Manila Standard - 2017 August 28 - Monday

Criminal raps vs broker, trader in P6.4-b shabu THE House dangerous drugs committee will recommend charges against officials of the Bureau of Customs, broker Mark Taguba, businessman Kenneth Dong and others who were responsible for smuggling in a P6.4billion shipment of shabu in May. In an interview on radio dzBB, the panel chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said they also recommended charges be filed against Richard Chen, who owns the company that allegedly imported the shabu, his middleman Manny Li, the shipment consignee Eirene Tatad and Customs broker Teejay Marcellana, for violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Barbers said the committee also recommended perjury charges be filed against Taguba, who testified before the House and the Senate on the shabu shipment.

Although Taguba had been given legislative immunity to disclose what he knew about corruption at the Bureau of Customs, Next page

Kian’s kin buck NBI slay probe

By Rey E. Requejo THE family of slain student Kian Loyd delos Santos has refused to cooperate with the parallel investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Sunday.

Aguirre said the NBI forensic team went to Kian’s wake last week to conduct an autopsy, which was needed to determine how many gunshot wounds he suffered, where he was shot and how near the shooters were to him.

“The NBI was not able to conduct its own autopsy because the parents refused to cooperate for reason we do not know,” Aguirre said.

Had the NBI team been allowed to do the forensic examination, they could have settled the discrepancies in the results of two earlier autopsies done by the Public Attorney’s Office, which represents the Delos Santoses, and the Philippine National Police.

Nonetheless, the Justice secretary said the NBI would pursue its probe despite the lack of cooperation from the Delos Santos family.

He said NBI investigators could still come up with a report based on other pieces of evidence,

House prepares to impeach Andy

By Rio N. Araja

T VOL. XXXI • NO. 195 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

HE chairman of the House committee on justice vowed Sunday to act swiftly on the impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista.

“The complaint was transmitted to the Speaker [Pantaleon Alvarez]. It means that there is verification and [an] endorser.

We are ready to tackle it. The committee is just waiting for it,” said Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the panel.

“Within that 10-day period, if the complaint gets 98 endorsers [or more], it will go straight to the Senate. That’s the prerogative of the House Speaker,” he added.

Bautista’s wife, Patricia Paz, who accused her husband of amassing close to P1 billion in undeclared wealth, can still be summoned because spousal privilege is only applicable in criminal cases, not during an impeachment, Umali said.

“This is a novel issue that has to be considered,” he said.

The impeachment complaint against Bautista was filed by former Negros Oriental lawmaker Jacinto Paras and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio. They accused him

ON A SPOT. Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista stands accused by his wife of amassing P1billion in undeclared wealth, one of the grounds for the impeachment complaint against him.

Manny Palmero

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Sereno eyes legal moves to prevent rights abuse Defense chief, Reds

By Rey E. Requejo engage in word war THE Supreme Court is looking for new legal measures to protect human rights amid the rising death toll in the government’s war on illegal drugs.

“We’re still in the process of

evaluation on what still could be done,” said Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who said the Court’s special human rights committee headed by Sandiganbayan Presiding Jusice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang is reviewing the sufficiency of writs to address possible

human rights violations.

Sereno said the review will determine whether legal remedies available today are sufficient to address the spate of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

During her annual meet the

press event held in Cebu Thursday, Sereno admitted that she herself was uncertain if the writs of Amparo, habeas corpus and habeas data provided in courts would suffice to address the killings under the administration’s Next page war on drugs.

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday shot back at the communist rebels and said they were the real “peace spoilers,” the people responsible for the nondevelopment of the rural areas as a result of their armed struggle.

“The leaders and members of the CPP/NPA [Communist Party of the Philippines/New Peoples Army] are the real and original peace spoilers,” Lorenzana said in a statement in reply to Fidel Agcaoili, spokesman of the communist National Democratic Front.

He made his statement after Agcaoili called him a “peace spoiler” but replied that the communists were continuing to justify their extortion that they euphe-

mistically called revolutionary taxation.

“THE CPP-NPA-NDF is once again playing its old game of accusing the government of the very crimes that its members themselves are committing,” Lorenzana said.

He said the communists’ armed struggle to replace the democratic form of government with communism had consistently blocked the state’s efforts to develop the countryside.

“Gising na ang buong bayan sa katotohanan na naghihirap ang ating mga kababayan dahil sa kasakiman at kagustuhang maghari-harian ng CPP-NPA sa mga kanayunan,” Lorenzana said.

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Transport board chair draws flak over taxicabs HOMAGE TO HEROES. Relatives of fallen soldiers light candles and offer prayers for their departed kin on the eve of National Heroes’ Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig city. Ey Acasio

Heroes paved way for nation to enjoy freedom—Du30 PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte paid homage to the country’s heroes on the eve of National Heroes’ Day on Sunday.

“Today, we pay homage to the men and women who helped lay

the foundations of this nation,” Duterte said in his message released on Sunday.

“Their courage, leadership and wisdom paved the way for us to enjoy the blessings of freedom, in-

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dependence and democracy.”

Duterte said the heroes dedicated their lives to ensure that future generations would have a full and comfortable life.

“We are forever grateful for

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their noble deeds and sacrifice.

Let us honor them by upholding the rule of law, protecting our nation and fostering goodwill among ourselves,” Duterte said.

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TWO lawmakers on Sunday slammed Martin Delgra, the chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, for saying commuters should assert their rights to the taxi drivers snubbing passengers.

Rep. Neil Abayon said Delgra’s statement was “incongruous.”

“I say taxis and other public transport utilities should be the ones accommodating or adjusting to the needs of the riding public.

They are supposed to serve and not the other way around,” Abayon said.

“So I do not see any sense to why the riding public has to be the one to “assert” their right.”

Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said she was “surprised” and “bothered” by Delgra’s statement, which she said was “stiff, robotic and lacks empathy for commuters.”

“Chairman Delgra seems to have forgotten that the LTFRB is a law-enforcement agency, aside from being a quasi-judicial body with specific responsibilities over transport service providers given the privilege of serving the public,” Herrera-Dy said. Next page

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News

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

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Bird flu over soon—Ecija C Thirty-four workers from Pampanga and Nueva Ecija who were suspected to have been infected with the avian flu had tested negative for the A(H5N6) strain that recently hit the poultry industry, the Health department said.

The department was able to identify 34 suspected cases―30 from Pampanga and four from Nueva Ecija as of Aug. 24― after the outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga, and in Jaen and

San Isidro in Nueva Ecija was reported by the Agriculture department.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial told reporters the 34 workers were “promptly placed in isolation as part of the precautionary measures to avert any possible human-to-human transmission of infection.”

She said the 34 were placed in isolation to ease the public’s fear of the problem.

“They were also started on

the antiviral Oseltamivir while waiting for the laboratory results from RITM [Research Institute for Tropical Medicine],” Ubial said.

She said the bird-to-human transmission of the virus could happen through direct contact with live birds infected with the virus through fluid secretions.

Humans infected with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus could suffer flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, cold, fatigue, muscle pain, shortness of breath and sometimes diarrhea.

Ubial also cited records from the World Health Organization saying when the virus hit China in 2014, only two out of 20 people infected died.

“For humans, this A(H5N6) is not that fatal as opposed to other

Criminal...

limited to what he will testify about during the hearing. He can no longer be charged with plunder or libel by anyone,” Barbers said in Filipino. “But his participation in the smuggling—that cannot be wiped clean.”

The House panel is also recommending charges against former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and other officials for supposedly being on-the-take in the so-called “tara system.”

Barbers also said they recommended charges against former Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service director Neil Estrella, for violations in the conduct of the raid in a Valenzuela warehouse in May, where the shabu shipment was discovered.

“They did not secure a search

warrant that they should have used to gain the authority to enter the premises,” Barbers said.

Barbers said no charges were recommended against President Rodrigo Duterte’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, even though Taguba dragged him into the controversy.

He said the name dropping of the vice mayor’s name was just hearsay.

We would like to emphasize that we at the committee does not entertain hearsay. We are focused on the issue of drugs. We are not here to entertain gossip. We do not give way to testimonies that are hearsay, and we do not mind those emanating from rumors,” he said.

“We asked him [Taguba] if he had personal experience dealing with

By Ferdie G. Domingo

ABANATUAN CITY―Nueva Ecija Gov. Czarina Umali said Sunday the Influenza virus that hit the province would be over soon.

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his testimony did not jibe with those provided by others during the hearings Direct bribery charges against Taguba are also appropriate because he admitted to bribing Customs officials to get the shabu shipment through.

In his testimony, Taguba admitted to giving P27,000 per container of shipment to Customs personnel to smooth the entry of contraband.

Barbers said legislative immunity did not mean Taguba was not liable for the illegal importation of shabu.

“The legislative immunity is

Maute patriarch passes away CAYAMORA Maute, the father of the Maute brothers who led the attack on Marawi City, died on Sunday, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said.

Maute was rushed from the special intensive care unit at Camp Bagong Diwa at around 3 p.m. to Taguig-Pateros District Hospital, where he lat-

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“Are the present writs sufficient to uphold citizens’ rights? This question has been bothering me some time now,” she said.

“Of course it is our duty to do what we can, so how do we account for the number of violent deaths being seen right now?” Sereno said.

Sereno admitted that the hands of the judiciary are tied when it comes to cases of extrajudicial killings because it could only step in when cases are filed.

“The problem is we have a Constitution that places the judiciary in the last part of the process... Because of this sequence, we find ourselves timid because we do not do investigation, we do not file cases, so the limitations remain,” she said.

Of all the reported cases of extrajudicial killings, not too many were actually filed in court, she said.

She pointed out that the mandate to conduct investigations and file cases in court belongs to the executive branch.

“The executive implements the law and has the sole monopoly of the use of force. When force

Defense...

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He questioned Agcaoili’s claim that the “revolutionary tax” being collected by the communists were being spent on the poor.

“Saan napupunta ang salaping sapilitan nilang kinukuha sa taong bayan? Ano ang maipapakita nilang katunayan na nakinabang ang bayan lalo na ang ating mga mahirap sa pangingikil nila? Ang maliwanag, ang kanilang ‘revolutionary tax’ na sapilitang kinukuha sa mga tao ay ginagamit nila upang tustusan ang marangyang pamumuhay ng iilan,” Lorenzana said.

He said only the government of the Philippines had the authority to collect taxes under the Constitution.

“All others who do it, especial-

er died, according to BJMP spokesperson Senior Inspector Xavier Solda.

Cayamora suffered from diabetes, hypertension and hepatitis, Solda said.

Cayamora’s relatives received his body and said they would take it to Quiapo.

He was arrested last June 6 at a checkpoint in Davao City.

His wife Ominta Romato Maute, who also goes by the alias Farhana, is also detained in Camp Bagong Diwa.

The Maute group backed by the ‘IS emir’ Isnilon Hapilon laid siege to Marawi City on May 23, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law over the entire Mindanao on the same day.

is used and results in death, legal questions come in and that are brought before the courts. But so far we have not had so many questions brought before us,” Sereno added.

Of the thousands of reported cases of killings in the war on drugs during the 13 months of the Duterte administration, only one has reached the Court in January.

The Supreme Court issued a writ of Amparo upon the petition of a survivor and families of four drug suspects killed in an operation in Payatas, Quezon City last year.

It also issued a temporary protection order (TPO) that specifically prevented operatives of Station 6, which conducted the operation in the area in August last year, from entering the residence and workplaces of survivor Efren Morillo and other petitioners within a one-kilometer radius.

Last March, charges of multiple murder, frustrated murder, robbery and planting of evidence as well as grave misconduct were filed against the policemen involved in the operation where drug suspects Marcelo Daa Jr., Raffy Gabo, Anthony Comendo and Jessie Cule were killed.

Lawyers of Morillo from the

Center for International Law also filed a petition last April seeking promulgation of a new rule—the writ contra homo sacer, which will provide for mandatory inquest proceedings in a case of death from either legitimate police operations or vigilante-style killing.

In another case, the Department of Justice indicted members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group team involved in the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and fellow inmate Raul Yap inside a sub-provincial jail in November last year for murder.

However, upon review, the DoJ downgraded the case to homicide that allowed the 19 accused led by Supt. Marvin Marcos to post bail.

On Sunday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government called on local government units to use a web-based system to monitor the implementation of drug policies.

Called the Integrated Drug Monitoring and Reporting System, the web-based system collects, manages, and analyzes data and information on drug abuse prevention of various national government agencies, LGUs, and partner groups and organizations.

ly those using the threat of violence, as what the NPA does, are plain and simple extortionists,” Lorenzana said.

He slammed Agcaoili for claiming that the Department of National Defense’s budget was being corrupted by top military officials.

“The DND budget is under strict scrutiny by the CoA and Congress,” Lorenzana said.

“How could it line the pockets of top officials as their propaganda claims when it is barely enough for salaries, pensions, health care and maintenance and operations of the Department including its five bureaus?”

“Agcaoili and the rest of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s noisemakers are laying the blame on the government for the failure of the peace talks because the extent of

their extortion and its adverse effects on businesses, our people’s lives, and development especially in the countryside have now become very obvious to everyone,” Lorenzana said.

He said the communists stepped up their rhetoric after the “peace talks” were finally terminated by the President.

“I am not the peace spoiler that they accuse me of. Rather, I am a defender of the Filipino people,” Lorenzana said.

“Tungkulin ko pong ipagtanggol ang sambayanan sa mga katulad ng CPP/NPA na gustong magpairal ng sistemang makakomunista.

“That is why I am against any ‘peace process’ that clearly is stacked against the government and favorable only to the CPPNPA-NDF.”

types of avian influenza like in H1N1, when a 50-percent mortality rate was recorded,” Ubial said.

She reminded the public to avoid direct contact with infected fowl and practice frequent handwashing to avoid contracting the virus.

She also advised farm workers to use personal protective equipment and disinfect more often using one liter of water with one milliliter of bleach.

Transmission of the bird flu virus is also not possible through eating cooked chicken and eggs, Ubial said.

But she reminded the public to cook poultry products well and separate raw from cooked meat.

Meanwhile, Ubial announced that her department had designat-

ed the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Medical Center in San Fernando, Pampanga, and the Paulino Garcia Memorial and Research Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, as referral hospitals for the assessment of suspected cases and collection of specimens for laboratory diagnosis.

“I have ordered the formulation of the interim guidelines, standards and other instructions in the implementation of the Enhanced Human Avian Flu Surveillance Management and Infection Control in the Health Setting,” Ubial said.

“Further, I directed the preemptive positioning of necessary commodities to protect against bird flu transmission to humans such as PPE and antiviral medicines to DoH Regional Office 3.”

the vice mayor. He told us none.

So I asked again, why mention the vice mayor, and he told me that he learned about it from rumors.”

Taguba could be imprisoned for life and fined P500,000 to P10 million for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act. Faeldon and Estrella are not off the hook, he said, adding Congress has also recommended to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to file a complaint against Dennis Siyhian and Catherine Nolasco, lawyer-investigators of National Bureau of Investigation’s AntiOrganized Transnational Crime Division for failure to turn over the custody of the 500 kilos of shabu to the PDEA in violation of Dangerous Drugs Board regulations The committee report also in-

cluded the filing by the Department of Justice of falsification under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code against Faeldon’s chief of staff Mandy Therese Anderson, who signed the daily time records of several basketball and volleyball players hired by the BoC to make it appear they reported for work as technical assistants and counter-intelligence analysts.

In the wake of Senator Panfilo Lacson’s privilege speech that accused Faeldon of taking P100 million as a “welcome gift” when he became Customs commissioner, Senator Antono Trillanes IV said he wanted the Senate to investigate possible violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Kian’s...

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including testimonies of witnesses and the CCTV footage from the barangay.

Aguirre said the filing of the murder and torture charges by the parents of Kian before the Department of Justice last Friday would not affect the NBI probe.

Aguirre also reiterated his call on Senator Risa Hontiveros to turn over to the witnesses protection program the three witnesses under her custody.

“It is better that the witnesses be turned over to the WPP, a government agency that is tasked and properly trained to give security, housing, economic and emotional protection to the witnesses and even members of their family, if necessary,” he said.

Aguirre also again expressed reservations on the credibility of the witnesses under Hontiveros’ custody.

“The credibility of the witnesses under Senator Hontiveros, who is perceived as biased and partial, might have been affected or undermined because children witnesses are susceptible to the suggestion of the elders,” he said.

The PAO earlier called on Hontiveros to turn over the witnesses to the WPP after the parents of the two minors withdrew their consent for the senator’s custody.

Asked if the senator could be held liable for kidnapping and obstruction of justice for her refusal to turn over the minor witnesses, Aguirre declined to comment.

“I don’t want to issue any opinion on the matter because it might be construed as prejudging the case if one would be filed later before the DoJ,” he said.

On Friday, the parents of Kian filed murder and torture charges against Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares and Police Officers 1 Jeremiah Pereda and Jerwin Cruz of Caloocan City police station 7.

Cerillo and the three policemen have aleady been relieved from their posts and placed under restrictive custody.

Heroes...

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“We will harness the same virtues as we continue to fight against lawlessness, criminality and poverty that hinder us from achieving our full potential.

The PAO, meanwhile, said it will examine the cellphone of one of their witnesses to the Aug. 16 killing of Delos Santos. A recording on the phone could prove that the witness was at the scene and saw the crime being committed, PAO chief Persida Acost said.

Acosta earlier said that their case against the three suspected Caloocan policemen is strong, adding that the PAO has six witnesses in its custody.

The National Police Commission, meanwhile, said officials in charge of the policemen tagged in the killing of Kian could be held liable by virtue of command responsibility.

Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rogelio Casurao told radio dzMM that they have already begun investigating the incident and expect to wrap up the probe within 60 days.

The Palace on Sunday urged the public to let the justice system take its course.

“Kian de los Santos has been laid to rest. A criminal complaint against the Caloocan policemen involved in the incident has already been filed,” said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, in a statement. “[An] nvestigation is now in the process. Let us allow the law to take its due course,” said Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella.

Calls for justice and an end to all extrajudicial killings marked Kian’s burial at the La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City on Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds of people joined Kian’s funeral procession, which passed by Caloocan City Police Community Precinct 7, where policemen who killed Delos Santos in an anti-drug operation on Aug. 16 were assigned.

Kian is one of the dozens killed in a series of anti-narcotic operations in Metro Manila and Bulacan two weeks ago.

Senator JV Ejercito said Kian’s death at the hands of Caloocan police should be beyond politics.

In a text message, Ejercito said the killing of Kian is about humanity and the best way to give justice to the slain teenager. With Bill Casas and Macon RamosAraneta “As we commemorate the life and works of our national heroes, we must continue to embrace their ways in our daily undertakings. Let us emulate their example as we continue to realize our ideals and aspirations for ourselves and for our country.” Bill Casas

House...

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of betrayal of public trust over his failure to address the hacking of the Comelec website in March 2015 and for failing to properly disclose all his assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

They also said Bautista admitted that he had received referral fees from Comelec’s technology provider Smartmatic through the Divina Law Office, and was guilty of obstructing justice when he played down script changes in the transparency server during the 2016 elections.

The complaint was endorsed by Deputy Speaker and Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia and Kabayan Rep. Harry Roque.

On Sunday, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon told radio dzBB that she advised Bautista to take care of his family and go on leave.

“I told him, you’re not getting any sleep. You focus on your family then explain where all that money came from. That’s all I told him,” she said in Filipino.

Guanzon and other commissioners on Thursday urged Bautista to take a leave or resign, saying he could no longer adequately fulfill his duties as Comelec chairman.

“If you have personal problems, you should take a leave.

Because it’s unfair to the public, and unfair to the government if you can no longer function yet stay in your post and not do the work,” she continued.

On Wednesday, Bautista missed a congressional budget hearing at the House because he took his four children to meet with guidance counselors.

Guanzon said their advice for Bautista to go on leave or quit was not personal.

“It’s not like he’s down and we’re kicking him,” she said.

“This isn’t personal. It’s for the Comelec and for the country.”

Bautista’s estranged wife had accused him of accumulating unexplained wealth amounting to almost P1 billion.

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“It is he and his fellow officials at the LTFRB who should really be going after all those taxi drivers, passenger buses, PUJs [public utility jeepneys] who have not been honoring the terms of the respective franchises issued by the LTFRB itself.”

In a recent television interview, Delgra said the riding public should take steps to change the “culture” of some taxi drivers rejecting passengers.

Some cab drivers only agree to take passengers for extra payment.

“There has been a change of social behavior so that when you call a taxi, you anticipate that you will be rejected,” Delgra said.

“Passengers have to demand service. You have to assert your rights as a passenger before you complain to the LTFRB.” Delgra also urged the public to file a complaint against erring drivers.

But Abayon said it was unrealistic that a common passenger would know the rights they would assert as most of them were not lawyers.

“In Chairman Delgra’s mind, it seems taxis can get away with violations because we commuters are not assertive enough, but TNVS [transport network vehicle service] must be penalized outright by the LTFRB because they do not comply with the law and LTFRB directives,” he said.

Herrera-Dy said Delgra seemed “misguided” when he urged passengers to file verified complaints against abusive drivers.

“He should be lawyering for the commuters, but it looks more like he is lawyering for someone else,” she said.

News

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

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SC targets 298 e-Courts this year E

By Rey E. Requejo

LECTRONIC courts, otherwise known as the “e-Court” system, has resulted in the connectivity of close to 300 courts across the country, a move that Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno said will eventually reduce case backlogs.

“By the end of 2017, e-Court will already be deployed in 10 cities, including Cebu City, or a total of 298 courts. As of August, eCourts has been deployed to 274 courts, while the remaining 24

courts are undergoing training,” Sereno said.

Out of the 274 electronic courts, 159 are conducting automated hearings, wherein a judge issues orders within min-

utes after a hearing, cutting trial time by at least a month because the orders need not go through snail mail to reach the lawyers and litigants, she said.

“In other words, when you begin your careers as lawyers, you can litigate your cases by just looking at your smartphones and laptops. It will be justice at the tip of your fingers,” Sereno added.

The e-Court system, which was pilot-tested in 2013 in Quezon City, records all incidents in an information system that shows the age of each case and highlights pending incidents that require im-

mediate action.

It also notifies judges of deliverables and deadlines, and provides them with templates for orders and decisions to hasten their orders immediately after the hearing.

The e-courts also reduces the possibility of corruption since it provides for random electronic sampling and raffling of cases, a continuous trial system and the use of judicial affidavits in lieu of taking of direct testimony of witnesses.

“It is a future when halls of justice are not littered with piles of papers as all court documents are

digitized; when judges automatically issue almost all court orders immediately after hearings using templates in an app; when judges access all their records and manage their court dockets with the click of a mouse,” Sereno said.

As part of the judiciary’s efforts to speed up the resolution of court cases, Sereno said the Supreme Court is strengthening its alternative dispute resolution mechanism, the Enhanced Justice on Wheels or EJOW. “To further the reach of access to justice, especially to the underserved parts of the country,

the EJOW Program was launched to enable make-shift court buses to reach far flung areas. While it has already facilitated the release of more than 9,000 prisoners as of date, we expect it to further touch the lives of many more Filipinos whose life still rests in uncertainty inside detention cells/prisons,” Sereno said.

Sereno also reported the revised guidelines for continuous trial system which will take effect nationwide on September 1 to allow the conduct of trials that are set one day apart, uninterrupted by dilatory postponements.

‘Illegal’ MRT-3 deal hit

By Rio N. Araja

MURKY FISHING. Fishermen take advantage of good weather to haul in some catch in a polluted area of Manila Bay in Baseco, Manila. Lino Santos

Palace: MM Subway cost may increase to $7b Support Filipino athletes

By Bill Casas MALACAÑANG on Sunday urged the Filipino nation to continue the country’s athletes battling it out in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“The whole country cheered when Team Pilipinas Gilas Men’s Basketball Team unleashed their top form and once again asserted our basketball supremacy in Southeast Asia by clinching the gold [Saturday] night,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

“Kiyomi Watanabe and the Philippine taekwondo poomsae team composed of Rodolfo Reyes Jr., Dustin Jacob Mella and Raphael Mella likewise got gold in the 63kg division in women’s judo and taekwondo male poomsae, respectively,” he added.

As of 6 p.m. yesterday, the Philippines has 19 gold, 26 silver and 51 bronze medals.

“Mga kababayan, patuloy po natin ibigay ang ating suporta sa mga manlalarong Pinoy. Puso para sa bayan!” Abella said.

Athletics chief Philip Juico expressed happiness with his team’s overall performance.

Juico said it is a good enough prelude to the Asian Games in Indonesia next year and the 2019 SEA Games to be hosted by Manila.

THE $4.4-billion subway system for Metro Manila, targeted for full completion before President Rodrigo Duterte’s term ends in 2022, may require an upward cost adjustment, the country’s chief economist said.

National Economic Development Authority director general Ernesto Pernia said the project cost of the Mega Manila Subway is “not yet totally

complete.”

“The cost may increase because the Department of Transportation wants to accelerate the completion from 2024 to 2022, which means that there will be more borers for the tunneling needed. Therefore, the cost will go up,” he said.

Pernia said the project cost could probably reach $6 billion or $7 billion.

“We don’t know the exact number yet,” he said.

The project’s feasibility study was conducted with the help of a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to sign an agreement for the construction of the subway project on the

sidelines of the Asean Summit in November.

The Mega Manila Subway, which will run from Quezon City to Taguig City, is a 25-kilometer underground mass transportation system connecting major business districts and government centers.

It is expected to serve around 370,000 passengers per day in its opening year. PNA

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has chided an official of the Department of Transportation for failing to terminate the questionable maintenance contract of the Metro Rail Transit-3 with Busan Universal Rail Inc. PBA Rep. Jericho Nograles said Transportation Undersecretary Reiner Yebra was “treading on dangerous grounds” in defending the contract.

