signal this Sunday if conditions there already warranted such action, dela Cruz said.

Pagasa forecast “Gorio” to be 220 km north-northeast of Basco

by Saturday morning. PNA

Traffi c...

From A1 Highway from Urbano to Mindanao Avenue -1st westbound lane of Luzon Avenue from Commonwealth Avenue and Congressional Avenue Extension.

Pasig City: -Along the northbound lane of Manila East Road in front of Ortigas Building de Castro.

Caloocan City: -Along the northbound lane of MacArthur Highway near the Monumento Circle “All affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday, July 31. Motorists are advised to avoid the said areas and use alternate routes instead,” the MMDA said in its advisory.

Public Works resumed its operations after MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim allowed the

Driver’s...

From A1 She stressed this law would cut red tape, saying “Our country-

men need not worry about going to the LTO several times for the renewal due to the long validity of licenses.”

The enrolled bill will lapse into law even if the President fails to affix his signature after 30 days.

Poe said her panel would work closely with the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Office in drafting the implementing rules and regulations, which shall be promulgated not later than 30 days from the legislation’s effectivity.

Poe said Filipino drivers “have incentives to follow the traffic law. If they have no violation, the validity of their license can be 10 years.”

For the initial license application, the motorist must apply in person at any LTO office.

To make renewal of licenses convenient for drivers, the measure requires the LTO to create an online process within a year from the effectivity of the law.

To ensure that drivers are not unduly charged in securing li-

department to proceed with the road works.

The government is implementing a policy prohibiting diggings and other road works at daytime in a bid to ease traffic in Metro Manila.

The ban on road works at daytime came following the MMDA’s meeting with officials of the Departments of Transportation and Public Works and Highways to further improve the flow of traffic in the National Capital Region.

Under the policy, road repairs and rehabilitation work on the major thoroughfares must be done by contractors around 10 p.m. to make sure the road will be passable to motorists by 5 a.m. the next day.

To do this, the government agencies will be requiring contractors to use quick dry cement on the road works to meet the one-day curing period. censes, Congress inserted a provision that the license fees shall not cost more than the government’s procurement expense.

A fine of P20,000 shall be imposed against applicants for willful misrepresentation, connivance with an officer, falsification of documents and cheating during examinations, and they shall be prohibited from applying for a period of two years.

A license will be revoked for four years if the driver is involved in death or physical injuries resulting in the loss of any part of a victim’s body, insanity, imbecility, impotence, blindness or incapacity to work.

Local government units, the Metro Manila Development Authority and other agencies issuing traffic violation receipts are required to report the details of the traffic violation within a reasonable time to the LTO. The measure—authored in the Senate by Senate President ProTempore Ralph Recto and Senators Richard Gordon, Joseph Victor Ejercito and Joel Villanueva – seeks to amend Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4136, as amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 and Executive Order No. 1011 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

NO TARGET. Lumad children call on President Rodrigo Duterte to stop his plan to bomb Lumad

schools during a protest rally in U.P Diliman in Quezon City on Friday even as he has clarified that the targets are those operating illegally, urging school children to 'go away' before the bombs start to drop.

Lino Santos

Pinay...

From A1 ramifications of climate change.

For every parent who lost a child. For every brother or sister who lost a sibling. For every aunt or uncle who lost a niece or nephew. For every child who lost a parent. For Tacloban. For Leyte. For all of the humanity,” she posted on her social media account.

Greenpeace said Sustento, along with other climate activists like New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless, is in Arctic to urge the Norwegian government to be truthful to its commitment and responsibility when it recently signed the Paris climate agreement. Despite its commitment in Paris, Norway has approved new drilling license for 13 companies in completely new areas for the first time in more than two decades.

Sustento said being in the

59...

From A1 prevented these individuals from potentially compounding the operational challenges in Marawi should they [have] succeeded in sneaking into the city,” a military statement quoted Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, commander of the troops in Marawi, as saying.

He credited local governments and residents for reporting the suspects.

Although the government initially said there were only a few hundred militants in Marawi, the gunmen have held off the armed forces for weeks, resisting air strikes and artillery bar-

Rody...

From A1 prove anything and that Duterte could not “dictate” what the former should do.

“I do not have to prove again that I have the revolutionary will and courage to wage armed struggle against oppression,” said the communist leader, arrested during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos—1965-1986—but released when his successor, Corazon Aquino, was swept to power in 1986.

“If deemed necessary by the revolutionary movement, I will return to the Philippines to fight the Duterte puppet regime of US imperialism,” he added.

Arctic has enabled her to track the “big polluters” that have wrought massive disorder on the Earth’s climate.

“People from the developed nations would never fully grasp what we are currently going through but they should at least get a glimpse of how climate change affects us on our side of the world,” Sustento said, hoping that she could put a human face on the terrible effects of climate change.

“To them, climate change means warmer winters and more sunshine, but in vulnerable countries like the Philippines, climate change comes in the form of stronger typhoons and severe droughts, which result in losing everything we’ve ever loved, everything we’ve worked hard for, and everything we’ve hoped for,” she added.

Sustento said the effects of oil drilling in the Arctic will not only affect the people in the Arctic cir-

cle but also those in the rest of the globe.

“It’s us in the island nations who will be gravely affected,” she said.

Sustento said she hoped that their sentiments will be heard by the Norwegian government and big oil companies in the Arctic.

She expressed fear that if the government would side with short-term profit over people’s rights to a safe, clean and healthy environment, there will be no future worth looking forward to for the next generation.

“What’s even more frightening is the thought of people resigning to that fate and not taking action.

I fear that people would continue to accept irresponsible practices and endure its devastating consequences,” she said.

“What happened to my community in Tacloban is an example of things to come for other people if we continue to focus on short-term gain.”

rages.

The militants have surprised the military with their resilience and their continued supply of manpower, weapons and ammunition despite supposedly being surrounded.

Authorities said those arrested were all Filipinos but their backgrounds were still being checked.

The fighting has so far claimed 630 lives, including 471 militants, 45 civilians and 114 government troops, military spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said in Manila on Friday.

He told reporters that there were only about 60 militants left, confined to less than one square kilometer of the city.

However, Padilla did not say how much longer the fighting would last.

Galvez said efforts to secure the warzone were boosted by President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial declaration of martial law over the entire southern third of the country when the fighting broke out.

By law, martial law should have lasted only 60 days but last week Congress extended it till the end of the year.

“With martial law in force in entire Mindanao, we can validly restrict and effect arrests of suspicious persons and unscrupulous groups whose actions bear with the rebellion,” Galvez was quoted as saying.

With AFP

“That means surmounting my being in the same old age bracket as Duterte and evading the constant surveillance by the US, Dutch, European and Philippine reactionary intelligence agencies,” he said.

The exchanges started after Duterte pulled the government out from the peace talks, accusing the communist rebels of being insincere following a series of attacks on government targets, including a Presidential Security Group convoy.

Last April, when Duterte and Sison were still on friendly terms, the President had told the exiled leader that he could return home without being arrested.

The chief executive added he would even shoulder Sison’s med-

ical expenses.

Duterte, during his Second State of the Nation Address last Monday, however, claimed Sison had colon cancer—a claim Sison denied and described as a “blatant lie.”

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines political consultant also emphasized that his battles could not be dictated by Duterte.

“At any rate, I choose the battlefield where I fight and the types of battles that I wage. These cannot be dictated by Duterte who hopes vainly that the US and European intelligence would tip him off as soon as I leave The Netherlands for the Philippines,” Sison said.

“The way he continues to talk he really hates to engage in peace negotiations with the NDFP. At

CHR...

From A1 favor and shall always speak truth to power. Secretary [Salvador] Panelo should focus on his job of trying to give the best legal advice he can muster for the Office of the President as I will do what I can in doing my job as best as I can,” he said.

During his second State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to abolish the CHR and called for Gascon’s replacement for being biased.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Gascon cannot be removed from his post since his post has a fixed term.

He said, however, that Gascon should have the decency to resign and be replaced by someone who is “not vengeful or who is not vindictive, or who is not subjective.”

“We welcome the statement that the Commission will not be abolished and that there is full respect for its independence. Similarly, we wish to assure the public that the Commission is non-partisan and its members come from different sectors to guarantee pluralism to ensure balance and diverse representation,” Gascon said.

Gascon was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to head the CHR in 2015. His term ends 2022.

Also on Friday, Vice President Leni Robredo said abolishing the CHR would strip ordinary Filipinos, especially the poor, of their protection against abuses. Rio N. Araja

Morales...

From A1 “To say they need prior approval of the President, that’s the lookout of those to whom he is addressing that. There is no law that requires a soldier or a policeman, or any respondent, for that matter to seek clearance from anybody.”

She said the failure of one to appear can be tolerated under a situation when one is not properly informed about the date of the hearing.

“If it can be validated that they were not really notified about it, we will entertain their excuse. But when we can validate they were duly notified, but they did not show up… for example, if there is a complaint against them and are asked to file a counter-affidavit, and they don’t respond, that is their lookout. They are deemed to have waived filing a counteraffidavit to controvert the evidence,” she said.

“If there is evidence against one, the case will go on if there is probable cause irrespective if one answers or not.”

She said she didn’t care even if the President did not invite him to attend the Sona, “just like last year.”

“If there is a party or event for which you are not invited and you know your friends are invited, I am not sensitive about it,” she said.

“Many people criticize me for being like that or like this so I come up with a message every time there is someone attacking me. You may attempt to repress the messenger, but you cannot suppress the message,” she said.

She did not single out the President, however.

“Those who are hit, or whoever you are, must not get angry [at me]. There are many people attacking me as if they are already somebody. If you are the Ombudsman, it is a thankless job,” she said.

She said she cared less about being criticized because of her duty. any rate, I must remind Duterte that we are well past the age of retirement in the NPA and AFP,” he added.

Irked by the continued collection of revolutionary tax by the New People’s Army, the President said he was directing the Armed Forces and the police not to use the word “revolutionary tax,” saying it was clearly extortion.

“That is not a proper word for us to adopt. This government already collects taxes. So they [the communists] should not impose their own tax.” Duterte said.

“Use the word “extortion,” “hold-upper,” (sic) or “kidnapper,” the President added, warning he would file cases against them based on the Revised Penal Code.

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SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Bishops alarmed over cases of AIDs

By Vito Barcelo

BRAVE SOULS. Street dwellers brave the heavy downpour to collect plastic waste for recycling. Pagasa reports say that tropical storm ‘Gorio’ has intensified as it heads northward off Batanes, enhancing the Habagat southwest monsoon. Ey Acasio

Extortion suits Reds’ practice, says Rody

By Francisco Tuyay PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned communist rebels to stop extorting people in the countryside in the guise of a “revolutionary tax,” saying only the government has the power of taxation.

In an interview in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Duterte ordered the Armed Forces and the police to stop using the term “revolutionary tax” to describe what is clearly extortion.

“That is not a proper word for us to adopt. Because this is a government, we have taxation.

Don’t counter it a revolutionary tax. Use the word ‘extortion,’ ‘hold-upper’ or ‘kidnapper,’” Duterte said.

He warned that he would file extortion charges against the rebels based on the Revised Penal Code.

Duterte condoled with the families of the six policemen killed in an ambush by the New People’s Army on July 21.

He then urged the NPA members to surrender to their barangay captains and be given decent jobs.

“Your barangay captain will accompany you to any of the police, military. They’ll give you a job,” he said.

Asked if more forces are needed in Negros to respond to increasing NPA attacks, the President said the situation is still manageable.

A ranking communist leader and three other insurgents and a policemen were killed after fierce fighting broke out between the NPA and government troops in two fronts in Luzon Friday morning.

Three government soldiers were also wounded in a clash alongt the ridges of Pangasinan and Sorsogon Friday.

Supt. Nonito Marquez of the Police Community Relations Office identified the slain NPA leader as Andres Hubilla, also known as Magno and Bunso, Secretary of the Kilusang Propaganda-3 of the Provincial Regional Bicol Committee. The identities of the three other rebels slain were not immediately known.

Marquez said the latest clashes occurred after government troops on combat patrol chanced upon some 30 armed fighters in Sitio Namoro, Brgy. Trece Martires, Casiguran, Sorsogon at about 5:05 a.m.

The Sorsogon clashed erupted barely two days after heavily armed NPA rebels launched series of attacks in Surigao del Sur, burning heavy equipment belonging to the Charles Construction Co. and torching a portion of the Dole-Stanfilo banana plantation.

Customs chief hits out at House drug probe C

By Vito Barcelo

USTOMS Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on Friday criticized the House of Representatives for conducting a congressional hearing on the P6.5- billion shabu shipment and the “imbecile” House speaker, saying the issue was raised after he and his chief of staff turned down a request from a congressman to promote a Customs employee.

“The issue against Atty. Anderson and to the BoC may have risen from the promotion of one of the BoC employees,” Faeldon said in a statement.

“It happened sometime in May when Atty. Mandy Therese Anderson and I turned down a favor from a congressman to

grant the promotion of this employee. However, it did not materialize as the employee was not qualified for the position.

“I would like to clarify the issue that came out during the congressional hearing with respect to the Facebook post of Atty. Mandy Therese Anderson,

the chief executive assistant of the Bureau of Customs.

“I would like to make it clear that the views and opinions expressed by Atty. Anderson on her Facebook account are solely hers and does not represent the views of the Bureau of Customs.

The BoC does not have any inclination towards any of the politicians but we only follow the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte―that is to have an honest, clean and corrupt-free Bureau of Customs.

“I acknowledge that Facebook is a social media platform readily accessible to the public. I am not condoning the action of my Chief of Staff but Atty. Anderson is entitled to her own opinion.

Faeldon said that, as a public servant, he believed that their loyalty should always be to the

public and not for anyone else.

“The BoC is now observing a more stringent process of promotion and we will adhere to it. This is no longer the time to promote employees based on recommendations alone.

Promotion must be based on qualifications and performance,” Faeldon said.

“In fact, this employee has been promoted several times for the past years but other employees have been with the bureau for five, 10 and 20 years were not promoted. I want to be fair.”

Faeldon said Duterte himself had asked him to reform the bureau, and he believed that hiring skilled and competent employees who had the highest moral decency and integrity was vital in this transformation.

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has expressed alarm over the rising cases of HIV and AIDS in the country and called on the government to take a more holistic approach in combating the spread of the deadly disease.

CBCP’s Commission on Health Care executive director Fr. Dan Cansino said the Church has long argued that behavioral change is key to HIV/AIDS response.

“We hope that they will put premium in initiating behavioral change and values formation, especially among the youth, young adults, and out-of-school youths,” Cansino said.

The CBCP official urged the government to give more attention to abstinence and the reduction of sexual partners rather than just focusing much on promoting the use of condoms.

“As long as we pad the strategies versus HIV, we can only expect the number of cases to continually increase,” he said.

The priest made the appeal following a Health department report that the total HIV/AIDS cases in May reached the 1,000 mark for the first time in the country’s history.

According to the latest HIV and AIDS Registry of the Philippines report, there are 1,098 new HIV cases recorded in May alone.

In June 2017, 17 people have died of HIV-related complications, bringing the total number of HIV-related deaths this year to 172.

HIV attacks the body’s immune system which helps in fighting off infections. If left untreated, those with the virus will be vulnerable to opportunistic infections and infection-related cancers.

Over time, when the body’s immune system is severely weakened, the person develops Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. The virus can be acquired through the exchange of certain bodily fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal secretions, but is not present in saliva and sweat. A person may contract HIV through unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of infected needles, and mother-to-child transmission. The virus stays inside the body for life once acquired.

Romualdez lauds shift to federalism 9 high-profile inmates back to ‘original’ cells

By Rio N. Araja FORMER Leyte representative and Philippine Constitution Association president Ferdinand Martin Romualdez lauded on Friday the decision of the House of Representatives to create a joint technical working group composed of members of Congress and senators to draft the proposed revision to the 1987 Constitution in the absence of the 25-man constitutional commission to be created

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Romualdez said the proposal to shift the presidential-unitary form of government to federalism through a constituent assembly would help change the political landscape toward genuine reforms.

“The action of our congressional leaders for constitutional reforms is a big welcome devel-

opment,” he said.

Romualdez is the husband of incumbent Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez.

“The political upheaval and economic turmoil confronting the nation today, accented with the uncertainties of the times, bring into focus the Philippine Constitution as centerpiece to find solutions. These critical times call for all good, reliable and tested men to come to the aid of our nation,” he said.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte, co-authors of measures for a Charter Change, shared the same opinion that a new politics of party programs and process of dialogue with the people must be pushed under the Duterte administration.

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has reported that nine high-profile inmates were transferred back to their original cells at the maximum-security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Friday morning.

DoJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said that nine inmates —Rico Caja, Joel Capones, Jojo Baligad, Benjamin Marcelo, Sam Lee Chua, Hanz Anton Tan, Che Kit Chua, Peter Co and Vicente Sy were brought from medium security compound to Building 14 at the maximum-security compound.

“The report about the transfer was already submitted to the office of the OIC [Officer-in-Charge] BuCor to be endorsed to the office of SOJ [Secretary of Justice],” Balmes said, citing a report submitted by

the BuCor to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Caja, Capones and Baligad were placed in cell 23, while Marcelo and Chua were transferred to cell 24, Tan and Chua were placed in cell 25 while Co and Sy were assigned to cell 26 of Building 14 at the maximum security compound.

“All these cells are located in block Charlie while Jaybee Sebastian is in block Alpha, far from the cells of the nine,” the report said.

The transfer of the high-profile inmates was made after Aguirre issued Department Order No. 496 dated July 24, 2017 directing BuCor officer-in-charge Rey Ragaas to immediately return the convicted drug lords from the medium security compound to their original detention facility.

US delivers 2 new Cessna

FLESH TRADE. NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin presents to the media alleged pimps Cherry Ann Laskano (left) and Glady Dulot Eugenio at the NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division. The NBI agents rescued 17 minors in a private resorts in Caloocan City who were offered for sexual services for six thousand pesos each. (Story on A6) Norman Cruz

THE United States government has delivered two new aircraft units to the Armed Forces of the PhilippinesPhilippine Air Force during a transfer ceremony at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Thursday (July 27).

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim was joined

by Deputy Commander, Pacific Command, Lt. Gen. Bryan Fenton, when he presented to Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana the two new units of Cessna 208B aircraft worth P 1.67 billion during the turnover ceremony.

Lorenzana, AFP Chief of Staff Gen Eduardo Año and Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, PAF commanding general, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and received the military hardware donation from Ambassador Kim, Lt. Gen. Fenton and representatives from the US Embassy.

Fallorina said the aircraft donation was made possible through the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and the US National Defense Authorization Act Building Partnership Capacity Program.

Nash B. Maulana

A4

Opinion

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Discretion

T

HESE days, you can’t make a mistake too big or behave too wildly. The Internet will make sure you are put in your place.

Social media have a way of pillorying those perceived to have acted against the public good.

The unfortunate are marked, instantly, for a long time—perhaps for life.

This is what happened Thursday when the vice mayor of Quezon City decided not to suspend classes amid the rain and flooding brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced

by Typhoon “Gorio.”

Because the mayor was out of the country, the responsibility to decide whether students should be made to go to school fell on Vice Mayor Joy

Belmonte.

At past 4 a.m. of Thursday, she announced her decision that no, there would be no class suspension after all. At this time, rain had been pouring hard, many streets had been flooded, and other local executives in Metro Manila had suspended classes in their respective areas.

Belmonte said she had spent

the night discussing with city disaster risk reduction and management officials and decided, after reading the weather bureau’s bulletin that said only light to moderate rain was expected and that heavy rain was going to be occasional, that students must go to school anyway.

The vice mayor attempted to be logical and contrarian: “One cannot please everyone,” she said. “It was a challenge for us not to be swayed by the bandwagon.”

Several hours later, however, Belmonte was proven wrong and those who had to face difficulty commuting to school were lashing out at her. She later ate humble pie

and admitted to a miscalculation in making that decision.

Before noon, classes on all levels had been suspended and there were efforts to help students who did go to school get safely home.

We do not doubt Belmonte had only good intentions; unfortunately for her, she got it wrong—and suffered as a result of that faulty call.

Here then is where discretion comes to play. Parents will always have the authority on whether or not to allow their children to venture out to inclement weather. There is immense value in perfect attendance in school activities despite rain and flooding. Showing up even when it is difficult to

do so is in itself a lesson that, when learned, will do much for children’s work ethic.

Risking health and safety, however, must pass the test of reasonability. No announcement from the school or the government will deter parents from deciding what is best for their children. And even if a class or two were missed, there must be ways to make up for exercises missed.

There is an adage that we must not allow school to get in the way of real education. In this case, common sense and practicality must not be sacrificed for mere compliance to an announcement.

And no, that’s not joining the bandwagon.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Ax this DTI official

family planning methods were not covered by the TRO. Some, to be on the safe side, just told women that they did not have contraceptives in their Health Centers.

Apprehension was also high because the registrations of contraceptives were already lapsing. Data on this show that by 2018, more than 80 percent of registrations would have lapsed. The implants that DoH purchased amounting to many millions of taxpayers’ money will expire by 2018.

Such problems created delays in implementing government’s family planning program. President Duterte was correct in saying that the TRO (especially the August 2016 SC decision) created delays in the RH law implementation. There is no doubt about this.

The SC’s April 2017 decision among other things, CLARIFIED that the TRO was not meant to affect other contraceptives, only Implanon and

IT’S bad enough when a top official of a government regulatory agency has a flawed sense of reasoning. When the official practically sides with a cartel in the industry his agency is regulating, that’s worse. The worst case scenario is when the official goes out of his way to defend the cartel with flimsy, groundless reasoning.

That is what is happening now in the Department of Trade Industry, the government agency tasked by law to protect consumers from hazardous and substandard products, unfair competition, fraudulent trade practices, and manipulation of the prices of basic supplies and commodities.

More specifically, a top trade official has been acting and sounding like the spokesman of cement manufacturers cum importers when he defended a controversial order of the DTI which, if not rescinded soon, will certainly cause the price of cement in the local market to increase exponentially.

In other words, something really stinks in the DTI. As pointed out in an earlier column, the price of cement in the local market is, like any commodity, dictated by the law of supply and demand. Thus, when the supply is low and the demand is high, the price of the commodity increases. It follows that the greater the demand, the greater the increase in the price tag. The converse is also true.

When the supply is not wanting, and demand is low, the price plummets. That’s basic economics.

Undoubtedly, cement is indispensable to the construction industry. To a great extent, infrastructure development in the country depends on this commodity. Considering that President Rodrigo Duterte has embarked on a Build, Build, Build aggressive infrastructure project worth P9 trillion to jump-start the Philippine economy, the supply of cement in the country has suddenly moved to center stage.

Actually, the supply of cement in the Philippines is maintained by two sources, namely, local cement manufacturers which operate plants

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Duterte, Sereno, and the TRO POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address dealt with the delays in the implementation of the Reproductive Health Law. He called the attention of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and attributed such delays to the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on subdermal contraceptives Implanon and Implanon NXT. CJ Sereno for her part, responded and said that the SC did not issue a TRO against the RH Law or all contraceptives but only the two brands of implants earlier mentioned. In a way, CJ Sereno was saying that the TRO did not delay the implementation of the RH law.

Both the President and the CJ are lawyers. I am not. However, I have been involved in RH-

related advocacy for more than two decades, including the last (almost) five years of its supposed implementation. Thus, I am confident of what I know about the issue.

Duterte’s statement that the TRO caused delays is true. But the TRO is just one cause. The truth is, of the almost five years after the RH bill became a law, it was only free from legal challenges for ONE year. That was after the SC decided that the law is NOT unconstitutional in April of 2014. That year was used by the Department of Health to set-up mechanisms for its implementation, and the National Implementation Team and the Regional Implementation Teams. Some systems were also put in place.

However, in May 2015, antiRH groups again lodged a petition against the DoH and the Food and Drugs Administration and the SC on contraceptives. In June of the same year, the High Court issued the TRO against contraceptive implants

and prevented the FDA from certifying contraceptives with pending applications with them.

CJ Sereno is, therefore, correct as far as their June 2015 TRO is concerned.

The President’s pronouncement on the Reproductive Health Law is lacking.

Even with the TRO on implants, the DoH continued offering family planning services minus implants. Let me just mention here that from the time it was introduced in the coun-

try, the implant became an instant favorite of the women doing family planning because the insertion is quite easy and it is effective for three years.

Non-government organizations and private health providers continued (and still continue) to provide implants to women because there are not covered by the TRO. Naturally, DoH appealed to the SC to have the TRO lifted.

