Manila Standard - 2017 August 12 - Saturday

China: Tone down rhetoric CHINA pleaded with the United States and North Korea to tone down their fiery rhetoric on Friday as concerns grew that Pyongyang’s rogue arms programme could trigger a catastrophic conflict.

Beijing’s appeal followed an escalation of a war of words between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un’s nuclear-armed regime.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang called on both sides to avoid “going down the old path of alternately showing strength and continuously escalating the situation”.

“We call on the relevant parties to be cautious with their words and actions, and contribute more toward easing tensions and enhancing mutual trust,” Geng Next page said in a statement.

VOL. XXXI • NO. 179 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

6.3 quake jolts MM, Luzon

By Rio N. Araja and Joel Zurbano

STRONG TREMOR. Employees of the Government Service Insurance System (above) as well as employees of the Metro Manila Development Authority (right top and below) stay out of their respective buildings at past noon afyer a major tremor rumbles underneath Luzon, including Metro Manila, causing buildings in the metropolis to sway and suspension of classes in some schools in the National Capital Region. Lino Santos/Norman Cruz

Bautista faces impeachment

A MAGNITUDE 6.3 earthquake rocked Luzon, including Metro Manila, Friday at 1:28 p.m., causing buildings in the metropolis to sway and suspension of classes in some schools in the National Capital Region.

With a depth of 177 kilometers, Jay Gallardo from the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology Institute’s seismological earthquake monitoring division told the Manila Standard huge aftershocks were unlikely, adding “the area movement of the quake was too deep.”

This was unlike the magnitude 5.5 quake that hit Tingloy, Batangas last April 4, which had “a depth of seven kms.”

Aftershocks of magnitudes 4.4 and 4.9 were recorded from the tremor, whoise epicenter was in Nasugbu, Batangas, south of Manila.

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Lawyer files complaint with Ombudsman Honasan posts bail on 2 graft charges

By Macon R. Araneta SENATOR Gringo Honasan on Friday posted a 60,000-peso bail on the two counts of graft charges he is facing for the alleged misuse of his priority development assistance funds.

Region 4-A police director Ma.O Aplasca said Honasan had just completed posting bail, and that booking procedures were earlier conducted at the Biñan City Police Station.

He said the court sheriff will deliver to the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court the bail within the day for appropriate action.

An initial report showed that Honasan went to the Biñan police station around 7:30 a.m. accompanied by his lawyer Dennis Manalo.

He posted his bail after 10 a.m. at the office of Biñan City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Teodoro Solis as confirmed by his staff. A release order for Honasan was issued by the same court.

Honasan has maintained his innocence on the charges against him for his alleged misuse of P30 million of his PDAF funds in 2012.

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FORMER Marcos lawyer has filed an impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Andres Bautista with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Oliver Lozano, 77, confirmed that he filed the impeachmen complaint against Bautista before the Ombudsman and not before Congress.

“Yes, I filed the complaint last Monday,” Lozano told the Manila Standard.

“Under the Ombudsman law, the Ombudsman has jurisdiction, power and authority to investigate all impeachable officials and

to file an impeachment complaint if evidence warrants the filing.”

Lozano made his statement even as the Presidential Commission on Good Government said ti was conducting a separate investigation on the allegations its former head and now Commission on Elections chairman Andres Bautista has accumulated hidden wealth worth P1 billion, an official said Friday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II made the revelation after meeting with acting PCGG Chairman Reynaldo Munsayac and two other commissioners― Rey Bulay and John Agbayani― who provided him with documents on the possible anomalies involving Bautista.

Aguirre said the documents pertained to “cases of possible ghost employees, travel violations not in accordance with administrative procedure.”

However, he admitted that the PCGG probe was still in the initial stage.

Bautista was PCGG chairman from 2010 up to 2015 before he Next page

By John Paolo Bencito THE military on Friday warned that debris from North Korean missiles might fall on the northern parts of the country if they disintegrate in the atmosphere.

“Debris… may scatter around in the area of its trajectory,” Armed Forces spokesman Brig.

Gen. Restituto Padilla said. “It could hit some northern coastal areas. We have to forewarn our citizens to be on the lookout.”

“On the civil defense side, we are preparing,” he added.

On Thursday, nuclear-armed North Korea announced a detailed plan to send a salvo of four missiles over Japan and towards the US territory of Guam.

HOMELESS IN THE RAINS. Nearly 5,000 residents of 300 houses made of light materials beside Talayan River in Quezon City watch helplessly as fire – where one was reported killed – gutted their block shortly before rains poured down on the erstwhile capital Friday. Manny Palmero

Battle for Marawi costs P3b, and still rising—AFP

By Florante S. Solmerin THE war against the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terror groups in Marawi City has already cost the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at least P3 billion, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Friday.

The amount is rising, he added, as the battle to retake Marawi con-

AFP warns of Nokor’s nuclear missile debris

tinues.

Lorenzana made the disclosure amid rumors of irregularities in some emergency arms purchases that do not require public bidding.

“We have not collated the figures, but the Army... [has] already spent about P1.3 billion. And that’s just the Army,” Lorenzana said in Filipino. “That doesn’t include the twitter.com/ MlaStandard

Air Force or the Marines, so what we have spent since the start is about P2.5 billion to P3 billion.”

He said the money was spent to meet an emergency, and he was hopeful that Congress would replenish those funds, particularly those used for helmets, bulletproof vests, night vision goggles and bullets.

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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Terrorists who have declared allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked Marawi on May 23. Some 500 of the terrorists from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups have been killed since then, and 125 soldiers have died in the fighting. Forty-five civilians also died and scores have been

manilastandard.net

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The scheme to target the island, a key US military stronghold, was intended as a warning” to the United States, after US President Donald Trump said North Korea faced “fire and fury like the world has never seen.”

The war of words over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs is raising fears of a miscalculation that could lead to catastrophic consequences on the Korean peninsula and beyond.

Last month, North Korea carried out two successful tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile, bringing much of the US mainland within its range.

Padilla said Pyongyang’s threat was a source of concern for the entire region.

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Duterte: Up to House to probe Customs mess

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon RamosAraneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will not interfere in congressional inquiries into how a shipment of shabu worth P6.4 billion slipped through Customs examiners in May, the Palace said Friday “The President said he does not intervene in matters like this. He will allow the process to unfold,”

presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

“I think it’s not unusual that he’s quiet about that,” Abella added. “It’s simply saying that he will not interfere because the process has begun.”

But Duterte on Friday denied reports linking his son, Davao City Mayor Paolo Duterte, to the Customs mess.

“Those are allegations, they are just using our name,” the President said.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

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DFA disputes reclamation tale

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

T

HE Department of Foreign Affairs has claimed no reclamation happened in the Paracels in the West Philippine Sea before the Asean Ministers Meeting this month.

The DFA disclaimer appeared to be in response to a statement by

the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which refuted Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s and the Chinese Foreign Minister’s claim that reclamation had long been halted in the disputed South China Sea. “While land reclamation activities have taken place in the Paracels in the previous months based on the AMTI report, the same report did not indicate that such activity was (sic) taking place prior to the AMM,” the DFA said.

The DFA also assured the pub-

lic that if ever there were reports that China was still building structures in the disputed sea, the agency would verify such activities.

“We would like to assure the public that if ever there are reports to the contrary, these will be carefully studied, verified and handled accordingly,” the DFA said.

In photos and documents published on Thursday, the AMTI of the CSIS showed that “Beijing continues to reclaim land farther north” of the South China Sea “in the Paracel Islands,” an area also claimed by Vietnam.

“China’s own reclamation work did not end in mid-2015

China protests US warship near reef BEIJING voiced displeasure on Friday after a US warship sailed near an artificial island in the disputed South China Sea, an operation that prompted the Chinese navy to warn off the American destroyer.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the actions of the USS John S. McCain had violated Chinese and international law, “seriously” impairing the country’s sovereignty and security.

“China is strongly dissatisfied with this,” Geng said in a statement, adding that Beijing would lodge an official protest with Washington.

The USS John S. McCain destroyer sailed within six nautical miles of Mischief Reef—an artificial island built by China— on Thursday as part of a “freedom of navigation” operation, a US official said.

The reef is part of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, which is the scene of rival claims between China and neighboring countries, including the Philippines, which calls it Panganiban Reef.

The Philippines did not object to the passage of the US destroyer.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the US official told the Agence France-Presse a Chinese frigate sent radio warnings at least 10 times to the USS McCain.

“They called and said ‘please turn around, you are in our waters’,” the official said. “We told them we are a US (ship) conducting routine operations in international waters.”

The official said the interactions were all “safe and professional,” with the operation lasting about six hours from start to finish, but Geng said such operations “seriously endanger lives.”

The freedom of navigation

operation was the third of its kind carried out by the United States since President Donald Trump took office in January.

The US move came four days after the United States, Australia and Japan denounced Beijing’s islandbuilding and militarization of the South China Sea on the sidelines of a security forum of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Manila.

China claims nearly all of the sea, through which $5 trillion in annual shipping trade passes and which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits.

Its sweeping claims overlap with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei—all Asean members—as well as Taiwan.

But in recent years Beijing has managed to weaken regional resistance by courting some Asean members.

On Sunday China scored a coup when Asean ministers issued a diluted statement on the dispute and agreed to its terms on talks at the Manila meeting.

China insists that a much-delayed code of conduct between it and Asean members over the disputed sea must not be legally binding, a demand to which Southeast Asian countries have so far acquiesced.

Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the situation in the South China Sea has “stabilized” due to the “joint efforts” of China and neighboring countries but the US operation threatened “peace and stability in the region.”

“The US military’s provocative actions will only encourage the Chinese military to further strengthen the defence capacity building and firmly defend national sovereignty and security,” Qian said. AFP, John Paolo Bencito

Honasan...

against the administration of President Corazon Aquino.

The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division ordered Honasan arrested for graft after it found probable cause to hold him for trial. A P30,00 bail bond was set for his provisional liberty.

The prosecutors earlier filed two graft information against Honasan for alleged graft.

From A1

“I am completely innocent of the charges against me,” Honasan said in a statement.

“All my life I have fought everything I am accused of, and I will continue to do so,” said the former army colonel who mounted several coup attempts

Duterte...

From A1

Expressing his disgust over people who were trying to implicate his children, Duterte reiterated his vow to resign if any of his offspring were found guilty of corruption.

Abella said it will be up to Duterte whether or not to fire Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, who recently took a medical leave.

“You know, whatever it is, it will have to be the President’s decision,” he said.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Rib-

bon committee, vowed to pursue his investigation into the shabu shipment, and how Customs officials mishandled the evidence when the drugs were found in a warehouse in Valenzuela.

“I have been asked why I want Commissioner Faeldon to resign.

My answer is not so much that I want him to; but, that his performance in the Bureau of Customs has proven to be a failure. He has placed himself in a position that is way above his head. Is there, thus, a need for a call for Faeldon’s resignation? No, he does not need prodding in that regard.

His dismal performance did him in,” Gordon said.

Gordon assailed bureau of-

with the completion of its artificial islands in the Spratlys. Beijing continues to reclaim land farther north in the Paracel Islands,” AMTI said.

It said the most recent examples of its reclamation were at Tree Island and North Island in the Amphitrite Group.

In August 2015, AMTI claimed two months after Wang Yi claimed all Chinese reclamation had ended, there was only a small amount of newly created land on the western end of Tree Island.

“China has since dredged a new harbor and added about 25 acres of additional land to the island,” the organization said.

AMTI also reported in February that China had completed a new helipad and installed wind turbines and two photovoltaic solar arrays on Tree Island.

The group also said that China began reclamation to connect North Island with the neighboring Middle Island in 2016, but the

land bridge was washed out by Typhoon “Sarika” last October.

But DFA spokesman Robespierre Bolivar maintained the Philippines did not receive any reports of reclamation.

“In general, if I’m not mistaken, the Philippines, did not receive any official reports of such activities,” Bolivar said.

The DFA said that Cayetano’s statement “during the press conference at the end of the Asean Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings on Tuesday must be taken in its full context.”

The DFA clarified that Cayetano might have admitted he wanted to remove the word reclamation in the joint communique, but the Asean decided to include the word.

“In describing the process of discussions during the AMM, the Secretary noted that each Asean Member State goes into the talks with both their own national perspectives and the larger regional

interest in mind,” the DFA said.

The position of the Philippines is just based on the latest intelligence report.

“The position of the Philippines is to always reflect the current situation in the West Philippine Sea and the foreign policy direction of the Philippines--which is not to surrender a single inch of Philippine territory while at the same time working towards good neighborly relations with other claimants--is always based on the latest intelligence we have on the ground,” the DFA stated.

Cayetano earlier admitted that he wanted to remove the word “reclamation” in the joint communique, because he claimed that it did not reflect the current situation in the disputed sea.

But Cayetano failed to persuade his fellow Foreign Ministers and included the issue of reclamation and militarization in the customary joint communique.

China:...

Kim’s regime to both Washington and its allies.

“It’s about time that somebody stuck up for the people of this country and for the people of other countries. So if anything, maybe that statement wasn’t tough enough,” Trump said.

Trump also said China, Pyongyang’s main diplomatic ally, could “do a lot more” to pressure Kim to end his country’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Geng’s statement did not address Trump’s latest criticism.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, however, appeared to step back from his boss’s dire rhetoric, describing the prospect of war as “catastrophic” and adding that diplomatic efforts to solve the North Korea nuclear crisis were yielding results.

Trump’s comments, made from his golf club retreat in New Jersey, came after the North announced a detailed plan to send four missiles over Japan and towards Guam, where some 6,000 US soldiers are based.

Pyongyang said the scheme to target the island, a key US military outpost in the western Pacific, was intended to “sig-

nal a crucial warning” as “only absolute force” would have an effect on a US leader “bereft of reason”.

But in a pointed warning that China may not back its old Korean War ally, a state-run newspaper said Friday that Beijing should not intervene on Pyongyang’s side if it triggered a conflict.

Beijing should “make clear that if North Korea launches missiles that threaten US soil first and the US retaliates, China will stay neutral,” the nationalistic Global Times said in an editorial.

‘Better get their act together’ The tough talk has caused global markets to plunge this week.

Relations between Washington and Pyongyang have been tense for months, in the wake of the North’s repeated missile tests, including two successful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches in July that brought much of the US mainland within range.

The barbs have raised fears of a miscalculation that could lead to catastrophic consequences on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. AFP

of power interruptions,” National Grid, operator of the country’s transmission network said.

National Grid was assessing Friday afternoon if there were damaged transmission facilities in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

At the same time, classes in some schools in the National Capital Region were suspended, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority.

First to declare no classes in all levels in both private and public schools was the Taguig City government.

“Following the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that rocked parts of Luzon this afternoon, classes in all levels (both public and private) in Taguig City are are suspended as of 2:30 p.m. today for safety reasons and as advised by the Taguig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Of-

fice,” said city’s Public Information Office stated in its advisory.

“This will also allow concerned authorities to conduct the requisite inspections to check the safety and structural integrity of all school buildings in the city as well as to check extent of damage, if any,” it added.

The city and municipal governments of Pasay and Pateros, respectively, also declared the cancellation of classes around 3 p.m.

Classes were also suspended at the De La Salle University campuses in cities of Manila and Makati, and in Bonifacio Global City; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Philippine Women’s University Manila, Far Eastern University Manila and Makati campuses, Manila Tytana Colleges and Lyceum of the Philippines University in Batangas.

In the Palace, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the peso’s decline to P51 to a US dollar was “nothing to be worried about” as concerns over

nuclear tensions between the US and North Korea weighed heavily on world markets.

“This is part of the economic cycle and there is nothing…to be overly concerned with,” Abella said.

“The economic fundamentals are still strong,” he added.

The peso weakened to P51.08

in early trading, its lowest since August 2006, according to data from Bloomberg. It opened at P50.90 from Thursday’s close of P50.795.

The peso has hovered at its lowest levels in 11 years in recent weeks as imports put pressure on the local currency.

ficials’ ignorance regarding the strict protocols needed in the handling of evidence when Customs personnel opened a cylinder filled with shabu without waiting for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a move that might make the drugs inadmissible as evidence in court.

“He bungled the anti-drug raid. None have been arrested for two-and-a-half months now, save fore the caretaker-cum-fall guy,” Gordon said.

Gordon also slammed Faeldon’s move to concentrate power by creating a Command Center that arrogated unto himself practically all law enforcement powers of the agency.

“This centralization of almost all the powers of the Bureau has resulted in making the entry of illegal drugs easier because of a slower reaction time to alert action requests,” Gordon said.

Gordon also cited the severe demoralization among the ranks of organic, experienced, and more knowledgeable personnel of the bureau, after Faeldon’s creation of “a super-elite group of like-minded ex-putschists,” centralizing in them all relevant powers of the BOC. “After surrounding himself with the wrong people on whom he’d depend, his vaunted ambition to improve the performance of the bureau has resulted in the

opposite. While the administration is waging an intensive war against illegal drugs and people allegedly involved in the drug trade are being killed, shipments containing kilos of drugs are allowed to pass through and enter the market right under their noses,” Gordon said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said there is a clamor for Faeldon’s resignation from both administration and opposition senators and congressmen after several hearings in both houses.

He noted that the bipartisan clamor should be enough basis for Malacanang to show Faeldon and a number of his people the door.

From A1

China has repeatedly called for a resumption of long-dormant six-party talks to peacefully resolve the mounting tensions, but its position has been overshadowed by the emerging game of brinkmanship.

Beijing’s proposal for North Korea to suspend its weapons programmes in exchange for the United States and South Korea to halt military drills has essentially been ignored.

President Donald Trump on Thursday hardened his warning that North Korea would face “fire and fury” if it kept threatening the US, saying maybe that tough talk “wasn’t tough enough”.

Trump also warned North Korea it should be “very, very nervous” of the consequences if it even thinks of attacking US soil, after Pyongyang said it was readying plans to launch missiles towards the Pacific territory of Guam.

The Republican billionaire dismissed any criticism of his “fire and fury” warning of Tuesday, citing threats made by

6.3 quake...

From A1

The Tingloy tremor jolted parts of Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Quezon, Pampanga, Camarines Norte and the National Capital Region’s Quezon City, Pasig City, Las Piñas City, Taguig City, Pasay City, Malabon City, Marikina City and Muntinlupa City.

Phivolcs gave assurances there would be “no destructive tsunami threat based on available data.”

Meanwhile, grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Friday said its power transmission services remained normal despite the earthquake.

“The grid remains intact as there had been no reported cases

AFP...

From A1

Bautista...

From A1

was appointed to head the Comelec. The PCGG is an attached agency of the Department of Justice.

“There was something suspicious when he was with the PCGG but that was the assessment of the three commissioners. Hopefully, this would be part of the report that will be submitted to us,” Aguirre said.

“Like the NBI, PCGG also has the power to investigate.”

Bautista, who has pleaded to stop what he called the “media circus,” has been accused by his wife Patricia Paz of amassing P1 billion of ill-gotten wealth. She provided an affidavit to the NBI after meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on July 26.

Part of the NBI’s investigation is to look into the reported 35 bank accounts of Bautista.

Aguirre said the NBI had a memorandum of agreement with the Anti-Money Laundering Council that will be tapped to help in the probe.

While Aguirre said they would not ask Bautista to issue a waiver allowing the examination of his bank accounts, it would be easier for the investigators if he would provide one.

Under the Bank Secrecy Law, all deposits with banks or banking institutions in the country are considered absolutely confidential.

“It is up to him [Bautista] to issue a waiver or not. If he will, well and good,” Aguirre said.

Lozano on Friday slammed Congress, saying “I find it hard to find an endorser because of the grease money needed there.

“I believe and I can say, anyway, it is my expression of belief and opinion, the illgotten wealth not declared in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities Net Worth could have been amassed from Smartmatic [Philippines Inc.],” he said.

He was referring to the May 2016 vice presidential election when then senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lost to Vice President Leni Robredo after Smartmatic changed its hash code.

“Comelec allowed the hash code changed,” he said.

He called on Bautista to resign “out of pride and honor.”

“Public office is public trust,” he said, questioning Bautista’s revelation that a third party was involved that broke his marriage with his wife Patricia Paz. Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

Battle...

From A1

wounded. Up to 80 civilians are still being held hostage by the terrorirsts.

The military said IS-anointed Southeast Asia leader Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and 28 of his men were tunneling under a mosque hoping to escape the battle zone.

But Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirlito Galvez Jr. said the naval blockade was on the lookout for terrorists escaping toward the water.

“We are closely guarding all sides of the area to contain them,” Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

A military intelligence report obtained by the Manila Standard said Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and 28 of his men who are ready to die for him are tunneling under a mosque hoping to escape the war zone in Marawi City.

“Isnilon Hapilon knew he was deserted by his Maranao followers so he has to find ways to bail himself and his remaining men out from Marawi City.

They continue to dig in under a mosque hoping to reach the lake or the Agus River,” a highranking military officer said.

Another military source said Hapilon had duffle bags full of cash, jewelry and gold bars from ransacked banks and houses.

Also in the same interview, Padilla said some of the women hostages might already be pregnant because they were forced to marry some of the terrorists.

With John Paolo Bencito

News

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Custody of drugs is PDEA’s job—DoJ

By Rey E. Requejo THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency should exercise legal custody over seized illegal drugs by the Bureau of Customs, according to a legal opinion rendered by the Department of Justice.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II made the opinion upon the request of PDEA Chief Isidro S. Lapeña who complained that BOC personnel refused to cooperate in their investigation of illegal drugs confiscated by the bureau.

Lapeña cited in his letter incidents of BOC personnel refusing to cooperate in their investigation, citing exclusive authority over the seized contrabands under Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Lapeña said there have been instances where the BOC disposes of equipment used in the manufacture of illegal drugs, hindering their investigation to identify and arrest “big fishes.

Lapeña’s letter came at the heels of congressional inquiry on the seizure of more than P6-billion illegal drugs in Valenzuela.

In his legal opinion dated July 27, Aguirre said it is clear under Section 21 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, that “the PDEA shall take charge and have custody of all dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals…so confiscated, seized and/or surrendered for proper disposition.”

Aguirre noted that the CMTA has strengthened PDEA’s authority on seized contrabands when it stated under Section 1147 “that the dangerous drugs shall be turned over to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

“To note, PDEA serves as the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board and is responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the provisions on any dangerous drug and/ or controlled precursor and essential chemical as provided under RA 9165,” Aguirre said.

“Again, since the subject statutes are clear and free from ambiguity, it must be given its literal meaning and applied without attempted interpretation,” Aguirre said.

CARING PRESIDENT. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte interacts with the young cancer patients during a visit to the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI) Thanksgiving and Open House at the SPMC in Davao City on Aug. 10, 2017. Also in photo is CCI Head Dr. Mae Dolendo. Presidential Photo

1-PACMAN’s Romero is richest solon, Elago poorest in House

By Maricel V. Cruz

1

-PACMAN party-list Rep. Michael Odylon “Mikee” Romero is the richest member of the House of Representatives, the latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) records show.

Romero, whose family owns Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc. which operates the Manila North Harbor terminal, chalked up a total net worth of P7,009,588,018 as of December 31, 2016.

Next to Romero was DIWA Partylist Rep. Emmeline AglipayVillar, wife of former Las Piñas City lawmaker and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, with P1,409,149,497 net worth.

Negros Occidental Rep. Al-

fredo Abelardo Benitez landed at third spot with P942,964,471 net worth.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos ranked fourth with P917,800,000.

Former Speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. ranked fifth with P852,132,586.81 networth.

Belmonte was followed by Manila Teachers Partylist Rep. Virgilio Lacson with P768,824,757.93 net worth; Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando, P738,000,000; Batangas Rep. Vilma SantosRecto, wife of Sen. Ralph Recto with P522,610,452; Davao Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. with P491,710,128.16 and Leyte Rep.

Yedda Marie Romualdez with P477,940,905.

Meanwhile, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, is the 50th richest lawmaker with a total net worth of P86,498,186.34, while former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ranked 11th with P434,636,322.52 net worth.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago was the last placer with a P50,000 declared net worth.

This developed as Romero vowed to continue to pursue a social reform advocacy that is contained in majority of the 154 bills and resolutions he filed.

Named among the 50 richest Filipinos in 2017 by Forbes (Asia) Magazine, the 44-year-old

Anger over HK maids’ air-con curbs CALLS to restrict air conditioning for Hong Kong’s domestic maids amid sweltering summer temperatures were dubbed inhumane by rights groups Friday, after a politician suggested helpers should get “used to the hot weather”.

The southern Chinese city is home to over 340,000 migrant domestic workers mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, but concerns have grown over their welfare after several high-profile abuse cases.

The maids are required by law to live with their employers which rights campaigners say makes it hard for them to escape mistreatment.

One employer’s Facebook post went viral this week after she expressed outrage that her helper had switched on the air conditioning in her room at night without permission, as temperatures topped 30 degrees Celsius (86

degrees Fahrenheit) with high humidity.

