Manila Standard - 2017 August 13 - Sunday

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 180 • 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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FILIPINO INVENTOR'S IDEAS COME TO LIFE IN CHINA

DEFENSE MODE. In a photograph taken on April 7, 2012, soldiers of the Ground Self-Defense Force set up Patriot missiles at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo.

Japan has deployed missile batteries in Tokyo and dispatched destroyers carrying interceptor missiles as it boosts its defenses against a planned North Korean rocket launch this month. AFP

TOKYO DEPLOYS PATRIOTS VS NOKOR T OKYO—Japan deployed its Patriot missile defense system on Saturday after North Korea threatened to fire ballistic missiles over the country towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, local officials and reports said.

Regional tensions are mounting as Washington and Pyongyang ratchet up their war of words, with President Donald Trump warning Pyongyang would “truly regret” any hostile action against the US. Japan has in the past vowed to shoot down North Korean missiles or rockets that threaten to hit its territory.

The defense ministry deployed the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) system in Shimane, Hiroshima and Kochi in western Japan, which North Korea had warned could be along its missiles’ flight path, public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News said.

Meanwhile, recent satellite photos suggest North Korea could be

preparing for fresh submarinebased ballistic missile tests, an expert on its military said.

Joseph Bermudez, a specialist in North Korean defense and intelligence affairs, posted photographs on the authoritative 38 North blog of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University which he said could show preparations for a test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

“Recent commercial satellite imagery reveals several developments suggesting that North Korea may be accelerating the development of the sea-based leg of its nuclear forces,” he said.

Activity on a SINPO-class experimental ballistic missile submarine

at the Mayang-do navy shipyard and submarine base, he said, suggested “that the North may be preparing for a new series of ‘at sea’ test launches, has undertaken modifications or upgrades to the submarine’s launch systems, or is developing a more advanced version of the Pukguksong-1.”

The Pukguksong-1 is an SLBM that was first successfully testlaunched on Aug. 24, 2016.

That missile flew 500 kms (300 miles) towards Japan, which leader Kim Jong-Un said at the time put the US mainland within striking range from a Pacific-based submarine.

Bermudez said the preparations at the submarine in recent weeks matched those ahead of previous tests.

The preparations come amid a tense escalation of threats between the United States and North Korea over the latter’s recent gains in nuclear weapons technology and its successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile that

theoretically could hit cities on the US east coast.

A proven SLBM system would take North Korea’s nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a “second-strike” capability in the event of an attack on its military bases.

Japan’s defense ministry also deployed the anti-missile system in neighboring Ehime, according to the reports, while the Asahi Shimbun said one maritime SelfDefense Force Aegis destroyer was stationed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to shoot down airborne missiles.

Television footage showed military vehicles carrying launchers and other equipment for the surface-to-air system entering a Japanese base in Kochi before dawn.

Immediate confirmation from the defense ministry was not available but an official at the crisis management office of the Kochi prefectural government said the PAC-3 had been deployed. Turn to A2

NO-SAIL ZONE MULLED IN COASTAL AREAS AMID REGIONAL TENSIONS

By Francisco Tuyay and Sara Fabunan THE Department of National Defense has alerted the country’s coastal communities to be prepared against missile debris, in the event North Korea’s missile launch against the United States may fall on the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said while the DND was treating the Pyongyang threat as a civil defense and not a military issue, he might issue a “nosail zone” advisories to the coastal areas and alert advisories to local government agencies.

At the same time, Lorenzana called on all countries involved to exercise sobriety and refrain from actions that might escalate tensions, not only in the Korean Peninsula, but the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

Director Arsenio Andolong, Defense Public Affairs Service head, said countries like the United States and North Korea should temper their statements which otherwise would complicate the tense situation in the Korean peninsula following threats by the reclusive state to fire medium-range missiles to the US territory Guam.

Andolong’s call came after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English urged US President Donald Trump to avoid giving inflammatory statement that could inflame the situation in the Korean peninsula.

“Be that as it may, we call on all countries involved to exercise sobriety and refrain from actions that may escalate tensions not only in the Korean peninsula, but the rest of the Asia-Pacific region as well,” Andolong said.

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HEALTH ISSUES. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses the avian flu outbreak in Pampanga with Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial on the sidelines of the Southern Philippines Medical Center centennial celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Aug. 11, 2017. AFP

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ASG HOSTAGES ESCAPE AFTER RANSOM RUSE THREE men kidnapped by Islamist militants in Mindanao escaped while their captors prayed, dodging bullets as they ran, police said Saturday after a ruse using fake ransom money failed.

The fate of a fourth man who ran off in a different direction was unclear.

The construction workers were taken to the police on Jolo island on Friday, four weeks after being abducted by the Abu Sayyaf Group, which is holding more than a dozen other hostages including several foreigners in remote jungles.

The gunmen had received an undetermined amount of cash for the hostages on Thursday, but refused to release them after realizing the money was fake, regional police chief Reuben Sindac told AFP. “While the abductors performed their afternoon prayer, the victims took advantage and [ran] but they were chased and fired upon,” Sindac said, citing an official report.

Meanwhile, Maranaos—those who inhabit Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte—have declared the Maute terrorist group as their enemy, according to Lanao del Sur Provincial Crisis Management Committee spokesman and Turn to A2

PAROJINOG SIBLINGS SEEK TOP COP'S HELP AFTER an Ozamiz court denied their request to attend the wake and funeral of their parents, Parojinog siblings Nova and Reynaldo Jr., appealed to Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa for help in facilitating their request to see their departed parents “for the last time.”

“Nanawagan po kami magkapatid kay PDG Ronald dela Rosa na tulungan kami na makapunta, makita sa huli pagkakataon ang aming Papa at Mama kahit sa huling araw nang lamay nang parents namin,” wrote the Parojinogs in a handwritten note sent to the PNP chief.

In the same letter, Nova, the Ozamiz vice mayor and Reynaldo Jr., also told Dela Rosa that the intelligence reports stating that they will seek revenge for the bloody raid in Ozamiz City last July 30 was a mere “fabrication.”

The written request was made public after the Ozamiz City Regional Trial Court Bran ch 15 denied Turn to A2

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TOKYO...

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“While standing by 24 hours in preparation for a launch, we are calling on our residents to be on alert in case we issue emergency information,” Makoto Ebuchi added.

Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s chief government spokesman, said earlier this week that Tokyo “can never tolerate” provocations from North Korea and the country’s military, will “take necessary measures” to protect itself.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also renewed his pledge Saturday to prevent any accidents related to the North’s warned launch.

“I will do my best to secure our people’s lives and property,” Abe said without elaboration.

Japan has deployed the missile interceptors in the past ahead of other North Korean launches but has never actually shot anything down.

In 2009, a North Korean rocket passed over Japanese territory without incident, triggering Japan’s immediate denouncement.

At the time North Korea said it was launching a telecommunications satellite, but Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believed Pyongyang was testing an intercontinental ballistic missile.

On Friday (Saturday in Manila), President Donald Trump urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un not to take any action against the US, its territories including Guam or its allies, warning he would regret such a move—and “regret it fast.” AFP

NO-SAIL...

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The Philippines has a contingency plan in place for 42,800 Filipinos residing and working in Guam.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar assured all Filipinos in Guam that the country’s consulate general was prepared and had updated its contingency plan in case North Korea launched nuclear-capable missiles into Guam.

“Our Consulate General has Contingency Plans which are regularly updated,” Bolivar said, adding these would enable the Consulate General to respond to emergencies in their area of jurisdiction, including coordination with the host country and the Filipino community.

In Guam, the Philippine Consul General Marciano de Borja said Filipinos residing and working there saw no reason to evacuate despite the missile threat from North Korea.

In an interview on private television GMA7’s QRT, De BorJa said Filipinos who have investments there with whom he was able to talk were not concerned about North Korea’s threat.

On Friday, Trump issued an incendiary statement against North Korean leader Kim Jung-On, who had threatened to launch missiles into Guam, warning the latter of bringing “fire and fury” in case North Korea eventually fired ballistic missiles in US territory.

While the threat of a North Korean missile launch was not directed at the Philippines, the Defense Department was closely monitoring the situation in the region.

PAROJINOG...

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the siblings’ request for a two-day pass to attend the last night of the vigil and funeral of their father Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr., mother Susan, uncle Octavio and aunt Monna.

Nova and Reynaldo are detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame on charges of illegal possession of firearms and drugs.

“The Court is overly concerned for good reason that the presence of the accused-movants would provide the spark that would ignite and cause those emotions to erupt and for the opposing sides to turn violent and clash against each other, thereby endangering the security and safety of the accused-movants,” the ruling read.

The Parojinog siblings expressed sadness over the court’s decision.

“Ito na po ang pinakamasakit na kabanata sa aming buhay magkapatid,” they said.

“Sadya talaga ginawa ang istorya and pag fabricate nang intelligence report ng police Ozamiz na gaganti daw ang aming pamilya pagkalibing nang aming mga magulang. Wala po katotohanan ang lahat nang intel report na iyan. Dahil wala po kami kapasidad para gumamit ng dahas, never namin naging ugali ang maging marahas,” they added.

'SHABU SHIPMENT ONLY TIP OF ICEBERG' A

By Maricel V. Cruz, Joel Zurbano and John Paolo Bencito

PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Saturday said the 604 kilos of shabu worth P6.4 billion that were seized by the Bureau of Customs in Valenzuela due to a tip by the Chinese government was just a fragment of the actual shipment.

Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles said that the shabu shipment, all brokered

by Mark Taguba, were contained in printing machine cylinders declared as “moulds” and were all granted “green lane” privileges by the BoC. Nograles said that based on the admission of BOC Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Neil Anthony Estrella, they can only account for approximately 2,000 kilograms out of the 12,700 kilograms inside the 40-footer container.

“The bill of lading of the 40-footer container declared a net weight of 12.7 metric tons. The BOC can only account for 600 gs of shabu and give or take 1.4 tons of packaging.

Where is the rest of the 10 tons?”

Nograles asked.

Nograles added that if the rest of the shipment was shabu, then there could be 3.6 tons of the drug flooding the market or reexported through the ports.

The DoJ admitted that the evidence is inadmissible because Estrella and his team tampered with the chain of custody and effected the raid without proper authority.

Last Thursday, Nograles said the National Bureau of Investigation discovered three similar crates containing similar cylinders in an apart-

ment in Sampaloc, Manila. All cylinders have already been opened and its contents were already moved elsewhere.

Nograles said that easily, the three cylinders could contain at least 120 kilos each since they are all identical with those that were seized in Valenzuela.

“I don’t think this is a coincidence.

There is no way that the contents of the other 18 crates out of the 23 crates declared in the bill of lading would be different from the crates that were discovered in Valenzuela and now in Sampaloc, Manila.

“This only confirms my position that the five crates discovered in Valenzuela were part of a bigger shipment that managed to get through BoC’s green lane. This could be part of the 12.7-ton 40-foot container which was also the source of the Valenzuela cylinders,” Nograles said. “Or worse, it’s from another shipment.”

Nograles also noted that last January, another similar shipment passed through the BoC green lane as admitted by Fidel Anoche Dee, the consignee of the seized cylinders in Valenzula.

Dee claimed he saw three similar crates containing the same printing machine cylinders that were delivered to their Valenzuela warehouse

last January.

“In short, this is already a modus and part of the scheme is to make sure that these shipments get the green lane privilege. We cannot win the war against drugs if we continue to have incompetent officers in the BoC,” Nograles said.

In a related development, President Rodrigo Duterte asked lawmakers to appropriate P4.2 billion so the Bureau of Customs could hire more than 3,000 personnel or double its current workforce next year in a bid to improve revenue collection performance and strengthen the campaign against smugglers, Senator Ralph Recto disclosed on Saturday.

The Chief Executive, according to Recto, stated his request in the “President’s Budget Message” for fiscal year 2018. The said document traditionally explains and distills the highlights of the proposed national budget.

Recto said Duterte is also seeking P3.6 billion as the BoC’s budget for 2018. The money, he explained, will be used “to implement an aggressive campaign against smuggling which deprives us, on average, of more than P165.5 billion in potential revenues yearly.”

The President enumerated the anti-smuggling activities to be funded by the proposed appropriations, including the enhancement of cyber security for all ports, and the acquisition of speedboats, firearms and other tactical equipment for better revenue collection.

On top of the P3.6 billion for BoC operations is a separate P4.2 billion lodged in a “special purpose fund” in the budget for the recruitment of more personnel, Recto said.

“In addition to the BoC’s budget, we have tucked in an additional P4.2

billion under the (Fiscal Year) 2018 Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund. This will finance the BoC restructuring, to fill up its more than 3,000 vacant positions, capacitate personnel, improve systems and modernize facilities,” Duterte said in his message to legislators.

Recto’s research showed that of the 6,264 authorized permanent positions in Customs, only 3,031 are filled, leaving a vacancy of 3,233.

“These are the items the Palace wants funded and filled,” he said.

Recto said he is supporting the President’s request “if it is linked to reforms and measurable productivity goals. “ “If BoC hires 1,000, and then spends P1.4 billion for their salaries, but if in return they will be able to collect, say, just 10 percent, or P16.5 billion, of the taxes lost to smuggling, then it is a good return of investment,” he said.

Recto said for next year, the average per personnel collection quota is P210 million, based on a P637.1 billion total BoC collection target next year.

“So if the new employee has a salary of about, let’s say, P500,000 but will be able to yield tens of millions of pesos in additional revenue, why not?”

“Next year, based on the BoC budget and goals, the agency will need P1 in order to collect P182. That’s the cost to collection ratio. Although mired in controversy, let us not lose sight of the fact that the BoC is a strategic agency which funds public services,” Recto said.

The bureau aims to collect P468 billion for 2017, which according to Recto, would be P1.28 billion on a daily basis. He said the agency’s collection goal is 20 percent of total government tax income.

DOLE LOGO, OTHER BONERS DRAW MARTIN'S IRE

By John Paolo Bencito THE state-run Philippine News Agency on Friday inadvertently used the logo of a pineapple company with the same acronym as the Department of Labor and Employment in announcing the government’s pay rules for the non-working holidays in 2018.

The article’s thumbnail, published at around 7:56 p.m., contains the logo of American agricultural multinational corporation Dole Food Co., which has a huge plantation in Polomolok, South Cotabato. It appeared to have been replaced by the correct logo of the Labor department at around 9:45 p.m.

The state newswire later issued an erratum at around 11 p.m., saying that they committed a “careless act.”

“In an effort to ensure that all stories are accompanied by a photo, the staff inadvertently attached the wrong photo rather than the logo of the Department of Labor and Employment,” the PNA editors said.

“Rest assured appropriate action is being taken in pursuit of the delivery of accurate information to our readers. Our apologies,” they added.

The latest faux pas came after the state news wire over the weekend fell for a propaganda by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, carrying a scathing commentary attacking

ASG...

From A1 Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong.

He told Radio dzBB that all the mayors of the province had signed a manifesto affirming that the ISIS-influenced Maute group was an enemy of the Maranaos.

Quoting Adiong, dzBB’s Benjie Liwanag said that the manifesto also classifies the group as under Daulah Islamiyah or Islamic State, an international terrorist group.

Dawla Islamiyya (Maute Terrorist Group) and its sympathizers are “En-

the arbitration award won by the Philippines as an “ill-founded award.”

The state news wire likewise drew flak last May, when it used a photograph from the Vietnam War in a story about the Marawi siege.

That same month, it likewise posted erroneous information claiming that 95 nations in the 27th Universal Period Review of the UN Human Rights Council were convinced that there were no extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

PNA’s latest mistake finally drew the ire of Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who threatened the two top bosses of PNA getting assigned to “Basilan or Jolo” after the wire-service state firm once again became the subject of ridicule.

“If they will not give an adequate justification to avoid disciplinary action, then I will send them to Basilan or Jolo,” said Andanar.

Andanar admitted getting pissed off amid the state news wire’s recent blunders.

“Maiintindihan ko na sana [I kind of understood it] because of the information exchange with many international news wire agencies like Xinhua,” he said.

“And then last night, another editor made that mistake with Dole the corporation and DOLE the department. Akala siguro ng gunggong

emies of the Meranao (or Maranao) People.”

“We will engage the Maute on all fronts. Mobilizing all sectors, stakeholders to combine our efforts to counter the spread of false teachings, radicalization of our youth and the threat of terrorism,” Adiong said.

The Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the worst terror attacks in the nation’s history, is known to behead hostages unless ransom payments are made.

Sindac said a village official found three of the hostages near the Jolo town of Talipao early Friday, one with a gunshot wound to the head that was not thought to be life-threatening.

na editor na Dole ito na korporasyon [The stupid editor might have thought that this was Dole, the corporation]” Andanar added.

The Labor Department order for the computation of holiday pay comes after Duterte’s Presidential Proclamation No. 269, declaring the regular holidays and special nonworking holidays for 2018.

Labor Advisory No. 10, s. 2017 on “Payment of Wages for the Regular Holidays and Special (Non-Working) Holidays for the Year 2018,” will guide private sector employers on the list of holidays for 2018 and how wages are computed if their workers opted to report for work on such days.

Regular holidays are New Year’s Day (January 1), Maundy Thursday (March 29), Good Friday (March 30), Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9), Labor Day (May 1), Independence Day (June 12), National Heroes Day (August 27), Bonifacio Day (November 30), Christmas Day (December 25), and Rizal Day (December 30).

Also included are the observance of Eid'l Fitr and Eidul Adha, the proclamations of which will be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic Holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations.

For these holidays, work done during these days shall be paid 200 percent of an employee’s regular pay for the first eight hours or [(Daily Rate +COLA) x 200%]; while work done in excess of eight hours (overtime), shall be paid an additional 30% of the employee’s hourly rate or [(Hourly Rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x number of hours worked)].

Meanwhile, work done during these days that also falls on employee’s rest day shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her daily rate of 200% or [(Daily Rate + COLA) x 200%] + [30% (Daily rate x 200%)]; while for work done in excess of eight hours (overtime), shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her hourly rate, or [(Hourly Rate of the basic daily wage x 200% x 130% x 130% x number of hours worked)].

However, if the employee did not report to work during these days, he/she shall still be paid 100% of his/ her salary for that day or [(Daily Rate + COLA) x 100%].

The special (non-working days), on the other hand, are Chinese New Year (February 16), Edsa Revolution Anniversary (February 25), Black Saturday (March 31), Ninoy Aquino Day (August 21), and All Saints Day (November 1). December 31, December 24 and November 2 are additional special non-working days.

The official brought them to the police hours later.

The three told police their fourth colleague had run in another direction and it was unclear if he had escaped or been recaptured by the militants.

Sindac said he did not know who paid the fake ransom money.

The Philippine government as a policy does not pay ransom, and the gunmen are known to negotiate directly with the victims’ families or employers.

The militants beheaded two Canadian hostages last year and a German captive in February after ransom demands were not met.

Police said the militants also behead-

ed seven loggers in Basilan last month, during which a Vietnamese hostage was also killed in a gunbattle between his captors and the security forces.

A Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf faction has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and joined up with militants who seized parts of Marawi in May. The militants have withstood a USbacked military offensive in Marawi that has claimed 725 lives and displaced nearly 400,000 people.

President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed martial law across the southern third of the Philippines, including Marawi, Basilan and Jolo, to quell the militant threat. AFP

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SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON ‘FAKE NEWS’

CONGRESSMEN DATA DERIDES PARTY-LIST

By John Paolo Bencito

T

HE latest data showing three party-list representatives landing on top of Congress’ richest list shows the “rich contradiction and poor execution” of the Party-list Systems Act, a poll watchdog group said Saturday.

“Given that three party-list representatives are among the 10 richest legislators, it is clear traditional politicians and political dynasties have benefited most from a Supreme Court decision four years ago,” said Kontra Daya convenor Associate professor Danilo Arao.

Among party-list lawmakers, fugitive 1-PACMAN party-list Rep. Michael Odylon

Romero topped as the richest member of the House of Representatives with a net worth of more than P7.01 billion.

A Manila court last January issued an arrest warrant against Romero for allegedly stealing P3.4 million from his family’s Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. “That the richest legislator is currently Rep. Michael Odylon Romero (1-PACMAN) with a staggering net worth of P7.01 billion makes a mockery of the Party-list System Act [Republic Act No. 7941] enacted in 1995,” he added.

Next to Romero in the richest list is DIWA Party-List Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, wife of incumbent Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, with P1.4-billion net worth, while Manila Teachers Party-List Rep. Virgilio Lacson comes at sixth with P7.68-million net worth.

While nine out of the 10 poorest legislators

By John Paolo Bencito

are also party-list representatives, the group called on the Supreme Court “to review its 2013 decision and reaffirm what then Justice Artemio Panganiban wrote as regards Bagong Bayani v. Comelec in 2001.”

The Supreme Court, voting 10-2-1 last April 5, 2013, reversed its earlier ruling on partylist groups, saying that “National parties or organizations and regional parties or organizations do not need to organize along sectoral lines and do not need to represent ‘any marginalized and underrepresented’ sector.”

