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Nokor H-bomb test successful, says state TV VOL. XXXI • NO. 202 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PERFECT SUCCESS?

This undated picture released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 3, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (center) looking at a metal casing with two bulges at an undisclosed location. North Korea has developed a hydrogen bomb which can be loaded into the country’s new intercontinental ballistic missile, the official Korean Central News Agency claimed on Sept. 3. Questions remain over whether nuclear-armed Pyongyang has successfully miniaturized its weapons, and whether it has a working H-bomb, but KCNA said that leader Kim Jong-Un had inspected such a device at the Nuclear Weapons Institute. AFP

Rody: Paolo won’t be of help in Senate probe By John Paolo Bencito DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday night he would advise his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his son-in-law, Manases Carpio, to appear before the Senate if they are invited to hearings on corruption at the Bureau of Customs. Both members of his family were linked to corruption at the bureau by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has urged the Senate Blue Ribbon committee headed by Senator Richard Gordon to summon them to a hearing.

But the President said their presence would not help Trillanes prove his case because they can always invoke their right to remain silent. “My advice to Pulong [his son’s nickname]? Go there, if you’re there and he [Trillanes] questions you, just say, I will not answer you. I’m invoking my right to remain silent because since the election, before my father became president, you were already hitting us,” Duterte said in Filipino. “My answer to you is, I will refuse to answer your questions because they will intend to Next page

2 Sayyaf men nabbed in KL for terror links By Francisco Tuyay TWO Filipino terrorists who were involved in a series of kidnappings in Malaysia were recently arrested by Malaysian authorities, a military ofﬁcial said Sunday. The two terrorists, one of whom was the trusted lieutenant of Basilan Abu Sayyaf chieftain Furuji Indama, were in the company of six wanted Malaysian nationals when they were arrested for their alleged

involvement in terrorist activities in Malaysia. Col. Edgard Arevalo, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Ofﬁce said the two Filipinos were arrested by the Royal Malaysian Police in Taman Desa Baiduri, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur. They were identiﬁed as Hajar Abdul Mubin, alias Mheraiz and Abrahan Bin Ebong. Mubin is the right-hand man of Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leader Next page

SEOUL—North Korea declared itself a thermonuclear power on Sunday, after carrying out a sixth nuclear test more powerful than any it has previously detonated, presenting President Donald Trump with a potent challenge. The North has tested a hydrogen bomb with “perfect success,” a jubilant newsreader announced on state television, adding the device could be mounted on a missile. The test was of a bomb with “unprecedently large power,” she said, and “marked a very significant occasion in attaining the final goal of completing the state nuclear force.” The broadcaster showed an image of leader Kim Jong-Un’s handwritten order for the test to be carried out at noon on Sept. 3. The announcement came after monitors measured a 6.3-magnitude tremor near the North’s main testing site, which South Korean experts said was five to six times stronger than that from the 10-kiloton test carried out a year ago. Hours earlier, the North released images of Kim inspecting what it said was a miniaturized H-bomb that could be fitted onto an ICBM, at the Nuclear Weapons Institute. Hydrogen bombs or H-bombs—also known as thermonuclear devices—are far more powerful than the relatively simple atomic weapons the North was believed to have tested so far. Whatever the final figure for test’s yield turned out to be, said Jeffrey Lewis of the Next page

Du30 twits Trillanes, Magdalo: Political ISIS By Bill Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday likened Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to the Islamic State terrorist group for constantly attacking him without the proper basis or evidence. “Trillanes is a political ISIS. He does not know anything, he only likes to hit. He thinks he is right. It’s funny when he talks, it’s as if he really knows the law,” said Duterte in a mix of English and Filipino Saturday night. “The problem is, he is the same with [Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary] Alejano. They ﬁle cases without really knowing the law,” Duterte said. “With Trillanes, it’s... B says that C told him. That’s not evidence, passing on information,” Duterte added. “But they persist because either they’re dedicated to their ignorance… This [Trillanes] is a political ISIS. He has no talent... Actually he lacks knowledge in life,” Duterte said. Duterte also chided Trillanes for picking a ﬁght with Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, which is investigating the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu through Customs.

Trillanes, citing the testimony of Customs fixer Mark Taguba, has accused Duterte’s son, Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and presidential son-inlaw Manases Carpio, of taking bribes to smooth shipments through the Bureau of Customs. Taguba, however, said he had no firsthand knowledge of Duterte’s son or his son-in-law being involved in any smug- Senator Antonior Trillanes gling syndicate, saying they were linked only by rumors and hearsay. Last week, Trillanes and Gordon argued over whether Paolo Duterte or Carpio should be summoned to the SenCHIEF Insp. Jovie Espeniate hearings. do, whose last two assignOn Saturday, the Palace said it might ments involved the death not be necessary to summon the youngof mayors tagged as narcoer Duterte and Carpio to the Senate after politicians, said Sunday they were cleared by Taguba in a statehe needs to take care of ment issued Friday. “unfinished business” in Earlier, Alejano, who had filed an Ozamiz City before he can unsuccessful impeachment complaint take on his next mission in Next page

Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte

Espenido has ‘unfinished business’ Iloilo City. In an interview on the ANC news channel, Espenido said he is coordinating with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the community to capture Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog, a member

Sereno scraps bullet-proof work on SUV, says accuser By Rio N. Araja A LAWYER who wants Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno impeached said Sunday Sereno had canceled four-million-pesos worth of bullet-proof work on her 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser van worth P5.1 million. Larry Gadon, who ﬁled a 54page veriﬁed complaint before Congress’ secretary general

Cesar Pareja against Sereno, said his impeachment rap could have triggered Sereno to cancel the bullet-prooﬁng of her highend car. “The effect of what I did was good. She canceled the bulletprooﬁng of her vehicle,” Gadon told dzBB radio. “Yes, it was already in the process. I had documents to prove about her plan to have Next page

SC: Ban on implants final By Rey E. Requejo

HAPPY KIDS. Unicef Country Representative Lotta Sylwander and movie-TV actress Anne Curtis, Unicef ambassador of goodwill, are swarmed by children-participants in the ‘Happiest 5k in the Planet’ Color Run presented by Curtis’ passion project, the Dream Machine.

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THE Supreme Court has stood by its decision prohibiting the distribution of contraceptive implants, including Implanon and Implanon NXT, that President

Rodrigo Duterte wants lifted. Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said the high court’s latest decision made the ruling ﬁnal. “There’s nothing left to be Next page

of the Parojinog clan. “One of the Parojinog brothers with the name of alias ‘Ardot’ is still at large. We know already that this person is notorious because he is the one, in public knowledge, who Next page

Marcos deal requires law, Rody declares CONGRESS should pass a law determining the fate of the billions of pesos in public funds stashed away by the Marcos family, President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday as he conﬁrmed talking with the late dictator’s eldest daughter, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, about a deal to return the ill-gotten wealth to the government. “Congress must pass a law then provide the steps of how to recover [the money],” Duterte said in an early morning interview Sunday. “The President cannot [do it]… it has to be a law. And the law must come from Congress, not from me.” “Congress must authorize it because that is money to be Next page

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

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PH eyes tripartite anti-terror gab By Bill Casas

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he was arranging a meeting with his counterparts in Indonesia and Malaysia to discuss closer cooperation in ﬁghting terrorism in the region. He made his statement at the 41st birthday celebration of Rep. Karlo Alexie Nograles at the Mergrande Beach Resort in Bago Aplaya, Davao City. Duterte said he was willing to open the country’s borders to Indonesian and Malaysian security forces pursuing terrorists. “I don’t know how fast, but

I have to talk to [Indonesian] President [Joko] Widodo,” Duterte said. “We have agreed that we will talk, the three of us [including Prime Minister] Najib [Razak] in Malaysia. “In all probability it will be a joint, like a task force. And I will open my borders to the Malaysian authorities and In-

Du30...

icking because the illegal activities of his family would soon be revealed. “The bottom line is this: His son and son-in-law were named as the masterminds behind the Davao Group and are being suspected of being involved in smuggling operations that led to the express entry of the P6.4billion shabu shipment into the country,” he said. Senator Manny Pacquiao, meanwhile, said Trillanes exhibited unparliamentary behavior in his argument with Gordon on Thursday. Pacquiao, in an interview on radio dzBB said, “Trillanes made a mistake. His attitude and what he said were unparliamentary, so this has to be investigated by the Senate ethics committee,” he said in Filipino. “He should have showed Gordon some respect as the chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee.” Gordon has said he would ﬁle an ethics complaint against Trillanes, who said such a move would have no chance of success. Pacquiao, a member of the committee on ethics, said he is open to investigating the case if a formal complaint is ﬁled.

From A1 against Duterte, said it was “suspicious” that the President remained silent on the P6.4billion drug shipment from China. “Over two months since the P6.4 billion worth of shabu shipped from China was discovered by authorities and the President has [remained] indifferent [to] the issue,” Alejano said in a statement. “The same President who is infamous for his deadly war on drugs. The same President who has threatened and lambasted drug addicts, drug peddlers and nacro-politicians in every opportunity for him to speak. The same President who said that he would kill even his own child if found out to be involved in illegal drugs,” he said. “Duterte has been suspiciously silent on an issue involving illegal drugs of this scale. The President kills smalltime drug addicts on the streets while tons of drugs slip through Customs,” he said in Filipino. Trillanes dismissed the President’s latest harangue against him, saying Duterte was pan-

donesian authorities and I will be given an access.” Duterte said the meeting with Razak and Widodo could be held in Sabah or Jakarta. “If we are pursuing someone and there is not enough time, just hit them there. Even if it’s a Filipino, hit them. Or Indonesian here, hit them, Duterte said. The three countries are already jointly patrolling the waters off Mindanao to prevent the entry of ISIS ﬁghters. They have also agreed to jointly control the movement of terrorist funds, weapons and even social media disinformation. Duterte said the intention

From A1 incriminate me,” Duterte said. Duterte pointed out Trillanes already assumed for the longest time that Paolo and Carpio are behind the so-called Davao group linked to BoC’s smuggling and “tara” or bribery system. Calling Trillanes as idiot with an IQ rate of six, Duterte dared the senator to get his own evidence instead of relying on other people’s statements. “So if you want evidence, Mr. Trililing, do not get it from the mouth of other people. Go somewhere else,” he said. Duterte said Trillanes cannot punish a person or make any inference when a person invokes a constitutional right. Trillanes, he added, was just on ﬁshing expedition. Eariler, Carpio said Trillanes is a “desperate rumor-monger,” who happens to be a senator. Carpio said he had indeed visited Customs because he represents many clients who have transactions with the agency. In a question-and-answer session with reporters Sunday night, Duterte said countless investigations that were meant to harass the administration has

SC:... From A1 one other than to comply,” Te said in a statement. The high court in April denied the appeal of the Department of Health seeking to proceed with the distribution of the contraceptives. It also gave the Food and Drug Administration 60 days to declare whether or not the implants were abortifacient or could cause abortion and to reissue its certification. The high court issued its ruling after Duterte again publicly criticized Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for “sitting” on the case, which he said was hampering the implementation of the Reproductive Health law. But Te said the high court ruling “involves a TRO over two implants only and not all contraceptives and not over the entire RH Law.” In its 2015 ruling, the high court struck down the certifications and recertifications issued by the FDA on 77 contraceptive drugs and devices―including Implanon and Impla-

degraded Senate procedures into “something cheap.” “Why bother asking a lawyer and asking a plain citizen, or vice mayor for that matter, whom you’ve already assumed publicly were those behind Davao group?” the President said. “For what purpose? For harassment. The problem is, the processes of the Senate have been degraded. They look cheap now,” he added. Duterte also urged the public not to take threats of contempt charges from the Senate. “This is my advice to the people of the Philippines. Don’t believe the Senate’s contempt threats. It’s nothing. Once you’re called, just ask help from me as President, and I will readily help you. I will send lawyers. I have to say that I represent the person cited to appear, and my answer to him is, ‘Shut up.’ Done.” He said Trillanes has cheapened the image of the Senate as an oppressor. Duterte said that Trillanes should have spilled his beans early on if he really had the evidence against the presidential son. “You intend to incriminate me... I am not a criminal—you are making me one,” he added. With PNA

non NXT―for violation of the constitutional requirement of due process. The high court had found that the agency certified and administered 77 contraceptive drugs and devices “without the observance of the basic tenets of due process, without notice and without public hearings, despite the constant opposition of petitioners.” While the Court voided the certifications, it remanded the case to the FDA for the processing of new certifications. The Court specifically ordered the FDA “to observe the basic requirements of due process by conducting a hearing, and allowing the petitioners to be heard, on the recertified, procured, and administered contraceptive drugs and devices, including Implanon and Implanon NXT; and to determine whether they are abortifacients or non-abortifacients.” The Court also ordered the FDA to formulate the rules for screening, evaluation and approval of all contraceptive drugs and devices to be used under the RH law.

for the talks.” Duterte said that since the ISIS had already been cornered in Syria, there was a big possibility of its fighters moving to Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Philippine military had confirmed that foreigners have been seed fighting alongside members of the Maute group in Marawi City. The conflict in Marawi has left about 800 people killed. But the government has said the battle for full control of the city is in its “final stages” as the fighting has been confined within a 500-square-meter area.

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE oil companies have raised the price of cooking gas by P2.74 per kilogram or P30 per 11-kilogram tank to reflect the higher contract prices of liquefied petroleum gas in the world market. Petron Corp. raised its price on Sept. 1 and Eastern Petroleum on Sept. 3. Petron said it implemented a VAT-inclusive, P2.74-per-kilo increase in the price of its LPG and Eastern Petroleum raised its LPG price to P2.73 per kilo. “We will increase auto LPG by P1.53 per liter at the same time. These reflect the international contract prices of LPG for the month of September,”

Petron said. The oil firms increased their pump prices by P0.35 per liter of gasoline and P0.20 per liter of diesel and kerosene on Aug. 29. And on Aug. 22 they also raised the price of gasoline by P0.20 per liter but rolled back the price of diesel and kerosene by P0.10 per liter and P0.15 per liter, respectively. Crude oil prices went up last week after official figures showed a larger-than-expected fall in US crude stocks, the Energy Department said in its latest monitoring report. Asian gasoline prices stayed elevated on tight supply and on the relatively good demand in Asia and the Middle East.

NEW RECRUIT. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administers the oath on Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles as new member of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in a ceremony during the lawmaker’s birthday celebration at the Mergrande Ocean Resort in Davao City on Sept. 2, 2017. Presidential Photo

Nokor... Rody:...

of his meeting with Widodo and Razak was to formalize an agreement. He said as the ISIS ﬁghters retreated from Syria and Iraq, its ﬁghters might move to other countries. “The ISIS is being cornered to the coastal towns of Syria and... natutulak na sila sa Syria. Once they lose base, wala na silang mapuntahan, papatayin talaga sila. Alam mo na Arabo, they will be executed, sisibat na yan. And then because they have access to some countries, bigla nalang sisipot kagaya nung sa Marawi,” Duterte said. “We have to meet face to face and agree on an agenda

Petron, Eastern raise LPG prices by P30/tank

From A1 armscontrolwonk website, it was “a staged thermonuclear weapon” which represents a signiﬁcant advance in its weapons program. Chinese monitors said they had detected a second quake shortly afterwards of 4.6 magnitude that could be due to a “collapse [cave in],” suggesting the rock over the underground blast had given way. Pyongyang has long sought the means to deliver an atomic warhead to the United States, its sworn enemy, and the test will infuriate Washington, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and others. Japanese Prime Minister

2 Sayyaf... From A1 Furuji Indama while the afﬁliation of the other Filipino terrorist is still being ascertained by Malaysian authorities. “The arrest and detention of these individuals is a signiﬁcant development in the government’s security cooperation with Malaysia and other neighboring countries in Asia to curb terrorism including attempts to recruit new members or entice individuals to support terrorism or violent extremism,” Arevalo said. The Palace, meanwhile, said it would soon get Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, reportedly the emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia. “We will get Isnilon Hapilon,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement. Abella’s statement came amid reports that Hapilon had been seen in Basilan, hundreds of kilometers away from the war-torn Marawi City. “We treat numerous reports saying that Isnilon Hapilon has left Marawi and has been seen openly in Basilan as raw information requiring further validation by the military and various

Sereno... From A1 her car bullet-proofed. It was stipulated in the endorsement of purchase.” Gadon said it was improper for a public ofﬁcial to spend a huge amount from the judiciary development funds for her own personal beneﬁt.

Shinzo Abe said ahead of the announcement that a test would be “absolutely unacceptable”. South Korean President Moon Jae-In summoned the National Security Council for an emergency meeting and Seoul’s military raised its alert level. ‘Super explosive power’ Pyongyang triggered a new ramping up of tensions in July, when it carried out two successful tests of an ICBM, the Hwasong-14, which apparently brought much of the US mainland within range. It has since threatened to send a salvo of rockets towards the US territory of Guam, and last week fired a missile over Japan and into the Pacific, the first time time it has ever acknowledged doing so. security agencies of government,” Abella said. “Granting [the report on] Isnilon Hapilon’s whereabouts in Basilan is true, it would mean that he chose to abandon his men as the battle of Marawi nears its final stretch,” he added. But recent military assessments indicate that Hapilon is still in Marawi, he said. The military’s operation against Hapilon last May sparked the Maute group’s attack in Marawi City, which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Early in August, the military said Hapilon and Maute brothers Omar and Abdullah were still in Marawi City. AFP public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo had said that aside from freeing Marawi City from local terrorists, the troops’ main objective is to neutralize Hapilon and the Maute brothers. Fighting in Marawi City between the local terrorists and government troops has stretched to more than 100 days. The initial 60-day martial law implementation in Mindanao had been extended until December. With Bill Casas “This is just the first time that a chief justice has requested a very expensive vehicle and a bullet-proofing,” Gadon said. Apart from her purchase of a luxury vehicle, Sereno is accused of failing to declare in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth the “exorbitant lawyer’s fees” of $745,000 or P37 million and her expensive travel allowances.