What made matters worse was in response to such appeal, the SC issued another decision in August of 2016 the wording of which created much confusion among advocates, government agencies, and service providers on the ground. This decision seemed to have expanded the TRO to other contraceptives, and prevented the FDA from issuing registrations and recertifications to all other contraceptives.

The August 2016 decision created problems on the ground as many public service providers were at a quandary on what

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Opinion

CONGRESS should incorporate a rule that before any rascal or demagogue is permitted to exercise his so-called “parliamentary privilege” to summon people to appear before any of its committees, he should first submit in writing the point in law he wants clarified. This requirement is just and fair to equally inform individuals, especially those in the public service, why they are being summoned.

The idea for requiring members of the investigating committee to put into writing their queries is to inform the witnesses of the defects, deficiencies or absence of a provision about the law so that remedial measures could be legislated to prevent the occurrence of any violation. The object is to correct the law, and not to punish the witness because that aspect belongs to the court. The duty of Congress is to legislate, and whenever it may decide to hold a committee hearing, that should be in aid of legislation or to put it straight, to enact new laws, or to make amendments in order to prevent the recurrence of violation.

The incorporation of this rule is to realign the purpose that investigations should always be pursuant and consistent to their duty as legislators.

The committee conducting the hearing should never treat the person invited to appear as accused, but as a witness. If we have this kind of rule, surely the members of Congress and the Senate would be doing their job of legislating worthwhile laws. That could also prevent rascals, demagogues, charlatans and grandstanders from exhibiting their malevolent objective of discrediting the administration for political mileage.

The power of Congress to summon witnesses is only for purposes of wanting to be clear about the law, and not to know who violated the law. It is only when Congress, as acting as Electoral Tribunal and an Impeachment Court, where it can hear, try, and decide cases. Nonetheless, while it is the House that removes the impeachable official, it is the Senate that hears and decides to convict the accused public official. Most important, it is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who presides over the impeachment process.

In the case of the celebrated “Ilocos Norte Six,” the rascals used their privilege to intimidate and harangue the witnesses, ignoring that Pedro Agcaoili, Provincial Planning and Development Office chairperson, Josephine Calajate, provincial treasurer, Eden Battulayan, provincial accountant, Encarnacion Gaor, Provincial Treasurer’s Office staff, Genedine Jambaro, Provincial Treasurer’s Office staff, and Evangeline Tabulog, provincial budget officer merely stood as witnesses to the alleged anomaly peddled by Congressman Rodolfo Fariñas involving the “misuse” of P66.45 million in tobacco funds to buy the questioned motor vehicles. A congressman by the name of Johnny Pimentel from Surigao del Sur even assured his audience that a jail already awaits Imee

Marcos even before he could hear the side of the witness.

If the accused in a criminal case is given the right to remain silent, how much more those witnesses who obeyed the Order to appear but simply refused to answer the question/s tossed by their inquisitors for the purpose of singling out the person they have in mind? Some of the unenlightened members of the committee led by Rodolfo Fariñas want them to answer their questions which were designed to incriminate Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos, ignoring that the six are just witnesses who obeyed the Order to appear before it.

Contempt of court applies when the witnesses, by their contumacious act, stubbornly and willfully disobeyed the Order of the Committee to appear, and not when they refused to answer leading, biased and subjective questions.

If the accused in a criminal complaint has the right to remain silent to protect himself against self-incrimination, such right even becomes sanctified and inviolable when the person is merely a witness. If the witnesses refuse to answer the question, the committee’s solution is not to detain them by arrogantly using their power to declare them in contempt of court, which i ncident ally, is not even a court, but to file charges against them to test their suspicion.

That way, both the witnesses and their accusers would be on equal footing to allow the witnesses to put up their legal defenses. As accused, they can be detained not for refusing to answer silly questions, but on the gravity of the charge if there is a prima facie finding to suffice their detention. But the rascals would not want this method because they knew the court will not condone their stupid grandstanding.

Their refusal to answer cannot be equated by Fariñas as contempt of court. He uneasily wriggled like a worm for the fact that his ego was pricked.

The questions were framed indicating they were engaged in a fishing expedition. Neither would the witnesses admit to the misuse of the tobacco levy fund just to satisfy their lust for revenge. To falsely admit wrongdoing would logically implicate them, which they vehemently deny, stupid!

If Fariñas truly has the evidence, he need not go through the rigmarole of calling for an investigation in the guise of “in aid of legislation” but should go directly to the court and file a case. They need not even summon anybody to testify. Rather, the rascals want to impress it upon the public that Imee Marcos and the detained public servants of Ilocos Norte are bunch of thieves. It is ironic because it is this province that made this rascal their unglorified representative.

Notably, the power of Congress to detain a witness for contempt of court applies when the inquiry solicited has reference to the implementation or reexamination of any law or in connection with any proposed legislation. The landmark case is that of Arnault vs. Nazareno where the

These lawmakers reduced the committee to a kangaroo court.

A5

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Angry state of the nation

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

In waste of legislation

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

IN 2011, I wrote in an Eagle Eyes column that the ultimate measure of a successful state of the nation address is whether the President in this annual address makes all of us—citizens of this country—feel good about our country. I asked then, writing about President Benigno Aquino III who was, like President Rodrigo Duterte last Monday, delivering his second Sona: “Did he unite as a people towards goals we, regardless of political views, share? Did he share a vision of where he wants to bring us, one so compelling that at the end of the speech, we all rise up wanting to march together to that destination?” I concluded in that column that negative answers to these questions means the Sona has failed and that a big opportunity for the country has been lost.

In a later column, in 2015, I also wrote that a good Sona should make us all rise up wanting to march together to where the president wants to bring the country. And even if I am not moved to march, I would like to at least miss a couple of heartbeats while listening to the Sona.

With regret, I have to say that President Rodrigo Duterte’s second Sona last Monday did not meet these expectations.

If anything, the President delivered an angry speech (and press conference) with diatribes against real and imagined enemies—from mining companies to media, from Senator De Lima to Joma Sison to Chito Gascon, from human rights advocates to the communists. Duterte did not spare government officials and workers from his attacks, calling on top officials to eat at their desks, the implication being that they were lazy.

Ax...

From A4

in the Philippines and which are allowed by the DTI to import cement (manufacturers-importers), and local enterprises which do not manufacture cement, but which are allowed by the DTI to import cement (pure importers).

Philippine law authorizes local cement manufacturers to import cement when they are unable to meet the local demand. This way, the price of cement in the Philippine market remains stable.

Consumers are thus protected against price manipulation.

In the same vein, Philippine law authorizes the pure importers to import cement to discourage or even prevent manufacturersimporters from forming a cartel to manipulate import quotas for the purpose of creating an artificial cement shortage that will pull up the local price of cement. This way, the consumers remain protected from price manipulation.

As an added protection to consumers, all manufacturersimporters and pure importers must import cement from sources which are certified by international certification bodies

Duterte...

From A4

Implanon NXT. This was good.

But harm was already done.

The latest decision did not lift the TRO on implants but said that as soon as the DoH and FDA are able to comply with SC orders on FDA process of registering contraceptives, and amendments to the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the TRO is DEEMED LIFTED. This is where Duterte’s Sona inquiry was material or necessary to the exercise of legislative power. In this case, the committee was already acting as a virtual de facto court, and worse, were trying the witnesses for a charge that have yet to be filed against them.

The Speaker, who was forced

Most bothersome to me was the President’s attacks against many of our critical governance institutions: the Supreme Court, the Ombudsman, the Commission on Human Rights, and the Commission on Audit. He also embarrassed the European Union representatives as well as the Ambassador of the United States to the Philippines. Even the lumad, the most powerless and marginalized of groups were not spared; the President threatened to bomb their schools.

With even more regret, I have to conclude that the majority of the people seem to like the speech. Certainly, our legislators, senators and representatives alike, were certainly not bothered by it. Although there were no standing ovations, I counted more than 60 times when the President was interrupted with applause from his audience.

From a communication point of view, I can objectively say that Duterte’s second Sona was a virtuoso performance. If you include the theatrical act of going out to confront the rallyists after his speech, Duterte’s performance was definitely masterful. Like him or not, Duterte is effective in inciting his base and even neutrals. It was surreal though, his coming in and out of the prepared speech. I think he should just have an outline of the points he needs to make and just go extemporaneous next time.

On substance, there were good things. For sure, the time he spent on environment, climate change, and disasters is the longest ever in a Sona. I think he was over the top in his tirade against mining companies, maybe as a way of apologizing for letting them attack Gina Lopez. But he made very good points on climate change, land use, and disasters. It was great that he called for the passage of the land use act and the creation of a national disaster agency.

This time around, there was a semblance of a legislative agenda.

From his tirade against mining companies, one can extract a proposal for new mining law as Duterte clearly wants stricter environmental rules and new revenue and importation of raw minerals policies. The land use act, mentioned early in his speech, is long overdue. We need a new independent, and stand-alone disaster agency; many of us have advocated this for years now. A government reorganizing act is needed as change can only come if the bureaucracy is rightsized. It’s a no-brainer that procurement rules really have to be improved as they now paralyze decisions, obstruct development. And yes, we need tax reform, so long as it does not disadvantage the poor.

Duterte singled out Senator Sonny Angara and even teasing and warning the latter about electoral consequences of the tax reform bill was not passed.

Finally, President Duterte asked for the reimposition of the death penalty, justifying it wrongly with an antiquated understanding of the Revised Penal Code. Among all the legislative proposals, this one I strongly oppose.

What surprised me was the President’s tepid endorsement of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and federalism; they were mentioned in passing and without enthusiasm. I am now less optimistic that both can be done. This is sad because martial law will not solve Marawi or terrorism; only political interventions like the BBL and constitutional change can address the roots of this challenge of extremist terrorists.

I thought the mention of the Balangiga bells, although many people have already been working on this for years, was a stroke of genius. But like many, I prefer our seas and shoals that China has taken to the bells.

But alas, President Duterte was quiet about that.

Duterte’s attacks on many of our institutions during the Sona was worrisome. His tirades against media (Rappler, ABS, and Inquirer) were mentioned again can only have a chilling effect. The critique of Supreme Court TROs, even if he was courteous and polite to the Chief Justice, was uncalled for because the TRO issue is actually bogus. According to the Chief Justice, in a statement issued after the Sona, there is no such TRO against the RH law and the TRO on the two contraceptive implants can be lifted upon certification by the Food and Drug Administration that they are not abortifacient. His undermining of the Commission on Audit, the Ombudsman, and the Commission of Human Rights was terrible.

An angry president incites people against each other. Last Monday’s Sona did that.

There are of course real reasons why many of us are angry.

Some are fundamental and rooted in serous causes like poverty and social injustice. But a big part of this anger is avoidable, a result of the manipulative politics of the Macapagal-Arroyo and Noynoy Aquino years when law was used for political goals.

In 2010, I wished President Aquino, given his resounding mandate in 2010, would unify the country around reforms. But he did not; up to his last Sona, he still mentioned Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s failures. Today, Duterte, with a high satisfaction rating, have the opportunity to do the same—unify us—but clearly the Sona manifests a decision to take the divisive path.

How do I feel about the state of the nation? To put it frankly, not good.

abroad. Since the quality of the cement from this foreign source is certified by an international certification body recognized the world over, consumers in the Philippines are assured of the quality of the imported cement.

To protect consumers further, the law requires that all imported cement must bear the Product Safety (PS) standard mark also required by Philippine law.

With such an arrangement in place, how can things go wrong for Filipino consumers? Well, things have gone wrong since the DTI issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 17-02, as amended by DAO No. 17-05.

Under DAO No. 17-02, as amended, pure importers are subjected to additional but useless requirements, like obtaining an import commodity clearance certification mark prior to any importation. This burden practically makes it impossible for pure importers to import cement.

What is highly suspicious and downright anomalous about DAO No. 17-02, as amended, is that the manufacturers-importers are exempted from the ICC requirement imposed on pure importers. Since the imported cement comes from the same

foreign source anyway, why did the DTI impose an additional burden on pure importers, without imposing it on the manufacturers-importers?

That’s unwarranted favoritism plain and simple. In fact, it’s considered a corrupt practice under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. When some industry insiders complained in the news media about the anomaly underlying DAO No. 17-02, as amended, the top DTI official quickly defended the order. His justification— manufacturers-importers have to protect their reputation as sellers of local brands, and for this reason, they can be expected to import only quality cement.

He added that the DTI order deters unscrupulous importers.

That’s hogwash! Since the cement imported by manufacturers-importers and the pure importers emanate from the same foreign source, there is no difference in the quality of the cement imported by manufacturers-importers, and the cement imported by pure importers. Moreover, the DTI should simply go after unscrupulous importers rather than making it well-nigh impossible for all pure importers to

import cement.

Likewise, the added burden imposed on the pure importers by DAO 17-02, as amended, has no justifiable basis. It only adds to the bureaucratic red tape which President Duterte, in his recent State of the Nation Address, has promised to eliminate.

Industry observers believe that if pure importers are put out of business by DAO No. 1702, as amended, the price of cement will sour to its 2014 price of P300 per bag from its current price of P197. With 720-million bags of cement sold annually in the country, manufacturersimporters are anticipating an annual profit of P81.36 billion!

That is the same amount of money consumers save yearly if pure importers remain in the market.

The price is expected to skyrocket further once the “Build, Build, Build” project of President Duterte takes off. Perhaps this is the real reason for DAO No. 17-02, as amended.

Evidently, that DTI official is either out of his mind, or is lying just to protect the manufacturersimporters which are trying to form a cartel to the detriment of consumers. Whatever it is, President Duterte should fire him!

pronouncement on RH was lacking. It was good that he reiterated his pro-RH stance and informed the CJ that the TRO caused delays. These should have sent a strong signal to those who may be dilly-dallying in the law’s implementation.

However, really, the ball now is in the court of the FDA and DoH. These two agencies are with the Executive, and thus, directly under the Office of the President.

Instead of concentrating on the CJ, it would have been perfect if the President instructed the DoH

and FDA to fast track their compliance with orders of the SC. No wonder, as Duterte was addressing the CJ on this, Sereno was seen smiling.

I do not know if the President was not fully informed of the status of the TRO but based on his words, he seemed unaware of important contents of the SC’s April 2017 decision.

In fairness to the DoH and FDA, I know that they are now in the process of complying with SC’s orders. I have seen some draft documents required by the

High Court. They also said that they are being careful with these so there will no longer be similar problems in the future.

We are just waiting for the DoH and FDA to fully comply with SC orders. We hope that this happens soon. After which, the TRO is deemed LIFTED and family planning programs as contained in the RH law, hopefully, can go full blast .

for release by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

The members of the Committee, including Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, should be charged for criminally acting outside the scope of their duty. The Courts should punish them for insulting the majesty of the judiciary and

to remind everyone that nobody, not even a congressman, stands above the law. They reduced the committee to a kangaroo court with them acting as prosecutors, jurors and executioners rolled into one.

to resign as cabinet secretary for his involvement in the fiasco, the Freeport deal, supported the arrogant usurpation of power of the court by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to violate the liberties of the witnesses, and worse, even defied the Order

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News

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SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Albayalde sacks ‘abusive’ cop

By Joel E. Zurbano METRO Manila police director Oscar Albayalde ordered the immediate relief of another policeman for misbehavior and abuse of authority.

PO2 Manuel Carvajal Taytayon has been placed under investigation and is now on a floating status at the National Capital Region Police Office-Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.

Albayalde tapped Supt. Ernesto Barlam, head of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, to investigate the case of Taytayon who figured on a viral video showing him “maltreating” a man and his brother, who is a minor, during a road altercation in Pasay City.

“I ordered them to meticulously review and determine the probity of the viral video,” said Albayalde.

Taytayon, who was assigned at the Southern Police District and is reportedly set to retire from the police service this December, said he will also file a counter complaint against the brothers for cyber bullying.

Albayalde assured the public

that the NCRPO will not tolerate any misdeed and misbehavior of its personnel.

Taytayon’s case came a few days after two members of Manila Police District-Special Weapons and Tactics Unit were also sacked for their involvement in a scuffle and for indiscriminate firing inside a karaoke bar in Tondo, Manila.

The two SWAT men were identified as SPO2 Ryan Ymzon Marcelo and PO1 Ramadas Tonducan Mucas.

Since July 2016, the NCRPO has charged administratively 1,274 police personnel, dismissed 75, suspended 280, and reassigned 393 outside Metro Manila.

The NCRPO has initiated a campaign dubbed as Internal Cleansing Program which is aimed to instill discipline, build ethics, and evaluate the commitment level of each police officer to their sworn duties.

“The program is also an integral part of a progressive process; we must see to it that we discipline our subordinate and even ourselves. While we lead our men, we also make sure that their actions are guarded and in consonance with our organizational values,” said Albayalde.

WATERLILY DANCERS. Garbed in costumes fashioned out of dried waterlilies, students from Golden Acres National High school, TS Cruz

National High School and Las Piñas National High School of Almanza execute their winning performance in a streetdance competition to bag the grand prize in the 12th Las Piñas City Waterlily Festival at the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance Center at C5 extension in Las Piñas City. Ey Acasio

DTI order endangers cement trade Free I tuition NDUSTRY players from the cement and construction sectors said that the Department of Trade and Industry’s imposition of burdensome requirements on cement importers, goes against the policy of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has vowed to reduce bureaucratic red tape to ease the business process in the country.

The same group added that the DTI imposition will jeopardize the massive infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration's Build, Build, Build program through high construction cost by bringing prices of cement to stratospheric heights.

The cement industry players said that in his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, 2016 and on his second Sona on Monday, July 24, 2017, President Duterte vowed to go after corrupt officials in the government.

“A year ago, I also warned government officials and employees that I will never tolerate corruption in my administration, not even a whiff of it. Let the dismissal of several high-ranking officials―

whom I myself appointed―serve as a warning to all that I will never back down on my commitment to cleanse this government,” Duterte said in his second Sona to thundering applause of the audience.

“Since we launched this hotline [8888], we have received numerous complaints from the public on government… slow government processing and clearance, of changing procedures and requirements, centralized issuance of clearances and permits in Metro Manila, and discourteous government employees, among others,” Duterte said in his second Sona.

But according to industry sources, those in the DTI have turned a deaf ear to the President’s resolve to cut red tape in govern-

ment as they have issued an order that imposes additional burden on small-scale cement importers.

They said that the order could only lead to the emergence of a cartel composed of giant cement manufacturers-importers who reportedly want to bring back cement prices to the P300 per bag level in 2015 from its present price of about P197 per bag, sources said.

Industry sources have welcomed the filing of a graft and corruption complaint against a DTI undersecretary before the Office of the Ombudsman for the official’s role in having the DTI’s Bureau of Philippines Standards issue Department Administrative Order (DAO) 17-02/05.

At the same time, the source said that a separate case is being prepared against another DTI official for approving the highly controversial order without going through proper public consultation.

He also claims that the rush to cure the flawed order is being kept under wraps by the DTI. The controversial DAO requires importers to secure an Import

Commodity Clearance on top of the 'PS' or Philippine Standard mark for imported cement.

The DAO, however, exempts from the ICC requirement the big cement manufacturers operating integrated cement plants in the country but also importing cement.

Several reasons have been cited why the DAO 17-02 and subsequent DAOs should be suspended or totally revoked.

“The DTI order creates an environment which could threaten the stability of the cement prices in the market as the DAO 17-02/05 is a surefire formula for prices to spike uncontrollably and for supply to be manipulated,” said a source in the construction sector.

The source pointed out that in 2014, the cement price was around P300; when importers entered the picture, the price immediately fell to around P217; currently, the price hovers at P197.

This, the insider said, “offers solid proof that open competition augurs well for the public.”

“If DAO 17-02/05 was intended to protect the public by ensuring the quality of the imported ce-

ment, the industry group wondered why both manufacturersimporters and small importers get their cement from the same plant abroad: So how could there be any difference in quality?” he asked.

“At the same time, if quality is the issue as announced by the DTI official recently in defending the order, why are the big manufacturers-importers trying to negotiate with cement plants abroad so they can exclusively sell cement in the Philippine market, thus removing the pure importers from the equation?” he added.

The DTI order could actually set back the implementation of the Build, Build, Build infrastructure development program of the Duterte administration as cement supply from local manufacturers may not be sufficient to meet the expected big demand for the commodity, the industry source said.

The insider lamented that the DTI “wittingly or unwittingly strengthens the stranglehold by a few giant cement manufacturersimporters that have been acting as a de facto cartel to dictate cement prices in the domestic market.”

NBI rescues 17 minors in Caloocan City

By Sandy Araneta THE National Bureau of Investigation said on Friday that operatives of the NBI-Anti-Human Trafficking Division rescued 17 minors who were offered for sexual services, and arrested two human traffickers in Caloocan City last Thursday.

NBI Director Dante Gierran said the operation was based on information received by the Bureau that a group composed of several pimps have beena offering young girls for sexual services to male clients, local and foreigners.

The NBI-AHTRAD operatives arranged a rendezvous with the pimps to verify the information which was later confirmed.

The pimps were asking for P6,000 for every girl that would be chosen while those who are not chosen would be given a consolation of P1,000.

On July 27, 2017, as agreed, two pimps, identified as Glady Dulot and Cherry Ann Lascano, brought 17 young girls to a private resort in Caloocan City where the NBIDSWD team was waiting.

After the payment for the sexual service of one girl was received, the suspects were immediately apprehended while the victims were taken into custody by the DSWD. Initial assessment showed that all 17 victims are minors, the eldest of which is 17 years old and the youngest, 13.

The suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice for violations of R.A. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, as amended) and R.A. 7610 (Anti-Child Abuse Law).

A follow-up investigation was conducted to identify and possibly apprehend and charge other members of the group.

TOW TIME. Metro Manila Development Authority personnel tow illegally parked vehicles along Jose P. Laurel Street in San Miguel, Manila City on Friday, July 28, 2017. PNA Photo

Alvarez vows to sanction gun-toting House employee

By Rio N. Araja HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez vowed on Friday to sanction a gun-wielding employee of Congress who recently threatened a police officer in a traffic altercation in Fairvew, Quezon City.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, House majority floor leader, said Alvarez gave the instruction to guarantee that Congress will take action on the incident involving Robert Villanueva, a 49-year-old legislative assistant II from New Capitol Estate I, Commonwealth Avenue, Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

“The Speaker is right here next to me

and giving you [reporters] his word that appropriate action shall be taken,” Fariñas’ statement read in a viber group's post.

Fariñas said that Alvarez expressed disappointment over Villanueva’s attitude, adding that the proceedings on Villanueva’s case is “subject to due process.”

On the other hand, PBA Rep. Jericho Nograles called on Congress’ Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and Legislative Security Bureau to strengthen the implementation of their rules and regulations in allowing anyone to carry a firearm inside the House of Representatives complex.

“We have very strict rules at the Batasan Complex, all being enforced by

the OSAA and the LSB with the assistance of the Philippine National PoliceSpecial Action Force. It is a matter of implementation,” he said.

“I believe that the disciplinary committee should look into the issue immediately as this will reflect to the institution. I am proud to say that the men and women of the House of Representatives are very professional. Bobby V. is sadly an exception to the norm,” he said.

Congress sacked Villanueva when he was reportedly caught in a compromising situation with a woman at the IBP complex on Oct. 16, 1999.

Villanueva, however, was reinstated to

his job by the Supreme Court in an Aug. 27, 2003 decision that ruled Congress’ sanction that he must not be dismissed from the service, but only suspended.

Capt. Rodolfo Madriaga, 55, of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, complained that Villanueva, who was armed with a Noringco .9mm pistol, cursed him last Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. following a traffic altercation.

Madriaga said he was driving his Nissan Almera (VS-9574) at the rotunda of Don Jose subdivision along Commonwealth Avenue when Villanueva, who was aboard a Mercedes Kompressor (WPJ-448) confronted him.

for SUCs pushed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta DESPITE being disappointed over President Rodrigo Duterte's failure to mention it as a priority measure in his second State of the Nation Address, three senators remain optimistic the Chief Executive will still sign into law the measure that provides free college education in State Universities and Colleges.

Senators Bam Aquino, Sonny Angara and Nancy Binay expressed hope that the President will prioritize the measure that will give more Filipinos access to a college degree and a brighter future.

The proposed measure on the free college tuition only lacks the signature of the President.

“We must prioritize education and rise above politics to give more Filipinos access to a college degree,” said Aquino, a Liberal Party senator and principal author of the bill.