“The ruling elite, especially the political dynasties, should not appropriate the party-list system to add more seats among themselves, paying lip service to representing the marginalized and underrepresented. The party-list system belongs not to them but to those they claim to represent but continue to exploit,” Arao said.

2 THEFT SUSPECTS AT AIRPORT PROBED

DARING ESCAPE. Three men kidnapped by Islamist militants in Mindanao escaped while their captors prayed, dodging bullets as they ran, police said Saturday, after a ruse using fake ransom money failed. The gunmen had received an undetermined amount of cash for the hostages on Thursday, but refused to release them after realizing the money was fake, police said. AFP

By Joel E. Zurbano

HRW ASKS DU30: NAB JOURNALISTS’ KILLERS

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Human Rights Watch has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to deliver on his promises to apprehend those responsible for the recent killings of journalists in Mindanao.

In a weekend statement, HRW also expressed its frustration over a lack of action by task force on media killings since it was created on Oct. 11.

“The murders last week of two radio journalists, and the attack on a newspaper columnist, highlight the need for the Duterte administration to deliver on promises to apprehend those responsible for the killings of journalists,” HRW on Asia Division researcher Carlos Conde said.

“It’s not just suspected drug users and dealers at risk of targeted killing in the Philippines,” Conde added.

Since 1986, 177 journalists and media workers have been killed in the Philippines, making the country one of the most dangerous countries to practice journalism, according to the Committee to Project Journalists.

On Aug. 6, two assailants on a motorcycle shot dead Rudy Alicaway, 46, a radio host on local DXPD. Alicaway was on his way home in Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur when assailants shot him.

He survived the first volley of gunfire, but the gunmen reportedly got off their motorcycle followed him as he tried to crawl to safety and fatally shot him.

Police officials said they do not yet know the motive in Alicaway’s killing, also a local councilman.

On Aug. 7, two gunmen killed Leodoro Diaz in President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao.

Diaz, 60, was a long-time columnist for a local weekly and a reporter for Radio Mindanao Network.

He had told colleagues earlier in the day that he was going to file a report on illegal drugs, but it was unclear whether his reporting was the motive for his killing.

On Aug. 10, a gunman in Batangas City shot Crisenciano Ibon, 65, on the back and seriously wounded his driver.

Ibon was a columnist for the tabloid Police Files Tonight. He survived the attack, which policemen speculate may have been in retaliation for his columns criticizing illegal gambling.

The deaths of Alicaway and Diaz brought to four the number of journalists killed since Duterte took office in June 2016.

Other journalists killed under Duterte’s regime were Larry Que, killed on Dec. 19, and Joaquin Briones on March 13.

On Oct. 11, Duterte signed an administrative order, under the leadership of a former journalist Joel Egco, creating a task force on media

SHARING and creating “fake news” are enough grounds for Malacañang to revoke or suspend its accreditation of so-called “social media practitioners” who wanted to cover the Office of the President, a Palace official said Friday.

In a television interview, Communications Assistant Secretary Michael Kristian Ablan said that while the ‘interim social media accreditation’ they’re set to implement “will not regulate content” that will be produced by bloggers and netizens, sanctions would be in place if they will disseminate ‘fake news.’

“The qualifier is, under this particular policy, the principal advocacy is regular dissemination of original news and opinion of interest and cover the President. If for example this particular blogger accredited posts fake news, then that may be subject for loss or suspension of accreditation,” Ablan said in a CNN Philippines interview.

In his Department Order No. 15, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar ordered an interim ‘social media practitioner accreditation system’ that will be handled by the PCOO’s Social Media Office under starlet now blogger Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson— with the only requirements being at least 18 years old and has gained more than 5,000 followers in any social media platform.

Under the order, the PCOO may “withdraw, cancel or suspend” the accreditation, on grounds of: “Abuse of rights and privileges extended

by PCOO;” and putting “his/her accreditation to improper use.”

A “Social Media Practitioner” refers to “a person that maintains a publicly accessible social media page, blog, or website, which generates content and whose principle (sic) advocacy is the regular dissemination of original new(sic) and/or opinion of interest.”

Andanar, a former news reader, vowed that they would not tolerate anyone who would spread inaccurate information.

killings.

“Since then there is little evidence that the task force has actively pursued attacks on journalists,” Conde said.

He said the previous administration also launched similar task forces on media killings, but “all failed to end impunity for those deaths.”

Despite assurance that journalists are “safer” now, HRW said Duterte’s task force will suffer the same fate so long as the administration actively endorses extrajudicial killings.

“Without accountability for killings of journalists, media freedom in the Philippines will remain under threat,” Conde said.

SNAIL’S PACE.

Pedestrian traffic moves Saturday in a slow mo at the entrance of Manila’s Chinatown malls where hundreds of thousands of merchants and shoppers shuffle in and out and sell cheaper stuff— from household to clothing items.

Ey Acasio

MANILA International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal on Saturday ordered ground handlers and security providers at the airport to submit to his office all records relative to the preemployment of their workers.

The move, according to Monreal, was made to determine if these accredited companies servicing the four terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport made the right and proper background checks and verifications before hiring workers.

“They should understand why we finally have to do this. We have always been consultative with them, they know that. But the recent incident is the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak,” said Monreal.

Monreal was referring to the case of four airport ground handling workers involved in the theft of pieces of jewelry owned by the wife of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

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

In a meeting last Friday, Monreal told representatives of airportaccredited companies that MIAA had been conducting surveillance operations against workers in its desire to weed out scalawags in the airport.

Two of the four workers arrested, Monreal said, were included in the agency’s “watchlist,” making easy for Airport Police Department intelligence operatives to pursue them after the incident was reported.

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40 AIRPORTS TO GET UPGRADES—SOLON

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

N OPPOSITION lawmaker on Saturday said a total of P10.1 billion in fresh funding has been set aside to modernize the infrastructures of the country’s airports.

Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said the Clark International Airport has the biggest slice of the capital outlay under the Aviation Infrastructure Program in the proposed P3.767-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2018.

“Clark is getting P2.74 billion to enable it to cope with more flights, especially at night,” said Campos, a deputy minority leader, said.

The Department of Transportation has been building up the airport at the former US Air Force base, located 80 kilometers northwest of

Manila, to lure a greater number of international as well as domestic flights away from the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Whenever the main 3,737-meter long runway at the Naia is temporarily shut for emergency repairs, incoming flights also tend to get diverted to Clark.

“The target is to have Clark’s two 3,200-meter long runways operating at night, and eventually extend both runways, possibly to 5,000 meters, to accommodate big-

ger aircraft,” Campos said.

At present, only the primary airstrip at Clark is capable of day-and-night operations. The secondary airstrip still lacks the navigational aids and lighting facilities to service evening flights.

From January to July this year, Clark, which is located in the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat in the province of Pampanga, handled a daily average of 20 international flights (3,078 passengers) plus 12 domestic flights (1,058 passengers), according to the state-run Clark International Airport Corp.

Besides Clark, Campos said the other airports set to receive new infrastructure development funds are: • Kalibo Airport, P920.00 million; Bicol International Airport, P899.68 million; Tacloban Airport, P716.12 million; Bukidnon Airport, P425.00 million; Bohol (Panglao) International Airport, P386.00 million; Laoag International Airport, P368.50 million; Cauayan

STOP BRINGING FIREARMS, FLIERS TOLD

Airport, P306.40 million; Dumaguete Airport, P300.00 million; Calbayog Airport, P245.00 million; Zamboanga Airport, P221.00 million; San Jose Airport (Camarines Sur), P200.00 million; Surigao Airport, P200.00 million; Ozamiz Airport, P192.20 million; Butuan Airport, P184.00 million; Dipolog Airport, P182.00 million; Roxas Airport, P169.00 million; Cotabato Airport, P161.00 million; Basco Airport, P145.00 million; Ormoc Airport, P128.00 million; Maasin Airport, P122.00 million; Antique Airport, P110.00 million; Sanga-Sanga Airport, P100.00 million; Pagadian Airport, P84.20 million; Tuguegarao Airport, P61.80 million; San Vicente Airport, P50 million; and Virac Airport, P50 million.

Campos said 13 other smaller airports across the country would also get a combined P262.61 million, or an average of P20.20 million each, for infrastructure upgrades.

MEMORIES OF WAR. A reenactment of World War II between Filipino and Japanese forces at the History Con at the World Trade Center in Pasay City showcases a collection of automobiles, from cars, motorcycles and boats, to restored classics and items such as comics and toys as well as historical characters during the war era. Norman Cruz

PALACE ASKS FOR CALM AMID BIRD FLU CRISIS

By John Paolo Bencito MALACAÑANG on Saturday asked for calm after it declared the first-ever outbreak of the H5 strain of bird flu virus in the country, saying that they are closely monitoring the situation to avoid its further spread.

“We ask our people to remain calm yet vigilant,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“We are closely monitoring the situation in Pampanga following the confirmation of avian flu outbreak yesterday by the Department of Agriculture [DA].

As of this time, there has been no report of bird-to-human contamination.”

With the avian flu being transferred via respiratory routes, “properly cooked

CLEANUP.

LandBank officials, employees and volunteers build PET Bottle Rescue Boats which were used in cleaning riverways and portions of Manila Bay on last Friday’s Manila Bay Sunset partnership program launch in celebration of LandBank's 54th anniversary where they also conducted a coastal cleanup of Manila Bay. Ey Acasio

chicken meat and eggs remain safe to eat,” Abella said.

The Palace spokesperson urged the public to report to authorities those who will exhibit flu-like conditions.

“Any person living or residing in affected areas or who had been exposed to dead chickens who becomes sick with flu or flu-like illness, such as fever and/or sore throat/cough should immediately report to their local health center or nearest hospital for laboratory test,” he said.

He added that concerned government agencies are working to prevent any further outbreak.

“The Department of Health [DOH] is assisting the DA for avian flu investigation and containment activities, which include flu vaccinations and protective

equipment for poultry handlers and responders. Heightened surveillance for flu-like syndromes is now instituted in Pampanga within 7km radius of the affected farms,” he added.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Friday said that they have ordered for an immediate cull for all chicken, ducks and quail within a kilometer (0.6 miles) of the infected poultry in San Luis, Pampanga after the outbreak, the first after 7 to 8 years, was reported to the Department only last Thursday.

Piñol said the infected birds tested positive for avian influenza Type A, subtype H5 while the avian flu strains that have been known to jump to humans are the H5N1 and H5N7 subtypes.

The World Health Organization has

monitored 453 human deaths from 859 cases of avian influenza since 2000, with Asia accounting for 41 percent of all cases.

Meanwhile, an opposition senator said that the government should come up with a comprehensive plan to control the avian flu outbreak in Pampanga.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, whose family traces its roots to Pampanga, emphasized the importance of preventing the virus from taking people's lives and livelihood.

"We urge a concerted effort from all concerned government departments and agencies to address the matter at all fronts and protect the vulnerable sectors against the impact of the virus," he said.

By Joel E. Zurbano AIRPORT authorities on Saturday reminded air travelers not to bring firearms and other prohibited items such as live ammunition and amulet during their trips to avoid flight delays.

Security personnel of the Manila International Airport Authority continue apprehending passengers carrying bullets despite the much-publicized ban and numerous warnings about the danger of bringing in or carrying such prohibited items.

On Saturday, members of the MIAA-Office of the Transportation Security caught a passenger bound for Tagbilaran in possession of two .45-caliber bullets while she was at the initial screening checkpoint of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4.

The departing passenger identified as Rhodora Vargas was stopped for inspection when images of bullets were seen on her sling bag after it passed the xray security machine.

The OTS men confiscated and turned over the prohibited items to the PNP-Aviation Security Group for proper documentation and disposition.

Following a brief discussion and explanation with the authorities about her items, the passenger was allowed to board her flight.

The MIAA recently installed disposal booths or cubicles to serve as passengers' luggage checking station before entering security screening checkpoints.

The cubicle dubbed as the “Last Look Booth” would help passengers dispose of items the airport authorities prohibits such as gun, bullets, knife and other deadly weapons and prevent delayed flights.

The MIAA management said that those who were caught carrying live ammunitions are mostly members of law enforcement agencies and military men, while those who carried amulets were civilians.

Upon assumption of office, President Rodrigo Duterte prohibited authorities, particularly OTS personnel and Avsegroup policemen, from arresting passengers for bringing in bullets inside their luggage.

Duterte's directive came following the controversial "tanim-bala" (bullet-planting) extortion scheme allegedly perpetrated by some erring airport personnel.

Air travelers would not be detained or prosecuted if an ammunition or amulet is confiscated from them, as per Duterte's order.

Instead, the passengers in possession of prohibited items will be placed under profiling to determine if they have links to any terrorist or criminal group, or have criminal intention to carry the bullet.

‘POWER PLANTS NOT AFFECTED BY QUAKE’ THE Energy Department said on Saturday that the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck near Nasugbu, Batangas at 1:28 p.m. Friday did not cause any outage as the energy facilities were not affected by the temblor.

The major energy facilities situated in Batangas, including the Malampaya offshore platform in the West Philippine Sea, are operating normally and remain in good condition after the earthquake.

On the supply side, post-earthquake initial inspections showed that the integrity of the Malampaya subsea pipeline and onshore

gas plant were also not affected.

Additionally, there is an ongoing physical inspection of the onshore gas supply line to the natural gas power plants owned by First Gen Corp. (Tabangao-Sta. Rita pipeline).

On the transmission side, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the operator of the power grid, announced that the power transmission services are stable.

In its advisory, the grid remains intact as there had been no reported cases of power interruptions.

The NGCP is still assessing if there are damaged transmission

facilities in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

For distribution, the Manila Electric Co. reported no outage and no facilities were affected. The utility serving Metro Manila and its nearby provinces is operating normally.

Furthermore, the National Electrification Administration reported that Region 4-A electric cooperatives are also under normal power condition.

Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi directed the DoE to continuously monitor the energy situation and to provide any update as it becomes available.

B1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion

Joyce Pangco Pañares, Issue Editor

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

OPEC SWINGS TO PANIC STATIONS

EDITORIAL

STRONGER TOGETHER?

T

HE Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which had just turned 50, held its meetings here last week. There were the usual photo opportunities, the long meetings, the dinners and pleasantries.

It was exciting to see how the regional organization evolved and how far it has become.

Indeed it has seen the emergence of Southeast Asia not just as a political bloc but an economic hub, with its rich and diverse resources and human capital.

At the end of the event, the foreign ministers of the 10 member countries came up with a joint statement that highlighted cooperation amid a dynamic world.

The Philippines, as this year’s chairman of the regional organization, did a good job of playing host to its fellow members—it did not quite do

as well, however, in asserting its own interest and leading the group to be a more assertive player in global politics, especially in the issue of standing up to its neighbor, China.

Three other Asean members—Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam—have overlapping territorial claims with China. Beijing has consistently claimed as much as 90 percent of the South China Sea and has in fact built structures on some of the disputed lands, or built man-made islands. The Philippines, specifically, has raised the issue of intrusion into the disputed waters with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which, for its part, agreed with us and told China it had no legal basis for its claims.

Unfortunately, such a favorable ruling seems to have gotten lost on this administration.

Amid calls for a stronger statement that would assert the PCA verdict, the Asean foreign ministers instead opted to be diplomatic about the entire issue even as it decried militarization in the South China Sea. They and China agreed they would work toward a Code of Conduct for the region, but there are no indications such a code would be legally binding.

Our own Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan

By Julian Lee

Peter Cayetano explains: “We do not like the actions of some players including China in the past, but we need to have progress.

If you go back in the past just to scold, it’s regressive.”

But nobody is saying the region should scold China—as if that approach would work on a country like it. Scolding is altogether different from asserting one’s position and telling the parties concerned we are aware of what is due us and expect some respect.

The region is composed of countries of varying economic profiles, demographics, and political muscle. Individually, it has strong states and fragile ones. Some are able to define their future while some are left helpless before external forces.

Collectively, Asean has the mandate and moral responsibility to ensure basic rights of its citizens are respected, and that no injustice occurs to its people. It is still being criticized for its silence on the plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Today, on the issue of China, it might feel it has taken the safe, diplomatic road.

Unfortunately, diplomacy works only with those who understand that others are equally entitled to rights and respect.

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SAN FRANCISCO BOOKSTORES POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE

SAN FRANCISCO, California—The City by the Bay has a vibrant, thriving literary culture that supports quite a few interesting indie bookstores, and any book lover will enjoy exploring their well-stocked shelves.

As a newcomer to this city, I have

the pleasure of discovering many of these stores for the first time. The thrill of walking into a place stocked full of books, with quirky décor and posters covering the walls, is an order of magnitude greater than stepping into a chain bookstore like Barnes & Noble,

which, like Starbucks, manages to look the same wherever it’s located.

Here’s a rundown of some of the bookstores you should visit when in SF: • City Lights Bookstore: This is the Turn to B2

OPEC’s job of rebalancing the oil market has just got a lot more difficult. Not only is there a lot more oil in storage than it previously thought, but the group will need to make deeper output cuts to drain the excess.

A month ago, Opec oil ministers had probably read the International Energy Agency’s monthly report with a sense of quiet confidence. It showed the world would need more oil than the group was producing for the rest of this year and next. And, as long as producers held their nerve— and their discipline—inventories would continue to fall. That is no longer the case.

Expectations of solid inventory draws have flipped to continued stock builds through 2018. So the latest report from the Paris-based IEA, published on Friday, is a nasty shock.

It has just found another 230 million barrels of oil in storage that will need to be drained before balance is restored.

That is a lot of oil. To put it in perspective, it increases the build-up in inventories since the beginning of 2014 by almost 25 percent. An output cut of 1 million barrels a day would take another six months to drain it.

To be sure, commercial oil inventories in the OECD—the only ones we can see with any clarity— are getting closer to the five-year average level targeted by Opec.

The gap between OECD stockpiles and their five-year average level has narrowed by a third since February.

The overhang narrowed to 84 million barrels in June. But before you get too excited, well over half of the narrowing of the gap is because the five-year average increased. The actual draw in inventories has been a much more modest 37 million barrels.

An increase in the target has done more than actual inventory draws to reduce the excess. How do you suddenly find 230 million barrels of oil? By realizing that the countries who were driving demand growth over the past couple of years weren’t driving it as fast as you thought.

The IEA also cut its assessment of 2016 demand in non-OECD countries by 420,000 barrels a day, with China accounting for more than a quarter of that. With no similar reduction in its assessment of supply, all of the oil that was not consumed, around 157 million barrels, must have gone into storage. The rest comes from the smaller revisions that the IEA made to its 2015 demand numbers.

The difference this makes to Opec is hard to overestimate. The biggest hit is coming right now.

Based on the latest figures, the IEA now expects global stockpiles to rise this quarter—not fall. A forecast for a small draw in the final quarter would leave global inventories unchanged over the second half of 2017.

And next year suddenly looks a lot worse than it did a month ago, too. If Opec’s current aggregate production level is carried forward for the whole of 2018, global oil inventories would rise by around 170 million barrels.

That’s about six times as big as the inventory drawdown for 2017.

Saudi oil minister Khalid Al-Falih may already be preparing the ground for deeper cuts. That possibility was raised during a joint press conference in Jeddah with his Iraqi counterpart on Thursday, according to a report in Asharq al-Awsat. Don’t be surprised if you hear more along these lines in the runup to Opec’s next full ministerial meeting in November. Bloomberg

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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B2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SAN FRANCISCO...

From B1

mothership. It was founded in 1953 by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter Martin. The shop has a homey, vintage vibe to it, with posters and hand-drawn signs on the walls and windows—a famous one reads: “Stash your sell-phone and be here now.”

The ground level features fiction, non-fiction, and literary magazines.

The second floor is the poetry section, showcasing the works of beat poets that Ferlinghetti associated with—Jack Kerouac, Allan Ginsberg. Postcards of these and other personages fill a rack; they make great souvenirs. Take a selfie while sitting in the “poet’s chair.”

City Lights also has a basement where they keep memoirs, mysteries, and other genres. They also have store-brand tote-bags and journals.

Right outside is Jack Kerouac Alley, with quotes in brass letters embedded in the pavement.

• Dog-Eared Books: Outside the branch on Valencia Street in the Mission District are big bins of discounted books. Inside it’s large and airy, and has an excellent selection of new and used literary works.

Their foreign language selection is interesting—Baudelaire in the original, anyone? If nothing catches your fancy, check out the handy messenger-style totes emblazoned with the shop logo.

• Borderland Books: It’s also on Valencia. It sells new and used science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

There’s a coffee shop right next door that patrons can access through the bookshop. Get the latest releases and new editions of classics—I came away with a collection of Dorothy Sayers short stories. They carry an eclectic selection, from Rhys Bowen’s “On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service” to Tolkien’s just-released “Beren and Luthien.” The shop’s postcards show covers of pulp fiction books.