Trump has warned Pyongyang that it faces “ﬁre and fury”, and that Washington’s weapons are “locked and loaded.” Analysts believe Pyongyang has been developing weapons capability to give it a stronger hand in any negotiations with the US. “North Korea will continue with their nuclear weapons programme unless the US proposes talks,” Koo Kab-Woo of Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies told AFP. He pointed to the fact that Pakistan—whose nuclear programme is believed to have links with the North’s—conducted six nuclear tests in total, and may not have seen a need for any further blasts. “If we look at it from Paki-

Marcos... From A1 recovered by the government of the Philippines and that was the offer. That was the rationale of the governor when she offered it,” he added, referring to Marcos, who was in Davao City for a gathering. Duterte added that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II will be the one to decide if the government would continue to pursue cases against the remaining members of the Marcos family following the negotiations. If Congress decides to give him the powers to negotiate with the Marcoses, he said he will form a committee consisting of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor, the secretary of Finance, the commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the secretary of Justice to proceed with the talks. Duterte added that he and the Ilocos Norte governor did not discuss the exact amount that would be returned to the government, but said he was open to the proposal to bring closure

Espenido... From A1 is the leader of a certain Martilyo Gang,” he said. He said that once they capture Parojinog, he will be allowed to transfer to his next assignment in Iloilo. Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa earlier said Ozamiz still needs Espenido because they allegedly feel unsafe with Parojinog at large. The councilor, brother of slain Ozamiz City Mayor Rey-

stan’s example, the North might be in the final stages” of becoming a nuclear state, he said. Pictures of Kim at the Nuclear Weapons Institute showed the young leader, dressed in a black suit, examining a metal casing with a shape akin to a peanut shell. The device was a “thermonuclear weapon with super explosive power made by our own efforts and technology,” KCNA cited Kim as saying, and “all components of the H-bomb were 100 percent domestically made.” Actually mounting a warhead onto a missile would amount to a significant escalation on the North’s part, as it would create a risk that it was preparing an attack. Failure of sanctions The North carried out its first nuclear test in 2006, and succes-

sive blasts are believed to have been aimed at reﬁning designs and reliability as well as increasing yield. Its ﬁfth detonation, in September last year, caused a 5.3 magnitude quake and according to Seoul had a 10-kiloton yield—still less than the 15-kiloton US device which destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. The North Korean leadership says a credible nuclear deterrent is critical to the nation’s survival, claiming it is under constant threat from an aggressive United States. It has been subjected to seven rounds of United Nations Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, but always insists it will continue to pursue them. AFP

to the issue. In a speech before newly appointed government ofﬁcials last week, Duterte said the Marcoses told him that the late dictator stashed away billions in government funds “to protect the economy” and that he had thought of regaining Malacañang after his ouster in 1986. Marcos, who ruled the country from 1965 to 1986, had amassed a fortune estimated at between $5 billion and $10 billion while in ofﬁce, or up to 650 times more than his annual salary, based on an estimate by the Supreme Court and source documents provided by the Presidential Commission on Good Government. In the same interview, Duterte accused the PCGG of doing nothing to recover the remaining ill-gotten wealth as he shot back against suggestions made by former PCGG chairman Ruben Carranza, who led the agency from 2001 to 2005, who said that the government doesn’t need to negotiate with the Marcos family since there is already a 2003 Supreme Court ruling that states that the

Marcoses legally earned only $300,000 from 1965 to 1986. “Why is Carranza being boastful? There was money which was already returned, but what have you done?” “PCGG … just because you recovered a few millions there, you claim you’re doing your work? But why did you fail to look into the ones being offered now by Imee?” he said in Filipino. The President said Imee Marcos did not admit that the money was ill-gotten. Over the last 30 years, the government has recovered at least P170 billion (nearly $3.6 billion) in cash but the total recovery efforts could reach over P200 billion ($4.2 billion), as the PCGG winds up its work to sell the remaining illegally acquired assets in its possession. The President brushed aside rumors that the offer was a move to aid Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s alleged plan to run for president. “I don’t care about that. In ﬁve years I will no longer be at the political scene,” Duterte said. John Paolo Bencito and Bill Casas

naldo Parojinog, remains at large following the bloody July 30 raid where the mayor and 15 others—including his wife— were killed. President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, said that Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, whom he also tagged as a narco-politician, has escaped to Japan. Earlier, intelligence operatives said the mayor was not in his mansion because he left for Japan on Wednesday last week to attend a forum of CityNet, a regional network of cities and

organizations focusing on sustainable urban development. Duterte had ordered a lifestyle check on Mabilog, whom he believed had amassed his fortune through his involvement on the illegal drug trade, an allegation the mayor has denied. It is unclear why Espenido’s transfer from Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental to Iloilo City did not push through, but Chief Supt. Cesar Biñas, director of the police regional ofﬁce in Western Visayas, said his ofﬁce respects the decision from national headquarters. Bill Casas

News Atienza: Xmas bonuses at risk By Rio N. Araja BUHAY Rep. Joselito Atienza warned salaried employees, including government personnel, might not enjoy bigger Christmas bonuses should there be a delay in the passage of the administration’s tax reform package pending before the Senate. “With all due respect, the Senate should just put in whatever modifications they want and pass the tax reform bill. After all, President Rodrigo Duterte has already certified the measure as urgent,” he said. “Once the Senate approves the bill, we can leave it all up to the bicameral conference committee to thresh out the final version of the measure for ratification.” Apart from a cut in the individual income tax rates and tax exemption in all personal income of up to P250,000, Atienza said the bill would also raise from P82,000 to P100,000 the maximum amount of taxexempt 13th month pay and other Christmas bonuses. “The personal income tax cuts will put an extra P141 billion in the paychecks of salaried employees as a result of reduced withholding taxes,” he said. Congress approved House Bill 5636, or the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act on third and final reading on May 31, and transmitted the measure to the Senate. The lobbying of key players from the sugar and beverage industries against the proposed P10-per-liter tax on sweetened drinks, however, has delayed the passage of the bill.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Bail for Ampatuan massacre suspect okd By Rey E. Requejo

HE Court of Appeals has sustained its earlier decision allowing the son of former Maguindanao governor and clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. to be released from jail. In a four-page resolution, the CA’s former Sixteenth Division through Associate Justice Marie Christine Azcar-

rage-Jacob junked the motion for reconsideration filed by the government prosecutors seeking to reverse its January

30, 2017 decision. The appellate court earlier upheld the order of Quezon City RTC Judge Jocelyn SolisReyes granting bail to Sajid Islam Ampatuan, one of the principal suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre where 57 civilians, including 32 journalists, were killed. Ampatuan was granted bail on Jan. 9, 2015. The CA rejected the arguments of the petitioners that its Jan. 30, 2017 decision should be reversed following the decision of the trial court to discharge Police Insp. Rex Ariel

Diongon as state witness and to admit his testimony. In its appeal, government prosecutors asked the appellate court to give weight to the testimony of Diongon, which was previously disregarded by the RTC, to prove that the evidence against Ampatuan’s guilt is strong enough to deny his application for bail. The petitioners insisted that the “supervening event” should warrant the reversal of the CA’s decisions favoring Ampatuan. In denying the government prosecutors’ plea, the appel-

late court stressed that the petitioners failed to submit proof that the admission of Diongon’s testimony was issued by the RTC. Even assuming that such order was issued by the trial court, the CA ruled that it would have no relevance to the present case as its review power is limited only to a determination of whether or not the trial court issued the said order in grave abuse of its discretion. “Indeed, our power of review does not include encroaching upon the lower

court’s prerogative of determining the witnesses whose testimonies are relevant to the application of bail as well as the power of according probative weight to said witnesses’ testimonies in the absence of any showing that the exercise of such discretion was gravely abused by the trial court—an imputation we find wanting in the instant case,” the CA said. Last month, the CA also affirmed the decision of Solis-Reyes to grant bail to 16 policemen who were among the 198 accused in the Maguindanao massacre.

‘P3.8b to power 7,413 schools’

WOW PHILIPPINES! Tourism officials and select residents from Northern Mindanao entertained the crowd who flocked to the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex during the second day of the Philippine Travel Mart. The annual travel mart showcases of regional tourist spots, discounted travel fares, native delicacies, and regional dances. Diana B. Noche

DENR, MWSS join forces Poe tells telcos to improve connection services to tackle wastewater woes By Macon Araneta

TWO government agencies are combining forces with water companies in a determined effort to resolve issues involving Metro Manila’s waste water treatment. In a recent executive conference, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and MWSS Administrator Rey Velasco agreed on a wholistic and pragmatic approach on waste water and sewerage without unduly sacrificing the public interest such as spike in water rates. These measures will enable them to comply with the Supreme Court’s mandamus to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay and restore its water to a safe level that will allow for swimming, skin diving and other forms of recreation. The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System says it has the mandate under the Philippine Clean to supply and distribute potable water in Metro Manila and provide for sewerage and sanifation facilities for efficient and safe collection and disposal of sewages. By virtue of a writ of continuing mandamus issued by the Supreme Court in 2008, the MWSS is one of the government agencies tasked to “clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay and restore and maintain its water to SB level (Class B sea waters per Water Classification Tables Under DENR Administrative Order No. 34 [1990]) to make them fit for swimming, skin diving, and other forms of contact recreation.” The SC directed the MWSS to submit to it the list of areas in Metro Manila, Rizal and Cavite that do not have the necessary wastewater treatment facilities. The concessionaires of MWSS were directed to submit their plans and projects for the construction of wastewater treatment facilities whose completion shall not go beyond 2037 as well. Prior to the MWSS privatization less than eight percent had sewer coverage in the service area. There was minimal septage treatment and no

septage treatment plant. Only some areas in Manila and Makati had sewerage facilities with most establishments using either their own or communal septic tanks. Today, MWSS concessionaries Manila Water and Maynilad have water treatment programs that benefit most of their clientele.

SENATOR Grace Poe on Sunday reiterated her call to the telecommunications industry to shape up amid mounting complaints over slow internet service, poor connection, dropped calls, exorbitant charges and disappearing load. These were among the complaints of netizens who took to her social media accounts to

seek redress against the poor services of telecommunications companies in the country, according to the lawmaker. “It’s a pity hearing the same old complaints about speed, affordability and coverage in the age of fast technology,” Poe said. As a consumer, Poe said she can very much relate, and “so our united call to the telecommunications companies is to

give us our money’s worth and improve your services.” Using the hashtag #TellPOEonTelco, Poe urged netizens using her Facebook and Twitter accounts to “let your voice be heard” and speak up about the services of the country’s telecommunications providers. “We deserve good telco service, so share you experiences in their services—text, call and

your internet,” she called on the public. The post was instantly viewed and shared by social media users, and generated comments about the inadequate service of the country’s telcos. Despite little or no improvement in their service, Poe pointed out that telcos have been raising rates using creative marketing strategies in the guise of promotions.

ABOUT 7,413 schools will be ‘empowered’ with the proposed P3-billion budget to bring electricity to public schools next year, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said on Sunday. Of the 7,413 schools, he said 5,911 have no access “to a single watt of electricity,” while some 1,492 upland and island schools make do with solar panels or generator sets. “Almost half a century after man first walked on the moon, millions of students still go to schools without electricity in this corner of the earth,” said Recto. But a P2.97-billion allocation in the DepEd’s proposed 2018 budget for “electrification of on-grid schools” will soon allow students in these schools “to switch on computers, lights, and science equipment,” Recto said. One in six government elementary and high schools is not connected to a power grid, Recto said, citing a 2015 official report For years now, Recto has been pressing DepEd to attend to the needs of electricity-less schools, “to treat power and water as a basic education material like books and classrooms.” The senator emphasized that power is an indispensable requirement in the drive to modernize schools. “Wi-Fi, tablets, computers—they have to be plugged in to a power source.” Macon Araneta

Waste Water Treatment

Manila Water’s sewerage service includes the operation and maintenance of networks of sewer pipelines that collect and convey sewage to Sewage Treatment Plants which then treat wastewater before safely returning it to our water bodies. Its sanitation service involves the operation and maintenance of vacuum trucks that clean or desludge household septic tanks, and Septage Treatment Plants that receive and treat the hauled septage before disposing the treated byproducts (treated wastewater and biosolids) through environment-safe means. For Manila Water’s concession area that is not connected to a sewerage system, wastewater is disposed into septic tanks. It operates a fleet of 78 vacuum trucks and performs regular, scheduled septic tank cleaning services (desludging) for communities free of charge. It also provides emergency services to customers for a fee. Hauled septage from septic tanks is then brought to a Septage Treatment Plant. The byproducts of septage treatment are treated wastewater (effluent) which are recycled or discharged safely, and biosolids (organic sludge). The residue is then shipped to Central Luzon for use as fertilizer, ensuring a natural means of disposal. Manila Water also has in place the Three-River Master Plan which aims to achieve 100-percent sewer coverage by year 2018 through a combination of sewer-drainage and separate sewer systems, covering all catchments that discharge to the three river systems within the east concession namely Marikina River, Pasig River and San Juan River.

Binay fights for lumad rights, interest in BBL

HOT WHEELS. Promenaders pass by a line of cosmic wheels that can be rented to roam around the seaside drive in Pasay City for P250 for 30 minutes. Ey Acasio

SENATOR Nancy Binay expressed her support for the groups asserting that the interests and rights of lumad and other Indigenous People be recognized and protected in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. The senator made the call after 400 tribal leaders from Mindanao convened for a legislative assembly last week. “It is necessary for the voices of our non-Moro IPs in Mindanao to be heard in the ongoing peace talks as they will also be directly affected by this law,” she added. Binay said she believed that the Mindanao Indigenous People’s Legislative Assembly from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 was an important venue for discussions on how to include the concerns of lumads on issues of ancestral domain, governance, economy, and justice system in the new

BBL version. “The issue of IPs is one that is close to my heart as I have IP roots by way of my father” she said. The senator’s father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, is an Ibanag. His mother, the late Lourdes Gatan, hailed from Cabagan town in Isabela. Binay said she was hopeful that the concerns of non-Moro IP will be considered by the leaders of Congress as well as the BTC after they meet with the Tribal Legislative Assembly, particularly issues on ancestral lands and the recognition of the rights of IPs. She said the lumads are doubtful their voices would be heard in talks about BBL when they were the ines being caught in the war in Mindanao and were being force to keave their himes. Macon Ramos Araneta

Alejano: Military, police face possible ‘pension rationing’ By Rio N. Araja MAGDALO Rep. Gary Alejano said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are facing possible “pension rationing” unless President Rodrigo Duterte finds a permanent solution to address the ballooning costs of retirement benefits.

Alejano, a former Oakwood mutineer, likened the problem to a “ticking time bomb,” fearing that the benefits for retired military and police personnel could be rationed or may not be enjoyed by all beneficiaries and their dependents as scheduled. A total of P50.79 billion has been appropriated for military pensions under the

2018 General Appropriations Bill, representing 26 percent of next year’s budget of the Department of National Defense. “If the government cannot afford to give all, there will be a scheduling of pension [release],” he said in a radio interview. “That would be disastrous considering the fact

that our retired [personnel] have their own family [to support]. Those retired, particularly the old ones, have needs for medical expenses. We do not want that time will come that their pensions are being rationed,” Alejano added. He said the unsettled military retirees’ pensions have reached P20 billion,

and that only P6 billion has been settled. In April, Duterte ordered the payment of P6.421 billion to cover pension credentials from 2008 to 2013. For the long-term, however, Alejano said a new law to unify the uniformed personnel’s retirement benefits and pension reform system is necessary.

Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

EDITORIAL

Righting the wrongs

NE of the most odious characteristics of the Aquino administration was its utter disregard for welfare of the transacting public. And the poster child for this kind of callous governance was the Department of Transportation, which saddled us with a rickety and unreliable city train service; Third World public transport services; and an administrative system that could not issue drivers licenses and license plates on time.

Given the systemic failure in this sector, one could argue that to make a major impact, it is here that the Duterte administration must begin righting

Adelle Chua, Editor

the wrongs. The pace at which this is being done has been frustrating, however. Fourteen months after President Duterte took

office on the promise of change, the Land Transportation Office of the Transportation department finally announced that it would begin issuing new driver’s license cards with a five-year validity in late August. The agency, however, said the new licenses will initially be available only to new renewal applications. It has yet to address the backlog of 3.6-million driver’s licenses that have already piled up. And as huge as this deficiency is, it is almost trivial compared to the mind-boggling 7.1-million

backlog in vehicle license plates that has built up in the last couple of years. That the new administration has not addressed this backlog in more than a year suggests a lack of urgency that fails to consider that, at P450 per license plate that vehicle owners have already paid, this represents P3.195 billion in public funds that have been collected, for which no goods or services have yet been rendered. Put another way, this is a debt of P3.195 billion that the government still owes vehicle owners, who after more than a year have nothing

to show for their payment. The state of affairs cannot be allowed to persist for much longer. Nor can the continued lack of accountability, particularly of high officials from the previous administration who failed to fulfill their duty to the people. In December 2016, anticorruption groups filed graft charges against former Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya for the anomalous purchase of P3.8 billion worth of license plates. This was followed by another set of graft charges in May 2017 for Chinese coaches

bought in 2014 that turned out to be unusable. These injustices cry out to be righted, but it seems that even in justice, there is a backlog. Just this month, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he needs to hire 1,000 prosecutors to handle a backlog of 14,000 cases. We trust that some of those will be assigned post haste to the cases involving Abaya, who famously declared that he is answerable only to God. With a few convictions, he might finally be convinced that he is also accountable to his fellowmen.