“I’m very angry,” the woman—identified only as Won—said, according to a screenshot of the now deleted post on a closed group for Hong Kong employers of foreign helpers, published by Apple Daily newspaper.

Wong described her maid to be “audacious to the extreme”, and said that she would remove the air conditioning switch.

While she was widely criticised by some residents, others supported her.

Politician Michael Lee, who heads a group for employers of maids, said in a radio interview that helpers should be accustomed to the weather as they came from “hot, hot” countries and called on employers to establish firm house rules.

“If they come from the hot country, they should get used to the hot weather,” Lee later told AFP.

He conceded that the temperatures of recent weeks could mean helpers should be allowed air-con at night, but only so they can continue in their household duties.

“Otherwise she can’t sleep, then she can’t work,” said Lee, a district councillor and spokesman for the pro-business Liberal Party’s Taskforce on Foreign Helper’s Problems, which speaks for the employers of maids.

“I recommend all employers in Hong Kong set up house rules saying what they can and cannot do,” added Lee. Campaigners for helpers’ rights said limiting air conditioning was “ridiculous, unfair and inhumane”.

“To regulate the foreign domestic helpers in using air conditioning is inhumane and will cause deterioration to their health,” said former domestic helper Eni Lestari, spokeswoman for the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body. AFP

Robredo assumes post as LP party chairman

By Rio N. Araja

QUAKE SCARE. Senator Loren Legarda steps out of the Senate building to join other senate employees after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake rocked parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, on Friday. Lino Santos

VICE President Leni Robredo has formally assumed the chairmanship at the Liberal Party, telling party-mates that “it’s time to work, go back to our roots.”

She called on fellow LP members to help rebuild the organization, telling them to return to the “true essence” of the party as the voice of the people.

Last Aug. 10 at the party’s national executive council meeting, the LP named Robredo as its chairperson.

She thanked the LP for its all-out support in her first year of office.

“There are so many things to be thankful of. There will be challenges, but we can hurdle them all,” she said.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan was named the LP president.

In her remarks, Robredo reminded party stalwarts that their

work to rebuild the party must begin now even amid the setbacks of the past year.

“Gone are the days of restlessness, isn’t it? We rested for a year since we have to give in for the transition. But now, it’s time to work. It’s time to rebuild the party,” she told LP members and and the party’s sectoral representatives.

She pushed for a “healthy balance between politicians and nonpoliticians” while underscoring that the core principle of the party is to represent the people.

The ordinary Filipinos are the “true voice of democracy,” and urged LP stalwarts to uphold this tenet moving forward, she called on.

Despite LP’s presidential standard bearer Mar Roxas’ loss in the presidential race in2016 and the consequent reduction in the party’s membership, Robredo said the fight was not lost, especially as LP returns to its roots.

Romero declared a net worth of P7 billion, the highest in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Three of his 154 legislative proposals were signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte - the validity of Philippine passport from five to ten years; HB 5633 granting free tuition fee for tertiary education and HB 152 extending validity of driver’s licenses to five years.

He is also the principal author of House Bill 4814 proposing to reduce rate and grant amnesty of estate tax and HB 2158 expanding the powers and duties of the Social Security Commission and increasing retirees’ pension

Collect right taxes, Recto tells Customs

By Macon Araneta SENATE President Ralph Recto yesterday warned government programs will falter and the people will suffer if taxes were stolen or the Bureau of Customs failed to collect revenues which fund public services.

For 2017, he said the BoC is tasked to collect P468 billion.

He said it should be P1.28 billion on a daily basis.

“This is the money these “fiscal stevedores” in Aduana and in airports and seaports must haul into the government coffers every 24 hours,” said Recto.

BoC’s revenue goal represents a fifth of the total tax revenue target for 2017 or 20 centavos for every tax peso.

Because of this, Recto said it can be 20 percent of the total length of roads built, 20 percent of classrooms constructed, 20 percent of medicine bought, 20 percent of textbooks distributed this year will be financed

by BOC collections.

In real terms, the BoC should bankroll 9,498 classrooms out of the 47,492 that will be built and from its collections would come the money to buy 11.2 million textbooks out of the 55.8 million pieces to be procured.

It can also be computed that for every 100 peso put into the pay envelope of a government worker, 20 pesos had been remitted by the BoC.

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Opinion

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Fire with foolish fire

L

IFE is difficult as it is for many people in most parts of the world.

There is hunger, poverty, helplessness against natural disasters. There is hatred and violence, sometimes in the name of religion or race.

Those picked to lead their nations plunder it instead, ensuring that their people are trapped in a vicious cycle, no matter how rich their resources.

Sometimes, the leaders have their own world view, a

different version of reality— like the leader of North Korea.

The world has known better than expect anything sound or encouraging from Kim Jong Un, who this week said he would launch a missile strike on Guam, a territory of the United States.

These are words particularly threatening

to our side of the Pacific, especially given our military alliance with the US. Unfortunately, nothing remotely sensible was heard from the leader of the US. Donald Trump first warned Kim that he would rain down fire and fury on North Korea, “the likes of which you have never seen before.”

And then, more recently, he said his words may not have been harsh enough. What could be tougher than “fire and fury?”

“You’ll see, you’ll see,” Trump said.

Share prices dropped, reflecting investors’ worry that the word war could escalate. Democrats slammed the provocative rhetoric, saying Trump’s words were irresponsible and dangerous.

They suggested negotiations despite Kim’s irrational tendencies Somehow, too, amid calls for a more sober way to deal with a rogue—the one from North Korea—Mr. Trump manages to steer the conversation into one that makes everybody else pale in comparison to him.

“...They’ve been negotiating now for 25 years. Look at Clinton. He folded on the negotiations. He was weak and ineffective. You look what happened with Bush, you look what happened with Obama. Obama, he didn’t even want to talk about it.

But I talk. It’s about time.

Somebody has to do it.”

The world does not need any of this mindless egotism.

We have seen the horrors it has brought to previous generations. We shudder at what it might bring to this one, and the next.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

Backdoor BBL approval

was able to trace regular movement of money using at least some of these accounts.

Of course, the Comelec chair and his family are not exactly poor.

On the contrary, both Patricia and Chairman Bautista repeatedly said that the latter had been earning very well for many years before entering public service. There is no question about the fact that Chairman Bautista has money.

What made Patricia wonder, according to her, is the fact that the movement of money she spoke of happened during Chairman Bautista’s incumbency as a government official.

This is questionable because she said that there was no way that her husband could earn that much as a public servant.

Patricia alleged that her husband received money from Smartmatic, the company that supplied the machines used during our elections. The money, she said, was received through

LEST the nation forget, there is a revised draft of the controversial Bangsamoro Basic Law which has been submitted by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its allies in the government to Congress for enactment into law. The BBL calls for the creation of an autonomous Islamic region in Mindanao to be called the Bangsamoro which will supposedly replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Bangsamoro plan under the BBL was the brainchild of ex-President Benigno Aquino III who, from all indications back then, was eyeing the Nobel Peace Prize.

Although the BBL idea was promoted by the Aquino administration as a lasting solution to the peace and order problem in Muslim Mindanao, it was fraught with trouble and controversy from the start.

First, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, composed of representatives of the Aquino administration and the MILF and tasked with drafting the BBL, was created by an executive order signed by Aquino without the support of any enabling law. That’s unconstitutional because the power to create a public office is within the exclusive power of Congress, not the president.

Next, the creation of the transition commission was made on the sly. That was suspiciously unusual because Aquino’s minions had the habit of publicizing everything Aquino did, no matter how miniscule or insignificant.

Third, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was not even represented in the transition commission.

No peace plan in Mindanao will succeed if it does not take into account the views of the military establishment.

Fourth, the MILF’s top representative in the transition commission deliberately refused to use his real name in all documents pertaining to and in all meetings held by the commission. He publicly admitted that he was using an alias, that of Mohagher Iqbal.

Using this fictitious name, Iqbal enjoyed a compensation

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Do it right POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO “YOU have to do it right” is a line heard from Patricia Bautista, the estranged wife of Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista during a recent interview about her discoveries about her husband’s alleged questionable financial dealings.

Perhaps this is a line that everyone should remember when considering the possibly huge political implications of Patricia’s revelations. What started out to be a marital problem has turned into a potential national issue because of the very sensitive position occupied by Chairman Bautista.

I watched the interviews of both parties, and read as many news reports on the issue as I could possibly put my hands on

in an attempt to better understand this complex situation. Definitely, this is not a simple marital spat as how others regard it.

Right off, I will state that as a women’s rights advocate, I am no stranger to relationships that turn sour, and problematic, even broken marriages. Patricia showed much courage when she allowed herself to be interviewed on national television knowing fully well that her personal life will be scrutinized by the public. Not a few have vilified her.

In my eyes, she is credible.

Her demeanor and her words during the interview showed are those of a woman trapped in a marriage that is already beyond repair. Her experience is similar to women married to powerful men who are unable to get out of already ruined marriages out of fear of what their husbands would do. They know that if these men so wish, they can make them suffer more.

However, the political rami-

fications of the Bautistas’ case can possibly be huge.

As an example, Patricia said she found lying around in their house envelopes containing money that appear to be salaries of employees of the Presidential

ed 2014 when her husband was the PCGG head. She showed several of these pay envelopes.

When asked about this on TV, the Comelec chairman’s explanation was at best, unclear. He gave as an example a friend of his that he tapped to refurbish the Comelec office.

However, if the envelopes are authentic, these were supposed to have been released as salaries in 2014, when Andres Bautista was PCGG chairman, before he headed the elections body.

Patricia said that she discovered several pieces of real property owned by her husband that she, the wife, has no knowledge of.

She questioned how the Comelec chairman had acquired these if they were acquired while he is in public office.

Patricia also alleged that she had in her possession 32 Luzon Development Bank passbooks Commission on Good Govern- and a few more accounts in othment (PCGG). The envelopes er banks, under the name of her even have pay slips on them dat- husband. She even said that she

Chairman Bautista should have the opportunity to clear his name, but first he must go on leave.

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Opinion BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

Fighting to save his soul COMMISSION on Elections chairman, Andres “Andy” Bautista is now fighting to save his soul. Even if he topped the Bar exams, the battle he faces has nothing to do with the legality of the crime he could be accused of or the strength of evidence to acquit him. Rather, it hinges on his credibility. I wonder – what kind of wrath will justice descend upon this arrogant and unbridled hypocrite.

The wrath of God struck him like thunder. The retribution came not from the persons he oppressed when he was the head of the Cory Aquino-created robbing machine but, my goodness, from the very person with whom he is supposed to share the same bed.

Now, that he has been exposed, he knows it is his credibility that is on trial before the Filipino people. Bautista now stands as the ultimate epitome of a con man. Even God is probably shaking His head on the kind of genus he created and permitted to mingle with the rest of humanity.

Bautista sought to meticulously build a facade when he served as the chief enforcer of honesty in the Cory Aquino-created robbing machine called Presidential Commission on Good Government and as chairman of the Commission on Elections.

As bar topnotcher, he knows there is no saving lost credibility. Losing that is equivalent to saying nobody trusts you, and no lawyer, not even a psychiatrist, can help you. The issue is not about what we might say “double-bladed” philandering husband, but about the gargantuan amount of wealth he amassed and was exposed by his brave and patriotic wife, Patricia Paz Bautista.

As a notorious hypocrite, he destroyed his credibility that not even God can save him.

The wrath of a betrayed wife turned out to be a windfall to the Filipino people who have long been duped by these yellow advocates of bogus freedom and democracy. As released by his wife’s lawyer, Bautista has properties worth about P306,877,000.00; bank accounts P880,444,299.57; shares of stocks P38,552,438.11; retirement/pension plan P22,120,000.00; loans given out P51,167,819.00 or for a total of P1,299,668,556.68 as of November 2016.

In a ten-page affidavit, Patricia said her husband has several passbooks from the Luzon Development Bank (LDB) and from Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Corp. (HSBC) itemized as follows: deposits at the LDB in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, amounting to P227,701,053; LDB Makati Branch, P101,519, 909; dollar and peso account at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) amounting to $12,778.30 and P257,931.60, respectively; and Hong Kong dollar deposits at HSBC in Hong Kong amounting to HK$948,358.97. In contrast, he only declared a net worth of P176.3 million as of December 31, 2016 in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). Bautista stated that he had total assets of P241.8 million, composed of P158.5 worth of real properties and P83.3 million worth of personal properties. Bautista’s liabilities reach P65.5 million.

It is also alleged that Bautista has 14 properties of which two were not declared including a property in San Francisco, California. The wife also said that Bautista has foreign investments in Bauman Enterprises Ltd., in the British Virgin Islands, Mantica International Ltd. In Brunie, and Mega Achieve Inc., in Anguilla. What the wife failed to mention is he

was once the President of the St. Francis, Shangri La Homeowners Association, a luxurious sky rise condominium in Mandaluyong which surely means he owns one to two units with each costing around P15 million.

For that fact that we have only been accustomed to believing that ill-gotten wealth is the most serious crime we can attribute to a pillaging public official, we tend to overlook that Bautista has in fact committed far most serious crime of betraying the sovereign will of the people. At a glance, we can say he committed no less than five serious crimes that in other countries could warrant his hanging five times.

One, for cooperating with a front company of the CIA in tampering the result of our election in 2016. Second, for receiving huge sums of money from Smartmatic which he foolishly denied as commission but “referral fee.” Third, for using the office of Atty. Nilo Divina to cover up his dealings with the sequestered Baseco, UCPB and with Smartmatic. Fourth, secretly meeting Leni Robredo in a condominium owned by his mother-in-law on July 16, 2016. Fifth, for going to Washington to talk to the operatives of Smartmatic to possibly firm up the fraud that in the event President Duterte is ousted or die while in office their bogus vice president will succeed.

These facts now appear to be true because the authority granted to Smartmatic resulted in the unmistakable rigging of the last election. Bongbong Marcos was leading close to one million and by sunrise he was overtaken by almost the same figure which means overnight the vote counting machines of the CIA loaded close to two million votes in favor of the Robredo. Likewise, many could not believe the leading hatchet man of the Yellow charlatans for the Senate garnered more votes than President Duterte which is mathematically impossible.

As former ABS-CBN news executive Charie Villa said, she “believes Commission on elections (Comelec) chair Andres Bautista managed to amass close to P1 billion in undeclared wealth because of election rigging and his ties to voting technology firm Smartmatic.” House Deputy Minority Leader Harry Roque was prompted to file House Resolution No. 1171, seeking an inquiry into the millions of ill-gotten wealth and unethical payoffs allegedly acquired by Bautista as Comelec chairman.

The enemy this hypocrite created is the one chewing him up.

Does the public need an explanation when they came to know why he deposited many of his loot with the Luzon Development Bank owned by the family of Rene Limcaoco, Pinoy’s undersecretary of that equally corrupt Joseph “Jun” Abaya of the DoTC; that he cannot be guilty of violating the Anti-Money Laundering Law when evidence show he has substantial amount of deposits in foreign banks which he did not declare in his SALN; and that he did not violate R.A. No. 3019 of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practice Act? Even if it was his wife who hurled the first brick by nastily accusing him of sexual perversion, that cannot detract the public from focusing on just how he amazingly he acquired more than a billion worth of unexplained wealth. The interest of the public is not about his marriage, but the disclosure about the “other” carefully guarded secret that somehow indicates he was under the payroll of Smartmatic.

It is the Comelec chairman’s credibility on trial.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

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Solomonic wisdom for the Bautistas FOR most of last week. I tried to stay away from commenting or weighing in on this controversy. I personally know Chairman Andy Bautista and have a lot of respect for him. I can be objective about the SALN issues but not about the personal ones. I am particularly concerned that Susan, Andy’s sister, a classmate from college, has been pulled into this controversy. She is a good person and I cannot see her being complicit in any wrongdoing.

At the same time, I will certainly not be a party to slutshaming or attacking Tish Bautista. That would not be fair.

Most of all, this is very sad for the Bautista children. Already, their father has mentioned that one of them is being bullied in school. One wished there was a way the children can be sheltered from this. Certainly, the teachers and administrators of their school should be sensitive enough to make sure the impact on them is cushioned.

While reluctant at first, I have decided to speak out because the commentary in conventional and social media has not been very helpful. Like it or not, willing or reluctant, we are all witnesses to this unfolding spectacle where private and public issues are colliding. This column is an attempt to be constructive by untangling these issues.

First, I encourage everyone that have no business in the matters at stake to stay out of the marital and family troubles. Let Andy and Tish Bautista sort that out privately or in the proper judicial forums. Cases have been filed already and they should now litigate their claims.

My advice of course is that they should quickly settle to avoid further harm to their children. I am sure the family lawyers they have consulted have advised them on what lies before them if they stick to their current positions.

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and an expense account paid for by public funds. He also signed the draft BBL using that fictitious name. Under Philippine law, the use of a fictitious name in official documents is a criminal offense.

The government’s top representative in the transition commission justified Iqbal’s use of a fictitious name. This official said that Iqbal’s safety justified his use of an alias. It was also argued that the panel allowed Iqbal to use a fictitious name.

There is, however, nothing in the law governing the use of an alias which states that one’s personal safety is a valid reason to allow one to sign an official government document using a fictitious name.

Fifth, right after the transition commission submitted to Aquino the draft BBL, Aquino objected to numerous provisions in the draft BBL and returned it to the commission for alteration.

What those objectionable provisions were was kept a secret from the public. Even the news media were not allowed access to those

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Divina Law owned by Chairman Bautista’s close friend. She showed documents that she said point to this.

Andres Bautista as the Comelec chairman is in-charge of seeing to it that our elections, the heart of our democracy, are clean, honest, and credible. His responsibilities are huge. The integrity of our elections cannot be risked because of suspicions that graft and corruption exist in the electoral body. The country is already beset with many

When I was teaching family law at the University of the Philippines College of Law, I used to show the movie The War of the Roses to my students to emphasize the importance of avoiding the purely legal approach in settling marital disputes. In that movie, the characters of Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner fought over their house, a proxy of all their troubles, to the death.

Nobody wants that to happen here.

Second, serious charges of alleged corruption have been thrown against Chairman Bautista, several bank officials, and the Divina law office. Documents have been exhibited. Tish Bautista has done her part. The authorities should take over now and conduct a full investigation.

The report of the NBI is the first step; after that the House Committee on Justice must take over if impeachment proceedings are in order. There are two to three grounds that might be relevant here: culpable violation of the Constitution for filing an inaccurate SALN, graft and corruption if bribery is proven, and betrayal of public trust as a catch-all. For now, there are only allegations. Evidence has been offered but those can be challenged. The Corona impeachment precedents will of course guide this process.

Third, I am surprised why this has become a yellow (antiDuterte) vs DDS (pro-Duterte) fight and why the yellows has become Team Andy while the DDS have appropriated Team Tish. President Duterte has acted above board here, taken in fact a fatherly mantle. Even Chairman Andy attests to this.

I want to be assured that the 2016 elections was honest and clean. I can’t get why anyone would oppose that. There are no facts to back up the claims that Bong Bong Marcos is behind this controversy or that Leni Robredo is the ultimate target of Tish or whoever is backing her up.

When the Comelec decided to take the full automation of elections option, instead of the

hybrid approach that advocates like former Commissioner Gus Lagman were advocating, it was inevitable that there would be clouds of doubt that would hover over close elections. The Smartmatic system is not transparent and assumes absolute integrity of our election officials. But such integrity unfortunately is now in question.

Fourth, the personal attacks against Chairman Andy and Tish Bautista are not warranted.

Andy, whom I know personally, is a good man, an excellent lawyer, and leader in the legal profession. He is a wellloved teacher in the Ateneo Law School and of other law schools.

I personally like him and have only praise for his actions as a high-level official since 2010 when he was appointed to be Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government and since 2015 when he became Chairman of Comelec.

I would treat Chairman Bautista with respect and continue to look up to him until proven that he has betrayed our trust.

Tish, whom I have never met, seems also to be a strong, certainly articulate woman. I refuse to judge her. It upsets me that she is portrayed as an adulterer and greedy person. I can understand the hurt people close to Andy feel and I can live with that.

But what I cannot understand is why people who were/are so upset when Leni, Leila, and Risa were/are attacked as women are now also doing the same to Tish.

Of course, I have seen the same people do that to Mocha, Honeylet, and Kitty as well.

The hypocrisy rankles, to be frank. Misogyny is always misogyny and political views should not matter in rejecting this kind of attacks.

I would caution the lawyers and spokespersons on both sides to be more circumspect. Going for the jugular might be tempting but would you really want blood (I am speaking metaphorically) shed here. Martin Loon, one of Tish’s lawyers, was my student in UP Law. He is an intelligent lawyer and also a fair

man. I hope he can perform his duties in this case with both competence and compassion.

Fifth, and finally, being a parent myself and having done things also I am not proud of, I will not judge Andy and Tish in their actions. I assume that they are doing the best for their children. I know that both parents are conscientious and devoted to their sons. I will not make fun of their statements and professions of love. I believe them.

But one story I would like to share with Andy and Tish is that of Solomon and the two mothers fighting over an infant. When Solomon, in all his wisdom, ruled that the infant should just be killed and cut into two, the real mother motivated only by love yielded.

And Solomon, as we know, gave the child to that mother.

To my friend Andy and to his wife Tish, in the days to come, I will pray very hard for both of you to be gifted with wisdom so that you can discern what unconditional love for your children means at this time and thus make decisions consistent with such wisdom and love.

Tish mentioned in one of her interviews that both Andy and her, and their sons, have been formed by their school to be persons for others. Having studied also under the Jesuits, I have always felt that meant first of all to be persons for each other in your family. If you can’t be kind to those closest to you, how can you be a good neighbor and citizen?

For sure, lowering the decibels of their public statements would be a step in the right direction.

Perhaps, hard decisions by both of them - by Andy with regards to holding on in his position, by Tish on her demands regarding the settlement – might also be something both parents would consider.

Solomonic wisdom and unconditional love, this will be the salvation of the Bautistas. Let’s help them get there and we can do that by giving them the privacy they need.

objectionable provisions.

Sixth, after the transition commission sent to Aquino a revised draft of the BBL, Aquino endorsed it to Congress for the latter’s approval. This was the first time the public and the news media found out about the contents of the revised draft.

Again, what the revisions were remained a mystery.

Experts in constitutional observed that the revised draft had many legally objectionable features. To all intents and purposes, the revised draft called for the creation of an Islamic substate in Mindanao, with a budget larger than that of the AFP. ExSupreme Court Justice Vicente V. Mendoza, an undisputed expert in constitutional law, was very critical of the revised draft.

Seventh, legal experts also discovered that the revised draft was an attempt to circumvent a 2008 ruling of the Supreme Court which declared as unconstitutional a similar draft agreement with the MILF. Then Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales wrote that decision.

In January 2015, 44 members of the special elite force of the Philippine National Police sent to Mamasapano in Magu-

indanao to enforce a warrant of arrest against a notorious, heavily armed bandit were massacred by armed Muslim rebel groups.

Since then, public opinion was irreversibly against the BBL. Truth to tell, the revised draft created so much division among the Filipino people that even the passive sectors of society started to question the motive of Aquino in doggedly pursuing the enactment of the BBL by Congress.

Fortunately, the revised draft was vehemently opposed in the Senate by then Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. Despite intense pressure and lobbying from Malacañang, the Senate refused to accommodate the revised draft, and it simply lapsed into oblivion when the May 2016 national elections ensued.

Eighth, the Commission on Audit (COA) discovered that the office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, which supervises the government panel in the transition commission, leased 300 cars in 2015, and refused to reimburse to the national treasury almost 700 million pesos it is legally required to return. The COA noted that the government panel already had 23 government-owned vehicles

at its disposal.

Malaysia has actively brokered the BBL endorsed by Aquino. That’s something to be wary about because Kuala Lumpur desperately wants to legalize its illegal occupation of North Borneo or Sabah, which legally belongs to the Philippines, and the BBL seems like the ideal means to accomplish that objective. If a broker is needed in this regard, Indonesia, not Malaysia, is better suited because Jakarta has always been above-board in its dealings with Manila.

About two months ago, however, the transition commission once again sent a draft BBL to President Rodrigo Duterte for his endorsement to Congress. So far, the contents of the new draft BBL are undisclosed. All there is available is the oral assurance from the transition commission that the new draft BBL does not have the same questionable features of the first draft BBL. Mohagher Iqbal, or whatever his real name is, has been visible in this latest move to bring back the BBL. Like ex-President Aquino III before him, President Duterte is dealing with someone who is using a fictitious name. Worse, Malaysia is still in the picture.

major problems.

Patricia’s allegations against her husband put into question the credibility of the results of the 2016 elections in its entirety. How can the Filipino people believe that the elections were clean and that the results were credible if there are serious questions on the integrity of the very person responsible in ensuring that elections are clean?

As it is, electoral protests are ongoing. The result of the vicepresidential race is being contested and it is very likely that there are similar cases for other national and local positions.