• Green Apple Books: This place is huge and crammed to the gills with books, old and new. Be prepared to spend serious browsing time here. If you enjoy the hunt and are patient, you can find great bargains in all genres. There’s a record store next door for those who love vinyl.

• Kinokuniya Bookstore: Located in Japantown, this store carries a wide selection of mangas; I got copies of Fruits Basket and Black Butler for my children here. They also have Japanese stationery, art supplies, and a well-regarded stock of graphic design books. The upper floor has English-language books and other merchandise. Try the restaurants in the area, and look for the shops that sell incense and mochi.

• Forest Books: also in Japantown, this is a small, cozy place. They are known for their selection of books on Buddhism and other Asian religions; Asian, Native American, and African history and culture; and Western philosophy. The vibe is very Zen. Do take a souvenir bookmark to remind you of your visit here.

• Alexander Book Company: Racks of discounted books are placed outside and I’ve spent quite some time browsing and picking up quite a few bargains there, before even entering the shop! They have a shelf for literary magazines such as McSweeney’s and Granta. There are sections dedicated to mysteries, African-American romances, classics, literary fiction, history, and travel—and that’s just on the first floor (they have three).

They also have a great selection of Moleskine notebooks, calendars, postcards, and Penguin Book-themed merchandise. It’s where I saw “Manila Noir,” an anthology of crime stories written by Filipinos, prominently displayed near the entrance when it was first released.

• Book Passage: This is in the Ferry Building and one set of doors opens right out onto the pier area. Seagulls flit by and there’s a bracing sea tang in the air. Inside, it’s warm and cozy.

Find the latest here, from bestsellers to cookbooks and SF travel guides. Their tote bags are packable!

There are other bookstores in the area that I mean to visit, among them Alley Cat Books on 24th Street, The Booksmith on Haight, and Bird & Beckett Books (they have jazz nights!). There are quite a few others that you can look up online.

If you had time to visit only one, I suggest City Lights Bookstore because of its historic value and its ties to the Beat Generation.

There is much to explore in this beautiful city, and the bookstores are among the best places to be.

Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. Follow her on Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember, @ artuoste

THE ALTERNATIVE TO NUCLEAR WAR IS A REVOLUTION

Not part of the solution. AFP

By Eli Lake THE most depressing aspect of the current North Korean crisis is that even if Donald Trump wins, he loses.

Despite doubling down on his rhetoric of “fire and fury” and deriding his predecessors for failed negotiations, Trump looks like he wants to eventually strike a deal with the nation’s tyrant, Kim Jong Un. Just look at what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is doing. Trump threatens war and Tillerson promises no regime change. Remember it was only a few months ago that Trump said he would be honored to meet with Kim. The president’s recent bellicosity aims for deterrence and leverage.

In substance, if not style, this is very similar to how past administrations have approached the Hermit Kingdom: threaten, cajole and bargain. “This is Obama plus,” Michael Auslin, a Korea expert at the Hoover Institution, told me. “It’s the same path of enhanced sanctions with the potential carrot of direct negotiations and trying to reassure our allies. There is not much different here.”

And it’s easy to understand why talks are better than war. The prospect of a military confrontation is too horrific. North Korea effectively holds its neighbor to the south as a hostage because of its conventional military capabilities. This says nothing of allies like Japan, or US forces stationed on the peninsula.

And the critics of war are correct.

A pre-emptive strike is not worth the risk. But neither is another deal.

There are a few reasons for this.

First, the North Koreans don’t keep their promises. Nearly every commitment the regime has made to the US, its allies and China, it has violated.

It’s no mystery why North Korea continues to negotiate. The nation needs help from the outside to survive. The regime has pursued nuclear weapons as an insurance policy to stay in power, and since the 1990s US administrations have enticed Pyongyang with fuel shipments, removing sanctions and promises to leave it alone. In exchange, Pyongyang makes empty promises about nuclear weapons. An agreement with North Korea makes America and its allies a partner in the regime’s oppression of its own people.

And this repression is beyond the pale. A UN report from 2014 estimated there are 80,000 to 120,000 political prisoners who are slowly starved, tortured and subjected to forced labor in four prison camps so large you can see them in satellite images taken in space. This says nothing of the public and private executions in the state or the forced disappearances, or the punishment of whole families for the alleged crimes of individuals.

Americans should rightfully want their government to undermine this gulag state, not help preserve it with another negotiated compromise.

Then there is the tyrant himself, Kim Jong Un. He is in every respect a rogue. It’s not just his threats, or his assassination of his relatives.

Kim’s regime detained an American student, Otto Warmbier, and sent him back to the US this year only when he was in a coma. He died soon after returning home. Negotiating with such a man presents a moral hazard.

If Kim gets more inducements to negotiate, what’s to stop him from conducting more abductions or assassinations on foreign soil in the future?

All of this is to say that Trump is posturing in pursuit of a deal, and

even if he reached one, he would fail to address the cause of the North Korean crisis: the regime itself.

There are no easy answers here.

Invading North Korea would risk a major war with China, not to mention commit the US to keeping the peace on the peninsula at a time when most Americans are rightly weary of military adventurism.

While it would be nice to think our intelligence agencies could foment a coup, this too is more spy fiction than a realistic foreign policy. CIA Director Mike Pompeo has created a new intelligence center to focus on North Korea, but the US has notoriously had little success in recruiting agents inside the country.

US intervention would also deprive Koreans themselves of authoring their own liberation.

So traditional “regime change” should be off the table. But this should not stop the US and its allies from helping to create conditions for the day when Koreans can take their country back. This requires some patience and imagination.

The imaginative part is to continue to give North Koreans a glimpse of a better future. Tom Malinowski, who served as President Barack Obama’s assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, wrote in Politico in June that the US should continue to flood North Korea with information. This may sound strange. But in recent years, the state’s ability to control information has waned. More and more Koreans living there have access to portable DVD players and cell phones, which are tools to break the state’s control over the minds of their citizens.

One organization, known as No Chain, is run by North Korean defector and former dissident Jung Gwang-Il. No Chain sends helicopter

drones with the portable players, along with content like South Korean soap operas, over the border into the country.

Malinowski told me that when he was at the State Department the US government spent around $3 million a year to support similar kinds of organizations. The budget for these programs in the next year will be around $5 million. The US should be spending at least 10 times as much on this. This effort should also include workshops for North Korean defectors on nonviolent conflict, similar to the training the US State Department provided to Serbs before their citizens organized the ouster of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

To be sure, feeding information into North Korea is not a silver bullet.

It’s impossible to predict the timing of popular revolutions. But it is possible to predict the outcome: a revolution would prevent a catastrophic war.

“Just as with the Cold War, the only sustainable solution is when the North Korean people will be able to take matters into their own hands,” Malinowski told me. “We can’t make that happen. We have to be very careful with the ‘regime change’ rhetoric. But we can help to accelerate the process that is already under way, namely the process of raising consciousness inside the country.”

That may sound like a long shot. It is one. But consider the alternative.

For nearly 25 years, the US and its allies have threatened North Korea, cajoled North Korea and “won” by reaching deals with North Korea.

And yet the regime continues to build nuclear weapons and blackmail the rest of the world. It’s time for a change in Washington as well as Pyongyang. Bloomberg

CHINA TAKES ON STATE-OWNED FIRMS

By Christopher Balding A LITTLE-NOTICED statement last week could portend the next big battle in China’s effort to control its debt. On Aug. 2, the finance ministry issued directives that state-owned companies improve returns, control risks and make sure that “projects are financially viable before decisions are made.”

That the government feels the need to spell out such obvious goals tells you the depth of the problem.

China’s sprawling array of stateowned enterprises—with millions of employees across all sectors of the economy—may be the biggest obstacle to its broader effort at financial reform. Previous attempts to rein them in have largely failed. But if the government has any hope of real deleveraging, this time will have to be different.

SOEs are huge, and so are their liabilities. They’re responsible for nonfinancial corporate debt equal to 90 percent of gross domestic product.

Facing limited competitive pressure, they’ve driven the worst of China’s debt-led excess: Return on assets for these firms in 2016 was a paltry 2.9 percent, compared to 10.2 percent in

the private sector.

One reason is that China’s banking industry, which is itself almost exclusively state-owned, channels loans to SOEs in the expectation that they’ll have an implicit government guarantee. SOEs provide only 16 percent of China’s jobs and less than a third of its output, but they receive an astonishing 30 percent of all loans.

With credit so easily available, they have little incentive to economize.

They’re also burdened with conflicts of interest. Despite the new directive to focus on profitability, SOEs are still subject to orders from Party committees that sit above their corporate boards. Some firms have chafed at this arrangement, but in general political objectives—such as maximizing local employment—take priority over profits. Party leaders even refer to privatization as “wrongheaded thinking.”

China’s “Belt and Road” initiative offers a case in point. Even amid a broad crackdown on overseas investment, firms are being prodded to plow hundreds of billions of dollars into the initiative—mostly for unprofitable infrastructure projects—while simultaneously being told to prioritize

return on investment. They can be forgiven for being a little confused.

Given all these challenges, complying with the new directives will be difficult.

Regulators have tried numerous reform strategies in the past. One has been to merge multiple inefficient SOEs, in the unlikely hope that combined they will create one efficient SOE. Another has been to draw distinctions between “commercial” and “public service” SOEs, hoping to give the former some private sector-like flexibility. But as long as these companies can fall back on favorable bank loans, the impetus to improve efficiency will be limited.

Public-private partnerships are the latest trend. Chinese listings on Hong Kong’s stock exchanges are now dominated by companies with government shareholders. But a public listing by itself doesn’t necessarily impose market discipline; SOEs tend to sell only small stakes to private investors, often as a way to inject badly needed capital or even to disguise debt.

Will this latest effort prove any more effective? In 2015, at the height of the stock market boom, a report from China’s National Audit Office criticized SOEs in similar terms. Yet

two years later, government control has only tightened and SOE revenue has been driven up primarily through higher defense spending. Reform this time around will likely prove just as challenging.

A better approach starts with recognizing that using state-linked firms as a social-welfare system only hampers development. A vast amount of capital is being misallocated to dying industries, while China’s energetic small businesses receive less than a third of corporate loans. The “iron rice bowl” is great for the lucky workers who secure lifetime jobs at SOEs, but it limits opportunities for everyone else.

A related goal should be to have more faith in private enterprise. China is producing world-class companies, from tech firms such as Tencent Holdings Ltd. to leading smartphone manufacturers such as Huawei Technologies Co. Even its restaurants are minting billionaires by focusing on customer service and eschewing IPOs. Investment should be flowing to these enterprises rather than to state-run behemoths that will never be productive or profitable. Make that happen and China’s challenges start to look a lot less daunting. Bloomberg

World

B3

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PORTUGAL BATTLING FRESHWILDFIRES ONWARMWEEKEND ABRANTES, Portugal—Portugal was battling a new rash of forest fires ahead of a weekend of warm temperatures, as authorities warned of further blazes.

Some 1,800 firefighters backed by hundreds of vehicles were trying to douse around 10 fires across the country, authorities said Friday.

“Despite the relentless fires, the situation is now more stable,” said civil protection agency spokeswoman Patricia Gaspar in Lisbon.

Emergency workers had nearly gained control of wildfires across Portugal’s drought-hit central region on Thursday, but stronger winds fanned flames in several areas.

In the village of Bracal, flames were being blown towards houses as residents grabbed what they could to aid firefighters, an AFP journalist said.

Some residents voiced anger at authorities after a season of repeated wildfires which have stretched resources.

“Firefighters can’t perform miracles, they are exhausted,” said Lucia Ricardo, who lives in Bracal, close to the central town of Abrantes.

Six villages had been evacuated around Abrantes on Thursday as fire-dousing planes flew sorties over the flames.

Another blaze near Grandola, in the southern Setubal district, needed 200 firefighters to bring it under control after burning through around 3,000 hectares (30 square kilometers) of forest. AFP

KUWAIT ARRESTS 12 OVER TIES TO IRAN AND HEZBOLLAH KUWAIT CITY—Kuwaiti authorities on Saturday arrested 12 convicted members of a “terrorist cell” with ties to Iran and Lebanon’s Shiite movement Hezbollah after a weeks-long manhunt.

The interior ministry said the 12 had been captured in different areas across Kuwait. They had been on the run since their sentencing last month, while two other convicted Kuwaitis remained at large.

The supreme court in Sunni-ruled Kuwait, which has a sizable Shiite minority, in June overturned an acquittal by an appeals court and convicted 21 Shiites of forming a “terrorist cell” with ties to Iran and Hezbollah.

The cell had planned to launch attacks across the Gulf state, according to the court verdict.

Kuwait has protested to Lebanon over the alleged training of the socalled “Abdali Cell” by Hezbollah, which has ministers in the Beirut government.

Last month, authorities expelled 15 Iranian diplomats and shut down the military, cultural and trade missions of the Iranian embassy over Tehran’s backing of the “terrorist cell.” AFP

DALAI LAMA NIXES BOTSWANA TRIP, CITES‘EXHAUSTION’ NEW DELHI—The Dalai Lama has cancelled a trip next week to Botswana because of “exhaustion” after Beijing expressed anger at the African country for allowing the visit.

The 82-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader, who lives in exile in India, was to speak at a three day conference in Botswana’s capital Gaborone, which begins on August 17.

An official statement released late Friday said the Dalai Lama had written to the president of Botswana and the conference organizers, the Mind and Life Institute, expressing “profound regret” at having to cancel his visit “due to exhaustion.”

“His Holiness has reluctantly had to concede that his 82-year-old body was telling him to rest. Since his physicians have also advised him to avoid undertaking long journeys for the next few weeks, His Holiness will return to Dharamsala to recuperate,” the statement said.

The Buddhist leader has lived in exile in India since he fled a failed Tibetan uprising in 1959.

Botswana said last month that the visit was “purely private” but added that the Dalai Lama would be granted the status of a foreign dignitary.

Beijing issued a warning to Botswana, asking the African nation to respect China’s “core interests.”

China’s ruling Communist party views the Dalai Lama as a dangerous “separatist” campaigning for Tibetan independence. It consistently condemns other countries which let him visit. AFP

FLIPPING OUT. Palestinian youths practice parkour moves in Gaza City on Friday. AFP

CONTAMINATED EGGS NOW IN ASIA FROM EU B

RUSSELS, Belgium—A scandal involving eggs contaminated with insecticide spread to 15 European Union countries, Switzerland, and as far away as Hong Kong on Friday as the European Commission called for a special meeting on the growing crisis.

Ministers and food safety chiefs from around the EU are set to meet on September 26 in a bid to get countries to stop “blaming and shaming” each other over the scare involving the chemical fipronil.

Millions of eggs have been pulled from supermarket shelves across Europe and dozens of poultry farms closed since the discovery of fipronil, which can harm human health, was made public on August 1.

The issue has sparked a row between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, the three countries at the epicenter of the crisis, about how long they knew about the problem.

“Blaming and shaming will bring us nowhere and I want to stop this,”

Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European Commissioner for health and food safety, told AFP as he announced the meeting.

“We need to work together to draw the necessary lessons and move forward instead.”

European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said that “this is not, let’s be clear, a crisis meeting” and it is being held next month to get “distance to the events.”

Fipronil is commonly used to get rid of fleas, lice and ticks from animals but is banned by the European Union from use in the food industry.

The EU insists there is no threat to human health, but the World

Health Organization says that when eaten in large quantities it can harm people’s kidneys, liver and thyroid glands.

Brussels said the 15 affected EU countries were Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden, Britain, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Denmark, along with non-EU Switzerland.

But in a sign the crisis is going global, Brussels also announced that Hong Kong had received some tainted eggs from the Netherlands, with the southern Chinese city becoming the first place in Asia known to be affected.

Hong Kong health minister Sophia Chan said Saturday authorities were “strengthening” inspections of eggs from Europe.

As well as dealing with the immediate food safety issue, the EU is also seeking to calm tempers over the egg row after a series of divisive crises in the bloc in recent years, from Brexit to migration.

Belgium earlier this week accused the Netherlands of knowing

about the fipronil eggs since November 2016 and failing to notify other countries.

On Thursday Dutch Health Minister Edith Schippers admitted the government had made “errors” but denied a cover-up.

“We were well aware of a report of the presence of fipronil in the pens of egg-laying hens in November 2016, but there was no indication at the time that fipronil itself was found in the eggs,” said Schippers.

A Dutch whistleblower separately said he had told the authorities that Chickfriend, the Dutch company at the center of the scandal, was illegally using fipronil in the treatment of lice in chicken pens in The Netherlands.

“I am the anonymous whistleblower,” Nick Hermens told the NPO public broadcaster.

A Belgian company, Poultry Vision, has said it provided Chickfriend with the chemical.

Dutch and Belgian investigators carried out coordinated raids on several premises on Thursday, arresting two people at Chickfriend. AFP

MERKEL GOES ON GERMANY’S ‘STRANGEST’ CAMPAIGN

This file photo taken on July 7 shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron as he arrives to attend the G20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany. AFP

BERLIN—German Chancellor Angela Merkel has returned from a three-week Alpine holiday to embark Saturday on what may be the most bizarre election campaign in the country’s post-war history.

After months of studiously ignoring the race for the September 24 election, Merkel will kick off a series of rallies across the country with an hour-long speech to supporters in the western city of Dortmund.

But just six weeks out from the European Union’s top economic power and most populous nation going to the polls, Germans are barely taking notice of the election.

Even after 12 years in power, Merkel, frequently called the world’s most powerful woman and Europe’s de facto leader, looks set for a fourth term.

Gone are the warnings of her political demise heard at the height of the 2015 refugee influx, when nearly 900,000 asylum seekers entered the country.

Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) lead their closest rivals, the Social Democrats (SPD), by a 12-to-17-point margin, meaning it would take a political earthquake to shift the field at this point.

“It is probably the strangest election race in the history of the Federal Republic,” Heribert Prantl of the national broadsheet Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote this week.

“There is no wind, never mind a wind of change.”

Merkel’s main challenger, SPD leader

and former European Parliament spokesman Martin Schulz, has led what many commentators call a plodding campaign.

But they acknowledge that there is little mood around for renewal, as Germans look out on a turbulent world unsettled

by Donald Trump and Brexit.

After high-drama election campaigns in the United States, Britain and France, Germans appear relieved that their race is so low-stakes.

“The German elections are very difficult to understand from a foreign point of view because there’s hardly any polarization,” political scientist Timo Lochocki of the German Marshall Fund of the US told AFP. Meanwhile the frustrated Social Democrats are faced with an enemy who refuses to engage, with German media nicknaming the lonely Schulz the “Shadowboxer.”

“The SPD can’t polarize the campaign alone; the CDU doesn’t answer, so (the campaign) is dying,” said Lochocki.

He cited three main reasons for German satisfaction with the status quo: the vigorous health of the economy with solid growth and low unemployment; Merkel’s right-left “grand coalition” government creating broad consensus around contentious issues such as immigration and security; and a pact by mainstream parties to shun the political fringe.

The CDU has plumped for a soft-focus campaign centered on patriotism and Merkel herself. AFP

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

World

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

XI TO TRUMP: ‘AVOID NOKOR WAR RHETORIC’

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EIJING—Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged US President Donald Trump on Saturday to avoid rhetoric that could inflame tensions with North Korea as an escalating war of words raised global alarm.

Xi made the plea in a phone call hours after Trump ramped up his warnings to Pyongyang, saying the Stalinist regime wouldA “truly regret” taking hostile action against the United States.

The White House said in a statement that the two leaders “agreed North Korea must stop provocative and escalatory behavior” and that they are both committed to the denuclearization of the peninsula.

But the Chinese foreign ministry said Xi urged Trump to avoid “words and deeds” that would “exacerbate” the already-tense situation, exercise restraint and seek a political settlement.

Trump has been engaged all week in verbal sparring with the

North over its weapons and missile programmes, as US media reported Pyongyang has successfully miniaturized a nuclear warhead.

The Republican billionaire has progressively ramped up the tone throughout the week and on Friday declared that the US military is “locked and loaded.”

In a call with Guam Governor Eddie Calvo on Friday, Trump said the US military is prepared to “ensure the safety and security of the people of Guam” in response to Pyongyang’s plans to launch missiles towards the Pacific territory.

Japanese media said Tokyo was deploying its Patriot missile defense system following Pyongyang’s threat to fire ballistic mis-

siles over the country towards Guam.

In another move that could further fan the flames, satellite photos posted by defense expert Joseph Bermudez suggested that North Korea could be preparing for fresh submarine-based ballistic missile tests.

Trump had earlier brandished a threat of unleashing “fire and fury” on Pyongyang, then noted Thursday maybe that statement “wasn’t tough enough.”

China, North Korea’s biggest ally and trade partner, has been voicing concern at the mounting exchanges and a state-run newspaper suggested that Beijing should stay neutral if Pyongyang struck the US first.

Previously accused by Trump of not doing enough to rein in the authoritarian regime, China voted in favor of a series of wide-sweeping UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea last weekend.