“His inaction may constitute graft under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Nograles said.

He said Yebra, during a budget hearing before the House committee on appropriations last week, appeared to defend the contract.

“What was clear in the hearing is that the undersecretary for legal has the mindset of protecting the questionable contract, instead of looking after the safety of the public,” Nograles said.

The lawmaker said said neither Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade nor his predecessor, Joseph Emilio Abaya Jr., signed the maintenance contract.

“The MRT issue is primarily a safety issue, and secondarily, a legal issue. No wonder Secretary Tugade has not made a decision for months as the department is busy legalizing an illegal contract,” Nograles added.

“Without a contract, why would we allocate any funds at all? It would be illegal to waste a single centavo on this and don’t get me started on the sloppy service,” he added.

‘PUVs must have CCTVs, GPS tracker’

GMA CARES. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited Marawi City evacuees staying at the National School of Fisheries in Brgy. Buru-un and in Sta. Elena Evacuation, both in Iligan City, to distribute hygiene packs. During her childhood, Arroyo lived in her family’s ancestral house in Iligan City.

IN A BID to prevent crimes and improve information gathering against criminals, the House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure that requires public utility vehicles to install closed-circuit television cameras and global positioning system trackers.

Under House Bill 6112 or the proposed Public Utility Vehicle Monitoring Act, no public utility vehicle will be allowed to operate without the required CCTV camera and GPS tracker installed.

These must be authenticated and sealed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

At least two CCTV camera units must be installed and a written notice should be boldly displayed in areas easily seen by the passengers of PUVs to inform them the unit is equipped with cameras and a GPS tracker.

Operators who will not comply with these requirements will not be granted a Certificate of Public Convenience.

PUVs already in operation should comply with the requirements upon renewal of registration or not later than six months after the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations of the law.

Violators will be slapped a fine of P5,000 for the first offense; P10,000 for the second offense; and P15,000 for the third offense.

The driver’s license or franchise will be suspended for 30 days on the fourth offense, 90 days on fifth offense, and 180 days on sixth offense.

The franchise or driver’s license will be revoked or canceled on the seventh offense.

A4

Opinion

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

EDITORIAL

Explanation needed

W

E VIEW with grave concern the statement from the Public Attorney’s Office that the Caloocan City policemen involved in the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos might become state witnesses should they come clean and help ensure that the boy’s family finds justice.

Delos Santos, who was buried Saturday amid simmering public outrage over police impunity, was shot dead in a dark Caloocan City alley on Aug. 16 by policemen who were seen dragging the

Adelle Chua, Editor

boy to the area where his body was found. They tried to justify his execution by saying the boy fired at them first, but the claim was contradicted by eyewitnesses and the autopsy report that

showed no gunpowder residue on either of the teenager’s hands.

The PAO, acting as legal counsel to the Delos Santos family, filed a murder and torture complaint against the policemen Friday.

With several witnesses willing to testify, the case against the policemen seemed strong. So we were surprised to hear talk about having them turn state witness.

“If anyone of those charged would turn into a

state witness, it would be good because God could even forgive him—if remorse was there,” PAO chief Persida Acosta told a radio interview in Filipino.

Because she did not elaborate, we do not know what possible motive she would have in offering the main suspects in the killing the status as a state witness, which suggests that they would get immunity in exchange for their testimony.

But to be considered state witnesses, the police-

men should be the least guilty and must testify against their associates or accomplices.

Can the policeman who pulled the trigger that ended the life of the Grade 11 student ever be considered the least guilty? We think not, particularly since the PAO’s own forensic experts who performed an autopsy on the teenager concluded that he was shot in the back then took two more gunshot wounds to the head at close range. And if we

subscribe to the view, as we do, that the shooter’s companions who lied to cover up the murder, were just as guilty, we really do not see the point in offering any of them to become a state witness.

Of course, we are not in possession of all the facts.

But the PAO chief cannot simply offer a suggestion that seems so revolting without a reasonable—and convincing—explanation about why such a drastic move should even be considered.

The wisdom of the ‘masa’

Fake news, alternative fact and epistemology KIAN was a drug-courier. Kian was a drug runner. Kian was a drug dealer. And witnesses have sworn to the “truth” of these allegations — angering even more the many who are already indignant over Kian’s death. Was it not enough, they ask I utter dismay, to murder him, that now, even his memory should be besmirched? But these “testimonies” (perjuries, some think) will become part of police, perhaps even court records and will be seriously considered for the status of “established truth” in accordance with Philippines rules on evidence. No, epistemology is no longer the concern of philosophy students who must contend with its abstruseness and abstractions to get the coveted degree in philosophy. It is crucially current in a country awash in fake news, that complains about being mislead by “alternative facts”.

There have been different

ways of treating the subject of knowing and the known (the title of my doctoral dissertation in philosophy): the Platonic dialogues recounted the journeys of the soul from the empyrean heights where it beheld the Ideal Firms to its brusque incarceration in mortal frame, in order to explain why it recognized imperfection (and could be mislead by it); Aristotle talked about the powers of the senses and the faculties of the soul—among which was the intellect. And, in the European tradition, phenomenology has kept very keen interest on knowing and what was claimed to be known.

This has no less been of course of the analytic tradition that maintains this all-consuming passion with questions of knowledge, and the language that both mediates and expresses it. But after Kian’s funeral, after Justice Tony Carpio’s dire

The standards and criteria of truth are products of social agreement and convention.

waring that China was planning something naughty on in the West Philippine Sea, after Faeldon and Lacson charged each other and members of the families with corruption, in the wake of Andy Bautista’s claims that it was money his wife was after after she had earlier brandished against him such baffling items as an array of passbooks, certificates of deposit

and even a lash, epistemology is a very current concern of the Philippine public.

Utterances invite consideration only if they are made by responsible speakers (no one pays much attention—except another fool—to the ranting of the insane!), and a responsible speaker is one who asserts the truth of what she declares and tacitly accepts the challenging of vindicating her claim to truth when it is challenged. But that is where things get interesting.

First there is the question of whether all those who want their voices heard (their two-cents “worthless”—was how the inimitable Justice Isagani Cruz used to put it!) are responsible speakers.

That cannot be presumed, because “ karapatan” is so frequently and irresponsibly invoked that many think it to include the right to unbridled,

irresponsible speech. The more involved issue has to do with truth, about which libraries have been written.

What seems to be beyond cavil is that what is “true” is vindicated by what current social (including scientific) standards take to be competent proof of truth. At a time that generals turned to augurs before marching off to war, what the entrails of sacrificed animals showed (or purported to show) was proof enough that spelled the difference tween the commencement of hostilities or a prudent, calculated truce.

When a physician says that you have a malignant growth in your colon, and shows you a row of scans and a packet of films that may make absolutely no sense to you, coupled with the approving nod of his fellow physicians, you take that as truth of the proposition: “You Turn to A5

I LISTENED to an interview

by Karen Davila over her ANC morning program “Headstart” last Aug. 21, where she juxtaposed a live interview of Mr. Saldy de los Santos, father of the murdered Kian de los Santos, and a studio chat with the chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, Chito Gascon.

Try as she did, like a good journalist, to plumb into the depths of the father’s grief, hoping perhaps to get some controversial soundbyte for TV Patrol, all she got was a pained but soberly worded plea for justice.

In TV interviews with Lorenza, the crying mother of Kian, she also pleaded for justice without any political statements. At one point, she cried that she would have wanted to kill the killers herself, but then, she was not a murderer. Thereafter, she pleaded with government, President Duterte in particular, so that justice may be her rightful vengeance.

You wouldn’t be human if you could not weep with her for the death of her son. And you could only condemn the police officers who tried to wiggle their men by painting the murdered Kian in such bad light, even when every evidence, digital, eyewitness, graphic or forensic, showed that it was a case of extrajudicial killing.

Sure, the political opposition tried to make capital out of the Kian de los Santos murder, but I admire the parents for not being “used.” Theirs was a plaintive cry for justice. Let the heavens rage and fall over the perpetrators, but milking it for political gain the parents would not be party to, at least for now.

Sometimes we who have had the fortune of better education or social status look down upon the “masa,” but in my book, Kian’s parents showed wisdom.

Greater wisdom than many of those who populate the political branches of government.

President Duterte declared that he would get to the bottom of the circumstances behind the killing, and let the axe fall where it should, and how it should.

Kian de los Santos must be given proper justice. The killing cries to the highest heavens.

Turn to A5

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

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

A5

Terror in tandem THE people are asking why the police cannot stop the series of killings and robberies committed by men in motorcycles riding in tandem. The daily killings reported in the morning and evening news on TV are a stark indictment of police inability to protect the people. The citizenry wants the same zeal and excessive force against these riding-in-tandem killers that the police employ in their operations against drug suspects like 17-year-old Kian delos Santos.

So far, an estimated 3,000 drug suspects have been killed in police operations.

Despite the high number of casualties in the anti-drug war, President Rodrigo Duterte has admitted he may not be able to wipe out the drug menace during the remaining five years of his term. The latest of these killings by men riding in tandem was in Sampaloc, Manila where barangay treasurer Jose Macaranas was gunned down. Because he was just one of many, the victim merely becomes a number in the alarming crime statistics.

Police checkpoints are manned in several major streets in Metro

Manila in the daytime and even at night.

Somehow, but somehow these terrorists riding in tandem continue their deadly trade, unabated This column has suggested the banning of two men riding in tandem. The motorcyclist sector would surely protest this selective law if implemented. But this is a preventive measure that will redound to the benefit of all.

Motorcyclists can still have an extra passenger like a woman or child who are either relatives or friends.

With the faces of both driver and passenger fully covered by safety helmets, the killers cannot be identified despite their crime being recorded on closed circuit TV cameras which now proliferate in many city streets, crime- prone neighborhoods and gated communities. The tinted safety helmets served as masks for criminal elements in carrying out ambushes and assassinations.

In Dasmarinas, Cavite, police have banned motorcyclists

from wearing helmets so their faces can easily be identified when they commit crimes. This of course, has drawn protests because not wearing safety helmets make motorcyclists vulnerable to serious injuries in case of accident.

Because their motorcycle license plates are smaller than the regular size used on cars and other vehicles, witnesses cannot jot down the numbers of the motorized bikes used in the perpetration of crimes by men riding in tandem. The modus operandi of the deadly duo is that the back passenger is the triggerman while the driver keeps his engine running for the quick getaway.

Aside from the smaller plates, the criminals smear mud on their motorcycle license plates so they can’t be read by witnesses at the scene.. We have suggested that drivers of these motorcycles and their piggy back passengers should wear vests with the license plates of the motorcycles largely printed and prominently

on their backs. So far, the Land Transportation Office is lukewarm to the idea.

This is the same LTO that was gung-ho in awarding the vehicle license plates contract to a Dutch firm for millions of dollars. The making of these vehicle plates used to be done by a local company with links to an influential religious sect. Being a crucial voting bloc in local elections and national elections, the Iglesia ni Cristo did not have to shell out kickback money to certain LTO officials.

The Dutch firm took almost two years to deliver the vehicle license plates to the LTO for distribution. Irate motorists fumed but their complaints fell on deaf ears. The LTO did not even press the Dutch firm which it paid in advance for the delayed delivery.

It seems there is also a shortage and defect in some of the Dutch –made plates because we see vehicles having different sizes and color numbers.

If the LTO renews the deal with the Dutch firm after the plates’ expiration date, then we will probably have another Smartmatic-type favored firm.

Small-scale mining, big-scale problems THE latest scandal at the BoC just emphasizes how intricate and deeply entrenched the web of corruption is at the agency.

The billions involved reveal the agency’s sheer potential to become a major source of fund for the government’s many ambitious undertakings, and just how smuggling and illicit trade has bled the country of such a key revenue stream over the decades. Without such corruption, the income could have gone to social services and infrastructure, contributing to broad prosperity for Filipinos.

There is an operation that has a similar potential but is likewise overlooked. Small-scale mining, which has prospered unabated and unchecked for generations, is one such, one might say a lowprofile “underground” operation.

The Small-Scale Mining Law limits “small-scale” mining production not to exceed 50,000 tons per year and should not use heavy equipment. This was envisioned to provide livelihood to poor Filipinos living in remote mountain regions.

In actuality, however, these areas came to be controlled by middlemen who financed the activities and paid the miners very little wages, bringing very little improvement in their lives.

The proliferation also meant that small-scale mining became

only ‘small’ in name. Smallscale mining for gold, for instance, comprises over 70 percent of the total production in the country, exceeding by far the total combined output of all the “major” gold mines.

In places like Mount Diwalwal and Compostela Valley, where geologists say the grade and tonnage of the gold deposits are among the best in the world, these minerals are accessible via shallow tunnels by so-called artisanal miners.

When tax was levied on artisanal miners, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that gold sales in its buying centers in key gold areas dropped to almost nil.

This means a bulk of the minerals are traded with little benefit to the country and, more critically, to the host local government units and its community, which in turn have to bear the brunt of the environmental damage of small-scale mines.

For instance, the use of mercury—one of the most toxic substances—is common among small-scale miners. Unconfined tailings from such operation remain concentrated with mercury, which in turn are in danger of eventually spilling to oceans, where it could become methyl

The wisdom...

From A4

mercury and cause mercury poisoning.

This doesn’t even account for the hazard that this poses on the miners themselves, who are often used to employing dangerous, accident-prone methods.

Worse, in the long run, since small-scale mining operations do not set aside rehabilitation funds to restore mined-out areas, their host communities will have to deal with the harmful effects of these irresponsible operations.

The permits issued by local governments are frequently abused possibility in connivance with unscrupulous mining operators and corrupt local officials with no capacity or real effort to enforce environmental regulations. Local small-scale mining permits, unlike large highly regulated large-scale mining tenements, do not come with such requirements as ECC or informed consent from the indigenous groups in the area.

The process then becomes prone to abuse, especially by foreign mining operators. Some Chinese nationals, for instance, have taken this route to illegally mine black and sand and highgrade minerals via local dummies, with documented cases in places like Zambales.

I recall that in the last year of President Cory Aquino pre-inspection by SGS, or the Swiss-based Societe Generale de Surveillance was effected, way into the term of *** So many stories crowded the news last President Fidel Ramos. It was scuttled in week: The Lacson exposé after Faeldon’s President Joseph Estrada’s time, and preaccepted resignation, followed by Faeldon’s inspection has never been returned since. counter-accusation regarding Ping’s son.

Maybe the BoC, or better yet, the DepartThe Bureau of Customs has always, from almost every administration I could remem- ment of Finance, can bid out pre-inspection ber, been the cynosure of allegations of cor- service contracts among highly reputable firms such as SGS, or Omni of Japan, and ruption, most of them true.

And the accusations of corruption are al- Bureau Veritas, among a select few.

Human discretion is the spawning ground most always followed by resignations or reof corruption. Fight it through better sysplacement of its top officials. But the cycle tems. continues, despite the changing of heads. *** Why not look at the systems that make it Last week also, three congressmen eneasy to be corrupt, that gives officials and dorsed an impeachment complaint against employees too much discretion?

Why not bring back pre-inspection at port Comelec Chairman Andy Bautista on the of origin, or at the source, rather than im- basis of explosive revelations and a paper pede the free flow of commerce by giving trail provided by his own wife.

Reacting to the complaint, his fellow human beings so much discretion and so commissioners asked that he resign as work much leeway to shake down importers?

Fake...

From A4 have cancer.” But what about a practitioner of Chinese medicine who tells you that your frequent dizzy spells are caused by a deleterious imbalance of yin and yang and can be corrected by a decoction of carefully balanced leaves, seeds, scrapings from exotic plants and shrubbery? The point I am driving at is that while we are quite confident about using the word “truth”, we are not as unanimous about how it is reached. The

correspondence theory is of course popular—“Manila is south of Tuguegarao” is true if and only if Manila is south of Tuguegarao, but the limitations of that theory immediately surface when you are faced with the truth of prescriptive propositions and aesthetic judgments. To what does the judgment “A Mozart concerto is more coherent than one by Shostakovich”— doubtlessly controversial, but arguable nonetheless—correspond?

The standards and criteria of truth are products of social agreement and convention— science itself is a convention.

These loophole-ridden procedures are in stark contrast with the strict regulations meted on legitimate mining companies.

The close monitoring of the industry ensure that all the minerals they extract are not smuggled out of the country, which appears to be exclusively committed by illegal small-scale miners.

And if the Mines and Geosciences Bureau peg annual gold production from small-scale mines at 280 tons for 10 years, at P2 billion per ton this translates to some P560 billion in gold production, the trail of which is now impossible to trace, a mountain of gold seemingly lost to smuggling under our noses. The potential revenues from gold will nullify the need for more taxes and should prompt our government leaders to refocus on efficient administration and collection.

As in the BoC scandal, plugging this hole can significantly augment the national coffers.

Just think of the prosperity this will create in the poorest most remote areas where developmental projects are most needed. An all-out war against all forms of illicit trade and smuggling will be greatly applauded. Securing our borders from these leaks should be the government’s top priority.

The positive effects will be immediate, not just in stopping the smuggling of gold but of all items including illegal drugs.

in the institution he heads has been quite affected by their chair’s personal crisis. Even the defense of their budget before the legislature is impaired.

When I wrote some four weeks back that some resignations were forthcoming, I was referring to an expected Faeldon and a “sudden” Bautista, which I wrote before his wife went public with her accusations.

Well, Bautista’s agony has been going on for three weeks running, and I “read” him as the kind who would tender his resignation quickly enough, if only to spare his children from the recriminatory consequences, as well as spare his professional work from further damage.

Far be it for us to judge the person, especially since purely personal matters should be kept away from the prying eyes of the public. But neither can we offer unsolicited advice.

One could only sympathize with Andy’s travails in this precipitous twist of events in his otherwise charmed life.

Following a discourse theory of truth, when a proposition is established in the manner that society demands that such propositions be established, and all relevant questions have been answered, then it is “certain”, and, from the perspective of social phenomenology, that is quite correct. And so, if we are truly bothered about “fake news” and “alternative facts”, then, more fundamentally, we should be asking about what methods contemporary Filipino society accepts as adequate in the proof of various types of propositions, and even “if there is reason in the madness”! And

unless we are hell-bent on confining ourselves to an intellectual and cultural ghetto that goes by standards and criteria of truth that we alone accept, then our requirements be close to what the global communities of scientists, social theorists, artists and the thoughtful, in general, take to be true.

It seems these days that “repetition” makes for truth, as does the overwhelming number of those who pass it on. It seems to be so that the prevailing epistemological criterion is “truth is what an overwhelming number of Filipinos insist is true.” Then the

Gun power corrupts HAVING a gun is power. And, as Lord Acton said, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This seems the only reason how the cops who killed 17-year-old Kian Loyd de los Santos–defenseless and unarmed as he was—could have killed him. They must have been under such dizzying force of power that they lost all humanity and the natural inclination of humans not to kill a fellow man.

In the book “On Killing: The psychological cost of learning to kill in war and society” author, Dave Grossman, said that if one studies history, one will find that man is often unwilling to kill his fellow man and the fighter finds it very traumatic when he has to do so. In the animal kingdom, he said, most animals do not kill others of their species with very, very few exceptions. Humans are like animals in this regard, they don’t want to kill each other.

Perhaps it is because when a person looks at another person on the field of battle, he sees the other person as someone like him who also does not want to die, Grossman added.

In war or actual combat, humans are not much different from animals who do posturing to intimidate another animal into fleeing or submitting. Firearms are an excellent method of posturing: they are loud and dangerous, and the bullets zipping by overhead can be terrifying to the enemy.

They provide a primal release when fired as a Cops’ warning and can psychological, give the shooter a feeling of power moral and mental without having health matter to kill, Grossman said. People more than their will be willing physical fitness. to face death and dismemberment as long as they didn’t have to kill anyone. Medics for instance are known for risking life and limb to save someone, Grossman explained.

Given this study, the act of the policemen in the killing of Kian as he knelt and begged for his life is incongruous to human nature and defies explanation except in the context of power releasing too much adrenaline in these cops that they became numb to their own humanity. The power of the gun has clearly corrupted their consciences.

The saddest part of the Kian tragedy is that the life of a young man was lost senselessly and unjustly. But sad, too, is the way politicians with self-serving agenda have joined the bandwagon to attack the drug war and the President, himself, to earn brownie points in the eyes of the public and to bring down the President who has—by all indications—been doing good in his job. Politicians belonging to the opposition will obviously exploit this tragedy to the hilt rather than craft measures to prevent a repeat of the Kian mishap.

My two cents is that before cops are let loose with guns, they should not only have undergone rigorous training in law enforcement and difficult police operations. Their psychological, moral and mental health matter more than their physical fitness. Thus, they should be subjected to psychological and psychiatric examinations more rigorously and if there is any hint of a disorder, their admission to the service must be denied. The next problem now is, given the low salary and the risks involved in the job, the police force does not attract the most mentally, psychologically and physically fit men and women. This is the reason why, as soon as they get admitted to the service and taste the power of the gun and their position, many of them get corrupted, very much the way the ring in the trilogy, Lord of the Rings, corrupted anyone who wore it.

If the problem of getting more psychologically and mentally fit men and women to join the police force are addressed as a result of Kian’s death, then his dying would not be in vain.

Email: ritalindaj@gmail.com Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

criticism should be directed really not at those engaged in “idle talk,” the sheer passing on of what is heard—whether they are paid to repeat, or they do so out of a sense of loyalty to their champion—but to our society that seems willing to entertain what we might call “the principle of repetition and manyness” as an acceptable determinant of truth. But, if we decide—as I hope we do— that it cannot and should not reasonably be such a heuristic criterion, then let us say say and make clear in ways that even the dim-witted though vociferous can understand that

no matter the they cry themselves hoarse and repeat the line with unction and probably even with tears, it is not necessarily true.

We cope with a crisis of rationality never by conforming ourselves to its eclipse, but by challenging, contesting, and playing the very role Socrates did in the Athens of his time— even if, after his lectures, he was given a goblet of hemlock with which to quench his thirst! rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

JV presses for road safety bills

By Macon Araneta

A

LARMED over the high incidence of road mishap casualties (34 deaths a day), Senator JV Ejercito, Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, renewed his call for the immediate enactment of road safety measures that he has filed in the Senate.

Manila Water’s TPSBP recent grounbreaking in Taytay, Rizal was attended by top officials from various agencies. (Front row, left) Manila Water president Ferdinand M. de la Cruz, MWSS administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco, Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, Ayala Corp. chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, and Presidential Commission on Urban Poor chairman Terry Ridon. Others in the photo are MWSS RO chief Patrick Ty, Manila Water COO Ding Carpio, Laguna Lake Development Authority general manager Joey Medina and Rizal 1st District Rep. Michael John Duavit.

MWSS chief cites Manila Water projects METROPOLITAN Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco cited Manila Water’s Tubig Para sa Barangay Program following the individualization project for the residents of Purok 7 in Lupang Arenda, Taytay, Rizal, that sees more than 450 households getting their water service and much better quality and much lower cost that what they are currently enjoying.

The TPSBP is comprised of the laying of 380 linear meters of water pipes plus clustered connections for the 450-plus households

that will benefit a population of around 2,500. Aside from Velasco, the TPSBP grounbreaking was attended by Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco, Ayala Corp. chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Commission on Urban Poor chairman Terry Ridon, Manila Water president Ferdinand M. de la Cruz, MWSS RO chief Patrick Ty and Laguna Lake Development Authority general manager Joey Medina.

“Addressing the challenge of providing the same level of service, both in terms of availability and reliability, pressure and pre-

mium quality in unserved and undeserved communities while balancing business interests is no easy feat,” says MWSS Administrator Velasco.

“This will be a great contribution in upholding the dignity of life of every Filipino with 24/7 access to clean, clear and potable water,” says Manila Water president and CEO Ferdinand M. dela Cruz.

For the past 20 years since 1997, MWSS has been Manila Water’s more able partner and enabler.

This successful Private-Public Partnership instituted by former

President Fidel V. Ramos in 1997 paved the way for a private agency to take hold of the water system, thus giving birth to Manila Water.

“Successful PPP models are what this country needs to push for multi-sectoral cooperation towards aggressive and effective nationbuilding,” says Gen. Velasco. “We will continue to be a strong pillar of support and will always go beyond our duty to make sure that the fruits of this effective cooperation today will long be enjoyed by future generations.”

Velasco also cited the recent

awarding by Manila Water for the construction management, detailed design review, and contract administration services contract to consulting firm Arup, and the design and build contract to the Novabala joint venture composed of CMC di Ravenna (Italy), First Balfour, Inc. (Philippines), and Chun Wo Engineering (Hongkong) for the Design and Construction of the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct No. 4, one of the largest water supply infrastructure projects undertaken by Manila Water.

2 Mimaropa inmates HIV positive—warden

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

REGREENING. Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim joined by officials of Rotary Club International plants 1000 palm trees at the center island along Naia Avenue corner MIA road in Pasay City on Sunday. Norman Cruz

TWO inmates of the Mindoro Provincial jail tested positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) during the Department of Health– Mimaropa two-week province-wide screening for inmates in various jails and prisons in Oriental Mindoro and Romblon.

Provincial Warden retired Major Romeo U. Delmo said one of the inmates came from Puerto Galera and the other from Calapan City.

“I am very thankful for DoHMimaropa Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo for having done this mass screening because we were able to identify inmates with HIV and TB. Upon acceptance of inmates from authorities, we only rely on their physical examination tests submitted to us. We have no way to identify and assess if they are carriers of diseases or not,” said Delmo.

He promised to recommend to his superiors at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology that strict screening such as these be implemented in all jails and prisons in the province to identify those carriers of HIV and TB, give them proper treatment and management and prevent them from spreading the virus inside the penitentiary.