Should the Filipino people

continue to entrust our elections on someone whose credibility is seriously questioned?

We cannot afford this. The country cannot afford another crisis. Patricia said that she holds boxes of documents that ought to be scrutinized to ascertain whether the Comelec chairman was involved in illegal acts.

Those in charge of investigating this case must act thoroughly and with dispatch. The public deserves to know the truth.

Chairman Bautista said that this is a demolition job against him and the Comelec. He expressed his readiness to resign if President Duterte wants him to. First, the in-

vestigation must be done. I am all for due process. Chairman Bautista must be afforded the opportunity to clear his name. And while the investigation is ongoing, it will be good if he would first voluntarily go on leave as Comelec chairman so there is no doubt that he is using his position to influence the investigation.

He said that charges have already been filed against Patricia and vice-versa. Let the courts do their work BUT for the sake of the country, you have to do it right.

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bethangsioco@gmail.com @ bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

News

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

In-school ‘drug testing’ slammed

By Sara D. Fabunan THE Philippine government’s plan for mandatory drug testing for all college students and applicants seriously threatens their safety and right to education, the Human Rights Watch said on Friday.

The group said the college drug testing plan is a dangerous outgrowth of the Duterte administration’s abusive “war on drugs.”

The Commission on Higher Education, which produces “plans, policies and strategies” for higher education under the office of the president, approved a memorandum order to be implemented at the start of school next year.

“Imposing mandatory drug testing of students when Philippine police are committing rampant summary killings of alleged drug users puts countless children in danger for failing a drug test,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“Education officials should be protecting students, not putting them in harm’s way through man-

iPhones seized at airport

By Vito Barcelo SOME P1.35 million worth of iPhone 7 Plus units were seized by customs authorities from a foreign passenger who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

NAIA customs personnel stopped Su Miaoquiao, a Chinese passenger on board Xiamen Airlines Flight MF 819, after his baggage showed image irregularity during an x-ray examination.

The customs examiner, who conducted the check in the presence of customs appraisers and an x-ray inspector from BOC Xray Inspection Project (XIP), found 30 units of undeclared iPhone 7 Plus model #A1660 after conducting 100% physical examination.

“The importation of smartphones is considered legal if the importer declared it as taxable items and can present the proper National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) import permit to the customs authorities,” Maj. Jaybee Raul Cometa, XIP head, said.

“However, Miaoquiao violated Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and the NTC regulation after failing to declare the Apple smartphones and failing to present the corresponding permit,” he added Arsenia Ilagan, the Deputy Collector for Passenger Services, recommended a warrant of seizure and detention to NAIA District Collector Edgar Macabeo for violation of a National Telecommunications Commission memorandum circular and the customs law.

The mobile units are now at the In-Bond Room at Terminal 1 while the investigation is still pending.

datory drug tests.”

Kine also said that the order permits local governments, the police and other law enforcement agency to carry out any drug-related operation within the school premises with the approval of school administrators.

“This will effectively allow the police to extend their anti-drug operations to college and university campuses, placing students at grave risk,” he said.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte launched his “war on drugs” on June 30, 2016, more than 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers have been killed by Philippine National Police officers or unknown gunmen.

Human Rights Watch research showed that the police have routinely committed extrajudicial executions of drug suspects and then covered up their crimes by planting drugs and guns at the scene. The police often target individuals whose names appeared on neighborhood “drug watch lists” drawn up by local officials in collusion with the police.

QUAKE RESISTANT. Construction engineers and workers make sure they are building edifices with steel bars strong enough to withstand a strong earthquake as shown in this photo taken in Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City. Lino Santos

DA bares bird flu outbreak in Pampanga; DoH on alert The Philippines had not previously reported any human cases, according to WHO data.

HE Philippines declared its first ever About 200,000 birds would have to be put down and their carcasses outbreak of the H5 strain of bird flu on buried, Pinol said, adding farmers, Friday, but said there had been no cases of particularly in San Luis, will be compensated by P80/head. humans infected.

The six infected Philippine farms An immediate cull was ordered for Celia Carlos, director of the health only sold their products to local conall chicken, ducks and quail within a department’s Research Institute for sumers and none had been exported, Piñol said. kilometer (0.6 miles) of the infected Tropical Medicine.

However, the outbreak began in Officials have not yet said which poultry in San Luis town, north of Manila, said Agriculture Secretary H5 subtype the infected birds carried. April and the farm owners had ne“The transmission risk is low, glected to report it to the authorities Emmanuel Piñol.

“So far we do not have any re- but the mortality is high. It is a con- immediately, he added.

To prevent the potential spread of ported animal to human transmis- cern,” said Carlos, especially for sions,” Piñol told a news conference. infants as well as people suffering avian flu, the government has banned the transport of all poultry products Piñol said the infected birds from other ailments.

The World Health Organization from within seven kilometers of the tested positive for avian influenza has monitored 453 human deaths infected farms, Piñol said.

Type A, sub-type H5.

He said the authorities suspect The avian flu strains that have from 859 cases of avian influenza been known to jump to humans are since 2000, with Asia accounting the virus could have been spread by migratory birds or from smuggled the H5N1 and H5N7 subtypes, said for 41 percent of all cases.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Othel V. Campos

T

poultry products.

San Luis, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Manila, is close to the Candaba swamps, a major way station and destination for migratory birds who move out of the Asian mainland during winter.

The outbreak, the first after 7 to 8 years, was reported to the Department only last Thursday.

“Twelve quarantine teams from the Bureau of Animal Industry are guarding the exits from San Luis,” said Pinol adding that the one-kilometer quarantine radius is for strict adherence by the quarantine team.

He reiterated that the temporary ban was necessary to protect human health and the local poultry industry.

It has also called on the attention of other nearby provinces to safeguard their poultry farms and immediately report incidents that are bird flu-like to contain the spread of the disease

and avoid another outbreak.

In addition, the Bureau has been keeping a close watch on the entry of birds, poultry and its products into the country to maintain the Philippines bird-flu free status.

The Animal Bureau detected the virus as H5N1 strain that affects both the animal and human, although person to person transmittal is rare.

Piñol assures consumers that the outbreak will not affect the supply of local poultry, although it may have a slight effect on egg supply.

The Animal Bureau will be sending samples to the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, an Office Internationale des Epizooties headquarters for avian influenza testing.

The Agriculture Department has several avian flu testing facilities in the country, a program of joint undertaking by the Philippine and Japanese governments. With AFP

Bohol mayor axed for ‘misconduct’

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman sacked on Friday incumbent Pilar Bohol Mayor Necitas Cubrado for grave misconduct for granting fee exemptions.

The Department of Interior and Local Government was directed to implement the dismissal order on Cubrado.

The mayor was also meted out the penalty of dismissal from the service, perpetual disqualification from any government post, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

“Being the chief executive of the municipality, respondent evidently overstepped the scope of her authority and encroached upon

OVERSTAYING. Victims of a fire incident last December 2016 were forcibly removed from an evacuation center in Delpan in Tondo,Manila on Monday by a Manila City Hall crew for overstaying. Norman Cruz

‘Naia suspects not regular employees of MIAA’

By Joel E. Zurbano AIRPORT officials on Friday clarified that the four individuals arrested for alleged theft of pieces of jewelry owned by the wife of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu were not direct employees of the Manila International Airport Authority.

The MIAA made the clarification following the statement made by Senator Ralph Recto who urged law enforcement agencies to identify and go after the leaders of a syndicate at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport responsible for stealing valuables of passengers.

The suspects were identified as Yves Ronald Baguion, Wilson Mataganas, Ricardo Alfaro and John Andews Racoma, all employees of Miascor Ground Handling Corp. servicing the airport.

“Since they [suspects] are not direct employees of the MIAA, they have been turned over to their employer, Miascor, which shall conduct their own investigation and impose administrative sanctions against them,” the MIAA said in a statement.

Recto made the statement following the arrest of the suspects. He said if authorities had only done that a long time ago, “the country would have been spared of this embarrassing incident.”

“It took a foreign VIP to lodge a complaint before authorities finally took action against a continuing crime routinely posted by its victims, our Overseas Filipino Workers, in social media,” Recto said.

He urged the National Bureau of Investigation and other non-Naia based agencies to conduct the probe and lead the hunt for the perpetrators.

“Aside from Naia police, you have to bring in outside investigators.”

“If there is a need to use intelligence fund, it will be good money worth spending. When you steal from OFWs, they who are returning from long and low-paying hard labor abroad, then you are an enemy of the state,” Recto said.

Recto said taxpayer-paid PR drives to lure in more tourists are negated by the bad press the country’s main gateway is getting. He said a serious airport cleanup drive should include

all other major airports.

The senator said money should not be a problem in transforming NAIA’s image as an honest institution, and overcome a bad reputation inflicted by a few bad eggs working there.

Despite this, MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal commended the Airport Police Department for the swift recovery of a pink jewelry box owned by Mdme. Hulya Cavusoglu, wife of the Foreign Minister of Turkey, who attended the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Manila.

MIAA records showed that Cavusoglu departed for Turkey on board Turkish Airline flight TK85 last Aug. 4. “Around 4 p.m. of Aug. 7, 2017, Messrs. Erhan Balaban and Ufuk Apaydin, Turkish Airline Country Manager and Station Manager, respectively, went to the Office of the MIAA Assistant General Manager for Security to report the missing box of jewelry.”

A team of operatives from the MIAA Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) led by Airport Police Officer Erick Mejia was immediately dispatched to work on the case.

the powers and prerogatives of the Sanguniang Bayan when she granted exemptions to some residents, without, however, securing the prior approval of the SB thereby deliberately disregarding the provisions of the [Local Government Code],” the resolution read.

On Aug. 27, 2015, Cubrado authorized the issuance of a certificate granting exemptions to several residents of the town from paying fees for the electrical connection of their homes.

Because of such illegal issuance, the Ombudsman also ordered the filing against Cubrado of one count of violation of Usurpation of Legislative Powers or Article 239 of the Revised Penal Code with the Sandiganbayan.

Tourist arrivals up in 1st half—DoT

By Bill Casas PHILIPPINE tourism may yet realize its full potential as a top dollar-earning industry even as the legislature strongly agreed to boost next year’s budget of the Department of Tourism, including a P1 billion marketing fund.

This surfaced as lawmakers rallied behind DoT Secretary WandaTeo to mount an “all-out promotion campaign,” as she disclosed yet another double-digit increase in international visitor arrivals for the first semester.

“Amidst setbacks and mounting challenges, tourist arrivals are way up. Beefing up the DoT’s war chest, at least restoring it to its previous level (P1B), would go a long way in boosting our branding campaign that will be at par with those of our Asian neighbors,” Teo said.

Teo broke the welcome news Wednesday at the budget hearing

conducted by the House Committee on Appropriations, disclosing that foreign tourist arrivals for the period of January to June of 2017 rose by 12.7 percent from 2,978,438 in 2016 to 3,357,591 this year.

South Korea remained as the top tourist market for the country, posting 795,085 arrivals, representing 23.68 percent share of total inbound traffic; followed by the United States with 513,443 (15.29 percent); China, 454,962 (13.55 percent); and Japan, 294,080 (8.76 percent).

Teo noted the surge in tourist arrivals from emerging markets, as well as China, as a significant factor to the higher figures and better tourism industry performance.

Chinese arrivals jumped 33.44 percent with 454,962 visitors compared to last year’s 340,958.

Notable increases were also gained by India at 23.41 percent (54,663 arrivals) and Canada at 18.41 percent (108,243).

Sports

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pocari, BaliPure start title series

B

ACK on the stage where they shone three times over, the Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors brim with confidence as they set out for their Drive for Four against the very team they toppled the last time out—the BaliPure Water Defenders— in Game One of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference Finals at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today (Saturday).

The Lady Warriors rallied from a set down to repulse the Water Defenders in sudden death to win the PVL Reinforced Conference crown last June, the franchise’s third straight championship in as many stints in the country’s premier women’s volley league organized

by Sports Vision.

Gametime is at 6:30 p.m. to be shown live on ABS CBN Sports + Action Channel 23 and via livestream on www.sports.abscbm/livesteram/pvl.

Air Force and Creamline, meanwhile, also open their own series for

Games today

10 a.m. – Air Force vs Sta. Elena (men’s for 3rd) 1 p.m. – Cigna TV vs Mega Builders (men’s for crown) 4 p.m. – Creamline vs Air Force (women’s for 3rd) 6:30 p.m. – BaliPure vs Pocari Sweat (women’s for crown)

third at 4 p.m. before the league fetes the conference’s top performers in brief rites.

Cignal TV, on the other hand, guns for the men’s crown in Game Two of their series with Mega Builders at 1 p.m.

But while Pocari remains upbeat of its chances for a repeat over BaliPure, the Water Defenders will be coming into the finals all fired-up to

nail their maiden championship in the league backed by Mikasa and Asics.

“I don’t look at it as a rematch.

We’ll just go out there and play our best,” said BaliPure coach Roger Gorayeb. “But it’s a different feeling if you play in the championship so I will just rely on their aggressiveness and teamwork.”

Grethcel Soltones, Risa Sato, Aiko Urdas, Jerrili Malabanan, ace setter Jasmine Nabor and libero Lizlee Ann Pantone will be Gorayeb’s main weapons against a Pocari side led by power hitter Myla Pablo, Jeanette Panaga, Desiree Dadang, Jessey de Leon, Elaine Kasilag, new star Heather Guino-o, playmaker Gyzelle Sy and libero Melissa Gohing.

While the road to a fourth straight final proved bumpy for the Lady Warriors, they still proved up to the task, bucking the odds to get another title crack, including a scary semifinal duel with the Hair Fairy Air Force Lady Jet Spikers.

They groped for form in the elims, needed to toughen up in the quarters then rebounded from two sets down and saved two match points in their rubber match to frustrate the Lady Jet Spikers for the first finals slot.

In all their struggles, new coach Rico de Guzman had kept the faith in his wards, who have responded with one big game after the other to move two wins away from nailing another championship.

Celtics to play Sixers in London NEW YORK—The Boston Celtics will meet the Philadelphia 76ers at the O2 Arena in London in January for a regular NBA game, league officials announced Thursday.

The game, to be played January 11, will be the Celtics’ second trip to London, having played Minnesota there in a 2007 preseason contest, and the first for the 76ers, whose prior British experience was a 2013 pre-season game at Manchester against Oklahoma City.

The league announced the London game, its opening night contests and Christmas Day games as part of a partial release of its 201718 schedule on Thursday.

Chris Paul will make his debut with Houston on October 17 when the Rockets visit the Golden State Warriors on opening night.

The 76ers boast some of the NBA’s top young talent, including 2016 NBA Draft top pick Ben Simmons of Australia, who missed all of last season with a foot injury, and 2017 top draft selection Markelle Fultz as well as 2016-17 campaign All-Rookie selections Joel Embiid of Cameroon and Dario Saric of Croatia.

“I look forward to coming back to London with the Sixers after visiting for the first time this summer,” Embiid said. “We are a young, hungry team and will be sure to give the fans an exciting game against Boston in January.”

The Celtics feature two-time NBA All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, who led Boston with a career-high 28.9 points a game last season, plus newly acquired All-Star Gordon Hayward from Utah and four-time NBA AllStar Al Horford, the team’s top rebounder, from the Dominican Republic. AFP

PVL final games aired on S+A THE BaliPure Water Defenders and Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors fan the flames of rivalry once more as they clash at the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference Finals this Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The game will be aired live on S+A, S+A HD on cable TV, and via livestreaming on premiervolleyballleague.com at 6 p.m.

Serving as a curtain-raiser, the Hair Fairy Air Force Lady Jet Spikers and Creamline Cool Smashers also open their duel for third place at 4 p.m. The league will also present this conference’s individual awards in between the matches.

The Lady Warriors clinched their fourth-straight trip to the Finals with a surprise performance from Heather Guino-o to pull the rabbit out of their hat after being down 0-2 in the deciding game of their series against the Lady Jet Spikers 16-25, 2025, 25-23, 25-19, 15-10.

Meanwhile, the Water Defenders pummeled an Alyssa Valdez-less Cool Smashers side in straight sets in their own do-or-die game, 2522, 27-25, 25-23, to set up the grueling battle with their rivals.

Expected to lead the fight for the Coach Rico De Guzman’s squad in their quest to add to their trophy rack is Pocari’s MVP frontrunning pair of Myla Pablo and Jeanette Panaga. For the Roger Gorayebmentored, leading their charge in their quest for their first-ever PVL crown is Grethcel Soltones, Risa Sato, and Jasmine Nabor.

Meanwhile, the Tai Bundit-mentored Cool Smashers, sans superstar Valdez, gun for another podium finish, led by Pau Soriano, setter Jia Morado, and Ces Racraquin against Lady Jet Spikers, who will rely on the likes of Joy Cases, Wendy Semana, and Mary Ann Pantino. Prior to their semifinals loss, the Cool Smashers were unbeaten and pacing the league, even winning games in the absence of its star player.

Children run the Kiddie Dash at the World Vision Run 2017

World Vision Run in Cebu lures 1,000 participants CEBU—Over 1,000 Cebuanos got together in the annual World Vision Run at the Cebu Business Park.

For the first time, World Vision gathered runners around Cebu to run for the aid of providing livelihood projects in a community in Sogod, Cebu.

Now on its sixth year, World Vision Run is part of the organization’s 60th anniversary celebration of “Caring for Children and Building Sustainable Communities.”

In line with its 60th anniversary theme, the World Vision Run 2017 aims to help provide sustainable livelihood projects in a World Vision-assisted community in Sogod, Cebu. These projects will include the estab-

lishment of nine CommunityManaged Savings and Credit Association groups, construction of a multipurpose building, and provision of livelihood start-up kits such as vegetable production, hog or chicken raising, massage therapy, masonry, and food processing.

The Run also aimed to raise awareness and support for its recently launched advocacy campaign—It Takes a World to End Sexual Exploitation of Children.

The campaign aims to empower parents, caregivers and children, to aid front liners, rescue operations and legal interventions, and to support safe shelters and reintegration programs for rescued children.

Joining the run were World

Vision Ambassador Gelli Victor and Cebu-Based radio jock Jiggy Cerna who hosted the gun-start program. Participating in the 5K category were Gelli Victor along with multimedia host Joyce Pring, while running in the 10K category were singer-songwriter Quest and TV host Gretchen Ho. Right after the gun-start for the Kiddie Dash category, Joyce Pring and Gretchen Ho took over to host the awarding ceremony. Kicking-off the program was an energizing pop-medley number from the Perkins Twins —Jesse and Christian Perkins.

The finishers were then greeted with words of hope from World Vision Philippines’ newly appointed National Director, Mr. Rommel Fuerte, who

expressed his deepest gratitude to those who participated.

“Your support today for World Vision will truly make a difference. We’re doing this not just to improve our lifestyles and be healthy but also to raise awareness on issues affecting children all over the country,” said Fuerte.

Following Fuerte was urban storyteller and hit maker Quest who sang Dati and Sige Lang.

Claiming the first place in the 21k men’s and women’s category, respectively, were Noel Tilor (1:30:30) and Lovely Andrin (1:42:33), followed by 2nd place winner Jong Tae Hwang (1:35:12) and Yshy Losbaños (1:55:56), and closing the gap in 3rd place were Aldrin Pasumala (1:36:11) and El Marie Albeos (2:04:59).

Pinoy gymnast wins in Macabiah Games

By Eddie Alinea “IT’S in the blood.”

This was how Rodolfo “Totoy” Tingzon, acknowledged as the father of youth baseball development in the country, described the rise of his young, 15-year-old Fil-Am grandson Blake as an up-and-coming star in the American gymnastics’ scene.

Blake is the eldest of the brood of three of David and Sharil Tingzon.

David is the son of Reynaldo “Baby” Tingzon, younger brother of Totoy, who played baseball for the University of Santo Tomas during his UAAP playing days in the 70s.

“It’s all in the family,” Totoy, who himself played baseball for the National University, said. “Blake is just reliving the family’s athletic history that was started by my father but cut short in the 70s.”

Totoy, whose legacy includes leading the legendary Canlubang Sugar Barons of Calamba dominate the local

baseball scene by winning all there was to win in their era, including 11-straightyear in the elite Manila Bay Baseball League, was referring to the baseballplaying family patriarch Julio, a former University of the Philippines standout from Tacloban City and became a topnotch coach.

Blake caught the fancy of the the California Fil-American sporting community when he marched triumphantly to a rare gold-silver-bronze finish in the recent 20th World Maccabiah Games held in Israel.

On the way to his sterling performance that earned for him praises from members of the national coaching staff, the younger Tingzon ruled the pommel horse event while nearly dominated, too, the floor exercises where he ended up third, losing only to the local bets.

His silver medal harvest came in the team event.

He was actually already making waves in the Bay Area by winning several gymnastic competitions that

earned for him the right to hone up his skills at the Gymnastics USA training facilities in Van Huys, CA, thus, graduating to a level 10 gymnast. He eventually was chosen as member of the sixman US team to the Israel sojourn.

Totoy disclosed that is grandson is looking forward to continuing his gymnastics’ career and hope to see action in the Olympic Games as a member of the US or Philippine team.

“Bakit hindi? Mas maganda nga if he can carry the country’s colors in future international competitions. He can probably apply for a dual citizenhip to attain that dream. Sabi ko nga nasa dugo niya ang pagiging atleta so hindi masyadong magiging mahirap sa kanya,” the elder Tingzon said.

“I just told him to pursue and finish a college degree. Contrary to what many believe, gymnastics is dangerous sport. One false move, maaring mabali ang buto nya at tapos athletic career nya,” he said, adding that Blake’s eightyear-old younger sister has also started

Blake Tingson

training to follow in her brother’s footstep.

“You know, it’s very heart-warming leaning that youngsters like our grandchildren have involved themselves in sports like us their elders. Sports talaga ang buhay namin. Nakapag-aral kami because athletic scholarships. My brothers and sisters have all been in the US after their studies,” Totoy said.

Thai grabs lead as O’Toole falters in PGTA Qualifying School TARLAC—Pasavee Lertvilai put on a blazing windup to fire a 69 then pounced on John Michael O’Toole’s wet triple-bogey on No. 16 to grab a two-stroke lead in the third round of the PGT Asia Tour (PGTA) Qualifying School at the softened Luisita Golf and Country Club course here yesterday.

Lertvilai actually stumbled with a oneover card at the front but found his range and touch at the back, stringing three straight birdies from No. 12 then gunning

down a third straight birdie on the par-5 16th which O’Toole triple-bogeyed.

That huge four-shot swing thrust the Thai ace to the lead at 10-under 206, bolstering his bid for low medal honors while virtually securing a card in the PGT Asia Tour firing off with the Aboitiz Invitational Tuesday at Manila Southwoods.

O’Toole, who took a five-stroke lead with a bogey-free 63 Thursday, struggled after birdying No. 3 as he dropped strokes

on Nos. 8 and 11 then holed out with an 8 on No. 16 for a 76. He slipped to second at 208 but also assured himself of a spot in the inaugural regional circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. featuring seven legs offering $100,000 purse each with the eighth stop lined up as a $300,000 event.

Keanu Jahns and Anthony Fernando likewise closed in on the coveted PGTA slots with the former carding a 71 to move

to third at 210 and the latter shooting a 69 to join first round co-leader Seung Jae Maeng of the US, who fumbled with a 74, at 211.

Swede Fredrik From, who matched Maeng’s 68 in the opening round of the 72hole championship which drew 112 qualifiers from 17 countries, also wavered with a 73 and slid to sixth at 212 while Korean Hwan Joo You and Indonesian Joshua Wirawan pooled identical 213s after a 67 and 70, respectively.

Frayna blows winning chance in Zeeland Open JANELLE Mae Frayna blundered away a winning game and lost to Hungarian Grandmaster Attila Czebe in 40 moves of a Modern Defense to skid out of the top 20 after seven rounds of the 21st Hogeschool Zeeland Open 2017 in Vlissigen, The Netherlands Thursday night.

Frayna battled her way out of a passive opening strategy by outsmarting Czebe in the middlegame as she emerged with two connected passed pawns in the center and a winning position had she found the proper continuation.

But the country’s first ever Woman Grandmaster missed it and blew several more chances.

Frayna could have salvaged a draw but two blunders on moves 37th and 39th quashed it while enabling Czebe to transform a completely lost game into a victory.

It was the second straight loss for the country’s first ever Woman Grandmaster after she fell to Russian GM Konstantin Landa the round before.

The pair of defeats kept Frayna’s total score stuck at 4.5 points while practically kissing her title chances goodbye.

Frayna, whose European trip is bankrolled by Phl Sports Commission, National Chess Federation of the Phl, FEU’s Aurelio Montinola, The Philippine STAR’s Miguel Belmonte and Edward Go and backed by Senate President Koko Pimentel and Bobby Ang, take on Dutch Erik Sparenberg in the eighth and penultimate round at press time.