According to the Chinese for-

eign ministry, Trump told Xi over the phone that he “fully understands China’s role in the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula.”

Trump is expected to visit China later this year.

The North’s official KCNA news service in an editorial blamed Trump for “driving the situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war,” calling the US “the heinous nuclear war fanatic.”

The saber-rattling has sparked worldwide concerns that a miscalculation by either side could trigger a catastrophic conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Russia and Germany have also urged both sides to tone down the rhetoric.

“Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely.

Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!” Trump wrote Friday from his golf club retreat in New Jersey, where he is on a working vacation. AFP

WEST WING TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WHILE TRUMP ON VACATION WASHINGTON—The West Wing is where it all happens at the White House—historic decisions, power struggles, meetings with foreign leaders. It is the nerve center of American power.

The West Wing, which was made even more famous by the award-winning television series of the same name, is home to the Oval Office and the Situation Room, where the president and his top aides meet in a crisis.

It also houses the offices of the president’s closest advisors, the White House press corps and the briefing room.

But for a week now, the West Wing has been one big construction site. President Donald Trump and his inner circle have decamped. In their place are painters, plumbers and construction workers.

The Oval Office is empty—the armchairs where foreign leaders have sat, couches, tables and even the legendary Resolute Desk, under which Caroline Kennedy hid as a child, have all been moved out.

Trump is vacationing at his golf club resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. His close aides have temporarily moved to the adjacent Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Like the rest of the White House, the cornerstone of which was laid in 1792, the West Wing needs regular renovations. The main goal of this summer’s work is to update the creaking air conditioning system. AFP

JUDGE THROWS OUT RADIO DJ’S CLAIMS VS TAYLOR SWIFT

COLORFUL SEATS. Workers are seen finishing preparations of the open air cinema “Metalac” in Sarajevo on Friday, just hours before the grand opening ceremony of the 23rd edition of Sarajevo Film Festival. AFP

TRUMP MULLING ‘MILITARY OPTION’ ON VENEZUELA BEDMINSTER, New Jersey—US President Donald Trump said Friday he was considering military options as a response to the escalating crisis in Venezuela, a move the South American country quickly shot down as “craziness.”

Washington has slapped sanctions on President Nicolas Maduro and some of his allies, and branded him a “dictator” over his attempts to crush his country’s opposition. Venezuela has in turn accused America of “imperialist aggression.”

But Trump’s latest comments were the first sign that he is mulling military intervention.

“We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary,” Trump told reporters.

“We have troops all over the world in places that are very far away. Venezuela is not very far away and the people are suffering and they’re dying.”

Trump said Venezuela’s political crisis was among the topics discussed at the talks he hosted at his golf club in New Jersey with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.

“Venezuela is a mess. It is very dan-

gerous mess and a very sad situation,” Trump said.

But if any US military contingency planning is under way, it must be in its early stages. A Pentagon spokesman, Eric Pahon, refused to elaborate on Trump’s comments, adding: “As of right now, the Pentagon has received no orders.”

Pahon cautioned that “the military conducts contingency planning for a variety of situations. If called upon, we are prepared to support whole-of-government efforts to protect our national interest and safeguard US citizens.”

The White House said Trump would only agree to speak with Maduro “as soon as democracy is restored in that country,” after the Venezuelan leader requested a phone call with the American president.

Trump’s military warning came two days after his administration imposed new sanctions on Venezuela, targeting members of a loyalist assembly installed last week to bolster what Washington calls Maduro’s “dictatorship.”

General Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela’s defense minister, dismissed the threat as “an act of craziness, an act of supreme extremism.” AFP

BLUE BABY. An Indian child dressed as the Hindu deity Krishna sits on chairs during an enactment competition as part of Krishna Janmashtami celebrations in Bangalore on Saturday. Krishna Janmashtami also known as Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. AFP

DENVER—A US judge on Friday dismissed claims that pop superstar Taylor Swift got a radio DJ fired, but court proceedings will continue to consider the singer’s allegations that he sexually assaulted her.

David Mueller has accused Swift of slandering him to his radio station, which subsequently fired him.

Swift is counter-suing Mueller in the civil case, alleging he groped her during a 2013 “meet and greet” session with fans and invited guests before a concert.

US District Judge William Martinez agreed with Swift’s attorney who had filed a motion asking for the pop star to be dropped from Mueller’s lawsuit, saying his case should have been against his radio station.

Martinez said the eight-person jury will continue to consider allegations from Mueller that Swift’s mother and her radio manager contributed to him losing his job. AFP

US: CUBA MUST PROBE ATTACKS ON DIPLOMATS BEDMINSTER, New Jersey—The United States said Friday it holds Cuba responsible for investigating an apparent sonic attack that left several of its diplomats in need of medical treatment.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US mission in Havana had not been able to determine who was behind what he called “health attacks” on its staff.

But he warned: “We hold the Cubans responsible just as every host country has a responsibility for safety and security of diplomats in their country.

“We hold the Cuban authorities responsible for finding out who is carrying out these health attacks not just on our diplomats—as you’ve seen there are cases with other diplomats as well.”

The State Department has not said how many of its diplomats were hurt, but in May it ordered two Cubans to leave the Cuban embassy in Washington. AFP

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

FILIPINO- BUILT MULTI-MISSION VESSELS UNVEILED

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

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INVENTOR

Inventor Gary Vazquez (left) guides his technical assistants in assembling Misty Kool fan units.

FILIPINO INVENTOR’S IDEAS COME TO LIFE IN CHINA

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DGARDO ‘Gary’ Vazquez, a 65-year-old inventor and entrepreneur, tinkers with big, innovative ideas to resolve perennial problems in the country, such as how to protect Filipinos from tropical heat, how to resolve the country’s huge housing backlog or how to ease the heavy traffic congestion along Edsa.

He is always in search of solutions to such problems—a habit formed through the years of being an inventor in a country where some people tend to shoot down big ideas. “We shoot down good products invented or developed by Filipinos,” he says.

He recalls that when he introduced a cooling solution in the Philippines, he met cynics who claimed that the innovation would only cause ‘pneumonia’.

“Instead of asking positive things about the invention, the first comment was that people would only become sick because of that. Why were they looking at it negatively? Why don’t we first develop the product, make it better and see what the effects are. But [some] were already working on the principle of negative thinking.

Instead of encouraging the inventor, they are putting him down. When can we ever learn to appreciate and help one another, the Filipino way, the ‘bayanihan’ way?” Vazquez says in an interview at his home.

Vazquez’s home in Makati City reflects how much he loves innovation. His big house was erected using his patented Vazbuilt modular housing and fencing technology. Solar panels are installed on his rooftop, supplying half of his power requirements. His patio is cooler by about 5-degrees, compared to outdoor atmosphere in Metro Manila, because it uses a patented cooling solution called Misty Kool.

Vazquez can also watch his house from anywhere in the world and control the camera, appliances and gadgets in his kitchen using a

Misty Kool line system cools off the walkway of Philippine Arena. smartphone and an automated home technology.

Soon, Vazquez and a big Chinese company will introduce smart home in the country.

Vazquez now regularly flies between the Philippines and China, where he sees his big ideas come to life. He developed the prototype of an outdoor cooling solution with a timer in Guangzhou where young technical experts helped him find the necessary components such as high-pressure pumps, fine nozzles, switches, monitors, timer, automatic shut-off mechanism, hose and water tank.

Now, Misty Kool is the only outdoor cooling solution with a timer, which is crucial in order to conserve water, reduce wetness on the surface and ensure the smooth operation of the misting system.

Vazquez obtained a patent in the Philippines for Misty Kool which can lower outdoor temperature by 3 to 5-degree Celsius. He offers the technology in two forms—a line machine and electric

fan-type unit that can produce Baguio-like breeze instantly. “It is the first of its kind in the Philippines,” he says.

A company in the Philippines, however, is contesting his use of the Misty Kool brand name.

In response, Vazquez says the name was derived from the misting process, or flash point cooling system which forces water, by means of a highpressure pump, through misting nozzles, to create a mist of ultra fine water droplets with an average size of less than 10 microns. These water droplets absorb the heat in the environment and evaporate, becoming water vapor in the process.

The misting system can cool off different open areas, porches, backyards, gardens and patios.

The Philippine Arena complex in Bulacan uses the line system of Misty Kool to reduce temperature along its open walkway. The technology will also be used in the country’s Turn to C2

THE government has unveiled the first two Filipino-built multi-mission vessels.

The two 50-meter offshore multimission vessels will be added to the growing number of floating assets of the Department of Agriculture– Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The vessels are built in the Philippines and are now undergoing finishing touches.

Construction of the vessels started in January 2016.

“Initially built as research ships, the vessels were modified into offshore multi-mission vessels due to the intensified campaign against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing,” said BFAR. “These vessels, which will be called DA-BFAR MV Lapu-Lapu [MMOV 5001] and MV Francisco Dagohoy [MMOV 5002], are designed to operate in offshore areas of Philippine waters including the EEZ and the High Seas Pocket 1,” said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol.

“Hopefully by October, alongside the anniversary of Philippine Coast Guard, MV Lapu-Lapu and MV Francisco Dagohoy will sail in the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Rise, Cebu Sea and Sulu Sea,” he said.

The ships were constructed by 300 Filipino workers, mostly from Navotas City, following the designs of Incat Crowther, which conformed to the rules, regulations, and requirements of Bureau Veritas, a world expert in Testing, Inspection, and Certification services.

The vessels, which cost around P250 million each, were built to withstand 24-hour continuous, multi-purpose operations and are capable of remaining on station for 30 days.

They have an excellent maneuverability and stationkeeping since it is made of twin fix-pitch propellers, twin rudders, twin independent electro-hydraulic steering gears and the electric driven how thruster.

Piñol said he wanted to build more ships with the same features as a part of the efforts of the government to protect the ocean and its marine resources, and further strengthen the country’s manifestation against foreign intimidation.

“Our government commitment is that we will use Filipino manpower and we will protect ocean for our future generation,” Piñol said.

The agri chief said he is targeting construction of five ships every year for the next five years. To implement the project, the agri chief asked for a P1 billion budget for 2018.

The multi-mission vessels will be added to the Bureau’s existing 123 floating assets deployed to fight IUU fishing in the country.

Aside from their law enforcement functions, the vessels will also be utilized for research and survey operations, and for livelihood support to far-flung island coastal communities.

MAGSAYSAY REVEALS SUCCESS FORMULA OF POTATO CORNER DESPITE some popular franchises, a number of food cart businesses appear to be dime-a-dozen, here-today-gonetomorrow affairs. However, there are those that have legs. One of them is Potato Corner, the 25-year-old franchise business of Jose Magsaysay.

“Jomag” to friends, Potato Corner’s CEO was part of its inception and initial growth. While he did leave the group in 1997 to work with Mister Donut, his return in 2001 sparked a resurgence for the french fries franchise. Here’s how Jomag turned Potato Corner into a longterm success.

One: Build stronger systems. Potato Corner started out in 1992 simply as a

way for Jomag and his partners to earn some extra money. The brand soon became popular and, by the time Jomag stepped away in 1997, Potato Corner had mushroomed into 120 outlets.

But the Asian Financial Crisis hit and the number of stores dwindled to 40.

Compounding matters, a managing partner suddenly passed away. Around that time, Jomag was a student in the Master in Entrepreneurship program at Asian Institute of Management. Upon hearing about his former partner, Jomag shifted gears.

He recalls, “I changed my laboratory business in the ME from Mister Donut to Potato Corner. When I graduated from

ME, I resigned from Mister Donut. Then I presented the five-year business plan for Potato Corner that I wrote during the ME to my former partners. I told them, if they liked the plan, could I run Potato Corner again?”

The plan included streamlining and building systems for the company and strengthening various supply chains.

Two: Hyperfocus. Jomag says, “I really believe in ‘one thing at a time.’ Potato Corner grew the way it did because we focused. We had a lot of opportunities to explore because of the success of the business, but we realized it was successful precisely because we were so focused.”

Three: Understanding the market.

Potato Corner has always been marketed toward kids. This explains the branding elements and the presence of a mascot.

When Jomag gets asked why a lot of millennials buy the product despite Potato Corner’s target market, he chuckles, “Sure, we get a lot of millennial customers. But how old were they when we opened shop in 1992?”

His advice: “If you want a brand to stick, market it to kids.”

It is best to build the relationship while your market is still young, Jomag explains, because “when you market to teenagers and adults, they will shift to the next big thing. But kids? Once you get them, they’re yours for life!”

Potato Corner founder Jose Magsaysay

Business

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 business@manilastandard.net

FILIPINO...

From C1

largest greenhouse which is being constructed in the same area.

Vazquez says other produc ts in the market do not employ the high-pressure mist system, but only provide evaporative cooling, which happens when water is distributed by a submersible pump to a porous material.

By gravity, water and air flows through the material, thus cooling the air that passes through.

Another type of cooling system is the centrifugal cooler, which pumps water from the source to a fast rotating impeller blades with a porous material in between to induce flow or raise pressure of liquid. Water droplets are created by directing a flow of water onto a spinning disc.

Vazquez says unlike these products, Misty Kool produces mist, which evaporates into the air, and this is sometimes called “flash evaporation” because it happens “quickly as a flash” and gives a stronger cooling effect. He says the air is cooled evenly and feels more like a fog.

He says Misty Kool conserves energy while offering an air-cooling effect and repels flying insects, dust, smoke and pollen. Vazquez says Misty Kool is also different from other misting products because its mist machine has an oil monitor and programmable timer.

Vazquez is also developing other cooling solutions such as an indoor sonic cooler, which uses vibration to create vapor, with a programmable timer and a turbo cooling and dust removal technology for industrial use.

He is designing the new technologies in China where there are adequate components and technical skills that will help him put his ideas to work.

On why he chooses to develop the prototype in China, Vazquez says: “In other countries, they encourage you, they are supportive, they come in as a group and they end up as a big mass of support in developing one product,” he says.

“Here, I am not appreciated.

Whenever I present some things, what I hear from fellow Filipinos is negative.

In China, when I sit down with people in science and technology, we talk about how it is going to work, how it will look good, how it can be mass produced, then we create the prototype at once,” says Vazquez.

“I am not a Chinese, but when it comes to science, they are very receptive. When I go there, they are there waiting for me at the airport. I am given a driver, an interpreter and I always talk to people in the universities who are mostly young people. Here, I receive nothing, but insults and lawsuits,” he says.

Vazquez says this is the problem affecting science and technology in the Philippines. “We are a country with less in life, but more in imagination.

That’s what you need in invention— imagination. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. People who have less in life have more imagination.

So we are very rich with imagination.

We are very rich with what we can do for the better, but we are very poor in helping one another,” says Vazquez.

“This is the situation of science and technology in our country. What we have to develop here are more incubation places. When you fund science, that is a risk initially, because you don’t know if it is going to fly or not. But if it does not fly, you do not sue the inventor. You encourage him more, because the principle is already there.

If you infuse more, he will reinvent it to make it work,” says Vazquez.

Vazquez mentions the case of the late inventor Daniel Dingel whom he knew personally. Dingel developed a “hydrogen reactor” that was able to power a water-fueled car, but the invention was dismissed as a hoax by many people in the Philippine science community.

“I know Daniel Dingel, the guy who developed hydrogen-powered cars using water. He was not appreciated here, so he sold his technology to Japanese and German car manufacturers. And they are now applying that technology. I don’t know why we are like this,” says Vazquez.

Vazquez says despite the challenges of being an inventor in the Philippines, he will continue to work on his ideas and train and encourage more Filipinos to develop new products that will help the nation.

Vazquez’s favorite quote is: “If you are buying an invention, you are buying more than an object. You’re buying hundreds of hours of error and experimentation. You’re buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy.

You’re not buying just the invention, you’re buying a piece of the heart.”

“I hope that we Filipinos will rediscover ‘bayanihan’ in our hearts. If this happens, we as a nation will be very strong,” says Vazquez.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

BANATAO EXPECTS PH TRIUMPH OVER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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NVENTOR, entrepreneur and philanthropist Diosdado ‘Dado’ Banatao believes that Filipinos can excel in the field of artificial intelligence. He says that instead of displacing business process outsourcing professionals, AI can treble the size of the BPO sector, and together with data science and Internet of Things, can lift the whole economy.

“We will train a lot of engineers in designing those things and we have started already. We have already 20 AI engineers and we are beginning to train them here in the Philippines,” Banatao, a Silicon Valley-based Filipino technology innovator and venture capitalist, says during the inauguration of AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator Program at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.

“We did some basic AI, not even the best, but we know we can do it. And we actually have better than what they have in the US. We can replace their agencies in the US which could potentially triple the BPO revenue in the country from $40 billion. We can make that to $80 [billion] to $120 billion in a few years through AI. And so, we will just have to generate those engineers here,” he says.

“Two years out, we should be able to triple the current revenue in BPO here,” says Banatao.

AIM president Jikyeong Kang says with the onset of new technologies such as AI, data science and IoT, “there are plenty of jobs that would disappear, but there are plenty of new jobs that will be created.”

“So what AIM is trying to do is to produce more CEOs. We wanted the same kind of role and make an impact so that we will not be looking at a time where BPO industry is no longer viable in this country while we are already trained by people with the right skills,” she says.

Banatao is particularly interested in the potential of AI, or the intelligence exhibited by machines in transforming industries. Technology analysts warned that AI can displace thousands of call center agents and BPO professionals in the Philippines. The BPO sector in the country employed 1.2 million Filipinos and generated $22.9 billion in revenues in 2016, a number that is expected to hit $40 billion by 2022.

Banatao says he expects the Philippines to sustain the growth of the BPO sector. “With some innovation, I can conclude that we can stay in that business. We can protect ourselves. We still have to compete against others. This is in artificial intelligence,” says Banatao, who helped fund two AI companies, one of which is considered the fastest AI engine in the world today and competes against the biggest companies such as Google and Amazon.

“What I expect is that there will be more of us helping the country bringing in the technology, bringing in the courage to challenge themselves.

I believe that the cycle has just started and what I mean by that is there’s the brains and the courage to do it,” he says. “We just have to show the population here, the ecosystem for startups including the investors.”

Banatao, a son of a rice farmer from Cagayan province, is a microchip inventor who made it big in Silicon Valley. Kang describes Banatao as one of the most successful Filipino entrepreneurs in the highly competitive Silicon Valley.

“Dado regaled us with the story of how he became an inventor, one of the most successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, and, eventually, a venture capitalist at his own firm Tallwood.

So inspired was I by Dado’s stories and his encouragement that AIM set up an incubator, which could play a critical role in the Philippine innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, that I lost no time in enlisting his support,” says Kang, a South Korean professor who has taught around

Inventor Diosdado ‘Dado’ Banatao (right) and Asian Institute of Management president Jikyeong Kang lead the inauguration of AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator Program in Makati City. the world and served as a director of the Manchester Business School prior to her assignment at AIM. Banatao left the family’s farm in Cagayan to train as a commercial airline pilot with Philippine Airlines, and later as an aircraft engineer. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology and pursued a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University.

Banatao co-founded several technology startups including Chips & Technologies, S3 Graphics, SiRF, Marvell and Inphi. He has also made major investments in Cyras Systems, Stream Machine and Wilocity. He is best known for pioneering two technologies that are widely regarded as the cornerstones of today’s PC: chipset and graphics acceleration architecture.

Banatao is currently the managing partner at Tallwood Venture Capital, which invests in unique and hard-to-do semiconductor technology solutions for computing, communication and consumer platforms.

Banatao teamed up with AIM to launch the incubator program, which started with a P14.8-million grant from the Department of Science and Technology. The program will provide mentorship and free office space to 11 teams, initially, to help them start up their businesses.

Banatao says successful applicants should be able to define the market for that startup. “Without a market, it doesn’t matter how your innovation works,” he says. “Number two, do you have a product idea that it differentiable and competitive in the market?”

“As crucial drivers of the Philippine economy, startups have such huge potential. They are small, but agile, and can pivot quickly in response to a fickle, demanding market,” says Kang, who earned her PhD from the University of Minnesota.

“I remember, when we launched last year, Dado said we would look for ‘suicidal’ entrepreneurs; those steeped in adversity, with the odds stacked against them, just raring for an opportunity to escape that vicious circle. Well, I am sure you will all agree, we certainly have lots of those in the Philippines,” she says.

“One of the fastest ways we can achieve this is to give the country’s biggest economic engine the rare opportunity to benefit from the mentorship of global visionaries, such as Dado Banatao. As for AIM, aside from providing qualified startups rent-free working space, we will also gladly make accessible to them a mentoring program and the expertise of our faculty

and alumni, as well as support from leading businesses and industries,” says Kang.

Banatao says that based on his experience as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, the star tup phase is the toughest with the highest failure rate in the life of a company. “Unless there is help from investors or friendly mentors, founders of the company are either suicidal or ‘crazy’, putting at risk their life status, family, friends, and future,” says Banatao.