In the conduct of mass screening, Janairo cited the need to prevent the spread of infectious dis-

eases, especially in confinements where there are communal areas such as mess hall, kitchen, comfort rooms, shower areas and living quarters, such as prison cells.

He noted that people in these facilities are exposed daily to potentially harmful organisms.

“Also, there is the risk of infectious diseases being spread to facilities that are over-crowded and it is important that cells are properly sanitized and regularly cleaned to ensure that viruses and bacteria do not transmit infectious pathogens to people,” Dr. Janairo added.

Among the screening services provided were tuberculosis, HIV and mental health to be able to assess inmates for possible substance abuse disorder.

The mass screening targeted 1,589 inmates and 121 staff of the BJMP and Oriental Mindoro Provincial Jail located in various municipalities of the province.

There were 100 inmates targeted for screening tests in Romblon.

Participating facilities includes Oriental Mindoro Provincial Jail, Calapan City Jail, Roxas Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Naujan BJMP, San Teodoro NJMP, Roxas Oriental Mindoro Provincial Jail, Bansud NJMP and Pinamalayan OMPJ in Oriental Mindoro; and the Romblon Provincial Jail and Romblon BJMP in Romblon.

Binay asks Makati council to impose curfew hours on children MAKATI Mayor Abby Binay has sought the support of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) for the speedy passage of “The Child Protection Ordinance” endorsed by the Makati City Council for the Protection of Children.

The ordinance prescribes curfew hours for children below 18 years old from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. daily.

“We are pushing for the passage of the Child Protection Ordinance primarily to lessen the exposure of children to various forms of violence and criminality and prevent them from becoming either the victims or the offenders themselves,” the lady mayor said in a statement.

The mayor, who chairs MCCPC, also called on parents and guardians to work together with

the city government in promoting a safe and secure environment for their children and wards.

“We are counting on your full cooperation and support to ensure the safety and well-being of our young constituents,” she underscored.

Mayor Binay also expressed confidence that the City Council would recognize the necessity of the ordinance and give it due

priority, noting its impressive record of 73 ordinances and 54 resolutions passed during the first half of the year.

“I laud the City Council for its timely passage of city ordinances and resolutions, which have expedited the implementation of reforms and innovations in the programs and policies of the city government crucial to Makati’s transformation into a digital city

of the 21st century,” she said.

Under the proposed ordinance, it shall be unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit or allow a child to remain in any public place within the city during curfew hours. This includes streets, highways, roads, sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, parks, alleys, playgrounds, curbs, gutters, driveways, walkways, and public buildings.

Speaking before delegates of the “Road Safety in Asia 2017” forum held at Heritage Hotel, Ejercito cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority which showed a consistent increase in the number of road accident deaths .

According to PSA, in 2006, the country registered 6,869 deaths due to road crash. But in 2014, the country registered 8,666 road crash-related deaths- or 1,797 more than the 2006 death toll.

The PSA records also showed that 56 percent of road traffic fatalities were due to motorcycle accidents. Since 2010, motorcycle riders have been the top victims of road crashes, followed by pedestrians at 19 percent, drivers of four-wheeled vehicles at 14 percent, and their passengers at 11 percent.

The Department of Health, on the other hand, has said that road accident is the fourth leading cause of death in the country, with at least one person killed every 17 hours, an average of 43 Filipinos killed every month; and 509 killed every year.

Among the measures Ejercito has been pushing for to promote road safety are Senate Bill No. 1446 (SBN 1446), or the “AntiOverloading Act of 2017,” SBN 1457, or the “Dash Cam Law,” and SBN 1447, or the “Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act of 2017.” He has also filed SBN 1375, which seeks to create the National Transportation Safety Board that shall engage in the investigation and determination of probable cause of transportation accidents involving all types of public utility vehicles or vessels.

“Also, although I am not one of the authors, I am actively campaigning for the proper implementation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Law, or ADDA, that bans the use of hand-held gadgets such as cellphones, tablets, among others,” Ejercito said.

UP citation for Villar, Carpio and Diokno

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar was conferred the Most Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association during the homecoming and awards ceremonies at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Villar in receiving the award said, “I am truly honored to be among the awardees this year and to be in the company of such lineup of distinguished alumni, who are most respected and considered as experts in their fields of endeavor.”

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno also received the Alumni Award. Some 20 others were also named as professional awardees.

“It is not so much about our achievements per se as individuals, but how our efforts have benefitted others and have done this esteemed university proud,” Villar said.

“This recognition encourages me to carry on with my advocacies and it also serves as a validation of my continued efforts to inspire and help our fellow Filipinos. The award is really a bonus. It feels good to be recognized. But it feels even better to know that you are making a difference in people’s lives,” she added.

Sports

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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Mayweather stops Conor, goes 50-0

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AS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather outclassed Conor McGregor to win their money-spinning superfight by technical knockout here Saturday, securing his place in boxing history to head into retirement with a record 50th straight victory.

Former welterweight boxing champion Mayweather, who had come out of a two-year retirement to take on the Irish mixed martial arts star, bided his time before exerting his superiority from the middle rounds onwards at the T-Mobile Arena.

The end came in the 10th round with a tired McGregor doubled over on the ropes as Mayweather landed two hard left hooks, prompting referee Robert Byrd to intervene as a 14,623 crowd with A-list celebrities roared their approval.

“He’s a lot better than I thought he’d be,” a jubilant Mayweather said of McGregor. “He’s a tough competitor, but I was the better man tonight.”

Mayweather led comfortably on all three judges’ cards when the fight was stopped.

The American said he had deliberately taken his time early on in order to take advantage of a fatigued McGregor.

“Our game plan was to take our time, go to him, let him shoot his shots early and then take him out down the stretch,” he said. “I guaranteed to everybody that this wouldn’t go the distance.”

- Clinical display McGregor meanwhile suggested the fight could have been allowed to go on, but praised Mayweather’s clinical tactical display.

“He’s composed, he’s not that fast, he’s not that powerful, but boy is he composed,” McGregor said.

“I thought it was a bit of an early stoppage. I was just a little fatigued. He was just a lot more composed

with his shots.

“I have to give it to him, that’s what 50 pro fights will do for you.”

It was an explosive finale to their much-hyped contest which proved surprisingly competitive in the early rounds as McGregor managed to land a string of scoring punches.

But once Mayweather began to find his range and McGregor wearied rapidly, there was only going to be one winner.

The 40-year-old American scored at will after the early rounds, snapping back McGregor’s head with a series of stinging blows.

McGregor, 29, somehow survived an onslaught in the seventh round when a right counter from Mayweather staggered him badly.

Finally McGregor’s resistance broke in the 10th when a Mayweather right sent him lurching across the ring.

A hard left put him on the ropes and another hook saw him bent over and helpless, prompting the stoppage.

The fight had followed a largely expected script but McGregor, in his first ever boxing appearance, by no means embarrassed himself.

Mayweather will now head into what he says is a permanent retirement with a perfect 50-0 record, one better than heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano.

He rejected suggestions that his 50th win, against a novice boxer, would be destined to have an asterisk against it.

“A win is a win, no matter how you get it,” Mayweather said. “Rocky Marciano is a legend and I look forward to going into the Hall of Fame one day.

“This was my last fight tonight. For sure. Tonight I chose the right dance partner to dance with.”

Mayweather is also expected to be around $200 million wealthier, taking his career earnings to around $1 billion.

McGregor, who was an unemployed former plumber four years ago before emerging as one of the biggest stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is expected to earn around $100 million. AFP

Floyd Jr.: Tonight was my last fight LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather insisted he would head into a permanent retirement after sealing his place in boxing history with a 50th straight win against Conor McGregor on Saturday.

The 40-year-old American star outclassed McGregor over 10 absorbing rounds at the T-Mobile Arena to defeat Irish mixed martial arts star McGregor by technical knockout.

The win sees Mayweather, who had come out of a two-year retirement to face McGregor, surpass heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano with a perfect record of 50-0.

Afterwards former welterweight king Mayweather insisted he would never be seen in a ring again.

“This was my last fight tonight. For sure,” Mayweather said, praising his beaten opponent.

“Tonight was my last fight. Tonight I chose the right dance partner to dance with.

“Conor you are a hell of a champion.”

Mayweather also rejected suggestions that his 50th victory -- against an opponent who had never boxed professionally before -- would be destined to have an asterisk against it.

“A win is a win, no matter how you get it,” Mayweather said. “Rocky Marciano is a legend and I look forward to going into the Hall of Fame one day.”

Mayweather meanwhile revealed the fight had followed a tactical plan as he took his time and allowed McGregor to become fatigued before pouncing in the later rounds.

“Our game plan was to take our time, go to him, let him shoot his shots early and then take him out down the stretch,” Mayweather said.

“We know in MMA he fights for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, he started to slow down. I guaranteed to everybody that this wouldn’t go the distance.” AFP

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGre gor tie up during their super welterweight boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Badminton bets give Universiade team ray of hope TAIPEI—The sport of badminton brought the smiles back to the Philippine contingent in the 29th Summer Universiade.

Adrian Daniele Rigonan swept his singles’ match and Ruben Haramel Jr. and Christine Garin dominated their mixed doubles’ encounter on a busy Sunday afternoon when most of their fellow participants are packing their bags and returning home.

Rigonan, a student of St. Benilde, outclassed Taizya Luzambo of Zambia, 21-11, 21-13, the round-of-128 men’s singles of the badminton competitions at the Taipei gymnasium The 21-year-old Rigonan will meet Ming Nok Yeung of Hong Kong in a crucial round-of-64 encounter that could make or break the country’s fourth straight Universiade appearance.

Yeong drew an opening-day bye, Also advancing to the secound round of the men’s singles are JC Clarito and Mac Lawrence Marfa of La Salle-Lipa, who drew byes.

Clarito will test Kenta Nishimoto of Japan while Marfa wiill meet Lucas Florent Claerbout of France.

Haramel and Garin, a student of Adamson, outsteadied Alexander La and Victoria Chen of the United States in straight sets, 21-16, 2118 in the round-of-64 of the mixed doubles.

Haramel and Garin will take on Eric Viong and Claudia Lam of Australia in the round-of-32.

The Australian duo beat the Singapiresn tandem of Jia Yi Koh and Kelly Yan, 14-21, 21-13, 21-16.

The rest of the badminton stars fell by the wayside.

In the women’s singles, Dezelle Loverly Magallano of Lyceum of the Philippines fell, 10-21, 9-21 to Cheryl Chung of Hong Kong; Dennise Estrella of Mapua lost 5-21, 11-21 to Mei-Hui Chiang of Chinese-Taipei; and Andrea Samantha Citron of La Salle-Lipa bowed 16-21, 11-21 to Janke van der Vyver of South Africa.

The other mixed doubles team of Jerome Pechera and Gilly Chavez absorbed a sorry 15-21, 21-19, 17-21 setback to Toma Przemyslaw Szydlowski and Magdalena Witek of Poland.

Over at the Taipei Stadium, Aristeo de la Pena and Rogil Pablo both struggled in the qualifying rounds of the men’s long jump.

In table tennis, the women’s double of Athena Comaingking and Diana Oliveros suffered a three-set defeat to Lok Yee Lo and Wai Sze Lui of Hong Kong in their round-16 encounter at the NTX Xinzhuang gymnasium, Wushu failed to deliver in the early stages of the four-day competitions at the Hsinchu County gymnasium.

Barely losing their matches were Erick Pasno (men’s sanda/60kg); Kelly Marcelo (men’s sanda/70jf); Elijah Sean Sy (men’s taolu -changquan); Gladys Sia (women’s taolu changquan) and Czarina Joy Hagos (women’s taolu - nanquan/ nandao) The Filipinos’ participation in the Universiade is supported by Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, headed by David Ong and Alvin Tai Lian, and sponsored by San Mjguel Corp., Bestank and Garfield Sportswear.

THOMPSON NEW ENDORSER. King Sisig heats up its marketing campaign by tapping fast-rising PBA star and former NCAA MVP Scottie Thompson as its newest brand ambassador. Fernando G. Iso, AVP of King Sisig Royal Foods Corporation, said Thompson’s young, driven, and sizzling athletic persona makes him the perfect choice to support King Sisig’s unique brand positioning. In photo sealing the agreement are Thompson (left) and Iso (right) representing King Sisig Royal Foods Corp., owner and operator of King Sisig chain of restaurants. Just recently, the company opened a new King Sisig branch in Market! Market! Taguig City, and is also set to open two branches in Pampanga, SM City San Fernando Downtown and SM City Pampanga, this August. Currently, King Sisig Royal Foods Corp. operates a total of 31 King Sisig branches, 26 of which are company-owned and 5 franchised outlets. For inquiries, call 6566311 or 9420352, email kingsisig@yahoo.com or visit www.kingsisig.com.ph.

Ravena’s 4th gold is sweetest KUALA LUMPUR – For Kiefer Ravena, his latest gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games is definitely the sweetest.

Ravena formally clinched his fourth gold medal when Gilas Pilipinas zapped Indonesia, 94-55, in the finals of the 29th SEA Games men’s basketball competition late Saturday at the MABA gym here.

Arguably the best player in the amateur ranks today, Ravena became the winningest cager in the regional stage

to surpass Rommel Adducul, who campaigned in the 1997 Jakarta, 1999 Brunei and 2001 Kuala Lumpur editions of the biennial meet.

“Fourth SEA Games, fourth gold medal… Wow!” said Ravena, who also served as the cornerstone of the country’s campaign in the 2011 Palembang, 2013 Myanmar and 2015 Singapore SEA Games. “Every time I play in the SEA Games, it gets better and better. So I think this is the most special one for me.”

Thomas injury concern clouds blockbuster Cavaliers-Celtics’ deal LOS ANGELES—Uncertainty surrounded the blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston on Saturday, a day after a physical exam raised concerns about the fitness of former Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas.

The Celtics traded twotime All-Star point guard

Thomas, small forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round draft pick in 2018 to the Cavaliers for four-time All-Star Irving on Tuesday.

But multiple US media outlets reported Saturday that a hip injury suffered

by Thomas in last season’s

playoffs was causing the Cavaliers concern.

Thomas did not have surgery, but Celtics executive Danny Ainge acknowledged that the injury played “some” part in the decision to make the trade, telling reporters that Thomas could miss the start of the season.

ESPN reported Saturday that officials of the teams were to talk on Saturday, and Cleveland could request further compensation from Boston before approving the trade.

Cleveland.com cited two Cavaliers sources on Saturday as saying only that the team was “still in the

review process” regarding the trade.

Irving, who reached the finals each of the last three seasons with the Cavaliers, winning the title in 2016, had requested a trade from Cleveland. He was reportedly scheduled to have his physical exam with the Celtics over the weekend.

Chua, 70 others make keg finals YOUTHFUL national athlete Kenneth Chua rolled a 12-game series of 2771 pinfalls to lead 70 other pintopplers who made it to the 2017 Bowling World Cup recently.

Playing at Superbowl, Chua posted the highest score in the second center finals to emerge as one of the favorites in the fight for the right to represent the Philippines in the International Bowling World Cup slated on November 4-12, this year in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Thirty-nine other male aspirants and 31 female bidders made it to the national finals. Among them are Sammy Say Sy, who topped last year’s eliminations but failed to make it to the international finals; Paulo Valdez, Benshir Layoso, Kevin Cu, Lara Posadas, Krizziah Tabora, Liza Clutario,Liza del Rosario, Mades Arles, Alexis Sy and Dyan Coronacion.

Also making it to the national finals after the second center event are: Men – George Manoso, Joebert Buenafe, James Fajardo, Allan Ablang, Simple Villajin, BJ Aganus, Rodel Tungala, June Seculles, Jay R. Tan, Ronald Cruz, Dumo G. Bejara, Lando M. Galbey, Eric Luciano Aranez, Manny Layson, Erwin Cabaneros, Wilson Sua, Jomar Jumapao, Anton Alcazaren, Don Evangelista, Merwin Tan, JP Macatula, Scott Uy, Boy Roman, Arvin Ragas, Nichole Jimeno, Ted Convogar, Lorenz Tugade, Francis de Leon, Rico Luga, Lito Mondragon, Eugene Suarez, Vincent Rhom, Orlando Palco, Joel Guevarra and RJ Magana.

Ladies – Lorna Misa, Ofelia San Jose, Marivic Monzones, Myrna Bautista, Jane Bonifacio, Jinky Imura, Yolly Floralde, Rowena Cabas, Sherry Ann Cruz, Liza Pabico, Melody Bangsi-il, Winifred Kilito, Crystal Chavez, Farah Onasa, Gina Varilla, Abbie Gan, Cindy Edquilane, Silva Yap, Wanda Teer, Mildred Estrellado, Mier Aguinaldo, Ophie Iriberri, Olive Destura and Nancy Frianeza.

Raoul Miranda and Lara Posadas carried the Philippine colors in last year’s BWC international finals in Shanghai, China.

The winners of the national finals, including those who qualified in the first center finals, will make it to the Hermosillo international competition.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Hidilyn to cheer fellow PH lifter

KUALA LUMPUR—Olympian Nestor Colonia will try to prove critics wrong in a make-or-break campaign for Team Philippines as he competes in the men’s 56kg division of the 29th Southeast Asian Games weightlifting competition Monday at MITEC Hall 11 here.

Philippine Weightlifting Federation president Monico Puentevella said hopes are high for his lone athlete despite the fact that he is still recovering from a back surgery.

“It’s a make-or-break campaign for us,” said Puentevella, the former chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“We didn’t send any athlete because they didn’t pass the criteria. On the other hand, the organizers scrapped women’s events so our best lifter, Hidilyn Diaz, isn’t competing.”

Diaz, the silver medalist in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, however, is in town to cheer for her good friend, Colonia, who will see action starting at 11 a.m.

“I’m here to cheer for him,” said Diaz, who flew in Sunday and wasted no time to go to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center to support Filipino athletes seeing action in billiards, taekwondo and judo.

Colonia is a well-experienced lifter.

Aside from competing in the Olympics, he also won gold medal in the Asian Championships in 2015 and finished third in the clean and jerk event of the 2015 World and 2016 Asian Championship that served as his ticket to the Summer Games.

He also recorded a lift of 121kg in the snatch and 153kg in the clean and jerk two years ago to bag the gold medal in the Asian level.

But it was all downhill from there as he suffered several heart-breaking finishes, including in the Olympics.

Puentevella said Colonia could follow Diaz’s footsteps.

“He could be like Hidilyn,” he said. “But first, he has to prove that he has what it takes to bounce back and remain with the national team.”

Chezka Centeno (right) and Rubilen Amit of the Philippines link hands after winning gold and silver medals, respectively, in the women’s 9-ball singles event of the 29th Southeast Asian Games billiards competition Sunday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. PSC Media

Jin, judoka, cue artist pump life into PH stint KUALA LUMPUR—Three Filipino athletes pumped life into the country’s sagging campaign as the 29th Southeast Asian Games enters its homestretch here.

Chezka Centeno, Samuel Morisson and Mariya Takahashi stepped forward to deliver the gold medals for Team Philippines, which is slowly drifting away from its initial projection of 50 golds.

A 19-year-old prodigy from Zamboanga City, Centeno capitalized on the late-match blunder of Amit to run away with the gold medal in the women’s 9-ball singles’ event, 7-6, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

With the score tied at 6-all, Amit calmly sank the 7-ball in the left corner pocket for a perfect setup on the 9-ball and the gold medal that will serve as a badge of honor after losing

this event to Centeno in the previous biennial meet.

But her excitement turned into horror as the cue ball rolled and sank to the opposite pocket, prompting Centeno to grab the golden opportunity to claim the victory.

“Hindi ko akalain na mananalo ako kasi nu’ng na-miss ko ‘yung 3-ball, sabi ko ‘talo na ako,’” said Centeno, who barged into the limelight when she won the gold medal in the World Games in Shanghai in 2015.

Amit, for her part, couldn’t help, but to shake her head after the costly blunder.

But it doesn’t matter as she pock-

eted the silver, while the gold medal remained in the Philippines’ hands following her victory over a Malaysian foe in the semifinals.

Also turning in a golden finish was Takahashi.

The 16-year-old Takahashi shocked four-time champion Surratana Thongsri of Thailand via ippon in the first 43 seconds of their match in the women’s -70kg event in judo.

Takahashi drew a bye in the preliminaries before clobbering Thi Dieu Tien Nguyen of Vietnam in the semifinals. She then dethroned the Thai judoka en route to awarding the Philippines its second gold medal and fifth overall in judo.

“I’m very happy,” Takahashi’s curt statement through an interpreter.

Morisson, meanwhile, grabbed the gold in impressive fashion after being spurred by the controversial loss of teammate Ar-

ven Alcantara.

Morisson vented his ire on Dinggo Ard Prayogo of Indonesia, 28-18, to bag the gold medal in the men’s -74kg class taekwondo competition.

“Nanggigil po ako ng matalo si Arven (Alcantara) kaya sinabi ko babawi ako sa kanya,” said the Olongapo-City born jin, who dedicated his victory to his late grandmother Rosario Barias, who died of a stroke early last year.

Alcantara, a SEA Games rookie, lost in a highly-disputed men’s -68kg finals to hometown bet Rozaimi bin Rozali, who was ruled the winner by “punitive declaration” after the scores were deadlocked at 17-all.

The head judge ruled that the Pinoy jin had accumulated 10 “gamjeoms” or penalties, although the Philippine camp insisted that Alcantara had only nine as indicated by the electronic scoreboard.

Painters nail 3rd straight win, hand Star 1st defeat

By Jeric Lopez THE hot streak continued for Rain or Shine as it caught a big fish, dealing erstwhile league-leading Star its first loss, 92-88, to earn its third straight win and ascend further in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

J’Nathan Bullock led the way for the Painters with 18 points and five assists, but Raymund Almazan’s return also produced a double-double of 13 points, on 6-of-10 shooting, to go with 14 rebounds to further help the squad’s cause.

The win moved Rain or Shine in the upper echelon as it improved to 4-2, while Star slipped to a second-place tie as it fell to 4-1 after tasting its first setback.

Through a solid surge at the end of the second frame, Rain or Shine created a much-needed separation.

The Elasto Painters took a 41-30 doubledigit advantage into the second half.

They continued the pounding in the third, opening the second half with a 11-2 run to establish a gigantic 52-32 lead with over seven minutes to go in the period for more leverage.

A 9-0 run by Star midway in the fourth raised its hopes as it inched within just three, 72-75, after an Ian Sangalang basket with 5:23 left.

But the determined Elasto Painters kept their poise and countered with a 9-2 run of their own to push their lead back to twin-digits, 84-74, after Jericho Cruz’s triple with exactly three minutes remaining.

They never looked back as they held off the Hotshots to secure triumph.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer (3-1) is currently battling NLEX (5-2) in a marquee match-up of teams in the upper half as of this press report.

The scores: RAIN OR SHINE 92 - Bullock 18, Cruz 18, Norwood 15, Almazan 13, Ahanmisi 10, Matias 5, Borboran 5, Daquioag 5, Tiu 3, Pon- Rain or Shine’s Maverick Ahanmisi tries to maneuver his way around Star’s Justin Melton ferada 0, Yap 0, Maiquez 0, Trollano 0. in a PBA game won by the Painers, 92-88.

Red Robin slotman is a monster off the boards

By Peter Atencio

Mapua players Mike Enriquez (9) and Warren Bonifacio (15) play defense against Lyceum cagers Marj de Leon (5) and Sean Sandoval (9). Peter Atencio

WARREN Bonifacio, one of the defending champion Mapua Red Robins’ slotmen, is fast becoming one of the top rebounders of the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association Junior Basketball Tournament, With the first round almost over, Bonifacio had an eightgame average of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

He is behind another talented

big man, Aaron Fermin of the Arellano Braves. Fermin norms 17.9 rebounds.

Last Friday, Bonifacio, who is from San Simon, Pampanga, struggled after being in foul trouble at the end of the second quarter.

But he still managed to lead the Mapua Red Robins with his defensive plays that allowed them to put away the Lyceum Junior Pirates, 102-98, in overtime.

Saddled with four fouls, the 6’5” Bonifacio returned in the

fourth quarter, just in time to lead the Mapua Red Robins to their seventh win in eight games.

“Sa isip, dumepensa na lang nang tama. Buti na lang, umabot pa ako hanggang overtime,” said Bonifacio.

With their latest victory, the Red Robins now have chance to stay at no. 1.

To do so, they have to hurdle the Lyceum Junior Pirates in their last first-round assignment on Tuesday.

Bonifacio made only 12

points and nine rebounds, including big rebound in the last five seconds.

He came into the picture right after Junior Pirates cager Neil Ruiz sunk two of three charities to move his time closer, 98-100.

When Ruiz missed his third free throw attempt, Bonifacio jumped in and took possession of the ball.

His two charities in final 3.5 seconds off Marj de Leon’s foul then sealed the win for the Red Robins.

Thais take dig at Malaysia over medals KUALA LUMPUR—Thailand took aim at table-topping Malaysia for stacking the sports programme in their favour as they conceded defeat in the Southeast Asian Games medals race.

Thailand dominated the last edition of the 11-nation competition in 2015, when they claimed 95 gold medals to finish clear of hosts Singapore on 84.

But with the Games closing on Wednesday, Thailand are fourth on the current table with 44 gold medals, well behind home country Malaysia on 83.

“We have missed several gold medals and our situation does not look good,” said Thailand’s delegation chief Thana Chaiprasit, according to the Bangkok Post.

“I think we will get around 80 gold medals which would be about 20 percent below our target of 109 golds.”

One distinctive feature of the Games, which started as the South East Asian Peninsula Games in 1959, is the policy of revamping the sporting programme each time.

It means host nations traditionally do well, finishing top of the medals table in six of the last 10 SEA Games, which take place every two years. AFP

Current account gap not bad B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

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MICC reviews open pit mining ban

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Mining Industry Coordinating Council is set to start reviewing the ban on open pit mining, a Finance official said.

Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin told reporters at the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines forum on Friday the review would focus on the impact of open pit mining on the environment.

“Remember, President Duterte met with mining companies. He

has a statement there that he is not against open pit mining. He just wants that any damage that you caused, you have to fix,” Agabin said.

“And so going by that statement, MICC tasked the technical working group on economic affairs and on environment to again study whether open pit mining should be

allowed or not. Because right now, there’s a department order that imposes a ban,” Agabin said.

The Environment Department issued Administrative Order No. 2017-10 in April 2017, banning the open pit method of mining for copper, gold, silver and complex ores in the country.

The order, signed by former Environment secretary Regina Paz Lopez, stated that “the use of open pit method in mining is hereby prohibited” and mining contractors that had not commenced commercial operations but with approved declarations of mining project feasibility for

open pit mining “are given six months to review their planned mining methods accordingly.”

“We just have to re-study that.

Worldwide, around 85 percent of the mines engage in open pit mine. The issue there is can you manage it,” Agabin said.

Agabin said MICC, as a multisector agency, could advise the Environment Department on the way forward for open pit mining.

“There will be a study by the technical working group. It will be submitted maybe to the president and DENR secretary. In their discretion, if they believe

that the study is well-based, then I can either adopt, reject, or modify whatever is going to be submitted,” he said.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said last month the ban on open pit mining remained in effect in the country.

Cimatu said the ban would stay until the Cabinet came out with a more definitive policy.

“Open pit [ban] is still in effect.

It is still the subject of discussion in the Mining Industry Coordinating Council because there are pros and cons. It’s a policy issue and these are being discussed in the MICC,” said Cimatu.

Air travel rose 6.7% in the first 6 months

By Darwin G. Amojelar AIR travel rose 6.7 percent in the first half to 25.12 million domestic and international passengers from 23.54 million served by airlines last year, data from the Civil Aeronautics Boards show.

CAB said domestic traffic increased 12.8 percent to 12.79 million in January to June from 12.26 million passengers in the same period last year.

Cebu Pacific remained the country’s largest domestic airline as it flew 6.14 million passengers in the first semester, down 4.6 percent from last year’s 6.44 million passengers.

It was followed by PAL Express with a total passenger traffic of 3.35 million, up 36.7 percent from last year’s 2.45 million passengers.

Philippines Air Asia Inc. ranked third with 1.5 million passengers, up 18.7 percent from 1.34 million passengers a year earlier.

CEBGo, a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific, posted a 24.8-percent increase in passenger traffic to 907,297 from last year’s 727,000 passengers.

Philippine Airlines carried 554,835 passengers, down 51.4 percent from last year’s 1.14 million passengers.

AirSwift Transport Inc., Magnum Air and Air Juan Aviation registered 93,611 passengers, 136,396 passengers and 8,893 passengers, respectively.

International passenger traffic went up 9.6 percent to 12.36 million passengers in the first half from 11.28 million passengers a year ago.

Foreign airlines carried 5.79 million passengers in the sixmonth period , up 4.7 percent from last year’s 5.53 million passengers.

IN BRIEF Sterling acquires e-commerce sites THE Sterling Group has ventured into e-commerce with the acquisition of online shopping site Galleon.ph and apps development firm Openovate Labs, which owns online job site Jobayan.ph.

Galleon.ph, a local version of Amazon, boasts of selling more than 500,000 products which can come from anywhere outside of the Philippines, but efficiently serves the Philippines’ 100 million population through a convenient payment system and delivery.

“Galleon.ph already receives 240,000 visitors per month,” said Sterling vice president Michelle Lim Gankee.

The buyout of Openovate brings into Sterling a hand into Jobayan. ph which has a tagline “Job Hunting Without a Hassle.” It is a jobs exchange site and has 10,000 resumes in its database which are available for a minimal fee on a per download basis.

It also goes with Salaaap, an online product search system.

“It crawls the web for products ready to purchase and be delivered to where you live. What’s good with it is unlike other online shopping services, you may pay the product that you order COD [cash on delivery] right on your doorstep. You may choose not to pick it up at the store,” said Gankee.

The new investments indicate the Sterling Group’s commitment to opening up more jobs generation opportunities for the Philippine economy.

“We are importing here a Filipino tech person who has lived out his career in the Silicon Valley environment, but who really wishes to stay here in the Philippines,” said Gankee.

Smart teams up with Monde Nissin

PAG-IBIG-DHL TIEUP. Pag-IBIG loyalty card members are given an automatic 10-percent off published rates for both document and

non-document international shipments when they present their cards at all participating DHL Express-owned service points and WExpress branches nationwide. Shown are (from left) Pag-IBIG senior vice president Amado Isabelo Dizon III, Pag-IBIG deputy chief executive Alexander Hilario Aguilar, DHL Express Philippines country manager Nurhayati Abdullah and DHL Express Philippines head of commercial Jojo Habana.

Energy awaits DFA’s signal on oil exploration THE Energy Department is waiting for the signal of the Foreign Affairs Department for the lifting of the moratorium on oil and gas drilling in West Philippine Sea with the impending depletion of Malampaya natural gas reserves.

“We are doing this with a sense of urgency because we need it for our national energy security.

But we are being very analytical, being very careful to make sure that we do the correct [action],” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi told reporters.

Cusi said the department was waiting for a signal from the Foreign Affairs regarding talks with China for a possible joint development of West Philippine Sea.

“What will trigger [the lifting of the moratorium] is confidence building on both sides. We develop the trust but trust must be supported with concrete actions…So we have to get that so that once we lift, no any untoward action can happen,” the energy chief said.

Cusi said the department had started preparations for the lifting of the moratorium.

“DFA and DOE are working together so that we can resume work at the contested areas and we are looking for ways…We are looking for ways, solution, a way to move forward that is a win-win for all,” he said.

Cusi, however, said Forum Energy Plc., which owns the ma-

jority stake in service contract 72 or the Recto Bank, had not formally asked for a lifting of the moratorium yet.

“We have to give the order that they can resume, before they start. We can’t give [a timeframe]. We don’t have the control of all the things,” he said.

The department earlier listed short-term targets, including the lifting of moratorium on West Philippine Sea exploration, to revive the country’s oil and gas sector which was on a standstill amid low prices and industry challenges.

The department said in a budget presentation to Congress that these targets included assessing

and reviewing reserves, lifting the moratorium on service contracts affected by the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea and monitoring and supervising work programs of contractors.

Service contracts under moratorium include Forum Energy Plc.’s SC 72, which covers a 8,800-square-kilometer area west off Palawan (Recto Bank) and is estimated to contain bigger reserves than the Malampaya gas project.

The department previously granted a force majeure to Forum Energy on SC 72 due to the territorial dispute even as the company already spent around P1 billion for pre-development activities. Alena Mae S. Flores

Firms seen to hire more in Q4 PHILIPPINE companies are expected to hire more in the fourth quarter on higher consumer demand during the Christmas season, results of a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The percentage of businesses with plans to hire additional employees rose to 27.3 percent in the fourth quarter from 24.7 percent in the third quarter.

The Bangko Sentral said in its latest business expectations survey that the employment outlook index for the next quarter improved because of the more positive sentiment of the services and wholesale and retail sectors which offset the less optimistic outlook of the industry and construction sectors.

“This suggests that more firms will continue to hire new employees than those that indicated otherwise,” it said.

Meanwhile, the percentage of businesses with expansion plans in the industry sector for the third quarter decreased slightly to 32.8 percent from 34.6 percent in the previous quarter.

Among sub-sectors, agriculture, fishery and forestry, and mining and

quarrying recorded stronger expansion plans while those of manufacturing, and electricity, gas, and water were slightly down from a quarter ago.

The survey also showed that the outlook of the services sector remained favorable although less upbeat for the current quarter, on sluggish seasonal demand during the rainy season for hotels and restaurants and transportation services.

Respondents also cited concerns over the depreciation of peso and the peace and order situation in Mindanao, the Bangko Sentral said.

The outlook across sectors and subsectors for the fourth quarter were generally more buoyant due to expected high consumer demand during the Christmas season, inflow of OFW remittances, acceleration of infrastructure development projects and more investments.

The sentiment of the mining and quarrying, and agriculture, fishery and forestry sub-sectors declined slightly for the next quarter due to lower metal prices and closed fishing season from July to September. Darwin G. Amojelar

BEST FOREIGN BANK. Citi Philippines is recognized as the Best Foreign Bank in the

Philippines for the 19th consecutive year in the FinanceAsia Annual Country Awards for Achievement. Hong Kong-based FinanceAsia, a leading financial publication in Asia published by Haymarket Media Group, recognizes the best financial services firms in each country across the region. Shown during the awarding ceremony in Manila are (from left) Haymarket Media Group editorial director Daniel Flatt, Citi Philippines chief executive Aftab Ahmed and Citi Philippines corporate banking head Vikram Singh.

PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. teamed up with Monde Nissin Corp., one of the Philippines’ leading food manufacturing companies, to offer free mobile data and SMS to consumers of Lucky Me!, the top instant noodle brand in the country.

Through the Lucky Me! “Gimme 5” promo covered by the partnership, all Smart, TNT and Sun prepaid customers can get five megabytes worth of access to Facebook, plus five SMS, for free and valid for one day.

“This is a perfect match between two category leaders with a common goal – to delight our customers. At Smart we are constantly finding ways to do just that, and partnering with other brands that Filipinos love is part of that strategy,” said PLDT and Smart first vice president Oscar Enrico Reyes Jr. “This is not the first time that we are teaming up with Monde Nissin and Lucky Me! to gift their customers with free Smart services. This year, however, we have made this partnership even more beneficial to Filipino consumers, as we include mobile data in the freebies they will enjoy,” said Princesita Katigbak, head of key accounts for sales and distribution at Smart.

IMF very optimistic on economy THE International Monetary Fund relayed to the country’s economic managers its “very optimistic” growth outlook on the Philippines owing to the economy’s continued “impressive” performance, according to the Finance Department.

Luis Breuer, the chief of the IMF mission to the Philippines, also cited “the clear vision” of the Duterte administration’s economic team and commended the government’s plan to initiate a comprehensive tax reform program which the IMF saw as a vital component to sustain the country’s growth momentum.

“The Philippine economy is quite impressive. It is one of the most dynamic economies in the world,” Breuer said in his meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and the other members of President Duterte’s economic team.

Breuer said that Asia is the engine of growth of the world economy, where the Philippines “stands out.”

The IMF, in its World Economic Outlook released in April, said the Philippines’ GDP would expand 6.8 percent this year and 6.9 percent in 2018.

Breuer said the IMF mission sought a meeting with the economic managers to discuss the Philippine government’s priorities and the challenges that the country was expected to meet in the face of global uncertainties.

B2

Business

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market expected to stay at 8,000

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

TOCKS are expected to move sideways, with the benchmark index staying at the 8,000-point level, on thin volume during the shortened three-day trading week and in the absence of market-moving developments.

The financial markets are closed on Aug. 28 (Monday) to celebrate National Heroes Day and on Sept. 1 (Friday) to mark Eid’l Adha.

Analysts said investors were searching

for catalysts and fresh leads that could push the market beyond the 8,000-point mark.

The market’s current sideways movement is expected to persist during the ‘ghost month’ period in Chinese trading, which also coincides with the vacation of most fund managers in the region, analysts said.

An analyst said the market was waiting for the passage of the proposed comprehensive tax reform program in Congress, which would help fund the big-ticket infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, barely moved over last week’s four-day market trading to close at 8,015.14 on Aug. 25.

The broader all-share index inched up by 0.3 percent to settle at 4,749.06.

Major sectors ended mixed, with financial and property registering week-onweek declines and mining and oil, industrial, services and holding firms ending higher.

Foreign investors were net sellers by P248 million last week, as average daily turnover declined to P5.6 billion from the previous week’s average of P6.8 billion.

Top gainers last week were Nickel Asia Corp. which jumped 20.1 percent to P7.30 on higher metal prices, Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which advanced 11.3 percent to P10.94 and Cebu Air Inc. which rose 5.8 percent to P108.50.

Heavy losers included 2Go Group Inc. which fell 7.2 percent to P19.30, Xurpas Inc. which dropped 4.6 percent to P5.74 and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. which declined 3.3 percent to P51.25.

Globe expands LTE services in the south

By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom said it is ramping up the deployment of long-term evolution sites in the Visayas and Mindanao to provide better mobile data service.

Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for program governance at network technical group, said the company deployed close to 3,000 LTE sites, covering almost 60 percent of its physical sites in the southern regions.

“Our customers in Visayas and

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS WEEKLY STOCKS REVIEW STOCKS

AUGUST 22-25, 2017 Close Volume

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank Philippine trust Co. PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

4.64 59.5 127.10 104.50 35.35 3.90 1.30 15.96 32.15 7.95 0.68 1.65 905.00 0.710 89.2 0.99 13.16 25.50 60.65 88.2 112 240 51.25 254 1800.00 86.50 1.39

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Basic Energy Corp.

Bogo Medelin C. Azuc De Tarlac Cemex Holdings Century Food Chemphil Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Eagle Cement Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ MG Holdings Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp.

Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Phil H2O Pilipinas Shell Phinma Corporation Phinma Energy Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas and Co. Roxas Holdings San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ SFA Semicon Shakeys Pizza SPC Power Corp.

Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vivant Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

39.9 9.37 0.82 1.38 23.8 0.240 150 23.25 6.37 17.28 166 80.5 32.6 64 1.93 5.39 11.18 10.680 15.6 7.11 6.86 13.12 1.7 16.84 67.7 14.00 12.44 14.8 1.820 239.00 59.55 3.64 3.48 23.00 30.9 18.9 17.78 270.60 0.240 10.80 2.99 9.41 7.04 7.69 65.95 10.00 1.86 12.20 6.71 4.32 2.27 4.3 310 2.52 12.7 4.5 0.144 1.23 152.9 3.74 2.09 32.80 0.99

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A’ Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ Seafront `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Transgrid Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.355 74.05 13.70 1.10 7.00 0.320 0.320 899 7.97 15.66 6.2 7.70 0.209 1128 7.91 72.80 5 5.41 5.43 7.3 0.91 17.96 0.435 6.6 0.0450 0.940 2.070 100.50 2.72 821.00 1.54 0.85 183.00 303.000 0.2800 0.2000 0.230

8990 HLDG Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings CEB Landmasters Cebu Prop. `A’ Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’

5.350 6.80 1.20 2.200 0.940 42.600 3.58 5.28 5.08 5.4 0.550 1.30 1.560 0.238 0.500 44.35 0.690 0.159 1.65 1.89 0.99

Value

FINANCIAL 2,304,250.00 11,580,571.50 892,114,590.00 692,538,448.00 18,996,860.00 1,493,760.00 271,689.00 274,990.00 90,519,790.00 283,533.00 2,040.00 85,810.00 411,595.00 18,155,940.00 1,321,983,565.00 25,085,030.00 1,864,450.00 15,300.00 12,831,855.00 313,248.00 141,386.00 1,403,120.00 136,268,702.50 581,600,764.00 2,281,350.00 19,261,515.00 675,280.00 INDUSTRIAL 3,197,300 126,958,980.00 8,480,400 78,820,199.00 2,886,000 2,332,590.00 1,860,000 2,543,960.00 199,100 4,796,255.00 4,020,000 962,350.00 1,790 275,048.00 761,500 18,761,815.00 61,931,100 381,610,329.00 2,877,300 48,955,036.00 410 67,778.00 19,380 1,571,349.00 2,469,800 80,419,930.00 258,040 16,513,691.00 2,069,000 3,977,280.00 268,500 1,447,047.00 216,400 2,431,572.00 28,475,900 298,277,294.00 10,859,300 166,691,884.00 3,992,100 28,552,298.00 24,444,900 168,496,170.00 4,451,200 59,333,222.00 31,000 52,700.00 6,703,600 113,561,870.00 868,050 58,987,715.50 33,700 472,698.00 907,700 11,276,002.00 13,061,800 182,028,880.00 1,223,000 2,237,320.00 3,051,640 729,939,898.00 150 8,932.50 297,000 1,042,850.00 91,000 305,440.00 16,700 383,140.00 745,600 23,431,335.00 876,200 16,551,316.00 4,543,600 81,427,254.00 2,064,120 566,690,092.00 48,440,000 11,626,010.00 245,800 2,675,564.00 3,232,000 9,526,280.00 7,331,000 70,323,485.00 1,080,900 7,706,937.00 148,700 1,133,199.00 381,180 25,036,627.50 496,100 1,265,598.00 2,145,000 3,939,160.00 50,900,400 610,742,818.00 564,800 3,984,423.00 24,863,000 106,418,090.00 14,000 31,780.00 25,000 107,550.00 40,790 12,731,716.00 1,389,000 3,399,840.00 2,952,400 37,511,106.00 857,000 3,917,320.00 1,420,000 206,530.00 330,000 402,330.00 7,161,900 1,078,179,440.00 310,000 1,151,050.00 33,386,000 69,384,050.00 100 3,280.00 243,000 242,840.00 HOLDING FIRMS 8,430,000 2,984,200.00 2,018,190 148,850,184.00 12,020,700 162,803,174.00 134,000 148,010.00 127,500 891,993.00 2,970,000 943,150.00 200,000 64,000.00 1,191,560 1,071,710,144.00 17,121,400 134,778,446.00 28,981,400 456,381,940.00 11,500 71,883.00 119,300 908,020.00 2,400,000 494,250.00 691,870 782,970,470.00 4,500 35,049.00 3,143,750 224,624,344.50 21,100 105,521.00 8,600 46,526.00 3,200 17,405.00 3,320,900 23,724,963.00 2,835,000 2,537,910.00 7,659,400 134,605,818.00 20,000 8,700.00 63,177,300 418,054,529.00 24,100,000 1,068,400.00 32,000 30,080.00 1,567,000 3,224,450.00 383,430 38,188,608.00 86,000 229,800.00 809,600 661,674,270.00 4,144,000 6,515,140.00 244,000 208,980.00 410 75,035.00 14,990 4,538,984.00 3,050,000 875,200.00 1,890,000 382,520.00 10,450,000 2,383,200.00 PROPERTY 3,095,300 16,516,752.00 55,700 378,460.00 49,327,000 60,988,470.00 440,000 969,380.00 7,548,000 6,898,220.00 20,349,700 864,929,890.00 10,129,000 36,466,650.00 65,500 344,709.00 24,576,600 126,710,952.00 6,000 32,400.00 90,199,000 49,015,380.00 2,814,000 3,642,290.00 10,574,000 16,719,060.00 510,950,000 125,274,910.00 2,328,000 1,161,080.00 605,800 26,706,145.00 4,872,000 3,336,130.00 8,890,000 1,410,270.00 24,410,000 39,959,600.00 80,342,000 152,551,270.00 427,000 414,910.00 513,000 195,440 8,620,190 6,602,570 586,000 383,000 210,000 17,200 2,775,300 35,600 3,000 52,000 450 25,178,000 14,868,860 24,194,000 141,700 600 211,330 3,550 1,270 5,910 601,100 2,288,400 1,275 222,900 483,000

AUGUST 14-18, 2017 Close Volume Value 4.55 59.5 130.20 105.00 35.2 3.96 1.30 15.96 32.5 8.10 0.68 1.65 915.00 0.690 87.8 0.96 13.2 25.50 61.00 88.2 112 239 53 256 1800.00 86.40 1.38

1,289,000 278,120 8,202,440 2,379,550 513,000 31,000 678,000 40,700 5,235,700 300 30,000 13,000 560 4,674,000 16,321,650 8,651,000 160,400 85,800 360,150 830 610 3,040 1,799,390 4,684,860 5,275 1,484,300 601,000

5,541,190.00 16,543,501.00 1,204,113,860.00 250,307,868.00 18,139,620.00 122,160.00 885,430.00 654,616.00 169,468,535.00 2,430.00 19,980.00 22,500.00 514,550.00 3,207,720.00 1,416,280,656.50 7,994,230.00 2,117,214.00 2,180,305.00 22,094,244.50 74,454.50 69,205.00 731,442.00 91,180,062.00 1,210,377,106.00 9,181,415.00 128,087,179.00 824,840.00

39.5 9.16 0.82 1.37 24 0.244 159 26.80 5.68 16.8 180 70 32.5 64 1.97 5.42 11.24 10.000 15.1 7.24 6.90 13.30 1.75 17.1 67.1 14.50 12.56 13.2 1.840 235.20 63.45 3.6 3.53 23.00 31.6 18.6 17.96 277.40 0.250 10.68 2.9 9.53 7.32 8.02 65.4 10.02 1.80 12.00 7.06 4.28 2 4.25 312 2.54 12.56 4.58 0.146 1.28 150 3.82 2.07 32.80 1.00

4,214,700 7,816,400 3,155,000 3,091,000 261,400 10,860,000 8,680 879,900 13,743,800 3,437,300 280 1,720 2,928,400 1,658,420 400,000 762,400 345,800 34,694,200 4,792,800 2,264,600 94,949,900 6,096,400 45,000 9,368,200 127,250 148,200 328,200 12,042,800 2,752,000 6,472,760 2,000 190,000 173,000 23,400 6,668,500 2,213,100 13,727,500 1,293,330 201,910,000 676,400 28,011,000 6,440,600 3,691,700 399,300 583,950 242,600 2,782,000 7,529,900 919,900 11,217,000 62,000 300,225,290 56,650 5,628,000 2,815,600 594,000 2,170,000 538,000 8,310,540 8,000 102,785,000 8,800 2,010,000

165,581,845.00 70,878,078.00 2,575,010.00 4,376,680.00 6,511,590.00 2,585,420.00 1,264,704.00 19,649,668.00 78,382,634.00 57,503,196.00 50,856.00 120,824.00 92,268,220.00 106,137,848.00 779,530.00 4,116,228.00 3,897,388.00 352,592,595.00 72,175,560.00 16,463,493.00 653,910,890.00 79,663,936.00 78,320.00 160,745,534.00 8,592,670.00 2,090,710.00 4,155,108.00 157,534,428.00 4,908,210.00 1,492,739,402.00 126,890.00 666,840.00 585,580.00 531,610.00 210,596,955.00 40,269,972.00 251,570,332.00 359,072,382.00 55,611,990.00 7,639,318.00 83,159,450.00 61,831,195.00 27,357,144.00 2,928,012.00 38,088,636.50 2,438,354.00 4,961,120.00 90,542,916.00 6,414,613.00 48,108,690.00 124,060.00 954,500.00 17,527,218.00 13,958,100.00 35,214,578.00 2,722,760.00 315,380.00 655,530.00 1,220,766,521.00 30,610.00 207,403,780.00 276,845.00 2,014,450.00

0.365 73.20 13.60 1.15 7.02 0.310 0.320 900 7.61 15.60 6.39 7.75 0.203 1145 7.93 69.50 5 5.42

16,690,000 2,434,570 22,248,300 227,000 158,000 3,930,000 949,000 1,280,030 6,467,600 36,472,400 9,200 25,700 1,580,000 550,060 47,200 4,552,920 73,000 300

5,936,500.00 179,328,429.00 303,216,400.00 247,700.00 1,106,120.00 1,202,000.00 346,850.00 1,151,133,745.00 48,397,895.00 574,864,684.00 55,028.00 197,111.00 311,930.00 692,421,630.00 364,138.00 323,005,326.50 371,522.00 1,624.00

7 0.91 17.34 0.420 6.7 0.0440 0.940 2.070 99.35 2.78 828.00 1.59 0.87 19.01 302.600 0.2900 0.2010 0.233

8,454,700 4,705,000 11,770,600 390,000 72,203,800 136,000,000 2,000 1,716,000 413,620 87,000 1,149,900 3,662,000 18,000 10 44,000 2,680,000 4,560,000 12,590,000

58,225,954.00 4,265,090.00 207,611,920.00 165,000.00 478,996,147.00 6,130,600.00 1,880.00 3,595,690.00 41,360,193.00 229,210.00 954,365,005.00 5,817,720.00 15,660.00 1,901.00 13,272,478.00 751,100.00 922,450.00 2,827,270.00

5.370 6.78 1.28 2.260 0.920 42.950 3.55 5.32 5.02 5.97 0.520 1.34 1.530 0.255 0.495 43.8 0.700 0.160 1.64 1.86 0.97

1,117,800 8,300 25,717,000 611,000 20,590,000 31,251,900 12,675,000 51,800 26,277,200 100 126,422,000 15,201,000 3,123,000 689,440,000 9,283,000 1,589,100 4,340,000 10,220,000 91,803,000 112,624,000 722,000

6,004,339.00 56,274.00 33,689,890.00 1,344,410.00 18,927,830.00 1,330,332,525.00 45,383,280.00 274,169.00 132,621,846.00 597.00 64,744,915.00 20,318,460.00 4,783,800.00 162,279,920.00 4,617,215.00 71,384,410.00 3,021,120.00 1,543,470.00 153,685,290.00 209,528,650.00 704,010.00

STOCKS

AUGUST 22-25, 2017 Close Volume

Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

4.94 0.290 0.5700 0.510 5.27 23.25 1.79 3.19 34.00 1.01 7.4 0.880 5.950

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Apollo Global Asian Terminals Inc. Berjaya Phils. Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Chelsea Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Golden Haven Grand Plaza Hotel Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IPM Holdings Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones LBC Express Leisure & Resorts Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Broadcasting Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Wilcon Depot

19.3 41.95 1.67 0.590 0.039 10.84 5.1 10.94 0.0760 108.5 9.32 10.72 2.17 8.44 3.23 970 2050 6.12 16.42 13.28 2.37 104.2 3.01 12.38 8.54 0.175 1.3600 3.08 15.5 4.55 1.55 10.58 22.50 0.570 2.42 8.98 4.22 2.300 11.08 5.10 2.99 8.16 179.00 10.78 1743.00 0.395 1.610 48.00 90.00 5.91 4.23 1.440 1.9 3.42 1.190 8.760