Finally, good sense

Once more, on impeachment I DID not think that, after the Corona impeachment and conviction, I would be writing on impeachment this soon. But there is disturbing noise in the Lower House where a respectable number of legislators have endorsed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Meilou Sereno. There are different allegations and some appear to be serious, indeed, but the question is rightly asked: Are they offenses that warrant impeachment? Culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes or betrayal of public trust are what Article XI lays down as grounds for impeachment. The “qualifying terms” are “high crimes” and “betrayal

of public trust.” In other words, for bribery and graft and corruption to support impeachment, they must be high crimes or constitute a betrayal of public trust (treason is always a high crime and a betrayal of public trust), so while purchase of a ball-pen in violation of the rules on procurement may indeed be an act of “graft and corruption” as Republic Act 3019 has a rather capacious definition of the crime, it would not, I submit, rise to the level of an impeachable offense. Where the line precisely is between what may be justifiably waved away as de minimis and a truly corrupt act is not susceptible of exact determination. It is clear that impeachment is meant by the Constitution to be a weapon of accountability reserved for the highest officials of the land only for the most serious of transgressions. Precisely because they are the highest officials of the land, it should

be a little more difficult to oust them from office than it is to dismiss a clerk or a lower-ranking official. There is nothing repugnant to democratic principles about this, considering the dependence of government on the services of its highest officials, and the resulting crippled operations following their ouster. The fact that the Constitution does not enumerate the “elements” of the crimes nor even come close to lending them exactitude can only suggest that the Lower House enjoys that latitude of discretion that allows it to consider a constellation of facts before it impeaches a high official of the land and sends the respondent to the Senate for trial. When a president impetuously orders his security officers to force out of the room a rather bold journalist who insists on being heard and entertained certainly violates the

I reject the proposition that an impeachable offense is what the Lower House says it is.

journalist’s constitutional right, but it as certainly would be absurd to call that an “impeachable offense.” Richard Posner repeats a useful distinction between “rules” and “standards”. That a candidate for congressman must be a domiciliary of the district he seeks to represent for at least a year preceding the elections is a rule. That one should be left free in the exercise of his faith is a standard. The difference,

says Posner, consists in the fact that to apply a standard, one needs more facts, and that there can really be no check-list. But the law is no stranger to standards: Bona fides, diligence of a good father of a family, extraordinary diligence are all standards. And they remain judicially manageable. And so it is that while “culpable violation of the Constitution” may not be as straightforward as “less serious physical injuries,” it nevertheless is a standard that should be juridically manageable. I then reject the proposition that an impeachable offense is what the Lower House says it is. At one time, this was a position that surfaced in American constitutional theory. Fortunately, it did not gain too much traction. And precisely because there are constitutional standards, judicial review should, in accordance with the salutary

doctrine adopted in Francisco v. House of Representatives, lie. Whether to impeach or not is a political decision, but that does not mean that such a decision—an exercise of discretion—cannot be tainted by grave abuse of discretion. Under the express provisions of Article VIII of the Constitution, where there is grave abuse of discretion judicial power can be invoked to so point out the grave abuse. But in such a case, it is also my position that the Court should take with utmost seriousness its own doctrine: Not mistake, not error, not even abuse of discretion will warrant judicial reproof, but only such showing that the act is tainted by whim, despotism and capriciousness as to be unreasonable and seriously irresponsible! On the other hand, the already cumbersome accountability mechanism against the highest officials Turn to A5

LAST week, the House of Representatives, on second reading, approved the measure establishing a national identification system. This is legislation long overdue. It makes infinitely good sense, and we hope the Senate concurs with the House and passes the bill within this year, so that it becomes law upon signature of the President. The idea of having a national ID has been proposed for the last 20 years or so, but has always been met with resistance from elements of the Left. It would be an invasion of privacy; it would defile individual human rights, so it has been argued. The same arguments have been repeated when the present Congress revived the idea, with no less than former president, now Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sponsoring one of the bills for a single ID system. The chairperson of the House Committee on Population and Family Relations, Laguna 3rd district Rep. Sol Aragones, finally steered it through committee hearings and last Wednesday, through plenary discussions, with able assist from Negros Oriental’s Rep. Arnulfo Teves. The NID will thus do away with so many IDs which the man on the street has to produce for several transactions with government, or even simple identification requirements for security purposes. Even banks require two government-issued IDs to open a savings deposit account. What if you are not a driver with a plastic license, or worse, with a piece of paper from LTO because the plastic license is yet to be issued? What if you do not have a passport? What if you are not employed and have yet no SSS ID? Or not yet a voter and thus have no Comelec ID? You would have to go to the post office and apply for a postal ID, but that gives you just one governmentissued ID. Our obsolete “cedula,” or residence certificate, inherited from the Spanish colonials when even photography was nonexistent, will not do. The present system, or surfeit of systems, is simply Turn to A5

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

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Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Insights on responsible mining SOME four months after the Commission of Appointments rejected Gina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the dust has arguably settled a bit with the beleaguered mining industry in a good position to take stock of things and move forward. Now is the right time to define, once and for all, what responsible mining really means in the Philippines and in the process transform the much-maligned mining sector into a self-regulating industry that enforces compliance— encourages over-compliance, even—to environmental and safety standards. This was proposed in the paper “Mining in the Philippines: Problems and Suggested Solutions” by Dr. Carlo Arcilla of the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences, commissioned by the international think tank Stratbase ADR Institute. The mining audit, for

instance, which some said Lopez arbitrarily wielded, could in fact be used in a constructive manner. It can be the starting point in a developing a new set of tools in the envisioned regime of self-policing among mining companies, all guided by the full implementation of the mining law. A viable model is TSM— “Towards Sustainable Mining”—a set of protocols adopted by the Mining Association of Canada and which President Rodrigo Duterte once cited. The awardwinning performance system is a set of tools and indicators that allow mining firms to regulate themselves even as they manage risks and drive performance improvements. Building trust with socalled communities of interest is central to this model, and TSM includes a number of checks and balances to ensure that reported results present an accurate picture of each facility’s management systems and performance. The operational areas that TSM looks into include Aboriginal, in our case Indigenous People and Community Outreach, Safety and Health,

Crisis Management and Communications Planning, Biodiversity Conservation Management, Tailings Management, Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management. This robust system is then complemented by external verification, in which a Verification Service Provider reviews a company’s selfassessment every three years to determine if there is evidence to support the performance ratings that it had reported. There is both rigor and flexibility in this model, as the external verification strictly applies the protocols but can also change the ratings to ensure they accurately reflect the facility’s management practices and performance. For Dr. Arcilla, he urges a drastic shift in the way the sector is managed in the Philippine context. For instance, he identified areas for improvement in the way the government via the DENR and mining firms approach projects in terms of monitoring environmental compliance and in national-local revenue sharing. This inadequate cooperation, he pointed out,

has resulted in the failure to maximize opportunities in exotic minerals and the production of higher-value mining products. The solution can come in the form of, firstly, empowering agencies like the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Environmental Management Bureau and pouring more funds to mining sciencerelated research. While he believes the two agencies have to be eventually separated, both have to be staffed with the best-paid people. Get the best talent of the land! An independent and empowered EMB can guard against environmentally nonviable projects from even beginning, unlike the current set-up in which the DENR performs the contradictory functions of permit-giving and policing. He also backed the longproposed reforms in existing revenue-sharing schemes. Rightly, the share of mining revenues must shift in favor of local host communities, which are often remote and therefore outside the reach of social services. Local governments and the Chamber of Mines have long decried the damaging

inefficiency of remitting all mining taxes to the national treasury first and instead advocated the direct payment of taxes to them. This will enable the host LGUs and citizens to immediately appreciate the developmental impact of mining. Dr. Arcilla writes: “Mining is important, as what cannot be grown has to be mined. Mining products pervade our daily lives and cannot be avoided without a lifestyle (very abrupt!) change. Responsible mining is possible, but it will require self-policing among mining companies and vigorous and complete implementation of mining law by government agencies.” These and other reforms should put into good use the recent attention that mining companies have received. Following the highly dramatic episodes leading to the appointment of the new DENR Secretary, it’s time for the mining sector to sober up and do the spade work, as it were. The timing is right to cleanse their ranks, exceed compliance, and demonstrate conclusively that responsible mining in the country is indeed possible.

Why fake news spreads so fast on Facebook By Mark Buchanan HOW can we fight back against the fake news infecting our information feeds and political systems? New research suggests that education and filtering technology might not be enough: The very nature of social media networks could be making us peculiarly vulnerable. The intentional spreading of false stories has been credited with swaying such monumental events as last year’s Brexit vote and US presidential election. Tech firms such as Alphabet Inc. unit Google and Facebook Inc. have been trying to find ways to weed it out, or at least help users spot it. Some say we need to start earlier, educating children on how to think critically. But understanding the

unique epidemiology of fake news may be no less important. Unlike a typical virus, purveyors of falsehood don’t have to infect people at random. Thanks to the wealth of information available on social media and the advent of targeted advertising, they can go straight for the most susceptible and valuable victims—those most likely to spread the infection. This insight emerges from a recent study by network theorists Christoph Aymanns, Jakob Foerster and Co-Pierre Georg, who ran computer simulations of the way fake news moves through social networks. Using state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms, they examined how individuals might learn to recognize false news, and sought to identify the most important factors in

helping fake news spread. They found that the most important catalyst of fake news was the precision with which the purveyor targeted an audience—a task that can easily be accomplished using the data that tech companies routinely gather and sell to advertisers. The key was to seed an initial cluster of believers, who would share or comment on the item, recommending it to others through Twitter or Facebook. False stories spread farther when they were initially aimed at poorly informed people who had a hard time telling if a claim was true or false. Hence, we’ve unwittingly engineered a social media environment that is inherently prone to fake news epidemics. When marketers use information on surfing habits,

opinions and social connections to aim ads at people with just the right interests, this can facilitate beneficial economic exchange. But in the wrong hands, the technology becomes a means for the precision seeding of propaganda. It’s hard to see how this can change without altering the advertising-centric business model of social media. Aymanns suggests that big social media companies could counteract fake news by preventing advertisers from targeting users on the basis of political views, or even by suspending all targeted ads during election campaigns. But this might be impossible, given how important such advertising has become to the economy. Alternatively, opponents of fake news could use the same targeting

technology to identify and educate the most vulnerable people—say, providing them with links to information that might help them avoid being fooled. The study does offer one positive conclusion: Broad awareness of fake news should tend to work against its success. Campaigns were much less successful when individuals in the model learned strategies to recognize falsehoods while being fully aware that purveyors were active. This suggests that public information campaigns can work, as Facebook’s seemed to do ahead of the French election in May. In other words, fake news is like a weaponized infectious agent. Immunization through education can help, but it might not be a comprehensive defense. Bloomberg

Does anyone on Trump’s team take him seriously? By Ramesh Ponnuru IT’S hard to find good help these days, at least if you’re President Donald Trump. People who work for the executive branch—people he’s appointed—feel free to criticize him, distance themselves from him, disagree with him, or just refrain from defending him and his policies. Writing in Politico Magazine, Rich Lowry says that Trump has an “insubordination problem.” His evidence includes Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s pointed refusal to say that President Trump speaks for American values and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis’s contradiction of him on North Korea. Lowry thinks that Trump weakened his sway over his

Once... From A4

of the country should not be made even more unwieldy by putting too many obstacles in the way. Where a high official of the country has committed a high crime or has betrayed public trust,

Finally,... From A4

insane. Now, good sense has prevailed, perhaps necessitated by the awareness that these are times when the evils of terrorism require a workable system of singular national identification. For reasons of security as well as convenience, the NID is an idea whose time has long come, yet still, as the trite saying goes, “better late than never.” *** The chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Rep. Ace Barbers of Surigao,

own subordinates by first harshly criticizing Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then failing to follow through on that criticism. The original action made his other appointees less inclined to feel loyal, and the subsequent inaction made them less afraid to act on their feelings. Lowry concludes that White House chief of staff John Kelly needs to crack some heads to keep the administration from disintegrating. The phenomenon to which Lowry is pointing is real. But the root problem isn’t insubordination; it’s a lack of presidential seriousness. A new example came in recent reports that Trump is angry with his aides over Chinese imports. He keeps telling them he wants tariffs, he

reportedly said, and they keep moving forward with milder policies. Yet it is within a president’s power to make himself be taken seriously by his underlings. Other presidents have all done it—or, rather, they have been taken seriously by default. They have rarely had to exert themselves to make sure their commands are being executed. In the Trump administration, though, it is not always clear which of the president’s comments are meant to be orders and which of them are just self-expression. When the president says he wants a health policy that covers more people than Obamacare, does it mean his aides have to come up with a policy that accomplishes this goal?

Nobody has taken it that way, and Trump has not done anything about it. The Pentagon is slow-walking Trump’s policy excluding transgender people from the military. If he is planning to do something about it, the news has not come out of his leak-happy White House. (He hasn’t even tweeted a complaint, pathetic as that would be.) Based on his conduct so far, Trump views the president’s most important role as being commenter-in-chief. Administering the White House and through it the executive branch so as to make his comments reality has not been nearly as high a priority. He hires people who don’t share his views, complains when they don’t act on his views, and . . .

that’s all. If special prosecutor Robert Mueller is really conducting a witch hunt, as Trump claims, and his attorney general is too weak to do anything about it, as he also claims, then the remedy is not to be found on Twitter: Trump has to fire Sessions and replace him with someone who will remove Mueller. But he isn’t willing to do that, perhaps because of the political fallout, so he instead pops off at the cost of his own credibility. It has become a cliché that many of Trump’s utterances are to be taken seriously but not literally. The consequence is that, more and more, executivebranch personnel are inverting that formula. For them he is literally the president, but not seriously. Bloomberg

then the Republic must be able to protect itself from malfeasance or misfeasance in the highest offices by the mechanism of impeachment. One of the advantages of a parliamentary democracy is that the prime minister and his ministers can easily be called to task by parliament— even forced out of office. In a

presidential system patterned after the US configuration, it is difficult to impeach, and more difficult even to convict. It makes no sense to make the process impossibly cumbersome or to impose such requirements as to make it virtually dysfunctional. This is especially true when the official concerned is

one who cannot be held to account by the results of an election—as is the case with members of the Supreme Court, the Ombudsman and the chairs and members of the independent constitutional commissions. It should not be not impossible, for all our sakes, to strike the reasonable

balance between keeping to constitutional standards when deciding whether or not to impeach and keeping the mechanism available against seriously erring high officials of the Republic.

after several “explosive” hearings on the 6.4-billion shabu haul smuggled past the international port, has come out with a recommendation to “abolish” the Bureau of Customs. Barbers wants it replaced by a new agency with “no history of corruption,” which means an entirely new set of employees all the way up to officials. The recommendation makes good sense. As previously written in this space, we have been replacing commissioner after commissioner, and reshuffling examiners and directors since time immemorial, but BoC remains the poster agency of

government corruption. “Grandes males, grandes remedios,” our conquistadores would say. It’s like Alexander the Great taking his sword and cutting the Gordian Knot, rather than going through the contortions of untangling the “mess.” Focus on the systems, as we suggested in a recent article on this space. Barbers also does not foreclose “privatization of non-sovereign functions,” and wants the Department of Finance to do an extensive study. For starters, as our previous article suggested, revert to pre-inspection at ports of origin. There are several reputable firms that do this, from the well-known

SGS or Societe Generale de Surveillance, to Bureau Veritas, Cotecna, Intertek and Omni, as far as I recall. The pre-inspection fees, which will be shouldered by the importers, would be worth it, as against all the aggravation and “hidden costs” of transacting with corrupt “Aduana” personnel and other port “pakialameros.” And while they are it, the Department of Finance should also study the systems in the Bureau of Internal Revenue, our largest revenuegenerating bureaucratic machine. Simplify, simplify, simplify should be the mantra in reengineering government systems.

Minimize discretion on the part of employees and officials, especially in this age when computerization is everything and everywhere. Discretion, it must be noted, is the spawning ground of corruption. Remove it, or minimize it to the barest minimum, and corruption will find difficulty thriving. Think of gross taxation. Think of “presumptive” incomes, rather than a convolution of loopholes that makes cheating government rife, with the assistance of tax “experts” and accountants in collusion with BIR examiners. *** We are told that there is a private sector proposal to design and build a National

rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

Climate change victims THE fingerprints of climate change are all over the globe. In Houston, Texas—the United States of America’s fourth largest city—Hurricane Harvey dumped rains that caused catastrophic and record-setting flooding last week. Latest reports say that 35 have died while financial analysts say that the damage wrought to property and business by Harvey can be estimated between $75 billion and $160 billion, making it one of, if not, the costliest storms ever to hit the US. Images of the devastation like elderly people helplessly immobilized in waist deep flood waters as well as people dying while trying to save others, can move any one. Yet, it was not just Houston. In Mumbai and Bangladesh last week about 1,200 people died due to intense rain and flooding. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, some 41-million people have been affected by flooding since June of this year. Also last month, Sierra Leone suffered a massive mudslide caused by heavy rain, killing 500 people while hundreds more went missing. In Nigeria, more than 100,000 were reportedly displaced due to flooding in the state of Benue this August. What’s ironic is that even as the US President Donald Trump toured the flooded areas of Houston, a senior counselor suggested to him that now was not the time to talk about the highly politicized and divisive issue of climate change and global warming, only because a natural disaster happened. But is not the US the s e c ond -h ig he st emitter of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide in the world, next to China? We all live in one planet enveloped by a common atmosphere. The warming of the planet and the seas because of the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by industrialized countries like China, the US and European nations cause devastation to all humans, regardless of which country emitted gases into the atmosphere most. The Philippines, for example, has lost more lives than any other country in just one storm when ‘‘Yolanda’’ (‘‘Haiyan’’) hit Eastern Visayas, leaving a death toll of more than 10,000. Yet, the Philippines is not an industrialized nation and is utterly far from reaching the levels of gas emission produced by highly industrialized nations. Unfortunately, the US, despite being the second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere withdrew from the 2016 Paris Treaty on climate change. This treaty brought together 160 nations into the common cause of undertaking ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects with enhanced support to developing nations to do so. Writer Mark Lynas said that the withdrawal of the US was an act of wanton international vandalism. Trump was helping condemn millions more people to the threat of more intensified and extreme rainfall events in future decades, he said. The US, he stressed, has a moral duty not to accept the conspiracy of silence imposed by powerful political and business interests opposed to any reduction in the use of fossil fuels. Lynas added, now is the time to talk of climate change and we owe this to the people of Texas as much as to the people of India, Bangladesh and Nigeria. The first step toward mitigating the impact of climate change is recognizing that it exists and that it is caused by humans. Sadly, this is something the US, under its new president, denies. Steven Cohen, Executive Director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute said that denying that humans cause climate change is a problem because it prevents us from changing the energy base of our economy which, though a long and difficult process, is not particularly complicated. He said the chemicals we have fabricated make our buildings more durable, our automobiles more efficient, and bring enormous benefit. The flip side of their durability, however, is that they are not biodegradable. They persist in the environment and must be managed to prevent harm. Some are toxic, others are simply persistent and end up where they don’t belong. America knows how to do this, Cohen said. In fact, he added, America’s economy has successfully grown while reducing environmental impact as demonstrated by its cleaner air, water and land today than it was in 1980. Yet, Cohen said, the US needs to continue building its ability to protect the planet. It needs to make the transition to a renewable resource-based economy in a way that facilitates rather than impedes economic growth. Unfortunately climate change has become an ideological issue in the US at the very moment even if the data is clear that the planet is getting warmer, he said. What can the rest of the world do then if the threat of being victims of climate change created by industrialized nations persist, as it naturally will? Can they join hands in petitioning the United Nations to impose sanctions against nations which do nothing to mitigate, or even worsen, climate change? It is worth trying.