Banatao, who is also the chairman of non-profit group PhilDev Foundation, says under the incubator program, the experience in building technology based, innovative and very successful companies from Silicon Valley will be used, while being aware of local culture and practices.

K ang says “aside from providing qualified startups rent-free working space, AIM will also gladly make accessible to them a mentoring program and the expertise of our faculty and alumni.”

“We do this in hopes of encouraging more angels and VC [venture capitalist] funds to invest as well as lowering the assumption-toknowledge ratio of startups in the incubator as painlessly as possible. As a management institute, AIM can do no less,” she says.

I t will provide worldclass mentorship from serial entrepreneurs, top executives, industry experts, including individuals with a successful track record in Silicon Valley.

The incubator intends to support early-stage startups with deep technology, science, or engineering solutions to the neglected problems of an emerging world. Eligible startups will have a proven ability to build quickly, sell to customers, and evolve their idea into a business that can grow.

K ang says Banatao, being not only an inventor and engineer but also an entrepreneur, is an ideal model for the startups. “I think that makes a huge difference. He has been able to make a bridge between being an inventor, coming up with an innovative idea for the product and then being entrepreneurial in terms of how you sell those product to somebody who wants to pay money,” she says.

“Now, as you all know he is a capitalist himself. Not only he has done it but he has done in it Silicon Valley where the competition is just enormous. We always talk about his humble beginning to the journey he took to where he is now,” says Kang.

“He is our most famous technology innovator, inventor, entrepreneur and most importantly philanthropist.”

Roderick T. dela Cruz and Marielle Franchesca Santiago

PH STARTUP DEVELOPS TAX FILING SOFTWARE THE Board of Investments has approved Taxumo Inc.’s P5-million startup project in Bonifacio Global City as a new creative industries/knowledge-based services provider under the preferred activities of the 2017 Investment Priorities Plan.

The project is the first digital startup firm approved by the BOI under the 2017 IPP which promotes micro, small and medium enterprises and innovationdriven activities by creating a conducive environment and support systems for startup firms through fiscal incentives and other non-fiscal support.

Ta x u m o i s f o c u s e d o n t h e development of an end-to-end, do-ityourself tax preparation software that aims to change how the preparation of taxes is being done in the country. The software will greatly allow for a more accurate filing of Bureau of Internal Revenue forms of the taxpayer resulting in more revenue for the government.

This will help self- employed

individuals and professionals with their tax filings, from submission to payment.

Users simply enter their income/expense figure in the system which then fills out the relevant tax forms (BIR Form 2551M for Monthly Percentage Tax Payments and Form 1701 for Quarterly Income Tax Payments) with calculations based on the data entered by the user.

Formal operation began in July 2017 after a trial run from November 2016 to June 2017. The services being rendered by the project is fully automated and does not require human intervention.

The 24 personnel hired only acts as quality controllers and customer support representatives. The project has been in beta stage since December 2016.

This is a phase wherein the firm opened its services to early adopters or users which helped the firm discover bugs and defects and request features that will allow the firm to launch a complete and effective product. No fees were charged during the trial run as they only solicited feedback and comments from the users. Once formally operational, Taxumo will earn from subscription fees that users pay in either monthly terms or annually to use the system.

Taxpayers can go to the website, taxumo.com and for a free one month

trial. If satisfied, they can then subscribe to the different plans as outlined in the site. Every Filipino small business owners and professionals can register with an email and provide the necessary information. Then Taxumo will make it easy for them to prepare, compute and pay for their taxes.

Taxumo co-founder E.J. Arboleda believes the “platform will empower MSMEs and individual taxpayers to become better corporate citizens with a do-it-yourself [DIY] platform t h a t a l l o w s fo r e f f i c i e n t f i l i n g, payment and monitoring of their tax returns. This is a win-win situation for both the entrepreneur and the government. We are happy to foster such collaboration.”

Arboleda said he is grateful that the BOI has given the attention to companies like Taxumo because the start-up industry needs all the support it can get to move forward.

Sports

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 reuelvidal@yahoo.com

GILAS PILIPINAS SURPRISES EXPERTS

Gilas Pilipinas big guard Gabe Norwood (5) dribbles past an Iraqi defender during their match in the Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon won by the Philippines. Photo courtesy of Fiba.com

By Reuel Vidal

”S

URPRISE us.”

Those were the simple instructions of Gilas Pilipinas benefactor and MVP Group of companies head honcho Manny V. Pangilinan to the national team to the FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut, Lebanon.

The Philippine squad did just that first with a masterful 96-87 upset of powerhouse China. They then secured outright passage to the quarterfinals with an 84-68 demolition of Iraq.

With the back-to-back victories over China and Iraq, the Philippines (20) will top Group B. The Filipinos plays winless Qatar (0-2) today Sunday to formalize the sweep of its group.

Even in the unlikely chance of the squad losing to Qatar the Philippines will win any form of tiebreak over China and/or Iraq which the squad beat earlier.

This affords the Philippine squad

a bye in the next phase and propels the team to the quarterfinals.

The country didn’t really expect too much from this team. After all this squad will miss naturalized player Andray Blatche and probably June Mar Fajardo The team’s best big man Blatche opted to skip this tournament and will be replaced by Christian Standhardinger. Not as talented but actually an adequate rebounder and post defender.

Fajardo, the squad’s best interior scorer, joined the squad in Lebanon but will miss most (if not all) of the team’s games because of

Gilas Pilipinas small forward Calvin Abueva contests a call made by referees during a game in the Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon. The crowd of Filipino supporters cheer in the background. Photo courtesy of Fiba.com

a hurting leg.

Despite the handicap the Philippine team shocked the tournament with a decisive victory over bitter rival China.

That game was bruising from start to finish with players trading hits and cheap

zling dribbling display to elude the Chinese defenders and unerring outside shooting for the crucial points.

Romeo drilled a triple to tie the count at 87-all in the final four minutes. He then hit a fadeway and another back-breaking triple to pad the Philippines’ lead, 92-87.

Standhardinger and Matthew Wright then finalized the count for the Philippine squad.

Romeo finished with 26 points after crucial baskets in the fourth to power the Gilas charge. He also had four assists and was blistering hot from three-point distance converting five of his seven attempts.

Standhardinger had 15 points and six rebounds in his first outing as a national player.

Wright chipped in 12 markers.

It was a sweet victory for the the Philippine squad which avenged the 2015 loss to China in the Fiba Asia Championship.

Gilas Pilipinas had an easier time against Iraq. The Filipinos trailed 2228 in the early goings but gradually took control of the game after gaining the measure of their taller but slower and less skilled opponents.

The Filipinos exploded a 19-0 run in the third period to essentially win the game pulling away.

Standhardinger and Romeo again led the Philippine attack. The Fil-German big man unloaded 10 of his 16 points in the third period while Romeo scored 11 of his own 17 in the quarter to lead Gilas to a rousing follow-up victory to its conquest of China.

Gilas Pilipinas shooting guard Terrence Romeo (2) sets up a play during their game in the Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon against Iraq. Photo courtesy of Fiba.com

shots, many missed by the referees.

Calvin Abueva tried to cut into the paint, was hit in the face and sent crashing down the floor by Li Gen who then stood provocatively in front of Abueva who was still on the floor. Abueva, obliged the invitation, stood up and hit the Chinese cager with head butt and was promptly ejected from the game.

The incident hardly dampened the charged up Philippine squad which led by as much as 17 points early. The roughhousing China squad eventually caught up late and even took the lead in the fourth quarter as the Philippines trailed, 82-84, with six minutes left to play.

Terrence Romeo then made his best Steph Curry impersonation with a daz-

Gabe Norwood, Carl Bryan Cruz and RR Pogoy also played also stepped up for the national team.

China (1-1) and Iraq (1-1), who both beat Qatar, dispute second spot in the group in a crucial game also today Sunday.

And more good news, Fajardo is already practicing with the squad and could conceivably join the team in more important games ahead possibly with medals at stake.

After all the roadblocks early on, could this team pull off the biggest surprise and win the gold?

Well, that would be the biggest, most welcome surprise that they could give the nation.

Janelle Frayna

Terrence Romeo. Photo courtesy of Fiba.com

ROMEO SILENCES ALL HIS DOUBTERS

MANY experts said that after Allan Caidic there has been a lack of great shooters in Philippine national teams to international competitions.

That may have been true before, but not anymore with the way Terrence Romeo has been hitting his outside shots in Gilas Pilipinas uniform. The latest examples are the Philippines’ twin victories in the Fiba Asia Cup. Thanks in large part to Romeo’s heroics the Philippine squad staged a masterful 96-87 upset of powerhouse China and secured outright passage to the quarterfinals with an 84-68 demolition of Iraq.

Unlike Caidic who is deadly as a catchand-shoot scoring threat Romeo likes to create his own shots off the dribble like Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors.

Romeo in fact patterns his game after Curry almost completely including the pre-game drills and ritual of dribbling two balls at the same time.

Romeo made a dazzling dribbling display to elude the Chinese defenders and showed unerring outside shooting for crucial points. He drilled a triple to tie the count at 87-all in the final four minutes. He then hit a fadeway and another back-breaking triple to pad the Philippines’ lead, 92-87.

Standhardinger and Matthew Wright finalized the count for the Philippine squad.

Romeo scored 14 points in final frame and eight of the team’s last 12 markers.

He finished with 26 points and scored the crucial baskets in the fourth. He also had four assists and was blistering hot from three-point distance converting five of his seven attempts.

It was a sweet victory for the the Philippine squad which avenged the 2015 loss to China in the Fiba Asia Championship.

The Philippines again leaned on Romeo’s outside sniping to beat Iraq. Romeo sparked a third-quarter surge to power Gilas Pilipinas past Iraq to claim group’s top seed.

Romeo sizzled with 11 third-quarter points to power the Gilas surge to break the game wide open in that period.

Scouted well Romeo was held to just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the first half. But he found his rhythm and exploded for 11 points in the third quarter to turn a slim 32-31 advantage at halftime into a full-blown rout.

Two free throws capped a 24-4 explosion by the Philippines that pushed the squad to a daunting, 56-35, lead.

Romeo led the squad in scoring 17 points off three triples. He also had four assists, two rebounds and one steal in just 21 minutes off the bench.

It’s probably safe to say that Romeo will easily fill that need for an outside shooting threat for the Philippine national basketball team to be credible challengers in international competitions.

POCARI SWEAT, BALIPURE RENEW PVL RIVALRY THE Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors are brimming with confidence as they face perennial rival BaliPure in their Drive for Four in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference Finals at the Filoil Flying V Center.

Two squads were playing the first game of the best-of-three finals at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan as we went to press yesterday 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.

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 elimination round, 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 af-

ter the other to move two wins away from nailing another championship.

Pablo, fully recovered from an injury that slowed her down late in the elims, has been playing to her full potential the last few games while the rest have been dishing out solid support that has lined up the Lady Warriors’ for another title crack.

Panaga, Dadang, Kasilag, de Leon and Gyzelle Sy have been providing able backup to Pablo while de Guzman turned Guino-o into an instant star when the former FEU mainstay delivered clutch hits and anchored the team’s come-frombehind victory over the Jet Spikers.

“If you want to win, you also have to gamble,” said de Guzman, referring to his decision to field in Guino-o for Kasilag in the crucial stretch of Game 3. Guino-o scored 14 hits, including key attack points in the third and fifth sets.

In the finals, while both teams will try to spring a surprise or two to startle the other side’s patterns, it will still boil down to their key players at crunch time with Pablo and Soltones tipped to lead their respective team’s title drive.

Pocari Sweat ace hitter Myla Pablo (8) unleashes one of her power spikes against Air Force setter Wendy Semana during their PVL Open Conference sudden death for the finals berth.

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Sports

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor / Reuel Vidal, Issue Editor / Randy Caluag, Issue Editor

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

ARCILLA, PJ TIERRO MARCH TO LAST 16

A TALE OF THREE IRON KIDS

By Marielle C. Santos and Patricia Bianca S. Taculao

L

IKE the famous biblical kings Saul, David and Absalom, three young Iron kids trudged through different paths to win their battles and emerge champions.

Tara Borlain is so fortunate to have the resources needed in her quest for glory since engaging her chosen passion five years ago—to swim, bike and run in a grueling sport called triathlon.

The 14-year-old Borlain capped her illustrious career in Alaska IronKids with another victory in the 13-14 category in the recent Alaska Ironkids in Cebu and just like her previous victories, her whole family was around to provide her moral support.

“Ever since I started, the most important thing I learned is that family is the key,’’ said Borlain, an 8th grader at St. Paul University.

“Winning is just in your mind and in your heart, and if you give your best, you’re already a champion. I believe that your family will be the one to push you for that success to happen.”

For Tara, it was a continuation of winning tradition for the family, at least one last time.

Her older sister, Samantha, also graduated last year from Iron Kids with aplomb as they finished 1-2 in the 1314 years old category.

This time, it was only Tara who the family cheered for and she did not disappoint.

Like her sister, Samantha, Tara works hard and maintains a strong belief in what she’s capable of doing.

And it was not really a hard thing to do because, according to her, the family has always been around to cheer for them.

“It’s actually the best thing I can ask for. When I’m with them, I feel more confident,’’ said Tara. “I got to know myself more because of them.’’

“I’m happy that I won. I thank my coaches for helping me,” Beboy said in Cebuano.

He refused to answer further questions and began to cry and hide from cameras.

Sigmund Estreba, one of the benefactors of Beboy, said the boy got overwhelmed by the large crowd and media attention that he got that day.

But earlier, Beboy was a little monster.

The 6th grader from Taytay Elementary School negotiated the 200-meter swim, 6km bike and 1.5km run contest to-toetoe with older participants and easily won her age-bracket.

Running on borrowed shoes, it was in the foot race where he shone brightest.

For his victory, Beboy was given a pair of brand-new pair of shoes by one of the race sponsors.

It all started with Beboy’s innocence and curiosity. He sat with other kids one morning during a running seminar conducted by national mara-

Borrowed shoes

thon champion and Rio De Janeiro Olympian Mary Joy Tabal last year.

That was after he was discovered by his coach Andoy Remolino.

“I recognized his potential when I saw a group of kids swimming in Danao. Beboy can win over kids older than him,’’ he said in Cebuano.

When Remolino brought Beboy to train at the Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group, he noted that the boy didn’t even have a pair of sneakers for running and had to borrow a bike from his fellow young triathletes.

“Coach Andoy gives special treatment to Beboy and motivates him to become a winner. Even our friends be-

Coming from a poor family, 10-year-old Beboy Dolen was armed with only sheer guts and skills in taking up the expensive sport of triathlon.

The son of a simple fisherman from Danao in Cebu, Dolen wowed everybody as he bested the field, including some participants four years older than him, in the running event to emerged champion in the 9-10 age category of the Ironkids.

Beboy is a shy boy.

Not used to undue attention given him, he was crying during the post-game press conference and could only say a few words when asked about his thoughts following his victory.

Beboy Delon topped the running event in the IronKids, beating some participants who are several years older than him

Mother and daughter, Charry and Kaira, dedicated the race to her missing father

gin to help us with the equipment because triathlon is an expensive sport,’’ added Estreba, former Talisay swim club president.

Now, they have triathlon star in the making.

Her mother, Charry, couldn’t believe what they heard and she went on to investigate further. All they received were reports that Arcedny was last seen standing on the ship’s deck one afternoon and he never reported for duty again.

He was assumed to have fallen from the ship which was cruising the shark-infested Indian Ocean. No one saw what really happened. No CCTV camera, no witnesses.

“We never know what happened. Mahirap. We could not say if he’s really dead. We’re still hoping (that he’s still alive) “said Charry.

Financially, it has also become difficult for the Bordios family because they have to wait for several years before the court, in the absence of a body, can declare the demise of Arcedny so that the family

can claim from his insurance.

For other kids with weaker resolve, they could have just stopped and sulked in the sudden loss of the head of the family.

But not the iron-willed Kaira.

Despite the emotional burden and the dip in resources, Kaira and mom Charry did not stop from competing. Kaira continued to train in her native province in Bacolod for the much awaited Iron Kids in Cebu.

“I want my Papa (father) to see that I’m strong. I want to improve for him,” said Kaira.

She placed 11th place and got a finisher’s medal that glitters like gold.

“I dedicate this (medal) for papa. I want him to know that I am here and competed,”added Kaira, who vowed to continue competing in triathlon until she becomes champion.

Winning is not everything

In the few times that they were together, Kaira Charlize Bordios would always hear her father telling her, “Even if you don’t win, you’re still a winner for me.”

Life has been so good was full of rosy promises for the Bordios family, until one day in May, news came that her father, Arcedny, who working as a seaman, went missing.

Delon (center) holds his trophy

TOP seed Johnny Arcilla and No. 2 PJ Tierro shrugged off opening set threats to lead the siege of the fancied bets in the eighth Olivarez Cup Open Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque on Sunday.

Arcilla, winner of three of the last three staging of the annual event featuring the country’s cream of the crop, wore down Raymund Diaz in the first set then imposed his will in the next to carve out a 7-5, 6-1 victory for a Last 16 duel with Arthur Pantino, who upended No. 14 John Altiche, 6-2, 6-4.

Tierro, on the other hand, bucked Bryan Saarenas’ tough stand in the early going and fashioned out a 6-4, 6-2 victory for a third round duel with No. 15 LA Canizares, who subdued Ed Parangan, 7-5, 6-0.

Unranked Rodolfo Barquin provided the spark in the third day of action in the week-long event, put up by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez along with Rep. Eric Olivarez and Dr. Pablo Olivarez as part of the family’s long-time commitment to boost the sport, outlasting No. 8 Marc Reyes, 6-3, 5-7, 14-12, to gain a spot in the upper half of the 64-player draw.

The top UE bet will next face Jan Seno, who advanced with a walkover win over No. 9 Bryan Otico in the tournament backed by Palawan Pawnshop, Stronghold Insurance, Milestone Guarantee Assurance Corp. and Sterling Insurance Company.

Others who rolled into the next round were Jason Patrombon, Marcus del Rosario, Rolando Ruel Jr., Ronard Joven, Leander Lazaro, Jose Cano, Eric “Jed” Olivarez, Vicente Anasta, Fritz Verdad and Deo Talatayod.

The third-ranked Patrombon ripped Neil Co, 6-1, 6-1; del Rosario trounced Noel Damian Jr., 6-2, 6-2; Ruel held off Calvin Canlas, 6-4, 6-4; No. 6 Joven thwarted Mark Alcoseba, 7-6(5), 6-1; fifth seed Lazaro ousted Kristian Tesorio, 6-3, 3-0(ret.); Olivarez routed Francis Alcantara, 6-3, 6-0; No. 4 Anasta downed Dave Mosqueda, 6-4, 6-2; No. 7 Verdad toppled Jordan Cimafranca, 6-3, 6-1; and Talatayod survived Wilson Oblea, 6-3, 7-5(3).

Defending three-time women’s singles champion Khim Iglupas also breezed through in the Last 16 in their side of the event, crushing Erika Manduriao, 6-0, 6-0, with top seed and last year’s runner-up Clarice Patrimonio bundling out Cianna Villafor, 6-1, 6-0.

No. 3 Jade Capadocia likewise scored a 6-0, 6-0 romp over Nicole Bautista; fourth ranked Christine Patrimonio toppled Toni Rose Raymundo, 6-0, 6-1; No. 5 Shaira Rivera eased past Katrina Hernandez, 6-0, 6-0; and sixth seed Rachelle de Guzman scored a walkover win over Karamina Atangan.

Joining the seeded bets into the next round are Bliss Bayking, Mary Grace Melchor, Alexi Santos, Sydney Enriquez, Chloe Saraza, Patricia Velez and Charito Capadocia.

Bayking rapped Bea Ebriega, 6-1, 6-2; Melchor trampled Bea Gomez, 6-1, 6-3; Santos blasted Justine Manela, 6-3, 6-2; Enriquez won by default over Krizzhan Dumlao; Saraza foiled Yoshi Noguchi, 7-5, 4-6, 10-8; Velez routed Rafaella Villanueva, 6-3, 6-0; and Capadocia also scored a walkover win over Noriko Yamada.

THAI TOPS QUALIFYING; 19 PINOYS EARN PGTA CARDS TARLAC—hai Pasavee Lertvilai capped a four-day run of under-par scores with a second straight 69 and topped the PGT Asia Tour Qualifying School by five over American Seungjae Maeng at the Luisita Golf and Country Club course here on Saturday.

Lertvilai, who cashed in on John Michael O’Toole’s shaky windup to move up by two in the third round, held sway despite an even-par card after 12 holes then birdied four against a bogey in the last six to finish with a 36-33 and a 13-under 275 aggregate, clinching the low medal honors in the 72-hole elims for the newest regional circuit put up by ICTSI and organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Maeng, who co-led with Swede

Fredrik From in the first round, bounced back from a third round 74 with a 69 to take runner-up honors at 280 while Jobim Carlos rallied with a bogey-free 67 to tie three others at third at 282 and emerge the top Filipino finisher in the event which staked 60 slots plus ties for the PGTA kicking off with the Aboitiz Invitational Tuesday at Southwoods.