Frayna’s coach, GM Jayson Gonzales, for his part, suffered his first defeat Indian International Master R Praggnanandhaa in 50 moves of a Caro-Kann Defense.

Gonzales fell from a share of third spot the previous rounds to outside the top 10 with five points to show.

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

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

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

Sports

Triathlon bets hope to deliver 2 golds in SEAG

HAKA. Members of the New Zealand Team do their traditional haka before their FIBA Asia Cup game against host Lebanon. The Tall Blacks won, 86-82.

Red Lions struggle past Cardinals; Stags prevail

By Peter Atencio

T

HE defending champion San Beda Red Lions struggled with complacency all throughout, but came away with 6655 swamping of the undermanned Mapua Cardinals at the Arena in San Juan.

They leaned on the outside shots of their second unit players in the final period as they went on to post their fifth consecutive victory yesterday in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

Baskets from JB Bahio and

Kenmark Carino helped the Red Lions stay ahead by 24 points in the last seven minutes, 58-34.

But three-pointers from the likes of JP Nieles allowed the Cardinals to stay within range, 55-64, in the final minute.

“If we played the way we

did today, I think they (Mapua) had a good chance of winning this game,” said Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez.

The Red Lions stayed behind the solo-leading Lyceum Pirates, which are in front after staying unbeaten after seven games.

Meanwhile, Michael Calisaan fired 20 points, while Alfred Gayosa delivered 15 points for the San Sebastian Stags as they demolished the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 101-71.

This handed the Stags their third win in six games, while the Blazers are behind at 2-4.

Donald Tankoua showed the way for the Red Lions with 11

points and 16 rebounds, while Javee Mocon backed him up with 10.

Robert Bolick, who is recovering from a bum stomach, only had six.

Tankoua joined hands with Javee Mocon for 10 points in the first period, and they went on to take a 17-2 edge.

From there, the Red Lions enjoyed a 25-spread, 49-24, in the closing minutes of the third.

The Cardinals struggled with Andoy Estrella suffering a knee injury, while Leo Gabo did not return after leaving the game in the third quarter.

In Estrella’s absence, Chris-

tian Bunag led with 20 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocks.

In the junior division, Cebuano cager Ain Obenza poured in 11 of his 12-point tally in the fourth period as he powered the San Beda Red Cubs to an 87-81 stopping of the defending champion Mapua Red Robins.

The Red Cubs climbed to a share of second with La Salle Greenhills (5-2), while the Red Robins are still in the solo lead with their 6-1 win-loss card.

Romel Calahat sank 12 points, including two winning charities in the last 26.6 seconds, lifting the San Sebastian Staglets to a 73-71 win over LSGH.

THE Philippines is expected to dominate the triathlon competitions of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

That’s because defending champions Nikko Huelgas and Claire Adorna have been coming up with good times and results in their preparation for the Games.

In the Asian championships in Palembang two weeks ago, Huelgas was seven minutes faster than Shinozuka Rikigoro when they saw action in the elite men’s division.

Huelgas clocked a time of two hours and 50 seconds to become the bestfinishing athletes from Southeast Asia.

His teammate, John Chicano was in 28th at 2:04.08, with Rikigoro landing 37th at 2:07.53.

“God willing, maka-double gold tayo,” said Triathlon Association of the Philippines secretary general Tom Carrasco.

The second gold can come from defending titlist Claire Adorna or Kim Mangrobang in the women’s division.

Adorna is recovering from an ankle injury, and will be back from a competition in Phuket.

On the other hand, Mangrobang is returning from Hungary following a competition, which came at the end of her training stint in Portugal.

She competed against elite Olympic triathletes, and has come up with improved times, said Carrasco.

Mangrobang, who is coming off a training stint in Portugal, competed against Olympic triathletes in Hungary.

Peter Atencio

Don’t boo BEST Center announces weekend clinic schedules Schooling, exec tells Malaysians KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia’s sports minister has urged fans not to boo Olympic swimming champion Joseph Schooling at the Southeast Asian Games, after the Singaporean sparked a furore by vowing to “teach (Malaysians) a thing or two”.

Schooling, who won Singapore’s first gold medal at last year’s Rio Olympics, caused controversy with his remarks last week, before insisting he meant no offence and that his comments were taken out of context.

Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said fans shouldn’t give Schooling a rough ride at the event from August 19-30 —and told them to remember that the swimmer’s mother is Malaysian.

“No booing, no jeering,” he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times newspaper Friday.

“That is not what the SEA Games is about. Tensions will run high, cheer for your team but don’t jeer others.”

He added Malaysians should not “dwell on this too much, it is important to remember that Joseph Schooling’s mother is Malaysian”.

Schooling, who stunned his idol Michael Phelps to win 100m butterfly gold in Rio last year, is likely to play a starring role in Kuala Lumpur after he swept nine gold medals at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore. AFP

BEST (Basketball Efficiency Scientific Training) Center will be conducting its series of week-end basketball and volleyball clinics from Aug. 26 to Oct. 14 at the Ateneo College Covered Courts and the Xavier School Fr. Rafael Cortina Sports Center.

Clinics at Ateneo will be from 8 to 11 a.m., accommodating basketball students in Preparatory Level and Levels 1-5 and volleyball students in Levels 1-3. On the other hand, clinics at Xavier will be from 1 to 4 p.m. for Preparatory Level and Levels 1-3 basketball students. BEST Center is nationally renowned for its dedication, not only producing future champions, but also in promoting sports and physical fitness among kids. BEST Center is a re-

cipient of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame Award for Grassroots Development and cited for being a consistent breeding ground for young talents, and the only corporate recipient of the Olympism Award from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

BEST Center is supported by MILO in cooperation with Rain or Shine Elasto Paints, Chris Sports and SKLZ. For more information about BEST Center’s classes and tournaments, call the hotlines 411-6260, 3723066 and 372-3065, email bestcentersports@ gmail.com or follow its official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/BEST-CenterSports-Inc/66172039922.

PBA accepting draft applicants THE Philippine Basketball Association is now accepting applications for the 2017 Rookie Draft which will take place on Oct. 29 at Robinson’s Place Manila.

According to the PBA Commissioner’s Office, the deadline for submission of applications and requirements for Fil-foreign

players is on Sept. 1. Local born aspirants have until Oct. 12 to apply.

After a preliminary list of Fil-foreign rookie hopefuls is released, there will be a monthlong period to contest an applicant’s eligibility.

Rickie Santos, deputy commissioner for basketball opera-

tions, said the Draft Combine which serves as a test to determine the skill set and physical and abilities of the players, will be scheduled from Oct. 23 to 26, with the exact dates and venues still to be finalized.

The final list of candidates for the Rookie Draft will be announced on Oct. 27.

BEST Center participants are taught the fundamentals of basketball.

BEST Center is a recipient of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame Award for Grassroots Development and cited for being a consistent breeding ground for young talents,

Richest solon is also a backer of PH sports THE country’s richest solon also happens to be an active supporter of Philippine sports.

Mikee Romero has long been considered among the top personalities with a heavy influence in local sports through his involvement in basketball, volleyball, baseball, shooting, cycling, and polo.

But it is in basketball where the 45-year-old representative of the 1-Pacman Party List in the House of Representative where Romero really made a niche by way of his Harbour CentreGlobalport franchise.

Romero owns the Globalport Batang Pier team in the PBA and once served

as the country’s basketball godfather by backing the various international campaigns of the national team, specifically the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand where the Filipinos dominated to win the gold.

On Thursday, Romero was named as the top representative with the highest net worth of P7.058 billion.

Other sportsman-representatives who made the list include Albee Benitez of badminton and cycling’s Bambol Tolentino.

But it’s Romero’s long time involvement in various sports that makes him among the country’s top sports leaders.

His fabled Harbour Centre team was considered among the greatest ballclubs to have played in the defunct Philippine Basketball League, where it won a total of seven straight championships in a three-year span.

The proud franchise also represented the Philippines in the 2007 Southeast Asian Basketball Association Championship in Jakarta where it won the gold shortly after the country was reinstated back by FIBA following a year of suspension.

Romero also owned the Air Asia Patriots team that won the inaugural edition of the ASEAN Basketball League in 2009.

A product of De La Salle and currently chairman of the PBA Board, he also had a team (Manila Sharks) in the defunct Baseball Philippines and backed the AirAsia Flying Spikers in the Philippine Super Liga.

Romero also serves as the captain of the country’s polo team and once held the presidency of the country’s shooting and cycling associations.

Just last year, he made it to the list of Forbes magazine’s 50 richest Filipinos along with four other businessmansportsman in San Miguel’s Ramon S. Ang, Danding Cojuangco, Wilfred Uytengsu, and Enrique Razon.

PLDT says talks with IBM over B2

Business

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

B1

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

IN BRIEF DMCI, GT Capital, Ayala profits climb

Ayala also keen on rehab of MRT3

By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Corp. is joining Metro Pacific Investments Corp. in its planned unsolicited proposal to upgrade the glitchprone Mass Railway Transit Line 3.

Ayala Infrastructure Holdings president and chief executive Rene Almendras said the conglomerate would participate in the proposed unsolicited proposal of Metro Pacific to rehabilitate MRT Line 3.

The terms of the joint venture partnership have not been finalized.

The two companies are also partners in the operations and maintenance of Light Rail Transit Line 1 as well as LRT 1 Cavite Extension project under joint venture company Light Rail Manila Corp.

“We are partners in LRT1 and we think we can make a difference in MRT 3,” Almendras said.

He said the two had existing interest in MRT 3 line, with Ayala Land holding nonvoting common shares in the original consortium that built the MRT Line 3.

Metro Pacific also signed a cooperation agreement in 2011 with several groups holding rights and interests in MRT 3, including Metro Rail Transit Corp.,, Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc., Metro Rail Transit 2 Inc. and Monumento Rail Transit Corp., giving Metro Pacific an option to acquire 48 percent in the system.

Metro Pacific submitted a proposal to the Department of Transportation in 2011 to invest $500 million investment to rehabilitate and upgrade MRT 3.

RETAILERS’ SHOW. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (fourth from left) opens the two-day 24th National Retail Conference and Stores Asia

Expo 2017 Thursday at the SMX Convention Center. The conference is organized by the Philippine Retailers Association, the country’s biggest organization of retailers. Joining Duterte are (from left) president of Toby’s Sports and Sportshouse and PRA vice chairman Mars Chua,; PRA vice president Rosemarie Bosch Ong, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Wilcon Depot Inc.; PRA president Paul Santos, president of Picture City; PRA chairman Lorenzo Enchong Formoso, overall chairman of the NRCE 2017 Conference and Expo and chairman of Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Associations; PRA chairman emeritus Samie Lim, chairman of BLIMS Lifestyle Group, Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute and Francorp Philippines; and PRA VP Arthur Coronel, president of Cinderella. Lino Santos

Small oil companies eye PNOC land lease M

By Alena Mae S. Flores

EMBERS of the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association, or IPPCA, expressed interest Friday to bid for the 91 parcels of land that Philippine National Oil Co. may offer for lease if negotiations with Petron Corp. fail.

IPPCA executive director Paul Anthony Isla said in a statement PNOC might invite interested parties, including members of the association, to join the auction for the lots. No date was specified for the conduct of the bidding.

PNOC president Reuben Lista said the state-owned company had not issued an invitation to bid yet but was prepared to make one if negotiations with Petron on the extension of the lease agreement failed.

“But if negotiations with Petron fails, we

have to be ready,” Lista said.

Isla said the move was a welcome development as “the 91 lots are currently leased to Petron under a long term contract that will expire soon, so this is really the best time for PNOC to bid out the properties.”

The Petron lease contracts for the PNOC properties will expire by August next year.

IPPCA is an organization of the country’s leading independent oil players, such as Clean Fuel, Eastern Petroleum, Filpride, Filoil, Flying V, Seaoil Philippines and Unioil Petroleum Philippines.

Petron is currently using 24 of the PNOC lots as sites for bulk fuel plants and 67 for gasoline stations. The properties have an area ranging from 321 square meters to almost 377,000 sq. m.

IPPCA said it received reliable information that the current Petron’s lease of the PNOC properties was far below the prevailing market rate, or grossly disadvantageous to the government.

“In fact, if PNOC considers other contractual arrangements like a joint venture, which should also be awarded through bidding, it

may generate even more income as compared with a straightforward lease,” Isla said.

“Public bidding has been firmly established as the best way for government to get the most value from its assets at current market price, or even higher. With so much interest for its properties, PNOC will definitely get a better price from bidding out the lease to those lots rather than just renewing the contract with Petron,” Isla said.

He commended Lista and the current batch of PNOC board for taking bold steps to foster and promote healthier competition in order to bring greater benefits to the Filipino people as envisioned by the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998.

The law ushered the entry of small oil players to the country’s downstream oil industry.

“The PNOC recent decision is truly remarkable as it lives up to its mandate as a true champion of the Filipino people. We look forward to participating in the bidding of the PNOC properties. I am sure that IPPCA members will bid aggressively, resulting in optimal income for government in the process,” Isla said.

Peso tops 51:$1 level, closes at fresh low of 50.98

By Julito G. Rada THE peso breached the 51 a dollar level on Friday before closing at a fresh 11-year low against the greenback, pulled down by geopolitical concerns, including the rising tensions between North Korea and the United States.

The peso lost P0.18 to close at 50.98 from 50.795 Thursday.

It was its weakest level since the 51.05 on Aug. 29, 2006. Total volume traded reached $690 million from $692 million previously.

The peso opened Friday’s trading P0.11 weaker at 50.90 from Thursday’s close of 50.795. The

local currency dropped to an intra-day low of 51.08 to a dollar.

North Korea on Thursday announced a detailed plan to send a salvo of four missiles over Japan and toward the US territory of Guam in the Pacific, raising the stakes in a standoff with US President Donald Trump and mocking him as “bereft of reason.”

But Trump warned North Korea against striking Guam or any of its allies, saying his earlier threat to unleash “fire and fury” on Pyongyang if it launched an attack might not have been tough enough.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said the regulator was constantly monitoring the movement of the peso for excessive short-term volatility not consistent with underlying economic fundamentals.

He added that Bangko Sentral was ready to “take appropriate action when necessary. We recognize that the market is also often self-correcting.”

Johanna Chua, Citi managing director and head of Asia-Pacific Economic and Market Analysis Research, said in a briefing in Makati City the peso was one of the “worst performers among

currencies in the region.”

But she said it was natural for the foreign exchange to adjust if there was some volatility, adding any weakness was good for the exporters, overseas Filipino workers and their families, as well as the business process outsourcing industry.

“We, however, do not see it as a source of fundamental concern because the Philippines is now in a favorable economic environment,” Chua said. She said the local currency’s movement was also a result of increasing imports amid the expanding economy.

LT Group’s net income in 1st half flat at P4.53b LT Group Inc., the listed holding company of the business tycoon Lucio Tan, said net income in the first half of the year stood virtually flat at P4.53 billion from P4.56 billion year-on-year, as the strong performance of its property and tobacco businesses was tempered by the decline of its beer and banking units.

LT Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the tobacco business contributed 41 percent or P1.85 billion to the total attributable income, followed

by Philippine National Bank at P1.52 billion or 34 percent.

Asia Brewery Inc. added P401 million, contributing nine percent to the total, while Tanduay Distillers Inc. accounted for P339 million or seven percent.

Eton Properties Philippines Inc. added P174 million while equity in net earnings from LT Group’s 30.9 percent stake in Victorias Milling Company Inc.

reached P246 million.

The tobacco business posted a 28-percent increase in first half net income to P1.86 billion from P405 million on year on higher selling prices.

Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. raised the price of Marlboro cigarettes for the first time since January 2013, with a recommended retail price per stick of P3.50 from P3.00.

PNB’s net income reached P2.75 billion in the first six months of the year, down 38 percent from P4.42 billion a year ago that included a P1.48-billion gain from the sale of real and other properties acquired.

Tanduay Distillers reported a decline in the company’s bottom-line to P339 million.

While volume sales increased 22 percent year-on-year, sales of ethanol dropped 30 percent as margins contracted due to lower selling prices and higher alcohol costs. Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATES DMCI Holdings Inc., Ayala Corp. and GT Capital Holdings Inc. registered strong profits in the first half of the year on bigger contributions from core businesses.

Ayala Corp. in a disclosure to the stock exchange said first-half net income rose nine percent to ₱15.1 billion year-on-year, primarily driven by the solid contributions of its real estate and power generation businesses.

DMCI Holdings said net income in the first half of the year grew 21 percent to P7.6 billion from P6.3 billion recorded in the same period a year ago..

DMCI president Isidro Consunji said the growth was driven by the improved earnings contributions of coal mining, which posted a 24-percent increase in net income because of higher prices and real estate, which registered a 78-percent hike in first half net income on strong sales.

GT Capital Holdings Inc., meanwhile, posted a core net income of P7.4 billion in the first half of 2017, up 19 percent from P6.2 billion in the same period last year.

First-half consolidated revenues rose 18 percent to P108.2 billion from P91.5 billion in 2016.

“GT Capital’s first-half 2017 financial results are in line with expectations due to the healthy contributions from our core businesses. The sustained strength of the domestic economy for the first six months of 2017 reinforced our company’s solid performance,” GT Capital president Carmelo Maria Luza Bautista said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO’s P5-b notes oversubscribed

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, said Friday its offer of P5 billion worth of long-term negotiable certificates of deposits was oversubscribed on strong demand from both retail and institutional investors.

The issue was increased from the original offer of P5.0 billion to P11.8 billion, representing almost 2.5 times the offered amount. As a result, BDO shortened the offering period for its issue to Aug. 10, 2017, a day ahead of schedule.

“This transaction is the largest single issuance to date of LTNCDs by a local bank,” BDO said.

The latest tranche of LTNCDs has a term of five and a half years with the interest rate set at 3.625 percent per annum. The issue date is slated on Aug. 18, 2017, while the maturity date will be on Feb. 18, 2023.

Other features of the LTNCD include tax exemption on interest income for individual investors if held for at least five years, quarterly interest payments, deposit insurance coverage up to a maximum of P500,000 per depositor and negotiability subject to market conditions.

Julito G. Rada

Tourism receives budget increase

THE Tourism Department plans to go all out on promotional activities after the House committee on appropriations agreed to increase marketing funds to P1 billion.

“Amid setbacks and mounting challenges, tourist arrivals are way up. Beefing up the department’s war chest, at least restoring it to its previous level of P1 billion, would go a long way in boosting our branding campaign that will be at par with those of our Asian neighbors,” Tourism Secretary WandaTeo said Friday.

Foreign tourist arrivals from January to June 2017 rose 12.7 percent to 3.6 million from nearly 3 million year-on-year.

Lawmakers gave their vote of confidence to Teo to mount an “all-out promotion campaign,” after she reported another double-digit increase in international visitor arrivals in the first semester South Korea remained the top tourist market for the country, posting 795,085 arrivals, or 23.7 percent of the total inbound traffic; followed by the United States with 513,443 or 15.29 percent; China, 454,962 or 13.55 percent; and Japan, 294,080, or 8.76 percent. Othel V. Campos

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, August 11, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

FUTONG VISITORS. Key officers of Futong Group, a leading manufacturer of fiber-optic cables

and copper cables with operations in China and Thailand, visit the country for an exploratory investment mission. The investment mission included a courtesy call on Trade Secretary and Board of Investments chairman Ramon Lopez (middle). The Futong executives led by board member Jianzhong Xu and general manager Guoqing Wei (left and second from left, respectively) expressed the company’s keen interest in doing business in the country. Joining them in the courtesy call are Trade Undersecretary and BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo (second from right) and BoI Governor Henry Co.

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

Japan

Yen

0.009158

0.4642

UK

Pound

1.297600

65.7727

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127920

6.4840

Switzerland

Franc

1.039069

52.6683

Canada

Dollar

0.784868

39.7834

Singapore

Dollar

0.733568

37.1831

Australia

Dollar

0.787400

39.9117

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651816

134.4152

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266681

13.5175

Brunei

Dollar

0.730887

37.0472

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.030084

1.5249

UAE

Dirham 0.272279

13.8013

Euro

Euro

1.177400

59.6801

Korea

Won

0.000875

0.0444

China

Yuan

0.150410

7.6240

India

Rupee

0.015603

0.7909

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.233100

New Zealand Dollar

0.727300

Taiwan

0.032975

Dollar

50.6880

11.8154 36.8654 1.6714 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks fall on Nokor rhetoric

T

HE stock market dropped Friday as a worldwide sell-off triggered by US President Donald Trump doubling down on his North Korea rhetoric showed no sign of abating.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 37.82 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,928.43 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 144 to 54, with 52 issues unchanged.

Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp., the shipping company of businessman Dennis Uy, slumped 4.1 percent to P9.58, the third straight day it declined, since its debut in the market Tuesday.

D&L Industries Inc. lost 2.5 percent to P10.26, while Ayala Land Inc., a major property de-

veloper, declined 1.3 percent to P41.95.

Security Bank Corp., the fifth largest lender in terms of assets, rose 3.3 percent to P252.

The rest of Asian equities extended heavy losses Friday while European markets slid in early trade after Wall Street indices suffered their biggest losses in nearly three months Thursday. The dollar struggled to recover from eight-week lows below 109 yen as investors fled to safe haven assets.

Traders across the globe reacted with dismay to Trump’s warning Thursday that his earlier threat to unleash “fire and fury” on the reclusive nuclear-armed state may not have been “tough enough.”

With Japanese markets closed for a public holiday, Hong Kong led the downward charge in AsiaPacific as the Hang Seng lost more than two percent.

The index was also dragged lower after Beijing ordered probes into three major Chinese social networking platforms over outlawed content.

Shanghai posted its biggest oneday drop since December while Seoul stocks again ended deep in negative territory and the won continued its slide against the dollar.

“Risk-off sentiment dominates Asian markets into the end of

the week with President Donald Trump’s words still sending shockwaves into the markets,” said Jingyi Pan, market strategist at online trader IG. Singapore’s DBS bank added in a statement that the yen “remains the safe haven currency from the saber-rattling between US President Donald Trump and North Korea”.

Gold, another classic safe haven asset, was trading at around $1,285 per ounce, up more than two percent this week and near a nine-week high.

Analysts warned the softening dollar could test June’s low of 108.82 yen and even the 2017 trough of 108.13 yen.

The greenback also came under pressure after New York Federal Reserve President William

Dudley cautioned it would “take some time” for US inflation to reach the bank’s two percent target, the latest warning price pressures remain muted.

US producer prices Thursday disappointed, as traders await consumer price inflation figures later Friday.

“Both (PPI measures) were well below consensus and give us no hope that consumer price inflation is going to materially beat expectations,” said Chris Weston, chief market strategist at IG Markets.