Angara, vice chairman of the Senate education committee, said that the bill will empower young people as it will remove a major hindrance to tertiary education Binay voted in support of the measure, which will provide full tuition subsidy for students enrolled in SUCs, during the deliberations in the first regular session of the higher chamber last March 2017.

Meanwhile, to address the declining reading habits of Filipinos, the United Nations Children’s Fund called on parents to take time to read to their children for them to develop their love of reading.

Unicef Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Martin Porter stressed the important role of parents on their children especially in developing healthy habits such as reading.

To bring back the habit and love of reading in young people, SM Cares has partnered once again with Unicef together with National Book Store and Vibal Publishing to stage the book reading event which coincides with the Book Reading month.

SM Cares Director of the Program on Children and Youth Royston Cabunag said the love of reading is developed early on and parents play a key role in its development.

“Research have shown that children whose parents read to them and who themselves read regularly develop the love of reading. This is the reason why parents should make time to be with their children, read to them so that it becomes habitforming,” he said.

Cabunag said they have been staging the book reading event for the past nine years as part of their commitment to uphold and promote the rights of a child.

“SM Cares has always been for the protection of children and support of their rights and one such right is education. Through this event, we are able to promote literacy and encourage them to develop their love for reading at an early age,” he said

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SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Philracom starts drug-testing on horses

A

S A result of its recent membership with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) will be begin its drug-testing protocols on horses on Sunday in the final leg of the Triple Crown Series at the Santa Ana Park.

“Drug-testing is a sign that we are already a world-class racing authority,” said Philracom’s Executive Director Dr. Andrew Rovie Buencamino. “We will do the demo in Santa Ana in line with the Triple Crown because we want to drum it up, we really want the public to know that we are serious in this.”

Drug-testing on horses through blood samples was initiated by former Philracom Chairman Antonio Lagdameo in 1994, but

full member of IFHA. This measure is not only to protect the integrity of racing and the interest of the bettors, but also to protect the health of the horses,” said Buencamino.

The executive director revealed that the Philracom drug-testing will initially be a six-month dry run in order for the horse-racing body to perfect the entire procedure.

“We are giving this drug testing was stopped 10 years ago by a six months na trial run in order to temporar y restraining order perfect and find the loopholes. We by a horseowner, who challenged don’t want to immediately impose the process of the drug-testing then. it na hindi namin napapag-aralan The TRO was finally lifted by the nang maigi kung ano ‘yung mga dapat naming gawin. Kaya we are court last year.

“Since the beginning of this year, also studying the protocols abroad, we were already provided a budget kasama ako, si Dr. Jojo Kambay, to revive the equine drug testing. who is the head of our laboratory Established racing authorities in the here,” he said. “The results of our world require equine drug testing. tests will be confidential. During It’s one of the protocols na kailangan the six-month dry run, we won’t signatory ka before your can be a impose penalties yet. Kasi hindi pa

nga namin sigurado kung perfect na ‘yung program. Maaring may chance na may mali pa kami.”

The Philracom is getting the services of US-based drug testing company Neogen to randomnly test the horses, starting with the participants of Sunday’s Triple Crown. As a start, Neogen will be looking for downers (depressants and/or performance inhibitors) such as Azaperone, Etorphine, Propanolol, Detomidine, Benzodiazapine, Flunittrazepam and Promazine in the horses’ urine samples.

“Ang pain reliever hindi pa namin binabawal. In some counties, there is a certain limit that is allowed, because they believe that, in a way, it is therapeutic. Pero in Hong Kong, where we patterned out procedure, there’s a 10-day withdrawal period, so kailangan within that 10 days, zero ‘yung presence ng pain relievers,”

said Buencamino. “In America, they allow certain levels. Parang sa sa atin, ‘yung mga basketball players, umiinom ng pain killers. Here, we want to monitor, because we are also concerned of the health of the horses.

Ayaw namin na tumatakbo sila na pilay na pilay.”

Buencamino said that the racing industry, led by the horseowners and racing clubs welcome this program with open arms.

“The stakeholders especially the horseowners want to have this program. They are very cooperative and we want to get their feedback on what they see with the the process,” said Buecamino. “As for the racing clubs, nasa franchises nila that they should be providing drug-testing facilities. They want us to lead para they would also learn through the process to the point of eventually using our methodologies.”

PH’s ice athletes aim for SEAG gold

By Patricia Bianca S. Taculao SM Skating presented to the public its promising ice athletes at the SM Megamall Skating Rink on Thursday.

The group will compete in this year’s Southeast Asian Games, which for the first time, is including winter sports.

Comprising the country’s roster for the 29th SEA Games are figure skaters Michael Martinez, Jules Alpe, Samantha Cabiles and Alisson Perticheto, ice hockey’s Team Pilipinas, and the country’s first speed skater, Kathryn Magno.

The seasoned figure skaters, led by the Winter Olympian Martinez, are aiming for top spots as they perform their new programs for the skating event in the SEA Games.

Gold is also the goal for the country’s national team for ice hockey as Team Pilipinas has already won the bronze during the 2017 Asian Winter Games held in Japan last February.

Magno, who bagged gold in the 2016 Tri-Series South East Asia Cup, will be joining the Philippine team in their glide to the top.

The ice athletes will compete for five medals in the SEA Games, which will be held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Aug. 19 to 30.

Filipino ice athletes (from left) BJ Imperial, Jorell Crisostomo, Francois Gautier, LR Lancero, Kathryn Magno, Julius Magno, Jules Alpe and Miguel Relampagos vow to bring glory to the Philippines in the SEA Games. Marielle Santos

Air Force seeks PVL semis vs Adamson HAIR Fairy Air Force hopes to rebound from its straight-set setback to Pocari Sweat the last time out as it shoots for the third semifinal berth against ousted Adamson-Akari in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today (Saturday).

The Lady Jet Spikers dropped a stinging 19-25, 19-25, 27-29 defeat to the Lady Warriors in their duel for the second semis slot last Wednesday but they remain confident of nailing the elusive berth as they face the Lady Falcons in their 6:30 p.m. clash.

Adamson, UP and the Power

Games today

10 a.m. – Air Force vs Mega Builders (men’s) 1 p.m. – Gamboa vs Army (men’s) 4 p.m. – Power Smashers vs UP (women’s) 6:30 p.m. – Adamson vs Air Force

Smashers are out of the race with identical 1-5 cards with the last two seats being disputed by Air Force, Perlas-BanKo and BaliPure.

The Jet Spikers have the inside track to the third spot although the Lady Falcons will surely be going all out to play the spoiler’s role and at the same boost their confidence as they step up their buildup for the UAAP wars.

In contrast, Perlas-BanKo and BaliPure, tied at fourth spot at 3-3, will still have to hurdle the first two semifinalists at the close of the single round elims of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision tomorrow (Sunday).

The Perlas Spikers will take on the unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers at 4 p.m. while the Water Defenders will square off with the Lady Warriors at 6:30 p.m.

“We just need to play smart and not be overconfident against them (Lady Falcons),” said Hair Fairy Air Force coach Jasper Jimenez.

Hair Fairy Air Force is actu-

ally assured of at least a playoff for a semis berth but the Jet Spikers want to advance outright and avoid going through a sudden death.

“It’s better if we get straight to the semis and not gamble on getting in a playoff,” said Jimenez.

The Lady Maroons and the Power Smashers collide in a nonbearing game at 4 p.m.

Creamline is gunning for a rare sweep of the elims and the No. 1 spot while Pocari Sweat seeks to finish at 6-1 for the second seeding in the Final Four where the No. 1 faces the No. 4 and the Nos. 2 and 3 collide in a pair of best-of-three series.

Kiko Matos turns MMA pro

By Robbie Pangilinan KIKO Matos, the Filipino-Portuguese actor who became popular after his highly publicized “bigwasan” match with actor Baron Geisler last year, is working on becoming a professional mixed martial artist.

Alvin Aguilar, the president and founder of the Universal Reality Combat Championship announced that Matos will fight Billy Jack Magana Sanchez on Aug. 12 at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I intend to fight pro, although I also want to

climb the ladder like how everyone does. I want to start from the bottom, may it be amateur level or proamateur, and then I want to earn my pro license. With all the that is happening right, especially my fight with Billy Jack Sanchez, I see it as a stepping stone for me to get to where I want. I am very much open to accept whatever the URCC has in store for me.

Until then I will take one step at a time,” said Matos.

Aguilar said that Matos has been training hard, focusing on Jiu-jitsu, as he really wants to fight as a pro.

Matos was set to go pro

after his June 2016 showdown in Valkyrie Club at Bonifacio Global City with Geisler that ended in a draw, but it was postponed when he sustained an injury.

“He has healed already, and expressed his intention to fight pro. His intended opponent was and is not Baron. We did that last year and we all had our fun,” Aguilar said.

“I work out in the morning until afternoon everyday, ito talaga gusto ko,” said Matos.

“People think the fight with Baron was like a movie, scripted. I want a real fight!” he ended.

Kiko Matos: I intend to fight pro, although I also want to climb the ladder like how everyone does. I want to start from the bottom, may it be amateur level or pro-amateur, and then I want to earn my pro license.

Pacio vows to showcase stellar performance in return FILIPINO standout Joshua “The Passion” Pacio had a memorable trip to Macao a year ago when he competed at ONE Championship’s inaugural live event in the Chinese suburb known as “Oyster City.”

The 21-year-old native of Baguio City, Benguet competed on the undercard of ONE: HEROES OF THE WORLD, where he defeated gritty Thai grappler Kritsada Kongsrichai by way of first-round submission.

Proving that Team Lakay fighters are not isolated in the striking department, Pacio effortlessly took Kongsrichai down

to the mat and fastened a rear-naked choke to force his Thai foe to tap at the 4:37 mark of the first round.

Pacio will be setting foot on Macao soil once again as he is set to compete on the undercard of ONE: KINGS & CONQUERORS, which takes place at the glamorous Cotai Arena of The Venetian Macao.

Now using the moniker “The Passion” due to his ardent desire to improve each day as a martial artist, Pacio is slated to test his mettle with Japanese newcomer Hayato Suzuki.

Pacio did not mince words about his

excitement to strut his wares in Macao, which is also home to thousands of overseas Filipino workers.

“I love fighting in Macao. The venue is so awesome. It’s truly world-class. Furthermore, there are a lot of Filipinos living and working there. Whenever I compete there, it feels like I am fighting back home. The energy is palpable. I can’t wait to be back,” he said.

A member of the famed Team Lakay, Pacio is one of the most talented strawweights that has been ever produced by the flourishing mixed martial arts

scene in the Philippines.

In addition, Pacio is a Wushu Sanshou specialist with a solid grappling repertoire.

All but one of his career victories have come by spectacular finish, including five wins by submission and three wins by knockout.

However, Pacio has a taller order in his new assignment as a ONE Championship athlete as he takes on Suzuki.

Suzuki owns a remarkable MMA record of 16-0-2 and is known as a wellrounded warrior who has the ability to stop his foes with his heavy hands and technical grappling skills.

Plaridel Cup tees off Aug. 4 in Wack Wack GCC THE rescheduled 3rd Plaridel Cup golf tournament of the Association of Philippine Journalists (Samahang Plaridel) tees off this Aug. 4 at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club.

Golfers among the country’s veteran journalists—and their friends—will be vying for bragging rights as they pit skills at the 18-hole, par-70 Wack Wack golf course in Mandaluyong City.

Tee off time is 8 a.m.

Special prizes (such as roundtrip PAL tickets, etc.) and surprise raffle await winners and participants when the friendly but highly competitive tournament winds down for the awarding program.

The 3rd Plaridel Cup is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Land, PAGCOR, Philex Mining Corp., Philippine Airlines, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, International Container Terminal Services Inc., Social Security System, South Forbes, GMA Network, Manila Water, Vitamax, The Turf Company and Golden Sky International Group Inc. Media partners include Manila Standard, Market Monitor and Business Mirror.

Last-minute registrants may get in touch with Nelly Lumbaca at the Samahang Plaridel secretariat through mobile number 09209286498 or email apjsamahangplaridel@gmail.com.

The P3,500 registration fee covers green fees, lunch, giveaways and raffle prizes.

Sjostorm 1st woman to swim under 52 seconds BUDAPEST—Sarah Sjostorm says there is more in the tank, with the women’s 100m freestyle world-record again under threat after powering her way into Friday’s final at the world championships.

The 23-year-old Swedish sprinter became the first woman to swim under 52 seconds last Sunday during a powerful first leg in the 4x100m freestyle.

In the semi-finals, Sjostrom was the fastest of a powerful field, clocking 52.44 secs, and having bettered her time from the heats, she can go faster still.

“I’m really happy that I went half a second faster, even though it was the same effort for me,” she said.

“It was very good, but it will be a very tight race tomorrow.”

Sjostrom is predicting a tight battle— similar to last year’s Olympic final when Simone Manuel of the USA and Canada’s Penny Oleksiak, 17, who are both into the Budapest final, shared the gold.

Defending champion Bronte Campbell of Australia and 2012 Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo also went through with quick times.

“Just remember though what happened in the Olympics, I’m looking forward to it but it can go either way,” added Sjostrom.

Olympic champion Ryan Murphy was the second fastest into the men’s 200m backstroke final behind China’s Xu Jiayu, who clocked 1:54.79 when the pair met in the semi-finals.

Xu won the 100m title on Monday, beating Murphy, also the Olympic champion over the shorter distance, into bronze.

“I wanted to just go hard in the last 50, but Xu really pulled us all out there, he went out really hard,” said Murphy. AFP

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

Sports

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

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SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

Odom opens up about drug-fueled brush with death LOS ANGELES—Former NBA star Lamar Odom opened up on the Players’ Tribune on Thursday about the rollercoaster of cocaine addiction that left him comatose and close to death after a Nevada brothel binge in 2015.

Although he’s sober now, Odom writes on the website that it’s “an every day struggle”.

He recalled his shock upon waking in the hospital, having collapsed at the Love Ranch brothel outside Las Vegas.

“At some point, the main doctor came in and told me what had happened,” Odom wrote. “He said, ‘Mr. Odom, you’ve been in a coma for the last four days. Do you understand?’ I couldn’t talk. So I just nodded. He said, ‘It’s a miracle that you’re here. We didn’t think you were going to make it.’”

Odom, a two-time NBA champion who gained wider fame as the star of a reality television series with wife Khloe Kardashian, said that at the time he was “doing coke every day ... I couldn’t control it.”

Odom and Kardashian were separated at the time of his overdose. They reunited after the incident, but split again last year.

Odom said he didn’t touch cocaine until he was 24 years old, when he was on vacation in Miami.

“If I knew that it was going to affect my life the way it did,” he wrote, “I would’ve never even thought about it.”

But the drug became an escape from the feelings of loss he felt after the death of his mother from cancer, the death of his beloved grandmother and the death of his six-month-old son, Jayden, to sudden infant death syndrome.

He said he knew his increasingly reckless behavior was destroying both his personal and professional life.

Now he credits rehab and the support of his family with keeping him going.

“Even though my funeral would probably be a good funeral, and there’d probably be a lot of people who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. But it ain’t time for that yet. ... I still got my kids. I’m still here. And damn, I’m still pretty handsome.” AFP

Bad weather forces NCAA to reschedule games again

TNT KaTropa’s Kelly Williams elects to pass after his offensive lane was blocked by Kia’s Glenn Khobuntin in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game won by the Texters, 106-96.

Import’s triple-double keys TNT Katropa’s win

By Jeric Lopez

O

FF to a good start.

With its setback in last conference’s finals already behind, TNT KaTropa started its new campaign with a bang, taking down Kia, 10696, in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.

Michael Craig introduced himself to the league emphatically, showing the entire package by leading the Tropang Texters with a triple-double of 21 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.

“We didn’t really know what to expect,” said TNT coach Nash Racela. “We prioritized rest over practice. I know that’s not enough, but for sure it will help them.

The earlier we could learn to

play with each other specifically the import, the better for us.”

TNT started on a high note for a 1-0 card, while Kia remained winless, falling to 0-3 for the tournament.

It was actually a tight start for both teams until the Tropang Texters took control of the game slowly but surely.

A 19-5 run in the waning minutes of the second frame gave TNT KaTropa its first twin-digit lead at 51-41, before settling for a 53-44 lead at the half.

The Tropang Texters

(2-0) and Rain or Shine (1-1) at 5 p.m.

The scores: TNT 106—Craig 21, Rosario 18, Castro 16, Williams 11, Hernandez 8, Pogoy 8, Semerad 7, Tautuaa 7, De Ocampo 6, Carey 4, Garcia 0, Seigle 0, Tamsi 0.

KIA 96—Cummings 27, Celda 14, Revilla 8, Salva 8, Paniamogan 8, Corpuz 5, Elorde 5, Khobuntin 4, Galanza 4, Camson 4, Jaime 3, Nimes 3, Deutchman 3, Yee 0.

QUARTERS: 25-21, 5344, 79-71, 106-96.

Manila Softbelles edge Redlands to top pool

Games Tuesday

(Filoil Arena, San Juan) 8 a.m.- CSB vs LPU (jrs) 10 a.m.- AU vs Letran (jrs) 12 noon CSB vs LPU (srs) 2 p.m.- AU vs Letran (srs) 4 p.m.- Perpetual vs SSC (srs) 6 p.m- Perpetual vs SSC (jrs)

THE National Collegiate Athletic Association has postponed its 93rd basketball games for the second straight playdate due to bad weather.

League Management Committee chairman Fr. Glyn Ortega, OAR, made the announcement as early as Thursday night, the same time Metro Manila Mayors announced the suspension of classes caused by Typhoon Gorio.

“Due to bad weather and suspension of classes, and for the welfare of our students and supporters, NCAA games tomorrow (today) July 28 are cancelled,” said Ortega in a text message.

The day before, the league also postponed its NCAA on Tour at the San Sebastian Gym in Mendiola, Manila.

Ortega said postponed games will be tentatively rescheduled at the latter part of the first round of elimination.

Weather permitting, NCAA games will resume on Tuesday at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City with College of St. Benilde battling unbeaten solo leader Lyceum of the Philippines University, Arellano University facing off with Letran and Perpetual Help clashing with San Sebastian.

never looked back as they remained safely in the driver’s seat until finally securing the victory.

Markeith Cummings led all scorers with 27 points and seven rebounds in another losing cause for the Picanto.

Action continues today as Philippine and Commissioner’s Cup champion San Miguel Beer starts its quest for a Grand-slam.

The Beermen will make their tournament debut against Blackwater Elite at 3 p.m. in the same venue.

Following this is an explosive clash between Meralco

Nichole Padasas celebrates with members of Team Manila–Philippines after hitting a homerun in the final day of seeding in their 4-3 win over Redlands South California in the 2017 PONY International 18-U Girls Softball World Series at the Diamond Valley Park in Hemet, California USA. Norman Macasaet

HEMET, CALIFORNIA— Team Manila–Philippines nipped Redlands South California, 4–3, in a close and thrilling battle as the Californians gave their all in the final day of seeding for teams seeing action in the 2017 PONY International 18-U Girls Softball World Series at the sprawling Diamond Valley Park inside the Valley-Wide Recreation District here.

A run by 2nd baseman Nichole Padasas off an RBI by designated player Shaina Camacho put the Manila Softbelles in the lead, 1–0, early at the top of the first inning.

But starting pitcher Mery Ann Ramos, who was supposed to give standout pitcher Alma Tauli a welldeserved rest in preparation for the quarterfinal match today, Friday (Saturday in Manila), fell short and gave up two runs and a walk to

give Redlands the lead, 1–2, at the bottom of the third.

At the bottom of the second inning, head coach Anna Santiago called in to the mount Tauli, who in turn responded by delivering another impressive performance to lead the Manila batters on the top of the seeding phase with a 2–0 card.

Tauli, an incoming scholar of Adamson University and a native of Bulacan, had four strike outs and yielded just one run to Redlands in six innings to take control of the match for the Big City Softbelles, whose trip here is backed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. But it was Padasas, the 18-year old veteran from Adamson and member of Team Manila-Philippines to the 2015 Big League World Series, who silenced the Red-

lands crowd after blasting a huge homerun at the top of the third to even the score at 2-2.

A homerun by Redlands put them back on top, 2-3, at the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Manila Batters came back strong at the top of the sixth and were on full base courtesy of center fielder Christine Bautista, Camacho and left fielder Khrisha Cantor, capped by a run by Bautista off a pitching hit to even the score at 3-3, despite failing to capitalize on the opportunity, having three outs while on full base.

Then it was Padasas’ RBI which gave the Manila Batters again the lead, 4–3, with a run by Gabriel at the top of the seventh, while the Big City batters led by pitcher Tauli stood their ground with three brilliant defensive stops to seal the game, as well as the top seed in this World Series.

Volleyball coach likes what he sees in PH men’s team SUWON CITY, South Korea—Philippine national men’s volleyball team head coach Sammy Acaylar likes the improvement of his wards midway through their two-week training camp here.

After four tune-up matches, a daily grueling strength and endurance grind, as well as developing team chemistry in and off the court, Acaylar yesterday gave his team a satisfactory mark.

But the mentor knows there is still a lot of work to be done to whip is team into a strong medal contender in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia slated on Aug. 19 to 31.

“I’m happy that we are able to identify and address our weakness in service re-

ceive, blocking and floor coverage,” said Acaylar, the architect of the last PH squad to earn a podium spot in the biennial meet after steering the Nationals to a bronze medal finish in 1991.

The Nationals won a total of three sets in tune-up games against the Korean U-19 team, Korean Universiade U-23 squad and club team Hwasung City. Acaylar requested all of their tune-up games to be played for five sets regardless of the results of the frame to immerse his wards to high level of volleyball competition.

“Ang pinakaimportante lang doon ay every time we have a tune-up game ay nagi-improve sila. Nag-i-improve ang team natin. Nakikita ko na kahit galing kami sa

conditioning training tuwing umaga, they work and push themselves to improve,” Acaylar said.

“Nakikita nila kung saan sila nagkakamali and nakakatulong din sa atin ang mga Korean coaches para matuto tayo at ipakita sa atin kung saan pa tayo dapat mag-improve,” added Acaylar, whose team was sent by Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. to train in Korea with the help of FIVB and AVC council member Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara.

The Nationals, bannered by team captain John Vic De Guzman, top setter Geuel Asia, power-hitter Mark Alfafara and young gun Bryan Bagunas had its most impressive match against the Korean U-19 team last Monday.

Despite a huge disadvantage in height compared to the towering Korean youth team, which has an average height of 6-foot-5, the Filipinos won two of the five sets, 26-24, 17-25, 22-25, 25-22, 11-15, that caught the attention of head coach Park Wongil.

“I’m really impressed because your team is really better than what I expected,” said Wongil.

The Nationals played the U-19 team in a rematch last Wednesday but was blanked by the Koreans, 14-25, 16-25, 23-25, 25-27, 12-15, in a practice game where the Filipinos just the morning before received a huge blow after spiker Greg Dolor suffered an open wound, left pinky fracture during a blocking drill.

ABS-CBN, Ayala unit launching tent venue

B2

Business

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

B1

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

Water rates increase on weak peso

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

C

USTOMERS of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company Inc. will pay higher water rates this quarter after the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System approved the third quarter foreign currency differential adjustments of both companies.

The FCDA in the third quarter now stands at 3.92 percent of the P24.81 basic charge, or P0.98 per cubic meter, up from the previous quarter’s P0.69 per cubic meter.

The adjusted rates will be effective on August 13. The peso

closed Friday at 50.57 against the US dollar.

Manila Water customers who are consuming 10 cubic meters per month or less are exempt from the adjustment and will continue to pay just P79.81 a month.

For regular customers consuming 10 cubic meters, their monthly bill will increase by P1.46.

Those consuming 20 cubic meters per month will have an increase of P3.24 while those consuming 30 cubic meters per month will pay an additional P6.61.

Manila Water customers classified as semi-business and consuming 10 cubic meters per month or less are expected to have an increase on their monthly bills of P1.46, while the monthly bills of those consuming 20 cubic meters per month and 30 cubic meters per month will go up by P4.44 and P8.11, respectively.

Meanwhile, the MWSS approved

the FCDA of Maynilad equivalent to P0.27 per cubic meter, or 0.80 percent of the average basic charge of P34.51 per cubic meter.

The impact of the FCDA on the monthly bills of residential customers is of P0.13 for those consuming 10 cubic meters per month or less; P0.48 for those consuming 20 cubic meters per month; and P 0.99 for those consuming 30 cubic meters a month.

The MWSS in 1997 signed concession agreements with Manila Water for the East Service Area and Maynilad for the West Service Area.