Other six-under overall scorers were American John Michael O’Toole (74), Korean-American Micah Shin (68) and Indonesian Joshua Wirawan (69).

Elki Kow, aslo from Indonesia, shot a 67 and shared seventh place with another local bet Rey Pagunsan, who carded a 69, at 283, while Anthony Fernando, among the 19

Filipinos who qualified, finished tied for ninth at 284 with Aussie David Gleeson (70) and Swede Andreas Gronkvist (68) despite a 74.

Carlos is actually eligible to play in the inaugural PGT Asia Tour being among the top 40 in the current Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit ranking.

But by finishing in the top 60, the former national champion, Pagunsan and Fernando also assured themselves of spots in PGTA events to be staged abroad starting next year.

Also guaranteed of that privilege Justin Quiban (67-285), Keanu Jahns (76-286), Dino Villanueva (70-286), Rudy Cabajar Jr. (73-288), Robert Pactolerin (74-289), amateur Richnell Albano (72-290), Ira Alido (73-

290), Charles Hong (72-290), Benjie Magada (73-291), Orlan Sumcad (73-293), Cookie La’O (74-295), Randy Garalde (79-296), Nelson Huerva (73-296), Joseph Suarez (80-297) and Arnel Enema (73-298).

Kris Etter rebounded with an even-par 72 and tied Aussies Rick Coleman (76), Joshua Whitehouse (77) and Max Duffy (73) and Spain’s Salvador Paya Vila (76) for 58th at 301 for the last five PGTA berths.

Missing the cut were former PGT leg winner Mars Pucay (80-303), Rolando Marabe Jr. (79-303), Raymund Gonzales (75-304), Erwin Arcillas (76305), Francis Morilla (72-305), John Kier Abdon (79-307), Carlos Packing (79307) and Tonton Asistio (79-308).

Thai Pasavee Lertvilai holds a giant copy of Champion’s Wacky Baniqued (right) and Joseff Miguel certifi cate inQuirino the PGTfinish Asia almost at a dead heat. Photo finish review eventually Tour Qualifying School. showed Baniqued as the winner. Marielle C. Santos

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017

Jimbo Gulle, Editor

Roger Garcia, Issue Editor

LGUs

mslocalgov@gmail.com

BACOLOD SEES BRIGHT FUTURE WITH ASEAN INTEGRATION

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W

ITH 1,000 children singing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Theme and Hymn, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia expressed confidence that Bacolod will have brighter prospects with the Asean integration into one large regional economy.

“The integration of our country, together with nine other nations, will mean that our horizons will widen, the playing field will be expanded, and we will have a new political and economic order,” Leonardia said at the Asean Landmark Lighting Ceremony at the Bacolod City Government Center on Aug. 8.

The BCGC was one of the Asean Landmarks chosen by the Department of the Interior and Local Government to be lighted during the simultaneous nationwide Landmark Lighting Ceremonies, in celebration of the Asean ’s 50th Founding Anniversary.

“I believe the Asean will expand our territories, and will enhance our culture, customs and traditions. That, for sure, will bring about opportunities, as well as challenges for everyone,” Leonardia said.

“So while we prepare our city for the future, and as we join the rest of the nation, we would like to see to it that the massive information and education campaign is launched in our city,” he said.

“We will see to it that our consciousness of

One thousand schoolchildren sing the Asean Theme and Hymn during the lighting ceremony for the Bacolod City Government Center as one of the AseanN Landmarks in the country, during the nationwide simultaneous landmark lighting ceremonies in celebration of the Asean’s 50th Founding Anniversary on Aug. 8. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia (inset) later delivers an inspirational message.

our participation in the Asean is heightened,” he added.

Bacolod was one of the 74 local government units chosen by the DILG to participate in the Asean Landmark Lighting Ceremonies.

The ceremony also featured the 1,000-voice choir composed of young children from the city’s public elementary and high schools. The children were dressed in white and carried 1,000 helium balloons with LED lights.

The ceremony was capped with a fireworks display and a street party. About 5,000 people witnessed the event.

Leonardia said the reason they chose the children to perform is that they represent the future of Bacolod. “Most likely they are the ones who will experience what it would be like when the Asean is totally integrated,” he said.

“Perhaps, our generation will pave the way for them, but in the end, they are going to reap the benefits of the Asean integration and that is why we believe their presence here today will

prepare them for the future,” Leonardia said.

Leonardia said Bacolod is proud and honored to participate in this historic event, more so that the Department of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged that it was the first LGU to declare interest on Asean integration.

"We must position Bacolod to prepare for Asean integration which means a new economic order that could provide us opportunities as well as new challenges. Our people must be made conscious and ready for new realities," the mayor stressed.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said they are glad the BCGC is now considered as a landmark of the Philippines.

The mayor said they are proud of the BCGC, which incidentally celebrate its 9th year of existence on Tuesday, after having been officially completed on Aug. 8, 2008.

Leonardia added that the BCGC is now the most popular landmark in Bacolod and the most photographed City Hall in the country.

ACD MAKES SOLAR LAMPS FOR BOHOL FAMILIES ENERGY Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and other energy officials attending the ongoing Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Panglao, Bohol assembled 100 solar-powered lamps under the guidance of local grade schoolers and donated them to Boholano families on Tuesday.

The lamps were given to 100 families in the islands of Balicasag, Pamilacan and mainland Panglao, including the families of 34 students from Lourdes Elementary School in Panglao as beneficiaries.

The 34 Grades 5 and 6 students, along with 12 chosen Technology and Livelihood Education teachers around Bohol, were earlier taught how to convert the kerosene lamps into solar and battery-powered lamps, and shared what they learned to delegates as part of the ACD's “Liter of Light: Solar Build Workshop” held at the Be Grand Hotel in Panglao Island.

Cusi, as head of delegation of the host country, soldered and assembled the electronic parts of the solar lamp with guidance from Grade VI student Christopher Abellana and Grade V student Honey Lee Mijares together with Liter

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi (seated) raises the solar lamp that Grade 6 student Christopher Abellana (second from right) and Grade 5 student Honey Lee Mijares (right) helped solder and assemble the electronic parts as Liter of Light founder Illac Diaz (left) and TLE Teacher Gil Adame of La Hacienda High School in Alicia, Bohol observe.

of Light founder Illac Diaz and TLE Teacher Gil Adame of La Hacienda High School in Alicia, Bohol.

“What we are doing here among the kids is

creating consciousness on the importance of energy for our economic growth,” Cusi said during the workshop.

“The Liter of Light has done several projects already and now we are collaborating with them to promote alternative energy technologies so we can share these options to other communities nationwide. There are other initiatives that are being undertaken, hindi lang itong Liter of Light, but this is the most viable option we're looking at," said Cusi.

The workshop served as a great venue for the students to learn and explore new things that they can share to their families, peers and community, according to the DoE secretary.

He added that the workshop served to give the people and the youth “Power of Choice” in using energy efficiently and effectively.

The lamps also symbolized the giving of light or hope for the realization of dreams and for coping with outage during disasters that affect energy supply.

“With these kinds of projects, the power is already within their hands,” said Cusi.

HPV IMMUNIZATION LAUNCHED IN MANDALUYONG SCHOOL

Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos (second from left), Mandaluyong Rep. Queenie Gonzales (third from left), and Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo (kneeling, second from right) led the ceremonial vaccination of 180 Grade 4 female students at Addition Hills Integrated School.

THE Department of Health has launched its school-based Human Papillomavirus or HPV Immunization in an inaugural vaccination at the Addition Hills Integrated School in Mandaluyong City.

In collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, over 180 Grade 4 female students with consent from their parents were vaccinated with the quadrivalent HPV during the event.

“Shifting the HPV vaccination from a community-based to a school-based approach enables us to provide vaccination services to a ‘catch’ population. We will be able to reach high coverage and dropout rate will be

minimized,” Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said.

“School health settings will provide good opportunities to integrate vaccine delivery with other health interventions like health information and warnings against tobacco and drug use,” Ubial added.

“Making modern healthcare solutions more readily available for people has always been one of the foremost thrust of our local government, especially when it comes to preventing unnecessary suffering. Hence, we fully support the HPV vaccination program,” noted Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita Abalos.

Mandaluyong Rep. Queenie Gonzales further underscored

Local Gov’t Units

the significance of vaccination in upholding health and quality of life for the family.

“Women have always been at the heart of the Filipino family and society. They are our mothers, sisters, and daughters. We must ensure their protection against diseases such as cervical cancer.

Bringing the vaccines in schools, where the target beneficiaries are gathered, helps in intensifying the effort,” Gonzales said.

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the Philippines, more than 6,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year. HPV infection causes more than 99 percent of cervical cancer cases among women.

VIZCAYA PICKS 15 SCHOLARS FOR NVSU BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— The provincial government here has picked 15 secondary graduates to avail of its four-year course scholarship program for poor youths.

The scholars, who passed the test at the Nueva Vizcaya State University, were Pentelicus Fajerdo of Barangay Lublub in Alfonso Castañeda town, Marie Joy Calacala of Barangay Bone North in Aritao, Rogelio Magpali Jr. of Barangay Ibung in Villaverde, Rodalyn Balingon of Barangay Yaway in Aritao, Novelyn Sunshine Buccahan of Barangay Magsaysay in Bayombong, and Romel Javier of Barangay Vista Alegre in Bayombong.

Others were Gerladine Oliveros of Barangay Indiana in Bambang, Jonne Coseph of Barangay Carolotan in Dupax del Sur, Marie Lei Sey-ang of Barangay Lantap in Bagabag, Orlando Berras Jr. of Barangay Vista Alegre in Bayombong, Jonnabelle Huliganga of Barangay Kirang in Aritao, Dave Dungallo of Barangay Paniki in Bagabag, Nathaniel Khyrs Vicente of Barangay San Pedro in Bagabag, Frances Edjena Capayan of Barangay Vista Alegre in Bayombong, and Clarissa Daus Soriano of Barangay Maasin in Quezon.

The “Pamana” (Heritage) Scholarship Program or PSP is a scholarship for the agroindustrialization of Nueva Vizcaya, which covers the students’ tuition fee for the duration of the courses required, such as Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Agri-Business, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Bachelor of Science in Home Technology, and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology through the Nueva Vizcaya State University.

The PSP targets 30 scholars this year and the same number in 2018. They would receive free school uniforms, a laptop, P1,000 in monthly allowances, and a P5,000 monthly stipend.

Ben Moses Ebreo

SMART RENEWS VOW TO PROTECT MARIKINA WATERSHED SMART Communications and PLDT-Smart Foundation have renewed their commitment to the Marikina Watershed Initiative by expanding their livelihood assistance to the communities working to rehabilitate the protected area.

Smart, the wireless unit of PLDT, and PSF recently provided funding in support of the Tayabasang Umuusad ng Pangkatutubong Asosasyon ior TUPAI community and FOREST Families project, which gives incentives to families for their efforts to protect forest areas, addressing livelihood challenges and environmental degradation within the watershed.

The two organizations are committed to protecting 13 hectares of remaining forest and restoration of five hectares within the high conservation areas of the Marikina watershed for a period of five years.

“PSF has been supporting the Marikina watershed initiative for many years now. Efforts to rehabilitate the watershed goes beyond just planting trees; we also have to address the livelihood concerns of the communities within the conservation areas,” said Esther O. Santos, president of PLDT-Smart Foundation.

“We’ve seen the effects of (typhoon) 'Ondoy,' and we realize how nurturing the environment can help us avoid this situation. By giving livelihood to the communities who live near the remaining forest area of the watershed, we not only help them earn income but also encourage them to help mitigate flooding,” said Ramon R. Isberto, PLDT and Smart public affairs head.

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TODAYAUGUST 13, 2017 SUNDAY, mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ALAVA: FROM CYCLING TO FISH FARMING

By Ben Moses Ebreo

B

AGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya—Leaving cycling for a moment to focus on fish farming has its ups and downs for former cycling champ Lupo Alava of Barangay Poblacion here.

But for Alava, 56, agriculture proved to be a good business, and perhaps a good path for retirement.

“I started this venture because it is more profitable than ordinary farming,” said the veteran of the Philippine cycling tours in the 1980s.

Alava, however, did not totally abandon his two-wheeled vocation. In fact, he put up a bike shop named after him in Diadi town.

Venturing into fishpond farming, he said, was not a walk in the park either. He experienced fish kill due to overstocking, forcing him to attend seminars and training held by local fishery experts.

His first harvest convinced him to concentrate on the business.

Slowly, he developed his main fish farm from another lot he inherited from his grandparents in 2003 in Barangay Villa Coloma in Bagabag town.

The five-hectare, irrigationfed fish farm also has a small impounding area that served nearby rice fields owned by other villagers. It has eight ponds, each 23,350 square meters in size.

Alava harvests fish in four to five months. At most, his yield is eight tons per pond, and sells the fish, mostly tilapia, at a farmgate price of P58 a kilo.

“Fish farming is good. I even

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 20 UNITS MOTOR VEHICLES Bid Ref. No. 2017-14B

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum of SEVENTEEN MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS(P 17,100,000.00) through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2017 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 19 UNITS MOTOR VEHICLES. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected during bid opening.

2.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 19 UNITS MOTOR VEHICLES. Delivery of the goods is 60 calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Act.” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on August 10, 2017 from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of twenty-five thousand pesos (PhP 25, 000.00).

1.

ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofTWENTY MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 20,865,000.00)through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2017 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)for the SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 20 UNITS MOTOR VEHICLES. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

2.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 20 UNITS MOTOR VEHICLES. Delivery of the goods is 60 calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II Instructions to Bidders.

QUANTITY 1 UNIT 19 UNITS

3.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a PRE-BID Conference on August 17, 2017, 9:00 a.m. at ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 29, 2017, 1:00 p.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on August 29, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Mr. Arvin E Sadullo at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting August 10, 2017, 2017 at Tel No. (632)920-8082. However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

9. PDEA reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (SGD) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

(MS-AUG. 13, 2017)

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on August 10, 2017 from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of twenty five thousand pesos (Php 25,000.00).

The Invitation to Bid may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov. ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 17, 2017, 9:30 a.m. at ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 29, 2017, 1:30 p.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on August 29, 2017, 1:30 p.m. at ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Mr. Arvin E Sadulloat the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting August 10, 2017, 2017 at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

PDEA reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) Capital Outlay 2017 intends to apply the sum of FIFTEEN MILLION PESOS (Php15,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) for the Supply of Labor and Materials for the Renovation of PDEA Annex Building. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) now invites bids for Supply of Labor and Materials for the Renovation of PDEA Annex Building. Completion of the Works is required 180 working days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed.

Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in SECTION II Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID

SUPPLY, DELIVERY, AND TESTING OF 29 UNITS MOBILE ARMOR RIFLE PROTECTIVE/BALLISTIC SHIELD (LEVEL IV) Bid Ref. No. 2017-33 1.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the sum ofTWENTY-THREE MILLION TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND PESOS(P 23,270,000.00)through General Appropriations Act (GAA) for CY 2017 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)for the SUPPLY, DELIVERY, AND TESTING OF 29 UNITS MOBILE ARMOR RIFLE PROTECTIVE/BALLISTIC SHIELD (LEVEL IV). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected duringbid opening.

2.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bids for SUPPLY, DELIVERY, AND TESTING OF 29 UNITS MOBILE ARMOR RIFLE PROTECTIVE/BALLISTIC SHIELD (LEVEL IV).Delivery of the goods is 180calendar days upon receipt of Authority to Import from PNP-FED. Bidders should have completed within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Act.”

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, cooperatives, and partnerships or organizations with at least seventy-five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 AM to 4:00PM only.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidders on April 6, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty-five Thousand pesos only (Php25,000.00).

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 5:00pm).

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on August 16, 2017 from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of twentyfivethousand pesos (PhP25, 000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 17, 2017 at 10:00AM at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

6.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 29, 2017 at 2:00 PM. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

7.

Bid opening shall be on August 29, 2017 at 2:00PM at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Mr. Arvin E Sadullo or Ms. Jella P. Palacios at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays starting August 10, 2017 at Tel No. (632)920-8082.

However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to: Ms. Jella P. Palacios or Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

(MS-AUG. 13, 2017)

(SGD) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

(MS-AUG. 13, 2017)

Invitation to Bid for Supply of Labor and Materials for the Renovation of PDEA ANNEX Building Bid Reference No. 2017-25

9.

ABC PhP 1,516,000.00 PhP 19,349,000.00

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Act.”

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

8.

NOMENCLATURE PASSENGER VAN MULTI PURPOSE VEHICLES

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

1.

(SGD) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

Year in the 1980 Marlboro Tour ng Pilipinas, and participated in the annual cycling series from 1980 to 1985, gaining popularity nationwide.

In 1985, Alava left the rigorous cycling event, got married and decided to develop a 1,000-sq. m. lot at Sitio Balete in Barangay Namamparan, Diadi, on his wife’s advice. The couple has three children.

Alava said his love for cycling remains, as every weekend, he spends time on the road from Bagabag town in Nueva Vizcaya to Lagawe town in Ifugao, or to Santiago City in Isabela.

He founded cycling and mountain biking clubs in Diadi to help and support local enthusiasts along with other cycling veterans Domingo Quilban (now a retired police officer), Ariel Maraña (now based in the United States) and Carlo Guieb (manager of a jeepney business).

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

The Invitation to Bid may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

son. Alava said he was spending P5,000 daily for feeds. He employs six workers and hires seven others for distribution.

Officials of the provincial agriculture office said Alava’s fish products have improved the local fish sufficiency level by 15 percent.

Last year, Alava was named outstanding fisherman (fish category) by the Gawad-Saka Awards search for outstanding agricultural achievers.

He also got recognition and awards from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Cagayan Valley.

A graduate of an agricultural course, Alava did not have the fish farming business in mind at first owing to his passion for cycling, which earned him many trophies and victories during the peak of his sporting career.

He was named Rookie of the

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 19 UNITS MOTOR VEHICLES (RE-BID) Bid Ref. No. 2017-14A 1.

3.

spend more hours here that in my bicycle center business. My full attention is here,” he said.

Being the largest producer of tilapia in the province, Alava is now developing a fish hatchery.

Most fish farmers get their fish supply from the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija and in Isabela, he noted.

Alava has outlets for his fish products in Villaverde, Solano, Bayombong, Bambang and his hometown Bagabag in Nueva Vizcaya, Lamut town in Ifugao, and Santiago in Isabela.

Many people want to go into fish farming but big capital is needed since it entails expenses for pond preparation and management, he said.

Depending on the size of the ponds, a farmer uses at least eight bags of feeds per 1,000 fingerlings for the whole sea-

8.

9.

The Invitation to Bid may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov. ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The PDEA-BAC will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on August 17, 2017, 10:30 a.m. at ODDGA Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 1100 which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before August 29, 2017, 2:30 p.m. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on August 29, 2017, 2:30 p.m. at PDEA Main Conference Room, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat c/o Mr. Arvin E Sadulloat the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting August 16, 2017at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

PDEA reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Arvin E Sadullo PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

(MS-AUG. 13, 2017)

(SGD) JESUS A FAJARDO, MMOAS Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

HIROSHIMA-MUNTINLUPA TIES. Hiroshima City Mayor Kazumi Matsui (left) receives the Muntinlupa Centennial token from Mayor Jaime Fresnedi at the 9th General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki, Japan last Aug. 9. Fresnedi, who serves as one of the vice presidents of Mayors for Peace, and Matsui were among the international leaders who participated in the convention. Mayors for Peace advocates lasting peace through the abolition of nuclear weapons.

DOST-FPRDI BOOSTS AID TO INDIGENOUS GROUPS IN SUPPORT of the Duterte administration’s socio-economic agenda to underpin rural development, the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute has intensified its technology assistance to the country’s tribal community.

In July, FPRDI’s Training and Manpower Development Services Section held a lecture-demonstration on some bamboo processing technologies for Batak Craft, a livelihood development project for the Batak tribe in Palawan.

Led by its founder Lara Frayre, Batak Craft sought FPRDI’s help in improving handcrafted baskets made mainly from “buho” bamboo. Among the topics covered were bamboo preservation, drying, handicraft making and finishing.

According to Frayre, their longterm plan is to develop a sustainable livelihood for the indigenous tribe and to set up a bamboo craft industry in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Currently, Batak Craft is exploring ways on how best to utilize buho, which abounds in Batak communities.

A similar training on bamboo handicraft production was also conducted for the B’laan tribe of Koronadal City on June 27 to 29.

Members of the Oluclufe B’laan Landcare Association-Farmers were taught to make bamboo

lampshades, amplifiers, candleholders, and wind chimes.

The training was made possible thru the collaboration of DoST-FPRDI, DoST-Region 12, Provincial S&T Center-South Cotabato and the local government of Koronadal City.