However, market watchers said equity markets remained focused on the deepening geopolitical crisis, as angry threats from Washington and Pyongyang stoke fears of a catastrophic miscalculation with global consequences. AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.13 39,000 59.7 13,840 104.9 301,550 3.94 9,000 129.3 1,397,200 1.3 302,000 35.5 85,700 16.1 10,700 31.3 734,800 1.7 33,000 900 20 0.68 2,641,000 85.5 914,470 0.84 533,000 13.2 15,600 24.35 1,400 63 93,210 240 10,820 50 498,620 252 1,896,340 1,650 65 86.5 428,150 1.31 21,000

161,230 821,457.50 31,671,045 35,460 180,787,655 375,830 3,043,020 171,354 22,874,510 57,460 18,000 1,812,110 78,414,683 451,620 205,920 34,090 5,869,511.50 2,605,976 24,985,427.50 477,732,564 110,000 37,012,262 27,510

401,300.50 -9,362,267 -43,038,843 141,800 3,462,785 -3,735,905.50 -456,955 2,409,116 -70,121 297,286,042 -

38.95 8.56 0.81 1.35 25.1 0.229 156 5.7 16.1 30 17 64.8 72 95 1.9 5.35 11.3 10 14.88 12.06 6.98 6.8 1.7 17.3 67 14.5 12.82 11.72 1.7 213 63.5 3.69 3.3 22.5 30.55 17.9 17.76 274 0.227 10 3.06 7.18 9.47 6.95 10.22 1.7 11.6 64.7 7 314.8 4.4 2.01 4.2 2.42 12.1 4.5 0.142 1.12 135.2 3.83 2.01

INDUSTRIAL 39.5 1,194,300 8.8 3,242,200 0.82 2,652,000 1.36 232,000 26 50,600 0.229 7,120,000 156 30 5.71 1,088,200 16.38 6,499,900 31.35 778,800 17 44,700 65 823,490 72 170 95 30 1.96 779,000 5.5 338,800 11.3 49,600 10.26 11,245,600 15 910,100 12.3 1,063,400 7.09 2,450,800 6.82 16,338,200 1.77 5,000 17.46 437,800 67.95 15,870 14.88 38,200 12.88 10,000 11.88 4,239,800 1.73 1,048,000 216.4 1,203,420 63.5 100 3.7 112,000 3.3 283,000 23 6,000 31.35 228,600 18 428,000 18.02 4,724,400 277 136,810 0.228 3,490,000 10.86 269,800 3.08 40,000 7.24 71,200 9.59 1,755,500 7.69 295,700 10.22 1,500 1.76 943,000 12 1,697,100 65 36,900 7.1 553,600 315 12,220 4.4 21,000 2.01 3,000 4.2 52,000 2.46 3,809,000 12.66 1,142,400 4.5 512,000 0.147 1,140,000 1.13 452,000 143 1,527,170 3.83 31,000 2.04 23,924,000

46,863,375 28,181,683 2,172,020 315,410 1,303,555 1,653,260 4,680 6,216,111 106,230,182 23,940,465 766,860 53,776,208 12,240 2,949 1,503,250 1,853,537 560,642 115,519,630 13,610,762 13,043,976 17,356,128 111,329,182 8,570 7,627,854 1,073,341 568,314 128,536 50,459,712 1,798,380 259,456,752 6,350 414,390 948,740 138,025 7,110,845 7,700,362 84,994,334 37,787,984 799,250 2,900,518 123,660 512,862 16,721,176 2,176,795 15,330 1,651,290 20,088,708 2,392,646.50 3,913,902 3,848,554 92,400 6,060 221,000 9,388,560 14,150,662 2,314,520 162,380 526,560 214,496,618 119,290 49,628,070

-12,292,845 1,379,072 99,600 -232,860 -1,959,703 -5,471,540 738,640 34,280 30,432 38,000 -432,790 292,256 3,722,300 246,014 -5,817,741 -18,876,980 -1,631,790 399,680.50 3,257,356 683,990 110,905,448 -236,800 582,100 -1,370,040 1,317,604 -3,730,326 778,084 -227,700 -77,460 -2,895 -3,688,576 -301,032 144,260 -16,618 83,583.50 2,394,194 -353,334 221,000 -238,830 9,417,796 531,580 -1,470 -13,198,707 73,170 5,035,620

0.355 72.55 13.52 1.1 6.8 0.305 0.31 870 7.38 15.4 7.79 5.9 0.2 1,134 7.53 68.65 5.3 5.41 0.92 6.7 17.38 6.45 0.04 0.93 2.05 100.3 2.63 812 1.56 301.8 0.285 0.194 0.225

HOLDING FIRMS 0.36 11,470,000 73 656,130 13.52 3,229,900 1.16 125,000 6.9 13,400 0.305 710,000 0.31 660,000 882 191,400 7.4 2,530,000 15.68 2,934,500 7.8 2,100 5.95 12,100 0.2 710,000 1,145 134,220 7.53 64,600 69.5 1,445,590 5.5 82,200 5.41 300 0.94 1,492,000 6.7 1,684,700 17.5 2,238,300 6.59 14,785,100 0.042 28,000,000 0.93 11,000 2.09 1,908,000 101.6 64,170 2.63 24,000 829.5 328,980 1.63 1,716,000 303.6 2,720 0.285 170,000 0.195 2,360,000 0.225 2,980,000

4,129,550 48,158,805.50 43,953,760 138,950 93,400 218,750 207,150 168,779,270 18,736,042 46,042,344 16,360 71,885 142,450 154,514,220 486,476 100,205,411.50 489,877 1,662 1,390,920 11,497,124 39,051,156 96,633,239 1,164,400 10,230 3,948,550 6,482,757 63,120 270,002,620 2,740,260 823,910 48,450 467,410 678,180

36,000 -13,553,437 -24,361,412 -18,900 22,796,025 1,111,473 5,689,760 -4,000 -71,929,640 -21,844,258.50 -2,186,023 -4,572,684 2,707,364 -68,000 605,145 -37,964,830 -136,244 -19,950 114,000 -93,950

235,426 17,261,020 23,730 5,474,890 256,708,350 4,045,830 21,883,090 9,042 8,849 29,490,930 1,014,140 189,030 1,288,900 2,816,900 4,491,530 296,610 208,500 11,718,210 21,563,980 76,390 211,651,820 47,331,350

-52,006 -11,526 26,400 -75,585,110 57,110 6,561,290 -3,486,800 -7,840 200,000 988,375 28,000 -7,493,950 9,836,640 65,977,940 38,400

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.15 ASIA UNITED 59.5 BANK PH ISLANDS 106 BDO LEASING 3.94 BDO UNIBANK 129.9 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.25 CHINABANK 35.8 COL FINANCIAL 16.16 EAST WEST BANK 31.5 IREMIT 1.75 MANULIFE 900 MEDCO HLDG 0.69 METROBANK 86 NTL REINSURANCE 0.86 PB BANK 13.2 PBCOM 24.35 PHIL NATL BANK 64 PHIL STOCK EXCH 240 RCBC 50.8 SECURITY BANK 250 SUN LIFE 1,700 UNION BANK 86.35 VANTAGE 1.31

4.18 59.7 106 3.94 129.9 1.3 35.8 16.16 31.6 1.8 900 0.69 86.6 0.87 13.2 24.35 64 241 51.7 255 1,700 86.65 1.31

3.95 59.1 104.6 3.94 129.1 1.24 35.45 15.98 30.8 1.7 900 0.68 85.35 0.83 13.2 24.35 62.4 238 49.5 248.6 1,650 86.35 1.31

ABOITIZ POWER 39.3 AGRINURTURE 8.83 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.85 ALSONS CONS 1.38 ASIABEST GROUP 25.6 BASIC ENERGY 0.24 BOGO MEDELLIN 156 CEMEX HLDG 5.75 CENTURY FOOD 16.5 CIRTEK HLDG 31 CNTRL AZUCARERA17.1 CONCEPCION 65.1 CONCRETE A 72 CONCRETE B 99.95 CROWN ASIA 1.96 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.48 DEL MONTE 11.32 DNL INDUS 10.52 EAGLE CEMENT 15 EEI CORP 12.6 EMPERADOR 7.09 ENERGY DEVT 6.83 EUROMED 1.7 FIRST GEN 17.4 FIRST PHIL HLDG 68.7 GINEBRA 14.9 HOLCIM 12.9 INTEGRATED MICR 12.1 IONICS 1.78 JOLLIBEE 217 LIBERTY FLOUR 63.5 LMG CHEMICALS 3.7 MABUHAY VINYL 3.45 MACAY HLDG 22.5 MANILA WATER 30.7 MAXS GROUP 18.8 MEGAWIDE 17.96 MERALCO 277 MG HLDG 0.23 PANASONIC 11.52 PEPSI COLA 3.14 PETROENERGY 7.3 PETRON 9.65 PHIL H2O 7.8 PHINMA 10.22 PHINMA ENERGY 1.79 PHX PETROLEUM 12.02 PILIPINAS SHELL 64.9 PRYCE CORP 7.11 PUREFOODS 315 RFM CORP 4.4 ROXAS AND CO 2.04 ROXAS HLDG 4.4 SFA SEMICON 2.57 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.5 SPC POWER 4.6 SWIFT FOODS 0.143 TKC METALS 1.2 UNIV ROBINA 139 VICTORIAS 3.85 VITARICH 2.2

39.5 8.96 0.85 1.38 26.9 0.24 156 5.75 16.5 31.35 18 65.5 72 99.95 2 5.5 11.34 10.52 15 12.66 7.15 6.83 1.77 17.52 68.7 14.9 12.9 12.14 1.78 217.2 63.5 3.7 3.5 23.1 31.35 18.8 18.02 277 0.23 11.52 3.14 7.3 9.65 7.9 10.22 1.8 12.02 65 7.15 315 4.4 2.04 4.4 2.57 12.66 4.79 0.147 1.2 144 3.85 2.2

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

0.37 74.9 13.78 1.18 7 0.31 0.315 888 7.58 15.88 7.8 5.95 0.202 1,186 7.91 70 6.1 5.8 0.97 6.9 17.6 6.65 0.043 0.93 2.1 101.6 2.63 829.5 1.63 303.6 0.285 0.202 0.231

0.36 74.5 13.78 1.11 6.8 0.31 0.315 879 7.58 15.88 7.79 5.92 0.202 1,182 7.91 70 6.1 5.8 0.97 6.84 17.42 6.65 0.042 0.93 2.07 101.6 2.63 819 1.63 302 0.285 0.202 0.231

8990 HLDG 5.5 A BROWN 1.38 ANCHOR LAND 6.78 ARTHALAND CORP 0.95 AYALA LAND 42.45 BELLE CORP 3.58 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.86 CEBU HLDG 5.3 CEBU PROP B 5.5 CENTURY PROP 0.51 CITY AND LAND 1.23 CITYLAND DEVT 1.5 CROWN EQUITIES 0.194 CYBER BAY 0.51 DOUBLEDRAGON 44.7 EMPIRE EAST 0.69 EVER GOTESCO 0.15 FILINVEST LAND 1.79 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.62 IRC PROP 0.97 MEGAWORLD 4.8 MRC ALLIED 0.28

5.5 1.38 6.78 0.95 42.45 3.61 4.99 5.32 5.99 0.51 1.25 1.53 0.201 0.51 44.8 0.7 0.15 1.79 1.63 0.97 4.82 0.305

5.4 1.26 6.78 0.88 41.6 3.56 4.74 5.3 5.5 0.49 1.21 1.5 0.194 0.5 44.4 0.69 0.15 1.75 1.58 0.95 4.73 0.26

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL ESTATES 0.485 PHIL REALTY 0.51 PRIMEX CORP 4.71 PTFC REDEV CORP 28.65 ROBINSONS LAND 23.9 ROCKWELL 1.79 SHANG PROP 3.19 SM PRIME HLDG 34.4 STA LUCIA LAND 0.99 STARMALLS 7.5 SUNTRUST HOME 0.86 VISTA LAND 5.84

0.485 0.51 4.71 28.65 24.45 1.79 3.24 34.4 1 7.5 0.87 5.84

0.455 0.475 4.58 28.65 23.75 1.78 3.19 33.85 0.99 7.3 0.85 5.74

0.465 0.475 4.6 28.65 24.45 1.78 3.23 33.85 1 7.3 0.87 5.77

5,490,000 15,556,000 1,027,000 100 916,500 11,000 24,000 3,684,400 1,602,000 6,700 638,000 6,207,900

2,559,700 7,561,105 4,739,980 2,865 22,228,215 19,600 76,940 125,355,410 1,590,620 49,110 546,200 35,898,173

93,000 -552,350 -179,620 -1,137,885 -43,398,750 -30,251,443

2GO GROUP 21.5 ABS CBN 43.3 ACESITE HOTEL 1.65 APC GROUP 0.64 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.041 ASIAN TERMINALS 11.3 BERJAYA 5.25 BLOOMBERRY 9.15 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.071 CEBU AIR 102.2 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.86 CHELSEA 9.97 DFNN INC 9.48 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.22 GLOBE TELECOM 2,030 GMA NETWORK 6.17 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.8 GRAND PLAZA 15.9 HARBOR STAR 2.37 IMPERIAL 3.2 INTL CONTAINER 105.5 IPEOPLE 12.12 IPM HLDG 8.71 ISLAND INFO 0.164 ISM COMM 1.34 JACKSTONES 2.94 LBC EXPRESS 15.12 LEISURE AND RES 4.19 LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.31 MACROASIA 11.58 MANILA BULLETIN 0.57 MANILA JOCKEY 2.41 MELCO RESORTS 8.79 METRO RETAIL 4.02 NOW CORP 2.3 PAL HLDG 5.25 PHIL SEVEN CORP 175 PHILWEB 9.68 PLDT 1,716 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.59 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.4 PUREGOLD 46.85 ROBINSONS RTL 86 SBS PHIL CORP 5.62 SSI GROUP 4.23 STI HLDG 1.39 TRAVELLERS 3.39 WATERFRONT 1.22 WILCON DEPOT 8.34

21.5 43.3 1.69 0.64 0.041 11.3 5.25 9.15 0.073 103 9.86 9.97 9.9 2.22 2,066 6.19 15.9 16 2.39 3.2 105.5 12.56 8.71 0.165 1.36 2.94 15.6 4.24 1.31 11.6 0.57 2.41 8.79 4.05 2.3 5.25 175 10.1 1,744 1.6 0.4 47.2 86 5.9 4.23 1.4 3.41 1.22 8.34

20.5 42.8 1.55 0.56 0.038 11.3 5.25 8.97 0.07 100.5 9.4 9.35 9.24 2.22 2,022 6.14 15.7 15.88 2.2 3.15 103 12.12 8.65 0.155 1.32 2.9 15 4.1 1.1 10.86 0.56 2.35 8.5 3.88 2.23 5.16 175 9.31 1,690 1.57 0.395 46.5 84 5.62 4.09 1.32 3.39 1.17 7.87

SERVICES 20.9 157,000 42.8 24,900 1.68 549,000 0.57 34,977,000 0.04 76,800,000 11.3 2,100 5.25 21,700 9 5,912,900 0.072 6,960,000 101 176,340 9.4 1,100 9.58 10,538,800 9.5 241,200 2.22 5,000 2,022 22,955 6.14 220,000 15.88 52,500 16 2,400 2.25 1,995,000 3.15 38,000 104.6 929,170 12.56 1,400 8.69 260,500 0.165 16,290,000 1.36 100,000 2.9 113,000 15.6 11,700 4.14 265,000 1.2 5,284,000 11 2,106,400 0.56 29,000 2.35 47,000 8.65 380,300 3.95 1,041,000 2.24 678,000 5.16 1,400 175 20 9.6 1,682,500 1,740 105,470 1.59 3,621,000 0.4 2,380,000 47.1 2,000,900 84.4 245,630 5.89 76,100 4.1 3,940,000 1.38 26,818,000 3.4 248,000 1.2 11,484,000 8.08 6,196,800

3,237,045 1,073,615 895,660 20,522,520 3,038,300 23,730 113,925 53,556,958 493,070 17,808,014 10,800 101,145,253 2,295,906 11,100 46,725,710 1,355,730 826,946 38,228 4,529,540 119,750 97,337,518 17,408 2,266,175 2,614,760 133,280 329,800 175,818 1,101,330 6,258,400 23,416,746 16,250 110,520 3,272,185 4,115,350 1,524,260 7,336 3,500 16,537,411 182,376,995 5,741,670 949,250 94,077,115 20,695,936.50 431,146 16,295,600 36,988,550 842,730 13,649,310 49,618,323

-8,400 -96,000 280,610 11,947,951 8,343,142 2,852,887 558,700 2,927,390 -7,890 -17,861,861 12,560 -96,000 -4,874,694 -63,242 869,570 -27,000 -1,941,313 -19,555,925 167,800 14,002,975 -13,218,684 -11,260 3,216,160 27,787,810 244,320 -17,970 9,664,061

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

0.0028 1.61 5 1.2 0.38 8.41 2.5 0.29 0.181 0.19 0.011 1.83 5.76 1.89 0.53 1.02 0.011 0.01 0.012 2.48 8.7 3.29 168 0.008

0.0029 1.69 5.02 1.22 0.38 8.41 2.51 0.29 0.181 0.19 0.011 1.89 5.84 1.89 0.53 1.04 0.011 0.01 0.012 2.48 8.77 3.34 168 0.008

0.0027 1.61 4.89 1.14 0.38 8.36 2.45 0.28 0.179 0.19 0.01 1.8 5.56 1.83 0.495 1 0.01 0.01 0.012 2.47 8.49 3.22 164.5 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0028 848,000,000 1.66 12,443,000 4.9 506,800 1.2 3,617,000 0.38 1,250,000 8.36 3,400 2.46 1,500,000 0.29 620,000 0.18 3,880,000 0.19 30,000 0.011 200,200,000 1.84 186,000 5.75 3,637,500 1.88 93,000 0.52 835,000 1.04 269,000 0.01 86,800,000 0.01 100,000 0.012 900,000 2.47 20,000 8.49 1,855,900 3.24 2,638,000 165.8 976,200 0.008 12,000,000

2,370,500 20,571,060 2,513,943 4,305,940 475,000 28,551 3,712,690 175,300 698,500 5,700 2,002,200 336,450 20,734,061 172,050 415,480 271,030 869,800 1,000 10,800 49,510 15,954,648 8,625,730 162,189,644 96,000

86,800 280,900 -28,687 -60,500 -92,450 1,457,422 2,230,692 -13,030 62,945,621 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

43.1 517.5 520 105.5 107 516 6 1,015 1,010 1.06 108 1,120 1,015 2 76.5 81.75 79.5 79.5 80

43.1 517.5 520 106 107 518 6 1,015 1,010 1.06 108 1,120 1,015 2 77 81.75 79.5 79.5 80.3

42.5 516.5 520 105.5 107 515.5 5.88 1,010 1,010 1.06 105 1,120 1,015 1.96 76.5 80.5 78.9 79.5 79.95

PREFERRED 42.5 16,300 516.5 1,960 520 100 106 174,420 107 10,000 518 8,040 5.9 399,200 1,010 150 1,010 1,000 1.06 120,000 105 600 1,120 1,960 1,015 300 1.96 18,000 77 15,410 81 43,460 79.5 34,480 79.5 10,000 80.3 131,810

696,950 1,012,370 52,000 18,458,855 1,070,000 4,147,760 2,354,249 151,900 1,010,000 127,200 63,337 2,195,200 304,500 35,920 1,179,101 3,539,605 2,741,040 795,000 10,546,799.50

-225,250 -31,800 -927,353 -

LR WARRANT

2.38

2.38

2.28

WARRANTS 2.3 193,000

446,470

-

166,470 15,150 206,580 39,788,984

3,750 -7,245,806

6,509,902

-

42,400

42,400

NAME

OPEN

MS

PROPERTY 5.41 43,500 1.31 13,321,000 6.78 3,500 0.92 6,028,000 41.95 6,117,000 3.59 1,126,000 4.9 4,492,000 5.32 1,700 5.99 1,600 0.5 59,249,000 1.25 824,000 1.5 126,000 0.198 6,530,000 0.5 5,633,000 44.65 100,500 0.7 429,000 0.15 1,390,000 1.75 6,624,000 1.61 13,431,000 0.97 79,000 4.78 44,324,000 0.3 170,380,000

SME

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.75 3.03 5.3 5.99

3.75 3.03 5.3 5.99

3.65 3.03 5 5.54

FIRST METRO ETF 120.8

120.8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.4 119.7 54,700

USD DMPL A1

10.6

10.6

10.6

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES

SHARES

9,981,073 111,894,675 83,179,224 375,652,482 229,513,507

MINING & OIL

1,182,540,085

GRAND TOTAL

1,999,871,264

3.7 3.03 5 5.65

DDS 10.6

45,000 5,000 40,200 6,965,100

4,000

VALUE 1,988.09 (down) 6.33 869,304,112.40 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,793.93 (up) 44.27 1,412,513,449.526 HOLDING FIRMS 7,803.44 (down) 55.93 1,139,275,641.564 PROPERTY 3,728.38 (down) 58.28 SERVICES 1,685.32 (up) 0.86 857,008,543.94 MINING & OIL 12,492.21 (down) 116.51 933,548,653.749 PSEI 7,928.43 (down) 37.82 246,598,888.952 All Shares Index 4,681.81 (down) 26.75 5,504,937,666.21 Gainers: 60; Losers: 108; Unchanged: 82; Total: 250

PNB’s net profit fell 38% in 1st semester

By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE National Bank, the country’s sixth-largest lender in terms of assets, posted a 38-percent decrease in net income in the first half of 2017 to P2.7 billion from P4.3 billion a year ago.

A bank statement Friday said the decline was due to the “one-time gains amounting to P2.7 billion” in the comparable period last year as the bank disposed of foreclosed assets, net gain on the sale of shares of stock of a subsidiary and collection of non-performing assets.

Despite the double-digit fall in net profit, PNB said it sustained the growth momentum in its core lending and deposit-taking businesses and notable gains from fee-based activities.

The bank’s net interest income increased by 8 percent year-on-year, primarily driven by 13-percent growth in interest income earned from loans and receivables on the back of 16-percent expansion in loan portfolio, boosted by increases in loans to corporate, commercial and small and medium-sized enterprises.

“During the first half of the year, the bank also accessed the BSP’s term deposit facility which offered better yields that led to a substantial hike in interest income earned from placements with banks and others, thus more than offsetting the lower interest income contribution from trading and investment securities,” it said.

Net service fees and commission income grew 12 percent as the bank intensified its cross-selling efforts to its customers. Meanwhile, treasuryrelated income decreased substantially owing to muted trading opportunities as investors continue to stay on the sidelines amid further global monetary tightening and interest rate development in the international markets.

PLDT says talks with IBM over

By Darwin G. Amojelar PLDT Inc. said it terminated a deal to outsource its information and technology operations to IBM. “It has been postponed indefinitely, so we don’t know whether we will resume or we will not resume, most likely not, so we are looking at other options to see how we can (pursue the manpower reduction of our IT department),” PLDT chairman and president Manuel Pangilinan said.

When asked the reason of termination of negotiations, Pangilinan said, “ a lot of reasons, we’ll probably not to comment, they are (a) multinational firm.”

PLDT was supposed to sign by end of June an agreement to outsource its IT needs to IBM. Pangilinan, however, said the manpower reduction of its IT department would push through within the year and that the company was currently in talks with other IT service providers.

PLDT has over 1,000 IT personnel.

“Some are US (IT providers ), a lot. The discussions are proceeding,” he said.

PLDT expects to save P7 billion over the next five years from the planned manpower reduction of its IT department.

Pangilinan said besides manpower reduction, the company would also cut expenses on travel, seminars, symposia, foreign trips and essential entertainment.

PLDT implemented a salary increase freeze in the last two years.

Home / Design

B3

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017 Joel D. Lacsamana,, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

NEW CATEGORIES BOOST 2018 Philippines Property Awards M

ORE categories to meet emerging market conditions in the country’s real estate scene have been included in the sixth edition of the annual PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards to be held next year.

BENCHMARK OF EXCELLENCE.

“This is to recognize the continuing emergence of innovations in design, production, and marketing among Philippine developers,” said Dr. Jaime V. Cura, vice chairman of RGV Group of Companies, who has been elected as the new chairman of the judging panel.

In 2018, recognition will be presented for Best Township Development and Best Township Design, where the judges will be looking for the project’s smart city principles, sustainable design and carbon-emission management system, among others.

There will also be awards for: Best Alternative Housing Development, to recognize owner-managed housing projects intended for transient workers, students and the elderly; Best Mid End Condo Development (Metro Manila); and Best Affordable Condo Development

Panel judge Cyndy Tan Jarabata, president of TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group Inc., and Terry Blackburn, founder of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards.

(Cebu).

“We feel that we should recognize and encourage such innovations and sensitivity to market conditions to prove that the Philippine property market continues to be a standout in this part of the world,” said Cura.

Nominations are now open for the public until 16 February 2018. Eligible entries for the Developer, Development and Design completion categories will be accepted until 23 February, with the final shortlist of nominees announced on 28 March 2018.

Shortlisted nominees will be honored as Winners or given Highly Commended distinction at the sixth annual gala dinner and awards ceremony of the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, set on Friday, 27 April 2018, at the Fairmont Makati ballroom.

Mañosa exhibit in Alabang, Trinoma

CORON HIDEAWAY. Two Seasons Hotel and Resorts recently opened the Coron Bayside Hotel. Built on a 1500 sqm. land amid a palette of greens and blues, limestone silhouettes and languid waters, the establishment is the only boutique hotel of its kind around town – both in class and architecture. Marine motifs occupy several nooks in the property, and the ground floor is replete with underwater inspirations including antique diving helmets, and a 1.8-ton anchor. Jellyfish, which is one of the two common species in Coron, were reimagined into lighting fixtures strewn around the hotel’s main restaurant. Murillo of Cebu was engaged to customize the décor. Wood furnishings and accents, like the hardwood trellis ceiling of BAYA Resto, add an organic feel to the hotel. All wood furniture were custom-made by Sason Shop in Bacolod. The hotel has 48 rooms, most of which offer a sweeping view of the Coron Bay seen through glass walls (See photo).

“MAÑOSA: Beyond Architecture”, a traveling exhibit featuring renowned Filipino architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, is ongoing at the Alabang Town Center, and will move to TriNoma Mall from August 18 to September 9.

When everyone was focused on architectural feats in the great cities of the world and produced work to reflect these trends, Mañosa used Philippine textiles, and building materials, championing Filipino architectural design through his work.

“For him, it’s not just about finding what’s beautiful. He works to keep leveling up, to keep innovating, and have Filipinos take pride in our own world class designs” said Denise Mañosa, the architect’s wife.

The exhibit showcases original drawings, models, and snapshots that chart Mañosa’s prolific career. This show was originally put up in the National Museum of the Philippines earlier this year.

The exhibit is organized by Tukod Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Mañosa Group of Companies, in partnership with Ayala Malls and Artkitektura.

Amaia Skies Avenida welcomes homeowners

AMAIA Land recently welcomed new homeowners to their new units in Amaia Skies Avenida in downtown Manila.