An amendment to the concession agreements of Manila Water and

Maynilad with MWSS provides the FCDA as a tariff mechanism to recover or compensate for fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.

A three-man arbitral tribunal early this week unanimously upheld Maynilad’s claim against the government and ordered the state to pay P3.42 billion for delayed tariff increases from March 11, 2015 to August 31, 2016.

Maynilad said the tribunal, in a decision dated July 24, upheld the validity of its claim against the undertaking letter issued by Finance Department to compensate the company for the delayed implementation of tariffs for the rebasing period 2013 to 2017.

Policy stance to stay, says Espenilla

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said there is no need to change the current policy stance at the moment, adding monetary authorities should not move in sync with the US Federal Reserve.

Espenilla said at the sidelines of an event in Makati the US Fed was trying to decide the pace and timing of its policy normalization.

“They have articulated that they are going to normalize but you know, as weeks pass, they themselves are changing. That is really what data is telling them. It is no longer as clear as what it used to be. This is why, to my mind. [it is] premature to react to weekly and daily events,” Espenilla said.

The Fed in the middle of this week left the prevailing rates unchanged. After a two-day policy meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee came out with a statement hinting a rate hike might happen in September.

“The committee expects to begin implementing its balance sheet normalization program relatively soon, provided that the economy evolves broadly as anticipated,” the post-meeting statement read.

DBS Bank of Singapore said if the US economy continued to grow and added jobs as expected, “our guess is the Fed will pass on an interest rate hike in September but resume normalization in December and hike once-per-quarter in 2018.”

On June 22, the policy-making Monetary Board of Bangko Sentral kept the benchmark interest rates steady on lower inflation and expected robust domestic economic growth.

The interest rates of 3.5 percent for overnight lending, 3 percent for overnight borrowing, and 2.5 percent for deposit facilities were maintained. The MB also kept the reserve requirement ratios.

MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. is hoping the Senate will support the Congress version of the proposed automotive tax reform bill that will keep prices of vehicles at competitive rates.

Company vice president for marketing Froilan Dytianquin said the Congress version was reasonable and progressive and limited the excise tax increase to a final 4 percent by 2019.

“If we’re looking at the Congress version, it’s additional 1 percent in 2018 and another 1 percent increase in 2019. This is okay for us than the previous proposal which is very high,” he said at the welcome ceremonies for new Mitsubishi president Mutsuhiro Oshikiri held Thursday at Solaire Resort and Entertainment in Pasay City.

The 4 percent excise tax will cover the small cars category. Automotive taxes on small cars when

Qualimed opens Sta. Rosa hospital QUALIMED Hospital, the joint venture of Ayala Land Inc. and the Mercado General Hospital Inc., on Friday opened a 102-bed general hospital in Sta, Rosa Laguna, the group’s newest facility in Southern Luzon.

Qualimed said in statement the general hospital was offering comprehensive in-patient and outpatient healthcare services aimed at providing holistic wellness and healing to patients.

Located within Ayala Land’s mixed-use township development Nuvali, QualiMed Hospital will cater to the needs of the general public and makes its services more accessible to the broad mass market.

“Our estates are planned and continuously enhanced with diverse developments that address the different needs of the market, and health care is an important aspect that QualiMed has effectively delivered in our estates in Iloilo, Bulacan, and within our commercial developments,” said Ayala Land president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy. Jenniffer B. Austria

Two Metro bridges get Chinese funding

NEW MITSUBISHI BOSS. Outgoing Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. president and chief executive officer Yoshiaki Kato (right) congratulates incoming president and CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri in turnover rites Thursday night at Solaire Resorts and Casino in Parañaque City.

Ey Acasio

Piñol starts DA shake-up, fires 9 in plant bureau NINE officers of the Bureau of Plant Industry will be relieved from their post while BPI officer-in-charge Vivencio Mamaril will be transferred to an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture effective next month, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Friday.

“Effective August 1, there will be a major overhaul in the BPI. This is the outcome of the recent controversy involving inaccurate listing of importers and suspicions of connivance between some BPI-National Plant Quarantine Services Division officials and importers,” said Piñol during the sidelines of the launching of the TienDA Farmers and Fishermen’s Outlet.

Piñol said Mamaril would be returned to his old assignment at the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Product Standards.

The DA chief, however, clarified that Mamaril’s transfer had nothing to do with the issue of corruption.

“In the case of Mamaril, I absolved him from any corruption.

I respect the man and explained my decision. This is not an issue of corruption, this is being familiar with the people working it,” Piñol said.

“You have to understand that director Mamaril is a gentle spirit and when faced with people who I believed are veterans in this kind of operations, I don’t think he can really crack the whip,” he

added.

Piñol said Mamaril would be replaced by Regional Technical Director of Davao George Culaste.

“The last straw was when I discovered, in spite of the absence of import permits for Chinese carrots in Tanauan City, during an inspection in the farmers market. For me I don’t want this department to be a laughing stock, I want people to understand they may succeed smuggling once, twice but they cannot do it blatantly,” said Piñol.

He hinted of other shakeups in the DA. “I expect a total revamp of the quarantine office to just be the start. There will be other shakeups in the offices of DA. One

year after I succeed office, I believe I have already determined what should be done so that there will be no corruption in this department,” said Piñol He said he was looking at the efficiency of the procurement agency of the Office of the Secretary, general services, Agricultural Training Institute and Bureau of Animal Industry.

“When the procurement office is slow, it slow downs the operations of the whole agency Even the procurement of materials is slow, the delivery of services will also be slow. The procurement office must keep up with the pace of the implementing bodies,” said Piñol.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Mitsubishi executive favors 4% excise tax

By Othel V. Campos

IN BRIEF

the proposed tax reform takes effect will be between P7,000 and P10,000 for the first phase in 2018 and another P7,000 to P10,000 in 2019.

The excise tax on small automobiles is currently at 2 percent.

Mitsubishi started selling the Mirage G4 or the sedan-type in April 2017. Production of the Mirage Hatchback would follow soon, said Dytianquin.

Total production of locally-manufactured Mitsubishi vehicles stood at 42,000 in 2017, with Mirage accounting for 21,000. The rest are Adventure and L300 units.

Dytianquin said the company was maintaining the current price points for both Mirage G4 and hatchback.

Starting 2018, the company will be expanding production of the Mirage to 44,000 units based on its commitment to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program of the Trade Department.

THE Department of Public Works and Highways said it secured a $70-million assistance from the Chinese government to finance the construction of two bridges in Metro Manila.

“The Chinese government gave us a grant worth $70 million to create two bridges in Metro Manila,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar told reporters.

Villar said the grant would cover the design and construction of the bridges while the DPWH would be responsible for the acquisition of its road rightof-way.

The construction of stateof-the-art Binondo-Intramuros amounts to P4.61 billion, while the Estrella-Pantelon Bridges in Makati is worth P1.37 billion.

Villar said the two projects would be completed before the end of the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PSALM allowed to recover P21.47b THE Energy Regulatory Commission allowed Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. to recover cost adjustments on fuel, purchased power and foreign exchangerelated costs incurred in the operation of its power plants from 2007 to 2014 in the amount of P21.47 billion.

“The infusion of P21.47 billion approved cost recoveries spanning five years will in part address funding requirements for the servicing of PSALM’s maturing debts, which is fitting considering that costs being recovered were funded from financial obligations during the said test periods,” PSALM said.

The ERC, in two separate orders dated June 20, allowed PSALM to recover the incurred costs in the total amount of P21.47 billion.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, July 28, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE

DBP-BCDA PARTNERSHIP. Development Bank of the Philippines president and chief executive

officer Cecilia Borromeo (second from right), DBP chairman Alberto Romulo (center) and Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon (second from left) shake hands after signing an agreement to strengthen their partnership in support of the Duterte administration’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program. With them are DBP senior vice president Jose Gabino Dimayuga (left) and BCDA vice president and chief finance officer Nena Radoc. DBP will serve as BCDA’s financial advisor and funding arranger, assisting BCDA in evaluating and preparing projects for implementation.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.5460

Japan

Yen

0.008991

0.4545

UK

Pound

1.306700

66.0485

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128052

6.4725

Switzerland

Franc

1.036484

52.3901

Canada

Dollar

0.796749

40.2725

Singapore

Dollar

0.735835

37.1935

Australia

Dollar

0.796300

40.2498

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653998

134.1490

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

13.4797

Brunei

Dollar

0.733138

37.0572

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.030030

1.5179

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.7623

Euro

Euro

1.167800

59.0276

Korea

Won

0.000896

0.0453

China

Yuan

0.148348

7.4984

India

Rupee

0.015598

0.7884

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233863

11.8208

New Zealand

Dollar

0.748900

37.8539

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033067

1.6714 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market extends gains T HE stock market extended its gains Friday above 8,000 points, tracking another Dow Jones record overnight.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 25.69 points, or 0.3 percent, to 8,071.47 on a value turnover of P6.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 119 to 88, with 42 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender by assets, rose 1.7 percent to P125, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fast-food chain, climbed 1.4 percent to P222.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei advanced 1.9 percent to P79.95, while DMCI Holdings Inc. added 1.1 percent to P16.02.

The rest of Asian markets, meanwhile, tumbled Friday to end two days of gains as a US tech sell-off spread to the region, adding to concerns over a host of corporate results.

Despite yet another Dow Jones record Thursday, Tokyo closed down 0.6 per cent, Hong Kong was drifting lower in afternoon trade and Seoul and Sydney both ended the day losing more than one percent.

Chinese internet giant Tencent and South Korean conglomerate Samsung Electronics were among the big tech losers in Asia.

The gloom spread to Europe with London also opening down and Shanghai the only major Asian bourse to eke out modest gains.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq’s streak of all-time high closes ended Thursday with Apple, Google-parent Alphabet and Netflix shares all slumping at least 1.5 percent.

Investors were also spooked after internet colossus Amazon reported its profit shrank despite surging sales as it poured money into growth, with its shares slipping three percent.

“With Amazon’s earnings falling short of estimates, the US market may readjust its expectations,” said Hideyuki Ishiguro, a senior strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo.

“Investors are becoming increasingly wary over the historically low volatility levels, with a host of key economic data coming out in the US.” The dollar, which had fallen sharply on Wednesday after a Federal Reserve policy statement highlighted a tepid inflation outlook, again lost ground against its major

peers after staging a modest recovery on data showing US durable goods orders climbed more than expected.

Thursday figures also showed the US goods trade deficit fell, fueling hopes of solid US growth data later in the day, with consumer spending, manufacturing and service-sector data due next week.

The Dow closed at its second straight record following strong earnings from Verizon, Procter & Gamble and Boeing, with the blue chip index tracking increasing optimism over the state of the world economy.

Asian investors largely discounted a raft of Japanese economic data, which showed household spending rose after 15 months of declines while inflation stayed tepid.

Oil took a breather in Asian trade Friday after rising for four straight days on receding US crude inventories, although prices were pegged by lingering concerns about an oversupply.

Dongyul Lim, senior sales trader at CMC Markets in Singapore, said: “The US could continue to increase oil production at any time, and rises in oil prices could be subdued if there is no clarity over future US output growth.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.8 8,000 59.85 17,090 107.4 553,250 125 2,686,250 1.35 70,000 36.5 293,600 10 2,000 16.06 6,200 32.2 379,900 0.67 10,000 1.68 34,000 960 100 0.69 1,248,000 86.15 1,454,590 0.82 169,000 16.1 34,900 67 808,100 239.8 2,420 113 340 90 3,500 57.05 31,940 233.6 675,680 1,700 100 86.3 42,560 1.4 264,000

30,430 1,022,097.50 59,524,507 334,682,486 94,640 10,724,330 20,000 99,542 12,208,650 6,700 57,560 95,940 860,520 125,816,539 139,530 558,870 54,478,017 581,338 38,420 315,000 1,825,460 158,236,418 170,000 3,672,961 366,690

663,850 28,570,552 183,345,467 5,710,180.00 -1,958,140.00 -62,733,545.50 4,770 -2,846,627 11,990 -199,800 803,300 73,356,844 -17,270 -

38.8 8.77 0.83 1.42 30.05 0.26 171.1 5.95 18.54 30.7 15 74 1.96 5.35 11.52 12.3 14.86 12.32 7.3 5.86 17.5 65.9 12.5 13.9 1.84 217 61.9 3.87 3.4 21.2 32 19.8 18.1 277 0.241 9.5 3.17 7.8 9.41 7.01 10.2 1.9 11.8 66.05 6.65 308 4.42 4.1 2.65 13.16 4.85 0.145 1.34 158 2.09 1.03

INDUSTRIAL 38.8 1,036,500 8.85 942,900 0.85 1,648,000 1.42 158,000 30.2 4,800 0.265 2,550,000 185 970 6.01 31,626,700 18.54 5,411,000 32 890,000 15 10,300 74 15,130 1.97 72,000 5.36 800 11.52 31,300 12.3 974,300 14.92 4,877,000 13.08 4,707,800 7.45 2,258,800 5.96 8,329,400 17.62 1,818,100 66 128,230 12.88 1,182,600 13.92 622,200 1.86 212,000 222 897,920 61.9 530 3.9 161,000 3.55 9,000 22.25 700 32.05 16,700 19.96 210,500 18.18 4,048,300 280 639,520 0.245 410,000 9.6 6,100 3.19 3,229,000 7.88 793,000 9.41 3,684,300 7.18 233,300 10.36 53,900 1.92 1,802,000 12.1 902,600 66.35 686,950 6.67 452,000 308 8,260 4.5 206,000 4.1 66,000 2.69 1,364,000 13.24 873,800 5.1 268,200 0.145 240,000 1.36 86,000 160 1,099,020 2.13 7,980,000 1.03 89,000

40,571,815 8,323,502 1,398,360 224,590 144,495 676,500 187,924 190,859,780 100,999,706 28,376,640 154,722 1,119,620 142,100 4,285 360,724 11,983,904 72,710,068 59,740,990 16,738,973 49,639,056 32,188,578 8,465,878 15,534,072 8,738,922 392,700 198,226,650 32,852 627,480 30,830 15,050 538,605 4,199,876 73,444,310 179,849,378 99,670 58,040 10,283,330 6,298,072 34,845,565 1,670,003 549,854 3,456,540 10,856,258 45,516,137 3,076,575 2,544,080 926,740 271,520 3,663,480 11,569,492 1,317,103 35,120 115,850 175,268,545 17,116,410 92,040

-18,791,325 -1,094,279 3,400 190,800 -41,638,239 1,311,620 -2,930,180 890,220 4,201,682 7,383,108 -12,522,606 -6,247,271 11,311,641 -10,598,380.00 -4,079,951 772,658 -811,954 76,088,612 229,815.00 3,331,040 -16,476,558 59,639,498 201,650 39,250 -448,579 230,200 -155,808 3,039,447 688,718 -483,560 -751,460 153,400 3,674,250 371,675 30,770 -21,179,977 -188,750 -

0.405 75.6 14.5 1.15 7.05 0.33 0.33 902 7.84 16.1 7.62 0.235 1,257 8.42 79.95 4.68 1.02 6.88 18.32 0.5 6.87 3.23 0.049 1.04 2.15 101.8 2.78 807.5 0.87 1.6 304.8 0.242 0.242

0.38 73.1 14.28 1.12 6.95 0.32 0.33 887 7.72 15.9 7.6 0.226 1,241 8.32 78 4.65 0.99 6.76 18.08 0.45 6.8 3.23 0.048 1 2.11 100.5 2.7 793 0.87 1.56 301.6 0.228 0.235

HOLDING FIRMS 0.4 41,960,000 74.8 718,710 14.3 4,007,400 1.15 253,000 7.05 34,200 0.325 7,100,000 0.33 920,000 888 370,000 7.77 318,100 16.02 17,846,000 7.6 10,900 0.227 2,100,000 1,242 70,200 8.35 4,000 79.95 1,626,910 4.65 4,000 1 363,000 6.81 2,464,400 18.1 4,309,800 0.47 2,790,000 6.81 14,695,000 3.23 11,000 0.049 12,700,000 1 211,000 2.15 356,000 101.7 57,950 2.7 31,000 805 342,340 0.87 5,000 1.59 848,000 304.8 11,140 0.23 1,460,000 0.239 7,140,000

16,647,600 53,731,952 57,490,348 284,680 241,047 2,272,650 303,600 331,475,715 2,469,499 285,465,008 82,958 480,160 87,453,025 33,400 128,469,234.50 18,660 363,820 16,777,870 78,259,372 1,329,900 100,321,703 35,530 615,500 211,320 755,690 5,883,733 84,410 275,269,925 4,350 1,335,560 3,386,482 339,360 1,707,590

-59,500 -22,551,762 515,872 34,861,470 268,464 156,068,488 34,421,155 7,314,601 -1,322,302 -6,397,050 -494,750 42,606,905 24,000 1,594,925 15,498,470 428,560 -879,716 -1,419,180

5.95 1.45 6.04 2.37 1.08 43.9 3.8 4.9 5.35 0.56 1.24 1.55 0.192 0.51 45.8 0.74 0.172 1.84 1.55 1.07 5.05 0.355 0.61 0.59

5.88 1.4 6.04 2.31 1.05 42.85 3.71 4.67 5.3 0.54 1.19 1.51 0.188 0.51 45.5 0.72 0.165 1.79 1.42 1.03 4.94 0.34 0.53 0.58

PROPERTY 5.89 153,100 1.45 2,360,000 6.04 1,100 2.31 50,000 1.06 2,586,000 43 9,408,000 3.79 2,965,000 4.69 5,522,000 5.35 70,200 0.54 26,878,000 1.2 496,000 1.52 143,000 0.191 1,740,000 0.51 1,159,000 45.7 304,200 0.74 493,000 0.17 3,550,000 1.83 10,478,000 1.54 21,153,000 1.05 830,000 4.94 30,372,000 0.34 38,480,000 0.61 34,030,000 0.58 3,596,000

901,982 3,381,950 6,644 115,580 2,752,480 405,446,470 11,213,570 26,418,720 374,909 14,625,690 596,360 218,780 328,230 591,090 13,906,070 356,020 593,180 19,020,800 31,689,970 876,300 150,791,430 13,349,000 19,694,680 2,088,360

-329,203 -42,050 -64,125,265 -513,840 4,232,080 -1,695,700 28,050 251,740 -2,022,890 8,202,510 -53,500 20,550,580 69,000 87,950.00 11,600

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 3.81 ASIA UNITED 59.85 BANK PH ISLANDS 108.5 BDO UNIBANK 122.9 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.35 CHINABANK 36.55 CITYSTATE BANK 10 COL FINANCIAL 16.06 EAST WEST BANK 32.1 FIRST ABACUS 0.67 IREMIT 1.68 MANULIFE 955 MEDCO HLDG 0.69 METROBANK 86.95 NTL REINSURANCE 0.84 PB BANK 16.1 PHIL NATL BANK 67.5 PHIL STOCK EXCH 242 PHILTRUST 113 PSBANK 90 RCBC 57.85 SECURITY BANK 232 SUN LIFE 1,700 UNION BANK 86.35 VANTAGE 1.45

3.81 59.85 108.5 125 1.37 36.55 10 16.1 32.3 0.67 1.75 979 0.7 86.95 0.84 16.1 68 242 113 90 57.85 238.2 1,700 86.35 1.45

3.8 59.4 107 122.8 1.35 36.5 10 16.04 32 0.67 1.68 955 0.68 86.15 0.82 15.9 67 239.8 113 90 57 230.6 1,700 86 1.37

ABOITIZ POWER 40 AGRINURTURE 8.85 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.85 ALSONS CONS 1.43 ASIABEST GROUP 30.25 BASIC ENERGY 0.265 BOGO MEDELLIN 199 CEMEX HLDG 6.3 CENTURY FOOD 18.72 CIRTEK HLDG 31.6 CNTRL AZUCARERA15.44 CONCEPCION 74 CROWN ASIA 1.99 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.35 DEL MONTE 11.54 DNL INDUS 12.3 EAGLE CEMENT 14.98 EEI CORP 12.66 EMPERADOR 7.57 ENERGY DEVT 5.9 FIRST GEN 17.9 FIRST PHIL HLDG 66.35 HOLCIM 13.4 INTEGRATED MICR 14.28 IONICS 1.85 JOLLIBEE 218 LIBERTY FLOUR 62 LMG CHEMICALS 3.9 MABUHAY VINYL 3.42 MACAY HLDG 21.2 MANILA WATER 32.4 MAXS GROUP 20 MEGAWIDE 18.14 MERALCO 283 MG HLDG 0.243 PANASONIC 9.8 PEPSI COLA 3.19 PETROENERGY 8.16 PETRON 9.52 PHIL H2O 7.19 PHINMA 10.2 PHINMA ENERGY 1.94 PHX PETROLEUM 12.1 PILIPINAS SHELL 66.05 PRYCE CORP 6.65 PUREFOODS 308 RFM CORP 4.5 ROXAS HLDG 4.2 SFA SEMICON 2.7 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.16 SPC POWER 5 SWIFT FOODS 0.147 TKC METALS 1.34 UNIV ROBINA 160 VITARICH 2.11 VULCAN INDL 1.05

40 8.89 0.86 1.43 30.3 0.27 199 6.3 18.72 32.25 15.44 74 1.99 5.36 11.58 12.32 14.98 13.08 7.6 5.98 17.9 66.6 13.4 14.28 1.86 222 63 3.9 3.55 22.25 32.45 20 18.2 283.8 0.249 9.8 3.23 8.16 9.56 7.2 10.36 1.94 12.3 66.4 6.9 308 4.5 4.2 2.71 13.32 5.1 0.147 1.36 160 2.16 1.06

ABACORE CAPITAL 0.38 ABOITIZ EQUITY 75.6 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 14.36 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 1.13 ANSCOR 6.95 ATN HLDG A 0.32 ATN HLDG B 0.33 AYALA CORP 890 COSCO CAPITAL 7.75 DMCI HLDG 15.96 FILINVEST DEV 7.62 FORUM PACIFIC 0.232 GT CAPITAL 1,257 HOUSE OF INV 8.42 JG SUMMIT 78.5 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 4.68 LODESTAR 1.01 LOPEZ HLDG 6.87 LT GROUP 18.3 MABUHAY HLDG 0.455 METRO PAC INV 6.86 MJC INVESTMENTS 3.23 PACIFICA 0.048 PRIME MEDIA 1.01 PRIME ORION 2.13 SAN MIGUEL CORP 100.5 SEAFRONT RES 2.72 SM INVESTMENTS 800 SOC RESOURCES 0.87 SOLID GROUP 1.58 TOP FRONTIER 303.6 WELLEX INDUS 0.234 ZEUS HLDG 0.242 8990 HLDG 5.9 A BROWN 1.43 ANCHOR LAND 6.04 ARANETA PROP 2.37 ARTHALAND CORP 1.07 AYALA LAND 43.7 BELLE CORP 3.71 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.76 CEBU HLDG 5.34 CENTURY PROP 0.55 CITY AND LAND 1.19 CITYLAND DEVT 1.51 CROWN EQUITIES 0.192 CYBER BAY 0.51 DOUBLEDRAGON 45.5 EMPIRE EAST 0.72 EVER GOTESCO 0.169 FILINVEST LAND 1.84 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.43 IRC PROP 1.03 MEGAWORLD 4.94 MRC ALLIED 0.35 PHIL ESTATES 0.55 PHIL REALTY 0.58

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PRIMEX CORP 4.68 PTFC REDEV CORP 30.2 ROBINSONS LAND 25.3 ROCKWELL 1.78 SHANG PROP 3.24 SM PRIME HLDG 34.95 STA LUCIA LAND 1 STARMALLS 6.58 SUNTRUST HOME 0.89 VISTA LAND 5.98

4.77 30.2 25.45 1.78 3.24 35 1.02 7.35 0.89 5.99

4.65 30.2 25.15 1.77 3.24 34.65 1 6.58 0.88 5.9

4.71 30.2 25.45 1.78 3.24 35 1.02 7.35 0.88 5.99

787,000 200 1,735,600 140,000 3,000 7,550,500 1,149,000 3,100 240,000 2,051,100

3,699,880 6,040 44,055,225 249,100 9,720 263,894,025 1,158,530 21,946 212,940 12,226,760