We all live in one planet enveloped by a common atmosphere.

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

Government Center in the Clark Green City. We have proposed in this space the establishment of a new national government center outside congested Metro Manila, where government agencies are scattered throughout the metropolis, often in rented spaces. Again, this is an idea whose time has come, and as written in a previous column where we extolled Secretary Art Tugade’s “bold” move to transfer DoTr’s headquarters in Clark from its rented space

in Ortigas Avenue across De La Salle, it can be started under President Duterte. The private sector proposal calls for some form of PPP, where government’s equity is land, upon which a new capital which would house all national government agencies can be master-planned and built using private capital, and the surrounding commercial centers shall be the private proponent’s payback. Again, that makes good sense, and is worth considering.

World

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

NASA astronaut returns to Earth

IN BRIEF US agents close Russian trade mission MOSCOW―US federal agents inspected a Russian trade mission in Washington to confirm its closure on Saturday, despite a furious diplomatic protest from Moscow. The United States and Russia are in the grip of a diplomatic dispute, and the trade representative’s office is part of a group of properties Washington has ordered closed. Russian officials were forewarned of the inspection and, according to a report in Foreign Policy magazine, lit a fire on Friday apparently to burn documents at the facility. “Today, Russian Embassy personnel, together with State Department officials, walked through three properties in San Francisco, New York and Washington, DC that the Russian government is required to close,” a State Department official said. “These inspections were carried out to secure and protect the facilities and to confirm the Russian government had vacated the premises,” he said, adding that all three are now closed. On Saturday, US agents could be seen on the grounds of the Washington mansion, which served as both the home and office of the Russian trade representative. It has been owned by Moscow since the Soviet era. The US State Department official said Washington had fully complied with its duties under the Vienna Convention in preserving the security of foreign missions, but in Moscow the Russian foreign ministry was furious even before the inspection began. The ministry summoned acting US mission head Anthony Godfrey and gave him a “note of protest over the intention of the American authorities to conduct a search.” Russian news agency RIA-Novosti reported that the search began in the presence of Russian officials. AFP

Istanbul closer to arms deal with Russia ISTANBUL―Turkey and Russia are inching towards an accord for the first major Turkish weapons purchase from Moscow, troubling Ankara’s allies in NATO even though the deal may not ultimately materialize. According to Turkish and Russian officials, all preparations have been made for the purchase of a sophisticated S-400 missile defense system, Ankara’s most significant accord with a nonNATO supplier. But despite confident proclamations, the deal has yet to be officially inked. Analysts remain skeptical over whether Turkey will ever take delivery of the surface-to-air missile defense batteries. Some argue the message sent to the West matters more than the actual acquisition. The Pentagon has already sounded alarm, saying bluntly that “generally it’s a good idea” for NATO allies to buy inter-operable equipment. But President Recep Tayyip Erdogan boasted that “God willing we will see the S-400s in our country”. Erdogan has argued that Turkey’s fellow NATO member and occasional regional foe Greece has Russian-made S-300 batteries on its southern island of Crete, originally bought by Cyprus in the late 1990s but passed on to Greece to prevent escalation on the divided island. Dmitry Shugaev, the head of Russia’s militarytechnical cooperation agency, told the Kommersant daily that the deal was “almost done” with just some “subtleties” to solve. The United States “may be indignant but Turkey is an independent state and can decide itself,” he said. AFP

BRICS SUMMIT. Chinese People’s Liberation Army honor guard prepare for Brazil’s President Michel Temer’s arrival at the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport to attend the BRICS Summit in Xiamen in China’s Fujian province on September 3, 2017. The BRICS Summit, involving Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, will run from September 3 to 5. AFP

WASHINGTON―A record-shattering NASA astronaut touched down to Earth on Sunday, ﬁnishing a 288-day mission that put her over the top as the American who has spent the most cumulative amount of time in space. Peggy Whitson, 57, is also the oldest female astronaut in the history of space exploration, was the ﬁrst female International Space Station commander, and holds the record for number of spacewalks (10) by a woman. The biochemist completed a mission at the International Space Station that began in November 2016, covering 122.2 million miles (196.7 million kilometers) and 4,623 orbits of Earth. She and crewmates Jack Fischer of NASA and Fyodor Yurchikhin of Russian space agency Roscosmos landed in Kazakhstan at 7:31 am local time Sunday (0121 GMT) in a Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft. Whitson has racked up 665 days in space in her career, more than any other American astronaut. She is eighth on the all-time space endurance list, NASA said. Her colleague Jack “2Fish” Fischer, 43, went into space as a rookie but has won over space-watchers with his boundless enthusiasm during his four-and-ahalf months aboard the ISS. He likened the feeling of his spacewalk with Whitson in May―the 200th ISS spacewalk-to a “ginormous fondue pot, bubbling over with piping hot awesomesauce.” “Heading home soon… I hope I infected a few of you with my passion for space. Never stop learning and growing. I dare you to dream!” he tweeted Friday. AFP

With H-bomb, Kim wields absolute power

EOUL―North Korean leader Kim JongUn ranks among the world’s youngest heads of state, but has some of its most powerful weapons at his disposal.

Sunday’s test of what appeared to be a powerful, fullfledged thermonuclear bomb, marked yet another watershed in Kim’s relentless drive as leader to turn the North into a credible―and feared―nucleararmed state. In the process, he has simply shrugged off international warnings and economic sanctions, as well as bellicose threats from US President Donald Trump of possible military strikes if he persists. When he took over from his late father Kim Jong-Il nearly six years ago, the younger Kim was in his late 20s, considered untested, vulnerable and likely to be manipulated by senior figures. But he swiftly proved his mettle in dealing harshly― sometimes brutally―with any sign of dissent, even at the highest levels, while maintaining an aggressively provocative stance with the global community. In 2013 he had influential uncle and mentor, Jang Song-

Thaek, executed for treason, while he was also believed to be behind the dramatic assassination of his exiled half-brother Kim Jong-Nam in Malaysia earlier this year. He has even shown he is willing to alienate the North’s sole major ally China with his unstinting efforts to advance the country’s nuclear and missile programs in the face of Beijing’s clear opposition―and has still not visited his neighbor to pay his respects to leader Xi Jinping. After his father’s death, the young Kim was expected to initially rely on a coterie of powerful aides. But that expected tutelage was short-lived as Kim started to remove any potential challenges to his authority by executing Jang. Other purges of high-ranking ofﬁcials followed and last year Kim had himself appointed chairman of a new supreme governing commission, underlining his absolute control over

every aspect of state policy. Kim Jong-Un was born to his father’s third wife, Japan-born ethnic-Korean dancer Ko YongHi, who is believed to have died of breast cancer in 2004. He was sent to school in Switzerland, where he was looked after by his maternal aunt Ko YongSuk and her husband. School staff and friends, who were reportedly unaware that he was a member of North Korea’s ruling family, remembered him as a shy boy who liked skiing and Hollywood tough guy JeanClaude Van Damme. In an interview with the Washington Post, Ko Yong-Suk―who defected to the US in 1998―described Kim as short-tempered and lacking in tolerance. He was also basketball mad, according to Ko, and even slept with a basketball. Former Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman, who has visited Pyongyang several times, is one of the few Westerners ever known to have met Kim in recent times. Kim knew from his eighth birthday that he would become North Korea’s leader, but he only entered the public eye in 2008 when his father suffered a stroke and Pyongyang revved up plans for the nation’s second dynastic succession. AFP

North Korea test rocks parts of China BEIJING―North Korea’s nuclear test Sunday was widely felt in northeast China and rocked some cities for as long as eight seconds, according to reports and accounts on social media. The tremor was felt as far away as the city of Changchun around 400 km northwest of the North’s test site at Punggye-ri, according to state broadcaster CCTV. In the small city of Yanji, some 20 km from the border, some people reported the shaking was so intense that they ﬂed their homes. Jiemiao Cangxin, a commentator on the Chinese microblog Weibo, said his building swayed

so much that “I put my underpants on and I just ran, and when I reached the first floor I can say I wasn’t the only one running away with just my underpants on!” “In Yanji, we felt the shaking for ten seconds,” said Weibo user Buziranshaonv. “I was lying down and sleeping when the tremor woke me up. At first, I thought it was a dream,” said another. The test, North Korea’s sixth, was substantially larger than previous ones, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale according to US monitors. That would make it between five to six times larger than Pyongyang’s previous effort

in September last year, according to South Korea’s weather agency. The North called it a test of a hydrogen bomb which was a “perfect success”. Reports of the explosion also provoked widespread concern further away in China, with many commentators speculating about the timing of the event―just hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to open a summit of BRICs nations in southern China. “An earthquake happened in North Korea, everyone thinks at once it is a nuclear test,” said one user, cheekily adding “is it a form of greetings for the summit in Xiamen?” AFP

SIXTH NUKE TEST ‘ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.’ Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks at his official residence in Tokyo on September 3, 2017, following North Korea’s possible nuclear test. Abe said a sixth nuclear test by Pyongyang would be “absolutely unacceptable after a 6.3 magnitude explosion in the North indicated a new detonation. AFP

Japan princess announces engagement

ENGAGEMENT. Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, and her fiancee Kei Komuro take part in a press conference to announce their engagement at the Akasaka East Residence in Tokyo on September 3, 2017. Emperor Akihito’s eldest granddaughter Princess Mako and her fiance--a commoner--announced their engagement that will cost the princess her royal status. AFP

TOKYO―Japan’s Princess Mako and her fiancé―a commoner―announced their engagement Sunday, a match that will cost the princess her royal status, according to a law that highlights the male-dominated nature of Japan’s monarchy. Like all female imperial family members, Mako, who is Emperor Akihito’s eldest granddaughter, forfeits her status upon marriage to a commoner under a controversial tradition. The law does not apply to royal males. But at a televised press conference held to announce her engagement, she told the nation that she felt “really happy”. “I was aware since my childhood that I’ll leave a royal status once I marry,” she said. “While I worked to help the emperor and fulfill duties as a royal family member as much as I can, I’ve been cherishing my own life.” Her fiancé, Kei Komuro, a telegenic 25-year-old who works at a law firm and once won a tourism promotion contest to be crowned “Prince of the Sea”, said he had

proposed to her more than three years ago. He described Mako as someone who quietly watches over him “like the moon”. The princess said his smile was “like the sun.” The announcement had originally been planned for July but the couple decided to postpone it out of consideration for a southern region hit by heavy rains and flooding in the month. An official of the Imperial Household Agency said their wedding will take place after the summer of 2018. Mako, 25, is the eldest daughter of Prince Akishino, Akihito’s second son. The law removing her royal status upon marriage does not apply to male royals, with Akihito and both his sons wedded to commoners, who are now part of the monarchy. The news of the engagement has intensified a debate on whether the law should be changed so women born into the imperial family can continue in their royal roles.

That could help increase the number of potential male heirs to a monarchy that does not allow females to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. Traditionalists, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, strenuously oppose such changes, even though Japan has occasionally been ruled by female sovereigns in past centuries. In June, the parliament enacted legislation to allow Akihito, 83, to step down in favour of Naruhito, his eldest son. Emperor Akihito’s retirement will be the ﬁrst imperial abdication in more than two centuries. That will put his younger brother Akishino next in line, followed by Hisahito, Akishino’s son. But after that there are no more eligible males, meaning the centuries-old succession would be broken if Hisahito fails to have a son in the future. Some have suggested returning royal status to families who were stripped of it under a sweeping reform during the US occupation of Japan after World War II. AFP

Sports

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Askren pounds Kadestam to retain ONE crown S HANGHAI, China – Reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren took Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam to the mat then pounded his rival into submission with a volley of punches and elbows to retain his title during ONE Championship: Shanghai last Saturday, September 2, 2017

The former US Olympian effortlessly secured a mount position and relentlessly pounded on the Swedish striker to compel veteran referee Yuji

Shimada to halt the action in the second round. Askren then expressed his gratitude not only for winning the bout

but also to the fans for the warm welcome he received. “I really had a wonderful time in Shanghai. Thanks for having me. It’s an honor to be here. To everyone who is watching from all around the world, thank you guys so much, it means the world to me.” In the co-main event of the evening, Chinese ﬂyweight prospect Ma Hao Bin returned to the ONE Championship cage and proved his mettle on the ground with another technical grappling showcase, converting several takedown attempts, ultimately winning by guillotine

choke overcompatriot Hexigetu with ten seconds remaining in the second round. Singaporean prospect Amir Khan continued his winning roll inside the ONE Championship cage by stopping Jaroslav Jartim of Czech Republic. Khan easily secured the ﬁnish with a left high kick and strong right cross. Jartim succumbed shortly after as the referee deemed him unable to continue. The technical knockout conquest earned Khan his ﬁfth straight victory. Xu Chun Yan of China and Eh Ya Nut of Cambodia put on a spec-

tacular showcase of aggression to the roar of a packed crowd.Xu flaunted her solid ground game to pacify her Cambodian opponent’s firepower in the stand-up trade, wearing down Eh Ya Nut and steering her to a decisive victory by way of unanimous decision. Japanese veteran Tetsuya Yamada claimed his first win under the ONE Championship umbrella, submitting China-based American Kyle Rozewski. Sagetdao Petpayathai of Thailand was successful in his second outing as a ONE Championship athlete, defeating Mah-

moud Mohamed of Egypt. “Supermom” Miao Jie of China made a triumphant promotional debut in ONE Championship by submitting Mona Samir of Egypt. Miao got the job done by forcing Samir to tap with an armbar submission in just 49 seconds of the very ﬁrst round. In a battle of Chinese lightweight standouts, Zhang Ze Hao came out on top of Li Cheng Chao. Having a solid game plan to topple Li, Zhang delivered a sensational performance, forcing his opponent to succumb to strikes in the third round.

San Beda beats LPU to reach Final Four DEFENDING champion San Beda edged titlecontender Lyceum of the Philippines University, 2.5-1.5, Saturday to clinch a Final Four spot after seven rounds of the 93rd NCAA chess competition at the LPU Auditorium. FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza and McDominique Lagula provided the wins on the top two boards at the expense of Jonathan Jota and Romula Curioso, Jr., respectively, while Marc Christian Nazario drew with Jhoemar Mendiogarin on the third board to seal the win. Virgen Gil Ruaya trounced Bryan Barcelon on fourth board to provide the Pirates its lone win. The win also clinched the Lions the first slot in the Final Four with 24 match points and possibly a twice-to-beat advantage if it finishes in the top two after the single-round elimination. St. Benilde blanked Perpetual Help, 4-0, to snatch the second spot with 20.5 points, half a point ahead of LPU, which skidded to third with 20 points. Arellano University turned back Emilio Aguinaldo, 3-1, on triumphs by Don Tyrone delos Santos, Carlo Caranyagan and Jeremy Parado on boards one, two and four to cling to the fourth and last spot with 17.5 points. In juniors’ division, LPU stunned solo leader San Beda, 3-1, to breathe life to its waning Final Four bid. Earl Rhay Mantilla, Joshov Alekhine Rosardo and Jan Darryl Batula prevailed on the first three boards to complete the shock win as the Junior Pirates climbed to fifth spot with 14.5 points, or two points behind joint third Arellano U and Perpetual Help with 16.5 points. San Beda remained on top with 20 points but its lead was cut to just half a point as Letran dumped San Sebastian, 3-1, to improve to 19.5 points.

Ben Askren (on top) lands an elbow on the face of Zebaztian Kadestam during the ONE Welterweight World Championship bout in Shanghai, China last Saturday evening. The referee stopped the bout to award the victory to Askren. ONE Championship

PGT Asia two-leg swing up at Splendido, Riviera Hamilton takes

Tony Lascuña tees off during a game at Southwoods.

THE PGT Asia Tour hopes to cash in on its successful launch at Southwoods last month as it holds two $100,000 events in the next two weeks beginning with the ICTSI Splendido Classic on Thursday (Sept. 7) at Taal Splendido Golf Club in Tagaytay. A crack international field of 106 will slug it out for top honors at Splendido with four more players, including Aboitiz Invitational third placer Ian Andrew of Indonesia, joining the next tournament at the ICTSI Riviera Classic on Sept. 13-16. An elite field pounded the kickoff leg host Southwoods’ Legends course with a run of under-par scores with Miguel Tabuena edging Angelo Que by one with a 23-under aggregate last month and 36 others turning in under par outputs last Aug. 18. But it could get tougher this week with the Splendido layout offering a different kind of challenge with its up-and-down layout, deep ravines and tight fairways and the wind expected to come into play in all four days of the 72-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI. But while Tabuena and Que, along with Andrew, won’t be around this week to honor previous commitments to play in various tours abroad, the field remains as competitive as ever with 48 foreign players from 17 nations ready to slug it out with the local aces for the rich $17,600 top purse. Elmer Salvador nipped Jay Bayron by one to snare the ICTSI Splendido Classic crown of the Philippine Golf Tour last year with the reticent Davaoeño shotmaker finishing tied for fifth with Charles Hong in the

first leg of the PGT Asia Tour, making him one of the top local contenders this week. With Tabuena resuming his chase for world ranking points in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland and Que re-joining the Japan PGA Tour, reigning PGT Order of Merit champion and current local tour OOM leader Tony Lascuña and No. 2 Clyde Mondilla join Salvador and Bayron at the forefront of the local challenge along with Michael Bibat, who closed out with a 64 and rallied to finish solo fourth at Southwoods. While Lascuña seeks to improve on his ninth place effort at the PGTA kickoff leg, Mondialla is raring to atone for his missed-cut stint in the region’s newest circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. put up to further develop the local pros’ games and at the same time make the Philippines a leading international golf destination. But the local top guns will be hard-pressed to make it two-in-row in the PGTA with PGTA Q-School topnotcher Pasavee Lertvelai also out to rebound from a joint 26th finish at Southwoods along with Americans Seungjae Maeng, John Michael O’Toole and Cory Oride, Korean-American Micah Shin, Singapore’s Choo Tze Huang, Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia and Swede Andreas Gronkvist. Meanwhile, the leading local and foreign pros team up with officials and guests of the event’s chief backers, including Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc., in the traditional pro-am tournament on Wednesday.