The turnover started last April, and is expected to be accomplished within the next two to three months. “A large segment of our customers are Filipinos who aspire to make their hard-earned money work for them,” said Nikie Lingad, head of project development.

“We commit the organization’s resources to ensure that our homes are built and delivered to their owners while maintaining high standards of quality.”

Amaia turned over at least 2,000 homes in various parts of the country before 2016 ended, and is set to deliver more units to its homeowners in 2017.

Amaia Skies Avenida is located in the center of Manila’s Sta. Cruz district.

TIMELESS ARTISTRY OVER 35 artists from all over Batangas province recently participated in the Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Art Awards held at Hotel 1925 in Lipa City. The glorious days of Lipa during the 1800s, brought about by the coffee boom, gave rise to the “illustrado” class — the original patrons of the arts in the province.

The grandeur of Lipa is long gone, but Batanguenos have ostensibly retained their taste for the arts as both masters, modernists, and millennials enthusiastically displayed their craft at the competition. The grand prize (worth P70K) was won by Carlos Castro for his “Inang Kalikasan”; 1st runner up honors (P50K) went to Nante Carandong for “Waiting for My Season” (Inset); while the 2nd runner up plum (P30K each) was shared by Joseph Albao for “Fragile”; and Marlon Delim for “Moringa Oliefera”. Officials from the city government of Batangas, and JTI, which advocates the propagation of art exhibits, workshops and contests in communities throughout the province, graced the event.

Dino Ray V. Directo III, Issue Editor

B4

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

Trucks & Buses

Truck manufacturers post brisk sales.

Truck sales boost industry growth Text and photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III

SH E FR

A whole new meaning to “People mover”

T

HE Philippine automotive industry achieved its highest monthly sales last June hitting the 37,631 mark. The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association chalked up an impressive 14.1 percent increase compared to the same month last year with 32,993 units sold. Sales last June 2017 enabled auto sales to reach 196,164 units for the first semester of 2017.

Both Passenger Car (“PC”) and Commercial Vehicles (“CV”) segments rose compared to June 2017 sales. The PC segment sales achieved 13,677 units, a 14.4 percent growth over June last year

with 11,951 units sold. As of June 2017, PC segment is now 67,180 units or 34.25 percent of year-todate sales.

Collectively, the CV Segment also accomplished 23,954

units with 13.8 percent increase over the same period last year with 21,042 units sold. Most categories within the segments had their shares of growth.

Categories 1 (AUVs) and 2 (SUVs) led the rise in the segment’s sales with 7,414 and 15,278 units sold, respectively.

Only Category 5 (Heavy Duty Trucks and Buses) fell with 157 units sold, 18.7 percent decrease from 193 units sold in June 2017.

Year-to-date CV sales reached 128,984 units or 65.75 percent of the total sales.

“The overall sales last June is relatively higher compared to that of May’s due to the wellmaintained inventory levels helping the prompt delivery of vehicles amongst the major

players. All these factors led to our improved sales in June 2017. In additional to a good stock level, manufacturers maximized “dealer push” that brought higher sales specifically to their key models,” CAMPI President Rommel Gutierrez said.

The first semester of 2017 is led by Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation with 42.73% market share.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation follows in second with 19.11%. Isuzu Philippines Corporation comes in third with 11.03% share. Ford Motor Company Philippines is fourth with 8.52%; while Nissan Philippines, Inc. is at fifth with 5.21% market share.

Kiss claims second win in Slovakia Ring IF YOU are out in the market for a people mover, with more than the usual required space, you might want to visit any Volkswagen dealership near you and check out the Crafter. The Crafter shares its underpinnings with the Mercedes Benz Sprinter, with both large vans being produced in Daimler’s assembly plants in Europe. The Crafter is powered by VW’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder Bi-turbo engine with 163bhp and 400Nm – with the drive sent to the rear wheels via the sole transmission choice of a six-speed manual.

This nine seater van has panoramic windows, multiple AC vents, power sliding doors and leatherette seats. Safety features include ABS brakes and electronic stabilization. The Crafter L measures 6940mm longx1993mm in widthx2415mm tall with a 3665mm wheelbase, so it wise to have your chauffeur take the wheel of this P3M behemoth.

The Crafter’s biggest selling points, however, lie in its big load carrying potential and its impressive handling. Indeed, for its size, it is surprisingly easy to use and its driving characteristics are more akin to a much smaller van. Think of it as a Golf GTS on steroids. Dino Ray V. Directo III

NORBERT Kiss claimed his second win of the 2017 FIA European Truck Racing Championship season driving his Tankpool24 Mercedes Benz. The Tankpool24 Racing driver, who took a convincing pole during qualifying, qualified second after struggling for grip in the Super Pole session.

Pole sitter Jochen Hahn didn’t manage to hold on to the lead as he went three abreast into Turn one with Kiss and Antonio Albacete alongside. It initially looked like Albacete would emerge as the leader following a storming start from the second row. But it was Kiss who dived down the inside and found himself in the best positon in to Turn 2. From then on the race was a one man show as the Hungarian controlled his pace and gradually increased his gap over the chasing pack.

Behind Kiss it was very close for most of the running with drivers in places two to five running very close to each other. Antonio Albacete in his Truck Sport Lutz Bernau MAN quickly settled for

second and despite pressure from behind held on to his position to deliver yet another strong result of the weekend. Hahn, after being swallowed up by both Kiss and Albacete, then guarded third place in his Hahn Racing Iveco to score his second podium finish of the weekend.

Adam Lacko driving a Buggyra International Racing Systementered Freightliner came fourth, just behind Hahn. The Czech had lost ground immediately after the

start and was running down in sixth behind Steffi Halm and his team-mate David Vrsecky.

Steffi Halm, ended up fifth this time out in her Reinert Racing MAN, with Lacko’s team-mate David Vrsecky, Sascha Lenz and Gerd Korber completing positions sixth to eight.

Ninth went to Promoter’s Cup winner Jose Rodrigues in his Reboconorte Racing MAN. The Portuguese ace bounced back with a win after suffering a dreadful

day yesterday with a penalty for overspeeding costing him any chances of a good result in race one and a puncture buring his chances in race two.

Tenth and the final point went to Steffen Faas in the second of the Team Schawbentruck Ivecos. He also took second in the Promoter’s Cup. Frankie Vojtisek completed the cup’ podium, finishing just outside the top ten overall in 11th.

It was a race to forget for the Promoter’s Cup contender Andre Kursim, who was under investigation for contacts with Sascha Lenz and Steffen Faas in two separate incidents during the opening stages of the race.

Soon after this the Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz ran wide and through the gravel in turn six and came to the pits to retire.

In the Teams Championship it was a win for Team Tankpool 24 Racing from Truck Sport Lutz Bernau and Buggyra International Racing System. FIA Euro Truck Championship

TIPS FOR SAFELY SHARING THE ROAD WITH BIGGIES 1. Avoid blind spots around large trucks. If you can’t see a truck’s side mirrors, the truck driver can’t see you.

2. Do not pass a truck on the right while the truck is turning right.

Trucks must swing wide to the left to negotiate right turns safely.

3. Do not cut in front of any large vehicle because they require much more distance to stop in comparison to cars.

4. When passing a semi, wait until you can see the entire cab in your

rearview mirror before pulling in front of the truck.

5. Give trucks at least four to six seconds of space in wet conditions and at highway speeds.

6. Do not cut off a truck in traffic or on the highway to reach your exit or turn.

7. Slow down when driving through work zones. Nearly one-third of work zone fatal crashes involve large trucks.

8. Always drive defensively, and

never aggressively. Over half of traffic fatalities can be linked to aggressive driving behaviors.

9. Stay focused on the road. Do not text or use your cell phone while driving.

10. Always wear your seatbelt.

11. Cautious, attentive drivers make public roads safe for all motorists.

You can also help by notifying traffic safety agencies of crashes, unsafe drivers, unsafe roadway conditions, and other situations that can lead to accidents.

LGUs

Noveleta hosts 15th DTI center for Cavite NOVELETA, Cavite—With the Department of Trade and Industry-Cavite’s goal to put up Negosyo Centers in 23 towns and cities of the province, the agency opened its 15th center here on Monday at the ground floor of the municipal hall.

DTI Region-4A Director Marilou Toledo graced the event and signed a memorandum of agreement with Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua, witnessed by Vice Mayor Donnie Torres, Teresita Leabres of PCCI, DTICavite Provincial Director Noly Guevarra and Risa Pinpin-Enero.

The Negosyo Center in Noveleta follows similar business centers established in the cities of General Trias, Trece Martires, Cavite, Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariňas and the towns of Kawit, Carmona, Ternate, Mendez, Naic, Amadeo, and Maragondon.

DTI’s goal, according to Toledo is to establish centers in the remaining Cavite towns, namely Indang, Magallanes, Rosario, Silang, General Emilio Aguinaldo and Tanza, as well as in the city of Tagaytay.

Guevara expressed optimism on the various partnerships with the local government units here given the DTI’s assistance and support to those who have just started their businesses as well as aspiring entrepreneurs.

With business dynamism in the towns and cities, jobs could be created even from the family-owned and the micro, small and medium enterprises.

The “Negosyo Center” location is prioritized based on the town’s readiness to operate a center and added factors on the number of existing and possible business registrants in the area.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

Manila eyes ‘LLP’ amnesty

By Bill Casas

M

ANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada will soon grant amnesty to property owners who have been negligent in paying their monthly amortization fees under the city government’s Land-for-the-Landless Program or LLP.

Estrada has asked the City Council to hasten the passage of Draft Ordinance No. 7834 that seeks to provide an opportunity to delinquent land awardees to easily settle their unpaid obligations.

“We understand that life is hard for many LLP beneficiaries, who are mostly poor, so we deemed it necessary to grant amnesty or condonation to the qual-

ified awardees,” said Estrada.

“These delinquencies and delayed payments could be due to the least priority accorded by some beneficiaries to the program, preferring instead to part with their hard-earned money on expenses like food, clothing, and schooling,” Estrada noted.

He added that there is also a misconception that land awarded

BALLS NOT DRUGS. Out-of-school youths and drug surrenderers in Liliw, Laguna pose with the free basketballs they received from the Municipal Police Station headed by Liliw Chief of Police Senior Insp. Raymund Alfred S. Osea (third from left) in partnership with Liliw Mayor Ericson Sulibit (fourth from left), Laguna Provincial Police Chief Senior Insp. Gerry Sangalang (center), and the Sangguniang Bayan. The project was named ‘Bola Imbes na Droga’ (Balls Instead of Drugs). Roy Tomandao

QC searching for dumpsite to replace Payatas

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista on Friday instructed the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department to come up with the terms of reference to determine the most appropriate alternative sites to address the city’s garbage disposal needs.

The department, headed by Frederika Rentoy, was urged to study what site could be the most cost-efficient for the city, considering its need for a bigger budget for hauling services

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once the Payatas dump is closed and the city’s disposal facility is forced to move elsewhere.

The Metro Manila Development Authority earlier designated Rizal’s Rodriguez sanitary landfill and Manila’s Vitas marine loading station as Quezon City’s temporary alternative disposal sites.

Rentoy said the reopening of the Payatas dump is necessary to give the city government ample time to prepare and institute its operationalization plan for a new garbage disposal and collection once the closure plan has been

Tesda, DTI push STEEP program

finalized.

The preparation shall include deliberating a need for a bigger budget, she added.

“It is necessary that a considerable amount time should be provided for by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources since the city council still has to deliberate on the supplemental budget that is needed in order for the city government to implement the plan,” Rentoy noted.

Based on the EPWMD record, the city is spending P780 million

per year for hauling services to Payatas against the hauling cost of P1.7 billion if the city’s disposal facility is moved to Rizal and Manila.

Moreover, Rentoy said, it is imperative to look into the readiness of the garbage disposal facilities that are being offered to the city, and to check on the capability of a big hauling fleet.

Quezon City uses 550 trucks for its garbage collection and disposal fleet.

Rentoy urged the city’s three million constituents to practice the reuse, reduce and recycle

Turn to C2

Bank volunteers feed Ormoc quake victims IN KEEPING with BDO Foundation’s disaster response advocacy, volunteers from BDO branches in Ormoc City, Leyte recently mounted relief operations for people affected by the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that devastated the province.

BDO officers and staff, led by BDO Leyte-Ormoc branch head Felda Orito, distributed 1,700 relief packs containing food and water to disaster-stricken residents of the city.

Church volunteers and representatives from the local office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development also joined the activity.

The relief operations were initiated by BDO Foundation,

By Jun David THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry will work hand-in-hand to promote the Skills Training for Employment/Entrepreneurship Program or STEEP. TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong said the two government agencies signed the memorandum of agreement Monday in Makati City.

The MOA will provide opportunities to the graduates of skills training and similar scholarship programs of TESDA to put up their own business through the Trabaho, Nesyo at Kabuhayan (TNK) program of DTI. “The project aims to provide interventions through skills development by providing access to training on entrepreneurship to graduates of TESDA program for self or wage employment to uplift their economic status,” the MOA added.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez signed the MOA for the agency, witnessed by Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya; Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Director Jerry Clavesillas; TESDA Deputy Director General for Partnership and Linkages Rebecca Calsado and Deputy Director General for TESD Operation Alvin Feliciano.

The MOA also calls for TESDA to come up with a list of STEP graduates and other similar scholarship programs and eventually provide entrepreneurship training.

waste segregation system in their households.

“We are appealing to the residents of Quezon City to manage their trash. It is not only the government that should take steps, but also the residents,” she said.

She gave the residents that assurance that solutions are being hammered out, and that the city’s sanitation will be maintained.

For garbage collection concerns, residents may call the city’s Solid Waste Management Division’s garbage collection section at 988-4242 local 8350.

under the program is free.

LLP is based on City Tenants and Security Committee Resolution No. 16-A that aims to provide the landless and homeless residents of Manila decent and affordable homes and lots.

It is mandated by Republic Act 409, or the Revised Charter of the City of Manila.

Through expropriation, the city government buys private properties that are distributed to qualified awardees, who in turn are given 20 to 25 years to pay for the lots at affordable rates.

Under the proposed ordinance the city council recently passed on first reading, the amnesty covers land awardees that have outstanding amortization payments for more than three consecutive months.

These are the contracts that are already due for cancellation.

For those who have unpaid obligations for three months flat or less, they could apply for a restructuring of their accounts, according to Danny Isiderio, chief of the city’s Urban Settlements Office.

With the condonation in effect, the city government stands to forego some P30 million in penalties and charges, Isiderio added.

“Under the condonation program, the (land) awardee will no longer pay the outstanding penalties and charges, only the principal amortization fees,” Isiderio said.

The law providing for the LLP allows only the payment of 50 percent of the total delinquency, including penalties and charges, and that the remaining 50 percent may be restructured and paid for three consecutive months, explained Councilor Rod Lacsamana, chairman of the committee on urban development and housing.

This provision, the councilor admitted, is “very prohibitive” and hard to comply and will only place the beneficiaries of the program under perpetual state of delinquency.

Estrada’s decision to implement an amnesty program is “a big sacrifice,” Lacsamana stressed.

“P30 million is a huge amount.

But this does not need to be paid.

Only Mayor Estrada has this kind of program,” he said.

USO manages 98 private estates, 37 of which have already been expropriated by the city government and distributed

Volunteers from the BDO Leyte-Ormoc branch and BDO Leyte-Ormoc Gaisano branch visited barangays and handed out relief goods to people affected by the 6.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.

the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, in response to the earthquake and almost 300 aftershocks that shook Leyte.

The foundation conducts relief operations with the support of volunteers from more than 1,000 BDO branches nationwide. The initiative is in line with Foundation’s commitment to serve communities marginalized by natural or man-made disasters.

The Leyte tremors triggered landslides, cut off electricity to the island, and damaged homes, school buildings and roads. Due to the earthquakes, Ormoc was placed under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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LGUs

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

Clark airport remits P38m dividend

By Romeo Dizon

C

LARK FREEPORT, Pampanga—The Clark International Airport Corp. has remitted over P38.1 million in dividends to the Bureau of Treasury and its stockholders after three years in the red.

Alexander Cauguiran, CIAC where CDC incurred a deficit or president, said the dividends rep- negative retained earnings. resent the years 2014 and 2015 Cauguiran said that CIAC

Manila...

From C1 to awardees. Occupants of the remaining 61 estates are experiencing problems in the payment of monthly amortizations, according to Lacsamana.

Once approved, the condonation program is expected to reenergize the beneficiaries and jumpstart the payment of monthly amortization hopefully leading to the payment of the to-

is now remitting 50 percent dividends to the government after annual earning of P76.35 million.

“We are attributing the earning or cash flow to the increase of airline companies in Clark, which now total 134 international and 104 domestic flights, and we’re expecting that passenger traffic will reach 1.5 million by the end of 2017,” he said.

Under Section 3 of Republic

Act 7656, all government controlled or owned corporations are required to declare at least 50 percent of their annual net income as cash, stock, or dividends to the national government.

However, Cauguiran said CIAC was not able to do so from 2014 to 2016 as it incurred retained earnings deficit.

He said the revised implementing rules of RA 7656 stipulate that GOCCs with net income

but have negative retained earnings may be exempted from declaring remittance following a proper request to the Secretary of Finance.

CIAC’s net income in 2014 reached P45.5 million, P29.7 million for 2015, and P77 million for 2016, for a total of P152.7 million, Cauguiran added.

Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Duterte, in the name of efficiency, signed Execu-

tive Order No. 14 bringing back the CIAC into the fold of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Signed on Tuesday, February 28, the EO basically overturns an order signed by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2011, which placed CIAC under the Department of Transportation and Communication (now the Department of Transportation or DOTr).

tal obligation under the LLP, the draft ordinance stated.

Only last week, Estrada identified 470 families that have been illegally occupying five privately-owned lands as the latest beneficiaries of the program.

One such property is the 28,789-square meter estate that covers the streets of Jose Abad Santos, Solis, and Antipolo in Barangays 215 and 216 in Tondo.

The landowner, Vargas Realty, Inc., wants to sell it to the city government at P1.3 billion.

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION (Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig) Region 3 Bulacan-Aurora-Nueve Ecija-Irrigation Management Office

Office Address: Telephone Nos.: Email Address:

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan (044) 766-3888 niabaneimoes@gmail.com

Telefax No. (044) 766-3888 TIN No. 000-578-009-000

INVITATION TO BID August 11, 2017 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO) Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, through its Bids and Award Committee (BAC), invites Contractors to bid for: ITB No. R3-BANE-RRREIS-NIS-2017-BU-98 -ANGAT RIS (AMRIS) NMC EXTENSION – LMD #2 LINING &TURBINE PUMPlocated in San Luis, Pampanga. The Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) is P9,112,175.77 with contract duration of 240 calendar days. Bid Documents cost P9,000.00 Interested bidders must have experience in undertaking similar project within the last three (3) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding.

Any bid above the ABC as stated above each ITB shall be rejected outright.

Issuance of Bid Documents; (upon payment of non-refundable amount as stated above each ITB)

August 16, 2017 @ 10:00 AM NIA BANE, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan

Schedule of Activities;

INTERNATIONAL AWARD. Redondo Peninsula Energy, a company based in Subic, Zambales, won in the 2017 International CSR Excellence Awards given by the UK-based Green Organization which is given annually for ‘companies who have a heart: caring companies that used their position to help their colleagues, communities, customers, the environment and the less fortunate.’ The company’s CSR program won A Silver Award under the Community Initiatives category. In photo (from left) are Meralco PowerGen’s VP and Head for External Affairs Litz Manuel-Santana, RP Energy Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Jason Gavina, RPE Construction Manager Avin Maharaj, and the RP Energy team. Butch Gunio

Santa Rosa lights Arch for Asean at 50

NIA, BANE IMO

Submission and Opening of Bids:

By Roy Tomandao

Pre-Bidding: August 23, 2017 at 1:30 PM

Closing Time: September 5, 2017 @ 2:15PM

SANTA ROSA, Laguna—Uniting as one with other local government units in the country, the City of Santa Rosa held the ceremonial lighting of its landmark to commemorate the 50th year anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At exactly 7 p.m. last August 8, city officials led by Vice Mayor Arnold B. Arcillas presided over the lighting of the Santa

Site Inspection: August 22, 2017 @ 9:00 AM

Opening of Bids: September 5, 2017 @ 3:00PM

The NIA-BANE assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of bids. Also, NIA reserves the right to reject any or all bids at any time prior to award, waive any defects therein and to declare the bidding a failure for whatever reasons it may deem appropriate.

(SGD.) ROBERTO J. DELA CRUZ Chairperson – BAC (MS-AUG. 12, 2017)

Rosa Arch, accompanied by singing of the ASEAN Theme Song entitled “ASEAN Spirit,” written by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario and composed by Josefino Toledo.

The Santa Rosa Arch is its premiere landmark and serves as the gateway to the city. The arch features four lions that serve as the guardians of the city. It is from these lions where the city got its tag as the Lion City of South Luzon.

In his speech, Vice Mayor Arcillas said the city’s participation

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

VEHICLES FOR NOVELETA.

Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua (seated right), Vice Mayor Donnie Torres (seated left) and town officials ride the coaster donated by the mayor from his personal funds in a turnover ceremony at the town plaza.

Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla also turned over an ambulance, a six-wheeler dump truck. and CCTV units to monitor crimes and keep their constituents safe.

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.: FN2017-052576 SUMMONS (Domestic Relations)

Petitioner, vs.

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; Greg R. Davis, Esq. - SBN 014387 Davis Faas Blase, PLLC 11111 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 225 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Phone: 602.279.1900

Edillo: DA projects to continue

SIGNED AND SEALED this date: _________________________ Clerk of the Superior Court

By Jessica M. Bacud

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

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: 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.

in the celebration of the ASEAN anniversary shows “our commitment to the mission and tasks of the ASEAN.” He added that the lighting of the Santa Rosa Arch highlights the city’s readiness in leading to give the country and the entire region.

The Vice Mayor also stressed that he is looking forward to a more thriving future, pledging that, as a premier city, the City of Santa Rosa will always be supportive of the country’s functions in the association.

Hon. Jennifer Ryan-Touhill MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

(MS-JUL. 29/AUG. 5/12/19, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

TUGUEGARAO CITY—Narciso A. Edillo assumed Office as the new Regional Executive Director for the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Unit 02 on August 1.

As the new head of DA R02, Edillo vowed to sustain the programs and projects initiated by his predecessor, Lucrecio Alviar.

“Under my headship, I will continue the plans and programs with the mandate to deliver services to our farmers here in Cagayan Valley Region,” Edillo said.

“I came here not to divide but rather to share my experience and lead. Let us try to work together, I

myself am a Cagayano like Director Alviar,” he stressed.

He shared with the group his experience in Region 1 where he served as Regional Executive Director for three months and his working expertise outside the country.

Edillo said he will ensure that the marching orders of President Rodrigo Duterte, such as the Farmers Market that is assisting the farmers in selling their products direct to the consumers and saving the local garlic industry, will soon be realized and be replicated in all the regions.

He said he would encourage a multiplier scheme for livestock in the local governments, among

other initiatives which had been a program of DA in Region 1.

Meanwhile, Alviar, dubbed as Top Director of the DA and who obtain a performance rating of Outstanding Regional Executive Director for six years, will lead the Department of Agriculture in Region 1.

“My battle cry in the transformation of DA in Region 2 from ‘Marun–runut to Green’ where dilapidated facilities (“marunrunut” in the vernacular) were transformed into the state-of-the art facilities (green) and programs and services for the farmers has been realized. I could also make Region 1 as No. 1 too,” Alviar said.

The City of Santa Rosa is among the 74 local government units in the country that participated in the simultaneous landmark lighting ceremonies.

This is in consonance with the celebration’s theme, “Under One Light, we are One ASEAN.” The celebration also coincided with thePhilippines’ Chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2017. Last April, the Philippines hosted the 30th ASEAN Summit, which was attended by all the leaders of the member countries.

Balanga fishermen gain new equipment

BALANGA CITY―The city government under the leadership of Mayor Francis Garcia and Vice Mayor Vianca Venzon-Gozon on Friday distributed fish buckets and coolers to fish processors in this city.

The officials led the turnover of fish processing equipment during the opening of the Barangay Learning Week Program in Dona Francisca.

City Agriculturist Neri Mateo said 200 plastic fish buckets, 25 large styrofoam boxes, and 24 coolers were given to local fish processors.

Garcia said the fund used in purchasing the wares came from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

City Councilors Benjie Merino and Jovic Baluyot, other members of Sangguniang Panlungsod, and barangay officials were also present during the event.

Obet Malibiran, chairman of City Fishery Aquatic Resource Management Council, said motorized boats will also be given to Balanga fishermen.