848,080 24,966,250 20,100,180 -1,974 1,089,107

2GO GROUP 22.7 ABS CBN 43.05 ACESITE HOTEL 1.85 APC GROUP 0.57 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.043 BERJAYA 5.3 BLOOMBERRY 9.2 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.078 CEBU AIR 97.6 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.65 DFNN INC 10.98 FAR EASTERN U 990 GLOBE TELECOM 2,090 GMA NETWORK 6.27 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.2 GRAND PLAZA 13.2 HARBOR STAR 2.91 IMPERIAL 3.33 INTL CONTAINER 107.5 IPM HLDG 8.6 ISLAND INFO 0.175 ISM COMM 1.37 JACKSTONES 3.13 LBC EXPRESS 15.96 LEISURE AND RES 4.78 LORENZO SHIPPNG 2.05 MACROASIA 11 MANILA BULLETIN 0.56 MANILA JOCKEY 2.25 MELCO RESORTS 9.06 METRO RETAIL 4.05 NOW CORP 2.32 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.46 PAL HLDG 5.2 PHIL SEVEN CORP 177.8 PHILWEB 9.71 PLDT 1,710 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.64 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.42 PUREGOLD 47.2 ROBINSONS RTL 87.1 SBS PHIL CORP 6.06 SSI GROUP 4.6 STI HLDG 1.5 TRANSPACIFIC BR 1.85 TRAVELLERS 3.55 WATERFRONT 1.14 WILCON DEPOT 8.99

23 43.05 1.85 0.64 0.043 5.3 9.45 0.08 99.5 9.87 11.16 990 2,130 6.27 15.78 13.2 2.91 3.48 108.6 8.6 0.177 1.37 3.29 15.96 4.95 2.1 11.2 0.6 2.3 9.36 4.09 2.4 11.48 5.26 177.8 9.81 1,710 1.65 0.425 47.35 87.1 6.19 4.66 1.51 1.95 3.56 1.2 9.13

22.7 42.85 1.72 0.57 0.043 5.3 9.08 0.078 97.15 9.65 10.58 990 2,060 6.21 15.2 13.12 2.85 3.3 107.5 8.5 0.172 1.35 3.13 15.96 4.77 1.89 10.74 0.56 2.25 8.75 3.95 2.32 11.46 5.2 170 9.68 1,693 1.6 0.41 47 86.6 6.06 4.48 1.48 1.84 3.47 1.11 8.95

SERVICES 23 86,000 43 10,900 1.75 46,000 0.62 36,708,000 0.043 9,300,000 5.3 1,400 9.11 32,583,700 0.08 2,930,000 99.4 440,160 9.87 9,000 10.64 749,200 990 40 2,126 9,840 6.22 48,400 15.78 53,700 13.12 500 2.89 1,447,000 3.46 66,000 107.9 1,236,380 8.6 357,100 0.175 13,340,000 1.36 441,000 3.29 26,000 15.96 400 4.85 608,000 1.9 3,244,000 11 1,809,400 0.57 231,000 2.3 13,000 9.12 10,821,900 3.99 4,037,000 2.36 801,000 11.46 19,600 5.2 3,300 172 650 9.8 529,900 1,700 69,340 1.62 23,457,000 0.425 4,770,000 47.2 1,272,900 86.95 1,093,160 6.09 1,646,600 4.63 14,008,000 1.49 8,216,000 1.94 18,000 3.47 200,000 1.19 27,194,000 9 6,205,300

1,967,510 468,565 83,480 22,742,600 399,900 7,420 297,571,730 231,860 43,342,751.50 88,808 8,157,874 39,600 20,755,020 301,668 833,226 6,584 4,156,510 220,990 133,535,145 3,064,690 2,317,030 598,150 82,010 6,384 2,959,640 6,399,840 19,872,362 131,550 29,310 98,695,745 16,165,930 1,895,710 224,716 17,316 112,461 5,174,380 117,830,245 38,325,900 1,987,450 60,039,020 95,056,774.50 10,149,522 64,392,340 12,270,480 33,480 708,170 31,166,580 55,910,583

34,350 -650,740 -16,469,958 12,637,675 2,196 8,552,350 59,054,421 24,100 -949,730 3,006,752 -13,601,318 -1,704,470 -977,035 23,081,410 -2,435,790 31,386,430 -10,589,438.50 2,142,620 3,468,740 -24,550 131,300 16,847,777

542,500 3,552,500 255,113 1,473,380 96,350 115,754 5,120,850 312,550 70,400 75,200 123,900 1,200 128,830 13,909,264 7,740 324,770 293,220 1,383,600 661,100 255,800 68,770 17,718,389 18,067,700 100,665,642 66,000

-223,300 31,422 2,590 75,200 4,907,255 -23,200 240,000 5,054,828 -2,922,700 -25,107,989 -

NAME

OPEN

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

0.0029 1.61 5.11 1.15 0.385 8.63 2.58 0.3 0.184 0.188 0.011 0.012 1.9 6 1.96 0.62 1.12 0.011 0.011 0.013 2.59 8.98 3.55 174 0.0083

0.003 1.61 5.28 1.21 0.395 8.65 2.61 0.31 0.184 0.188 0.011 0.012 1.9 6 1.96 0.62 1.15 0.011 0.012 0.013 2.59 9 3.6 175.4 0.0083

0.0029 1.55 5.11 1.15 0.385 8.41 2.55 0.3 0.18 0.188 0.01 0.012 1.89 5.96 1.91 0.61 1.08 0.01 0.011 0.012 2.51 8.76 3.36 172 0.0082

MINING & OIL 0.003 187,000,000 1.6 2,242,000 5.16 49,000 1.18 1,263,000 0.395 250,000 8.59 13,500 2.59 1,975,000 0.3 1,040,000 0.18 390,000 0.188 400,000 0.011 11,400,000 0.012 100,000 1.89 68,000 5.98 2,323,800 1.94 4,000 0.62 530,000 1.12 268,000 0.01 138,300,000 0.012 59,200,000 0.012 21,300,000 2.52 27,000 8.76 2,009,500 3.45 5,232,000 172.8 580,990 0.0082 8,000,000

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

42.5 516 515 106 105 112 114.8 525 6.05 1,024 1.05 1,036 1,101 1,015 105.4 113.5 76.4 77 78.05 81 78.95 78.75 79.5

42.5 516 520 107 105 112 114.8 525 6.05 1,024 1.05 1,036 1,101 1,018 105.4 113.5 76.4 77 79.1 81 78.95 78.75 79.95

42.5 516 515 106 105 112 114.8 525 6.04 1,024 1.05 1,036 1,101 1,012 105.4 113.5 76.4 77 78 81 78.9 78.5 79.5

PREFERRED 42.5 200 516 13,650 515 740 107 14,210 105 179,030 112 13,840 114.8 330 525 60 6.05 2,552,400 1,024 4,510 1.05 62,000 1,036 5 1,101 50 1,018 2,040 105.4 19,120 113.5 430 76.4 930 77 170 79.1 147,290 81 2,160 78.9 1,200 78.5 133,400 79.95 37,520

8,500 7,043,400 381,600 1,519,460 18,798,150 1,550,080 37,884 31,500 15,441,920 4,618,240 65,100 5,180 55,050 2,065,640 2,015,248 48,805 71,052 13,090 11,507,689 174,960 94,730 10,478,500 2,998,469

10,493,700 -246,335 -

LR WARRANT

2.9

2.99

2.83

WARRANTS 2.86 573,000

1,670,650

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.88 5.79 7.65

3.9 5.79 7.7

3.86 5.5 7.51

SME 3.88 5.77 7.51

193,940 307,821 16,790,004

-1,690,323

122

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121.3 122 2,320

282,842

2,436

FIRST METRO ETF 121.9

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,183,299

INDUSTRIAL

103,786,426

HOLDING FIRMS

125,677,346

PROPERTY

210,697,465

SERVICES

213,463,663

MINING & OIL

444,038,513

GRAND TOTAL

1,110,168,375

50,000 55,700 2,213,600

VALUE 1,974.53 (up) 13.31 936,649,634.56 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,124.58 (down) 33.19 1,497,348,275.42 HOLDING FIRMS 8,027.76 (up) 15.98 1,514,885,811.57 PROPERTY 3,846.07 (up) 8.64 SERVICES 1,707.08 (up) 10.91 1,065,291,366.815 MINING & OIL 12,936.21 (down) 113.36 1,225,031,777.85 PSEI 8,071.47 (up) 25.69 165,302,308.289 All Shares Index 4,790.60 (up) 9.02 6,422,084,333.55 Gainers: 119; Losers: 88; Unchanged: 42; Total: 242

ABS-CBN, Ayala unit launching tent venue

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp. has teamed up with Ayala Malls to launch a tent venue in the newly-opened Ayala Malls Vertis complex in Quezon City.

ABS-CBN Vertis Tent will be available for special events, live shows, product launches, exhibits and concerts within the fourth quarter of 2017.

The tent will have a a seating capacity of 1,200 people.

ABS-CBN head of business development Paolo Pineda welcomed the new venture with Ayala Malls, which has been a partner of ABS-CBN in bringing its content and stars closer to the public.

“Ayala Malls has been one of our strongest partners for our events, programs and movies.

Our events in selected Ayala Malls have always generated thousands of attendees,” Pineda said.

“Last year, we also signed a lease agreement with Trinoma, an Ayala Mall, for our first ever experience store. This tent is another first for ABS-CBN, thus strengthening our partnership even more,” he added.

The Ayala Malls Group also welcomed the new project with ABS-CBN. “We are pleased to be able to provide the Filipino consumers a place to meet their favorite stars and celebrities. The ABSCBN Vertis Tent will also be open to private functions for individuals who need a big venue north of Metro Manila,” Rowena Tomeldan, president of AyalaLand Malls Inc. said.

“We are excited to be a part of wonderful memories created by this new venue,” she said.

The country’s largest media and entertainment company earlier reported a net profit of P314 million in the January-toMarch period, down 59 percent from P761 million year-onyear.

MPIC gets high ranking METRO Pacific Investments Corp. made it to IR Magazine’s 2017 Global Top 50 IR Excellence Ranking.

MPIC is one of only two companies from Southeast Asia and the only one from the Philippines included in the prestigious list. The other regional winner is Kasikorn Bank of Thailand.

The global ranking is based on surveys of investors and analysts conducted by IR Magazine. These include the winning companies and best runners-up in the regional awards, as voted by the investment community.

Individual ranking are based on total points received across all categories, divided by the number of survey respondents and multiplied by the region’s market cap.

“We are gratified by our inclusion in the IR Excellence Rankings, and laud its impact on MPIC and the financial community as a whole,” said MPIC chief financial officer David Nicol. “I commend the diligent work and dedication of the IR team to achieve this recognition.”

“Our inclusion in this ranking is a testament to MPIC’s commitment to transparency and accessibility. Our main goal has always been to keep a two-way communication going between our investors and senior management.” added MPIC assistant vice president for investor relations Maricris Aldover-Ysmael.

IR Magazine vver the last 12 months held awards ceremonies in Europe, Brazil, Canada, US, Greater China and South East Asia.

The order of the top 20 will be revealed at the magazine’s Global Forum, a two-day conference bringing together companies from around the world, on October 3 to 4 in Paris, France. The event also brings together investor relations professionals to network and learn IR best practices.

Home / Design

B3

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COOL FOR SCHOOL. More private schools and institutions of higher learning have been putting air-conditioning units in their classrooms in the last decade. A no-brainer given given the hotter temperatures and more congested urban environments. But do you know that classroom temperatures impact greatly on a student’s performance in school? For school and university buildings, the Toshiba super modular multi-system evolution (SMMS-e) seems just what the doctor ordered.

The SMMS-e features a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated 2-stage vane, a wide range compressor, slim heat exchanger, a dual split heat exchanger, and four-way heat exchanger, which result in greater energy efficiency and performance. “Schools can rely on the SMMS-e as it features an intelligent variable refrigerant flow (VRF) control that automatically adjusts the room temperature,” said Rajan Komarasu, group director of Concepcion Building and Industrial Solutions.

LUXURIOUS, FUNCTIONAL LIVING. Filigree, is a real estate brand that embodies exclusivity and function with a world-class design. Located in Bonifacio Global City, its flagship property – The Beaufort – was designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica and local R. Villarosa Architects. It is a 43-storey, two-tower high rise that offers residents an unobstructed view of the city and Manila Golf. It is located on the corner of 5th Avenue and 23rd Street in BGC. The Beaufort was built with only four units to a floor, with its East Tower features balancing a mix of one- and three- bedrooms, while the West Tower features two- and three-bedroom units.

BEST DEVELOPER.

Daiichi Properties Incorporated recently earned its fourth international real estate award when it won the Five-Star Best Developer Website Philippines plum in the recently concluded 2017 Asia-Pacific Property Awards held in Bangkok, Thailand. The award is Daiichi’s fourth in five years, after bagging the Best Office Development Philippines plum for three of its newest corporate office buildings at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig. The website award was for “http:// daiichiproperties.com”.

Accepting the award for Daiichi Properties Incorporated (DPI) during the Asia Pacific Property Awards in Bangkok, were DPI research manager and main website content contributor Jessica Go and Sarah Gabriel, DPI graphic artist and in charge of the company website (second and third from left, respectively). With them were International Property Awards president Stuart Shield (left) and judging panel chairman Lord Best.

CLARK BUSINESS, ARTS CENTER. Philexcel, a metal fabricating company which helped spearhead the recovery of Pampanga province in the 1990s under President Fidel V. Ramos’ Clark Freeport Zone masterplan, recently upped its investment ante. The Israel-based company, which occupies some 50-hectares of light industrial and business park real estate in Clark (see photo), expanded its operations to spur economic growth in Central Luzon, and the country. Philexcel also houses an art center which features, among others, the works of Mabini-based Filipino artists from the Ermita district of Manila.

Wellness in the best place

Enjoying her 20s at 46, at Stellar Place. Wellness coach Lyra Vallejos swears by the relaxing environment, healthy vibes at DMCI’s latest development in Quezon City.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE. Rockwell Primaries, the newest subsidiary of

Rockwell Land, builds on the promise to deliver quality residential developments that will help customers build their future. The company offers a choice between 53 Benitez, its flagship project near New Manila (See photo), and The Vantage at Kapitolyo, its first high-rise development in Pasig. “Rockwell Primaries continues to expand our portfolio to provide the market access to the Rockwell lifestyle that everyone loves, but at a more attainable price,” said Malou Pineda, senior vice president, Rockwell Primaries. 53 Benitez is a two-tower mid-rise residential condominium with only seven floors in both towers. The Vantage offers young professionals and families the comforts of their personal space with access to leisure and shopping establishments around the area.

FOR DMCI Homes’ Stellar Place resident, wellness coach Lyra Vallejos, modern-day conveniences should be seen as an advantage rather than a hindrance to a healthy lifestyle.

“It’s not really hard to be healthy but you have to be willing to embrace a healthy lifestyle,” said Vallejos.

The mother of two boys, Carl and Marco, has been leading wellness activities together with the Property Management Office (PMO) in DMCI Homes’ development along Visayas Ave., Quezon City, most recent of which was the “Biggest Loser” challenge in March this year.

“I only wanted to share what I know to help people choose more wisely or consciously about what they’re eating. What they are feeding their body on a daily basis without really depleting the nutrients of our body,” Vallejos shared.

“So every week we meet up and then I weigh them in. I make them aware of the calories that their body can burn and how to help improve their metabolism, what

food to avoid, and what kind of exercise they can do,” she added.

The encouraging response of her fellow Stellar Place residents to the weight loss challenge, she said, was enough reward for her as a wellness coach, knowing that she has made a difference in the community.

Being sickly when she was young and having some of her relatives dying from stroke at an early age, Vallejos embraced healthy living and made it a personal mission to promote awareness about the importance of one’s health.

“Actually, if you talk to the (weight loss) challengers, after the sessions, they were not really into the prize anymore because they have seen the value of what they are doing,” Vallejos shared.

“Our motivation was to promote wellness and also to promote healthy active lifestyle and health awareness.

And even until now, even after the challenge, the participants are still together.

They are still doing some exercises and I still check on them from time to

time,” she said.

This is the same attitude that she and her husband Caesar, want to impart on their children—to treasure one’s health amid the comfort offered by modern-day conveniences.

Vallejos said she wanted an environment that promotes quality lifestyle for the holistic development of her children.

“We are all into swimming. When we saw the swimming pool here in Stellar Place, we were really excited. We also like the gym because we are into healthy living,” she said.

Living in a three-bedroom unit at Stellar Place for the past three years has been nothing but a wonderful experience for the Vallejos family with the development’s strategic location and array of amenities.

Stellar Place is one of developments of DMCI Homes, the country’s first Quadruple A real estate developer known for building quality resort-inspired communities in Mega Manila, Baguio, Boracay and Davao City.

DEVELOPER, HOSPITAL GROUP TIE-UP. New template for healthcare

investors?

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

Ayala Land, Mercado launch ‘QualiMed’ hospital at Nuvali

vestment of around P500 million each.

On the other hand, each satellite clinic will cost around P20 to P30 million to build. The projected outlays include the cost of property, fit-out and equipment.

QualiMed’s NUVALi hospital provides inpatient services that include admission in wards, semi-private and private rooms, intensive care facilities for adult and neonatal patients.

It has operating rooms and a pharmacy, and includes diagnostic equipment covering radiology, comprehensive laboratory, cardiovascular, pulmonary, physical medicine and rehabilitation, a dialysis and intravenous chemotherapy center, emergency room, surgical and minimally invasive surgery, an eye diagnostic and laser center, and industrial and occupational healthcare services, among others.

By Joel D. Lacsamana

A

YALA Land Inc. (ALI) and the Mercado Medical Group Inc. (MGHI) recently launched their newest facility in Southern Luzon, the QualiMed hospital in Nuvali, Sta Rosa in Laguna, a 102-bed healthcare center that offers inpatient and outpatient services.

The Nuvali facility, which houses the chain’s training and research center to sharpen the technical skills of Filipino health care teams, is part of the partnership’s business plan to invest over P5 billion to build a chain of hospitals and satellite clinics in the next five years under the healthcare brand, “QualiMed.” The “QualiMed” brand debuted two years with the opening of a 180-squaremeter satellite clinic at the TriNoma mall in Quezon City, the first of 10 satellite clinics in the pipeline. Since then, clinics have been opened in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, North Avenue in Fairview, Makati City, Diliman, Taguig City, and Cebu City.

1,000 beds in the next five years

MGHI has set up a parent hospital in Tanauan, Batangas City, which hosts the newborn screening reference center for Southern Luzon. In the pipeline is the QualiMed flasgship hospital, which will open in Cloverleaf, Balintawak in 20120.

On top of the smaller clinics that will provide outpatient services, the Ayala-Mercado

Holistic approach to health care

‘HANDS-ON’. QualiMed’s top brass at the hospital’s training and research center. Second from the left, Edwin Mercado, Mercado Medical Group Inc. president (MGHI); middle, Dr. Andrei Abella, physicians training manager; far right, Dr. Albert Tiotuyco, QTRC training director.

partnership plans to develop 10 new hospitals to reach a total of capacity of at least 1,000 beds in the next five years.

“Our QualiMed joint venture supports our strategy of completing the offerings in our integrated mixed-use developments,” said Bernard Vincent Dy, ALI president and CEO. “They are being launched in most of our major communities, starting with Nuvali, Atria Iloilo, North Point Negros, and Altaraza Bulacan. For greater accessibility we will have satellite clinics like this first one in TriNoma.”

Dy noted that ALI’s estates are well-

planned and continuously enhanced with developments that address the different needs of the market. “Health care is an important aspect that QualiMed has effectively delivered in our estates such as Iloilo and Bulacan,” he said, “It has always been our vision as medical practitioners to provide quality medical care to as many Filipinos as we can possibly reach,” said Edwin Mercado, president of MGHI. “We are in the middle of the journey, and partnering with Ayala Land helped us take a big leap towards fulfilling this dream.

MGHI has almost six decades of

experience in healthcare services. It pioneered an advanced multi-specialty, ambulatory surgical center in the UP Manila complex, and continues to operate the Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center in Batangas. It is recognized with a “Center for Excellence” seal by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth).

Hefty capex, state-of-the-art facilities

Mercado revealed that each new hospital is built from scratch with a capacity of 100 to 150 beds, requiring an in-

“We want to change the traditional way Filipinos view healthcare; that we should consult with doctors only when we are sick,” said Mercado. “QualiMed advocates a more holistic approach to health care. We promote primary, preventive and promotive care. One should not take care of his health only when he is already too weak to even see a doctor.”

“Having formed a local mediical team that is embedded in the community is a big plus in terms of the kind of ‘genuine Filipino care’ that we will provide in CALABARZON,” said Atty.

Nirmala Vanguardia, chief operating officer of AqualiMed Nuvali.

“We owe it to our patients to provide them the best care and outcomes possible,” added Dr. Albert Tiotuyco, director of the QualiMed Training and Research Center (QTRC). “Using the best healthcare systems, technologies and best practices from around the world, we want to provide comprehensive and industry-approved medical and technical training activities to our doctors and medical personnel.”

Organized, cozy set up

MODERN APARTMENT LIVING HITS NEXT LEVEL. Adefuin Design Studio (ADS) recently won an Asia Pacific Property Award in the Interior Design Apartment category for its project “32 Manila ORT.” The latter was a design project for a full renovation of a 320-sq.m. condominium apartment that incorporated a design style called “tactile modern. IDr. Jigs Ranada, principal interior designer and managing partner at ADS, said: “The 32 Manila ORT project was borne out of the impetus to create something new. This ‘newness’ was spurred by a desire not just to innovate and modernize, but produce something present and international.”

Shown here, respectively, are the Adefuin dining area, adorned with a dark maple 12-seater Giorgetti dining table, solid oak chairs, and a table is crowned by Venini Murano glass crystals; and bedroom, with a king-sized bed by Poltrona Frau, and a tufted leather headboard resting on an accent wall framed in a walnut wood veneer with a dark wengue and stainless steel strip finish. A

QualiMed Nuvali is definitely an organized, cozy and relaxed set up. Built into ALI’s fast-growing mixed-use development, it is envisioned to enhance the quality of life in the community, where even residents near the development can benefit from the inclusion of healthcare facilties in a strategic and accessible area.

“We’re investing in infrastructure,” said Dy. “We can design it, build it, design it up to current standards now. A lot of the hospitals we have currently have older facilities, they’re not wired for a local network. We don’t have that problem.

We can deliver a different type of healthcare at an affordable price.”

The healthy partnership between ALI and MGHI is geared towards one goal: to improve the quality of life of the marginalized Filipinos. Fitting, since those who have less in life should ostensibly have more in healthcare.

Manila rescue teams on indefinite full alert

By Sandy Araneta AS HEAVY rains brought by severe tropical storm “Gorio” continue to pound Metro Manila, which was forecasted to last until this weekend, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday placed the city’s first responders on indefinite full alert, ready in a moment’s notice to come to the aid of distressed Manileños.

The city government suspended classes in all levels, public and private, on Friday.

Estrada reassured residents that the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is highly trained and fully equipped to handle all kinds of emergencies.

“Our rescue and emergency units are on standby since [Wednesday],” the mayor said, “and when push comes to shove, they’ll rush anywhere in the city where they are desperately needed, come hell or high water.”

Estrada has also activated the all-volunteer Manila Community Emergency Response Teams established in each of the city’s 896 barangays who serve as first responders in the communities during calamities and disasters.

Citing latest reports coming from the MDRRMO headquarters at city hall, Estrada said no evacuation was expected Friday, as floods

had subsided in most areas.

Since assuming office in 2013, Estrada has poured in almost P1 billion to the city government’s funds for continuous disaster risk reduction capability-building and modernization program.

MDDRMO chief Johnny Yu said three 12-man teams are on a 24-hour alert—all experts in water and underwater search and rescue and hazardous material response.

“We have readied two amphibious trucks and two mini amphibious vehicles we could use in possible evacuation scenario, plus five inflatable rescue boats and the rest of our rescue gears and equipment,” he said.

All rescue and relief operations, Yu added, will be directed by an all-weather, highly mobile Incident command van equipped with latest communication and monitoring equipment.

“We’ve been continuously training and drilling our men in all kinds of emergency situations,” he assured.

Among the areas still being closely watched Friday morning include R. Papa Street, Gen. Malvar near Taft Avenue, P. Burgos near Lagusnilad, Oroquieta corner Fugoso streets in Sta. Cruz, and Taft Avenue-UN intersection, according to MDRRMO’s 9 a.m. flood monitoring report.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

C1

FEEDING PROGRAM. Senator Cynthia A. Villar leads the feeding program for 200 children from Baseco, Manila as part of the multi-services caravan of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance. The senator was joined by Atty. Regie Jularbal, vice president of the Legal Department of Manila Broadcasting Corp. and station manager of dzRH, the longest-serving radio station in the country, which celebrated its 78th anniversary. Lino Santos

Makati gives 26k cakes to seniors M

By Joel E. Zurbano

ORE than 26,000 senior citizens in Makati have received their birthday cakes since the city government resumed the distribution last February, following a seven-month delay caused by procurement issues during the previous administration.