Mallilin turns back on La Salle to join Ateneo Blue Eagles By Peter Atencio A TALENTED forward from La Salle Greenhills will suit up for powerhouse Ateneo Blue Eagles in season 90 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament. Team manager Epok Quimpo

said the 6’3” Mallilin has made the cut with the Blue Eagles after he transferred from the La Salle Green Archers last summer. “He’s in the lineup,” said Quimpo. Mallilin is among the new faces with the Blue Eagles, following the graduation of Giboy

Babilonia. He joins Batang Gilas players Gian Mamuyac and BJ Andrade, who played for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in high school. Mallilin distinguished himself last year when he earned the juniors MVP honors of the season 92 NCAA basketball

tournament. He moved over after playing a few games with La Salle in their preseason sorties. The Tab Baldwin-coached Blue Eagles will have the likes of Thirdy Ravena back in the team, along with Adrian Wong, Anton Asistio, Vince Tolentino, Mike Nieto, Aaron

Black, Jolo Mendoza, and Isaac Go. They will also have Matt Nieto, Kris Porter, Tyler Tio, Chibueze Ikeh, Rafael Verano, Dan Wong and Jawuan White, who is coming in from team B. Mallillin averaged 19.9 points and 9.3 rebounds when he was still with LSGH.

record 69th pole MONZA, Italy – Lewis Hamilton broke Michael Schumacher’s record of all-time pole positions by securing his 69th with a devastating lap in the final seconds of Saturday’s rain-hit qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix. The 32-year-old Briton steered his Mercedes through treacherous conditions with patience, precision and courage to deliver a best lap in one minute and 35.554 seconds on full wet tires. In a dramatic final session, he outpaced nearest rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull in teeming rain to claim his sixth pole at Monza and his fourth in succession. He had shared Schumacher’s record of 68 after taking pole in last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix to set up victory and the record. “To do this here at such an historic circuit – I am going to have some pasta tonight to celebrate,” said Hamilton, who achieved the mark in his 201st Grand Prix. Schumacher’s 68 poles came from 308 races. “It’s very hard to find the words to explain how I feel. I can’t believe that so much time has passed. There’ve been great experiences. “Sixty-nine poles – I just can’t believe it.” Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was third ahead of Canadian rookie Lance Stroll of Williams, French rookie Esteban Ocon of Force India and Valtteri Bottas, who was sixth in the second Mercedes. With the two Red Bulls hit by major grid penalties for taking new engine components, Stroll will start Sunday’s race, forecast to take place in dry conditions, from second on the grid alongside Hamilton. “It was a great qualifying session,” said Stroll. “I just tossed the car around – I had great fun. I felt the car was performing well under me.” In a dramatic finale to a session that ended nearly three hours later than expected after a long delay due to heavy rain, the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and championship leader Sebastian Vettel ended up in disappointing seventh and eight positions on their team’s 70th anniversary. “I have no idea what the problem was,” said Vettel, who will start from sixth.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Road Warriors shut down Batang Pier, 109-99 By Jeric Lopez NLEX took control of the game in the payoff period after squandering an early lead in the first half to turn back undermanned GlobalPort, 109-99, in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday. The triumvirate of Aaron Fuller, Juami Tiongson and JR Quinahan did damage for the Road Warriors, lifting the squad to victory. Fuller had a monster game with 33 points and 20 rebounds to lead the way but it was Tiongson who gave the Road Warriors the lift they needed. Tiongson hit four of his five triples in the fourth quarter on his way to 21 points. Quinahan scattered 18 points as well for NLEX. With this second straight win, NLEX, who is already through to the quarterfinals, improved to 7-2 to keep its spot in the top four. On the other hand, the Batang Pier fell to 3-4 as this loss hurt its chances of making the top eight but it still has plenty of games left to chase a spot in the playoffs. Behind Tiongson’s three triples to start the fourth, NLEX was able to wrestle control once again, taking an 87-80 advantage with under 10 minutes remaining. From their, NLEX was steady the rest of the way, keeping GlobalPort at bay before finally putting the game away. The Road Warriors had a blazing start, charging out of the gates. They uncorked a booming 22-5 surge in the first six minutes of play to grasp early control before settling for a 33-22 cushion at the end of one. Down but not rattled, the Batang Pier slowly but surely clawed its way back in the second, outscoring the Road Warriors 32-29, to suddenly cut NLEX’s lead to only two, 56-54, at the half, making it anyone’s game heading the second half. Eventually, GlobalPort got its first lead of the game from an undergoal stab of Sean Anthony at the 6:44 mark of the third canto, 63-62. NLEX stood its ground before owning the fourth to take the game. The Batang Pier missed the services of star Stanley Pringle as he suddenly took an immediate leave of absence from the team to attend to his ailing father who suffered a stroke in the United States. Veteran guard Mac Cardona, who has been away for more than a year in the league dealing with his publicized off court issues, was back in the league having signed up with GlobalPort just a day before this tiff. He played over eight minutes and tallied four points.

PBA. GlobalPort Batang Pier point guard Mike Cortez (11) dribbles past NLEX Road Warriors defender Cyrus Baguio (8). The Road Warriors beat GlobalPort, 109-99 during their PBA game last night.

Pacquiao wants Philippines to host Horn rematch to promote tourism

ANNY Pacquiao said on Sunday he was still wanted a rematch with Jeff Horn after the Filipino boxing hero pulled out of their scheduled bout in Australia later his year. Queensland’s premier, whose state government was the financial backer of a November 12 fight, announced on Friday that Pacquiao “cannot return to the ring” due to other commitments. “It will not push through there in Australia. But we are bringing the fight here in the Philippines,” Pacquiao said on radio station

DZBB, adding negotiations were ongoing. “This will be good for our country’s tourism.” Pacquiao, 38, had initially called for a rematch after losing his World Boxing Organization welterweight title to the 29-yearold on points Horn in a major upset in Brisbane on July 2.

Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, had demanded a review of the bout but the WBO declared Horn the clear winner after a panel of judges re-scored the ﬁght. Now in the twilight of a 22year professional career, Pacquiao has not stopped an opponent in eight years and brieﬂy quit boxing last year to pursue his long-held political ambitions and was elected senator. But he quickly made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in November, saying he still

felt like a youngster. Pacquiao has deﬁed calls to retire for good, including from his family and celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach. Pacquiao dismissed funding concerns about hosting the multi-million dollar fight in the Philippines. “We have lots of friends who are supporting us including our tourism (department). The president is giving his all-out support,” Pacquiao said referring to his political ally Rodrigo Duterte. Pacquiao had earlier withdrawn from the rematch which

JRU bows to Ateneo in PVL game

Nadal, Federer near blockbuster semifinal NEW YORK—Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer edged closer to a US Open semifinal blockbuster on Saturday as controversial Italian Fabio Fognini was kicked out for a vile, misogynistic tirade at a female umpire. Nadal, 31, saw off Argentine lucky loser Leonardo Mayer 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, taking his record over the world number 59 from Buenos Aires to 4-0. He will face Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov, against whom he is 6-2, for a place in the quarterfinals. Five-time champion Federer brushed aside 31st seed Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to take his career record against the Spaniard, playing a 63rd successive Grand Slam, to 13-0. Next up for Federer is Philipp Kohlschreiber, who he leads 11-0. Nadal had dropped the first

set of his second-round match against Japan’s Taro Daniel before winning in four. Saturday was almost a carbon copy with the 15-time major winner unable to convert any of six points in the opener. But the match turned in the 10-minute seventh game of the second set when, on his 14th break point of the encounter, Nadal finally smashed through. “It was tough. It took 14 break points – that’s not a good figure. But I was there mentally and fought a lot at the right moments,” said Nadal under the Arthur Ashe roof as rain fell outside. Federer had needed backto-back five-setters to defeat Frances Tiafoe and Mikhail Youzhny in his first two rounds. However, on Saturday, he swept past Lopez to reach the fourth round for the 16th time. “I’m very happy to get

through. It’s a great feeling to play out here,” said Federer. “I struggled in the first two rounds but tonight I played a very clean match.” Kohlschreiber, the German 33rd seed, eliminated Australia’s John Millman 7-5, 6-2, 6-4. Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem defeated France’s Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to make the last 16 for the third time in four years. Thiem next faces 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who put out Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Russia’s Andrey Rublev became the second teenager in the last 16 when he beat Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Rublev, just 19, faces Belgian ninth seed David Goffin, who progressed when 2016 semifinalist Gael Monfils retired with a right knee injury.

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during their third round Men’s Singles match on Day Six of the 2017 US Open. AFP

LGR Hoops holds charity game at Makati Coliseum

LEBRON JAMES PLAYS GILAS. NBA Superstar LeBron glides to the hoop while playing for the Gilas Young Bloods in an exhibition game against the Gilas Original Group as part of his LeBron James Tour 2017. Ey Acasio

ALREADY crossing over as a local celebrity, Mark Andaya had decided to put on his sneakers anew to play in a charity game. The former pro player joined D-League standout and ex-La Salle cager Peejay Barua in a one day 3 x 3 tournament – the LGR Hoops Play For A Cause – held recently at the Makati Coliseum. The event, which was organized to help Mike Custodio, one of the participants of LGR

was scheduled for November 12 due to his commitments as a Philippines senator. Horn caused one of the greatest upsets in boxing history when he defeated Pacquiao on a points decision to claim the WBO world welterweight title at Lang Park on July 2. Horn said he was desperate to ﬁght Pacquiao again and is frustrated by his opponent’s withdrawal. Horn said he hoped Pacquiao would come back in April when he had got a break from his political commitments. AFP

Hoops Season 4. Custodio fell hard and suffered a severe waist injury. Participants from more than 90 teams which joined Season 4 decided to put up their 3 x 3 teams in hope of raising funds and help the ailing player from his expenses. LGR Hoops is the fastest growing league for people from all walks of life – from players in the corporate divisions, people looking for recreation and players who want to elevate their game to the

next level. For Andaya and Barua, being part of an event for a cause is something they’re willing to do. “Mahal namin ang basketball. Competitive kaming mga players pero ayaw naming may nakikitang nasasaktang players kakampi man or kalaban,” said the 6-foot-9 Andaya. Now working as a full-time employee in Maynilad, Barua went back to playing hoops nine years after he graduated

from La Salle. He inked a deal to play for AMA Online recently and he’s planning to use this event as a way to keep himself in shape aside from helping out. Barua played for DBT, but his team lost in the ﬁnals to Wednesday Group, 22-21. “It’s a great feeling being able to help out,” said Barua. “I’m also trying to keep myself in shape so whenever my team needs me, I’ll be there to contribute.”

ATENEO, with four players churning out double-digit outputs, blasted a listless Jose Rizal U side in three, 25-17, 25-15, 25-15, to seize the early lead in Group A of the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan Saturday evening. Skipper Bea de Leon lived up to her billing as she led the Lady Eagles with 14 hits while Kat Tolentino scored 11 hits and Juliane Samonte and Madeleine Madayag added 10 hits apiece as the Katipunan-based squad dominated the Lady Bombers all throughout their 65-minute encounter. Ateneo had 45 spikes against JRU’s 22 and made nine aces against the Lady Bombers’ four. So dominating were the Lady Eagles that they produced seven blocks, including four from Madayag, while holding their rivals to a rare zero output in that department. Shola Alvarez, a veteran of the Reinforced and Open Conferences, and Karen Montojo had nine points each while Dolly Versoza made seven points for the Kalentong-based school. In an earlier match Arellano U overwhelmed St. Benilde in a duel of the reigning and former NCAA champions, coming away with an emphatic 25-20, 25-22, 25-17 victory. Jovielyn Prado blasted in14 hits, spearheading the Lady Chiefs’ attack against the Lady Blazes, whom they beat in the stepladder semiﬁnals on their way to nailing their second NCAA women’s volley crown early this year.

New LRT 1 coaches on target B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Govt now seeks ODA for airports By Darwin G Amojelar

HE Transportation Department said it is now seeking official development assistance loans to finance the construction of five regional airports which were earlier offered to private investors under the public private partnership program.

“We are just doing the feasibility studies again because it’s too old. We are waiting for ODA proposals. It’s better if government to government,” Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Antonio Tamayo said. Tamayo said the new feasibility studies for the five regional airports were expected to be completed before the end of the year.

The DOTr earlier canceled the auctions for the P108.2-billion contracts to develop, operate and maintain five regional airports under the PPP scheme as the agency opted to implement the projects through other modes. The Regional Airport PPP Projects were originally approved under a bundled PPP structure by the Investment Coordination Committee

and the National Economic and Development Authority board. The Neda board then approved the unbundling of the five airport projects in November 2016. The five provincial airports in the PPP are the P20.26billion Bacolod-Silay International Airport, the P30.4billion Iloilo International Airport, the P14.62-billion Laguindingan Airport, P2.34billion New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and P40.57-billion Davao International Airport. The Transportation Department earlier pre-qualified Maya Consortium led by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Philippine Airports Consortium of Metro

Pacific Investments Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp.-IIAC Airport Consortium, GMRMegawide Consortium and Filinvest-JATCO-Sojitz Consortium for the projects. The winning concessionaires for each airport bundle will handle the operation and maintenance of the airports for 30 years and expand the facilities. Aside from the operation and maintenance, the contract will require the winner to expand the terminal, apron, airside and landside facilities to address future demand. The improvements are needed to enhance passenger safety and convenience and ensure more efficient airport

operations. GMR-Megawide earlier won the contract to develop and operate the P17.5-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The Mactan Airport project will include the construction of a new passenger terminal and renovation of the existing one, as well as the provision of new commercial facilities. This would increase passenger capacity to 12.5 million a year. The project will be developed under a 25-year concession agreement for the operation of both terminals and commercial outlets. Project completion is expected by 2018.

Weak peso not a major threat to PH economy—Capital Economics By Julito G. Rada THE weakness of the peso remains manageable, but policymakers must not be complacent because of its possible negative impact on the economy, global consultancy firm Capital Economics said in a report over the weekend. “Subdued inflation and a relatively low level of foreign currency debt mean the weakness of the Philippine peso, which has recently been hitting multi-year lows against the US dollar, is not a major threat to the economy,” Capital Economics said. Inflation in the first half averaged 3.1 percent, slightly higher than the midpoint of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year. “In fact, policymakers appear to be welcoming the boost the weaker currency is giving the country’s exporters,” it said. The peso closed at 51.17 against the US dollar on Aug. 31. Capital Economics estimated the peso was down nearly 9 percent against the dollar over the past year, making it by some distance the worst performing Asian currency over this

period. Experts and even central bank officials said earlier a sharp widening of the country’s trade deficit was the key factor behind the decline in the peso that pushed the current account into the negative territory. Capital Economics warned policymakers should no be complacent because of two possible channels through which a weaker currency could pose a threat to a country. The first was by pushing up the cost of imports, which could add to inflation, and the second by increasing the local currency value of a country’s foreign-denominated debt. “There is little indication that policymakers are concerned, and there are in fact signs that policymakers are welcoming the weaker peso,” Capital Economics said, citing the recent remarks made by Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. when he said the country was “on the right track” amid the weakness in the currency because macroeconomic fundamentals remained solid and strong.

IN BRIEF PH to lead talks on Asian trade bloc

THE Philippines, the lead and host country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation meetings this year, needs to tackle crucial issues to advance the Regional Comprehensive and Economic Partnership, after the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc was scrapped, a trade official said over the weekend. The trade official said several economic partners and even Asean members were now trying to insert concepts that are were part of the TPP negotiations into RCEP, a proposed free trade agreement between the 10 nations of Asean and its dialogue partners. “Since RCEP is the only remaining biggest trade agreement after TPP was canceled, some TPP members who are either partners of Asean are trying to press for the inclusion of these ideas to RCEP,” he said. The Asean economic ministers summit is set to take place on Sept. 7 to 11 in Manila and one of the major discussions is the partial agreement on RCEP covering trade-in goods, services or investments. The trade official said former TPP members wanted to include ratchet concept in the RCEP agreement. Rachet concept is a trade scheme that favors progressive increases in the liberalization rate of a sector or industry. “This is akin to the mechanics of a ratchet wrench. In essence, this means that once a liberalization rate has been set, it cannot go back to previous levels. For instance, if the Asean should allow the opening of 50-percent ownership of the media sector to foreign investors, this level of foreign ownership cannot go back to rates lower than 50 percent. It can only go higher,” he said. Othel V. Campos

SSS disbursements hit P1.45t since 1957

ENERGY WORKSHOP. The Department of Energy holds a joint planning workshop with the European Union and the World Bank on Supported Access to Sustainable Energy Program on Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at Camp Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas. Shown are participants in the three-day workshop, which discusses the government’s thrust to promote energy efficiency, sustainability and total electrification.

STATE-RUN pension fund Social Security System disbursed nearly P1.45 trillion worth of benefits to members since it began operations in 1957, a top executive said over the weekend. SSS president and chief executive Emmanuel Dooc said the benefits disbursement of the pension fund grew 20 million times from P80,000 paid in its first year of operations in 1957 to P1.45 trillion as of end-June 2017. “This year, as the pension fund celebrates another milestone year, we look back with pride that SSS has been a staunch ally of its members for six decades now as we look forward with hope that the pension fund will continue to stand strong ready to help its members through difficulties and milestones of their lives for generations to come,” Dooc said. Benefit disbursements pushed total expenditures of the pension fund to P1.58 trillion as of end-June 2017 from P580,000 in 1957. Revenues over the 60-year period also jumped to P2.08 trillion as of end-June 2017 from P6.62 million in 1957. This was supported by an increase in members’ contribution from P6.58 million in 1957 to P1.51 trillion as of June 2017. Investment and other income grew from P40,000 in the pilot year to P567.53 billion as of June 2017. Julito G. Rada

Business

MONDAY,SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

SMC Global Power plans to sell P35-b debt securities By Jenniffer B. Austria SMC Global Power Holdings Inc., the power generation unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., said it plans to issue up to P35 billion worth of debt securities under a shelf-registration program to refinance dollardenominated debts. SMC Global said in a recent regulatory filing its board of directors approved the issuance and offering of bonds with an initial tranche of P25 billion. “Proceeds from the offering will be used to refinance outstanding loans of the parent company totaling $400 million,” SMC Global said. The bond will be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and listed with Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. This will be the second bond offering of SMC Global after raising P15 billion in fixed-rate bonds due 2021, 2023 and 2026. The company has been paying

down dollar-denominated debts to minimize the group’s exposure to foreign exchange losses brought about by the peso depreciation against the US dollar. It paid $500 million out of the $700 million five-year term loan via refinancing through peso-denominated loans this year. SMC Global Power is one of the largest power companies in the Philippines controlling 2,903 megawatts of combined contracted capacity as of December 2015. It has diversified fuel sources, including natural gas, coal and hydroelectric. The power generation firm had a 17-percent market share of the power supply of the national grid and 22-percent market share of the Luzon grid as of end December 2015. San Miguel president Ramon Ang earlier said the company would push through with a plan to conduct an initial public offering of SMC Global within the year.