Recently, city officials, BFAR officers, and fisherfolks in the ground breaking of the construction of the Community Fishlanding Center in Barangay Puerto Rivas Ibaba. Butch Gunio

World

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

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US probes diplomats falling ill in Havana

PRIVATE EVENT. Kyle Richards, Anthony Ramos, Sharon Stone and Jo attend a private event at the Hyde Staples Center hosted by Sandals Resorts on August 10 in Los Angeles. AFP

Chile eyes earthquake fault that could strike its capital S ANTIAGO―Earthquake-prone Chile may be one of the countries best prepared for seismic shocks, but officials are nervously watching a major fault line that could shift any time, threatening the capital.

Long accustomed to quakes such as the 8.8 monster that killed some 500 people in 2010, Chile has strict building norms aimed at limiting the damage from the shifting of tectonic plates.

But seismologists are now closely monitoring a more unusual earthquake threat: the San Ramon fault.

Underground near the capital Santiago and its seven million inhabitants, a thrust from San Ramon could tear open the teeming eastern side of the city.

The government insists its

earthquake precautions are impeccable―but experts are urging it to make sure no more new buildings are built over the fault.

Most of Chile’s quakes come from the boundary of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates south of the capital, the source of the 2010 disaster.

San Ramon has not caused a major quake for thousands of years. But experts warn it may be gearing up for a new one.

They started monitoring this breach in the earth’s crust in October in a program scheduled to

run until 2019.

Their findings so far indicate the fault is moving and producing minor quakes of magnitude two, so small they are generally imperceptible to humans.

“Enough tectonic force has built up to generate another major earthquake” at the fault, said geologist Gabriel Vargas, director of the monitoring project.

“It could happen in the next few minutes or in the next 100 or 1,000 years.”

The San Ramon fault, which is 30 kilometers (19 miles) long, could generate tremors “at least two or three times more intense than what we felt during the 2010 earthquake,” he said -- even though the magnitude of the quake at its source may be less.

The magnitude of the great 2010 quake was measured as 8.8 at the

epicenter, 500 kilometers south of Santiago, and 8.3 in the capital itself.

Officials estimated the cost of the damage at $30 billion. But for such a violent quake, the death toll of just over 500 people was considered relatively low.

Chile is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.

In the past seven years it has had three quakes of a magnitude greater than eight.

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile was the strongest quake ever recorded at 9.5 on the magnitude scale, according to the US Geological Survey.

The country has therefore developed an intensive seismic monitoring system and strict building safety norms. Citizens are accustomed to feeling their homes shake during tremors.

Mario Pardo, deputy head of Chile’s National Seismology Center, said authorities must be prepared for the worst in the case of San Ramon.

Seismologists have placed 12 underground monitoring stations near the fault, and a 13th is soon to be installed.

“This helps us assess the fault to find out... how big an earthquake could occur on the fault, and whether the whole of the fault is active,” said Pardo.

Based on the observations of Vargas and other international experts, the team estimates that San Ramon could generate a quake of up to magnitude 7.5. But they cannot rule out a bigger one.

At the fault, one side of the breach in the earth’s crust risks being forced upwards and crunching over the other, Vargas said. AFP

WASHINGTON—US and Canadian officials were investigating Thursday after diplomats posted to Havana fell ill, amid reports that they might have been targeted by a mysterious sonic weapon.

US officials refused to directly blame Cuba itself for the “incidents,” which appear to have begun last year, and Havana insisted it was working to protect the US mission.

A State Department spokeswoman would not detail the nature or number of the injuries, but she confirmed that a number of US diplomats had returned home for treatment.

Unidentified officials told CNN and other US media that the staff might have been harmed by a sonic device fired either inside or outside their Havana residences.

Some countries have developed sonic and ultrasonic weapons that can be used for crowd control or, for example, to deter seaborne pirates without resource to lethal force.

But there are no known cases of such a device being deployed by hostile intelligence services or terrorists against a diplomatic mission.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said investigations were ongoing and that Washington was not directly accusing Cuba of being behind the “incidents”.

But—justifying the expulsion of two Cuban diplomats from Washington—she insisted that Cuba, as the US mission’s host nation, bore responsibility for its security.

Of the reported victims, she said: “What I can tell you is that these were US government personnel who were in Cuba, in Havana, on official duty on behalf of the US government.

“We consider these to be ‘incidents’, because we still are trying to determine the actual cause of their situation. They have had a variety of physical symptoms,” she said.

“This is an active investigation, and that investigation is ongoing at this time,” she said, adding: “It is an area that is under investigation that is a major concern of ours.”

Nauert said that US personnel began experiencing ailments in late 2016, but that it was not immediately recognized that it could be anything other than an ordinary health issue. AFP

Ancient temple city poised for a rebirth SAMBOR PREI KUK―It has survived centuries of monsoon rains, a US bombing campaign and rampant looting.

Now the ancient temple city of Sambor Prei Kuk in Cambodia is finally ready for a renaissance― and is teasing tourists to its forestcocooned ruins.

Cloistered by trees and linked by winding dirt trails, the site has played second fiddle to its much bigger cousin to the west―Angkor Wat―Cambodia’s top tourist destination.

But in July it gained a listing by the UNESCO World Heritage, promising a tourist bonanza that could breathe new life into a once-thriving 6th and 7th century metropolis.

“We have already seen more and more local and foreign tourists flocking to visit our site,” said Hang Than, an official who manages the compound, as he strolled towards one of several temples spectacularly wrapped in tree roots.

For now the tourist infrastructure is basic.

The ancient city in central Kampong Thom province lies down a pot-holed road where a few food hawkers cluster beneath umbrellas in the dusty parking lot.

Several tour guides lounge around a small booth servicing a growing fleet of tour buses that arrive, for now, mainly on weekends.

“We are very happy and we were so surprised that this site has been listed,” said 45-year-

old Mao Sambath, who has been making the hour-long motorcycle ride to sell a spread of tropical fruits to backpackers and Chinese tour groups.

“Today we have even more vendors than yesterday.”

Sambor Prei Kuk, which means “the temple in the richness of the forest”, boasts nearly 300 brick temples and heaps of ruins across a 25-square-kilometer compound.

The city, some 200 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, was once the seat of the Chenla kingdom that flourished in the 6th and 7th centuries before the height of the Khmer Empire that raised the mega-city of Angkor.

The temples were rediscovered

by French scholars in the 1880s when Cambodia was part of France’s Indochina empire.

It took decades to pare back tree roots and lumps of earth that had consumed the monuments over the centuries.

“At first they only found 16 temples, but then they started to clean the sites,” explained Hang Than, an archaeologist by training.

But the excavation halted as Cambodia fell into war, with a hailstorm of US bombs hitting the area during the Vietnam War in the 1970s, leaving behind hundreds of craters.

Destruction continued under Cambodia’s ruthless Khmer Rouge regime, whose soldiers still held the area into the 1980s as looters ransacked heirlooms from the site. AFP

PROTEST MARCH. Members of the Tibetan Youth Congress hold a Tibetan flag during a protest march in New Delhi on August 11, 2017. Activ-

ists in the Tibetan exile community in India took part in the protest to highlight the issue that Tibet’s independence is the safest guarantee for India’s security and peace along the Himalayas. AFP

36 people killed, 13 injured in China bus crash BEIJING―At least 36 people were killed and 13 injured when a packed bus slammed into a wall at the mouth of an expressway tunnel in northern China, authorities said Friday.

The coach crashed at the Qinling tunnel in Ankang, a city in Shaanxi province, on Thursday night, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.

The bus appears to have struck the wall just outside the tunnel as an AFP photo showed authorities placing a long tarp over to the right of the entrance, with another cover concealing the coach,

which was a few meters back on a bridge.

Earlier photos published by the official Xinhua news agency showed that the front of the red bus had caved in due to the force of the crash.

The photos showed a tow truck at the scene along with rescue workers surveying the damage on the bridge just outside the tunnel near forested hills. Twisted metal was strewn in front of the bus, several windows were broken and a front tyre was blown out.

“The coach was seriously mangled,” the State Administration of

Work Safety said in a statement, adding the cause of the accident was under investigation.

The bus had departed from Chengdu in southwest Sichuan province en route to the central city of Luoyang.

The injured have been rushed to hospital. The bus had a 51-passenger capacity and was carrying 49 people, the statement said. Local media said two children were aboard.

Sichuan province is already reeling from another tragedy as 20 people were killed and hundreds more injured in an earthquake that struck the region Tuesday night.

Deadly road accidents are common in China, where traffic regulations are often flouted or go unenforced by police.

The country’s frequently overcrowded long-distance buses are particularly prone to fatalities.

There were more than 180,000 traffic accidents and 58,000 deaths in 2015, authorities said in December.

Traffic law violations caused almost 90 percent of the road accidents where people died or were injured in 2015, with the total number of such infractions reaching an astonishing 442 million. AFP

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

Guam set to cash in on threats of strike HAGATNA―Tourism-dependent Guam is looking to cash in on its new-found fame as a North Korean missile target, tapping an unlikely promotional opportunity to attract visitors to the idyllic island and prove that all publicity is good publicity.

Pyongyang’s threats to launch four missile strikes near the US territory has stirred global curiosity in the remote Pacific destination, with it trending heavily on search engines as social media users wondered, “what is Guam?”

Although Guam hosts two US military installations and 6,000 US soldiers, making it the target of North Korea’s wrath, tourism authorities are keen to dispel any impression of danger to the tranquil island and its secluded beaches.

“The circumstance are unfortunate but this is a good opportunity for us to educate the world about Guam and our culture, about where we are, and who we are,” said Josh Tyquiengco, marketing director at Guam Visitors Bureau, the official agency for the island.

“Guam is more than a military base. We are a safe family destination. We reassure potential visitors that we continue to be a safe... place to visit,” Tyquiengco told AFP Friday.

Despite North Korea’s threats to prepare plans within days that would surround Guam with “enveloping fire”, fears of a potential attack have not deterred tourists from visiting Guam, he said.

“We heard about a few booking cancellations from South Korea, but it’s too minimal to affect the industry,” he said.

As aircraft after aircraft― packed with tourists―landed Friday at Guam’s international airport, the latest visitors to the island appeared untroubled by the prospect of missile strikes.

Sun Doojin, who arrived with her husband and two-year-old daughter on a flight from Seoul, responded with an emphatic “no” when asked if she was concerned about an attack during her visit.

The Guam Daily Post, in an editorial, said the spotlight on the territory offered an opportunity to show the world why an island of 162,000 people draws more than 1.5 million tourists a year.

“The beach waters are crystal clear, beaches aren’t overrun, and nature hiking trails are very accessible. AFP

MEETING. Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, and Bhutanese Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji talk during a bilateral meeting in Kathmandu on August 11, 2017. AFP

War memories haunt elderly Koreans in NY N EW YORK―Memories of war haunt elderly Koreans in New York when they think about the gathering nuclear crisis between their homeland and the country they adopted in search of the American dream.

Four million people perished in the 1950-53 Korean War between a US-backed South and Chinabacked North Korea. It was a bloodbath that ended in stalemate and today lies behind diplomatic panic, depressed markets and frayed nerves.

“We are seniors, all the people, we have experience of war,” says Byong Lee, 81, at the Korean American Senior Center of Flushing, New York, where he is one of 300 to 350 elderly Koreans who take lunch Monday to Friday.

“They all went to the army and things like that, they know North Korea and that idiot dictator.”

The US atomic bombs dropped on Japan at the end of World War II, killing more than 200,000 people, linger in the minds of those

who come here to play ping pong, read the newspaper or take English classes.

The cost of war they know. The cost of nuclear war, according to those who were children when Nagasaki and Hiroshima were bombed, would be beyond catastrophic.

“He’s crazy,” says 75-year-old Wonil Lee of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Ask everybody the same question and you’ll get “almost the same answer,” he says.

But one retired nurse dashing off to a folk-singing class isn’t sure Kim’s the only one.

She laughs when asked how President Donald Trump is handling things. “Everybody worries how he talks about everything on Twitter,” she says conspiratori-

ally, refusing to give her name.

“Some say he’s just like Kim JongUn.” Around 100,000 Koreans live in New York City, most of them in Trump’s childhood borough of Queens. Around 1.7 million of Korean descent live in the United States―the second biggest Korean diaspora in the world after China.

In the streets around the center, currently in the basement of a church but poised to relocate to a larger, multi-million-dollar premises, Korean signs are everywhere―outside a pharmacy, on a repair man’s van, outside a medical clinic.

Wonil Lee, a Vietnam War veteran from the Korean military, is happy to offer a few choice words of advice for Trump, whom he calls the most powerful man in the world, to get the better of the 33-year-old Kim. “Dollars!” he grins underneath a camouflage baseball hat near women taking a calligraphy class.

He wants to see a revival of the ping-pong diplomacy between the

Nixon administration and China― only this time the Korean version.

“America is a very rich country. I think if I was Mr Trump and American president I would say ‘OK, how much do you want?’” he says.

“It’s not going to work,” interjects Byong Lee, shaking his head.

After migrating to the United States in 1983 Lee ran a vegetable store, then a cheese shop and worked in asbestos removal before creating a manpower company.

Like others at the center Lee doubts the North Korean leader will follow through on threats to attack Guam.

“But he’s an idiot so who knows?... If he does, he’s gotta know he’s going to die himself.

Neither does he have much confidence in the US president, who said Thursday his threat to rain “fire and fury” on North Korea maybe “wasn’t tough enough.”

“You can’t believe him!” Byong Lee exploded. “Flap, flap, flap. He can say all he wants to... but the thing is, he really wants nuclear war?” AFP

Trump hardens his warning to N. Korea

OPENING NIGHT. From left, Rosanna Scotto, Jenna Ruggiero and Christie Brinkley attend as awardwinning filmmaker Michael Moore celebrates his Broadway Opening Night in ‘The Terms of My Surrender’ at the Belasco Theater on August 10, 2017 in New York City. AFP

WASHINGTON―President Donald Trump on Thursday hardened his warning that North Korea would face “fire and fury” if it kept threatening the US, saying maybe that tough talk “wasn’t tough enough”.

But US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis appeared to step back from his boss’ dire rhetoric, describing the prospect of war as “catastrophic” and adding that diplomatic efforts to solve the North Korea nuclear crisis were yielding results.

Trump in his new remarks Thursday also warned North Korea it should be “very, very nervous” of the consequences if it even thinks of attacking US soil, after nuclear-armed Pyongyang said it was readying plans to launch missiles towards the Pacific territory of Guam.

The Republican billionaire dismissed any criticism of his “fire and fury” warning of Tuesday, citing the threats made by the regime of Kim Jong-Un to both Washington and its allies.

“It’s about time that somebody stuck up for the people of this country and for the people of oth-

er countries. So if anything, maybe that statement wasn’t tough enough,” Trump said.

Trump also said China, Pyongyang’s main diplomatic ally, could “do a lot more” to pressure Kim to end his country’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Trump’s comments, made from his golf club retreat in New Jersey, came after the North announced a detailed plan to send four missiles over Japan and towards Guam, where some 6,000 US soldiers are based.

Pyongyang said the scheme to target the island, a key US military outpost in the western Pacific, was intended to “signal a crucial warning” as “only absolute force” would have an effect on a US leader “bereft of reason”.

Trump fired back with gusto.

“If North Korea does anything in terms of even thinking about an attack on anybody we love or we represent or our allies or us, they can be very, very nervous,” he told reporters, with Vice President Mike Pence at his side.

“And they should be... because things will happen to them like they never thought possible.” AFP

S. Korea mulls over building nuke arms SEOUL―As nuclear-armed North Korea’s missile standoff with the US escalates, calls are mounting in the South for Seoul to build nuclear weapons of its own to defend itself― which would complicate the situation even further.

The South, which hosts 28,500 US troops to defend it from the North, is banned from building its own nuclear weapons under a 1974 atomic energy deal it signed with the US, which instead offers a “nuclear umbrella” against potential attacks.

But with Pyongyang regularly threatening to turn Seoul into a “sea of flames”―and nagging questions over Washington’s willingness to defend it if doing so would put its own cities in danger of retaliatory attacks― the South’s media are leading calls for a change of tack.

South Korea, which fought a war with the North that ended in a stalemate in 1953, is highly technologically advanced and analysts estimate it could develop an atomic device within months of deciding to do so.

“Now is time to start reviewing nuclear armament,” the Korea Herald said in an editorial Friday.

After Pyongyang conducted two successful tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile last month, putting much of the mainland United States within reach, the paper warned: “Trust in the nuclear umbrella the US provides to the South can be shaken.”

It urged Washington to deploy some of its atomic weapons to South Korea if it did not want to see a nuclear-armed Seoul.

The US stationed some of its atomic weapons in the South following the 1950-53 Korean War, but withdrew them in 1991 when the two Koreas jointly declared they would make the peninsula nuclear-free.

But Pyongyang carried out its first nuclear test in 2006, and formally abandoned the deal in 2009.

Tensions have soared in recent months with US President Donald Trump this week warning of “fire and fury” against Pyongyang, which threatened missile strikes near the US territory of Guam. AFP

T

HE Taiwan Tourism Bureau in cooperation with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) recently sponsored the 2017 Taiwan Tourism Workshop at New World Manila Bay Hotel.

The event was a great occasion to showcase Taiwan’s latest tourism developments and initiatives and allow different industries to take part in these endeavors.

The workshop featured a “Travel Mart” and presentations from different Taiwanese and Filipino partner institutions, followed by a hearty dinner and program to cap off the festivities.

In attendance were TECO representatives Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, Minister James Chu and Director for the Press Division Jerry Chuang. Also Yi-Ting Chen, deputy officer from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Fu-Min Wang, deputy secretary-general from the Taiwan Visitors Association, and Yi-Hsuan Lee, subsection chief from the Department of Information and Tourism of the Taipei City Government, and among others graced the event with their presence.

Song-Huann Lin, at the event’s dinner, highlighted the growing relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan and how tourism can boost this relationship to even greater heights. He stated that both nations tend to overlook each other over the years despite its geographical closeness, only being separated by a two-hour flight.

According to Dr. Lin, “It is time for the Philippines and Taiwan to beef up our traditionally long-standing friendship.”

The Taiwan government has already done its part by currently easing the entrance of Filipinos into Taiwan through its visa-liberalization initiatives. He mentioned that once all preparations have been completed, the Taiwanese government is expected to make a formal announcement in September indicating the exact date to grant the visafree entry treatment for all Filipinos.

Along with the recently implemented “New Southbound Policy” which tops the Philippines on the priority list, Gary Lin believes that these actions will help strengthen the two countries’ “comprehensive relationship” along with the ASEAN nations, New Zealand, Australia, and the South Asian Nations. He believes that through these joint efforts “will not only enhance our trade and investments, but also to strengthen our exchanges of culture, education, people

Life

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

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

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Blossoming Taiwan – Philippines bilateral tourism ties

From left: Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s Fu-Min Wang, Madam Mei-ming Chu, Minister James Chu, TECO Ambassador Gary Song-Huann Lin, Madam Lin, and Cindy Chen together with members of TECO in the Philippines

to people, and including tourism…”

To him, “this is the best time for our two nations to partner together” and encourage travelling to each other’s country. In closing the event, Dr. Lin assured that his office and the Taiwanese gov-

ernment, will always extend welcome hands and have a place for their Filipino brothers and sisters.

On July 6 – 9, more than 60 participants including delegations from Taiwan attended the 2017 Travel Madness

Expo (TME) at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. This three-day event showcased the beauty of Taiwan and gave participants a taste of what to expect when visiting Taiwan. The guests were treated to multiple performances

and activities like nail painting, acrobatics, balloon artists, cotton candy making, a variety of food tastings and many others. These were all made available to let the participants experience the joy and beauty of Taiwan.

F1 Hotel’s F All-Day Dining turns rainy days into a celebration with its appetizing fares and sumptuous feasts on offer

It’s raining deals at F1 Hotel

Take advantage of the rainy day package of Diamond Hotel to relax in one of its well-appointed rooms during ‘bed weather’

Rainy urban escape THIS rainy season, Diamond Hotel Philippines brings an outpour of exceptional room offers that will keep you cocooned under the warmth and comfort of relaxing accommodations. For the whole month of August, choose from the hotel’s four Rainy Urban Escape Room Packages available for your enjoyment.

Don’t let the dreary weather keep you from having a good time. Book the Rainy Day Escape and cherish the luxurious moment to relax and unwind. The two-night staycation in a deluxe room, with rates starting at P5,300 nett per day, includes a buffet breakfast for two at Corniche, and unlimited WiFi access in the room and public areas. Room-only rate is also available starting at P4,800 nett for an overnight stay.

As the rain showers all over the metro, find all the good reasons to enjoy the Warm Under the Sheets room package. Rate starts at P7,700 nett for an overnight stay inclusive of buffet

breakfast and lunch for two at Corniche, unlimited WiFi access, and 20 percent discount on massage services, reflexology, laundry, food and beverages. You may also book online at www.diamondhotel.com and use the promo code RAINYDAY. Bring the family for more quality time when you avail the Family Lifestyle room package. Reminisce all the good memories and restore bonds during your overnight stay. Accommodations come with a P2,000 credit in room service per stay, buffet breakfast for two at Corniche, unlimited WiFi access, and 20 percent off on massage services and reflexology, laundry, food and beverage. Rate starts at P7,000. Use promo code FAMESCAPE to book online.

Experience luxury at its finest and delight in the soothing sound of the rain, pattering softly against the windowpane. Book the Suite Life and stay overnight in a cozy Executive Suite for only P16,000 nett inclusive of P2,000

credit in room service per stay, one hour in-room massage for two persons per stay, buffet breakfast for two at Corniche, unlimited WiFi access, and 20 percent off on laundry, food and beverages. Book online and use the promo code SUITELIFE. For room reservations call (632) 5283000 ext. 1141. Room packages are valid for local residents only. Promotions may not be combined with any other discount or offer. Other terms and conditions may apply.

Diamond Hotel Philippines is located at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. For inquiries, please call (632) 528-3000 or email guestservices@diamondhotel. com. For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, please visit www.diamondhotel.com. For hotel updates and special offerings, follow the hotel on Facebook, YouTube and Google+ at Diamond Hotel Philippines, and Instagram and Twitter at DiamondHotelPh.

SEEMS like rain can’t stop from falling, so why not embrace it and visit F1 Hotel Manila for its rainy day promotions? Make yourself feel at home with F1 Hotel’s suite rooms and appetizing selection of food to offer.

Cuddle up and keep yourself comfy and warm by availing an overnight stay in a City Suite with “Make It Rain” Room Package. This comes with buffet breakfast and complimentary in-room massage for two, for the special rate of P 6,388 nett per night. This staycation is perfect for couples, or for the whole family to enjoy.

Grab your festive hats when visiting F1 Hotel’s F All-Day Dining for the American Feast which is available

every Friday and Saturday. Bountiful buffet spread awaits you for lunch or dinner at only P 1,699 nett per person.

Alongside the American Feast, F1 Hotel also offers Sausage Festival at the Canary Lounge, where a variety of great a la carte sausage dishes is served. What is good food without drinks? Celebrate with friends with 2+1 Beer Plunge, by getting your third bottle of beer for free, for every three-beer bottles purchased.

Turn this rainy season into a bright staycation by visiting F1 Hotel Manila Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

To place reservation or inquiries, call 908-7888, send an e-mail to inquiry@ f1hotelsandresorts.com or visit their website at www.f1hotelmanila.com.

Celebrate with friends with the hotel’s 2+1 Beer Plunge

Life

D2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

A Slice of Thailand at The Conrad MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

W

HY is this Royal Kingdom attractive to world travelers? There are many reasons, and foremost in the mind of Filipinos are the shopping bargains Thailand offers.

The most legendary of Bangkok’s shopping malls is the MBK Center, short for Mahboonkrong, with 2,000 shops packed in eight air-conditioned floors that sell anything and everything. On weekends, when bargains are at maximum, the mall is teeming with foreign and local shoppers. It is so popular that even taxi drivers who don’t speak a word of English know right away where you want to go, the moment you mouth those three magic letters---MBK. Understandably, the big discounts indicate that the stores here are not as upscale as those in the neighboring malls, like Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, or the Siam Centre, but who cares about being ritzy when the discounts you get are outof-this-world?

Of course, the bargains to end all bargains are at the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the largest in Thailand, with 8000 stalls divided into 27 sections.

Also known as Jatujak or JJ Market, it is heaven for shopping black-belters, as it offers clothing, ceramics, home furniture and décor, antiques, fresh and dry food, books, plants, and even pets. You can literally “shop ‘till you drop” if you cover the entire 35 acres of bargains that this weekend market is globally known for.

Thailand also has dozens of interesting tourist attractions that never fail to mesmerize foreign visitors. There are the

THE ironic truth is that while the quality of living gets better with technology and advances in health, the lives of people, especially those in urban areas, are often in danger of sickness due to a deteriorating environment and lifestyle.

As a fast-growing developing city in Asia, Quezon City stakes its claim to be one of the most livable cities, with standards that can be at par with some of Asia’s best.

Recognizing that quality living is an index towards a city’s progress, Quezon City highlights its potential as a major global metropolis by envisioning itself as a center for medical and wellness tourism.