In a report to Mayor Abigail Binay, officials of the Makati Action Center said they distributed the cakes to about 26,933 senior citizens in 32 barangays who celebrated their birthdays and golden wedding anniversaries from

July to December last year.

The distribution of cakes covering that period is set to be completed on the first week of August.

“We are glad that we could finally catch up on our deliveries of birthday cakes to our beloved

senior Makatizens. Our MAC personnel have stepped up their daily, door-to-door delivery of cakes to cover last year and this month’s birthday celebrators,” Binay said.

Binay assured the elders they will continue to enjoy the unparalleled perks granted to them since the time of her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

During the transition period last year, the Binay administration conducted a review of all existing contracts. These included the contract for the supply of birthday cakes for senior citizens, which had been merely extended by the previous ad-

ministration since 2015 and not opened to public bidding as required by law.

The free birthday cake is one of the privileges granted by the city government under the BLU Card program, which is implemented by the Elderly Welfare Section of the Makati Social Welfare Department.

For this year, P33.7 million has been allocated for the free cakes given to over 77,000 BLU Card holders on their birthday and to couples on their golden wedding anniversary.

Since July 1 of this year, MAC has been delivering an average of 500 birthday cakes daily to the beneficiaries to

QC sets aside lot at Balara for poor QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has approved City Ordinance 2587-2017, declaring a parcel of land located at 254 San Rafael Street, Barangay Old Balara as a socialized housing site for bona fide members of the Daycare Magulang Youth Ay Nagkaisa (Damayan), Inc. The ordinance was introduced by Councilors Franz S. Pumaren and Marivic CoPilar. The area of the donated lot for Damayan’s socialized housing site measures 1,043 square meters.

The lot was acquired by the Quezon City government through public auction after it was not redeemed by the registered owner within the oneyear redemption period, as provided for in Section 261 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

According to the city ordinance, the property is best suited for socialized housing project for the benefit of the present occupants, who are also members of Damayan that has been occupying the property for more than 40 years.

To facilitate the improvement of the property, there was a need to declare it as Socialized Housing Site so residents could avail of various benefits and exemptions accorded to socialized housing beneficiaries.

Also, transferring the portions of the property to the Damayan beneficiaries would uplift their status from informal settlers to registered land owners.

cover the backlog, along with July 2017 celebrators. Once the cake distribution to 36,310 birthday celebrators last year is completed, MAC will immediately start the distribution to 31,209 seniors who celebrated their birthdays from January to June this year.

Based on available data, MAC as of July 25 had delivered birthday cakes to recipients in various barangays, as follows: Rizal, 1,940 cakes; Pio del Pilar, 1,939; Pembo, 1,825; Cembo, 1,592; Tejeros, 1,382; West Rembo, 1,334; Olympia, 1,279; East Rembo, 1,297; Bangkal, 1,295; Palanan, 1,112; San Antonio, 976; San Lorenzo, 875; Bel-Air,

825; Comembo, 807; Guadalupe Nuevo, 767; South Cembo, 755; Guadalupe Viejo, 706.

Other deliveries were made to Pitogo, 693; Southside, 662; La Paz, 554; Kasilawan, 493; Poblacion, 461; Magallanes, 450; San Isidro, 424; Sta. Cruz, 400; Valenzuela, 384; Singkamas, 369; Urdaneta, 310; Carmona, 292; Forbes Park, 199; Pinagkaisahan, 426; and Northside, 110.

From an initial P3,000 burial assistance, the BLU card was later expanded to include cash gifts given twice a year, free groceries every Christmas, free cakes, and the P100,000 cash gift for centenarians.

For Marawi: 4 groups combine to get blood

BDO Transaction Banking Group head Edwin Reyes (right) accepts the CSR Gold Award at the Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards 2017 in Singapore.

Rural work earns gold for BDO ASIAN Banking & Finance magazine recently conferred its prestigious Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year Gold Award to BDO Foundation in recognition of the latter’s rehabilitation program for rural health units.

It is the highest honor given by the Singapore-based finance publication to corporate foundations. BDO Foundation clinched the gold award this year after consistently winning silvers in the past three years.

BDO Transaction Banking Group head Edwin Reyes accepted the award at the Retail Banking Awards 2017 held in Singapore.

Organized by Asian Banking & Finance, the event recognizes banks that deliver outstanding products and services. It was attended by more than 260 bank-

ing and insurance executives from 30 countries, including China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.

Asian Banking & Finance honored BDO Foundation’s rehabilitation program for rural health units, an initiative that aims to improve the delivery of primary healthcare services in disaster-stricken communities all over the Philippines.

Through the program, the foundation improves the health centers’ offices, clinics, consultation rooms, treatment rooms, pharmacies and birthing facilities, among others. Further, it installs breastfeeding stations as well as waiting areas for children and senior citizens.

Backed by BDO’s wide network of branches nationwide, the foundation has successfully rehabilitated more than 30

health centers since 2012.

The initiative is in line with BDO Foundation’s disaster response advocacy and contributes to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Number 3, “to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of people of all ages.”

According to BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, “The recognition we just received strengthens our resolve to continue finding ways to address the needs of our less fortunate fellow Filipinos.”

“We share this award with our partners including local government units, municipal or city health officers and their staff, and our colleagues in BDO who have gone out of their way to help us make these projects happen,” he added.

REMMEVEL GUBALA, an 18-year-old psychology student, had always wanted to help soldiers and policemen who fight the rebellion and terrorism in Marawi City.

The opportune time came when she saw on Facebook an invitation to participate in a blood-letting campaign for government troops in Marawi. It was a project spearheaded by the National Press Club of the Philippines, the Philippine National Red Cross and the Philippine Army, in partnership with SM Cares and SM City North Edsa in Quezon City.

Remmevel travelled four hours last Friday from her hometown in Tanauan City, Batangas just to donate blood for the government troops in Marawi. In an interview after her blood-letting, Remmevel said she felt good knowing she did something for the people defending the country. Apparently, it was her first time to donate blood.

“I have always wanted to help our soldiers and the policemen fighting in Marawi, but I just did not know how because I have no money to give. So, when I saw that there was this blood donation campaign for them on Facebook, I thought this is the best way to help those who risk their lives for all of us,” she said.

Remmevel was just one of the hundreds of people from all walks of life who participated in the blood-letting initiative held at the SMNE Skydome. It was one noble way of helping the government troops fighting the Maute group in Marawi City.

Jerico Uy, 19 of Montalban, Rizal, and a student at the New Era University, was just at SM North with his friends when they saw the signage at the Skydome about the blood donation activity.

“We thought, why not donate blood for the people whom we consider as heroes? It’s the least we could do for them,” Uy said.

NPC president Paul Gutierrez said the blood donation program is his organization’s way of expressing their support for the troops in Marawi. “This is just a small gesture compared to what they are doing in Marawi and for the rest of the country,” Gutierrez said.

He said while NPC had done blood donation initiatives in the past, the activity in SMNE has been the most successful so far because of the number of attendees.

“We are very grateful to SM and SM Cares for being part of this program and allowing us to use their facility for this event.

This way we can reach more people, and more people came.

Now, we have more blood to donate to them,” Gutierrez said.

Elena Bautista Horn, SM Vice President of Corporate Affairs, said; “SM has always been proud of our troops especially what they are now doing in Mindanao. We hope that through this project, we can save more lives for the love of our country and their families.”

SM Cares is the CSR arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc. Their advocacies include Programs on Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth, Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Environment Sustainability, Senior Citizens, Social Entrepreneurship and Overseas Filipino Workers (SM Global Pinoy).

As a responsible integrated property developer, SM Prime ensures that its CSR programs serve as a catalyst for positive change for the community that it serves. To know more about SM Cares, please visit www.smcares.com.ph, www.facebook. com/OfficialSMCares or email smcares@smprime.com.

LGUs

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard

TODAY GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308 GSIS ACQUIRED ASSETS FOR DISPOSITION

PROVINCE District

/Subdivision

City /Municipality

Property Location

TCT/CCT No.

Lot Area (sqm)

Minimum Acceptable Offer / CMV ( ₱ )

Property Occupancy Bidding Date Place of Bidding Classification Status

C2

1

Bulacan

FRANCISCO HOMES I, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L005 Ph C1

T-149924 (M)

200

1,000,000.00

House & Lot

Unoccupied

12-Sep-17

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building,

2

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Guijo

San Jose Del Monte City

B002 L005 Ph A2

T-347435(M)

150

832,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

3

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Guijo

San Jose Del Monte City

B003 L003 Ph A3

T-347456(M)

150

818,333.33

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

4

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L008 Ph E1A

T-343112(M)

88

450,800.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

5

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B002 L004 Ph E3A

T-324193(M)

67.5

549,950.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

6

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B002A L001 Ph C1

T-297458(M)

108

699,600.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

7

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B002C L004 Ph C1

T-297460(M)

120

656,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

8

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B002C L006 Ph C1

T-297461(M)

120

702,666.67

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

9

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B002C L007 Ph C1

T-309377(M)

156

1,198,800.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

10

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B004 L004 Ph E3

T-323645(M)

45

361,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

11

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B005 L001 Ph E3

T-309419(M)

52

420,666.67

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

12

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B006 L011 Ph MDA

T-284892(M)

75

610,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

13

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B006 L019 Ph MDA

T-284878(M)

70

476,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

14

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B006 L021 Ph MDA

T-284826(M)

70

511,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

15

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B006 L032 Ph MDA

T-284846(M)

70

385,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

16

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B006 L039 Ph MDA

T-284903(M)

109

763,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

17

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B007 L004 Ph MDA

T-284862(M)

102

669,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

18

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B007 L010 Ph MDA

T-284824(M)

70

385,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

19

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B007 L020 Ph MDA

T-284848(M)

77

415,100.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

20

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B007 L031 Ph MDA

T-284884(M)

77

665,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building,

21

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B009 L011 Ph E

T-289358(M)

75

595,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard,

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B009 L013 Ph E

T-289355(M)

75

511,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

Pasay City

23

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B010 L016 Ph E

T-309396(M)

99

670,700.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

24

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B010 L020 Ph E

T-297454(M)

80

633,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

25

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B010 L036 Ph E

T-297486(M)

94

719,200.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

26

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B016 L002 Ph E1B

T-333357(M)

94

505,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

27

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B016 L003 Ph E1B

T-333351(M)

56

318,133.33

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

28

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B016 L007 Ph E1A

T-333354(M)

58

548,650.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

29

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B021 L002 Ph E1

T-297426(M)

90

597,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

30

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B021 L018 Ph E1

T-309392(M)

54

316,200.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

31

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B021 L022 Ph E1

T-289370(M)

54

333,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

32

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Mulawin

San Jose Del Monte City

B021 L045 Ph E1

T-289375(M)

61

430,300.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

33

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Yakal

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L006 Ph K2

T-326681(M)

66

642,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

34

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Yakal

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L010 Ph K1

T-324528(M)

71

464,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

35

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Yakal

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L011 Ph K1

T-331729(M)

83

1,196,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

36

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Yakal

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L023 Ph K1

T-326673(M)

46

398,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

37

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Yakal

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L024 Ph K1

T-324538(M)

57

408,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

38

Bulacan

STALLION HOMES, Brgy. Yakal

San Jose Del Monte City

B001 L029 Ph K1

T-324233(M)

48

346,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

39

Metro Manila

FAIRVIEW PARK HOMES

Quezon City

B001 L023 (Bldg003

119487

60

1,022,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building,

123732

40

888,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

Pasay City

119505

59.57

1,016,410.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

N-173784

52

1,565,333.33

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

40

Metro Manila

FAIRVIEW PARK HOMES

41

Metro Manila

FAIRVIEW PARK HOMES

Unit008) Orchid St Quezon City

(CPMI), Fairview

Metro Manila

FAIRVIEW PARK HOMES

Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard,

Unit005) Cedar St Quezon City

(CPMI), Fairview 42

B001 L048 (Bldg001

B002 L011 (Bldg001 Unit011) Orchid St

Quezon City

B002 L015 Dahlia (I) St

(CPMI), Fairview 43

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B010 L003 Cluster O

R-33101

128

517,333.33

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

44

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B026 L015 Cluster B

R-33690

269

1,438,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

45

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B034 L004 Cluster K

R-33750

183

850,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

46

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B041 L007 Cluster L

R-33789

173

682,800.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

47

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B060 L014 Cluster D

R-34166

382

1,435,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

48

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B060 L018 Cluster D

R-34170

197

823,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

49

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B077 L001 Cluster G

R-36569

139

854,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

50

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B080 L001 Cluster F

R-36586

135

775,833.33

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

51

Rizal

BAGONG NAYON, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B080 L009 Cluster F

R-36594

133

701,300.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

52

Rizal

COGEO VILLAGE, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B001A9 L006 Ph 5 Road 10

N-59615

177

1,261,800.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

53

Rizal

COGEO VILLAGE, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B001A9 L011 Ph 5 Road Lot 11

N-59620

216

1,488,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

12-Sep-17

54

Rizal

COGEO VILLAGE, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B012A L034 Ph 2

N-59849

200

1,160,000.00

Lot Only

Occupied

12-Sep-17

55

Rizal

COGEO VILLAGE, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B012A L035 Ph 2

N-59850

200

1,160,000.00

Lot Only

Occupied

12-Sep-17

56

Rizal

COGEO VILLAGE, Bagong Nayon

Antipolo City

B068 L017 Ph 3

399850

384

2,227,200.00

Lot Only

Unoccupied

12-Sep-17

ARMM investments hit P3.65b

By Ayunan Gunting-Al-Hadj

22

(CPMI), Fairview

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

C

OTABATO CITY—The economy of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao remains stable and will continue to flourish as investments pour in, the chairman of the Regional Board of Investments said Friday.

Investments in ARMM reached P3.65 billion in the first six months of 2017 despite the political climate and the siege of Marawi City that started on the third week of May, RBOI figures showed.

“Investment prospects provide the region’s resilience and the dynamism because the crisis is under the [control of the] government,” said lawyer Ishak Mastura, chairman and managing head of the RBOI. The RBOI offers fiscal and nonfiscal incentives to ARMM investors. In 2015, the agency posted P6.5 billion in investments, the highest recorded in ARMM. Business registrations in the first half of 2017 rose 74 percent compared to the same time last year, as the RBOI cited the effects of three major projects this year.

First was the P32-million fish storage and cold storage project of Abeng Seafoods and Cold Storage being built in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. These answers the needs of fishermen who need

a sanitary place to preserve and process their daily catch, Mastura said.

Second, the P33.5-million cargo shipping project of J. Sayang Shipping Lines, Inc., also in Bongao, will provide interisland trade and cross-border shipping to Sabah, Malaysia.

The RBOI also approved the P3billion telecommunications carrier project of Tier One Communications International for ARMM. The firm initially planned to roll out its network in Marawi, but due to the terrorist-led siege, it had to review its business plan.

A Tier One representative explained that it will continue its infrastructure project in Marawi but it will be under the rehabilitation program of the government.

Under its revised plan, Tier One said it will launch its pilot program at the ARMM Compound in Cotabato City to serve the regional agencies. The firm will also be making other provisions and will infuse capital in the future, Mastura said.

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

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

2.

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

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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

Signature of the bidder/representative

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

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

(

Name of Bidder: Mailing Address: 11. Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1 Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13. If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS). The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount.

14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: (a) duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); (b) photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); (c) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; (d) Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; (e) current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding.

16. In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

17. In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount.

18. Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

19. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit.

20. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS. 21. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

22. For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619.

(MS-JULY 29/30/31, 2017)

Lawyer Lambino takes over Ceza

By Jessica M. Bacud TUGUEGARAO CITY—The newly appointed administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority has identified seaports, airports and railways as the development priority projects to make the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport a modern economic center in Northern Luzon.

Lawyer Raul Lambino, who took over the Ceza reins this week, reiterated that Port Irene in Barangay Casambalangan in Sta. Ana, Cagayan will be repaired, including the dredging of its heavily silted seabed, and the construction of additional wharves to expand its capacity are on top of his wish list.

The modernization of the North Cagayan International Airport in Lal-lo town follows as the “second economic agenda,” Lambino stressed.

“These two are extremely important to spur development of

the [Cagayan] ecozone,” he said.

“We envision the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport as a vibrant growth center that is efficient and clean and free of corruption,” added Lambino, the fifth administrator of the agency established through Republic Act 7922.

The multibillion development will include a railway alignment from Tuguegarao to Lal-lo and to Santa Ana for both commuter and cargo services, linking up with the rest of Luzon.

He said he will tap domestic investors while wooing foreign capitalists from Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Russia for light industry manufacturing and tourism in the freeport zone.

“I wish to add more local and foreign investors to participate in the development process with due consideration to the existing partners that we have,” Lambino said during the turnover ceremony on July 24 in Pasig City.

Cavite, IIRR mark Nutrition Month TO CREATE awareness on the importance of healthy diet and promote habit on giving suitable nutrition for the members of the family, the Cavite Provincial Health Office, in partnership with the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction, celebrated the 43rd Nutrition Month with the theme “Healthy Diet, Gawing Habit for Life” at the Collaboration Center for Public Health in Silang town.

The gathering was attended by provincial nutrition committee members, IIRR’s nutrition officers and agriculturists, municipal and city nutrition action officers, city nutrition program coordinators, technical staff and employees from the Provincial Health Office, barangay nutrition scholar awardees and federation of-

ficers, and selected active and newly trained BNS. During the celebration, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Helen Penalba, emphasized the importance of promoting healthy diet at home, in the workplace and in the community. She also reiterated the significance of the roles of the local chief executives in its campaign and advocacy on proper nutrition.

Dr. Gilberto P. Ilog, Provincial Health Officer 1, encouraged the participants to actively join their undertaking, focus on educating every family on the relevance of proper nutrition and build awareness on the effects of nutrition deficiency in every child.

He expressed his enthusiasm in educating the mothers to teach their children on eating vegetables and other nutritious foods.

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Manila

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TODAY

Chinese companies sanctioned TOKYO―Japan on Friday slapped sanctions on two Chinese firms, including a bank accused of laundering North Korean cash, amid concerns Pyongyang is prepping for another missile test, the government said.

Japan has stepped up calls for further sanctions against North Korea since Pyongyang tested an intercontinental ballistic missile earlier this month in defiance of repeated UN resolutions.

The test has raised tensions in the region, pitting Washington, Tokyo and Seoul against China, Pyongyang’s last remaining major ally.

Japan’s move could add fuel to its own often fraught relations with China.

Despite being major trading and investment partners, they are frequently at odds over a maritime territorial dispute and lingering tensions over Japan’s history of aggression in the first half of the 20th century. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

C3

Senate health bill collapses W ASHINGTON―US Republicans failed spectacularly Friday in their latest effort to dismantle Obamacare, leaving the party shocked and in disarray and signaling the potential death knell for President Donald Trump’s dream of repealing his predecessor’s health reforms.

The vote―held in the dead of night―came down to the wire, with the decisive moment resting with Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, who sided with two moderate Republicans and all Democrats in opposing the legislation.

“This was a disappointment, a disappointment indeed,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told colleagues after one of the most tense votes in years on the Senate floor.

“I regret that our efforts were simply not enough this time.”

The collapse marks a major setback for Republican leadership and for Trump, who had campaigned relentlessly on a pledge to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act that passed into law under his predecessor Barack Obama in 2010.

Friday’s vote, which capped a series of failed efforts in recent

PM Sharif disqualified from office ISLAMABAD―Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from public office over long-running corruption allegations, a decision that ousts him from the premiership for the third time in a checkered political career.

“He is disqualified as a member of the parliament so he has ceased to be holding the office of Prime Minister,” Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan told the packed courtroom in Islamabad.

As the verdict was announced, opposition supporters erupted in applause, rushing into the street chanting slogans and handing out sweets in celebration.

The decision brings to an unceremonious end Sharif’s third term in power, roughly one year before the scheduled general elections which would have seen him become the first Pakistani prime minister to complete a full five-year term.

Most have seen their tenures cut short by the powerful military or interference from the Supreme Court. Others have been ousted by their own party, forced to resign―or been assassinated.

The court also asked the national anti-corruption bureau to launch a further probe into the allegations against Sharif, which stem from the Panama Papers leak last year linking the premier’s family to lucrative offshore businesses.

The bureau has the power to arrest and bring criminal charges against those it investigates.

The Supreme Court had in April declared there was “insufficient evidence” to oust Sharif over the graft allegations engulfing his family, and ordered an investigation team to probe the matter. AFP

Police brace for new unrest in Jerusalem JERUSALEM―Israeli police braced for fresh violence Friday ahead of main weekly Muslim prayers at a Jerusalem holy site, barring men under 50 after clashes erupted as Palestinians ended a boycott of the mosque compound.

Tensions at the Haram al-Sharif, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, were high even after thousands of worshipers returned to the site, which encompasses the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, following a twoweek boycott over new security measures that Israel eventually removed.

Friday prayers typically draw thousands to Al-Aqsa, and police said there were “indications that disturbances and demonstrations will take place today”.

“Only men over the age of 50 will be permitted,” a police statement said. No restrictions will be imposed on women.

“A number of roads around the Old City will be limited to access and all necessary security measures are being taken to prevent and to respond to any outbreak of violence,” police said.

On Thursday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said around 100 people were wounded inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and in adjacent areas of the Old City after clashes erupted, with police saying stones had been thrown at officers inside the compound.

Thousands of worshipers earlier streamed into the compound for afternoon prayers for the first time in two weeks, ending a boycott after Israel removed controversial new security measures, installed after a July 14 attack killed two policemen. AFP

months to get an Obamacare repeal measure over the line, was on a so-called “skinny repeal” bill that would have rolled back only parts of Obamacare but kept the bulk of the law intact.

It crashed to defeat, 49-51, leaving Trump’s singular legislative initiative, and Republicans’ sevenyear pledge to rip out the health care law, in tatters.

Trump, who had long cajoled and strong-armed Republicans in a bid to get them into line, swiftly spoke out about the failure, apparently unmoved by Democratic pleas for the parties to work together and improve the existing law.

“3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down,” Trump tweeted. “As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal.”

Senate leadership had never in-

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

001488

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION

SCN CASE NO. x------------------ x

PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is ROSABEL ANN TAN LIM, but I have also been known since childhood as N/A or I have been judicially N/A . authorized to use the alias name(s) 2. My present place of residence is No. 237 CALACHUCHI ST., VILLA PERPETUA SUBD. City/Municipality of TARLAC CITY Province of TARLAC and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) 84 WEST, 6TH AVENUE, CALOOCAN CITY FROM BIRTH TO JUNE 2008 3. I was born on DEC. 31 1994, in CALOOCAN CITY, Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of CHINA. 4. My father's name is ERNESTO LIM and he was born on 18 JUNE 1944, in CHINA. He is a citizen or subject of CHINA. My mother's name is MARY ROANNA ANG TAN and she was born on 17 SEPT 1965 in CEBU CITY. She is a citizen or subject of CHINA. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is EMPLOYEE and from which I derive an average annual income of P 398,380.00 , inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained:BSBA , (2) name of school: COLLEGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and (3) years graduated: 2016 who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

6. My civil status is S, I was married on N/A in N/A. My wife's/husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on in N/A. She/he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have NO child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows:

Date of Birth

Place of Birth

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Place of Dates of School Study N O R T H E R N R I Z A L CALOOCAN 2004 to 2008 YORKLIN SCHOOL CITY BAYANIHAN SCHOOL TARLAC CITY 2008 to 2012 COLLEGE OF THE HOLY TARLAC CITY 2012-2016 SPIRIT

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ / ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ / ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ / ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ / ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ / ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ / ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ / ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ / ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years 16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: NBI, POLICE, PROSECUTOR, RTC, MTC AND BARANGAY CLEARANCE

Highest Grade Completed ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE

“We must now return to the correct way of legislating and send the bill back to committee, hold hearings, receive input from both sides of aisle, heed the recommen-

ERRORS & OMISSIONS

Name of Child N/A

Name and Place of School N/A

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

CHERRY GRACE CORCUERA LUANCING Petitioner,

Decision be published once in a newspaper of general circulation at petitioner’s expense.

The decree of nullity shall be issued upon the finality of this Decision.