Market to trade below 8,000

tocks are expected to remain on consolidation mode this week, as investors await more leads from the domestic and international markets, analysts said over the weekend. Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said with the market’s current sideways movement, investors would likely focus on second and third-liners with strong growth prospects. “With the PSEi still locked within 7,900 to 8,040 [points], another tight session might prevail this week, unless strong leads emerge. The limelight might be on select second- and third-tiers with solid stories to unfold, especially those that trail indexrelated bets,” 2TradeAsia.com said. Immediate support is expected at 7,870 to 7,900 levels and resistance at 8,000. The strong close of US stocks last

week on positive jobs data could also influence the local stock market’s movement early this week. Analysts, however, said they were expecting the equities market to keep moving sideways in the whole month of September. The PSEi, the 30-company benchmark index of the Philippine Stock Exchange, lost 0.7 percent over last week’s shortened three-day trading period to close at 7,985.57 on Sept. 1, while the broader all-share index retreated 0.5 percent to 4,723.27. Except for the mining and oil subsector which gained 1.5 percent on higher metal prices, all sub-indices

ended in the red led by property which declined 1.2 percent, industrial which went down 1.2 percent and holding firms which dropped 0.5 percent. Despite last week’s loss, the PSEi was still up 16.3 percent since the start of the year. Foreign investors were net buyers by P350 million last week. Average daily turnover improved to P8 billion from the previous week’s average of P5.6 billion. Top gainers last week were SSI Group Inc. which climbed 13 percent to P4.78, Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. which advanced 4.9 percent to P5.14 and Petron Corp. which went up 4.1 percent to P9.80. Heavy losers included Philweb Corp. which slipped 6.1 percent to P10.12, Cemex Holdings Properties Inc. which dropped 5.81 percent to P6 and Universal Robina Corp. which declined 4.4 percent to P146. Jenniffer B. Austria

Manila Standard BuSineSS Weekly StockS revieW STOCKS

AUGUST 29-31, 2017 Close Volume

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

4.41 59.45 127.10 105.90 36.05 3.96 1.35 10 16.1 30.4 8.10 0.68 1.65 895.00 0.710 87.6 0.98 13.16 25.50 60.50 88.5 117.7 238 51.3 250 1800.00 86.55 1.37

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

39.5 9.1 0.81 1.4 22.3 0.240 145 24.00 6 17.28 81.5 34 64 1.92 5.4 11.68 10.340 15.18 7.02 6.78 13.30 1.8 16.82 67 14.36 12.24 15.22 1.810 238.20 60.00 3.84 3.45 22.80 30.95 19.86 17.5 271.00 0.237 11.80 2.97 9.80 6.85 7.15 65.95 10.10 1.81 11.88 6.71 4.33 2.01 4.36 307.8 2.55 12.7 4.5 0.143 1.20 146.1 3.85 2.19 28.50 1.00

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

0.355 74.45 13.90 1.15 7.00 0.320 0.310 920 7.84 15.70 6.18 7.60 0.206 1118 7.97 71.80 5 5.4 5.43 6.76 0.93 17.72 6.35 0.0440 0.940 2.060 100.00 2.63 810.50 1.53 300.000 0.2800 0.2100 0.225

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

5.350 6.20 1.20 2.430 1.030 42.000 3.68 5.35 5.04 5.94 0.530 1.33 1.530 0.228 0.510 43.6 0.690 0.156 1.63 1.91 0.97

Value

FINANCIAL 2,425,970.00 1,803,738.50 842,123,685.00 445,100,545.00 17,190,190.00 15,830.00 123,330.00 9,959.00 609,958.00 338,812,405.00 35,640.00 6,800.00 39,650.00 107,750.00 4,098,340.00 771,201,272.50 4,501,820.00 567,096.00 20,400.00 8,346,802.00 160,150.00 18,770.00 58,014,128.00 10,551,484.00 2,484,486,718.00 459,000.00 13,527,203.00 266,980.00 INDUSTRIAL 4,565,200 179,665,735.00 4,005,400 37,160,179.00 2,947,000 2,371,120.00 1,657,000 2,309,690.00 132,600 2,957,060.00 2,640,000 632,160.00 2,660 385,665.00 305,700 7,528,760.00 19,501,400 120,435,464.00 4,276,800 73,925,334.00 9,030 743,533.00 1,941,600 65,859,610.00 15,270 977,289.50 632,000 1,220,260.00 220,400 1,182,524.00 135,400 1,521,014.00 13,719,900 143,413,068.00 5,037,500 76,837,768.00 2,329,500 16,467,988.00 62,124,300 422,487,404.00 1,585,200 21,015,014.00 38,000 68,400.00 3,767,900 63,501,130.00 166,780 11,229,189.50 78,600 1,092,788.00 429,100 5,285,162.00 9,404,400 144,484,960.00 1,250,000 2,260,540.00 2,181,490 520,480,222.00 640 38,407.00 201,000 753,690.00 289,000 998,770.00 5,200 118,560.00 6,356,300 196,071,375.00 3,021,000 59,724,908.00 11,613,600 204,658,482.00 910,830 246,276,178.00 6,180,000 1,474,340.00 180,100 2,041,438.00 4,409,000 13,186,010.00 29,222,800 283,182,160.00 1,489,800 10,116,385.00 727,300 5,177,374.00 364,940 23,984,173.00 44,400 447,730.00 1,283,000 2,326,730.00 784,300 9,459,694.00 221,400 1,459,327.00 15,203,000 65,519,800.00 2,000 4,020.00 97,000 421,820.00 59,040 18,086,600.00 969,000 2,443,170.00 2,228,700 28,291,724.00 371,000 1,669,820.00 950,000 136,570.00 223,000 270,920.00 4,113,000 611,102,306.00 72,000 271,390.00 36,742,000 79,207,910.00 2,400 65,815.00 150,000 148,620.00 HOLDING FIRMS 6,610,000 2,334,300.00 28,984,080 2,125,059,791.00 30,279,100 416,005,832.00 468,000 515,790.00 123,600 865,133.00 1,530,000 478,350.00 60,000 18,600.00 1,175,530 1,061,586,795.00 22,894,700 183,771,394.00 18,183,300 282,317,890.00 3,100 19,208.00 1,019,000 7,744,578.00 520,000 215,310.00 437,705 493,518,835.00 36,300 281,339.00 4,170,150 297,657,511.50 12,200 61,320.00 50,000 270,000.00 1,500 8,145.00 3,878,400 27,038,546.00 4,555,000 4,243,060.00 3,922,500 69,175,876.00 49,844,500 321,345,870.00 16,100,000 711,000.00 21,000 19,520.00 1,137,000 2,355,610.00 154,070 15,400,469.50 8,000 21,560.00 1,041,710 850,362,835.00 2,748,000 4,144,780.00 11,170 3,367,648.00 560,000 156,800.00 1,010,000 207,580.00 2,570,000 583,700.00 PROPERTY 1,535,000 8,193,113.00 20,100 132,412.00 76,234,000 90,087,690.00 1,643,000 3,945,370.00 37,329,000 38,314,590.00 23,813,300 1,004,051,330.00 2,978,000 10,987,030.00 416,000 2,213,448.00 8,349,800 41,943,186.00 87,000 467,780.00 56,460,000 30,264,590.00 3,313,000 4,448,580.00 4,782,000 7,628,080.00 149,330,000 34,915,660.00 4,877,000 2,436,335.00 437,100 19,307,010.00 850,000 591,700.00 1,720,000 264,840.00 22,669,000 37,485,060.00 35,185,000 67,145,060.00 126,000 123,220.00 530,000 30,370 6,598,220 4,284,210 477,800 4,000 92,000 1,000 38,300 10,960,000 4,400 10,000 5,100 120 5,782,000 8,791,010 4,586,000 43,100 800 137,910 1,810 160 242,960 204,980 9,930,950 255 156,070 198,000

AUGUST 22-25, 2017 Close Volume Value 4.64 59.5 127.10 104.50 35.35 3.90 1.30

513,000 195,440 8,620,190 6,602,570 586,000 383,000 210,000

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

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

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

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

39.9 9.37 0.82 1.38 23.8 0.240 150 23.25 6.37 17.28 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

3,197,300 8,480,400 2,886,000 1,860,000 199,100 4,020,000 1,790 761,500 61,931,100 2,877,300 19,380 2,469,800 258,040 2,069,000 268,500 216,400 28,475,900 10,859,300 3,992,100 24,444,900 4,451,200 31,000 6,703,600 868,050 33,700 907,700 13,061,800 1,223,000 3,051,640 150 297,000 91,000 16,700 745,600 876,200 4,543,600 2,064,120 48,440,000 245,800 3,232,000 7,331,000 1,080,900 148,700 381,180 496,100 2,145,000 50,900,400 564,800 24,863,000 14,000 25,000 40,790 1,389,000 2,952,400 857,000 1,420,000 330,000 7,161,900 310,000 33,386,000 100 243,000

126,958,980.00 78,820,199.00 2,332,590.00 2,543,960.00 4,796,255.00 962,350.00 275,048.00 18,761,815.00 381,610,329.00 48,955,036.00 1,571,349.00 80,419,930.00 16,513,691.00 3,977,280.00 1,447,047.00 2,431,572.00 298,277,294.00 166,691,884.00 28,552,298.00 168,496,170.00 59,333,222.00 52,700.00 113,561,870.00 58,987,715.50 472,698.00 11,276,002.00 182,028,880.00 2,237,320.00 729,939,898.00 8,932.50 1,042,850.00 305,440.00 383,140.00 23,431,335.00 16,551,316.00 81,427,254.00 566,690,092.00 11,626,010.00 2,675,564.00 9,526,280.00 70,323,485.00 7,706,937.00 1,133,199.00 25,036,627.50 1,265,598.00 3,939,160.00 610,742,818.00 3,984,423.00 106,418,090.00 31,780.00 107,550.00 12,731,716.00 3,399,840.00 37,511,106.00 3,917,320.00 206,530.00 402,330.00 1,078,179,440.00 1,151,050.00 69,384,050.00 3,280.00 242,840.00

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 6.6 0.0450 0.940 2.070 100.50 2.72 821.00 1.54 303.000 0.2800 0.2000 0.230

8,430,000 2,018,190 12,020,700 134,000 127,500 2,970,000 200,000 1,191,560 17,121,400 28,981,400 11,500 119,300 2,400,000 691,870 4,500 3,143,750 21,100 8,600 3,200 3,320,900 2,835,000 7,659,400 63,177,300 24,100,000 32,000 1,567,000 383,430 86,000 809,600 4,144,000 14,990 3,050,000 1,890,000 10,450,000

2,984,200.00 148,850,184.00 162,803,174.00 148,010.00 891,993.00 943,150.00 64,000.00 1,071,710,144.00 134,778,446.00 456,381,940.00 71,883.00 908,020.00 494,250.00 782,970,470.00 35,049.00 224,624,344.50 105,521.00 46,526.00 17,405.00 23,724,963.00 2,537,910.00 134,605,818.00 418,054,529.00 1,068,400.00 30,080.00 3,224,450.00 38,188,608.00 229,800.00 661,674,270.00 6,515,140.00 4,538,984.00 875,200.00 382,520.00 2,383,200.00

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

3,095,300 55,700 49,327,000 440,000 7,548,000 20,349,700 10,129,000 65,500 24,576,600 6,000 90,199,000 2,814,000 10,574,000 510,950,000 2,328,000 605,800 4,872,000 8,890,000 24,410,000 80,342,000 427,000

16,516,752.00 378,460.00 60,988,470.00 969,380.00 6,898,220.00 864,929,890.00 36,466,650.00 344,709.00 126,710,952.00 32,400.00 49,015,380.00 3,642,290.00 16,719,060.00 125,274,910.00 1,161,080.00 26,706,145.00 3,336,130.00 1,410,270.00 39,959,600.00 152,551,270.00 414,910.00

STOCKS

AUGUST 29-31, 2017 Close Volume

Keppel Properties 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

4.12 4.94 0.285 0.6000 0.530 5.22 23.20 1.78 3.25 33.40 1.02 7.5 0.900 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) Chelsea Discovery World DFNN Inc. 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. 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

19.1 41.4 1.7 0.590 0.040 10.84 5.3 11.22 0.0760 108.3 10.24 2.17 7.90 970 2000 6.09 17.78 13.32 2.32 104.4 3.03 11.46 8.51 0.171 1.3800 3 15.8 4.60 1.47 10.60 21.15 0.560 2.4 8.89 4.29 2.400 11.06 5.19 170.00 10.12 1730.00 0.400 1.620 48.05 90.75 5.91 4.78 1.490 1.84 3.41 1.290 8.870

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

0.0029 1.66 5.14 13.68 1.8300 1.8100 1.23 0.400 8.70 2.570 0.275 0.183 0.193 0.011 0.0110 1.97 7.22 1.89 0.5600 1.1300 0.0130 0.0140 8.61 4.26 0.0130 2.5100 173.60 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 A 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

40 516.5 520 106 105.7 107.2 112.3 516 5.82 1020 1020 1.06 108 1065 1016 104 112.9 77 80.1 77 79.95 81.75 79.8 79.5 80.3

LR Warrant

2.630

Makati Fin. Corp. Italpinas Philab Holdings Xurpas

2.7 4.09 5.09 5.79

First Metro ETF

120.2

USD DMPL A1

10.6

AUGUST 22-25, 2017 Close Volume Value

Value

6,000 62,422,000 71,400,000 34,848,000 13,534,000 6,028,500 7,086,700 1,107,000 642,000 42,492,300 2,049,000 300 443,000 14,652,000

24,720.00 305,742,370.00 20,950,750.00 20,230,930.00 7,220,260.00 31,672,687.00 164,050,765.00 1,999,170.00 2,069,260.00 1,429,036,710.00 2,070,940.00 2,250.00 391,450.00 86,385,532.00 SERVICES 283,600 5,517,682.00 81,000 3,362,910.00 432,000 734,260.00 15,451,000 9,023,580.00 42,000,000 1,317,470.00 200 2,168.00 13,000 68,710.00 66,370,100 733,761,254.00 46,490,000 3,545,180.00 730,440 78,938,090.00 10,949,400 114,441,044.00 14,000 30,800.00 452,400 3,669,877.00 600 291,000.00 145,870 292,277,380.00 610,600 3,719,139.00 1,390,900 24,199,154.00 100 1,332.00 1,382,000 3,248,380.00 3,437,250 358,336,105.00 66,000 198,740.00 30,500 376,920.00 1,066,200 9,084,097.00 6,900,000 1,185,650.00 408,000 552,360.00 106,000 314,930.00 5,600 87,150.00 4,477,000 20,569,860.00 7,402,000 10,970,790.00 1,765,400 18,627,856.00 27,800 580,630.00 35,000 19,600.00 154,000 374,000.00 23,906,000 216,724,686.00 8,463,000 36,073,120.00 2,934,000 7,000,940.00 12,200 134,844.00 51,300 266,452.00 225,230 38,737,277.00 2,818,400 29,272,960.00 254,615 433,449,365.00 3,550,000 1,423,850.00 7,540,000 12,175,880.00 5,645,800 272,106,475.00 1,424,550 128,507,278.00 1,962,900 11,530,210.00 28,890,400 170,331,490.00 32,696,000 47,071,060.00 8,000 14,800.00 955,000 3,248,830.00 46,705,000 58,339,770.00 9,481,300 83,045,001.00 MINING & OIL 873,000,000 2,449,400.00 29,421,000 50,122,210.00 1,274,800 6,446,917.00 17,808.00 1,300 37,000 67,920.00 74,000 135,470.00 2,474,000 2,960,330.00 3,400,000 1,350,350.00 19,200 167,315.00 39,052,000 100,716,390.00 3,010,000 828,400.00 10,390,000 1,892,040.00 350,000 67,580.00 84,800,000 908,500.00 30,300,000 363,300.00 705,000 1,381,640.00 20,965,000 152,422,835.00 123,000 233,640.00 1,102,000 603,770.00 1,419,000 1,584,780.00 443,800,000 5,555,000.00 109,300,000 1,606,800.00 1,465,200 12,830,676.00 25,772,000 111,979,910.00 280,900,000 3,537,300.00 51,000 128,850.00 4,689,960 811,568,436.00 11,000,000 90,000.00 PREFERRED 3,861,800 156,181,025.00 15,720 8,119,930.00 1,100 572,000.00 13,300 1,409,800.00 33,610 3,551,472.00 50 5,360.00 1,000 112,300.00 5,300 2,739,305.00 30,190,200 175,706,968.00 4,990 5,089,800.00 2,170 2,194,790.00 373,000 395,130.00 24,300 2,577,100.00 10,060 10,687,575.00 1,050 1,066,800.00 9,890 1,029,702.00 60 6,774.00 13,370 1,028,895.00 64,290 5,200,570.00 3,640 280,280.00 7,100 567,645.00 28,150 2,301,020.00 840 67,091.00 16,000 1,272,000.00 13,400 1,076,020.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 1,029,000 2,686,900.00 SME 1,000 2,700.00 1,815,000 7,543,650.00 72,800 361,706.00 8,238,900 46,808,532.00 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 17,350 2,093,166.00 DOLLAR DENONIMATED SEC. 1,880 19,919.40

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

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

19.3 41.95 1.67 0.590 0.039 10.84 5.1 10.94 0.0760 108.5 10.72 2.17 8.44 970 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 5.10 179.00 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