FPRDI’s Dr. Ma. Cielito G. Siladan, and Foresters Zenaida R. Reyes and Moreno L. Santander Jr. coordinated and facilitated both trainings.

Numbering about 11 million today, the indigenous peoples are among the poorest sectors in Philippine society. According to a study by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, they suffer from “lack of equal access to basic social services, compounded by a long history of discrimination and prejudice.”

“We wish to be of help to our indigenous communities through our technologies that are suited to their needs and the resources that abound in their areas,” said DoST-FPRDI Director Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan.

“With a holistic plan and strong partnership with other government agencies and people’s organizations, we are optimistic that we can help better the lives of the IPs and other marginalized sectors in the country,” Aggangan added.

For inquiries on technology demonstrations and trainings, interested parties may contact (049) 536-2586 or 536-2377, or e-mail at fprdi@dost.gov.ph.

BFAR LAUNCHES TWO NAVOTAS-MADE SHIPS

By Jun David THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources launched two new 50.5-meter steel-hulled Multi-Mission Offshore Vessels at Josefa Slipways Inc. in B San Roque, Navotas City on Thursday.

The vessels will be used to protect the Philippine waters against illegal fishing and for other purposes such as seaborne research activities and disaster relief or rescue operations.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco and Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco witnessed the ceremony.

In his speech, Mayor Tiangco took pride in the workmanship of Navoteños and noted the growing industry of shipbuilding in Navotas.

“These vessels are the fruit of

the ingenuity, resourcefulness and skills of Navoteños. Our people are indeed the strength and treasures of our city,” he said.

“I have been to various shipbuilding and ship-repair conventions here and abroad when I was still head of the Metro Manila Shipyard Association. I am proud to say that the quality of the two new MMOVs are at par with those made in other countries,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rep. Tiangco welcomed the plan of the Duterte administration to build more ships to protect the Philippine waters.

The lawmaker noted that a large number of Navoteños will benefit if the national government’s plan to have more locally-built MMOVs will push through.

“We fully support the endeavor to secure our seas and oceans, and we will do what we can to help protect our waters and fishing grounds,” he said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Gadgets & Games

ASSA ABLOY: RIDING WAVE OF DIGITIZATION

By Nathanielle Punay

F

OR 22 years, the ASSA ABLOY Group has been the “the global leader in indoor opening solutions” by providing products that bring a strong feeling of security when it comes to residential and commercial premises.

This year, ASSA ABLOY will never be known as just a group of lock brands, but as a brand itself as the company has finally decided that it is time to unlock more opportunities to impart better services.

The brand will still be offering both mechanical and digital door hardware such as locksets, mortise locks, lever handles, door closers, panic exit devices, hinges, glass door fittings, floor

springs and pull handles.

But ASSA ABLOY will also be releasing brand new technologies and products that are guaranteed to have leveled up in terms of security and efficiency, such as Wireless Access Control System, APERIO and CLIQ. Wireless Control Access Control System enables a lock to give alerts to the homeowner wherever he is.

Not only will an area will be more

ASSA ABLOY will also be releasing brand new technologies and products that are guaranteed to have leveled up in terms of security and efficiency, such as Wireless Access Control System, APERIO and CLIQ.

protected, it will also be more convenient as it is designed with a control lock setting. It has become more flexible through Access Control common access points, emergency exits and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system.

APERIO Wireless Lock Technology promotes improved accessibility and secure management for the whole area. Its core is a wireless communication protocol which connects all APERIO-enabled mechanical locks with an online access system. This new technology has a reduced the cost because of its wireless structure as compared to installing locks with regular access systems.

Lastly, CLIQ focuses on a new key management system which prevents unwanted people from trying to use duplicated keys. Each key will be programmed and can be regularly updated to give access to certain areas for certain people at a specific time frame. It also comes in with a wireless system and just like ASPERIO, all locks are connected.

Meaning, a person who entered at a particular date and time can be easily tracked.

Aside from these promised features and products, ASSA ABLOY has vowed to produce “more and better results at lesser cost.” They strive to extend their scope to other countries, clinging to the word “Innovation” as their key value.

“These are indeed exciting times for ASSA ABLOY and we feel the best is yet to come,” the company stated.

“We will ride the wave of digitization and embrace the integration of security products with home and building automation. ASSA ABLOY will continue to develop and launch products that will keep up with the changing times.”

The ASSA ABLOY Group has been manufacturing lock solutions since 1994 as a merged company of two lock manufacturers. Now, it has operations in multiple countries and is organizing almost 200 brands of door opening solutions in which one of the oldest and most famous brands are ABLOY, VingCard, Sargent, Lockwood and Yale.

Yale has recently released their

with affordable and quality smartphones and gadgets. I am very excited with the new line-up of Cubix products exclusively available on the Lazada website, more and more Filipinos will enjoy the new generation of gadgets Cherry Mobile provides.”

Engineered to offer a total mobile performance, all Cubix Cube products are packed with the latest features that go with prices which won’t break the bank.

The Cube Play, available at P1,999, is every student’s go-to gadget with its 5-inch screen, Quad-Core processor, and dual SIM feature. Upgrade and experience HD and Nougat 7.0 OS with the Cube Play HD that comes with a price of P2,999.

Be more and maximize limits together with the Cube Max sporting a 6-inch HD screen and fingerprint sensor at P3,999.

Boost creativity and productivity on the affordable Cube Book for just P6,999.

All new Cubix products are exclusively available at Lazada.

Learn more about the new Cherry Mobile Cubix Cube lineup through by visting www.lazada.com.ph/cherrymobile-official-store/ Lazada is the number one online shopping and selling destination in Southeast

YDM4109

latest product, The Yale YDM 4109, that comes with a Biometric fingerprint access, Smart Touchpad, security alarm and Automatic Locking System and can also be linked to smartphones.

Cherry Mobile and Lazada teams are shown here: They are (from left) CTIPR Head Agnes Conopio, CTI-Account Executive Carlo Ang, Lazada-Senior Manager Paola Balugay, CTI-Product Manager Lorraine Javalera, Cherry Mobile CEO Maynard S. Ngu, Lazada Co-founder and CEO Inanc Balci, LazadaSVP Category Management (EL) Arnold Balao, Lazada-Chief Commercial Officer Ray Alimurung, Lazada-Brand Management and Communication Lead Jio Zorrilla, and Lazada-Senior Manager Maryy Ann Ting.

Asia—present in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Lazada helps more than 80,000 local and international sellers as well as 2,500 brands serve the 560 million consumers in the region through its marketplace

IT PIONEER TEAMS UP WITH AIM FOR INCUBATOR PROGRAM

By Patricia Bianca Taculao

LAZADA, CHERRY MOBILE BOOST PARTNERSHIP NOW on their fourth year as partners in bringing exclusive Cubix gadgets to more Filipinos online, Cherry Mobile and Lazada further strengthened their partnership through the launch of the newest Cubix lineup.

Joining the roster of new Cubix generation are the Cube Play, Cube Play HD, Cube Max, and Cube Book of which is the flagship product.

“Cherry Mobile has always been true to its promise of delivering quality mobile technology to every Filipino—be it through personal buying or online shopping. We have achieved this together with Lazada, that has been our partner for four years now.

I’m glad and excited that through another round of Cubix generation, Lazada online shoppers will have more options with these four new exciting Cube products,”said Cherry Mobile CEO Maynard S. Ngu. Lazada co-founder and CEO Inanc Balci also shares his insight on the strengthened partnership between Lazada and Cherry Mobile through the newest Cubix generation.

“We, in Lazada, pride ourselves partnering with strong brands like Cherry Mobile.

Since Lazada started, they have been a great partner in providing our customers

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

platform, supported by a wide range of tailored marketing, data, and service solutions. Lazada offers an excellent customer experience through a wide network of logistics partners and its own first- and last-mile delivery arm.

A RENOWNED IT pioneer teamed up with the Asian Institute of Management for an incubator program that promises access to a wealth of practical knowledge and expertise.

Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, the Chairman of the PhilDev Foundation and an IT pioneer is working together with AIM to provide startups in the Philippines, like the incubator program which is aimed to accelerate the development of startups and open more local opportunities for entrepreneurship.

The AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator Program is intended to support early-stage startups with deep technology, science or engineering solutions to the neglected problems of an emerging world.

“Aside from providing qualified startups rent-free working space, AIM will also gladly make accessible to them a mentoring program and the expertise of our faculty and alumni,” said AIM President and Dean Jikyeong Kang.

AIM, alongside PhilDev, received an initial funding of Php 14.8 million grant for the Incubator under the Department of Science and Technology Incubator Creation Program.

Kang added that micro enterprises and small business are the biggest drivers of the Philippine economy. Out of the 99.6% of local companies that make up the foundation of the local economy, a big portion of it belongs to enterprises which have less than 10 employees and just a small fraction belongs to medium enterprises.

“We believe that AIM’s being located in the Philippines is not an accident. At AIM, our motto is ‘Lead. Inspire. Transform.’ and the working out of that vision begins here, in the Philippines. One of the fastest ways we can achieve this is to give the country’s biggest economic engine the rare opportunity to benefit from the mentorship of global visionaries, such as Dado Banatao,” Kang also said.

Banatao is the founder of several Silicon Valley companies, including Chips and Technologies, S3 Graphics, SiRF, Marvell and Inphi. He is prominent for pioneering two essentials in the PC technology: the chipset and the graphic acceleration architecture.

The AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator Program has a rolling application without a deadline and the online application form can be found on the AIM website: https:// aim.edu/dado-banatao-incubator

BOOSTING...

From D4 downloading heavy torrent files, playing online games or video streaming, thus using up most of the bandwidth allocation.

Other times neighbors may have actually gained access to your wireless network and are getting a free ride. Reminding family that the bandwidth is to be shared and changing your WiFi password regularly will cure that.

Increased gadgets at home. Over the last few years, more and more Filipinos are carrying personal devices—smartphones being the gadget of choice—to fulfill many of their daily tech-based needs like uploading and downloading files, personal and professional communication, online streaming, and keeping up with the world at large. Many Filipinos still perform these bandwidth-heavy tasks at home at an average of four hours a day over WiFi connections Bandwidth-heavy tasks can pose significant toll on WiFi connections at home; users might observe slow and inconsistent connections at the peak of such activities. Sometimes, it is just a matter of strategically positioning your WiFi router and the things around it, and looking into added routers if needed.

Robust, reliable connections are necessary to enjoy world-class digital experiences at home—and strengthening your home WiFi can be the key toward more opportunities for communication, learning, and entertainment right where it matters.Top things that can affect WiFi performance at home.

HOME CREDIT: SOCIAL MEDIA MAY BE KEY TO LOAN APPROVAL WITH Filipinos reported to be spending more time on social media than any other country in the world, the ability of platforms such as Facebook, Viber and Instagram to connect people and build communities is more potent than ever.

At the same time, a new, important role is emerging for these social media sites: as a rich source of big data, and for finance companies, a new tool for approving loans and managing risk—especially for those borrowing for the first time.

“With virtually everyone in the Philippines having a social media account, regardless of social status or economic standing, it is easy to see why these are great tools for mining data,” remarked Leos Gregor, Head of Risk at Home Credit Philippines, a Prague-based finance technology (fintech) company that allows

consumers to purchase smartphones and other goods on installment even without a credit card.

“And for a country that has yet to adopt a universal ID system, the basic information provided by Filipino users on these sites become extremely helpful in verifying identities, which in turn helps us to approve more loans for more people, and at faster speeds while managing risk,” Gregor added.

Fast loan approval

Gregor explained that Home Credit currently has one of the fastest, if not the fastest, loan processing and approval times in both the local and international finance industry, requiring only two valid IDs from the applicant.

In the Philippines, where majority of applicants are approved within less than 5 minutes, Home Credit’s automated system can quickly receive a loan application form and determine if the

application is approved or declined.

A portion of this time is spent doing data check on customers’ social media accounts, wherein Home Credit’s underwriting system will match information provided in the applicant’s loan application with their social media information.

Supporting financial inclusion in PH

Gregor noted that especially for first-time borrowers with no existing credit records, having social media accounts that contain accurate identification and as much relevant information as possible can increase their chances of loan approval.

“This, along with our use of other data sources such as from credit bureaus helps us to approve even unbanked or first-time borrowers while mitigating risk,” he said.

“All of these data sources are crucial because the more data we have, the better the chances of

approving credit worthy individuals. At the same time, we are happy to be able to promote financial inclusion by helping the government build a comprehensive credit database, while being a responsible lender at the same time,”Gregor added.

Safe lender Gregor noted that to ensure that first-time borrowers are included in the financial system in a responsible and sustainable way, Home Credit Philippines’ loan products come with “safe lending” features, such as the option to avail of insurance along with the loan; a 15 day “cooling-off ” period that allows customers to pay back the full loan at no added cost within this time period; customer-friendly repayment tools meant to address various financial difficulties; and Home Credit’s “Our Commitment” that promises full transparency on loan products with no hidden charges.

Home Credit currently has one of the fastest, if not the fastest, loan processing and approval times.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Gadgets & Games

QIHOO: FEATURE-PACKED CAMERA IN TINY PACKAGE

Y

OU want a reliable home security system, but hate the wires and cables and the complicated buttons that go with it.

Fret no more.

The Qihoo 360 Smart Camera is just the right one for you.

Just plug in the power, download the apps from the apps store/google play, input the wifi password and voila! You’re all set.

The Qihoo 360 Smart Camera and accompanying smartphone app (iOS and Android) pack in a dizzying array of features in such a diminutive package.

The camera itself has a 110-degree wide-angle lens and broadcasts in H.264 format at up to 720p at 20 fps. It connects to any wireless-N network and has a micro SD card slot for local storage, or when used with the smartphone app can record to the handset, or to the cloud.

The app is where you can view the feed, specifying the quality you require and—with the two-way speaker on the camera itself—allows you to hear what’s going on during the recording and send audio from the smartphone. Throw in night vision via infrared and real-time alerts, and you’ve got a highly capable and versatile security camera.

View your loved ones when you are away.

Either by day or night.

The 720p HD and 1080 Full HD lets you see clear image and get to know what’s going on, even under low light environment.

With Micro SC Card Recording, play back is right at your finger tips.

The 360 automatically records rolling video into your SD card. You can record, playback, snapshot or record clips to your own storage.

Stay connected with two-way talk feature.

Two-way high quality audo allows you to listen in and also participate in a video conversation between the camera and the 360 Smart Camera.

You can use your apps to talk with family members, baby, pets and anyone else near to the canera. You can even shout to the thief to scare him off from anywhere.

You can share the camera to your friends, family and coworkers. Let them see what’s going on with your house, office, etc.

Fit anywhere you like.

Adjustable 360-degree magnetic base can be attached to any flat surface by sticking the included metal disc to the surface and placing the base of your camera. It can even be used as your baby camera.

A feature-packed camera in such a small package, isn’t it?

Indeed, the Qihoo 360 Smart Camera is a perfect device to have in your home.

The Qihoo 360 Smart Camera and accompanying smartphone app (iOS and Android) pack in a dizzying array of features in such a diminutive package.

MORE ACCESSIBLE VIDEOS THRU SMART AS more and more people watch videos on their phones, Smart Communications, Inc. continues to grow its content offers for its customers’ viewing pleasure.

Smart’s Video Prime 99 comes with 2GB data allocation and subscription to top streaming sites iflix and iWant TV. Available to Smart Prepaid subscribers, Smart’s Video Prime 99 gives users the convenience of having both subscriptions to iflix and iWant TV, as well as data to stream blockbuster films or series on these mobile apps, valid for 7 days.

“We are continuously improving our roster of popular video content, which our subscribers can access using our improved LTE network. In the end, our goal is provide our customers, not only with a good network, but also with relevant content and value-packed service offers, for a truly superior digital experience like never before,” said PLDT and Smart chief revenue officer Eric R. Alberto.

Filipinos’ increasing appetite for video content is part of a worldwide trend, which points

to a continued increase of global mobile video traffic in the next few years. iFlix, iWant TV iflix is one of the fastest-growing digital hosting and distribution platforms for Western and Asian dramas obtained through partnerships with over 150 studios and content distributors globally including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, NBC Universal, Fox, CBS, Sony Pictures and Discovery. iflix also carries Asian series like K-drama hits Descendants of the Sun and Goblin, as well as popular TV series Arrow, The Flash, The Big Bang Theory and Mr. Robot, among others.

Meanwhile, iWant TV, owned and operated by ABS-CBN, streams content from ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN News Channel, ANC, ABS-CBN Sports, DZMM, TeleRadyo and Kapamilya Box Office, including their current roster of telenovelas and classic Star Cinema movies, to name a few.

LTE rollout To support the rise of bandwidth-heavy activities such as

video streaming, Smart has committed to make LTE progressively available to 95 percent of cities and municipalities across the country by end-2018.

LTE, an all-IP network, delivers superior experience for users, particularly for data. It can also be quickly upgraded to LTE-A, which can provide even faster speeds and greater capacity to subscribers who are using LTE SIMs on LTE-capable handsets.

Smart is currently re-equipping its cell sites to use lowfrequency bands such as 700 MHz and 850 MHz to provide better indoor coverage. It is also deploying high-frequency bands like 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz to increase the cell sites’ capacity to handle more calls, texts, and everincreasing mobile data traffic.

The company remains on track to deploy the LTE network in 783 municipalities by end of the year or about half of its three-year target of 1,551 municipalities by end-2018.

This comprehensive network modernization and expansion program is at the core of the PLDT

Smart’s Video Prime 99 comes with 2GB data allocation and subscription to top streaming sites iflix and iWant TV.

group’s digital pivot. Smart’s network rollout took a big bulk of PLDT’s ramped-up capital expenditure program of P42.8 billion for 2016, which included the utilization of the new frequencies

freed up with the acquisition of San Miguel Corporation’s telco assets. PLDT chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan has announced a total capital expenditure of P46 billion this year.

DUTY FREE PH TAPS MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX AS one of leading luxury retailers in the Philippines, Duty Free Philippines wanted to provide a truly welcoming and more rewarding experience to its customers, whether they’re in Manila or in Davao. They needed to be more responsive and agile and offer a better shopping experience, so they decided to embark on their digital transformation journey.

In order to do this, Duty Free Philippines has tapped Microsoft Dynamics AX to improve its financial, merchandising and front-end systems.

According to Vico Angala, COO for Duty Free Philippines, the system they’ve been using has been around for more than 10 years. Angala said that it’s crucial they generate reports based on POS, inventory management and merchandise on a timely basis.

Duty Free Luxury Items for all their branches Duty Free Philippines looked at other ERP systems but they discovered that Microsoft Dynamics AX is a better fit as it will provide them with the end to end solution for their operations.

Dynamics AX is an integrated, adaptable business management solution that helps companies and key decision makers make business decisions with greater confidence.

Microsoft Dynamics AX works like and with familiar Microsoft software, automating and streamlining business processes and connecting you with global customers, business partners, and subsidiaries in a way that helps business success.

It offers Warehouse management wherein it can automate warehouse processes to reduce operational costs. It has modern POS system tha allows customers to engage with rich clienteling, real-time inventory lookup, and back-office capabilities. On top of that, it can also provide Demand forecasting to improve forecasting accuracy to boost product availability and minimize inventory costs. Dynamics AX can also increase the consistency of your data across your organization and deployments.

With Dynamics AX, Duty Free Philippines will help them automate their supply chain, store, financials.

What’s key to them is the transparency of all their supply chain data.

Merioles cited that they use to go to the physical store just to check the inventory. With Dynamics AX in place, anyone can see the inventory in their desktop and mobile device immediately once it’s been delivered to their warehouse.

Another key area that’s going to improve is updating the prices on their POS. Back then, if they needed to do this, they’d have to do it by midnight.

Everything needed to be processed before the store opens and they’d have to do it again move it to other internal systems. With Dynamics AX, Duty Free Philippines will be able to update their POS pricing in real time and it’ll be reflected on all their 18 operational branches. It will also be essential when they open their second biggest branch in Terminal 3 this November 2017.

Now with the new system, DFP believes that there will be less error, with auditing. Whatever information that will be computed there in the system, the information will be disseminated to the proper departments.

OFWs can reward their families with Duty Free Philippines gifts anywhere in the Philippines

BOOSTING YOUR WIFI SIGNAL AT HOME THE internet is everywhere.

Laptops, desktops and smart phones are always connected. Smart TVs with access to the Web are becoming commonplace, as are digital media players. Home security devices, and soon enough, even refrigerators, will soon be linked as signs of the march towards the inevitable Internet of Things.

As each new electronic doodad introduced to the market is ostensibly “smart”, the scramble for bandwidth becomes fierce, weighing down the strength of your connection. But while connectivity can get noticeably slower, there are a few quick-fix ways to help the strength of

your WiFi signal at home.

Placement of yourWiFi router. It’s natural that the farther away from the router you are, the slower your signal will be. So try to place your router at your home’s central location. Be mindful of physical barriers between the router and your internet-capable device.Walls made from dense materials such as masonry are obvious signal deterrents. Lighter materials on the other hand, not so much.