SO ORDERED. 30 May 2017, Mandaluyong City

-versus(Sgd.)MONIQUE A. QUISUMBINGCIVIL CASE NO. MC15-9482 IGNACIO For: Declaration of Nullity of Presiding Judge Marriage Copy furnished: MANOLO MAYO LUANCING Respondent.

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL x---------------------------------------x 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village

DECISION

Makati City

WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered declaring the marriage of Cherry Grace Corcuera Luancing and Manolo Mayo Luancing entered into on 20 September 1996 in Quezon City VOID for being bigamous pursuant to Article 35 (4) of the Family Code.

Considering that the respondent was summoned by publication, let the dispositive part of this

OFFICE OF THE CITY PROSECUTOR Hall of Justice, Mandaluyong City ATTY. GERALD PETER P. CORTON Counsel for the Petitioner 2/F Hall of Justice Mandaluyong City MANOLO MAYO LUANCING 42 Gen. Luna St., Sabang, Lipa City Batangas RTC-OCC Mandaluyong City LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Quezon City LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR Mandaluyong City (MS-July 29, 2017)

INVITATION TO BID No. 05- 2017 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Interim Northern Samar Irrigation Management Office (INSIMO), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites Domestic Contractors, registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), to bid for the hereunder contracts. Bids received in excess of ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

ITEM/DESCRIPTION

Approved Budget for the Contract

Duration

Cost of Bidding Documents

Php 17,392,800.00

180 cd

Php 17,500

1. E.J. Dulay CIP Contract No. INSIMO# 12 – 2017 – Construction of Diversion Works, Pipe Flume, PVC Main Supply Pipe & PVC Main Distribution Pipe

The Prospective Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project whose value must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the “Government procurement Reform Act”.

Prospective Bidders are not allowed to participate if they have negative slippage in their on-going contracts. Individuals with Special Power of Attorney (SPA) are not allowed to transact and participate in the procurement utilizing another construction firm. The pre-bid conference shall be open only for those who have purchased the Bid documents.

The schedule of BAC activities is listed as follows:

PROJECT NAME

1. E.J. Dulay CIP Contract No. INSIMO# 12 – 2017 – Construction of Diversion Works, Pipe Flume, PVC Main Supply Pipe & PVC Main Distribution Pipe

Issuance of Bid Documents (Date and Time Schedule)

Pre- bid Conference (Date and Time Schedule)

Receipt & Opening of Bids (Date and Time Schedule)

Starting July 25, 2017 (8AM-5PM)

August 7, 2017 (10AM)

August 18, 2017 (9AM)

April 10, 2017 (10AM)

The BAC will issue a complete set of Bidding Documents from the address above and upon payment of its respective non-refundable amount to the cashier.

The NIA 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.

(SGD.) CESAR R. ECHANO BAC Chairman (MS-JULY 29, 2017)

Greg R. Davis, Esq. - SBN 014387 DAVIS FAAS BLASE, PLLC 11111 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 225 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: 602.279.1900 Fax: 602.279.1920 E-Mail: greg.davis@DFBLawyers.com Website: www.DFBLawyers.com Attorney for Petitioner IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA In Re The Matter of: HAZEL FERNANDEZ SHINYO,

Case No.: N2017-052576 SUMMONS (Domestic Relations)

Petitioner, vs.

WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 20 day of MARCH, 2017.

RAFAEL C. CANIEZO, Respondent WARNING: This is an official document from the court that affects your rights. Read this carefully. If you do not understand it, contact a lawyer for help.

FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO: Rafael C. Caniezo 1.

A lawsuit has been filed against you. A copy of the lawsuit and other court papers are served on you with this “Summons”.

2.

If you do not want a judgment or order taken against you without your input, you must file an “Answer” or a “Response” in writing with the court, and pay the filing fee. If you do not file an “Answer” or “Response” the other party may be given the relief requested in his/her Petition or Complaint. To file your “Answer” or “Response” take, or send, the “Answer” or “Response” to the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, 201 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2205 or the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, 222 East Javelina Drive, Mesa, Arizona 85210-6201 or Office of the Clerk of Superior Court, 18380 North 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032, or Office of the Clerk of Superior Court, 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane, Surprise, Arizona, 85374. Mail a copy of your “Response” or “Answer” to the other party at the address listed on the top of this Summons.

3.

If this “Summons” and the other court papers were served on you by a registered process server or the Sheriff, within the State of Arizona, your “Response” or “Answer” must be filed within TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS from the date you were served, not counting the day you were served. If this “Summons” and the other papers were served on you by a registered process server or the Sheriff outside the State of Arizona, your Response must be flied within THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date you were served, not counting the day you were served. Service by a registered process server or the Sheriff is complete when made. Service by Publication is complete thirty (30) days after the date of the first publication.

4.

You can get a copy of the court papers filed in this case from the Petitioner at the address at the top of this paper, or from the Clerk of the Superior Court at the address listed in Paragraph 2 above.

5.

Requests for reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities must be made to the office of the judge or commissioner assigned to the case, at least five (5) days before your scheduled court date.

6.

Either party to this action may file in the Conciliation Court a petition invoking the jurisdiction of the Court for the purpose of preserving the marriage by effecting conciliation between the parties.

7.

The name and address of your spouse’s attorney is;

ROSABEL ANN TAN LIM Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: 237 CALACHUCHI ST., VILLA PERPETUA SUBD., TARLAC CITY Telephone Number: 0927-4319977

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark

Greg R. Davis, Esq. - SBN 014387 Davis Faas Blase, PLLC 11111 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 225 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: 602.279.1900

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

dations of nation’s governors, and produce a bill that finally delivers affordable health care for the American people,” McCain said in a statement. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch209 Mandaluyong City

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published.

We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

PRAYER

Residence

N/A

Name of School

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to CHINA of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

14. My character witnesses are ARLENE JOY P. BITARA and BENITO CHUA III both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at VILORIA ST., SAN PABLO, CASTILLEJOS, ZAMBALES and 21 DON GREGORIO AVE., SAN SEBASTIAN VILLAGE, TARLAC CITY respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF ROSABEL ANN TAN LIM to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

Name

tended “skinny repeal” to become law; they saw it as merely a vehicle for joining forces with House Republicans to craft a broader repeal-and-replace plan.

But some Republicans including McCain blasted the bill as terrible policy, and grew nervous that the House of Representatives might turn around and pass the bill instead of going to conference with the Senate.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office analyzed the bill, and concluded that insurance premiums would spike by 20 percent per year and 16 million people would lose insurance if it became law.

House Speaker Paul Ryan later said his side was willing to negotiate with the Senate, but that failed to placate McCain.

Vice President Mike Pence was brought to the chamber around midnight, in case he would be needed to break a 50-50 tie.

But he never got the opportunity, as McCain, whose war hero status was mocked by Trump in 2015, refused to cave to pressure to get on board, despite extraordinary scenes on the Senate floor where a grimfaced Pence huddled with McCain for several minutes.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF MANILA) S.S. I, ROSABEL ANN TAN LIM of legal age and a resident of 237 CALACHUCHI ST., VILLA PERPETUA SUBD., TARLAC CITY after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

ROSABEL ANN TAN LIM Name and Signature of Petitioner

SIGNED AND SEALED this date: _________________________ Clerk of the Superior Court By:_________________________ Deputy Clerk

Greg R. Davis, Esq. - SBN 014387 DAVIS FAAS BLASE, PLLC 11111 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 225 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: 602.279.1900 Fax: 602.279.1920 4 E-Mail: greg.davis@DFBLawyers.com Website: www.DFBLawyers.com Attorney for Petitioner IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA Case No.: FN2017-052576

SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at MANILA, this 20 day of MARCH 2017.

In Re The Matter of: HAZEL FERNANDEZ SHINYO, Petitioner, vs.

ORDER FOR ALTERNATIVE SERVICE

RAFAEL C. CANIEZO, Respondent.

(Assigned to Hon. Jennifer Ryan-Touhill)

BASED UPON Petitioner’s Motion for Alternative Service good cause appearing and notice having been given, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED allowing Petitioner to serve Respondent RAFAEL C. CANIEZO, as follows:

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy.

I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from

By posting a true and correct copy of the documents at Respondent’s place of residence, in a conspicuous place, mailing a .copy to Respondent at Respondent’s known physical address and emailing a copy to Respondent’s email address.

By serving the documents by publication.

DONE IN OPEN COURT this date: _________ , 2017.

(MS-JULY 22, 29 & AUG. 5, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

(MS-JUL. 29/AUG. 5/12/19, 2017)

Hon. Jennifer Ryan-Touhill MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

Venezuela crisis careening toward violent showdown C

ARACAS―Venezuela careened towards a showdown on its streets Friday between anti-government protesters and security forces, raising international alarm at the worsening deadly unrest and prompting the United States to order the families of embassy staff out.

The opposition called fresh nationwide demonstrations to defy a new government ban on rallies ahead of a controversial vote Sunday to elect a body to rewrite the constitution.

Four months of protests against unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro have already claimed 112 lives, according to prosecutors, and seven of them during a two-day general strike that ended Thursday.

Tensions have been heightened by a decree from Maduro banning protests and warning that anyone who marches against the “Constituent Assembly” risks up to 10 years in prison.

The opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable, shot back with a tweet saying “the regime declared we can’t demonstrate... We will respond with the TAKING OF VENEZUELA.” It called mass protests for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“The whole country must tell the world this Constituent Assembly has no legitimacy,” opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara said at a press conference.

Maduro countered by urging the opposition to “abandon the road to insurrection.”

He urged immediate dialogue, but signaled he was not backing down. Any talks, he said, should happen “before the election and installation of the Constituent Assembly.”

Fears of open civil conflict have prompted thousands of Venezuelans to join an exodus into neighboring Colombia.

International concern has mounted, with the United States, European Union, United Nations and major Latin American nations urging Maduro to halt his plan.

The United States has imposed sanctions on 13 current and former Venezuelan officials to try to force a change, leading to Maduro branding the actions “illegal” and “insolent.”

On Thursday, the United States ordered relatives of embassy staff in Caracas to leave the country, and authorized US government employees to leave on a voluntary basis, citing “social unrest, violent crime, and pervasive food and medicine shortages.”

Canada warned its nationals against non-essential travel to Venezuela and urged citizens already there to leave.

Venezuela’s opposition, which controls the National Assembly, has urged civil disobedience against what it terms Maduro’s dictatorship.

It is pushing on with its own strategy of trying to force Maduro from power through early elections. AFP

ONSTAGE. Singer G-Dragon, top, performs at the Barclays Center of Brooklyn on July 27, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. AFP

Al Gore says he’s given up on Trump LOS ANGELES―He once gave Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt, but mention the US president to Al Gore these days and you’ll get a withering frown.

“He’s a catastrophe, of course, but he has effectively isolated himself,” the former US vice president says, his nostrils dilating a few millimeters past scorn but stopping short of open contempt.

A decade after his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” sent shock waves around the world with its dire warnings of environmental disaster, Gore is sounding the alarm on climate change again.

“An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” released by Paramount on Friday, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival a day before the January 20 inauguration.

Since then, the new US president has sent out a former CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil to represent America on the world stage and appointed an anti-climate litigator to run the Environmental Protection Agency.

He has moved to loosen the restrictions on coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions, slashed EPA funding, and reversed his predecessor Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan.

And then of course there was that announcement of withdrawal from the 196-nation 2016 Paris agreement on climate change.

“We’re going meet the US commitments regardless of what Donald Trump says,” 69-year-old Gore tells AFP during an interview in Beverly Hills to promote his film.

“There’s a law of physics that sometimes works in politics: for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction.

“It’s as if the rest of the world is saying, ‘We’ll show you, Donald Trump. Now there is a progressive uprising to organize in ways I haven’t seen since the Vietnam War.” In one of the most intriguing scenes towards the end of the 100-minute “An Inconvenient Sequel” Gore is seen heading for a meeting with the then presidentelect at Trump Tower in New York.

He voiced cautious optimism at the time that the environmental movement might be able to do business with the incoming president, but Gore has since given up hope.

“Where he’s concerned―absent some unforeseeable circumstances―I’m not going to waste any more time trying to convince him because he’s surrounded himself with this rogue’s gallery of climate deniers,” Gore says. AFP

Gang-plagued New York suburb wary of Trump’s visit BRENTWOOD―President Donald Trump on Friday will visit a New York suburb traumatized by the violent street gang MS-13, which he has pledged to wipe out, but many in the Long Island community of Brentwood are wary of his motives.

The gang, which is largely Salvadoran, has killed 17 people here over the past year and a half.

Around 70 percent of the 60,000 people in Brentwood are Latinos, mainly from Central America, and many are living in the US illegally, without residency papers.

So they are as afraid, if not more afraid, of immigration authorities and the prospect of deportation as they are of the gang, whose initials stand for

Mara Salvatrucha.

More than 20 community organizations in Brentwood, which is about 70 kilometers east of Manhattan, say that Trump’s visit is really a bid to stir up his political base and advance the part of his agenda that seeks robust deportation of unauthorized immigrants.

These groups staged a protest Thursday and say they will do so again Friday at the community college where Trump is scheduled to give a speech.

“I am outraged over the reasons why Trump is coming to Brentwood. He is using our tragedies to promote his agenda of hatred, to justify deportation and the separation of our families,” said Kevin, a Salvadoran who arrived in America on his own and without papers

a year ago. He declined to give his last name.

Since 2014, some 8,000 undocumented minors like Kevin have arrived on Long Island, fleeing gang violence and poverty in Central America. Police say that after arriving, many are forcibly recruited by MS-13.

The gang originated among Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles in the 1980s and then spread to Central America.

Today, it is estimated to have some 10,000 members in the United States and be present in 40 states. Authorities say it now has around 400 members on Long Island.

Activists in Brentwood and surrounding towns complain that the federal government has never even asked them what

they need to tackle the street gang.

And they insist the answer is not to crack down more on immigrant communities but rather to improve the area’s money-starved public schools.

They say the government should also create more extra-curricular programs to keep kids off the street, rather than eliminate such programs as they say Trump wants to do.

“In Chicago, they are losing many more kids than they are here. Why come here?

Why not go to Chicago? Why come here and not reach out to organizations that are actually working with gang-involved youth?” said Sergio Argueta, founder of Strong Youth Inc., an NGO that works with troubled youths in Long Island high schools. AFP

Texas executes convicted killer CHICAGO―With the US Supreme Court denying a lastminute appeal late Thursday, Texas executed a convicted murderer who had claimed an ill-prepared attorney had botched his case and had relied on Wikipedia for research.

Lawyers for TaiChin Preyor had made a last-ditch effort to save their client by asking the US Supreme Court to intervene just hours before he was scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection.

But the high court let stand a lower court ruling in which judges expressed skepticism that further delays might change the outcome of Preyor’s case.

Preyor was executed soon after and declared dead at 9:22 pm local time (0222 GMT), according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Preyor, 46, was convicted of the drug-related murder of Jami Tackett in 2004, committed during the course of a burglary.

Tackett was stabbed multiple times and her throat was slashed, severing her trachea, jugular vein and carotid artery.

Preyor was arrested still covered in blood on the grounds of the apartment complex where Tackett was killed. A jury rejected his claim of self-defense.

The convict’s attorneys had claimed his previous legal representation was woefully inadequate during the post-conviction phase of the trial.

They said his previous lawyer specialized in California real estate law, and was ill equipped for the task of appealing a death penalty case.

They also discovered material in old case files that suggest-

ed the lawyer had relied on the Wikipedia website to research Texas death penalty law.

“His attorneys and the judicial system itself have failed him at every turn,” Preyor’s attorneys wrote in their filing with the US Supreme Court.

They argued Preyor’s difficult childhood, including sexual and physical abuse, should have been considered at earlier phases of his case, which may have led to a life sentence instead of the death penalty.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected that argument, saying Preyor had “not made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.”

“He has not made a strong showing that he is likely to succeed on the merits” of his claim that additional evidence should be considered, the court wrote. AFP

THERE FOR THE PREMIERE. Actress Lily Collins arrives at the after-party for the premiere of Amazon Studios’ ‘The Last Tycoon’ at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California. AFP

Life

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

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

D1

STIMULATING THE SENSES.

Outside the Broadmoor, near the lake and not far from the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak Region as background, visitors can literally breathe in the mountain air that playfully sweeps down to, as some describe, soothe the soul from the verdant slopes perched on lush valleys, exhaling 18 degrees Celsius.

Colorado’s

‘Most Unique Resort in the World’ C

By Honor Blanco Cabie

OLORADO Springs – Officials of The Broadmoor have shifted to high gear as they looked to the centennial celebration in 2018 of what they call “the most unique resort in the world.”

They tell guests from the different states, and some from overseas including a couple of families from the Philippines, the dream of founder Spencer Penrose has not been lost on them.

Spencer was the man who not only saw the future but also set about creating it, envisioned this place at the gateway of the Rockies as a destination filled with infinite possibilities.”

Spencer looked at those possibilities for the resort and the surrounding areas of wide plains and verdant mountains.

On the eve of The Broadmoor’s centennial, officials said they continue to do the same by “enhancing and expanding not only our campus, but also (the

resort’s) Wilderness Experience properties of The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Cloud Camp and The Broadmoor Fishing Camp.”

They continue to improve and advance The Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which has been serving for more than 125 years to the top of “America’s Mountain.”

They take pride in being stewards of a treasured jewel – the Seven Falls – reimagining and reopening it for families to explore and enjoy after the devastating floods in 2013.

Activities and adventures have been added, like fly-fishing, falconry, tomahawk throwing and archery, apart from

an unparalleled zip-lining adventure that takes the fearless adventure-seekers high above canyons and waterfalls.

The adventure traverses more than 566 hectares of scenic Colorado backcountry.

As part of its centennial, golf’s greats vied for the 2018 US Senior Open title – tickets starting to be on sale this summer (June to August in the Philippines).

There will be various ticket types for the four-day event – June 28-July 1– to suit everyone from avid golfers to families looking for a day of fun.

Officials said children aged 17 and below were admitted free with a ticketed adult.

High above Colorado Springs, adventurous guests can have a feast at the restorative nature of the Broadmoor Ranch at Emerald Valley which some say “soothes the soul and stimulates the senses.”

The Ranch sits in a lush valley surrounded by towering peaks and 40,468 hectares of the Pike National Forest where herds of deer abound.

A visitor may indulge in one of The

Ranch’s appointed cabins – strikingly beautiful by any standard.

Each of the cabins features gas fireplaces, rich furnishings, and modern amenities.

Soon as the Colorado sun illuminates the mountains, visitors can go fly fishing in pristine mountain lakes, hiking and biking along scenic trails, or exploring the mountains on horseback.

Later in the day visitors can unwind by soaking in an outdoor hot tub and sipping fine wine.

This, on a panoramic terrace while enjoying the beauty of a Rocky Mountain sunset.

For nearly 100 years, The Broadmoor has been a destination that has attracted celebrities, politicians, heads of state, athletes, artists and other high-profile figures.

Among them were Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez, three-time Olympic gold medalist in Beach Volleyball Kerri Walsh Jennings, Prince of Wales

Harry, tennis ace Venus Williams, and baseball Hall of Famer George Brett.

In the fine print of recent appearances from abroad include retired bank executive Joey Quinto of Dagupan City as well as family physician Hermione Mary Anne C. Santos of Toronto, her husband Gerry and son Aaron Maximilian and parents from Metro Manila in the Philippines.

The Broadmoor has also hosted intimate gatherings and a bevy of interestingly unique activities.

Bill Facella, director of Conference Management and Catering, says, “The beauty of events at The Broadmoor lies in the diversity of venues and experiences we can offer.

“Whether your vision is an elegant gala in the Main Ballroom, a casual reception at Seven Falls, or even a bowling tournament at Play, we can deliver an amazing event.”

Guests, who have experienced such an extraordinary welcome and hospitality, are not amazed.”

Rediscovering Sarangani’s underwater world SARANGANI Bay has been, for the longest time, among the country’s unheralded dive spots.

Kept under the radar for so long, this rich body of water is a secret no more as the Provincial Government of Sarangani and the Department of Tourism Region 12 recently held the first-ever Sarangani Dive Safari.

Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, Provincial Tourism Council Chairman Michelle Lopez-Solon, and DoT 12 Regional Director Nelly Nita Dillera welcomed the divers and underwater photographers from Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

“It takes tough people like you coming from different regions outside of Sarangani to come and experience what we have, and tell the whole world how beautiful Sarangani Bay is,” said Dillera.

“We are trying to recover the negative impressions of Mindanao, and through you, we can change this reaction and promote Sarangani as a new diving destination,” she added.

One of the country’s unheralded beautiful bays, the province of Sarangani has been proclaimed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as a Protected Sea-

Sarangani Bay’s Lemlunay House Reef (left) and Maasim Reef (right). Photos by Uwe Michaelis

scape and listed as one of the country’s Key Marine Biodiversity Areas.

It covers an area of 215,950 hectares with a 226.4-km coastline, covering the municipalities of Maitum, Kiamba,

Divers prepare to plunge in Sarangani Bay, which is proclaimed a Protected Seascape

Maasim, Alabel, Malapatan and Glan in Sarangani, and General Santos City.

“We are doing marine preservation efforts as we are in the middle of a protected seascape. We have whale sharks, sperm whales, yellow fin tuna, pilot whales, dolphins, clown fishes, lion fishes, sergeant fishes, and sea turtles,” Solon, a certified diver, enthused, adding, “We are happy that you are here and help us spread the good news for the future of diving tourism in Mindanao.”

Its coral resources cover more than 2,293 hectares spread over 20 coral reef areas with about 60 important live hard coral genera, 411 reef species in 46 families. Seagrass cover is placed at 912 hectares, with 11 species in the coastal towns.

The Dive Safari exploration is a mixture of easy and difficult dives. Upon reaching Lemlunay Resort in Maasim town, a night dive was immediately scheduled. This dive took place at the house reef, where some critters come out only at night. An interesting marine behavior the divers witnessed was a bob head squid feasting on a shrimp. Other

critters that showed up were cuttlefishes, nudies, a lobster, Spanish dancer, and parrot fish.

Lemlunay, which means “paradise” in the Blaan tribal language, has the South Point Divers shop, which is the only dive center in the province. Just below it is the Tinoto Wall or Tinoto Express, known for drift diving.

The following day’s dive was at Tuka Marine Park in Kiamba town. The divers experienced some current and low visibility, which are natural elements in diving, depending on the season.

The two dive sites revealed one-ofa-kind giant bump head parrot fishes, approximately two meters long, looking like a herd of cows underwater. These gentle giants are found in the shallow waters at around 10 feet, and can be seen even by snorkeling. Other interesting marine life found included dorid nudis, various chromodiris, batfishes, and sea turtles.

Not for the faint of heart, this dive is more for advanced divers. Experienced divers witnessed strong currents, did negative entries, and used a descent line

to reach down to Maasim Reef. The bottom offered better visibility, milder current, and a more astounding garden of marine flora.

The reef boasts of juvenile whitetipped sharks nestling under a table coral, as well as huge fan corals and gigantic batfishes.

Derived from huge, sloping rocks descending to the bottom of the dive site, this boasts of colorful fishes, surrounding colorful sea fans. It is home to a school of napoleon wrasse, and a ribbon eel. Soft and hard corals decorated the rocky area, with sea stars basking in the rays penetrating through the waters.

It was an easy drift dive, which eventually led the divers back to the Lemlunay house reef.

The success of the Dive Safari is just the initial step in promoting dive tourism in the province, in line with the DOT 12’s “Sox is Next” campaign.

And with a profusion of an amazing marine life, Sarangani’s underwater world packs a knockout punch just like its famed boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.

Life

D2

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Delightful Spain MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

T

HIS Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula is not only an attractive and interesting country to visit but is also a foodie’s paradise! In fact, talking to Spaniards who are familiar with the evolution of their country’s popular dishes makes for a very engaging and enlightening conversation. Take a look at these trivia.

Tapas, the Spanish word to refer to the various appetizers that start any Spanish meal, is “cover” in English, literally.

In the early days of Spain, cocktail drinks were served in glasses covered on top with a small plate containing small slices of cheese, ham, olives, etc. The plate actually had a dual purpose, to serve the snack and to cover the glass from flies or dust. Until now, appetizers served as part of a Spanish meal are called tapas, even if they’re no longer used to cover the mouths of cocktail glasses.

The very popular Paella Valenciana originated, as the name says, in Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, found on the eastern coast. This colorful city is now known for its City of Arts and Sciences, a huge park with futuristic structures including a planetarium, an interactive museum and a very large oceanarium.