Thus, the Quezon City Tourism Department (QCTD) led by its OIC Divine P. Pascua held the first Quezon City Medical Tourism Stakeholders Summit recently at the newly opened Seda Vertis North Hotel. The Summit was the springboard for initiatives of Quezon City under the vision of Mayor Herbert M. Bautista, who is determined to make the city a medical and wellness destination.

“A report forecasts the World Medical Tourism market to be at $143 bllion by 2020,” revealed Bautista in his speech. “Medical Tourism is one of the so-called sunrise industries. Growth is phenomenal and the Philippines is poised to benefit because of our hospitality, skilled doctors, and world-class facilities. QC wants to be part of it and I want all you here to be also part of this success story,” he added.

The summit gathered some of the city’s hospital and wellness stakeholders, with the QCTD inviting some of the most credible names in the medical tourism sector, locally and internationally as resource speakers.

Bautista signed before the audience the QC Medical Tourism Vision 2020 Commitment, a master plan to clearly map out the steps to be taken in order to achieve the goal of becoming a major medical and wellness hub.

“We invite property owners near the major hospitals to operate establishments, such as B&B accommodations, healthy restaurants, wellness centers, transport services, among others, catering to patients and their companions,” he declared. “Medical tourists who seek recovery in our facilities; may bring along their families. So we have to prepare something for them, too. They have to go far to eat, shop, or be entertained -- they must do it all in our city.”

To showcase QC’s readiness in this aspect, a group toured the city on the second day of the Summit. To showcase wellness, the group visited the Quezon Memorial Circle early in the morning to witness how residents keep fit and

Thailand’s majestic Grand Palace, right at the center of Bangkok

The old historic city of Ayutthaya gives tourists a glimpse of Thailand’s glorious past

ism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre and Feurstein.

Some of my favorite Thai specialties on the buffet were the Tom Yum (hot and sour soup), Khao Neeo Mamuang (mango with sticky rice), Yam Talay (spicy seafood salad with crunchy vegetables), Tom Kha Gai (chicken coconut milk soup with lemongrass) and Poo Phad Ponh Karee (stirfried curried crab with celery and spring onions), among others.

I also liked the Thai welcome at the entrance to the restaurant. We couldn’t help but marvel at the small model of a Thai elephant made of fresh blooms, strategically placed on top of a round table, and the two female staff dressed in colorful Thai costumes presenting each guest with a garland of fresh flowers.

Conrad Manila certainly scored big points with this event as I could only hear words of approval from the many diners around me that day. I can hardly wait for the hotel’s next showcase. Knowing Brasserie on Harald Feurstein and his endless supply of 3 during the “aces up his sleeves,” I know it’s going to five-day run of the festival, formally be another exciting event. opened by President of SM Hotels and Conventions Elizabeth Sy, Thai AmFor feedback, I’m at bassador Thanatip Upatising, Tourbobzozobrado@gmail.com

beach destinations of Phuket, Krabi, Hua richly elaborate ruins. saw this golden opportunity to delight Hin, Samui, etc. that are magnets to those The adventurous soul will find satisfac- locals with a “slice of Thailand” so, who want to frolic in a sun, sea and sand tion at the Khao Yai National Park where recently, it invited Thai chefs Apichat environment. For those who place pre- you can spend the day with elephants, Sea-Jiang and Chanyut Kaewkra mium on the culture of the country, there feeding and bathing them, or riding them from its sister hotel, Hilton Phuket Arare dozens of places to visit. through the jungle, or even watching them cadia Resort and Spa. They whipped up The Grand Palace in Bangkok is made paint their own masterpieces, expertly us- a rich, flavorful, authentic Thai cuisine up of several buildings right in the heart ing their snout to come up with an attrac- as part of its Flavors of Thailand food of the city. This is where royal ceremo- tive visual memento of your visit. festival at the Conrad Manila’s all-day nies and state functions are still held, and These and many more reasons make dining restaurant, Brasserie on 3. it used to be the official residence of the Thailand a top attraction for global visiThe hotel’s genial General Manager, kings of Thailand. Its golden roof and tors. Of course, what appeals to legions Harald Feurstein, happily announced spires gleaming in the daytime sun add to of tourists are the country’s culinary of- that his Executive Chef Thomas Jakobi, its appeal. Within the palace grounds is ferings. Thai food has earned the respect with the help of the two guest chefs, was the Temple of the Emable to curate a erald Buddha, a 26-inch special menu of tall jade statue of BudThai favorites, YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE dha, clothed in gold, the which were inmost revered icon in the corporated in the LITTLE JOHNNY: I want to piss. May I go out? kingdom. restaurant’s daily TEACHER: Piss is an impolite word. Instead, you say “I want to do Number 1.”

For history buffs, buffet.

LITTLE JIMMY: May I go out? I want to shit. there is the old city of As expected, TEACHER: Shit is also a bad word. It is better to say, “I want to do Number 2.”

Sukhothai, a UNESCO foodies like me LITTLE RONNIE: There is wind in my belly. Hurry, give me a number, please!

World Heritage site, flocked to the with many temples that speak volumes of Thailand’s devotion to Buddhism. There’s of world’s famous food critics; that’s why also the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, when Thai Food Festivals are staged here which gives visitors a peek at the glory of in Manila, everybody troops to the venue. ancient Thailand, through its haunting but The management of Conrad Manila

Quezon City ready to become major medical and wellness tourism hub

Residents participate in early morning exercise at Quezon City Memorial circle during the first Quezon City Medical Tourism Summit. (Inset) Mayor Herbert Bautista signs the QC Medical Tourism VIsion 2020 Commitment

healthy. There are Zumba and aerobic sessions and one can freely use the exercise equipment such as the leg press, stationary bicycles, rollers and twisters. There are also basketball, tennis

and badminton courts for groups. To keep fit, one can jog, bike or walk inside the vast QMC and enjoy the fresh air and lush greens.

After the QMC tour, the group had

lunch at the Hillside Café and Juice Bar on Mother Ignacia street.

Dishes were prepared using farm-totable ingredients, organically grown vegetables and fruits, and free-range poultry

and healthy meat. The restaurant also has freshly squeezed fruit juices and smoothies that soothe the body. Beside the café is Cedar Hills Garden Center, where one can buy seedlings, potted herbs and garden implements. Quezon City is a melting pot of cuisine and healthy eating can be attained in restaurants located on Maginhawa street and Tomas Morato, Timog, or Visayas avenues.

The Medical Tourism tour also brought the group to the St. Luke’s Medical Center on E. Rodriguez avenue. The hospital now has a concierge building where patients, both local and foreign, can be assisted. Apart from St. Luke’s, QC is home to leading government hospitals, like the Heart Center, Lung Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and top private hospitals –Capitol Medical Center, World Citi Medical Center, Providence Hospital, etc.

It is also home to some of the leading aesthetic centers. Top dermatologists have clinics all over Quezon City. Some of them are located in the malls and in the Timog/ Tomas Morato areas such as Belo Medical, Calayan, Svelt-I, Ellen’s Aesthetic Center, MedAsia.

At the end of the day, a bit of pampering is well deserved and QC does not disappoint. Health spas offering a variety of treatments and massages are available all day at budget-friendly prices.

“The Medical and Wellness Tour around Quezon City is proof that we are ready to welcome the world when it comes to medical tourism. We have the parks and gyms for fitness, hospitals for treatments, aesthetic clinics for beauty, and spas for relaxation. We thank the many stakeholders for their support since the QC government can’t do it alone -- it needs all your cooperation,” said Divine P. Pascua at the conclusion of the successful Summit.

iPhoto

Japanese students complete training at Benilde EIGHTEEN Japanese students from the Toyama College of Business and Information Technology (BIT), a technical college in Imizu, Toyama, Japan, successfully completed their Special Hospitality Certificate program at the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM) of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).

Photo shows the students during the farewell get-together at the Café Romançon, hosted by SHRIM’s Dean Angelo Lacson, Hospitality Management Program Chair Gil Acuna, Julie Pineda of Academic Linkages, BIT’s Moto Matsukura, AKI Foundation’s Aki Orui, and student-volunteers.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

SANICARE’S

first brand ambassador

Described as someone who represents "the moms of today," TV host Bianca Gonzales-Intal advocates for a hygienic environment for the little ones.

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Sanicare Hygiene Care Circle event held on July 25 at The Makati Diamond Residences.

The event itself was a first for Sanicare as they gathered the country’s top mom bloggers to talk about cleanliness and hygiene for the family.

For the guests, it was the first time to see the full range This is what transpired in the of Sanicare products from the

OING something for the first time is exciting. What more if you go through many ‘firsts’ in a day?

Kitchen Hygiene and Bathroom Hygiene Lines to the Personal Hygiene and Baby Care Lines.

The highlight of the event is a big first for Sanicare, their first ever brand ambassador, host and mom, Bianca Gonzalez-Intal.

According to Sanicare Marketing Director Lea Sio Pacis, Bianca is the perfect choice to represent the brand and not just

because she has been a long-time Sanicare user.

“Bianca represents the moms of today. She is independent and hardworking but her priority is always caring for her husband and baby,” said Pacis.

Bianca expressed her excitement at being chosen as the first Sanicare brand ambassador. As a new mom, she has a heightened appreciation for keeping a hygienic environment for her little one. While being familiar with most of the brand’s offerings, she is also thrilled to discover the new, innovative products from the different Sanicare lines.

Innovation is at the heart of the Sanicare brand. “As a brand under Sanitary Care Products Asia, Inc. (SCPA), Sanicare has always been committed to upholding the value of hygiene by creating innovating ways to make sure that every Filipino gets the quality hygienic products that they deserve,” explained Pacis. This is why Sanicare is appropriately called, “The Hygienic Choice.”

The invited moms got a firsthand Sanicare Hygiene experience in the event starting with the Kitchen, Personal and Baby Care Stations. Three millennial moms, Frances Sales, Shari Macainag, and Sarah Tirona, were tapped to be at the stations to give out hygiene tips to the moms.

The moms got more tips when the new Sanicare brand ambassador, Bianca, shared her own hygiene knowledge through a fun Q&A game.

Before the program ended, Bianca praised Sanicare for being a trustworthy brand when it comes to hygienic care for Filipino families.

She also thanked everyone in the event for the warm welcome she was given as the new Sanicare ambassador.

Host Stephanie Zubiri- Crespi closed the event by thanking the mom attendees and telling them to watch out for more firsts from Sanicare.

What makes Liam Gallagher a class act INTERNATIONAL rock star Liam Gallagher belongs to that category solo album to be released on Oct. 6, such as “Wall of Glass” and “Greedy of singers and artists who may be considered as in a class of their own. Soul.”

As the former front man of the British rock band Oasis, Liam, Named as the greatest front man of all time in a reader poll conducted together with his brother Noel, chalked up an impressive string of

by Q Magazine in 2010, Liam has been acclaimed as the achievements that catapulted the group to worldwide fame and face of Oasis, whose tribute to The Beatles has made the success. band nearly as big and as influential as the Fab Four.

At the same time, however, he got embroiled in personal Oasis has likewise been cited as a major influence troubles and disputes that provoked negative reactions and and inspiration in the musical careers of commentaries from the public that sullied his otherwise many other well-known bands, such as clean and wholesome reputation.

The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Maroon 5 Rather than let his personal problems affect him and and Coldplay, among others. upend what he has successfully built for many years, Together with Noel at its helm, Liam he remained steadfast and confident as he met these steered the five-piece rock band from challenges head-on. He continued to evolve as a singer and Manchester, England to great heights of artist and stayed consistently on top until this very day despite international acclaim and commercial the emergence of new talents with new sounds and new styles. success, ultimately becoming the defining The remarkable way he handled and preserved his career musical act for a generation, amid daunting challenges makes Liam a class act.

Liam’s singing voice has Thousands of local rock enthusiasts will get to know the often been compared to that celebrated singer and his marvelous musical journey of John Lennon, leading up close and personal when Liam Gallagher takes him to admit that he has no the spotlight during his much-anticipated oneclear influence in his music night concert on Aug. 14 at the Mall of Asia other than John Lennon and Arena. “music” itself. He has been Ovation Productions is bringing the known to incorporate many British rocker for the Manila stop of his different forms, such as ongoing world tour to treat his Filipino punk, indie and New Wave, audience to a string of Oasis classic hits, and recently has explored such as “Wonderwall,” “Don’t Look Back elements of jazz during his In Anger” and “Champagne Supernova.” stint with Beady Eye, the Liam is likewise expected to perform band he formed after Oasis cuts from As You Were, his upcoming first broke up in 2009.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, August 12, 2017

ACROSS 1 Physicist Nikola — 6 “Oh, gross!”

9 Rescued 14 Be of use 15 Bridal notice word 16 Serviceable 17 Earn 18 Wham!

19 Tie-dye cousin 20 Mexican Mrs. 21 Sonnet cousin 23 Tell a story 25 Done 28 Got mud on 29 Capt.’s heading 30 Hi-fi components 32 Put into words 36 Boundary 41 Feel sympathy for 42 Rudely sarcastic 44 Subtle glow 45 Shop items 47 Gave up hope 49 Plays with idly 51 Munich single 52 Piece of china 56 — hangs a tale 60 Firm, as pasta (2 wds.)

62 Lisper’s problem 63 Music category

65 Wolf-pack member (hyph.)

66 IRS payment 68 Whodunit suspects 70 Scandinavian 71 Fruit drink 72 Broken mirrors, maybe 73 Jacket choice 74 Boy 75 Deli item DOWN 1 Soft caps 2 Turn inside out 3 Abraham’s wife 4 Weeks per annum?

5 Pennsylvania coal town 6 Let float, as a currency 7 College maj.

8 Shaped with an ax 9 Privately (2 wds.)

10 Video-game pioneer 11 Very important 12 The upper crust 13 Faked out 22 Pistol fights 24 Viper 26 Rise up 27 Foggiest

31 Pills, briefly 32 Dye container 33 Environmental prefix 34 Sorority letter 35 Memorial Day race 37 Orono’s state 38 Clingy seedpod 39 Temper 40 Tiny amount 43 Triangular swords 46 Dwarfed 48 Fliers’

performance 50 Cast a vote 52 Gibe 53 Pipe bend 54 Be crazy about 55 Stop 57 Put the whammy on 58 Prickly twig 59 Tales 61 Etc. relative (2 wds.)

64 Attention getter 67 Nabokov book 69 Rhea relative

JONA, DARREN, MICHAEL, YLONA

win top awards in 2017 MOR Pinoy Music Awards JONA, Darren Espanto, Michael Pangilinan and Ylona Garcia are among the big winners in this year’s MOR Pinoy Music Awards at the Kia Theater on Aug. 5 Now on its fourth year, the “MOR Pinoy Music Awards” honors the best OPM artists that truly made a mark in 2016 and declares the winners based on the combined votes from MOR listeners, MOR Awards Committee, OPM Board members, and select OPM artists.

Star Music artist and one of ASAPs’ Birit Queen, Jona, won her first MOR Pinoy Music Award for Song of the Year (“Maghihintay Ako”) while Darren Espanto once again bagged the Album of the Year recognition, this time for for his album Be With Me. Recording artist and Harana member Michael Pangilinan and Pinoy Big Brother alumna-turnedteen singing sensation Ylona Garcia, on the other hand, were named Male and Female Artists of the Year respectively while Inigo Pascual won Best New Artist for his smash hit “Dahil Sa’Yo.” “Baliw” by Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber won Best Collaboration of the Year, “O Pagibig” by Garcia and Bailey May won LSS Hit of the Year, “Give Me A Chance” Kaye Cal won OPM Revival of the Year, and “Wag Ka Nang Umiyak” from the hit primetime series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano won Teleserye Hit of the Year.

Meanwhile, a fitting tribute was given to OPM icon and the country’s one and only Concert King Martin Nievera, who won this year’s OPM

Lifetime Achievement award.

Singing his hit songs in a special production number were Daryl Ong, Jona, and Jed Madela.

From local mainstream music, MOR 101.9 also recognized regional songs and kantamercials airing on radio. “My Morena Girl” by the Hey Joe Show won the Regional Song of the Year while Ritemed, bagged the Kantamercial of the Year award.

MOR 101.9 For Life DJ’s hosted the event with guests performances from Ogie Alcasid, Jake Zyrus, BoybandPH, Christian Bautista, Michael Pangilinan, Kaye Cal, Alexa Ilacad, Gimme 5, Yohan Hwang, Harana, Zeus Collins, Franco Hernandez, Kamille Filoteo, Claire Ruiz, Mico and Gab, and digital artists Zion Aquino, LA Santos, Val John, The Breaker, Ana Ramsey, and Voltz Vallejo.

Be MORe updated with MOR 101.9 by liking www.facebook. com/MOR1019 on Facebook or following @MOR1019 on Twitter.

Jona walks home with Song of the Year award

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017

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OLUMBIA Pictures picks for distribution the Philippines comedy Patay na si Hesus, starring Cannes Film Festival 2016’s Best Actress (Ma’ Rosa) Jaclyn Jose.

Home to blockbuster films such as Spider-Man: Homecoming, the Resident Evil franchise, and the James Bond movies Spectre and Skyfall the Sony-owned company marks its return to local movie distribution with the crowd-pleasing motion picture produced by T-Rex Entertainment Productions.

“Columbia Pictures Philippines is proud to be named the distributor of Patay na si Hesus. Columbia has always been supportive of the local movie industry and we see this as a step to getting more involved in the development of Filipino films. We couldn’t be happier to be working with the folks at T-Rex in bringing this film to audiences nationwide,” says Columbia Pictures Philippines’ managing director Christopher Sy. With the scenic route from Cebu to Dumaguete as backdrop, the movie serves up an unforgettably riotous road trip in which a single mother (Jose) drives her children in a cramped mini mini-van so they can pay their final respects to their father before he is laid to rest. The movie is in Bisaya and Tagalog. To prepare for her role, Jose took Cebuano lessons several weeks before the shoot.

Early audience reviews are in, and they are ecstatic.

“Sige kog katawa! (I couldn’t stop laughing!) Irreverent, funny, and with just the right amount of kookiness,” says Jerrold Tarog, director of the groundbreaking hit Heneral Luna.

“I can make a top 10 list of

ROAD MOVIE. Jaclyn Jose (center) with the cast of 'Patay na si Hesus." In the movie the seasoned actress drags her entire family on a road trip from Cebu to Dumaguete to attend a funeral.

Columbia picks ‘PATAY NA SI HESUS’ for distribution

best Pinoy road movies and this would be up there... maybe number 1,” gushes Jade Castro, director of Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington.

“Nakakaaliw, nakakatawa!

Ang galing ng mga artista! Gusto

kong magroad trip kasama nila,” says Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, writer-director of Kita Kita.

Screenwriter Ricky Lee notes that the film “celebrates the joyous imperfections of every Filipino family” and praises

its “superb cast of quirky yet lovable characters.” It is, he says, a movie “that will leave you crying and laughing at the same time.”

Directed by young Cebuano filmmaker Victor Villanueva,

Patay na si Hesus is one of the 12 films selected by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for its first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), which starts on Aug. 16 in cinemas nationwide.

Albert Martinez and Paulo Avelino, the new faces of RDL

RDL ambassadors (from left, standing) Albert Martinez, Kylie Versoza, and Paulo Avelino

ALBERT Martinez and Paulo Avelino are the new faces of RDL products, endorsing the company’s different products.

Martinez will be endorsing RDL’s Lana de Herba liniment oil.

Coinciding with Martinez’s contract signing was the opening of the RAMS Travel Agency at the LDL Complex fronting F. Bangoy Davao International Airport.

Martinez said he is honored and

thankful to be the product endorser of Lana de Herba, which has been very effective in relieving arthritis, rheumatism, stomach ache, head ache, back pains, muscle pains, inflammation and other related ailments.

RDL Executive Mercedita Lim said Lana de Herba will be available nationwide For Paulo, endorsing RDL products is like a dream come true for him.

He said he is very excited to hold

RDL products in a series of media campaigns to promote the beauty products manufactured by RDL. RDL Pharmaceutical Laboratory Inc. has been in the industry for 22 strong years and continues to gain the trust of the people here and abroad.

RDL President Leonora Lim said she is also proud to produce worldclass beauty and pharmaceutical products that many people love and enjoy using.

8 talents vie for record deal and dream tour with Michael Bolton BOLT of Talent, FOX Networks Group (FNG) Asia’s highly anticipated original series documenting award-winning American songwriter and pop culture icon Michael Bolton’s search for undiscovered gifted singers across Asia, announces its roster of talented competitors.

Eight singer-songwriters from Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand have been chosen from scores of hopefuls to compete for a dream record deal and World Tour with the legendary man himself Michael Bolton.

These contestants will compete in rigorous musical challenges throughout this first season, coached, mentored and judged by the musical maestro himself, after which only one of them will be crowned the winner.

With distinctive personalities and a range of experience, viewers will get to know the stories of each of the contestants competing against one another, including Greg, the oldest in the competition aiming to win before it’s too late; quirky Holly, whose classical training shines through in her music and Cassey, the high school student whose soulful voice leaves you wanting more.

These are just three of the eight contestants vying for the grand prize.

Viewers will also get to know the renowned Michael Bolton, the multiple Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and social activist, who sold more than 65 million records worldwide and continues to tour the globe.

In recognition of his artistic achievements, Michael won two Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance (nominated four times), six American Music Awards, and a

Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

As a songwriter, he has earned over 24 BMI & ASCAP Awards, including Songwriter of the Year, nine Million-Air awards, and the Hitmakers Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

To date, Michael has had nine studio albums rank in the Top Ten, with nine no.1 singles.

His latest album Songs Of Cinema was released in February 2017, the single from which will be one of the final contestant challenges.

Bolt of Talent follows Michael as he travels across the region to discover the most hidden of raw Asian talent.

A relentless sevenweek journey featuring exciting challenges will culminate in four musically gifted finalists being handpicked by Michael.

These four contestants will be asked to reinvent, rearrange and reproduce a range of Bolton’s

Greatest Hits in hopes of striking a chord with not only the audience, but also, the man behind the music.

These contestants will come to understand what it takes to have a long and global career in the music industry. They will get a little help from a friendly local superstar including Sandra Riley Tang from Singapore, Morisette Amon from the Philippines and Lydia Sarunrat Deane from Thailand.

With this once in a lifetime opportunity, the four aspiring performers must impress Michael and truly go the distance to prove that they possess the Bolt of Talent.

Exclusively on Star World, the seven-part series takes the audience to four major cities: Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Taipei in this original production airing 9:30 p.

m. on Aug. 16.

Dean Dezius, vice president Entertainment, Channels, Content and Communications said, “It’s high stakes for these young Asian singers. This first season of Bolt of Talent promises challenges that will test both the talent and courage of our undiscovered stars. Michael Bolton is a superb mentor and each of the contestants will come away more experience and better prepared for the competitive musical industry. Viewers will want to stay tuned for each episode to catch every challenge and compelling detail.”

Michael Bolton said, “Bolt of Talent has brought me back to Asia where I’ve performed and toured for over 25 years.

Now I find myself deeply moved and inspired as I discover young singers with different cultural backgrounds, different family upbringings, but one primary thing in common - the pure love of singing.”

Fans will have a greater opportunity to get to know the players in Bolt of Talent as their stories play out with weekly episodes, along with the release of additional content across social media, on Fox online and with exclusive content on Fox+ digital. Presenting the first season of Bolt of Talent is Subaru, the title sponsor who will provide the series with valuable support in the form of the grand prize including Subaru ambassadorship and driving the Asia Dream Tour, among other promotional efforts.

For exclusive news and updates about the show, follow Bolt of Talent on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

TV host Ricky Reyes

Inspiring stories of women in ‘TWGRR’ TODAY, The World of Gandang Ricky Reyes (TWGRR) tells the stories of real women that will definitely inspire you when you have just given up hope.

Arian Logmao became a breadwinner when her mother passed away when she was still in college.

Alone, she managed to sendher siblings to college one of them will soon finish medical school, while the rest are enrolled in engineering and law schools.

For almost a decade now, Nanay Doli drives a tricycle to support her six kids. To make both ends meet, she also sells banana cue after.

The Philippines has made its mark as a country famous for producing beauty queens. Maegan Young, Kylie Verzosa, and Pia Wurtzbach trained under Aces and Queens with noted discoverer and trainer of future beauty queensJonas Gaffud.

Also, sexy Pinay Chefs will give you a taste of their specialty Filipino foods.

Snail Serum and Hair Booster for hair are now available in all GRR Salons. To reconstruct and revitalize your hair, try Cryo Hair Therapy while SoftWave Treatment gives shine to dull hair and The Twist gives curly hair ends.

Open your own salon after graduating from the Ricky Reyes Learning Institute (RRLI) with branches in Anonas, Cubao, Quiapo, Fairview and San Jose Del Monte Bulacan.

Tune in to The World of Gandang Ricky Reyes (TWGRR), Saturdays, 9-10am on GMA News TV.