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

United Paragon

0.0029 1.62 4.90 13.76 1.8300 1.9000 1.2 0.385 8.38 2.560 0.275 0.180 0.192 0.011 0.0110 1.96 7.3 1.95 0.5400 1.1000 0.0120 0.0140 8.80 4.12 0.0120 2.7000 169.70 0.0082

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

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

41.55 516.5 525 106 106 112 115 517 5.82 1010 1023 1.06 106 1119 1016 104.1 108.1 76.6 81 77 78.65 81.8 79.9 79.5 80.3 2.39

LR Warrant

2.560

Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

4.18 5.97 5.74

First Metro ETF

121.3

USD DMPL A1

10.58

AUGUST 14-18, 2017 Close Volume Value

Value

101,153,000 63,289,000 56,503,000 9,531,000 16,837,800 10,122,000 1,020,000 550,000 25,026,600 1,887,000 600 612,000 7,939,900

494,983,160.00 19,263,350.00 31,980,820.00 4,881,480.00 87,115,913.00 235,040,340.00 1,836,360.00 1,755,660.00 857,387,080.00 1,896,370.00 4,485.00 536,980.00 47,303,106.00 SERVICES 847,700 16,629,354.00 211,300 8,820,065.00 641,000 1,055,830.00 39,997,000 25,204,610.00 89,800,000 3,557,100.00 16,500 178,850.00 8,300 42,410.00 65,144,000 679,847,131.00 60,870,000 4,520,570.00 2,743,090 323,693,594.00 9,400 87,996.00 23,186,900 242,014,208.00 2,000 4,340.00 1,587,300 12,983,567.00 2,000 6,460.00 510 494,700.00 65,015 133,142,220.00 1,636,900 9,992,772.00 1,571,600 25,364,246.00 400 5,306.00 1,569,000 3,723,590.00 7,943,720 839,268,007.00 256,000 784,400.00 174,000 2,169,048.00 1,226,200 10,540,346.00 13,230,000 2,311,760.00 511,000 683,850.00 44,000 132,820.00 18,100 280,244.00 9,634,000 44,203,320.00 11,170,000 17,355,710.00 2,688,200 28,319,554.00 203,600 4,759,772.00 118,000 66,880.00 302,000 730,530.00 31,825,300 284,844,322.00 6,822,000 28,749,200.00 2,171,000 4,953,550.00 44,400 493,436.00 28,500 144,687.00 5,000 14,950.00 7,000 57,120.00 1,710 295,380.00 36,615,200 401,429,390.00 128,425 221,477,540.00 12,090,000 4,740,650.00 15,327,000 24,527,180.00 3,017,900 144,442,385.00 1,002,850 89,454,503.00 322,900 1,909,787.00 6,782,000 28,388,340.00 41,560,000 59,360,900.00 5,000 9,140.00 1,115,000 3,795,990.00 34,760,000 41,805,310.00 6,039,300 52,420,014.00 MINING & OIL 428,000,000 1,193,600.00 8,565,000 13,935,650.00 2,456,000 11,731,280.00 400 5,508.00 69,000 127,340.00 19,000 34,590.00 7,695,000 9,350,880.00 520,000 202,050.00 59,000 492,599.00 38,594,000 99,619,300.00 5,910,000 1,606,950.00 9,790,000 1,768,630.00 450,000 87,880.00 74,400,000 758,400.00 2,800,000 30,800.00 2,177,000 4,310,210.00 90,483,200 622,836,699.00 161,000 305,610.00 400,000 210,450.00 4,249,000 4,765,430.00 890,500,000 11,048,100.00 324,500,000 4,474,200.00 1,099,100 9,392,442.00 23,851,000 94,743,760.00 356,600,000 4,429,600.00 171,000 389,170.00 1,016,340 172,770,913.00 6,000,000 48,400.00 PREFERRED 994,200 40,980,885.00 260 135,040.00 8,600 4,473,820.00 17,500 1,855,000.00 7,570 799,013.00 20 2,240.00 2,230 254,898.00 1,160 600,870.00 4,388,500 25,594,073.00 2,190 2,221,950.00 6,060 6,181,230.00 7,000 7,320.00 16,680 1,810,370.00 3,170 3,511,230.00 1,115 1,131,740.00 2,070 216,212.00 500 54,050.00 7,070 541,846.00 107,580 10,090,300.00 6,740 518,980.00 40,600 3,193,190.00 41,700 3,412,440.00 6,250 499,408.50 161,110 12,783,050.00 1,990 159,797.00 4,000 9,560.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 3,665,000 9,634,570.00 SME 2,442,000 9,891,640.00 90,800 483,872.00 9,375,900 53,374,680.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 14,520 1,752,967.00 DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 1,870 1,978,460.00

4.92 0.275 0.5300 0.530 4.7 22.85 1.78 3.19 34.45 0.99 7.5 0.890 6.000

213,875,500 1,053,144,583.00 153,890,000 129,296,300.00 76,495,000 40,354,200.00 33,633,000 16,934,670.00 8,912,000 42,937,150.00 6,894,900 163,988,850.00 997,000 1,775,450.00 169,000,660,780391,180.00 19,663,900 680,692,650.00 3,092,000 3,092,290.00 7,300 54,750.00 587,000 505,420.00 42,862,300 255,214,935.00

20.8 41.75 1.66 0.620 0.040 11.2 5.1 9.83 0.0760 102.5 9.41 10.26 2.253 8.80

316,200 126,500 1,004,000 51,088,000 153,600,000 1,900 32,600 90,614,600 79,120,000 2,738,180 200 34,084,700 22,670 1,759,800

6,566,010.00 5,314,990.00 1,640,820.00 30,249,520.00 6,085,000.00 20,306.00 167,728.00 891,368,905.00 5,841,730.00 277,072,928.00 1,882.00 342,888,181.00 35,700.00 15,665,802.00

975 2048 6.15 15.90 14.50 2.44 105 3.06 12.16 8.65 0.177 1.3700 3.01 15.5 4.32 1.56 10.94 21.00 0.560 2.35 8.6 4.23 2.320 11.2 5.10 2.86

430 97,255 1,544,900 261,500 1,100 5,015,000 5,339,970 248,000 2,000 1,579,200 31,940,000 369,000 322,000 24,800 4,530,000 48,754,000 4,847,200 80,300 158,000 1,671,000 24,087,300 14,770,000 6,302,000 18,000 26,300 52,000

417,450.00 198,840,230.00 9,519,352.00 4,163,454.00 17,780.00 12,115,320.00 556,301,268.00 764,630.00 24,480.00 13,717,680.00 5,476,120.00 495,180.00 971,500.00 380,078.00 18,988,680.00 74,935,440.00 52,978,362.00 1,667,044.00 88,620.00 3,942,960.00 211,455,493.00 60,911,320.00 14,905,960.00 202,230.00 134,203.00 148,750.00

176.90 9.49 1732.00 0.400 1.600 48.00 88.90 6.00 4.22 1.400 1.95 3.46 1.240 8.900

89,710 4,086,200 440,970 1,450,000 26,424,000 13,687,000 2,396,410 1,869,900 18,883,000 136,184,000 58,000 2,886,000 69,733,000 47,226,400

15,718,704.00 38,705,522.00 771,009,720.00 579,750.00 41,840,350.00 649,138,370.00 208,573,483.50 10,824,956.00 78,688,610.00 177,784,670.00 105,660.00 9,823,870.00 85,427,280.00 406,136,140.00

0.0028 1.66 4.90

873,000,000 35,986,000 700,700

2,445,000.00 58,194,400.00 3,444,443.00

1.8800 1.8000 1.21 0.385 8.36 2.490 0.270 0.180 0.190 0.011

1,704,000 83,000 17,293,000 3,100,000 3,300 15,874,000 4,320,000 12,660,000 19,600,000 15,240,000

3,150,030.00 131,350.00 20,938,000.00 1,190,150.00 27,719.00 39,222,360.00 1,190,700.00 2,277,730.00 4,043,910.00 166,700.00

1.88 6.08 1.88 0.5500 1.0900 0.0110 0.0120 8.42 3.90 0.0120 2.5200 170.00 0.0080

1,859,000 29,018,000 68,000 3,102,000 4,607,000 368,800,000 74,800,000 4,302,400 39,021,000 142,300,000 132,000 3,140,770 15,100,000

3,418,360.00 170,040,985.00 125,210.00 1,697,190.00 4,947,830.00 4,015,200.00 870,600.00 21,386,427.00 143,040,980.00 1,689,800.00 329,850.00 537,942,174.00 128,000.00

41.2 524 525 105.4 105.5 112.1 112 516.5 5.84 1015 1020 1.04 108 1120 1015 104.5

866,200 860 5,200 18,500 173,560 650 10,810 1,320 5,041,400 125,510 8,015 37,000 1,270 4,990 2,740 4,700

36,006,680.00 450,645.00 2,708,700.00 1,958,000.00 18,411,253.00 70,117.00 1,210,720.00 681,775.00 29,712,119.00 126,765,150.00 8,143,295.00 39,060.00 136,160.00 5,588,800.00 2,784,490.00 491,150.00

77 81 77 79 81.9 79.9 79.5 80.3 2.39

15,600 165,070 1,500 54,050 68,300 50,040 395,720 142,650 33,000

1,201,160.00 13,283,101.50 116,100.00 4,273,650.00 5,576,290.00 3,998,196.00 31,428,035.00 11,326,874.00 74,360.00

2.400

2,314,000

5,413,880.00

3.82 5.2 6.02

561,000 5,160,300 18,231,000

2,134,910.00 25,810,271.00 104,326,136.00

121.1

99,720

12,050,665.00

10.58

9,400

98,916.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Oriental Pet. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Abra Mining Philodrill Corp. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Megaworld Nickelasia Century Property Apollo Global Filinvest Land,Inc.

VOLUME 890,500,000 510,950,000 428,000,000 356,600,000 324,500,000 101,153,000 90,483,200 90,199,000 89,800,000 80,342,000

STOCKS Metrobank Universal Robina Ayala Corp `A’ Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Ayala Land `B’ SM Prime Holdings I.C.T.S.I. GT Capital Jollibee Foods Corp.

Bank of PI

VALUE 1,321,983,565.00 1,078,179,440.00 1,071,710,144.00 892,114,590.00 864,929,890.00 857,387,080.00 839,268,007.00 782,970,470.00 729,939,898.00 692,538,448.00

Mindanao are now enjoying the benefit of a more pervasive LTE network in the region following accelerated deployment of LTE sites using various frequencies. We expect customer experience to continue improving moving forward as we step up deployment of LTE sites,” Agustin said.

He said the deployment of LTE sites would address growing customer demand for bandwidth amid swelling consumption of multi-media content. Globe mobile data traffic surged 85 percent to 280 petabytes at the end of the first half from 151 petabytes a year earlier.

Agustin said that while lower frequencies such as the 700 MHz band could provide better signal penetration and offer stronger indoor coverage, the higher frequencies, such as the 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands, would provide additional capacity for data.

He said utilizing the 2600 MHz could provide additional capacity layer over existing 3G and LTE capacity layers, giving customers additional capacity and improving internet experience as data traffic carried on other frequencies are off-loaded.

Globe is also expanding its network infrastructure, such as cell sites. It raised its 2017 capital expenditures by $50 million to $800 million to fund the expansion of datarelated projects.

Maynilad to treat water in Marawi

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales MAYNILAD Water Services Inc. said it will deploy a mobile water treatment plant to Marawi City to provide potable water for the troops and civilians in the war-stricken city.

Maynilad’s mobile water treatment plant, which uses reverse osmosis and chlorination technology to remove bacteria and contaminants from any water source, can produce about 7,000 gallons of water per day―enough to meet the daily drinking requirements of some 17,000 people.

Maynilad recently turned over the mobile water treatment plant to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Civil Relations Service after training its personnel on the proper operation and maintenance of the equipment.

“Clean water is a basic need of our soldiers, so we appreciate this support from Maynilad. We also plan to share the water produced by the mobile treatment plant with the displaced Maranao families in the evacuation centers,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph Acosta, surgeon general of the AFP. Maynilad also donated clothes, 500 pieces of bottled water and 150 portable water microfilters to the soldiers and the families in the evacuation areas.

The company said the initiative was being done in partnership with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System headed by administrator Reynaldo Velasco, who responded to the request of Acosta to augment the diminishing supply of potable water for government troops and civilians in Marawi City.

“Aside from meeting the immediate need for potable water, Maynilad is also looking into providing more sustainable ways of helping Marawi once the war is over and rehabilitation efforts begin,” said Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez.

Business

B3

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Sugar tax fund eyed for workers

By Othel V. Campos THE Senate committee on ways and means said part of the additional revenues from the proposed tax reform should be allocated to strengthen the government’s employment assistance to workers who may be affected by the tax reform.

The Beverage Industry Association of the Philippines said during a hearing on August 24 that around 130,000 jobs of the beverage industry would be affected by the proposed excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua. However, said about 500,000 jobs would be generated annually by the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program that would be funded by fresh revenues from the proposed new taxes.

The Labor Department under a program provides emergency employment to workers who were laid off or terminated as a result of the closure of an establishment and to self-employed individuals who have lost their livelihood, including farmers and fishermen.

Labor provides a payment of salary equivalent to the prevailing minimum wage in the area or locality, and free skills training to prepare them for self or wage employment.

“Employment assistance for workers who will be affected by the tax reform should be included in the earmarking provision,” said committee chairman Senator Edgardo Angara Jr. He added part of the additional revenues from the proposed excise tax on sugarsweetened beverages, estimated at P47 billion, should also be used to develop and sustain feeding programs to address malnutrition, widen access to potable drinking water supply and expand Philhealth’s dialysis package.

POWERING MARINDUQUE. Marinduqueños are now assured of additional power supply after the inauguration of a new diesel-fired power plant on August 25 ) in Barangay Bantad, Boac, Marinduque province. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi (second from the left) leads the inaugural rites, as Marinduque Governor Carmencita Reyes (fifth from the left), House Committee on Energy member and Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (center) and House Deputy Speaker Pido Garbin (second from the right) listen to his speech.

Current account gap not bad

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the current account deficit level is still “very manageable” and will not cause the Philippines in trouble.

“The current account deficit today is much lower than 1 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] and we have no intention to see the current account deficit go higher than 1 percent of GDP,” Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said.

Data from the central bank showed the country’s current account posted a deficit of $318

million, an equivalent to 0.4 percent of GDP, in the first quarter of the year, a reversal from the $730-million surplus or 1.1 percent of GDP year-on-year.

The Bangko Sentral blamed the deficit to the the widening of the trade-in-goods deficit as the growth in imports of goods outpaced that of exports.

However, higher net receipts in the secondary income, services and primary income accounts helped offset the increase in the trade-in-goods deficit.

Espenilla said cited the expansion of investments in the Philippines as the primary reason for the the current account deficit.

“These investments, properly executed, should enlarge our productive capacity and our ability to export and produce goods and services. So you have to look at the current account deficit not as a linear progressive widening. but it should correct overtime,” he said.

“But it’s really the development process. By definition, the

developing country is short of savings and needs a lot of investments. And that’s what we are doing now. We’re trying to use the savings of the world to accelerate our investment ambitions. So what’s important is the quality of investments that we are doing,” Espenilla said.

He said as long as foreign capital were good investments “we shouldn’t be in trouble. And the situation should remain very manageable.”

The Bangko Sentral said direct investments continued to record net inflows in the first quarter amounting to $1.1 billion from $1 billion last year, while

portfolio investments posted net outflows of $3.2 billion, more than twice the $1.4-billion net outflows registered last year.

The country’s gross international reserves stood at $80.9 billion as of end-March, slightly higher than $80.7 billion in December 2016, but lower than $83 billion in March last year.

At this level, reserves could sufficiently cover 8.6 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income. They are equivalent to 5.4 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and four times based on residual maturity.

The irony of beauty ads —let the buyer beware “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – Genesis 1:27

enough to not give misleading perspective to the society. Remember, we are VALERIE JOY M. all created in the image of LIMBAUAN God, so why imply that someone is ugly? Why creREEN IGHT ate insecurities, especially THE very purpose, as to women? claimed by many, of beauty Exploiting the weakness of women ads is to make people feel beautiful or at least reAds are supposed to create and to promote a alize that they are. But given the case, I really do wonder why do they keep on picturing beauty with certain value or object but for these beauty comthe use of their “beauty” products. They say the panies, it’s only to promote their products and to ads are for empowerment, but I, and some others, earn cash. The worse part of it is the way they exfeel like that’s less likely the case. They can’t ad- ploit the weaknesses of most, if not some, women mit that the truth is they just want to sell their prod- who brought the current social construct. These ucts by exploiting the nonsensical insecurities and companies create an image of what beauty should meaningless concerns of women and men. They look like and how it should be. They show that point out that the only way to achieving “Real having red lips, rosy cheeks, long eyelashes or Beauty” always shows the use of their products. whiter skin, means you are beautiful. If you’re not You can see the models used in ads using those anything close to the models used in the advertisebody enhancing or modifying products to attain ment, then good luck with your life.

Beauty cannot be quantified nor can it be set. the “beautiful” figure, face or life.

For beauty has long been decided even before you The complete opposite Beauty is standardized nowadays. There is a set were born. You are great. You are beautiful. You expectation for what is and what is not. The no- are just fine.

Everyone is beautiful tion that sexy is “36-26-36” is still out there. Being It is normal for people to have their own prefwhite and thin is in. Beauty ads further empowers misogyny rather than women. This is the complete erence of what is pretty and what isn’t. They opposite of what they want to accomplish, or so have their ideals of who is sexy and who is not.

This body shaming and objectification of beauty they say.

Many ads produced by cosmetics and beauty is mainly exacerbated by these beauty ads that companies have backfired. The idea they are try- constantly keeps on popping almost everywhere. ing to promote (good value) was overshadowed Some may reason out that this isn’t the case, but by the fact that beauty is quantified, measured and the truth is more prevalent than you think. Even in patterned. Also, marketing of these products are so beauty pageants, there is a requirement for height, exaggerated that people are enticed to buy them face and body. If the ad makes people feel and yet they fail to get the promised result. They fail project that everyone is beautiful, then that is a to feel that confidence that they were supposed to true beauty ad.

I also have to admit that part of it lies on women/ have once they use the products. men who can’t get over their insecurities. They are Caveat emptor Why are these advertisements so exaggerated the ones who let these ads get the best of them or let when it comes to outcomes and why are they pin- the trend direct their lives. But they are victims too. ning on the insecurities that women should feel? They are victimized by both the society and the bias These companies should be able to let their buyers created by these beauty campaigns. Beauty is beautibeware of the true effect of their products. They ful as it already is. We don’t have to change anything, should let their buyers be aware that their products especially who and what we truly are.

Remember, we are all created in the image of show best results only on some skin or hair type, or on what temperature or place that you are staying. God. They should also give caution to their customers The author works with a prestigious auditing of any possible irritation that could arise due to the firm in the Philippines. She is in her first term with various chemicals used in the products.

Beauty companies should not only focus on the program Master in Business Administration at earning their profits, they should be responsible De La Salle University. The views expressed above enough to let the society be aware of how good are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect or up to what extent of harm their product could the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its cause. Further, they should also be responsible administrators.

G

L

FEEDING PROJECT. GMA Kapuso Foundation now has a reliable partner in San Miguel Foods Inc. for its Feed-A-Child project. The country’s leading poultry producer will provide Magnolia Chicken to GMAKF’s feeding project that aims to improve the nutritional status of over 300 children in three barangays in Presentacion, Camarines Sur, listed as one of the top ten malnourished municipalities in the province.

Sealing the partnership are (from left) SMFI vice president for marketing Reginald Baylosis, SMFI president Rita Imelda Palabyab, GMAKF executive vice president and chief operating officer Rikki Escudero-Catibog and GMAKF operations manager Earl Rosero.

Insular Life promotes two executives INSULAR Life chief executive officer Nina Aguas announced the promotion of Lorenzo Luis Gallardo and Jesselyn Ocampo to vice president.

Gallardo heads the corporate accounts division which services the life, accident, health, and retirement insurance requirements of the company’s local and foreign corporate clients operating in the Philippines.

He joined Insular Life in 1988.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Divine Word College and earned his Master in Business Administration from the De la Salle University Graduate School of Business. He is a Fellow, Life Management Institute; Associate, Insurance Agency Administration; as well as Associate, Customer Service, all given by

Gallardo

the Life Office Management Association.

Ocampo heads the actuarial division which handles the technical aspects of life insurance operations, including product development, valuation and research. She joined Insular Life in 2016.

Ocampo

She graduated with a BS Mathematics degree, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. She is a Fellow of the Actuarial Society of the Philippines and is currently its vice president. She is also a Fellow, Life Management Institute given by LOMA USA.

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

B4

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Business

European airlines face consolidation PARIS―A dogfight over the assets of troubled Alitalia and Air Berlin heralds a new shake-up in the European airline industry― but unless other carriers cut costs they may meet a similar fate themselves, analysts warn.

Facing insolvency after key investor Etihad threw in the towel after years of trying to keep them flying despite losses, both airlines may now be snapped up whole or carved up by rivals interested in getting ahold of their planes and airport landing slots.

But the overhaul is unlikely to end there.

“The sector will continue to consolidate because the business models are in the process of changing,” said Stephane Albernhe, managing partner at Archery Consulting.

“It is an underlying trend in Europe and the United States, where four ‘consolidators’ are in the lead: American, Delta, United, and low-cost Southwest.”

For Europe, consultant Jerome Bouchard at Oliver Wyman believes that eventually “there will be an oligopoly centered around Lufthansa, IAG

and Air France-KLM.” International Airlines Group is the parent company of British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling.

Before major consolidation can take place, however, Bouchard believes the airlines need to find a business model where they are no longer operating on the brink of bankruptcy.

Alitalia and Air Berlin had both been operating at losses for years. Low-cost airlines had eaten away at Alitalia’s market share in particular, with Ireland’s Ryanair having eclipsed it as the largest operator in Italy.

They were spared by Etihad, which took equity stakes in both as the flush Gulf airline tried to buy its way into Europe, but it lost its gamble that it could turn them around.

“Etihad’s exit from Alitalia’s capital will contribute to the acceleration of consolidation,” Albernhe said. “Alitalia will very likely join, either in whole or in part, Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, IAG, or even easyJet or Ryanair.” AFP

FOR INTERNET FREEDOM. People shout slogans during a protest for internet freedom in Moscow on August 26, 2017. Nearly 1,000

Russians protested during a demonstration against the intensification of surveillance and restrictions on the Internet, marked by at least eight arrests. AFP

Merkel: UK must pay debt to EU

By Richard Weiss

G

ERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel warned the UK that it must pay what it owes the European Union as part of Brexit talks, saying it’s misleading to view the costs as a divorce bill.

“This is about obligations that Great Britain has entered into and that naturally must remain on the books,” Merkel said in her weekly podcast published Saturday. “It’s not about the cost of divorce―that makes it sound like fines. We’re still at the very start of these negotiations.”

Talks on the UK’s exit from the European Union are to resume on Monday in Brussels with little

clarity on key topics, including the amount of the financial settlement that’s an early part of the discussions. With Prime Minister Theresa May’s government silent on how much it’ll pay the EU, Merkel said the two are facing a “very difficult issue.”

How much the UK owes the EU in leaving the bloc is among the most difficult issues, with analysts estimating the EU will

put forward a gross bill of as much as 100 billion euros ($120 billion). Britain’s government acknowledged in July that it will have a bill to pay, saying it wants to “determine a fair settlement of the UK’s rights and obligations.”

Separately from any Brexit deals, the EU’s next budget talks will “surely be very difficult” because the 28-nation bloc is losing a net contributor, Merkel said.

As Merkel runs for a fourth term in Germany’s Sept. 24 election on a platform of defending EU values, she joined French President Emmanuel Macron in criticizing Poland for a government push to encroach on the courts.

While countries such as Poland and Hungary can always take grievances to the European Court of Justice, “we can’t make any false compromises,” Merkel said in response to questions from a German student in the podcast.

“That’s why we’re in a very serious situation, particularly with Poland,” Merkel said.

“But we can’t say that the member states have unlimited plurality. Rather, it has its limits at those points where fundamental democratic values might be infringed.”

After a series of government overhauls of Poland’s judiciary raised questions about the independence of courts, the EU’s biggest eastern economy may

face EU sanctions over what the union calls an attack on the rule of law. Along with countries such as Hungary and the Czech Republic, Poland has also ignored EU policy and refused to take in refugees, citing security concerns.

“We can’t pick and choose the areas in which Europe offers solidarity,” Merkel said.

Separately, Spiegel magazine reported that European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker is preparing a motion that could strip Poland of its voting rights in the European Council if the country doesn’t roll back the reforms of its judiciary system, a move that Merkel opposes and that Hungary may veto. Bloomberg

Jailing of Samsung heir heralds drive to reform—analysts

By Park Chan-Kyong SEOUL―The conviction and jailing of South Korea’s top business tycoon heralds a drive to reform the country’s giant conglomerates and loosen their grip on the economy, analysts said.

When Lee Jae-Yong, de facto head of the world’s biggest smartphone maker Samsung Electronics, was jailed Friday for bribing South Korea’s former president and other offenses, the Seoul court condemned “corrupt ties” between business leaders and politicians.

It is far from the the first time these links have been made public. South Korea’s chaebols, or family-run conglomerates, have long enjoyed close, opaque ties to political authorities.

“There is a well-founded concern that Korean corporations have too much financial influence over the political system through favors and friendships,” Robert Kelly, professor of political science at Pusan National University, told AFP. The chaebols were instrumental in the “Miracle on the Han”―South Korea’s rapid transformation from war-ravaged ruin to Asia’s fourth-largest economy― during which they received privileges in business and protection from foreign competition.