The dish itself is a showcase of Spanish culinary wizardry. The original and authentic Paella Valenciana calls for chicken and rabbit meat mixed with white rice, seasoned with garlic, olive oil, salt and just enough saffron to give it a nice yellow color.

A popular variation of this dish is the Arroz Negre, which is cooked the same way as the traditional Paella but, as the name says, is colored black by the squid ink, which also enhances the seafood flavor of the dish. Adding to the rich shellfish flavor of this culinary specialty, which is sometimes referred to as Paella Negra, are crabmeat, shrimp, garlic, green pepper, sweet paprika and olive oil.

Arroz Negre is very popular in the Catalan region, the northern part of Spain, where Barcelona, the second biggest city, is located. Aside from the dialect, which differs from Spanish because of its

The futuristic architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain is eye candy for any tourist

The Jamon Serrano, shown here at Market Café’s buffet, is a much sought after ‘tapa’

French and Portuguese influence, Barcelona is also known as the City of Gaudi.

Antonio Gaudi is best known for his Modernism, a highly individualized and distinctive style. Of course, his magnum opus is the Catedral de la Sagrada Familia, the tourist attraction that is synonymous with Barcelona.

And did you know that everybody’s favorite, the Cochinillo Asado, or Roasted Suckling Pig, originated as early as the 9th Century in the Kingdom of Castile, which is now North-Central Spain? This region produced the Spanish nobleman, military leader and diplomat known as El Cid Campeador. I remember the movie about him with Charlton Heston portraying the role.

The city of Burgos, in Castile, is now known for the historical and beautiful Burgos Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are many other culinary specialties with interesting historical significance. These make Spain fascinating for tourists who want to dig deeper

Antonio Gaudi’s ‘Obra Maestra’— La Catedral de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

into a country’s evolution. The country Peninsula. It would be interesting to has also become a typical foodie’s de- check out how much history and culture light, not only because these popular is attached to every dish that is offered dishes are usually on the buffet and, synonymous with mind you, there are celebrations, fesa lot of delicious YOUR SATURDAY tivities, and weekchoices to keep you CHUCKLE end family gathbusy and satisfied erings, but also with.

FAT LADY: Give me some because they really Aside from Tapas, advice that can reduce my size. create a most colorwith Jamon Serrano HEALTH EXPERT: OK, you ful, festive, rich as its signature offermust move your head to the and vibrant gastroing, the Market Café right, then to the left at a nomic experience. buffet also features particular time.

Thanks to New delectable Spanish FAT LADY: At which particular World Manila specialties such as time?”

Bay’s amiable genPorchetta, Paella VaHEALTH EXPERT: Whenever eral manager, Mark lenciana, Arroz Neanybody asks you to eat.

Heywood, who is gre, Cordero Asado, always initiating Caldereta de Corinteresting events nero, Cochinillo, and for the hotel, ongoing until Aug. 31 at many more. All these point out why Spain the Market Café is Flavors of Spain. has, through the years, been looked up as This culinary festival will make those the destination for travelers who want only with good appetites rediscover treas- the best and the most exquisite taste on their ured heirloom dishes from the Iberian dinner table.

The past few years have seen Spain rise to the top of the list of the world’s favorite foodie destinations. It could be the diversity in the culture from the country’s different regions that has made Spain’s culinary output very interesting. Those from the Basque region have their own specialties, different from those of the Catalans, and certainly distinct from those of the Galicians, which are different from those of the Valencians.

Yet, this varied set of cuisines also influence each other, piecing together a bigger picture that is a strong magnet for foodies of all ages and persuasions.

But, of course, the real delight of Spain is that, wherever you go, there is a big chance that you will discover a new culinary masterpiece that is guaranteed to tickle your palate. And, with a glass of sangria on the other hand, that gastronomic discovery will surely merit space in your personal journal.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

Elecom Tech Backpacks perfect for digital junkies

Citadines offers a vibrant way to live in the city

Vibrant city living in Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila VIBRANT city living will soon come to Ortigas center as Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila opens its doors to the public on the second quarter of the year. The opening marks the entry of the largest international serviced-residence owner-operator in the country, The Ascott Limited, to the northern part of Manila.

A briefing of the new international serviced residence was recently organized for the media led by Arthur Gindap, regional general manager for The Ascott Limited in the Philippines and Thailand, who explained that the new international serviced residence is designed for young business executives and leisure travelers who are looking for an ideal home within the city.

Melesa “Elsie” Chua, president and chief-executive-officer of CDC Holdings, Inc. was also present in the briefing. Joining her were Charlene Chua, CDC Holdings Inc., COO and vicepresident for sales marketing, Glenn Magalang, Citadines Millenium Ortigas Manila residence manager, and Richie Cua, senior manager.

“By building Citadines Millenium Ortigas Manila in the central business and commercial district of Ortigas, we are providing our future residents with a space where they can both work and enjoy a dynamic city lifestyle,” Gindap shared.

Learn more about Citadines Millenium Ortigas Manila. Visit www.citadines.com or call 814-6888.

DIGITAL savvies are always on the lookout for tools that allow them to better keep up with today’s fastpaced, dynamic lifestyle. But aside from having the latest gadgets, digital junkies should also be armed with storage solutions that keep their devices protected at all times. And this is where Elecom, an international brand featuring innovative Japanese technology, rises to the rescue with Elecom Tech Backpacks, which enable digital savvies to pack in tech and daily essentials for their daily hustles.

Here are some ways Elecom Tech Backpacks enrich digital junkies’ lives.

All the essentials in a single bag. Students and young professionals alike can simultaneously bring their laptop along while keeping important monthly reports and class assignments clean and creasefree, thanks to the BM-BP04BPK Backpack’s twochamber structure, which allows users to stash devices and documents separately.

Those who need to bring along laptops, documents, and even a tablet computer also won’t go wrong with the BM-B03BK’s three-chamber structure, which offers even more storage space.

Easy organization. Elecom Tech Backpacks are thoughtfully designed with smaller interior and front pockets for small, bulky, or odd-shaped devices.

Users can also easily and comfortably store and access essentials such as note-

books, planners, wallets, cords, and tech paraphernalia through backpack front pockets.

Elecom Tech Backpacks allow users to stay more organized and ready, even when on the go. Pull out a notebook as soon as an idea strikes, or quickly access your earphones for easy listening whenever, wherever!

S a f e a n d

Elecom Backpacks are perfect for techsavvy individuals who need a reliable bag to carry their stuff

snug. Worried about devices jostling around inside a bag when on the move? Elecom Tech Backpacks have the right protection solution—its laptop compartments and docks are made with innovative, high-quality materials that protect devices from scratches and shock caused by regular movement.

Elecom Tech Backpacks have cushioned compartments, which ensure laptops are tucked tightly even when users are brisk walking or on a bumpy car ride!

Comfortable to carry around.

Carrying devices while riding the MRT or power walking to the office won’t feel like a burden with Elecom Tech Backpacks, which are engineered for comfort. Both the BMBP03BK and BMBP04BK backpacks feature a chest belt, which help distribute weight evenly across the user’s body and prevent users from being bogged down with heavy loads for long periods.

The chest belt can also be adjusted to accommodate different body types for ultimate comfort.

All-around protection.

Aside from cushioning delicate electrical devices with smart structural design and innovative materials, Elecom Tech Backpacks also have waterproof pockets and a built-in rain cover conveniently contained in the bottom pocket. All it takes is one swift motion to cover the entire bag in waterproof material and protect all the essentials inside.

As all-weather bags, Elecom Tech Backpacks are stylishly functional and help users accomplish their tasks in spite of unpredictable weather conditions.

Get #ReadyToGo with #ElecomPH, now available in Elecom outlets at SM Fairview, SM North EDSA, SM Marikina, SM Southmall and Solenad.

Elecom is also available in all Urbanize outlets nationwide.

For more information on Elecom Tech Backpacks and other smart luggage solutions, log on to www.elecom. ph or www.urbanize.com.ph, like Elecomph or urbanizeph on Facebook, and follow @elecom.ph on Instagram.

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

Nigerian debuts as RECORDING ARTIST IN PH

O

NE of the biggest revelations from last year’s hit reality singing competition, I Love OPM, was Moses Akoh, a Nigerian student and praise/ worship leader who wowed the audience and judges with his rendition of South Border’s classic hit, “Kahit Kailan.”

PINOY AT HEART.

Nigerian singer and "I Love OPM" alumnus Moses Akoh launches a recording career in the Philippines

Apart from his perfect enunciation and tone, (he’s fluent in both English and Tagalog) the burly singer won the audience over as soon as he hit that quintessential high note.

More than his voice, the judges were also impressed by Moses’ love for the Philippines and the Filipino people. As Martin Nievera remarked, “If we could love our country the way you do, what a country we would have.

That’s one lesson we should learn with this show.”

He may not have won the grand prize, but his soulful style and unpretentious demeanor caught the attention of RnB King, Jay-R, who saw great potential in him and took him under his HomeWorkZ

Music roster.

With his singing talent, it’s only a matter of time before this Moses writes his own commandments and sparks his own upheaval in the local music industry.

Soft-spoken and humble, the aspiring singer acknowledges the importance of originality and strives to find his own unique sound and niche.

Moses says, “I think we live in an evolving world, one that is constantly changing in a dynamic manner. To stay relevant in this ever-changing world, especially in the area of music, originality has and newness has to be at the forefront of our creative process.

People are always in search

of something new and we, as musicians, cannot afford to be left behind, and keep chewing on past glories and sounds, when we can explore the new frontiers.

Excellence is the key.”

Despite having spent most of his singing stints backed up by a choir, Moses found himself in a totally new but challenging environment when he was asked to participate in HomeWorkZ Music’s Original Music Only concert tour, held recently in some of the metro’s club circuit as well as key U.S. cities.

He exclaimed, “One word ‘FANTASTIC. At first, I didn’t know what to expect, but as everyone began to perform their originals, I got to appreciate the

creativity of everyone and how hard they worked to get their music done, with excellence.

“I got to be blessed with the amazing talent of all the HomeWorkZ artists and even the guest performers. For me, I was full of joy to have been able to bring my message of Jesus to the bar setting -- bringing worship to the bars. My heart desire is to see people get closer to The Father above, through my music.”

Moses’ fans need not wait further. Under Jay-R’s mentorship and musical guidance, Moses’ debut album, The Sound will be out anytime soon.

And when that time comes, thou shalt listen.

Cebuana model is Mutya’s Darling of the Press Thirty Mutya ng Pilipinas 2017 beauties presented to the press on July 20 at Hotel 101 in Pasay City

STATUESQUE Ilene de Vera, a 5-foot-9 part-time model in Cebu and a student of mass communication at the University of the Philippines-Cebu, was voted Darling of the Press during the press presentation of the 30 candidates for the 49th Mutya ng Pilipinas search at Hotel 101 in Pasay City.

At stake are the titles of Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International 2017, Mutya ng Pilipinas –Tourism International 2017 and Mutya ng PilipinasOverseas Communities 2017 who will compete in Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss Tourism International and Miss

Tourism Queen of the Year International.

The 30 candidates will have a hectic schedule of preliminary activities leading to the Grand Coronation Night on Aug. 4 at Newport Performing Arts Theater and telecast at 10 a.m. on ABS CBN, Aug. 6.

The preliminaries include the Swimsuit competition at Hannah’s Beach Resort in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Designers’ competition-Regional Costume at The Plaza, Resorts World Manila; and Long Gown competition at Alta D’Tagaytay in Tagaytay City.

Founded in 1968, the Mutya

ng Pilipinas quest, under its new president, Hemilyn Escudero, promotes “Beauty Tourism” within the greater Asia Pacific with the direct participation of several overseas Filipino communities, and is inspired by its guiding thrust to assist in promoting Tourism, Social Responsibility, Fashion and Beauty pageantry.

The rest of the 30 candidates are Kristine Eiriele Nolasco – Bulacan, Chrystal Rosehelly Alday - Camarines Sur, Pamela Bianca Villacorte – Cavite, Arianne Deseree Viardo – Pampanga, Shaina Micaella Bello - Caloocan City, Alyssa

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, July 29, 2017

ACROSS 1 Dry off 5 “PTI” channel 9 Mesa dweller 13 Fraud 14 You, once 15 Fridge maker 17 Get poison ivy 18 Chopped down 19 Causes to lean 20 Bullfighter 22 Flying machines 24 Mispronounces 26 Fruit cake ingredient 27 Strange 30 Bring into accord 32 Two-person bike 34 Mongkut portrayer 35 Drown a donut 39 RN colleagues 40 Car-crash protection (2 wds.)

43 For shame!

44 Puts 46 “— -Pan” (Clavell novel) 47 Fix a boot 49 Rushing sound 52 Painter’s device 53 Sorer 56 Emulates Galen 58 Value

60 Accidents 64 Long-distance charges 65 House shaders 67 Lotion ingredient 68 Trapshooting 69 Sense 70 Kennel noise 71 Terminates 72 Driftwood bringer 73 Kilt sporter DOWN 1 Odd notion 2 Tad 3 International agreement 4 Breathed out 5 Social mores 6 Everest guide 7 Bam! 8 Now, to Caesar 9 Chapeau securer 10 Skipped 11 Less tanned 12 Opening remarks 16 Org. 21 Informal restaurant 23 Of the eyes 25 In vogue 27 Banking conveniences

28 Put cargo aboard 29 Part of MIT 31 Place to soak 33 Drives along 36 Tabloid topics 37 Shade of green 38 Boat’s bottom 41 Thai neighbor 42 Film spools 45 Eddied 48 Struts 50 Steals 51 — in (surrounded)

53 Takes steps 54 Misplay due to nervousness 55 Hayes or Reddy 57 Walkway 59 Weight 61 Actor — Guinness 62 Game with mallets 63 Equinox mo.

66 Aloha token

Joreen Reyes - Lemery, Batangas, Charlene Fontanilla Valenzuela City, Nichole Kristel Losloso - Southern Luzon, Sandrianne Esquilona – Tarlac, Claire Yvonne Aznar – Davao, Angela Carla Sandigan – Pateros, Maxine Xanti Manalis - Central Luzon, Stephanie Joy Pendon - Antipolo City, Darlene May Reyes –Singapore, Bertmari Bergmannsdottr – Iceland, Suzanne Perez – California, Rica Sey – Australia, Nicole Marie Deguilmo -United Kingdom and Savannah Mari Gankiewicz–Hawaii.

Eton B. Concepcion /Photos: Edmund Chua

Fiercest ninja warriors back in ‘Team Ninja Warrior’ on AXN THE competition gets tougher in the world’s most intense obstacle course in the epic reality show Team Ninja Warrior’s second season in August on AXN. The upcoming season once again features some of the biggest names from the American Ninja Warrior franchise as they battle it out in the dual running course with even more challenging obstacles, incorporating speed, human agility, skill, and a whole new strategy of racing.

Competitors form the toughest 28 teams yet, each with two males and one female, race sideby-side against each other on the world’s most challenging and physically demanding obstacle

course to earn the ultimate ninja bragging rights and to be crowned Team Ninja Warrior champions.

Comedian Matt Iseman and former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila return as hosts for Season 2, with sportscaster Alex Curry as the sideline reporter.

Team Ninja Warrior Season 2 premieres Aug. 7 and airs every Monday at 8:50 p.m. on AXN. AXN is available on SKYCable Channel 49, Destiny Cable Channel 61, Cignal Channel 121, Dream Satellite TV Channel 20, G Sat Channel 51, and Cablelink Channel 38. AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247.

Contestants outperforming each other in a gruelling obstacle course in "Team Ninja Warrior"

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

By Nickie Wang

“L

OOK at my concert poster. It looks so grand,” Celeste Legaspi mused while pointing to the backdrop of the stage outside The Theater at Solaire where she welcomed a few members of the press. “Yes! It looks very theatrical,” we retorted.

The poster, which appeared as if she were emerging from behind the theater curtain, speaks so much of the kind of artist she was during her prime and the kind of music advocate she is nowadays—very dynamic and full of life.

During her heyday in the ‘70s, when every singer capitalized on sentimentality, Legaspi infused elements of blues into her singing. Hers is a distinct voice that you’ll never get tired of

listening to and humming along with.

With singles and albums that have reached gold and platinum status, Celeste Legaspi went on to conquer more heights with accolades and awards including Outstanding Performance Award from the Song Festival in Tokyo, Japan in 1976, Tinig Awards for live entertainment (1977, 1979, and 1990) and the Aliw Award for Entertainer of the Year (1978).

Touted as a legendary singer, the actress and music icon is the voice behind timeless classics like “Tuliro,” “Sabado,” “Mamang Sorbetero,” and “Saranggola Ni Pepe,” to name a few. On the silver screen, people best remember her in Lino Brocka’s Sa Kabila Ng Lahat, Mario O’Hara’s Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak, and Ishmael Bernal’s Wating.

In recent years, she has earned the admiration of an entirely new generation of viewers in her theatrical forays in Katy and Larawan The Musical, and in her acting stint in the GMA7 series Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real where she was properly elegant as Maricel Soriano’s protective mother.

It has been a long time since we last heard

Celeste Legaspi perform on the concert stage.

It has been three decades to be exact. Hence, the 67-year-old OPM icon had mixed emotions when she was talking about what people can expect from the concert billed simply as Celeste.

“I have all the reasons to be nervous, I’m only human and besides I have not mounted any concert in a long time. Though I do get nervous all the time, I’ve learned how to relax before I perform,” Legaspi told Manila Standard.

Another thing that made Legaspi feel apprehensive in mounting a solo concert is the fact that she was away from the concert circuit for decades, the audience of today might not be able to relate with her music. But like her other showbiz endeavors, she’s found a new set of followers who were not even born yet when her music ruled the airwaves.

“Honestly, it’s nakakaaliw. It’s one of the best gifts God has given me. It’s the music that can still speak to the younger generation.

Like ‘Tuliro,’ I was talking with Edgar San Diego, who’s a designer, and his daughter is a millennial and absolutely likes the song.”

Featuring The Company and with Ryan

Cayabyab as musical director, the concert lineup would be in the perspective of her father’s (National Artist for Visual Arts Cesar Legaspi) contribution to the country and within the tapestry of the music she created in the past.

“This concert is extra special since it coincides with my father’s centennial. What better way to honor him than to stage a concert in his memory,” shared the OPM singer.

Solaire is bent to be a home for the best Filipino artists. So, after the huge success of Basil Valdez’s concert at the Theatre at Solaire, Audie Gemora, Solaire Entertainment director, said that “it makes perfect sense to bring the original diva Celeste Legaspi next.

You will notice that in the last two years, Solaire has been at the forefront of bringing back OPM concerts which for the longest time have dwindled due to foreign acts.”

Celeste on Aug. 5 at The Theatre at Solaire promises to be a nostalgic night that will also be a tribute show for the Queen That Rules The Hearts of All. For tickets, call Ticketworld at 8919999.

OPM DIVA. Local music icon Celeste Legaspi celebrates her father's centennial through a concert, which repertoire ranges from timeless classics to anthemic songs she popularized throughout the decades.

CELESTE LEGASPI

back on the concert stage IAN VENERACION

takes on a new advocacy UNITED Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB) officially welcomes multifaceted celebrity Ian Veneracion as the newest addition to its roster of brand ambassadors. Veneracion, who currently stars in ABS-CBN’s primetime show A Love to Last, has been chosen to advocate for Conzace, the no.1 prescribed brand for multivitamin plus minerals by general practitioners and dermatologists in the country.

“It is an honor and privilege to be part of the UNILAB family for its multivitamin brand, Conzace,” proclaims Veneracion while adding, “I am grateful for this opportunity, and I strongly believe that the product can be beneficial to millions of Filipinos as it has been beneficial to me.”

According to Conzace Assistant Product Manager Mike Jimenez, the addition of Veneracion is a perfect match for the brand.

“Ian is the epitome of superior immunity and good looks,” he says.

Jimenez elaborates on the actor and the product’s connection.

“Conzace’s clinically-proven ZACE formulation, an acronym for Zinc, Vitamins A, C, and E, makes it the no.1 multivitamin and minerals product prescribed

by General Practitioners and Dermatologists. The same can be said about our brand ambassador, Ian, whose credibility allows him to ace his craft with one successful teleserye and movie after another.”

The face of Conzace People born in the late ‘70s remember Veneracion as the cute and charming Jeffrey Laperal, the son of Joey de Leon in the 1982 sitcom Joey and Son. From then on, he went to appear in more television projects while simultaneously making films that range from comedy to drama to action. Among his most recent includes the internationally acclaimed psychological thriller, Bliss,and a Filipino independent supernatural horror film, Ilawod.

Now at 42, Veneracion has again endeared himself to today’s generation as Engineer Antonio “Anton” Noble IV, the dashing, separated with three kids guy who falls in love with another broken soul. And of course before, as Eduardo Buenavista in the 2015 remake of

‘Pangako Sa Yo,’ the role that regained Veneracion’s fame and his career to leading man stature.

And then there’s that totally different side of Veneracion that is separate from showbusiness. Apart from being an actor, he is also a painter, an athlete, a pilot, a chef, and a family man—the last being his favorite role to play.

But to be all that, Veneracion needs a multivitamin and minerals that will help him cope, not just with his busy schedule, but with the different roles that he has to play in life. “I need strong immunity as well as healthy skin and hair, I cannot afford to get sick, and look stressed—I am glad I have Conzace to give me all that and more.”

The ZACE effect Compared to other multivitamins, Conzace has the highest levels of ZACE combined. All these elements play different roles in one’s wellbeing. “This unique formulation in Conzace creates a synergistic effect that is clinically proven to help boost immunity, promote healthy skin and hair, and assist in wound healing as it speeds up skin regeneration,” says Jimenez.

Veneracion, speaking from experience, explains it better, “It’s the little things that we don’t normally notice, like for example, stronger resistance against colds and flu, better and clearer skin, shinier and healthier hair. It will do amazing things; you can do more and be more for yourself, for your family, for your work without being disrupted.

“I believe that if you are healthy inside, it just comes out. It reflects physically—in your hair and in your skin. And in the line of job that I am in, it is quite important that I don’t just don’t look good but really be healthy,” Veneracion concludes.

Kapuso stars Glaiza de Castro (left) and Jennylyn Mercado (right) bring joy to our kababayan in Toronto and Vancouver

GMA Pinoy TV celebrates

Philippine Independence Day in Canada AFTER a lively Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto with Kapuso Ultimate Star Jennylyn Mercado and Boobay, GMA Pinoy TV brings Kapuso actress Glaiza de Castro in Vancouver to headline Pinoy Fiesta: Unang Hirit sa Tag-Init in continuation of its Philippine Independence celebrations in Canada.

Jennylyn and Boobay pulled out all the stops for a series of performances during the Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto on June 24. The crowd at Metro Toronto Convention Center was on their feet and cheering wildly for their idols.

Apart from rocking the stage with a mix of song and dance numbers, they participated in a couple of activities before and during the show. Mercado crowned the new winners of Miss Philippines Canada, and Boobay hosted a gay beauty pageant in commemoration of Pride Month. Up-and-coming Kapuso artist Shanaia Gomez, a first runner-up in Miss Philippines Canada 2016, joined them.

Mercado shared that her favorite part of the program was witnessing the crowd having a great time during the event.

“Nakakataba po ng puso na makitang masayang-masaya ang mga Kapuso natin sa Canada! I felt their love and

support, and they continue to be a source of inspiration for me,” said the My Love from the Star actress. Similarly, Boobay was all praises for the crowd. “Ako po ay super overwhelmed sa napakainit na pagtanggap ng ating mga Kapuso dito sa Toronto! Iba talaga, sobrang taas po ng energy nila!,” Glaiza de Castro, who wowed viewers with her stunning portrayal of Pirena in the recently concluded and highly successful telefantasya Encantadia, is pumped to party with her kababayans at the Pinoy Fiesta: Unang Hirit sa Tag-Init on Aug. 13 in Vancouver.

“I’m always excited whenever I’m given opportunities to travel and meet our kababayan and Kapuso abroad,” said De Castro on being a part of this year’s event. “Sobrang nakakatuwa kapag nakikita mo silang masaya lalo na kapag nakakarinig ka ng mga kwento nila. Nakaka-inspire,” she added.

Fans of Glaiza’s music are in for a musical treat as they will be the first ones to hear live renditions of the artist’s newest songs. “I will be singing songs from my new album Magandang Simulain, and some revivals, as well. So, sana sabay-sabay kaming magkantahan para mas masaya,” said the actressslash-singer-songwriter.