847,700 211,300 641,000 39,997,000 89,800,000 16,500 8,300 65,144,000 60,870,000 2,743,090 23,186,900 2,000 1,587,300 510 65,015 1,636,900 1,571,600 400 1,569,000 7,943,720 256,000 174,000 1,226,200 13,230,000 511,000 44,000 18,100 9,634,000 11,170,000 2,688,200 203,600 118,000 302,000 31,825,300 6,822,000 2,171,000 44,400 28,500 1,710 36,615,200 128,425 12,090,000 15,327,000 3,017,900 1,002,850 322,900 6,782,000 41,560,000 5,000 1,115,000 34,760,000 6,039,300

16,629,354.00 8,820,065.00 1,055,830.00 25,204,610.00 3,557,100.00 178,850.00 42,410.00 679,847,131.00 4,520,570.00 323,693,594.00 242,014,208.00 4,340.00 12,983,567.00 494,700.00 133,142,220.00 9,992,772.00 25,364,246.00 5,306.00 3,723,590.00 839,268,007.00 784,400.00 2,169,048.00 10,540,346.00 2,311,760.00 683,850.00 132,820.00 280,244.00 44,203,320.00 17,355,710.00 28,319,554.00 4,759,772.00 66,880.00 730,530.00 284,844,322.00 28,749,200.00 4,953,550.00 493,436.00 144,687.00 295,380.00 401,429,390.00 221,477,540.00 4,740,650.00 24,527,180.00 144,442,385.00 89,454,503.00 1,909,787.00 28,388,340.00 59,360,900.00 9,140.00 3,795,990.00 41,805,310.00 52,420,014.00

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

428,000,000 8,565,000 2,456,000 400 69,000 19,000 7,695,000 520,000 59,000 38,594,000 5,910,000 9,790,000 450,000 74,400,000 2,800,000 2,177,000 90,483,200 161,000 400,000 4,249,000 890,500,000 324,500,000 1,099,100 23,851,000 356,600,000 171,000 1,016,340 6,000,000

1,193,600.00 13,935,650.00 11,731,280.00 5,508.00 127,340.00 34,590.00 9,350,880.00 202,050.00 492,599.00 99,619,300.00 1,606,950.00 1,768,630.00 87,880.00 758,400.00 30,800.00 4,310,210.00 622,836,699.00 305,610.00 210,450.00 4,765,430.00 11,048,100.00 4,474,200.00 9,392,442.00 94,743,760.00 4,429,600.00 389,170.00 172,770,913.00 48,400.00

41.55 516.5 525 106 106 112 115 517 5.82 1010 1023 1.06 106

994,200 260 8,600 17,500 7,570 20 2,230 1,160 4,388,500 2,190 6,060 7,000 16,680

40,980,885.00 135,040.00 4,473,820.00 1,855,000.00 799,013.00 2,240.00 254,898.00 600,870.00 25,594,073.00 2,221,950.00 6,181,230.00 7,320.00 1,810,370.00

1016 104.1 108.1 76.6 81 77 78.65 81.8 79.9 79.5 80.3

1,115 2,070 500 7,070 107,580 6,740 40,600 41,700 6,250 161,110 1,990

1,131,740.00 216,212.00 54,050.00 541,846.00 10,090,300.00 518,980.00 3,193,190.00 3,412,440.00 499,408.50 12,783,050.00 159,797.00

2.560

3,665,000

9,634,570.00

4.18 5.97 5.74

2,442,000 90,800 9,375,900

9,891,640.00 483,872.00 53,374,680.00

121.3

14,520

1,752,967.00

10.58

1,870

1,978,460.00

WEEKLY MOST TRADED STOCKS Abra Mining Oriental Pet. À’ Philodrill Corp. À’ Crown Equities Inc. Oriental Pet. `B’ Manila Mining À’ A. Brown Co., Inc. MRC Allied Ind. Bloomberry Megaworld

VOLUME 873,000,000 443,800,000 280,900,000 149,330,000 109,300,000 84,800,000 76,234,000 71,400,000 66,370,100 62,422,000

STOCKS Security Bank Aboitiz Equity SM Prime Holdings Ayala Corp `A’ Ayala Land `B’ SM Investments Inc. Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Semirara Corp. Metrobank Bloomberry

VALUE 2,484,486,718.00 2,125,059,791.00 1,429,036,710.00 1,061,586,795.00 1,004,051,330.00 850,362,835.00 842,123,685.00 811,568,436.00 771,201,272.50 733,761,254.00

PAL plans to fly 20m passengers By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINES Airlines said it expects to carry more than 20 million passengers by 2021, as it takes delivery of more brand new airplanes. PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the airline was expected to carry 15 million passengers this year and over 20 million passengers by 2021. Bautista said the growth would come from foreign visitors, overseas Filipino workers, businessmen and entrepreneurs who power the economy. “To achieve this, we will grow our fleet from 87 aircraft today to at least 96 by 2021. In doing so, we will phase out 18 older aircraft and take delivery of 27 brand-new airplanes,” he said. Bautista said PAL would take delivery of two brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft later this year for long trans-Pacific journeys, completing a fleet of 10 B777s for deployment to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver and London Heathrow. “Next year, we will start flying the Airbus A321 Neo, including a special longer-range version that will enable us to launch nonstop services to Brisbane, Delhi, Perth, Mumbai and Sapporo, as well as increase flights to Melbourne and other Asia/Pacific destinations,” Bautista said. “Also in 2018, we are excited to introduce the Airbus A350 as our new ultra-long-range flagship, a 295-seater widebody airplane that will help us link the Philippines nonstop to New York, Chicago, Seattle and far-flung points in Europe and North America,” Bautista said. PAL said for domestic routes, it would revamp its commuter fleet by introducing 12 new generation Bombardier Q400s, a high-technology Canadian aircraft. PAL also submitted an unsolicited proposal to build a P20billon passenger terminal beside its current hub at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal 2 to expand capacity.

First Gen still keen on LNG terminal By Alena Mae S. Flores FIRST Gen Corp. is “carefully studying” the use of liquefied natural gas for power generation and remains keen on building an LNG terminal in Batangas province, an executive said over the weekend. First Gen president Francis Giles Puno said during a forum the company was planning to put up an LNG terminal with a capacity of 5 million to 7 million metric tons a year. Puno said the terminal would serve various industries. “There’s never been an intention for us to say this facility will solely be built for FGen’s use,” he said. First Gen owns four natural gas plants, including the 1,000-megawatt Sta. Rita, 500-MW San Lorenzo, 414-MW San Gabriel and 97-MW Avion natural gas plants in Batangas province. The plants are fueled by natural gas from Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan that is expected to be depleted by 2024 to 2027. “So what we’re doing is building a facility for a minimum of 5 million tons per annum. That’s because we already have about 4,500 MW plus. You can imagine, when you built this capacity already, suddenly, more investors will say, I can build more gas power plants,” Puno said. “Our original intention is building roughly 5 million tons with an option to increase it to 7 million tons in the medium to long term,” he said.

Business Russia backing extended oil deal RUSSIA is likely to back a further extension of the Opec agreement cutting oil output, judging that it has helped to stabilize the market, the country’s deputy prime minister said. “The most likely outcome is that the deal will be extended,” Arkady Dvorkovich said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in Cernobbio, Italy, though he added that it’s still too early to make a definitive decision. “We are still six months away, so we will see,” he said. Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed in May to maintain curbs on production until March 2018 as part of efforts to reverse a drop in crude prices which has their economies and budgets. The cuts came into effect in January after an initial deal in November 2016. “Based on preliminary assessment, it is clear that the deal was efficient and contributed to the stabilization of the market,” Dvorkovich said. The Russia oil ministry is “fully involved” in monitoring compliance with the reductions, he added. Russia’s energy minister Alexander Novak and his Iraqi counterpart Jabbar alLuaibi met last week in Moscow to discuss cooperation within the framework of the Opec and non-Opec ministerial meeting, according to the Russian Energy Ministry. Russia’s publicly traded oil producers, both state-led and non-state, have voluntarily reduced output in order to support prices. Brent crude, the international benchmark, is trading at about $53 a barrel, around the same level as when cuts were agreed in May. Bloomberg

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

New LRT 1 coaches on target By Darwin G Amojelar

IGHT Rail Manila Corp., a consortium led by Ayala Corp and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., is optimistic the auction for the supply of new light rail vehicles of the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension will be competed by November this year. “We are happy with the outcome, at least its not a failed bidding. Based on the timeline it looks like they will be able to meet the November 14 procurement,” LRMC president and chief executive Rogelio Singson said. “I think there should be enough time... we are happy with the progress it’s a matter of DOTr agreeing with the final evaluation of the financial and technical propos-

als,” he added. The Department of Transportation is evaluating the technical and financial proposals of Marubeni Corp and Mitsubishi Corp. for the P30-billion contract to supply 120 brand-new light rail vehicles for the oldest metro rail transit in Southeast Asia. The winning bid will cover the coaches, design, production, verification, delivery, testing, commissioning, technical support materials associated with the operation and maintenance of the vehicles and training for maintenance staff, engineers and operators. The 120 LRVs will be configured into 30 four-car train sets to allow the rail line to accommodate up to 750,000 passengers daily. Transportation in March last year declared the bidding for 120 LRVs a failure after no offers were received by the agency from Japanese companies. Marubeni and Sumitomo earlier expressed interest to participate in the auction for the procurement of 120 brand-new cars for LRT Line 1. The government allocated P30 billion

for the 120 new coaches of the LRT Line 1 under the P64.9-billion LRT Line 1 Cavite extension project, which was awarded to Light Rail Manila Corp. LRMC will construct the Cavite extension over the next four and a half years, making the entire line operational by the fourth quarter of 2020. LRMC, a joint venture between Ayala and Metro Pacific, has been operating and maintaining the LRT-1 system since the functions were handed over by the Light Rail Transit Authority in September 2016. LRTA remains the regulator of the railway while Transportation is the implementing agency of the 32-year publicprivate partnership concession agreement with LRMC. The consortium would spend over P40 billion to rehabilitate and expand LRT Line 1. Eight new stations will be provided with three intermodal facilities across Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City and Cavite.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE youths in 10 member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, cited as a strong emerging force in shaping the socioeconomic destiny of the region within a quarter of a century and beyond, will take center early this week in a series of Asean business conferences being held in the Philippines. The Philippines is this year’s chairman of the Asean. This is the backdrop of the holding of the Asean Young Entrepreneurs Carnival, slated tomorrow, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez. The event will also serve as a platform for the official launching of the Asean Young Entrepreneurs Association. With the combined youth population of the 10-member state Asean reaching 116 million, enterprising young people are an emerging force in driving economic growth in the

region, according to statistics of the Department of Trade and Industry. “Young entrepreneurs in the Asean are well-positioned to utilize and promote new technologies to drive future economic growth and job creation in a rapidly changing global economic and social environment,” said Lopez. He noted that young people’s contribution to trade and business was becoming significant to national and regional development, as more young people were closely engaged in small and medium enterprises in the Philippines and Asean member countries. The Asean, thus, introduced new programs that will bring together the promising breed marked by “youthful energy and business know-how that can help transform industries across the entire Asean region,” according o the organizers. The DTIled even is organized by the Asean Committee on Business and Investment Promotion.

THE Energy Regulatory Commission on Sunday defended allegations of “extravagant trips” made by its officials using funds from Philippine Electricity Market Corp., operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. The ERC said in a statement over the weekend the travels were “legitimate and necessary” to build the technical knowledge of its personnel in the complex power industry. “The complex nature of the restructuring process and the subject matter of electricity markets require trainings and meetings of the members of the Commission and personnel aimed to build their technical understanding and capacity, enhance and ad-

vance their knowledge and appreciation on current dynamics and emerging issues in electricity markets and the deregulated industries,” the regulator said. Malacañang on Friday asked the ERC to explain accusations that its commissioners committed “serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, and grave misconduct,” following a complaint lodged by the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters led by president Rodolfo Javellana Jr. The UFCC earlier accused ERC officials of using funds from PEMC to finance their trips abroad. “The travels in relation to these are therefore legitimate and necessary, not directly paid to these agencies but instead earmarked, appropriated, and disbursed in accordance with their

instructions. All expenses have been accounted for, disbursed and liquidated in accordance with PEMC Rules,” the ERC said. The regulator said significant reforms in the electric power industry were adopted in June 2001 through the passage of Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. “The role of the regulator—ERC—in the restructuring process is critical since its mandate remains extremely challenging,” it said. The ERC said it established the competitive framework of the electricity sector to promote competition, encourage market development, ensure customer choice and penalize abuse of market power.

A Juggler: A reflection on work-life harmony Green LiGht WHEN you heard the word “juggler,” what comes to your mind? A magician? A performer? A balancer? Well, there would be a lot of things that you could think of regarding this word. If you’ll ask me, what this word means to me, I only have one answer: This is a hard job. Why do I say so? Because it takes so much practice for you to be able to balance the bottles/ balls or whatever you are juggling. It takes so much effort, determination, and hard work to successfully do it. It’s a hard job In this life, we are actually jugglers. The balls/bottles represent different areas in our lives such as work, family, relationship, etc. and we try to control those and stay balanced all in our hands. Yes, it’s difficult. Like what I’ve mentioned in my opening statement, it’s a hard job. However, should we just accept the fact that life is so difficult to handle? That we won’t be able to control the situation and make it

MANILA’S PRIDE

THE University of the City of Manila, more popularly known by its Pilipino name, Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila or PLM, is the first scholars’ university in the Philippines, perhaps even in Asia. By scholars here, we mean that it is a tuition-free institution of higher learning that has set the bar for other institutions of the sort. The university was created by Republic Act No. 4196 signed by then-President Diosdado Macapagal in 1965, although it opened its doors two years later in 1967. To this day, in its enclave behind the walls of the ancient fortresscity of Intramuros, it remains to be the bastion of free education to deserving students from the less-fortunate families of the Manila populace and beyond. When former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada became Mayor of the City of Manila in 2013, he vowed to continue the educational excellence and scholarships that PLM and other city schools provided. This was in line with his ERAP PARA SA MAHIRAP battle cry and advocacy, where having less in life did not necessarily mean less in educational opportunities. I do recall that he had put a premium on education ever since – as mayor of San Juan, as Senator, as VicePresident, and even as President. In 2015, Manuel V. Pangilinan, or MVP, was invited to be the commencement speaker at the PLM and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno was the Chairman of the PLM Board of Regents then.

EAST STREET MARKET. Customers shop at East Street Market in south London on September 2, 2017. East Street Market also known locally as ‘The Lane,’ or ‘East Lane,’ is a busy street market in Walworth in South London. The outdoor market is large and vibrant, full of colorful stalls selling a variety of goods including fruit and vegetables, especially African and Carribean produce, second-hand clothing, inexpensive jewellery, and plants. AFP

Young Asean business execs ERC defends ‘extravagant’ travels take center stage in meeting

MARICHU LAROGA

From left: Meralco president and CEO Oscar Reyes, PLDt Group chief revenue officer Eric Alberto, PLDT- Smart Foundation president Esther Santos, PLDT-Smart chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, former senator Teresa Aquino-Oreta, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Leonora de Jesus and Board of Regents member Bienvenido Laguesma

favorable for us? From my point of view, this is a matter of choice. The Almighty God has given us all the time, talent and treasure and such decision whether we want a life that is favorable for us or not would depend on our personal decision. Like you, I’m also a struggling juggler. I failed so many times yet I didn’t stop when my balls/ bottles fell on the ground. I needed to rise and do it again until I will be able to reach the goal that I’ve been looking forward to—be able to turn around all the balls/bottles (representing my work, family, relationship etc.) without dropping any on the ground and be able to enjoy life. Let me share with you my L.I.F.E. personal tips to be able to reach this. Here they are: L-ist down all your tasks/ activities for the day We only have 24 hours a day and most of the time our work eats up so much of our day. A lot of reports to work on, daily emails that you needed to respond, people that go to you and ask something even without sense. Sounds familiar? Yes, we are in the same boat.

Given all of these, it’s pretty obvious that you are only focusing on one aspect of your life which is your work. Is it enough? Of course not, thus, apart from listing down your to do list at work, list down your activities for the day. Step back and think what you are supposed to accomplish in your life for the day. You needed to ensure that at the end of it all, things that you have jotted down will transpire and it would give you a sense of accomplishment and would lead to your goals and objectives in the future. I-nvest your time with those who will make you happy Would it be your family, your dreams, your significant other? No matter what it is, most importantly, it will bring you true satisfaction and happiness in life. Try to reflect and deeply think on the years that had passed and ask this question, “Where did I spend my time?” Your answer maybe one of those that I have mentioned above, now try to ask this short yet tough question, Am I happy with it? Your answer maybe a yes, no or maybe. This is now deeply knowing

your big why in life. If you are spending your time with those that make you truly unhappy, this is already the sign that you have to pause for a moment, think and make a decision to change. Life is a learning process and it’s not too late to redo. F-ine tune your mindset You are what you think, don’t you agree? In ensuring work-life harmony, it would always start with what’s in your mind. In this complicated life, how we perceive things that are happening in our lives depend on how we personally view them. If you are a nega-type of individual, use this tip as your daily mantra. Things would definitely change and this will work to your advantage. Should you want to strike a better work-life balance or be an effective juggler, make it a habit to think positively and act conscientiously. E-liminate the unnecessary (drama, stress, negativities) in your life Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” Who are you here? A person with great mind? Av-

erage Mind? or Small mind? You can only be the one who could truly answer this as you are in charge of your own life, your own ideas and feelings. Eliminate those that you think would hinder your progress. Time spent in gossiping, taking things personally, trying to control the uncontrollable, stop them all. These are all monsters in your life and they’re all pulling you down. Cut the rope of gossips, highly sensitive and being controlling and begin to have a string of being grateful, simplifying life, and amplifying God’s love. The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business. This essay is part of a journal she keeps in fulfillment of the requirements of the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics. Visit her blog at http:// dlsu-mba-chu.simplesite. com/435122566. The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

In his speech, MVP extolled the graduates to aim for excellence and to not be afraid to take risk. He also announced that he will give a PHP 20-million donation to the university, as well as provide for free Wi-Fi through PLDT, free drinking water through MAYNILAD, and free repair of electric wires through MERALCO. What ensued was a thunderous applause! This was part of the assistance that the MVP Group provided to public schools around the country. True to form, and in line with the commitment of President Mayor Erap to improve public education in the city, the PHP 20-million MVP Technology and Innovation Center was recently unveiled to the public at the PLM, built through the donation managed by both PLDT-SMART Foundation and One MERALCO Foundation.