Several―including LG and Hyundai as well as Samsung―established global reputations while their hundreds of thousands of employees, often effectively hired for life, became the backbone of South Korea’s new middle class.

But as GDP growth has slowed, public frustration with the chaebols has mounted. They are accused of choking off innovation, distorting markets, and engaging in corrupt practices to ensure founding families retain control.

Many young South Koreans feel that no matter how hard they work, they will never see their positions improve as their

Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on August 25, 2017. The heir to the Samsung business empire, which includes the world’s biggest smartphone maker, was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery and other offenses in connection with the scandal that brought down South Korean president Park Geun-Hye. AFP

parents’ did.

When millions of people took to the streets to demand president Park GeunHye’s ouster over a burgeoning corruption scandal, their anger was directed almost as much at the companies that paid her secret confidante Choi Soon-Sil, as at her.

After Park’s impeachment and dismissal, new president Moon Jae-In won a sweeping election victory campaigning on a platform of reform.

Unprecedented jailing Samsung is by far the biggest of the chaebols, with its revenues equivalent to around a fifth of the country’s GDP.

Lee Jae-Yong’s father, who remains Samsung chairman, was previously convicted of bribery, tax and other offenses himself, and the scion’s grandfather also had brushes with the law, but neither was ever jailed.

Chaebol leaders have regularly enjoyed such privileges in the past, with trials ending in light or suspended sentences and courts citing their contributions to the economy.

But imprisoning the vice chairman of Samsung for five years―even though the sentence could be reduced on appeal― shows that now no-one is immune, the thinking goes.

Lee was also found guilty of perjury and other offenses.

“The unprecedented jailing of the head of the country’s most powerful chaebol will serve as a catalyst for changing the whole society,” said Chung Sun-Sup, who runs specialist website chaebul.com.

Kim Joon-Woo, of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, said the Seoul Central District Court’s decision was nudging South Korea toward a “more transparent capitalist economy.”

“We welcome it as a warning signal over the dishonorable ties between politicians and businesses,” he said.

Moon plans to loosen the concentration of economic power in the chaebols’ hands, curbing unfair trade practices including cross-subsidies between units and implementing tougher regulations.

His ruling Democratic Party is seeking to limit acquisitions by subsidiaries of the top 10 chaebols, and prohibit new cross-shareholdings between them―a favorite technique of founding families to maintain effective control with only a small ownership stake.

‘No debts’ There have been promises of reforms before, from both sides of the political aisle, but they came to little.

Former Justice Party lawmaker Park Won-Wuk blamed a lack of political will and resistance from the chaebols, which warn of negative consequences for investment and employment.

“No politicians have been really free from collusive ties with chaebols,” said Park. “But Moon, differently from his predecessors, owes no debts to chaebols, and his top officials in charge of chaebol reform are thoroughly reformist.

“Lee’s imprisonment shows they are down to business quite seriously this time.”

Corruption remains “the single biggest issue” in South Korea, professor Robert Kelly told AFP. AFP

Japan to keep economic stimulus BANK of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the recent pace of growth in the world’s third-largest economy is probably unsustainable and pledged to continue with very accommodative monetary policy “for some time” because the BoJ is far from its inflation target.

“I think 4 percent growth is excellent but we don’t think 4 percent growth can be sustained. Around 2 percent growth is likely,” Kuroda said in an interview on Bloomberg Television recorded on Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. “I think for some time we have to continue this extremely accommodative monetary policy.”

The BoJ chief, who joined Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi at the mountain retreat for an annual gathering monetary policy makers, said he’s watching moves by global colleagues but added that BoJ policy has to be aimed at conditions in Japan.

“The economic and price situation in the US is much, much better than the situation in Japan,” Kuroda said in the interview, which will be broadcast at 6 p.m. New York time on Sunday (7 a.m. Monday in Tokyo). Kuroda noted that Japanese businesses and labor unions still exhibit a “deflationary mindset,” which is crimping price gains.

Like his American and European colleagues, Kuroda is grappling with an economy that’s expanding but still failing to generate significant wage gains and a healthy level of inflation. At its most recent policy meeting in July, the BoJ pledged to forge on with its program of asset purchases and yield-curve control after delaying the projected timing for reaching its 2 percent price target for a sixth time.

Yet the Bank of Japan risks getting out of step with its developed-world peers as it presses on with its unprecedented monetary stimulus while the Fed raises rates and the ECB debates how to start normalizing policy. Bloomberg

Estrada: ‘Capture fake traffic enforcers’ MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau to arrest and bring to court fake traffic enforcers that have been preying on motorists in the city.

Estrada said the good image of the city’s traffic management unit is being dragged down the drain by these bogus traffic enforcers extorting money from helpless motorists, particularly truck drivers and even operators of legitimate towing firms.

“I will never, ever let this pass. This is embarrassing. We should all arrest these people and make them answer in the court of law,” the mayor said.

Citing a report from MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza, Estrada said those men posing as traffic enforcers were former members of MTPB that he fired last November.

During that time, Estrada ordered the dismissal of all 690 traffic personnel of MTPB due to various illegal activities such as extortion; they were replaced by new batches of enforcers that were thoroughly screened and trained by the Manila Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit.

In compliance to Estrada’s directive, Alcoreza has formed a unit to conduct entrapment operations against these phony traffic enforcers.

Three have been arrested so far in a series of operations that began last May. The suspects were identified as Benjamin Baliwag, Enrique Duque and Kenneth Garcia.

The trio were among the 690 MTPB men fired last November and were unable to reapply due to their bad records, according to Alcoreza.

“What happened was they operate at night, mostly targeting delivery trucks and even tow trucks, still using their old uniforms, claiming they were their official escorts. They would then demand what they call ‘SOP’ or money from these drivers,” Alcoreza said.

Baliwag has been arrested in an entrapment last May but now remains at-large after being able to post bail on charges of robbery-extortion and usurpation of authority. Duque is detained at the MPD headquarters for the same charges.

Garcia, on the other hand, has been convicted and now serving his six-month prison term. Bill Casas

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

BRIDGE GAB. Tacloban City Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez (right) discusses with Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda K. Romualdez the construction of a boardwalk and viewing deck to attract

more tourists to the iconic San Juanico Bridge, which connects Leyte and Samar. The lawmaker and representatives of the Department of Tourism conducted on Aug. 24 a site inspection of the National Maritime Polytechnic Campus in Cabalawan, Tacloban, where the boardwalk and viewing deck will be constructed. ‘The project is intended for tourists to get a good view of the ‘Bridge of Love,’ dedicated by the late President Marcos to his wife, former first lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, a Leytena. I believe it will help boost tourism in the City and nearby areas,’ said Mayor Romualdez, who chairs the Regional Development Council that endorsed the initiative under the Eastern Visayas Tourism Roadmap. The construction is a component of the San Juanico Bridge Lighting Project and a collaborative convergence of the City Government of Tacloban, the Office of Rep. Romualdez, the Province of Samar, the DoT, and the NMP. Robbie Pangilinan

City buys Malate lot for poor R

By Bill Casas

ESIDENTS in Malate, Manila will finally get to have their own lots after 38 long years of waiting, through the efforts of Mayor Joseph Estrada.

In an unprecedented deal, Estrada has secured a purchase deal with the owners of a 2,060-square meter private property in the area that the city government will then distribute to its longtime present occupants under the Land for the Landless Program or LLP. “As I have promised during my inaugural speech when I was elected President, housing program for

the poor families is one of my top priorities. And now that I am the mayor of Manila, I’ve been fulfilling that promise,” Estrada said.

Since being elected in 2013, Estrada, through LLP, has awarded 165 home lots in the city’s six districts.

LLP is based on City Tenants and Security Committee Resolution No. 16-A and Republic Act 409, or the Revised Charter of the

City of Manila. Through expropriation, the city government buys private properties that are then distributed to qualified applicants.

“Once the property is subdivided, qualified family beneficiaries will eventually be named and awarded their home lots within the property,” Estrada said during the symbolic check payment and turnover of the mother title of the Adela Tuason Estate Property at the city hall last Friday.

The ceremony formally finalizes the sale of the Malate estate to the City of Manila for P13,526,800.

The Adela Tuason property was represented by Quisumbing Torres law firm, which was named administrator of the es-

tate located along Munoz Street, Singalong, Malate.

The procurement of the lot is historic and significant in the sense that the Estrada administration has managed to convince the landowners to sell the property without having to go through the long and tedious expropriation proceedings in court, according to Danny Isiderio, chief of the city’s Urban Settlements Office.

At P13.5 million, the price tag is cheap, considering the Malate area is a prime property where the fair market value of land is between P15,000 to P30,000 per square meter, Isiderio added.

“This is a product of an expropriation ordinance since 2008, but

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed 18 Republic Acts mandating the creation of new barangays in Navotas City and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur, and the establishment of hatchery centers for marine species in Surigao del Sur, Quezon and Albay.

On Aug. 23, Duterte signed RA 10933, which divides Barangay North Bay Boulevard South in Navotas City into three distinct and independent barangays—Barangay NBBS Proper, Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran and Barangay NBBS Dagat-Dagatan; RA 10934, dividing Barangay Tangos in Navotas City into two distinct and independent barangays—Barangay Tangos North and Barangay Tangos South; RA 10935, dividing Barangay Tanza in Navotas City into two distinct and independent baran-

gays—Barangay Tanza 1 and Tanza 2; and RA 10936, creating Barangay Comawas in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. The local Commission on Elections shall conduct and supervise a plebiscite no later than 120 days from the effectivity of the new RAs, with the expenses to be borne out by their respective local governments.

Special elections should likewise be conducted within 60 days after the plebiscite, the new laws say.

Meanwhile, RAs 10937 to 10950 seeks to establish a multispecies marine hatchery in two municipalities and one city of Surigao del Sur, ten municipalities of Quezon and one in the City of Albay.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, after two years of the establishment of the marine sanctuaries, shall turn over these to the concerned local governments.

The KSK Rural Farmers’ Training Programs were recently launched in Pulilan, Bulacan (inset) and Angono, Rizal with project partner Harbest Agribusiness Corp.

CoA: Makati saves P108m in garbage hauling fees

By Rio N. Araja THE Makati City government managed to save P108.72 million in garbage hauling costs in 2016, according to the Commission on Audit.

Based on an audit report, Makati’s effort to adopt solid waste volume reduction resulted in the decrease of its garbage hauling

expenses from P446.523 million in 2015 to P337.807 million last year, or a 24.35-percent drop.

It was also a 10-year low based on the city government’s financial statements submitted to the CoA dating back to 2007.

The city’s yearly disclosure on the costs of environment/sanitary services showed Makati paid P337.807 mil-

during the negotiation stage, we achieved a breakthrough: Mayor Estrada has convinced the property owners to cut short the legal process and just sell the land to the city hall, at a low price of just P13.5 million,” Isiderio said.

The lot will be partitioned to at least 60 families who were its longtime actual occupants. They will be given 20 to 25 years to pay for the awarded lots at reasonable monthly amortization rates, Isiderio explained.

He explained that while USO is drafting the subdivision development plan for approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the lot awardees will be paying a uniform rate of P500 monthly.

Urban farmers’ training launched

18 laws create new barangays, hatcheries

By John Paolo Bencito

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lion in 2016, PP446.523 million in 2015, P445.561 million in 2014, P440.157 million in 2013, P424.168 million in 2012, P419.115 million in 2011, P404.625 million in 2010, P389.406 million in 2009, P407.608 million in 2008 and P372.028 million in 2007.

CoA credited the intensive proenvironment programs, including

urban greening, waste reduction and diversification program, enforcement of the solid waste management code on segregation and the observance of annual events, such as earth month and environment month, to the city’s cost-savings of its garbage cost.

Makati was also cited for its “Basura’y bawasan, balik-gamitin at baguhin ang anyo sa Pasko (3B

sa Pasko)” giving incentives to residents making creative products from recycled materials.

The city government attributed its partnership with the Liga ng mga Barangay and the Makati environment cooperative or the Kapisanan ng mga Junkshop Operators sa Makati for the sustained implementation of segregation and waste recovery program.

THE Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Urban Farmers’ Training Program has held orientations for urban farmers from Makati City and Bacoor in Cavite, with another scheduled in San Juan City before the month ends.

The orientation program of KSK, supported by SM Foundation, is an innovation of the training program whose initial target beneficiaries were rural or provincial-based marginal vegetable farmers.

The urban farmer’s training program seeks to train city dwellers with limited space the rudiments of vegetable farming, to ensure they will have sufficient vegetable supply for their daily needs.

The orientation programs were conducted in collaboration with MacPlas Academy, SM Foundation’s project partner for the urban farmers’ training program.

The orientation in Makati was held at Barangay 31, Sto. Nino Chapel, Tandang Sora and Nara Street, Southside, while that in Bacoor was held at the Villar SIPAG Farm in Nicolas Uno. The scheduled orientation in San Juan will be held at the Pinaglabanan Shrine Covered Court.

Meanwhile, the KSK Rural Farmers’ Training Programs were launched in Pulilan, Bulacan and Angono, Rizal with project partner Harbest Agribusiness Corp.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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TODAY MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

How the Maranaos lost Marawi (Continued from yesterday)

By Nash Maulana

M

ARAWI City was created in 1940 by Commonwealth Act 592 with its original name Dansalan, meaning “harbor.” The Spaniards under Franco Atienza claimed to have founded Dansalan as a settlement in 1639, under a native ruler known by the allegorical name Datu Buadi Sa Kayo.

Following a roster of American and Filipino officers, the first Filipino Muslim military officer to head Camp Ranao here was Colonel Luis Marohombsar, a World War II hero, appointed by President Manuel Roxas as military governor of Lanao in 1946.

Under its Commonwealth charter, the City Treasurer’s Tax Powers (under Section 23) did not cover revenue collection from land tax declarations, apparently because private land ownership was not allowed under the act.

Local revenues were limitedly sourced out from rents and other taxes imposed on properties built on rented lots that formed part of taxexempted “public lands and properties owned by the United States of America” (under Section 26).

Two more Commonwealth Proclamations state that a portion of the “Poblacion” or the city proper was reserved for two warehouses of the National Rice and Corn Administration under Proclamation No. 412 dated June 23, 1939, and Proclama-

tion No. 476 dated Oct. 27, 1939.

All these were barely repealed by Republic Act 1552, authored by Senator Ahmad Domocao Alonto in 1956, titled “An Act to Amend the Charter of the City of Dansalan, to Change its Name to Marawi City, and Make Elective its Mayor, Vice-Mayor, Councilors, and for Other Purposes.”

Mas Yahya, the veteran journalist and local publisher, had asked how their Maranao forebears allowed the government to allocate so much land away from the city.

Yahya apparently knew the answer to his own question, taking a cue from his late cousin, lawyer Macapanton Abbas Jr., who in 1988 said: “The Moro people do not have as much admiration on Claro Recto for nationalism as the Filipino people do, for being the principal author of the Quirino-Recto Colonization Act” (or the Commonwealth Act 4197 of 1934).

There will be enough time to look back and aim for the Maranao people’s repossession of Marawi. For local leaders, including Governor Soraya AlontoAdiong, Vice Governor Bombit Alonto Adiong, Rep. Ansaruddin Alonto Adiong, and Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra, efforts are focused on the restoration of normalcy for the safe return of the thousands of displaced residents—to be able to better prepare for a massive reconstruction towards a longterm rehabilitation.

In his address to the National Assembly on December 19, 1935, President Manuel Quezon said: “This law (Act 4197) was passed for-two main reasons—the desire of the Philippine Legislature to assist the solution of the unemployment problem, and to promote the settlement and development of Mindanao. I have given careful consideration to the plans heretofore formulated by the different agencies of the Government entrusted with the accomplishment of the purposes of this Act….”

The potential use of Marawi City

in such multi-agency development blue print became evident in its designation with the Kilometer 000.00 reference in the subsequent construction of Mindanao Road Network during the colonial period.

Another Maranao veteran journalist, Ali Macabalang, said in a social media comment that he has known from the start that many “mansion dwellers” in the city do not officially own the lots on which their residential houses stand.

One doesn’t say this without facing a risk of being reprimanded by the local datus for violating some code of the Maranao Maratabat. But Macabalang is no ordinary reporter; he is a direct descendant of the Sultan of Ramain, and grandnephew Colonel Luis Marohombsar, the first military governor of Lanao.

Now, Yahya, also a native of Marawi, sees a “Second Coming” by the Americans, amid the government heavy military campaign to flush out members of the extremist Maute

JURISPRUDENCE SEMINAR. Guest and

participants from the 4th district of Batangas to the Seminar on Jurisprudence and Proper Handling of Drug Cases sit with (from left) lawyer Maria Antonette Capuno-Beloso (Prosecutor III), Judge Rose Marie Manalang Austria (Executive Judge Regional Trial Court Branch 87) Batangas Provincial Director Senior Supt.

Randy Q. Peralta, and Rosario Chief of Police Supt. Mary Crystal B. Peralta, and host Rosario Mayor Manuel B. Alvarez (not in photo). Roy Tomandao

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION August 22, 2016 FDA CIRCULAR No. 2016-016 TO

: ALL COSMETIC MANUFACTURERS, TRADERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES

SUBJECT : Updates and Amendments of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive as Adopted During the 24th ASEAN Cosmetic Committee Meeting and Its Related Events In 2005, the Department of Health (DOH) - Food and Drug Administration (FDA), then called Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), has adopted and implemented the ASEAN Harmonized Cosmetic Regulators’ Scheme and the ASEAN Common Technical Documents including the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) through Administrative Orders No. 2005-0015 and 20050025 respectively for the purpose of eliminating trade barriers and enhancing cooperation within the ASEAN Member States in ensuring the safety, quality and claimed benefits of cosmetic products.

In line with the ASEAN Cosmetic Harmonization, the ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) has been established to ensure that the ACD would be implemented effectively. It is composed of representatives from each ASEAN Member State’s national regulatory authority (NRA) responsible for cosmetic products as well as representatives from the ASEAN Cosmetic Industry, namely, the ASEAN Cosmetic Association (ACA). The ACC meets semi-annually to coordinate, review and monitor the implementation of the ACD as well as update the necessary technical documents. Updates and amendments that have been adopted during an ACC meeting shall be formally cascaded and disseminated to the local cosmetic industry through the issuance of a circular.

On 24 to 27 May 2016, the ACC convened in Hanoi, Vietnam during the 24th ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC), 24th ASEAN Cosmetic Scientific Body (ACSB) and 7th ASEAN Cosmetic Testing Laboratory Committee (ACTLC) Meetings. In the interest of public service, and to further our commitment of providing timely information dissemination, the Food and Drug Administration - Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research (FDA-CCRR) hereby reports the highlights of the aforementioned meetings.

A. 24th ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) Meeting

‘CAR can’t exist as federal state’

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan admitted Sunday that the Cordillera cannot exist as an independent federal state based on the concept of federalism.

The practical means available for the region to be intact once the planed shift to federal form of government will be realized is through the realization of the renewed quest for regional autonomy, Domogan added.

The mayor revealed that based on the actual collections of taxes of the Cor-

Due to increasing safety concerns over the possible association between the use of talccontaining cosmetic products and ovarian cancer, the ACC proposed that an ASEAN Joint Opinion Statement for ingredients that are of public health concern should be developed.

dillera office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue last year, the 80-percent share of the region is not even sufficient to sustain the operation of the federal state, aside from the share that will be provided to the national government among other unsettled obligations.

In 2016, BIR-CAR managed to collect more than P5.2 billion in taxes regionwide, with 80 percent of the taxes generated in Baguio City alone. Thus, if the federal state will retain the 80 percent of the taxes, then it will only have around P3.9 billion remaining, which will not be enough to sustain

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

In line with this proposal, a pilot task force comprised of Singapore, Philippines and Thailand was formed to conduct more research on this matter to come up with a harmonized ASEAN statement regarding the subject.

the

B. 24 ASEAN Cosmetic Scientific Body (ACSB) Meeting th

InvItatIon to BId for Procurement of dIgItal electro-hygrometer wIth humIdIty IB no. 2017-301

1.

Annex II- List of Substances Which Must Not Form Part of the Composition of Cosmetic Products Annex IV- List of Colouring Agents Allowed for Use in Cosmetic Products Annex VI- List of Preservatives Which Cosmetic Products May Contain Annex VII - List of UV Filters Which Cosmetic Products May Contain

The Department of Health (DOH), through the Continuing Appropriations of 2016intends to apply the sum of Twelve Million Six Hundred Thousand Philippine Pesos (PhP12,600,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Digital Electro-Hygrometer with Humidity under IB No. 2017-301. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The clean copies of the ACD annexes include all the updates and amendments to the ACD Ingredient List adopted during ACC meetings. These are available for viewing and can be downloaded in the FDA website. As for the ACD Annex III - List of Substances Which Cosmetic Products Must Not Contain Except Subject to Restrictions and Conditions Laid Down, this is currently being restructured and is not yet available.

The DOH now invites bids for the procurement of the above-captioned project.

Delivery of the Goods is required within the period specified under SECTION VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%)of the ABC. 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 Reform Act”.

During the ACSB meeting, clean copies of the updated ACD Annexes were presented which include: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Presently, restrictions laid down in ACD Annex III for thioglycolic acid and its salts limiting its use only in cosmetic products that are intended as: (1) hair waving or straightening products, (2) depilatories, and (3) other hair care products which are removed after application. There is no indication that this ingredient is allowed to be used in eyelash-waving products. During the 24th ACSB meeting, it was decided that thioglycolic acid will not be authorized for use in eyelashwaving products, hence, ACD Annex III Ref. No. 2a will remain unchanged.

Lastly, a final format of the ASEAN Guidelines on Limits of Contaminants for Cosmetics was agreed upon. This document contains the set maximum limit for total microbial contamination (bacteria, yeast and molds), individual microbial contamination (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans) and heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium) that may be found in cosmetic products.

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 COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given above during 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 29 August – 19 September 2017from the address above 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 Philippine 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.

C. 7th ASEAN Cosmetic Testing Laboratory Committee (ACTLC) Meeting All ASEAN Member States were requested to provide the list of accredited testing laboratories in their respective countries. For the Philippines, the list of accredited testing laboratories may be found in the Department of Trade and Industry - Philippine Accreditation Bureau (DTI-PAB) website (http://www.pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/public/public test.php). The list also includes the scope of the accreditation of each testing laboratory.

6.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 05 September 2017, 10:00 A.M. at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the COBAC-C Secretariat at the address below on or before 19 September 2017, 9:00 A.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.

The above-mentioned highlights of the 24lh ACC meeting and its related events are disseminated to all concerned parties to provide pertinent information necessary in their operation as cosmetic establishments. FDA would like to reiterate that companies and/or persons responsible for placing cosmetic products in the market should be responsible for regularly checking for updates and amendments to the ACD.

8.

This circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and upon filing to the University of the Philippines Law Center-Office of the National Administrative Register.

The DOH reserves the right toreject 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.

9.

For further information, please refer to:

MARIA LOURDES C. SANTIAGO, MSc, MM OIC, Director General

M. Standard – Aug. 28, 2017

Group, said to be inspired by the ISIS terrorist group.

In a post on social media, Yahya wrote: “Fighting pa more para majustify pag lusob ng Amerika sa Morolandia at tuluyan na nila masira at makuha. (So that America’s coming amid this destruction would be justified, then they could take it all).”

Yahya is apparently referring to the US military campaigns to Mindanao and Sulu at the turn of the 20th century when the American colonial forces carried out three major expeditions to neutralize the Moros: 1) The Ramaien (Ramain, Lanao Sur) Expedition in 1904 against the Sultan of Ramain; 2) the Cotabato Upriver Expedition of 1905 against Rajah Muda Datu Ali; and 3) the Jolo Campaign in 1905 against Jikiri, the rebellious henchman of the Sulu Sultan.

This data comes from the Annotated Bibliography [Preliminary Edition], the Center for Philippine Studies at University of Hawai’i at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii). (To be continued)

Bid opening shall be on 19 September 2017, 9:00 A.M. at theCOBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

COBAC-C Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830

(MS-AUG. 28, 2017)

(SGD) NESTOR F. SANTIAGO, JR, MD, MPHC, MHSA, CESO III Assistant Secretary of Health COBAC – C Chairperson

the operation of the federal government, Domogan stressed.

In the autonomous setup, Domogan explained the regional autonomous government will be entitled to the funding requirements from the national government, aside from the share of the local governments and the regional government from the subsidy to be provided by the national government—to the tune of P75 billion for the first 10 years of its existence and over P28-billion allocation of the regional line agencies annually, which will be spent solely in the region.

Benefit show for soldiers set October 7 “KAWAL Dangal ng Bayan!” (Soldiers are the honor of the country!)

This is the battle cry and the title of a benefit concert for the wounded soldiers and the families of those who died in battle between government forces and terrorist groups.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles (Philippine Eagles), also known as the Philippine Eagles Brotherhood Concord, a historic brotherhood concord founded on May 1979, is now gearing up for their “Kawal Dangal Ng Bayan: Pagpupugay ng Agila sa mga Sugatang Kawal” variety show for a cause.

The show will be held on Oct. 7, Saturday, starting 2 p.m. at V. Luna Auditorium, AFP General Hospital V. Luna Road, Quezon City. It features various performing artists such as singers, band performers, dance groups, and comedians.

Proceeds of the benefit concert will be used to provide monetary and medical assistance with hospital supplies to each wounded soldier and each family of a dead soldier.

“We don’t need to be soldiers or to personally witness how they engage in battles between extremist groups to know their sacrifices just to protect our sovereignty and our country. We can see it at AFP General hospital in V. Luna Quezon City,” Gabo Ignacio, project chairperson and charter president of Cavite Golden Eagles Club, said.