Proximity of other devices. If your WiFi signal is normally strong then experiences occasional drops, there may be frequency interference from some home appliances.

Common culprits are microwave

ovens, hearing aids, cordless phones, lamps, refrigerators or other wireless devices. Your neighbors WiFi network can also retard and degrade your signal, so change your frequency and/or your router channel.

Upgrade your software/hardware. Manufacturers are always tweaking firmware to eke out a bit more performance from their devices. So sometimes getting optimum speed is just as simple as upgrading your router’s software.

Regularly check to see if one is available. Sometimes, however, your old router just needs to be replaced.

Consider a range extender.

Because routers are reliable only

up to a certain distance, invest on an add-on device that can stretch your WiFi signal. Called ‘repeaters’ or ‘range expanders’, these devices will act like another client with its own IP address, will pick up your signal then extend it. Just make sure that when buying one, it is indeed capable of broadcasting your specific signal.

Control hogs and leeches.

There is only a limited amount of bandwidth to go around. And when you have too many people connecting to your WiFi, of course your connection will bog down. Sometimes family members may be Turn to D3

There are a few quickfix ways to help the strength of your WiFi signal at home.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor

/

Young Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph

HOW TO BE AN

‘IRONMAN’ S

WIMMING for 1.9 kilometer, biking for 90 kilometers, and running for 21 kilometers are not easy feat individually—doing the three together is grueling.

But these ‘Ironmen’ prove that if you want something, no matter how physically and mentally exhausting, you can achieve it if you work hard enough.

Set realistic goals

“Every year, there’s a little bit more pressure to perform,” shares Reed. “I just try to keep it fun and enjoy what I’m doing, and thankful it worked out.

It’s a really great feeling.”

The Aussie athlete shares that it took him a long time to get to where he is now, he started racing professionally in March 2010. “It takes a lot of years to reach your potential.”

But he emphasizes that progressing in the sport should be the priority of those trying out triathlon.

“Set realistic goals and slowly increasing training so you don’t get injured and you keep enjoying it. If you keep enjoying it, you can be in it for a long time.”

Australian triathlete Tim Reed claimed his third Cobra Ironman 70.3 championship recently in Cebu. He finished the course in 3 hours, 45 minutes and seven seconds (3:54:07), besting a total of 2,762 triathletes from 52 countries.

Reed recovered from a challenging start in the swim stage, moving up front in the bike ride, and in the end, acing the run. The 32-year-old “three-peater” has won numerous triathlon events and was also the Commit to the sport winner of the 2016 Ironman 70.3 Lauren Lim only got into runWorld Championship title. He admits ning two years ago, yet the upthere’s a pressure on his shoulder ev- and-coming sporting superstar ery time he joins the competition.

Turn to E2

Scan this icon to view the PDF Gerald Anderson says his team and supporters push him to work hard

MIKA DELA CRUZ GETS OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE TEEN star Mika dela Cruz is not one to easily say no to various roles and in film and television.

She played a loving a daughter, a prim and proper teenager, and an evil mythical creature, among others. But there is one thing she hasn’t done until recently: color her hair.

As simple as the procedure may be to many who have had their tresses dyed, Mika finds it scary.

“I’ve never done it before and I always associated the procedure with strong chemicals that can cause damage,” she relates.

But her long-instilled trust in Japanese products—which goes all the way back when her ItalianAustrian mother was working in Japan and would send her products from there—encouraged her to give hair coloring a try.

Mika picked Liese Creamy BHC, a Japanese brand featuring a foam-type formula that lets

anyone who want to change up their hair color do so easily.

It also promises ease of application, so much so that anyone can do properly it on themselves without any assistance.

After using the product, the 18-year-old actress exclaims, “I love Liese and its foam-type formula. It was so easy to use and it provided me with rich evenly colored hair that was super soft and shiny.”

Mika’s fear of dam damaging her hair was put to rest when her now-colored hair came out smooth and soft. She even considers doing the procedure again.

“I’m already looking forward to trying out the other available colors. I feel like I’m getting ad addicted and I might even change my hair color ev every month.”

Mika dela Cruz conquers one of her fears

2017 Cobra Ironman 70.3 champion Tim Reed believes that setting realistic goals is key to training for triathlon

Young Life

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

HOW TO BE...

From E1

finished the 1.9k swim-90k bike-21k run event at second place in 18-24 age group category.

When she finished her first 5k run with a time of 10:30, and finished the same distance again in under half the time of her first try, Lim decided to take running seriously.

She committed to training twice a week with Coach Titus Salazar, waking up at 4:00 am to make it to the track at 5:30 am, running and doing drills until 7:00 am.

For the Cobra Ironman 70.3, Lim joined other tri-races and dedicated most of her time to training when she’s not working or spending time with her family.

“I woke up really early to train, and also trained after work if possible.” she recalls.

A study suggests firms should pay more attention to the importance of employees’ personality traits in customizing their practices to boost job satisf satisfaction.

Find your support group

Actor, and now pro athlete, Gerald Anderson was also in Cebu for the Ironman race. He joined with Team De Rosa, which made a splash placing 4th out of the 164 teams in the relay event.

Anderson, who recently achieved a milestone finishing the Los Angeles Marathon in California, took on the 90k bike leg traversing Mactan Newtown, the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, Cebu International Convention Center, Plaza Independencia, Cebu South Coastal Road Tunnel, the turnaround in Talisay City, and back to CICC. “Pakiramdam ko lumalaban ako sa Tour De France with all the amazing spectators watching. They gave me energy whenever they saw me pass by,” he relates.

With several sporting achievements under his belt, 2017 is proving to be a banner year for Anderson.

“What pushes me to do my best in these sporting events is the love from the fans and my team who supported and trained with me,” he enthuses.

Rico Villanueva gives Annika Aguinaldo her second McNuggets bouquet in McDonald's Philippines video 'Love Kita'

#KILIGFEELS: LOVE STORIES

AT MCDO F

Get the right gear

Reed, Lim, and Anderson also credit their recent triumph to their footwear.

The champion used his favorite Saucony Kinvara 8, which has a fulllength Everun topsole for enhanced energy return. Lim, meanwhile, took on the course in Skechers Go Run 4, whose M-Strike Technology promotes a midfoot strike for quicker toe-off and therefore, advanced speed. Anderson pedaled to the finish line in Skechers Performance shoes as well.

Choosing the right footwear is no small matter. Lim avers, “If you wear the wrong pair of shoes, it can destroy your feet and knees, give you shin splints, add to your injuries.”

AST food chains are currently on a roll in making us smile, cry, and fall in love (or bitter, whatever is the state of your heart).

The latest in the series of kilig-inducing videos is the feel-good short clip of real-life couples who share their real stories of love that happened at McDonald’s or involved their favorite McDo products.

Entitled “Love Kita,” the video currently up on YouTube is McDo’s way of celebrating Romance Awareness Month, happening this August.

Stories in the online clip include the teenage couple who had the Internet buzzing over their DIY Chicken McNuggets bouquet, the longdistance lovers who shared their first meal together at McDo, the two teenagers who first met at the fast food, and the guy who proposed to his long-time girlfriend by placing the engagement ring inside a Big Mac box.

Amid the current culture of cynicism online the two-minute video gives glimmer of hope and reason for people to smile and believe in love again. “Love Kita” has 9,515 views, as of this writing.

Go to McDo Philippines page on YouTube to watch the video.

Lauren Lim trained hard for the Ironman

Gary Oreta placed the engagement ring for Maurize Peralta in a Big Mac box

Juswille Pineda and Hye Lim Cha shared their first meal at McDo

Kenneth Daluz and Roanne Nalo first met at McDo

UNDERSTANDING OUR CATS (MORE) PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

(Part 2) WE ALL know that the domestic cat came from a wild ancestor cat.

But are personality traits of kittens like friendliness or aloofness passed on by the parents? Or does human touch and care influence a cat’s personality?

Writer Tia Ghose, author of 6 Secrets to Unlocking Your Cat’s Personality, says “most of what makes a cat socialized is his early experience with humans.”

The findings: 1. Cats handled by humans between three (3) weeks and seven (7) weeks of age tend to be friendly and social.

2. Felines who make it past seven (7) weeks old without any human touch become skittish kitties who hide under the bed when guests come over.

Eight-year-old rescued feline Bulilit is a friendly cat and can mix well with other cats and even dogs

The second study in 1995 was detailed in Applied Animal Behavior Science. The research team produced two litters of kittens: one was sired by an aloof tomcat and the other was sired by a friendly and social male.

The findings: 1. The tomcat has a strong influence on the personality of the kittens he sired.

1. A friendly mother tends to raise friendly kittens.

1. Persians are more aloof 2. At one (1) year old, the friendliest cats were 2. It is not certain however if the genes had a hand 2. Siamese cats are like dogs those handled by humans as kittens and sired by in this or the kittens became friendly due to imitation 3. Maine Coons are friendly but can not be lap cats the friendly male cats. while the mothers were raising their kittens.

Researches on cats 3. The least friendly cats were sired by aloof Ghose says some of these tales may be true but Ghose cites studies with interesting findings.

Traits of different kinds of cats these are still mere observations. She prefers to The first study was done by Temple University tomcats and were left on their own.

Ghose says another research came out with the Ghose enumerates what most people say about look at studies done. researcher Eileen Karsh and her colleagues in following findings: some cats: Continued on E3 the 1980s.

Showbiz

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017

JAKE ZYRUS

5 FILMS TO WATCH IN

PISTA NG PELIKULANG PILIPINO T HEY say millennials can be a weird bunch to understand. But one of the easiest ways to do so is to check the pop-culture entities that inspire them. And observing the movies they watch is a good starting point.

Indie films are popular among the young generation. With a lot of film fests being held around the Metro, the indie scene definitely hooked the younger generation with its wide array of genres and ingenious plots.

On June 30, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) announced the 12 titles that will take part in one of this year’s biggest film fests, Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP), which (taking cue from the Cinemalaya 2017) features varied genres that millennial moviegoers might be very interested to see.

Today, we list down the PPP movies that will surely capture this generation of moviegoers.

100 Tula Para Kay Stella Written and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the film stars the tandem of JC Santos and Bela Padilla. It’s a story of a stuttering student who have a crush on his friend. He writes poems dedicated to her throughout their four years in College. The story leaves audience the question: Can the poems help him win her heart in the end?

Bar Boys This Kip Oebanda-helmed film tells the story of a barkada (composed of Rocco Nacino, Carlo Aquino, Enzo Pineda, and Kean Cipriano) whose friendship is challenged when three of them go to law school and one gets left behind. The bigger trial, however, lies ahead. They try to stick together through insurmountable readings, nerve-wracking graded recitations and irresistible temptations.

Manananggal sa Unit 32B Jewel (Ryza Cenon) is a mysterious woman who lives alone in the city. She has a secret which has led her to settle into a lonely existence. That is, until she meets Nico (Martin del Rosario), a broken-hearted, down-and-out guy who also feels unlovable like she does. Jewel is torn between wanting to love him and wanting to save him from herself. Will he accept her if he knew the truth about her? Can she ever find love, or is she destined to be alone forever?

Birdshot Set in the lush countryside surrounding a sanctuary for the haribon (the Philippine Eagle), the story revolves around a farm girl mistakenly shoots and kills an endangered Philippine Eagle. When authorities begin a manhunt to track down the eagle’s killer, they stumble upon an even more horrific discovery. This is directed by Mikhail Red and stars Mary Joy Apostol, Arnold Reyes, John Arcilla, and Ku Aquino.

PET TALES...

From E2

In an in-depth study of cat personality described in “Companion animals and us: exploring the relationships between people and pets,” (Cambridge University Press, 2000), Ghose says the caretakers described the different kinds of cats under their watch: 1. Persians were friendlier and more affectionate to the owner, but were fussy about food and cleanliness.

2. Siamese cats were more affectionate, playful, curious, friendly to strangers than non-pedigreed cats.

Another study published in 2012 in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior showed the following findings:

1. The hairless sphinx— despite their sinister appearance—may be the most affectionate cat. This may be due to the cat’s need for more human snuggling to keep them warm because they have no fur.

2. The mixed breeds, also called domestic shorthairs, were the least friendly cats.

But it was noted that purebred cats may be friendlier on average only because they get to spend more time with their mothers, thus they learned to socialize, Ghose says.

Mixed breeds, on the other hand, are those picked up on the street after weeks of having had to

E3

DEBUTS ON CONCERT STAGE AFTER performing alongside Boyband PH, Sam Concepcion, and a dozen more artists in a benefit concert for the victims of the ongoing Marawi siege, Jake Zyrus will be holding his first solo concert since casting out his former identity as Charice. The gig will be held at Music Museum on Oct. 6 and will feature songs from his upcoming album.

It has been a month since Jake Zyrus changed the username of his social media accounts to fit his new identity as a transgender male. He credits his fans and music for giving him the strength to make the transition.

“I am so excited about this concert because I will be able to finally express my real self.

Another thing that excites me is the kind of music I will be performing,” says Jake.

Joining Jake in the concert as his musical director is Troy Laureta, a Filipino-American musical director, keyboardist and record producer who’s worked with international artists such as David Foster, Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea.

“This concert will also be ‘perfect’ for those who want to ‘celebrate themselves,’” says Jake whose story has recently been featured on USA Today and Forbes.

The concert, billed as “I Am Jake Zyrus,” will showcase songs he’s been longing to perform on stage. Among the songs that he will perform is “Hiling,” a cover of the Jay-R Siaboc song of the same name. The track is also the lead single for his forthcoming album.

Jake Zyrus, formerly known as Charice, is ready to take his new brand of music to another level

Triptiko Kylie Padilla, Kean Cipriano, Albie Casino, and Joseph Marco are the stars of this Miguel Franco Michelena film. The only trilogy in the upcoming festival, the film is described by its director as “a Filipino pop culture version of triptych, which is a set of three associated artistic, literary, or musical pieces intended to be appreciated together.” – Sundy Locus

fend for themselves.

My own take based on rescue efforts of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL) is that mixed breeds learned to be defensive and to be cautious when dealing with humans after a life on the streets where they could have been hurt by humans or had to fight for food with other cats, mostly older ones. All rescues are afraid at first. But in time, through love and care, the mixed breeds or our very own Pusang Pinoy (puspins) learn to trust caregivers and end up the sweetest furbabies in town.

A lot of factors come into play based on the studies and our own experiences.

As Ghose notes: “Either way, for most breeds, there’s little data to back up proud owner claims that their Snookums is friendlier, smarter or better at using a flush toilet because of its pedigree.”

Mixing them with other Seb, an odd-eyed kitten (one eye is blue, the other one is green) was days old when found cats and dogs

by SAVE ALL in a trash bin on a vacant lot in Quezon City. Now 8 months old, his best Cat lovers know that cats buddy is brother Santi.

are independent animals.

Thus, it can be such a challenge to introduce new cats in a single-cat household.

But if a cat was raised with other kittens from birth, they become playmates and friends for a lifetime.

“Cats introduced to other animals between ages 3 weeks to 7 weeks may also become best buddies with animals that would otherwise be enemies or even prey in the wild. Cats and dogs often coexist in harmony, and felines and birds or hamsters have even been known to be friends. Still, it’s probably not a good idea to leave a cat and its natural prey alone, lest the feline’s hunting instincts take over,” Ghose says.

Do you have stories about your cat’s adventures with you and other animals? Do send us your story at daycarlos28@yahoo.com. Please send us two photos with your story. Namaste!

E4

Showbiz

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com

JAMES REID

TO PLAY SUPERHERO

Solenn Heussaff joins the cast of "Alyas Robin Hood" Book 2

SOLENN HEUSSAFF

BRINGS SEXY BACK ON PRIMETIME

By Nickie Wang

I

T’S going to be a clash of the sexiest as GMA Network’s primetime drama-action series Alyas Robin Hood returns on the boob tube.

Still featuring Dingdong Dantes in the title role, the series will have Andrea Torres reprising her role as Venus and Solenn Heussaff joining the cast to play an important role.

The French Filipino beauty is ready to add color and spice to the action drama Photo credit, FHM

In July, Solenn took to Instagram to confirm her inclusion in the primetime drama. In a photo she shared with her 3.5 million followers, the French-Filipino beauty expressed her excitement to work with Dominic Zapata, who is currently the head director for Mulawin vs. Ravena.

“Here we go. Can’t wait to work with director Dominic Zapata again, and all these talented people,” her caption for the socmed post.

In the series, Solenn plays Iris Lizeralde, described as the rich high-society “it girl” who will also fall in love with Robin Hood. In an interview with 24 Oras, Solenn explained that she couldn’t reveal what her character is going to be just yet but promised that her character will give Venus (Andrea) a run for her money.

“I’m going to have some fight scenes. I can only tell so much about my character but Iris and Venus will fight for the love of Pepe (Dingdong),” she divulged adding that her character will add color and spice to the action drama.

Solenn and Andrea have been friends for a long time. They’ve been together in numerous projects, but it is the first time that they’re acting together in a television project.

“We had her in one of the episodes of Taste Buddies and in Sunday All Stars. But this is the first time we are going to be together in a TV series.

That’s why I’m very excited to do this project,” she said.

Since Solenn is going to have a lot of fight scenes in Alyas Robin Hood’s second installment, the 32-year-old host-actress has been focusing on how she can meet the physical demands of her character.

Apart from looking gorgeous on the small screen, she needs to showcase exceptional agil-

Andrea Torres reprises her role as Venus, Robin Hood's apple of the eye

ity so she’s currently on a rigorous physical training to prepare for action stunts, which she plans to do sans any double.

“I run for 10 kilometers a day, and I do biking. I also have an app on my phone that helps me tone my arms and legs,” Solenn shared.

Alyas Robin Hood’s ’s first season ended its 23-week run on Feb. 24 with a total of 115 episodes, and was replaced by Destined to be Yours.. The series second season is premiering tomorrow replacing the local adaptation of My Love from the Star.

In a statement from GMA Network it says that the season 2 is all set to bring viewers twice the action, drama, romance and comedy (and double the sexiness with Solenn and Andrea around). And with the much-anticipated sequel comes a new battle cry: That even heroes fall, but only those who rise from the ashes are the ones that are able to make a difference and save the world.

‘ASIAN BACHELORETTE’

HOTTEST THING ON INTERNET RIGHT NOW

Fil-Am actor Carlin James joins other Asian actors in the viral "American Bachelorette" parody

MEET Filipino American Carlin James.

He’s an actor known for his roles in TV series Dear White People (2017), Pretty Dudes (2016), and How to Get Away with Murder (2016). This time, James is playing a role that got everyone's attention.

On Aug. 2, a YouTube video uploaded by independent content producer Wong Fu Productions made its way to Facebook and instantly became viral.

As of this writing the 8-minute sketch has been viewed more than 2 million times on the popular video sharing site and 10 million views on Facebook.

Highlighting the lack of diversity in

mainstream media and the absence of Asian faces on the American Bachelorette, the video imagines a version of the show in which (almost) all of the contestants are Asian.

In the parody, James plays Vince, a professional nurse who uses his flair for singing to win a woman’s heart.

He’s among the Asian contestants that include a Chinese entrepreneur and an Indian dentist who, in his own words, “is here to represent brown town.”

As a response to Western society’s habit of desexualising Asian men, as well as a send-up of the ridiculous conventions of dating shows more

generally, the video is bang on the money. They’ve even got the one token white guy complaining about not getting enough screen time.

“We made the video to poke fun at yet another example that Asian men aren’t viewed as desirable in mainstream media. We started joking that the only way an Asian guy was gonna make it past the first round [of The Bachelorette] is if they were all Asian. It is a joke but sometimes you just have to force it in people’s faces...and that’s when people’s minds open, hopefully,” Philip Wang from Wong Fu Productions said in an interview.

VIVA artist and Kapamilya star James Reid is playing Pedro Penduko on the big screen.

Although a release date for the movie is yet to be revealed, according to James, who was presented during the opening day of History Con 2017 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, filming for the movie has already began and will continue until next year.

The other half of the popular love team, JaDine, emerged as the top choice to take on the re-imagined version of the superhero, first created by Francisco Coching, a national artist for the visual arts.

Pedro Penduko is consistently portrayed a normal human being who has no superpowers, but is resourceful and quick-witted in battling evil forces. He is aided by a magical amulet.

In 1994 and 2000 movies, he was introduced as a descendant of a family of legendary heroes but is coward to fight evil forces.

Now, in the re-imagined version, written by Regene Estolatan under Epik Studios, the next “chosen one” is a wimpy teen named Peter Harris, who was raised in the United States by his adoptive father.

Filipino actor Efren Reyes Sr. was the first to play the role followed by Ramon Zamora.

The most popular Pedro Penduko was Janno Gibbs, who appeared in two Pedro Penduko movies. Meanwhile, Matt Evans was the first actor to reprise the role on television.

COOLEST SUPERHERO.

James Reid is the top choice to play Pedro Penduko on the big screen