“Some soldiers have broken arms, others broken legs, there are those who are still in the state of shocked. They sacrificed almost everything, their own body, their energies, and their families, so for them to maintain peace and order, uphold our Constitution and the best interests of majority of the Filipino people. This project is our own little way to express our gratitude to our men in uniform,” Ignacio added.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World Robots seen in future airports SINGAPORE―Passengers’ baggage is collected by robots, they relax in a luxurious waiting area complete with an indoor garden before getting a face scan and swiftly passing through security and immigration. This could be the airport of the future.

It’s a vision that planners hope will become reality as new technology is rolled out, transforming the exhausting experience of getting stuck in lengthy queues in aging, overcrowded terminals into something far more pleasant.

The Asia-Pacific has been leading the way but faces fierce competition from the Middle East as the major hubs compete to attract the growing number of long-haul travelers who can choose how to route their journey.

The regions “are the two leading pockets of technology growth because they are really competing to be the global hubs for air transportation,” Seth Young, director of the Center for Aviation Studies at Ohio State University, told AFP. “If I’m going to fly from New York to Bangalore, do I transfer through Abu Dhabi or Dubai or do I transfer through Hong Kong?

That’s a huge, huge market.”

But the changes also represent major challenges that could upend decades-old business models at the major airports, with analysts warning operators may face a hit to their revenues to the tune of billions of dollars.

Facial scanning in particular is generating a lot of buzz.

Changi in the affluent citystate of Singapore, regarded as among the world’s best airports, is set to roll out this biometric technology at a new terminal to open later this year.

Passengers will have their faces scanned when they first check in and at subsequent stages, theoretically allowing them to go through the whole boarding process quickly without encountering another human.

Australia announced in July an investment of A$22.5 million ($17.5 million) to introduce face recognition technology at all the country’s international airports, while Dubai Airport is also trialling it.

Robots are appearing at some major hubs, including at Seoul’s Incheon airport, where they carry out tasks including cleaning and carrying luggage, while Changi’s new terminal will have robotic cleaners complete with butlers’ uniforms.

Self-service check-in and printing of boarding passes is already common, with many people printing their passes at home or at airport kiosks, and some hubs are now introducing self-service baggage drop points. AFP

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

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Still traveling after 40 years M

IAMI―Forty years ago, NASA rocket scientists sought to answer this question by launching the Voyager spacecraft, twin unmanned spaceships that would travel further than any human-made object in history.

NIGHT FOR BEST NEW ARTIST. Sammi Sanchez attends MTV & Taco Bell present ‘Best New Artist’ Night for ‘VMA Weekend’ at Avalon on August 26, 2017, in Hollywood, California. AFP

They are still traveling.

When Voyager 1 and 2 launched about two weeks apart in 1977 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, scientists knew little about the outer planets in our solar system, and could hardly imagine the scope of their upcoming space odyssey.

“None of us knew, when we launched 40 years ago, that anything would still be working, and continuing on this pioneering journey,” said Voyager project scientist Ed Stone.

Voyager’s main mission was to explore other planets including Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune, but it also carried the story of humanity into deep space.

On board each Voyager is a golden record―and record player―that is built to last one billion years or more and contains key information about humanity and life on planet Earth, in case of an alien encounter.

The sounds include the calls of humpback whales, the Chuck Berry song “Johnny B. Goode,” Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, a Japanese shakuhachi (a type of flute), a Pygmy girls’ initiation song, and greetings in 55 languages.

The late American astronomer Carl Sagan, one of the lead scientists involved with the project, also asked his son, Nick, who is now 46, to record his voice on it.

“Hello, from the children of planet Earth,” says the young American boy.

A total of 115 images are encoded in analog form, including the Great Wall of China, telescopes, sunsets, elephants, Jane Goodall with chimps, an airport, a train, a breastfeeding mother, dolphins and images of the hu-

man sex organs.

Voyager 2 launched first, on August 20, 1977, followed by Voyager 1 on September 5 on a faster, shorter trajectory that would eventually take it into the lead.

The timing of the mission took advantage of a rare planetary alignment that only happens every 175 years, along with “gravity-assist” boosts from passing by planets that minimized the fuel needed.

But Voyager faced many challenges from the start, from tight budgets to the limits of modern technology in the 1970s.

One project scientist famously recalled wrapping Voyager’s cables in aluminum foil―the storebought kind for kitchen use―to protect the spacecraft from frying in heavy radiation.

Then-president Richard Nixon wanted to contain the mission to a two-planet flyby and a five-year life, but scientists building Voyager planned for a longer mission just in case.

The cosmic duo went on to unveil planetary features unlike anything ever seen, including details about the surface of Jupiter with its raging storm the size of two Earths, known as the Great Red Spot.

“These were, at that point, better pictures than any groundbased telescopes could provide,” said Alan Cummings, a senior research scientist at Caltech who worked on the project beginning in 1973.

The Voyager mission also discovered the first active volcanoes beyond Earth on Jupiter’s moon Io, and signs of a subsurface ocean on Jupiter’s moon Europa.

AFP

Rohingya migrants sent back despite violence COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh― Bangladesh detained and forcibly returned 70 Rohingya migrants to Myanmar, police said Sunday, just hours after Myanmarese troops on the other side of the border had opened fire on people fleeing the country.

Police intercepted the Rohingya late Saturday after they crossed the “zero line” border zone, where Myanmar soldiers earlier fired mortars and machine guns at villagers making the dangerous dash from the northern state of Rakhine into Bangladesh.

The villagers were caught roughly four kilometers inside Bangladeshi territory en route to

a refugee camp in Kutupalong, where thousands of Rohingya already live in squalid conditions, said local police chief Abul Khaer.

“All 70 were detained and later pushed back to Myanmar by the border guards,” Khaer told AFP. Police said some of those detained had entered Bangladesh via the Ghumdhum border area― where the Myanmar forces unleashed the barrage of fire just hours earlier.

“They were pleading with us not to send them back to Myanmar,” said one policeman on condition of anonymity.

Rakhine has become a hotbed

of religious hatred focused on the stateless Rohingya Muslim minority, who are reviled and spurned as illegal immigrants in Buddhistmajority Myanmar.

Despite years of persecution, the Rohingya largely eschewed violence.

But in October a new militant group―the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army―attacked a string of Myanmar border posts, sparking a military crackdown that left scores dead and forced 87,000 people to flee to Bangladesh.

The latest violence erupted early on Friday as scores of men purportedly from ARSA, ambushed Myanmar police posts.

Using knives, some guns and homemade explosives they killed at least a dozen security force members.

Remote villages along the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar have seen fierce fighting since then between suspected militants and Myanmar security forces.

The violence has left a total of more than 100 dead since Friday and forced thousands of Rohingya to flee towards Bangladesh.

But authorities there have refused to let most of them in, with thousands of people―mainly women and children―stranded along the border zone.

The Bangladeshi government has instructed local officials in Cox’s Bazar, the district bordering Myanmar that is home to several large refugee camps, not to allow any “illegal entry” by Rohingya, Abdur Rahman, a senior government official, told AFP. The impoverished country already hosts some 400,000 Rohingya refugees.

But Rohingya community leaders, local media and an AFP correspondent said despite heavy border patrols, at least 3,000 Rohingya refugees have managed to enter the country and found refuge in camps and villages since Friday. AFP

Street art gives color to neighborhood BEIRUT―Seen from the highway out of Lebanon’s capital Beirut, the Ouzai neighborhood is a jumble of haphazard construction, but venture inside and its lowslung buildings transform into street art canvases.

Artists taking part in the “Ouzville” project have painted walls in brilliant blues, reds, yellows and greens, adorning others with enormous murals, doodles and cartoon characters.

The project is a breath of fresh air for Ouzai, a rundown and largely informal neighborhood on the Mediterranean coast south of Beirut.

It was once a sleepy seaside village, with long stretches of beach that attracted sunbathers from miles away.

But during Lebanon’s 19751990 civil war, some civilians displaced from elsewhere built slapdash housing in the area, often without permits, to accommodate their needs.

For decades, the neighborhood’s chaos of jumbled buildings and the web of electrical wires hanging overhead have been among the first things visible from planes landing at Beirut airport.

Ayad Nasser, the property developer behind the Ouzville project, was born in Ouzai in 1970 but

moved overseas during the civil war.

He said each landing at the nearby airport was a painful reminder of the neighborhood’s decline.

“Every time, I was sad landing here. I said, ‘I’m going to take care of Ouzai,’” he told AFP. Nasser launched his project 18 months ago, inviting Lebanese and international street artists to beautify parts of Beirut―Ouzai in particular.

“I felt that the most abandoned area in Lebanon is Ouzai,” Nasser said in English.

“It’s been 40 years that nobody is taking care of it: not the government, not the local parties, not even the local peoples.”

He worked with Ouzai residents to identify streets and buildings to be brightened up with bursts of color.

Around 140 buildings have now been painted, with a handful done by the residents themselves.

From the street below her firststory home, Jumana Yunis can be seen preparing green beans for lunch, framed by a large window in the bright yellow outer wall of her building.

Below the window is a large mural of a girl’s face, rendered in serene shades of turquoise and

royal blue.

At 38, Yunis has spent her whole life in Ouzai and is raising her four children in the home where she was born.

For her, the Ouzville project has “brought joy” to a neighborhood she loves.

“You’re happy when you go outside and see the colors, even if sometimes it’s strange. You feel that this is a new neighborhood,” she told AFP. “Lots of new people came to the neighborhood, and we got to meet strangers. It’s really lovely, the neighborhood has flourished with the colors.”

Nasser said part of the project’s goal is to “break the stereotype” of Ouzai, which many in Lebanon see as a slum to be avoided.

Much of the $140,000 (120,000 euros) he has spent on the project has gone on hosting people elsewhere in Lebanon and abroad at a local fish restaurant to encourage them to engage with Ouzai’s residents.

Rania al-Halabi, an amateur artist participating in the project, admits that Ouzai is “an area that we usually only enter with a car, in the best of circumstances.”

But she said the project inspired her from the minute she heard about it. AFP

HEADING. Tourists visit the dried-up Tuz Golu (Salt Lake), about 130 kilometers from Ankara, on August 26, 2017. Tuz Golu is the second biggest lake in Turkey and is located in the Central Anatolia Region. Half of the table salt production of Turkey is produced in factories located around the Salt Lake. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

World BODYPAINTING FESTIVAL. In this photo taken on August 26, 2017, a model representing Emanuele Borello of Italy poses backstage during the Daegu International Bodypainting Festival in Daegu.

The bodies of dozens of female models turned into living canvases this weekend as they allowed delicate brush strokes and flamboyant illustrations to cover up their bare skin. They are part of the 2017 Daegu International Bodypainting Festival along with top artists from 10 countries that runs until August 27 in South Korea’s southeastern city of Daegu. AFP

Princess Diana’s revenge continues LONDON―Princess Diana rocked the monarchy when she leaked shocking details of palace life to author Andrew Morton, who told AFP the revelations are still causing damage 20 years after her death.

His 1992 book “Diana: Her True Story―In Her Own Words” laid bare her decaying marriage to Prince Charles, her suicide attempts and battles with bulimia.

But it also painted a bleak picture of life inside Britain’s royal family.

Morton’s book, which became a best-seller, shone an unflattering light on Prince Charles that still casts a shadow on the heir to the throne, as thoughts turn towards a post-Elizabeth monarchy.

Morton is convinced that that is something Diana intended.

“There’s no question in her conversations with me and subsequently on television, when she talked about [how] Prince Charles wasn’t fit to be king, that she always felt that Prince William should take on the role of the future king,” he said in an interview in his London home.

“Today we find that a majority of people would rather see the crown go directly to Prince William rather than Prince Charles.

“Ain’t going to happen, but that’s public sentiment―and it’s public sentiment in part, which has been influenced by Diana’s life.”

A poll conducted by YouGov found that the run-up to Thursday’s 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in a Paris car crash had hit Charles’s popularity.

Only a third of the respondents said he had been beneficial for the royal family―down from nearly two-thirds four years ago.

Just 14 percent want to see his current wife Camilla, Diana’s nemesis during their marriage, as queen.

“The anniversary has already opened old wounds for Camilla, people are being reminded of the fact that she was instrumental in ending this marriage that was described as a fairy tale,” said Morton, who has released a revised version of his book to mark 25 years since its release.

Diana, who famously said there were “three people” in her marriage, contacted thenroyal reporter Morton through friend James Colthurst in order to make public her anguish. AFP

Businesses woo the ‘single dogs’ BEIJING―Alone on Chinese Valentine’s Day? Gift yourself a dried flower. Or better yet, indulge in a cake shaped like a “single dog”. Eating by yourself?

A restaurant will sit a teddy bear across from you.

As couples coo over each other during China’s version of Valentine’s Day on Monday, several businesses will woo a single population that may be unlucky with love but has money to spend.

While Valentine’s Day is on February 14 in other parts of the world, China celebrates its version during the Qixi Festival, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.

Couples go on dinner dates and exchange flowers and cards. And then there are the “single dogs”, as they are nicknamed in China.

Nearly 200 million people are not married in the country of almost 1.4 billion, according to official figures, many resisting family and cultural pressure to settle down.

Businesses have something else for them.

One of the country’s most popular hotpot restaurants, Haidilao, places a teddy bear across from customers who dine alone.

The bear can make customers “feel at home... not isolated and treated with warmth”, a local Haidilao restaurant manager, Xu Bin, told AFP, adding that this service mainly targets younger customers.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Seven Color Rainbow bakery makes a cake in the shape of a pooch with his tongue out.

Dubbed “the single dog”, the dessert is 20 percent more expensive than the shop’s more common cake, but it accounts for 15

percent of sales.

“People buy these cakes for their friends as a benign joke,” a staffer surnamed Liu told AFP. Even US fast food chain Burger King is offering a special discount meal just for singles on Chinese Valentine’s Day: A burger, a fried chicken thigh and a smoothie.

At his flower shop, An Shuai offers singles dried roses encased in glass, which he believes will be a hit on Valentine’s Day. “People love to celebrate these festivals, and single people can also give flowers to themselves,” An told AFP. A range of businesses are targeting singles, including travel, dining, online video games, online video streaming, sports apparels and cosmetics, according to Shaun Rein, founder of China Market Research Group and author of the book “The War for China’s Wallet”.

Travel agency Lvmama says the number of bookings for people without a companion rose almost twofold in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2016, according to the official People’s Daily newspaper.

In the first 11 months of 2016, solo travelers accounted for 15 percent of the millions of travelers monitored by Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper.

“More widespread among the young and single population, traveling alone has become a way for people to realize their spiritual pursuit,” Shi Yuduan, chief marketing officer of Ctrip’s tourism business department, was quoted as saying. AFP

Second storm hits Macau, HK amid typhoon recovery H

ONG KONG―A powerful storm lashed Hong Kong and Macau on Sunday, just days after a punishing typhoon swept through the region and claimed at least 18 lives.

BENEFIT EVENT. Musicians Lani Hall and Herb Alpert perform onstage at the Festival of Arts Celebrity Benefit Event on August 26, 2017, in Laguna Beach, California. AFP

Guru’s believers end impasse with army SIRSA, India―Thousands of supporters of a controversial Indian guru ended a tense standoff with soldiers Sunday, avoiding renewed violence after their leader’s rape conviction sparked riots in which at least 36 people died.

Followers of Ram Rahim Singh, whose loyalists went on a rampage after he was found guilty Friday, began trickling out one by one under army guard from the compound of their spiritual headquarters in Sirsa, a town in the northern state of Haryana.

Hundreds of soldiers and riot police had blocked approaches to the premises spread over 1,000 acres and were urging those holed up inside to surrender peacefully.

Indian authorities have been on high alert in Sirsa and Panchkula, the city where Singh faced judgment, since riot-

ing and arson broke out minutes after the self-styled godman was found guilty of raping two of his followers.

Police said at least 36 people were killed as tens of thousands of followers went on the rampage, attacking television vans and setting fire to dozens of vehicles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday it was “natural to be worried” amid days of violence, which even briefly reached the capital New Delhi.

“Violence is not acceptable in the nation, in any form,” Modi said in his monthly radio address.

“Those who take law in their hands or take to violence will not be spared, whoever they are.”

A curfew imposed in Sirsa, where soldiers patrolled empty streets, was briefly lifted Sunday to allow Singh’s followers

to leave the headquarters.

Under close guard, supporters left one by one from the compound as spiritual anthems blared from megaphones.

At a nearby shop adorned with posters of the 50-year-old spiritual leader, devotee Trilok Insaan defended the guru and accused police and troops of a brutal response.

“Our father can never do any sin,” he told AFP. “This is a conspiracy. Authorities issued a ‘shoot at sight’ order at innocent devotees, which is totally wrong.”

Singh will be sentenced Monday at the prison where he is being held in Rohtak, which authorities have transformed into a fortress to avoid any repeat of violence.

Barbed-wire barricades have been erected along roadsides and the city is under police and military lockdown. AFP

Both cities raised a Typhoon 8 signal―the third-highest warning level―early Sunday as severe tropical storm “Pakhar” made landfall in the region, where emergency workers were still battling to repair Wednesday’s damage.

A total of 206 flights were canceled and another 471 delayed because of the latest storm, while 44 flights had to divert, Hong Kong’s Airport Authority said. Cathay Pacific, the city’s flagship, said “cancellations, diversions and severe delays” were expected.

All ferry services in Hong Kong were suspended until the storm warning was lowered in both cities in the early afternoon. Dozens of trees weakened by Wednesday’s typhoon were brought down by the latest storm.

No deaths were reported on Sunday but Hong Kong hospital officials said 62 people were injured.

A Chinese cargo ship was sinking east of Hong Kong Sunday morning but all 11 crew members were rescued, the government flying service said.

Pakhar brought winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour to Hong Kong. Sunday is a holiday but on a working day the Typhoon 8 signal would have meant the shutdown of the stock market, schools and businesses.

In Macau, authorities issued fresh flooding warnings as the shops that were battered Wednesday remained closed on Sunday morning. Traffic lights stayed blacked out with power yet to return to parts of the city.

The water supply had been restored, a Macau government statement said Sunday, but the buildings with damaged pumps still lacked water.

“This is tough but there is nothing we can do,” said shop owner Leung Chin-pang, who has been without water since the first storm hit.

Pakhar―named after a freshwater fish in the lower Mekong river―arrived as worst-hit Macau was still picking up the pieces following Typhoon Hato, the city’s strongest typhoon in 53 years according to its government.

Hato, which triggered the most severe Typhoon 10 warning, ripped through the gambling hub Wednesday, plunging casinos into darkness and causing destructive floods.

The official death toll in Macau reached 10, as the government of the semi-autonomous Chinese city faced recriminations over its lack of preparedness.

A further eight people are known to have died from Typhoon Hato in the neighboring mainland Chinese province of Guangdong, which Pakhar also reached mid-morning Sunday.

Dozens of visitors had returned to the main tourist attraction of Senado Square in Macau Sunday as the clean-up progressed. AFP

Four Japanese chefs

showcase culinary expertise

I

N A country where food is a lifestyle and restaurants are more than just places for eating, foodies and casual diners are always seeking for a new, unique, and exciting gastronomic experience.

Newly opened fine bistro, Epilogue at S Maison mall, meets these criteria as it fuses the dedicated Japanese approach with the fresh and vibrant flavors of a European style bistro.

With a friendly atmosphere perfect for intimate dining, Epilogue offers a refreshing take on the familiar and introduces diners to a new culinary journey.

At the heart of Epilogue are four seasoned chefs namely Tomohide Ono, Hayato Mitsuhashi, Minoru Sorimachi, and Kenji Ishihara—all Japanese in spirit and process but with a global culinary perspective.

From fresh pastries made every morning to exceptional cuisine and cocktails in the evening, these Epilogue chefs showcase their skills and kodawari—a Japanese way of life where one continuously learns and strives for excellence in their chosen profession—in a way that will surely delight Filipino diners.

Chef Tomohide Ono specializes in soft breads.

While he has already delighted palates in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Jakarta, he takes on a new challenge as he introduces his creations in Manila.

At Epilogue, he offers a wide variety of breads using local ingredients that bring out the flavor of each item in his selection.

Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi’s expertise, on the other hand, is pasta and Italian food. He enjoys incorporating fresh seafood into his dishes, and is also into combining Italian ingredients like produce and herbs with Japanese flavors. His dishes, as Epilogue diners attest, are heavily influenced by his Italian training and Japanese heritage.

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

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Delight in a serving of Epilogue’s King’s Cut

Meanwhile, Minoru Sorimachi had his early training 19 years ago as an apprentice at a teppanyaki restaurant in Ropponggi. His kodawari led to his evolution into a master of steak and teppanyaki. He has turned teppanyaki into a performance art where he is encouraged by the audience’s reactions. With experience from various steak houses in Japan, he is ready to share his craft with the Manila audience.

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Chef Tomohide Ono brings his expertise in making Epilogue’s pastries

Epilogue at S Maison features a wide range of food choices made by chefs (from left) Hayato Mitsuhashi, Kenji Ishihara, Tomohide Ono, and Minoru Sorimachi.

An Asian culinary swing

Enjoy 4pcs of sushi for P69 or 6pcs of sushi for P99.

THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

H

AVE you ever wanted to go on a gastronomic tour of Asia but haven’t got the budget yet to do so?

Well, you can do that now without having to bring out your passport and burning a hole in your pocket.

At Food Exchange Manila, the all-day dining restaurant of Novotel Araneta Center, you can feast on a wide array of street food from eight Asian countries: Thailand, India, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and China.

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the Philippines as current chairman, we celebrate this occasion by bringing together food from our regional neighbors. This is the spirit of Food Exchange Manila: an exchange of culture through food,” said Bernd Schneider, Novotel’s general manager, during the launch of the restaurant’s Asian Street Food Festival.

Street food has a long and colorful history – it is a great equalizer, with

“Culture is best served on a plate,” says Chef Sau del Rosario.

consumers coming from every social class, from taxi drivers to construction workers to businessmen in their long-sleeves and neckties. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that at least 2.5 billion people eat street food every day.

Street food also preserves traditional ways of cooking and utilizes produce grown locally, encouraging a sense of community as it brings together strangers who commune through food.

“The Asian street food culture can be an overwhelming experience when you travel. It transcends from one generation to another,” said Chef Sau del Rosario.

“Each Asian street food has a story behind it. This is why we say that culture is best served on a platter,” he added.

Among the Thai street food featured in the buffet spread are pad thai – stirfried rice noodles with scrambled eggs, red cabbage, peanuts, bean sprouts, green onions and cilantro; kha moo palo – pork stew with eggs and mushrooms similar to our very own pata tim; and tom yum goong – a hot and sour soup with prawns.

Soe-galbi jin (beef stew with mushrooms, radish, carrots and gingko nuts), jjimdak (braised chicken that is mildly

Enjoy authentic street food from eight Asian countries at Novotel Araneta Center’s Food Exchange Manila.

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Get your fix of Japanese favorites at FamilyMart IS THE busy workweek getting you down? Treat yourself to your Japanese favorites at FamilyMart.

If you and your squad are getting tired of your usual lunch fare, go on a tempura run and load up on FamilyMart’s filling orders of ebi tempura.

The deep-fried, crispy shrimp dish is a crowd favorite, so the group shouldn’t have any trouble agreeing on where and what to eat.

Looking for a snack to keep you on a roll? FamilyMart’s sushi sets are sure to hit the spot.

Their tamago sushi, futomaki, and cali ebi sushi rolls in sets of four pieces are perfect for a mid-day treat that’s not too heavy.

Fami-

How far can your P79 take you? An Ebi Tempura run at FamilyMart.

lyMart’s very yummy California Maki still sells at six pieces a serving, for a heavier tummy fill.

We’re also easing into rainy weather, which means it’s the perfect season to warm up with a hearty bowl of soup.

With FamilyMart’s offering of Tokyo ramen and tempura udon, dropping by one of the convenience store giant’s branches is sure to keep you warm through this pleasantly cool, but wet weather.

For store locations or more information on FamilyMart Philippines, log on to www.familymart.com.ph.

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Barista of the year

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

HREE baristas. Three area competitions.

Three grueling segments. Three specialty drinks. One winner.

Gwyneth Gabay is Costa Coffee Philippines’ “Barista of the Year 2017/18 Country Champion” and is set to represent the country in the regional championship in Dubai, UAE in November. The regional winner will then join the much-anticipated Champion of Champions in London next year.

It was truly a competitive parade of “Pride. Passion. Personality” plus girl power as this 24-year-old barista representing Costa Coffee One World Place, BGC bested two male opponents in the country finals that consisted of a series of Technical Challenge, Speciality Drink Presentation, and an Espresso Race.

Joseph Palmiano of Eastwood and Gerardo Golong of Robinsons Galleria were adjudged first and second runnersup, respectively.

The three baristas judged based on their ability to make excellent coffee to brand standards and deliver multiple drinks; their passion for coffee evi- IN ACTION. Costa Coffee Philippines’ ‘Barista of the Year 2017/18 Country Champion’ Gwyneth Gabay creates her winning Specialty drink concoction, (inset) Rose Spiced Iced Latte. denced by excellent coffee knowledge and in telling the coffee journey with Grand confidence; and their outstanding comchampion Gabay munication skills manifested in the way (middle) they engage with customers, colleagues, with first and management as well as their enthurunner-up siasm and confidence as Costa Coffee Joseph ambassador.

Palmiano “The most difficult part of the comand second petition was the Technical aspect berunner-up cause we had to prepare a total of 16 Gerardo drinks including latte, cappuccino, and Golong flat white within 35 minutes. Although I was pressed for time, I just wanted to do everything flawlessly while enjoying the moment,” Gabay said.

At the Speciality Drink Presentation, Gabay showcased her own personally

Make celebrations vibrant and fun WHETHER you’re celebrating birth- count @VillaDelContePh, or visit www. days, anniversaries, weddings, or just villadelcontecioccolato.com. want to perk up your day, Villa Del Conte’s Ovicinis will absolutely make them more fun and vibrant.

These delicious, candy-coated dark chocolates from Padova, Italy are filled with premium hazelnut cream, promising a crunchy bite with a luscious finish.

These little artisanal and pastel treats will definitely make your events extra special and enjoyable.

The yummy and colorful Ovicinis are available at all Villa Del Conte stores in Greenbelt 5, Century City Mall, Shangri-la Mall, Resorts World, SM Megamall, and Robinsons Magnolia.

For bulk orders and to know more, contact 893-2575 or 621-6101, or follow Villa Del Conte on Facebook @ VillaDelContePh, on Twitter @villadelconte, and on their new Instagram ac- VIlla Del Conte Ovicinis

Four Japanese...

From D1 Last but not the least, Kenji Ishihara’s extensive knowledge of French pastries is rooted in his 23 years of experience working in Tokyo, Singapore, and Jakarta. His unique creations are a reflection of his love for sugar art and his exposure to a diverse culinary culture. His eclectic style

An Asian...

From D1 salty and sweet with a subtle spicy kick), and japchae (stir-fried glass noodle with meat and vegetables) represent South Korea, while fresh spring rolls, laksa, bak kut teh (pork ribs in spices and herbal soup), Hainanese chicken, bahn mi sandwich and char kway teow (fried flat noodles) will transport you to Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

There’s cucumber black fungus salad and a wide array of dim sum from China as well as takoyaki (savory balls with chunks of octopus tentacle inside, doused in a piquant sauce and Japanese mayonnaise and topped with dried bonito flakes and green onions) from the land of the rising sun.

Pinoy street food dishes are also well represented: a balut vendor makes the rounds carrying a basket filled with hot balut and penoy eggs, a sorbetero urges

in Manila is truly evident in the dessert creations now available at Epilogue.

With their extensive exposure to the food industry for over 20 years, these culinary geniuses are ready to take the Manila diners to a one-of-a-kind culinary journey.

Epilogue is a brand of the Food Revolution Group. To know more about Epilogue, go to www.epilogue.ph or visit Epilogue at G/F S Maison, Conrad Manila, Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. you to try “dirty” ice cream either in a cone with sandwiched inside a pan de sal, and a separate station for fish balls and squid balls that you can down with buko juice, melon juice, and sago’t gulaman.

Diners who will enjoy the Asian Street Food Festival (P1,299 during weekdays for both lunch and dinner and P1,499 for weekends and public holidays) until Sept.

3. Diners will also have the chance to win a three-night stay in participating AccorHotels’ properties across Asia – Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay, Novotel Saigon Center, Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam, Mercure Tokyo Ginza, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam and Novotel Manila Araneta Center.

“Here at Food Exchange Manila, you don’t need passports or visas. Come here with a curious palate and savor the Asian flavors that we offer,” Chef Sau said.

For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

concocted Rose Spiced Iced Latte—an espresso-based coffee blended with rose syrup, milk, and cinnamon powder then finished off with a rose petal and cinnamon stick.

“I went to school in Baguio and had my first barista job there as well. Baguio is famous for its Panagbenga Flower Festival plus I’m the only female in the competition; so I thought of using a rose, and the cinnamon stick—which has antioxidant properties—as ingredients in my Speciality drink,” she explained.

Palmiano made a coffee mock-tail called Frutato Café Spumante, a watermelon-based sparkling coffee mixed with fresh lemonade and tonic water while Golong made Pandan Sale d’ Italia, a ristretto shot combined with lemongrass, pandan leaves, honey and lemon juice.

Annually since 2006, the finest baristas from Costa Coffee stores across continents are flown to London to compete for the title—Champion of Champions.

Now on its third year in the Philippines, the country has been a serious contender for the highly coveted distinction, producing winners in the past.

Gladys Fornoles, a Barista Maestro from Costa Coffee Robinsons Place Manila, was the first Country Champion of the Barista of the Year (BOTY) competition held in 2015, the same year Costa Coffee made its debut in the Philippines. She represented the Philippines in the Southeast Asian competition in Singapore.

Justin de la Fuente, meanwhile, competed in Singapore as Philippines’ wildcard winner. He bested other baristas from Southeast Asia and moved on to the world competition in London where he impressed no less than head judge and Costa’s Coffee Master Gennaro Pellicia (his tongue is insured for £10M to protect his expertly tuned taste buds) with his personal creation, the Sparkling Café Mojito made with Filipino dalandan.

Costa Coffee in the Philippines are located at Citywalk 1 Eastwood; Robinsons Place Manila; One World Place, BGC; Tera Tower, Bridgetown; Robinsons Place Antipolo; The Block, SM North Edsa; Robinsons Selections, Venice Grand Canal; Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Galleria; UP Town Center; Robinsons Equitable Tower & Robinsons Galleria.

Build your own pizza

Project Pie lets diners make their own pasta and salad

Customers can create their pizza with any of the 32 toppings

LOOKING for a casual dining place that will satisfy both your appetite and your creativity? Your search is now over with the opening of the newest branch of Project Pie at Bonifacio Global City, the only artisan-inspired bistro that gives diners the free reign to design and build their own pizza, pasta, and salad.

Apart from its tasty offerings, guests will also enjoy the fresh, cool, and Instagram-worthy vibe of this newest store.

Project Pie has been a crowd favorite of Filipino foodies since 2013 and now boasts nine stores throughout Metro Manila.

Unlike other food establishments, it encourages guests to use their ingenuity and individuality by empowering them to create their own flavor combinations.

Diners can customize the signature pizza crust using any of the 32 toppings and ingredients. That way, they can guarantee that their pizza is truly their own.

To complement their build your own pizza, Project Pie has also introduced its newest product: the Baked Chicken Wings. It is available in Buffalo Red, BBQ, and Pesto Parmesan flavors.

Visit its newest branch at BGC or have food delivered via foodpanda.ph.

Yummy out-of-the-(lunch) box school baon ideas SEND kids to school with these easy-to-follow out-of-the2. Add Jolly Cream of Mushroom Soup, milk, salt, and (lunch) box baon recipes courtesy of Jolly, the country’s ground pepper. Simmer until mixture thickens. leading canned fruit and vegetable brand.

3. Pour over the sauce over the fried patties.

Not only are kids’ lunchbox meals made yummier and heartier by fresh and top-quality food ingredients, Jolly’s Jolly Chicken Nuggets handy recipes make preparing baon simpler yet more creaIngredients tive that moms and kids will surely enjoy.

• 500g ground chicken breast Jolly Creamy Beef Mushroom Burger • 2 tbsp salt Patty Ingredients: • 2 pcs eggs • 500g ground beef • ½ tsp ground pep• 3 tbsp soy sauce per • 4 tbsp onion, chopped • 2 tbsp Good • 1/2 tsp pepper Life Oyster Sauce • 2 tsp dried thyme • 1 cup Breadcrumbs • ½ can Jolly MushMushroom Gravy rooms Pieces and Stems 400g, chopped Ingredients: • Sweet chili sauce of your choice • 2 tbsp butter • 1 tbsp chopped onion For the Coating: • 1 can Jolly Pieces and Stem Mushroom 400g, drained • ½ cup flour • 1 can Jolly Cream of Mushroom Soup 10.5oz • 1 piece egg, beaten • 1/2 cup Jolly Cow Freshmilk • ½ cup Breadcrumbs • 1 tsp ground pepper • ½ cup Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil for frying Burger Patty Procedure: Procedure: 1. Combine ingredients in a bowl.

1. In a bowl, mix chicken, salt, eggs, pepper, oyster sauce, 2. Get at least 1/4 cup of the mixture, roll into a ball then breadcrumbs, and chopped Jolly Mushrooms Pieces and Stems. flatten using your palm.

2. Flatten chicken mixture by rolling it out with thickness 3. Pan fry the shaped mixture and drain on paper towel to close to half an inch. Slice it to form a cube with the size of remove excess oil. an inch per side. Set aside 3. Dip nuggets in flour, and then the beaten egg, followed Mushroom Gravy Procedure: by the breadcrumbs then deep fry in batches of 5-7 until 1. Heat butter. Sauté onion and a can of Jolly Pieces and golden brown.

Stem Mushroom.

4. Serve with sweet chili sauce.

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

Vic Sotto feels good about his MMFF entry

The first Mr. & Ms. BPO

SEARCH KICKS OFF

Mr. and Ms. BPO mentors (from left) Jun Macasaet, Jonathan Yabut, Jennifer Hammond, Ruby Mañalac, and Mauro Lumba

T

HE Philippines has indeed become a powerhouse when it comes to beauty pageants and modeling competitions.

We have proven time and again that we can be on top of the game if given the chance to showcase the so-called “inner beauty,” wit and charm.

This year, an exciting search unfolds with a fresh and innovative approach, the first Mr. & Ms. BPO. It highlights the workforce behind one of the most progressive industries in the country to date - Business Process Outsourcing - or what is commonly called BPO or contact center.

The first contact center was established in the Philippines in 1992. After almost two decades, the Philippines has been declared the world’s BPO capital. And, last year, it was projected to have generated 1.3 million new jobs with a 17 percent annual growth.

Without a doubt, the Philippines is the standard country in the world for the BPO enterprise.

With all these breakthroughs, the search for the perfect BPO Ambassadors is equally exciting. The time has come to train the spotlight on the new breed of young men and women who can be rightfully called “mga bagong bayani ng bayan” (the new heroes of the country).

The Search for Mr. & Ms. BPO kicks off and is now accepting applicants.

Interested parties must be 18 to 26 years old, single, Filipino citizen or with Filipino ancestry, at least 5’4” tall for female and 5’6” tall for male. They must also have proportionate physiques, possess pleasing personalities, and with good moral character. He/she must also be regular employees of a BPO company and a resident of the Philippines.

The first Mr. & Ms. BPO aims to promote excellence, leadership and camaraderie in the workplace. It will also empower the candidates to impart the right attitude at work and the drive to help in nation building. Facilitating the development of the candidates in a holistic approach is a formidable team composed of mentors for fitness and well-being, communication skills, emotional intelligence acumen and modeling, just to name a few.

The mentors are Jun Macasaet (Manhunt International 2102 winner), Jonathan Yabut (first winner of The Apprentice Asia), Jennifer Hammond (Binibining Pilipinas 2016), Ruby Manalac (Emotional Intelligence expert) and Mauro Lumba (Century Tuna Superbods 2014 and fitness enthusiast).

To register and join the Mr. and Ms. BPO, check out the official website (www.mrandmsbpo.com) and download the application form.

For more details, follow the event’s social media accounts on Facebook (MrandMsBPOofficial), Instagram (mrandmsbpoofficial), Twitter (MrandMsBPO) and on YouTube (MrandMsBPO). For other inquiries, you may call the Mr. and Ms. BPO secretariat at 0977-3846984.

A production of Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc., the Mr. and Ms. BPO will hold its finals night on Nov. 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

ABS-CBN wins Best TV Station in Aral-Parangal Awards ABS-CBN has picked up another Best TV Station recognition and bagged a total of 18 trophies for its entertainment and news shows, personalities, and journalists at the Mindanao based Young Educators’ Convergence at SOCCSKSARGEN 3rd AralParangal Awards.

On top of the Best TV Station award, ABS-CBN News raked in four recognitions including Best TV News Program (TV Patrol), Best Educational TV Program (Matanglawin), Best TV Program Host (Gus Abelgas), and Best TV Public Affairs Host (Boy Abunda).

In the entertainment category, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, the country’s most watched TV program, was named Best Coco Martin is hailed as Best Drama TV Primetime Drama Series, Actor in his performance in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” while Coco Martin was hailed as the Best Drama Actor. clinched the award for Best Female TV Breakout child star Mcneal “Awra” Host and Best Male TV Host.

Briguela, meanwhile, emerged as the Other Kapamilya winners include Best Child Performer.

Liza Soberano (Best Drama Actress), MMK, the longest running drama John Lloyd Cruz (Movie Actor of the anthology in Asia, won Best TV Year), Bea Alonzo (Movie Actress of Drama Anthology, while the top-rating the Year), Luis Manzano (Best TV noontime show It’s Showtime took Game Show Host), Pokwang (Best home the award for Best TV Variety Comedy Actress), and the Star Cinema Show. Resident It’s Showtime hosts box office hit, A Second Chance Anne Curtis and Vice Ganda also (Movie of the Year).

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, August 28, 2017

ACROSS 1 Painter — Chagall 5 Summit 9 Safety agcy.

13 Sandwich cookie 14 Achilles’ story 16 Faculty head 17 Pants feature 18 Slogan 19 Wednesday’s god 20 Most mawkish 22 Move in a circle 24 Type of arch 25 Where monkeys swing 26 Turn down 27 Dress style (hyph.)

30 Patsy 33 Hidden 35 Point out 39 Debt securer 40 “Walk Away —” 42 Victimized 43 Emotionally upset 45 Prompt 47 Meshed utensils 49 — Goodman 50 Montana and Manning 53 Pass quickly 54 Computerscreen symbol

56 58 62 63 65

Gauguin’s island Worried, plus Monogram pt.

Prime-time hour Commend highly 66 Put down flagstone 67 Recipe direction 68 Egyptian god 69 Loud noise 70 Monster’s loch 71 Loose threads DOWN 1 Fallen log coverer 2 Region 3 Swing a sickle 4 Parts 5 Singer — Mann 6 Locks up 7 Catcher’s glove 8 Gobble down 9 Aroma 10 Type of car 11 Papa Doc ruled it 12 Ell 15 Naive idealist (hyph.)

21 Disney CEO Bob — 23 Berra of baseball 25 Region 27 Rights org.

28 Kind of chop 29 Folk singer Burl — 31 Trace 32 Having worldwide scope 34 1994 James Cameron film (2 wds.)

36 H — — hat 37 Dollywood loc.

38 Circular current 41 Greed’s cousin 44 Crevice 46 Poet’s black

48 Takes aim 50 Swabs (hyph.)

51 Hackneyed 52 Hindu god of destruction 55 Dove shelters 57 Bit of gossip 58 Feverish chill 59 Tubular pasta in short pieces 60 School founded in 1440 61 Car-door ding 64 Fleming of 007 fame

VIC Sotto feels very positive about his 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Meant to ‘Beh, a joint production of OctoArts Films, APT Entertainment and M-Zet Productions.

“I’m certain that we have a winner in this project,” he avers. “For one, it holds various firsts which is refreshing for the viewers. It’s my maiden silver screen team-up with Ms. Dawn Zulueta, my first movie under the helm of Direk Chris Martinez and it’s also my first MMFF entry in recent years, which does not border on the fantasy-comedyaction genre. It’s very exciting!”

Since 2003, the ace comedian lorded the MMFF box-office race with films like Lastikman, Fantastic Man, and of course, the Enteng Kabisote series which were all official top-grossers.

Considering that his latest starrer is not a fantasy-comedy-action material, many ask if he is still confident that his followers will give it the same amount of support just like his previous offerings.

“I think the freshness of the material is one strong come-on.

Personally, I’m excited to do a genre like this. It’s a welcome thing for me: a family movie sans the fantasy and special effects.

It’s a breather, actually. This is the perfect movie date for every Filipino family come Christmas day.

“When we were conceptualizing the project, we saw to it that it has something new to offer the viewers…not the same stuff I’ve done in recent editions of the MMFF. We carefully brainstormed together with Direk Chris and I’m so glad and proud with the outcome. For sure, the viewers can relate to the characters in the story.

“We’ll be presenting conflicts that surround contemporary families, like the relationship of husbands and wives when they feel they’ve already outgrown each other after being married for quite some time, how parents handle the challenges and difficulties faced by their children at present and how kids play a vital role in bringing back their parents together. It’s really a heartwarming story that the public will love!”

Interestingly, this is his first full-length film with Dawn as leading lady.

“Yes! Would you believe? The last time that I worked with her was on television---during my Okay Ka Fairy Ko! days. That’s ages ago. I’m glad that finally, we were given the chance to be paired on a grand silver screen project like Meant to ‘Beh. I’m sure the viewing public will find our screen pairing exciting since it is fresh. In fact, I’m grateful that Dawn accepted the offer right away when it was first pitched in to her.”

Regarding Chris Martinez as the director of the movie, the charming comedian-TV host is very enthusiastic and excited as well.

“All of us in the team really wanted to work with a new director for this family movie. In the course of our initial discussion, the name of Direk Chris popped out. I’ve watched his films in the past and got impressed with the way he handled them. I can say that he’s perfect for the project.”

Apart from him and Dawn, the movie boasts of a star-studded cast.

“That’s right! We have Daniel Matsunaga, Andrea Torres, Sue Ramirez and my three children in the story: JC Santos, Gabbi Garcia and Baby Baste. The thought of working with these young stars is simply thrilling. As you can see, they come from rival networks but we’re happy to be collaborating for this movie. Anyway, we’re here to work and give our viewers quality entertainment!” ends Vic. ******** Opposite his real-life sweetheart Roxanne Barcelo, Will Devaughn is proud of his upcoming movie titled, I Found My Heart in Santa Fe under Blu Art Production.

“Oh yes! This is our first time to do a major project in which the two of us are the lead stars. I’m glad that our director, Mr. Bona Fajardo and his wife producer Ms. Lyn Fajardo really has us in mind to top-bill this beautiful love story,” he says.

The movie was entirely shot in Cebu.

“It aims to explore the beauty of Bantayan Islands. What’s good with Direk Bona is that he wants to complement the movie’s beautiful story with a breath-taking backdrop. Santa Fe is just perfect.

Apart from the plot, I’m sure the viewers will love the film’s cinematography. People will really take notice of its natural beauty!”

Many ask how it was working with Roxanne in a silver screen project considering their off-cam relationship.

“Well, it’s fun. We shot the film in two weeks’ time. Yes, it helped that we’re real-life sweethearts, especially in the sweet scenes, but when we shot this, it was the peak of summer. There were moments when the humidity irked us on the set but at the end of the day, we saw to it that we delivered in the scenes we’ve done. Ha-ha-ha! By the way, Roxanne and I are co-producers of this project.”

Maybe I Found My Heart in Santa Fe will pave the way for him to become the next important rom-com leading man.

“Wow! Hopefully. All of us did our best to come up with a lovely movie. I really hope the public will support it,” Will state.

‘90s stars Sheryl Cruz, Manilyn Reynes, and Tina Paner reunite on the concert stage for a show full of fun, music, and nostalgia

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2017

ISAH V. RED

I

F YOU were a child of the ‘80s you wouldn’t forget the songs and images of the three teenagers that dominated the airwaves and afternoon television and made you hum or sing and dance along with them And then in the ‘90s, they had become the hottest teen stars of the era.

And who might they be?

Naturally, their names still ring loudly even if younger stars (who can also dish out tunes from a videoke machine) are emerging and gradually elbowing these ladies on to the sidelines.

Persistence though is their ally, and they continue to hog the limelight.

Just recently, the three found themselves in a soap opera playing able support to the characters played by Barbie Forteza and the four hunks introduced to the audience of primetime drama – Ivan Dorsschner, Jak Roberto, Ken Chan, and Addy Raj. They were very happy to be cast alongside GMA Network’s rising stars, but most of all glad to be reunited with Keempee de Leon and Janno Gibbs.

On Sept. 9, fans of Tina Paner, Manilyn Reynes, and Sheryl Cruz are expected to fill up the Music Museum in Greenhills.

And, why not?

The three will own the theater’s center stage for their reunion concert called Triplets.

As expected, the trio of friends is thrilled just at the thought of sharing the stage once more to make music and have fun. It’s a throwback to the days when they were the major attraction in the network’s studio at the Broadway building in Quezon City.

Indeed, Tina, Manilyn, and Sheryl re-live the glory days of their era in a fun-filled, nostalgia-laden performance. The concert brings back the youthful vibe of the winsome trio, the era’s leading lights on TV, movies, recording and live scene.

Triplets is the ladies’ first formal reunion on stage in many years. It would be of interest to their fans and followers to get an update on how yesteryear’s

Jamie Rivera’s three-decade musical journey will be honored in a tribute album “Hey It’s Me, Jamie!,” a Star Music compilation of the Inspirational Diva’s biggest hits

‘90S TEEN ICONS

reunite in concert "Triplets" concert is happening on Sept. 9 at the Music Museum

teen idols have transformed into today’s mothers and drama actresses.

Individually, Tina, Manilyn, and Sheryl have amassed their own string of hit songs enough to fill up a major act.

In review, Tina is known for her songs: “Tamis Ng Unang Halik,” “Sana,” “Maayong Pasko,” and “Umiibig Ka Pala Sa Akin.”

Manilyn boast of the songs “Sayang Na Sayang,” “Ikaw Pa Rin,” “Feel Na Feel,” “Mr. Disco,” “In-

gat Ka, Mahal Kita,” “Nandito Pa Rin,” and “Kulang Pa Ba.” Sheryl Cruz’s hit songs include “Sabi Ko Na Nga Ba,” “Mr. Dreamboy,” “Ikaw Ang True Love Ko,” “Sagot Ng Puso,” “Walang Ganyanan,” and “Ako’y Iyong-Iyo.” Expect to get a reboot of these pop hits of the glorious 90s in Triplets, the concert, a production of Striking Star Productions.

Triplet is directed by Frank Mamaril with musical direction

by Gerry Matias. Of course, Ivan Dorschner, Jak Roberto, Addy Raj, Ken Chan will be there along with other surprise stars.

*** Vice Ganda is at it again. In the Miss Q&A portion of It’s Showtime last week, Vice took a swipe at rival station GMA Network saying, “Kung sinasabing ang GMA ay ‘Where you belong,’ bakit sila naglilipatan?”

Yes, he later said that it was just a joke. And for Kapamilya fans, this was Vice just doing what he does best – dishing out crass jokes, and never mind if he crosses the line. But for the rest, this was Vice in his usual insensitive self. Not to mention that former GMA talents Bela Padilla and Karylle were present during that particular segment. Interestingly, Vice’s cohost Anne Curtis appeared to be having so much fun. Wasn’t Anne a former Kapuso as well?

Just an observation to Vice’s gauche remark, he makes fun of other people and institutions he thinks the show would rate higher than its rival? What is more important is that hosts are imparting respect for other people and institutions.

If Vice is unaware, those he is referring to as “naglilipatan” to where he is are those that GMA Network did not renew their contracts. For what reason? Ask GMA, but don’t say things to imply they are doing better where they are now because they aren’t. *** As Andeng’s (Bea Alonzo)

fight for love continues every weeknights in A Love to Last, viewers nationwide also continue to rally behind her as the ABS-CBN primetime series consistently wins national TV ratings.

According to Kantar Media, A Love to Last hit 16.8 percent from combined urban and rural homes on Aug. 21, beating its new rival program My Korean Jagiya (10.2

percent).

After Anton (Ian Veneracion) met an accident, Andeng finally decided to go back to their house to take care of her husband.

Meanwhile, fans are invited to watch the cast in Love Goals: A Love to Last Concert on Sept. 8, 8 p.m., Kia Theather.

For tickets, log on to www. ticketnet,com.ph or can call their hotline at 911-55-55.

Bea Alonzo as Andeng in the top-rating evening drama, “A Love To last’

Tribute album, concert mark Jamie’s 30 years in music OPM icon Jamie Rivera’s three-decade musical journey will be honored in a tribute album Hey It’s Me, Jamie!, a Star Music compilation of the Inspirational Diva’s biggest hits that will be available for the first time at her upcoming concert with the same title happening at the Music Museum on Sept. 8.

Kapamilya artists Janella Salvador, Ylona Garcia, Bailey May, Morisette, JC Santos, Juris, Jed Madela, Jona, Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto, Vina Morales, Erik Santos, and Ogie Alcasid have recorded Jamie’s most unforgettable songs that she wrote, paying homage to her in her 30th anniversary in the business as a singer and songwriter.

The former Miss Saigon performer also has one track she recorded for the album entitled “Thank You,” a song she offers to her biggest career inspirations – her fans, her family, and the Lord.

According to the OPM singer, she is grateful for reaching three decades in the industry, a milestone that she never expected.

“I never planned my career, I just let it run its natural course.

Over the years, I gained and lost friends, learned humility, gained wisdom, celebrated success and accepted failures. And it was all good because God planned my career,” shared Jamie who is both thrilled and thankful for her upcoming concert and album.

Included in the Hey It’s Me, Jamie! album are her most popular

love songs -- “Hey It’s Me” (Janella), “I’ve Fallen For You” (Ylona and Bailey), “Mahal Naman Kita (Morissette), “I’m Sorry” (Juris), “Awit Para Sa’yo (JC), and “Say You’ll Never Go” (Yeng).

The songwriter’s well-known songs she wrote, Maybe” (Jed and Jona), originally sang by Neocolours, and “Kay Palad Mo” (Angeline), first sang by Lilet, are likewise part of the compilation.

Also included are her biggest inspirational hits – “Jubilee Song” (Vina and Erik) and “We Are All God’s Children” (Ogie).

Malou Santos and Roxy Liquigan are the albums executive producers together with Jonathan Manalo as over-all producer. It is available at P250 and will be available for downloads via online stores starting Sept. 8. The album will also be available in record stores nationwide after her show.

Joining Jamie in her anniversary concert are some of the singers from her latest album – Jona, Bailey May, and Janella. Pinky Amador, Ito Rapadas, Jenine Desiderio, Bimbo Cerrudo, Jason Zamora, Joshua Zamora, and Klarisse de Guzman also have exciting special numbers. The Star Events show will have Bond Samson as musical director and Paolo Valenciano as stage director.

Tickets to concert are priced at P3,500 (VIP), P2,500 (orchestra), and P1,000 (balcony).

For more inquiries, contact Ticketworld at 8919999 or Music Museum at 7216726.