MVP had mentioned that in aiding public schools, priority was given to those that lacked necessary equipment like computers in providing for quality education. President Mayor Erap himself had said that he inherited a bankrupt city with dilapidated educational equipment and facilities, so much so that he had to depend on the generosity of the private sector for assistance. On hand during the unveiling ceremonies where President Mayor Erap himself and MVP, where the latter turned over a symbolic key of the Center to Manila’s local chief executive. Also on hand to witness the occasion were PLM Regents Teresita Aquino-Oreta and Bienvenido Laguesma, PLM President Dr. Leonora “Lenny” De Jesus, PLM Academic Vice-President Gil Evasco, MERALCO President and Chief Executive Officer Oscar Reyes, and PLDT-SMART Foundation President Esther Santos. Ben Diokno, Benny Laguesma, Lenny De Jesus, and I had served in the Cabinet of the Erap administration. Tessie Aquino-Oreta was a Senator when Erap was President, and she also served as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education. In his speech, President Mayor Erap only had kind words to say to MVP: “On behalf of PLM officials, faculty and students, as well as the entire City of Manila, I extend my deepest thanks to you for this generous gesture of support to our city’s educational sector.” MVP himself had said that this is not the end, but merely the beginning in the continued assistance that he intended to give—to PLM and to other public schools in dire need. This should, hopefully, inspire others to also do their share in investing in education for the future of our nation. From left: with PLDT-Smart chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Leonora de Jesus, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and other MVP group officers

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

By Benjie Antioquie & Geneva May Palma

Sen. Grace L. Poe with Gov. David C. Suarez and Congw. Anna V. Suarez

Congressional Spouses leads the ribbon cutting of Niyogyugan Festival together with Gov. David C. Suarez , Congw. Anna V. Suarez, Cong. Danilo E. Suarez & former Congw. Aleta Suarez

ucena City – The month of August is a busy one for the Province of Quezon. Aside from the birth celebration of the late President Manuel Luis Quezon, the province’s namesake and famous compatriot, it also marks the observance of its 5th annual province-wide fiesta A portmanteau of the words “niyog” (coconut) and “yugyog” (to dance), the aptly named Niyogyugan Festival is a colorful celebration highlighting Quezon’s culture and natural bounty. It is also a grand tribute to the coconut tree, the province’s primary product whose versatility reflects the ingenuity and wit of the Quezonian. “We would like to promote our coconut industry which our province is known for, so

I thought of having a festival to celebrate the coconut tree,” said former Quezon 3rd District Representative Aleta Suarez, who was responsible for conceptualizing the activity. Since 2011, coconut-themed booths serve as the centerpiece of the Niyogyugan Festival. Each of Quezon’s 39 towns and 2 cities constructed and decorated their respective booths using 6070% raw materials from coconut trees. Aside from serving a representation of Quezonian

culture and creativity, the booths sell local produce and delicacies. The provincial government has alloted Php 3 million, Php 2 million and Php 1 million worth of projects for the lucky winners in the booth category. Non-winners still receive consolation prizes in the form of Php 100,000.00 worth of projects. Former Congresswoman Aleta Suarez and her son Quezon Governor David Suarez,

Infanta, Quezon, Overall Champion for Niyogyugan Festival 2017

with his wife ALONA Partylist Representative Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez, led the ribbon cutting rites during the opening ceremony of Niyogyugan Festival. As a part of the Niyogyugan celebration, Senator Grace Poe attended the provincial launching of Quezon’s 1000 Days of Life (Q1K) Program this August 21. Q1K is the province’s ground breaking maternal and child care project which is the first of its kind in the country. Senator Cynthia Villar was present the following day as a speaker and guest of honor during the Araw ng Pamilyang Magsasaka. “Through Niyogyugan Festival, we preserve, protect, and promote the coconut industry in Quezon. It is a celebration of the life of every Quezonian which show their resiliency, productivity, and creativity as a people,” said Gov. Suarez.

Padre Burgos, Quezon, Champion Agri-Tourism Booth Category-B Niyogyugan Festival 2017 House minority floor leader and Quezon 3rd District Representative Danilo Suarez said he plans to file a bill to institutionalize Niyogyugan Festival in order to give it necessary funding and to ensure its sustainability. Meanwhile, after the 10day celebration, an estimated number of 900,000 visitors from around Quezon and neighboring provinces came to take part in the festivities. The agri-tourism

booths, on the other hand, generated around Php 19 million gross sales from opening to the closing day. The result for the best booth category A: 1st – Infanta town, 2nd – General Nakar town, 3rd – Gumaca town; best booth category B: 1st – Padre Burgos town, 2nd – Quezon town, 3rd – Buenavista town. Over-all champion is Infanta, Quezon.

Infanta, Quezon

Champion Agri-Tourism Booth Category A

Sen. Cynthia Villar visits the Niyogyugan Festival Agri-Tourism Booths

Padre Burgos,

Quezon Champion Agri-Tourism Booth Category B

Infanta, Quezon Champion Float Competition

Quezon Governor David “Jayjay” Suarez with his wife, Congw. Anna V. Suarez pose during the flower offering of the 139th Birth Anniversary of Manuel L. Quezon. At right, Admin. Rommel Edaño, Omlee Mendiola, Bokal Roming Edaño and Joey Ang. (Photo by Benjie Antioquie)

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Ka Tunying Cafe’s best-selling Arroz Ala Tunying

Marrying tradition with innovation

T ALWAYS happens: you plan on checking out a newly opened restaurant only to ditch the idea in the last minute for something familiar and homegrown.

This is the place you often come back to, where the food is good, the atmosphere makes you feel instantly feel at home and the people welcome you with warm smiles, just like family. Ka Tunying’s Café, owned by broadcast journalist and radio commentator Anthony “Ka Tunying” Taberna and wife, Rossel, is one of those places for family bonding, barkada get-togethers, office lunches, and after-work dinners. And while many are drawn to its menu of local favorites, the restaurant has strived to evolve with the times by introducing innovative spins to traditional Filipino food.

Food trail: From Nueva Ecija to Manila

Taberna grew up in Nueva Ecija where his family owned and ran a local panaderya called Ka Tunying’s Tinapay, Kape, at Iba Pa (which later became Tunying’s Bread). Named after his father, Antonio Taberna, Sr. (the original Ka Tunying), the bakeshop somewhat became a town destination over the years. Some of its customers even brought their signature crinkles and Spanish bread as baon and pasalubong when traveling to Manila. These breads soon found their way to supermarket fairs and pop-up bazaars around Metro Manila. It was only a matter of time then that customers clamored for a brick and mortar store in Metro Manila that would sell the scrumptious treats. The growing demand for Tunying’s crinkles and bread gave the husband and wife team the push they needed to venture into the food business. Aside from baked products, Anthony and Rossel also thought of offering Filipino food we can’t live without. “My wife is from Laguna and both of us love bread and home-cooked meals prepared by her Mommy Marilou and my Nanay Benny,” Tunying shared, waxing nostalgic. So in 2015, Ka Tunying’s Café opened its doors on Visayas Avenue and debuted a complete menu offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. The restaurant also introduced their unique coolers to the Manila crowd. Soon after, Anthony and Rossel opened branches on Timog Avenue and at NAIA Terminal 3 to make it

Bread choices offered at Ka Tunying Cafe

accessible to more people, including balikbayan and OFWs craving for a taste of home.

Sikat Dito, Pinoy food with a twist: Dishes you should try

and desserts that will delight old and new guests,” the Tabernas said. “We are happy to be working with them in growing our brands.” “The Bistro Group is excited about this partnership. We are working together to ensure that we maintain the same delectable Filipino comfort food that guests have grown accustomed to and at the same time give them something new to look forward to every so often. Essentially, it’s still Ka Tunying’s Café, Pinoy comfort food with a twist stamped the signature Bistro brand of

Staying true to its roots has always been part of the appeal of Ka Tunying’s Café, which has held on to its well-loved dishes in spite of the barrage of food trends. There’s the bestseller Arroz Ala Tunying and Cabanatuan Longsilog with choices of recado, batutay, and hamonado. The Umagang Kay Sarap dishes are available all-day with other must-try Manila dishes like tsamporado with tuyo flakes Standard and creamy baked bangus. Add a minimal TODAY amount for a cup of Ka Tunying’s blend coffee (P55) and unlimited rice (P35). Dishes that people are coming back for (binabalik balikan) are called Sikat Dito, which include those with unique twists such as the creamy tinapa carbonara and ka-love-asa lasagna. Ka Tunying’s Café also brought something from the province, foremost of which is Pancit ni Nanay Benny, a family recipe developed by Ka Tunying’s mom. Their breads remain to be popular, too, and are baked fresh every day like the kamote cheesebread and kalabasa ensaymada, among others. Ka Tunying’s Café is a venue for social and corporate functions. At the Timog branch, for example, there are two function rooms that can accommodate up to 20 persons for those who want a more private setting.

Anthony ‘Ka Tunying’ Taberna and his wife Rossel

service,” said Jean Paul Manuud, president and COO of The Bistro Group. To mark this important milestone, Ka Tunying’s Café has also lined up new dishes such as Bruce tawilis, tinapang lumangoy sa monggo and Labo-labo na chopseuy. There are also linamnam meals (solo meals with two viands with rice) and bakbakan platter that is good for sharing. To know more about Ka Tunying Café, call (02) 366 1342 or visit Facebook www.facebook.com/katunyingscafe.

FIRST RESTAURANT ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE

Partnering with Bistro

As Ka Tunying’s Café works to stay competitive in the food business with the objective of expanding the brand, the restaurant inked a partnership with The Bistro Group of Restaurants, the same company that operates popular casual dining restaurants such as TGIFridays, Italiannis, Denny’s, Texas Roadhouse, and Buffalo Wild Wings, among others. “In collaboration with the Bistro Group, we have enhanced our bestselling dishes and breads while simultaneously introducing the new appetizer, mains,

Bakbakan platter is good for sharing

By: Peter Paul Duran The first ever Restaurant Engagement Conference saw various proponents from the food and beverage (F&B) industry come together, August 12, 2017, at the Marco Polo Ortigas to collectively recreate their own brands for the trends of today. With the aim to empower local crafts and food business, the conference is dedicated to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), new and aspiring names in the resto scene, established dining biz owners, as well as F&B professionals alike. REC 2017 gathered speakers from varied fields to explain to restaurateurs how they can capture the right market and utilize strategic marketing tools that will help them optimize their restaurant business performance in a lucrative market where customer engagement and experience is the new rule of the game.

“I wanted to bridge the gap between restaurateurs and customers. Using customer engagement we can create customer retention and acquire more customers in the process,” said Migz de la Rosa, founder of Mplify which presented the event for the benefit of Children’s Hour. “I would encourage everyone in the restaurant business to see marketing as an investment and not as an expense,” he added. The whole-day forum was loaded with talks and topics about digital marketing, customer relation management, chat bots, maximizing business loans, food photography, outdoor advertisement, ad trends, online presence optimization, online marketing, food safety, and of course, customer engagement and experience. The three-part seminar was hosted by Wilma Doesn’t while the Q&A portions were moderated by Children’s Hour Executive Director Geenette Garcia. “I’m grateful and thankful to all the speakers, sponsors and attendees of Restaurant Engagement Conference and I hope to see you all next year,” De la Rosa said. For more information about the recently concluded #MplifyREC2017 and upcoming events visit Mplify’s website at www. ADVT mplify-ph.com.

Life

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

When local becomes global THE JOYCE OF EATING JOYCE BABE PAÑARES

LOCAL family-owned food chain is set to conquer the Middle East with dishes that will surely remind overseas Filipino workers of home with every sip and savor.

Razon’s of Guagua has come a long way from its humble beginnings in Pampanga, considered to be the country’s culinary capital and the home province of the original Razon sisters – Elena, Severina and Virginia. The sisters have perfected the recipes of the restaurant’s iconic creamy halo-halo, which consists of only three main ingredients: leche flan, macapuno, and saging na saba; and pancit luglug, with its naturally blended red sauce, baby shrimps, and finely crumbled chicharon. “It will be our first international store in Dubai, and we are excited to cater to our over a million OFWs in the region. There is a demand for real Filipino food in Dubai,” Jose Razon, executive vice president of Razon’s Food Corporation, said in an exclusive interview. Razon recalled that a representative of two Dubai companies visited the Philippines last year to broach the idea of bringing the restaurant chain to the Middle East. The discussion resulted in a joint venture between Razon’s Middle East LCC, Edris Alrafi and Walid Abdullah, with the Dubai branch scheduled to open by the end of the year. Razon, who described the OFW market in the Middle East as “underserved” when it comes to authentic Filipino diners, said the food chain will eventually apply for halal (literally permissible in accordance with Islamic laws and beliefs) certification. “There are other Filipino restaurants operating in Dubai but these are either not owned by Filipinos or not serving Filipino dishes. We will be an all-Filipino crew restaurant and we are very enthusiastic in developing non-pork meals,” he said. “While OFWs are our primary market, we will strive to (make) mainstream Filipino dishes in the Middle East. We can do that with a halal certification,” he added. On the local front, Razon’s has also been aggressively expanding its branches and its menu. From its first branch in 2003 in the food court of Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas, Razon’s of Guagua now has 74 branches across Luzon and two in Cebu. This year, the company opened its Tagaytay branch and re-opened its newly renovated Mall of Asia branch. “When you hear the brand Razon’s of Guagua, it has become synonymous to halo-halo and pancit luglug. We are happy that people automatically make that association, but we

Filipino delicacies, such as this pancit luglug from Guagua, will soon delight OFWs in the Middle East as Razon’s opens its first international branch in Dubai.

Bulalo steak

also want to change that misconception that we only sell merienda dishes,” Razon said. The new menu now includes spareribs (the meat is sourced directly from Guagua as the traditional cut is not available in Metro Manila), sinigang na baboy, beef kaldereta, kare-kare (the oxtail is imported because, well, that was how the earlier generation of Razons did it in their kitchen), and lumpia. “There was only one item that we introduced before that we had to remove from the

Sizzling sisig

menu –adobo sa puti. It was cooked in vinegar and garlic, with no soy sauce but with a thin layer of sarsa. I guess most Filipinos are not yet ready for soy sauce-less adobo,” recalled Razon. Razon’s of Guagua may have become a household name in Luzon (or, as in the case of this writer, the go-to diner for piping hot arroz caldo – which one colleague aptly likened to a mother’s embrace that can wipe away all stress and hurt), but the men

Razon’s creamy halo-halo is perfect in its simplicity, with only three main ingredients: leche flan, macapuno and saging na saba.

and women behind the brand are nowhere near becoming complacent. Whether you are enjoying their bundle and groufie-sized meals, or perhaps simply getting a table for one with good old pancit luglug or dinuguan at puto, whether you are in the Philippines or in Dubai, there are, pardon the pun, more razons to eat and feel at home. For feedback, send comments to joyce.panares@gmail.com

The ‘LAV’ that won’t easily break

BEING a homemaker is not an easy task especially for those who are just starting to build their family. Some work outside, while some choose to stay at home to tend to the family. For those who opt to stay at home, the kitchen is like their office. This is where the “work” is done, and as such, investing in high quality kitchen equipment is a must. Not only it is cost-effective as you save more by having utensils and tools that last long, but also quite pleasing to those who will use it. When choosing a product, it is best to look for its quality and practicality, with its aesthetics as an added bonus. In the kitchen, what we replace the most is our glassware. As glasses tend to break and shatter easily, it is essential to look for a brand that is durable and sturdy. Going to world fairs is one way of searching for quality glassware products that are perfect for your kitchen. Last June, Turkey’s trusted glassware brand LAV participated at the Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) 2017 held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Formerly known as Gürallar, LAV is a trusted European glassware brand that is made in Turkey. In 1994, Gürallar played an important role in the development of the industry by

LAV offers a wide selection of stemware, beer glasses, bowls, pitchers, jars, containers and more

breaking the monopoly in table glassware. In 2014, the company moved forward with the brand LAV to welcome a corporate renovation. LAV is available in 130 countries and produces at least 256 kinds of glassware

Citi cardholders can indulge in a discounted set meal for 4 at Mesa Filipino Moderne restaurant

Dining as a group?

Try Mesa Filipino Moderne with your Citi Cards FOR sumptuous Filipino dishes with a modern twist, Mesa Filipino Moderne has always been a popular go-to place, offering excellent food in a relaxing ambiance. And now, Citi cardholders can indulge in a Citi-exclusive Family Set Meal for a generous 30 percent less. Until Sept. 30, bring family or friends along and savor an irresistible Mesa’s Family Set Meal for 4. For only P1,750.00, this delectable meal set consists of a meaty whole, boneless pata; flavorful sinigang na hipon; decadent baked scallops; spicy twoway laing; filling adobo flakes rice; freshly steamed okra with tamarind bagoong dipping sauce; plus homegrown favorite mangga salad and melt-in-your-mouth mango

panna cotta with four refreshing glasses of iced tea. This offer is open to Citi credit and debit cardholders and is available from Monday to Saturday in all Mesa branches: SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM Aura, SM North Edsa, SM Clark, SM Southmall, SM Fairview, SM Dasmarinas, SM Lipa, SM Bacoor, SM Iloilo, SM Bacolod, SM Davao Ecoland, SM Davao Lanang, SM Gensan, SM City Cebu, SM San Pablo, Solenad 3, Powerplant Mall, Greenbelt 5, Evia, Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, Tomas Morato, Sky Ranch Tagaytay, Boracay Regency, and Centrio Mall. For more information, log on to www.citibank.com.ph/lovetodine.

Much Prosperity Trading International, Inc. (MPTII) marketing team at the LAV booth during the Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) 2017

products bearing the ISO 9001 and TSE 22000 Quality Certificates. LAV offers a wide selection of stemware, beer glasses, dessert cups, bowls, pitchers, pitcher sets, jars, service plates, food storage containers and more. Made of soda ash lime material, LAV products are stain-resistant, scratch proof, clear and do not become cloudy. LAV products can also hold both warm and cold liquids. For those who want to add some color in their kitchen, LAV has colored glassware products, painted using food grade organic materials and lead-free. What sets LAV apart from other glassware brands is that its products are durable and do not easily shatter when accidentally dropped. Aside from its durability, LAV comes in many shapes, designs and colors that will surely add sophistication and elegance to your table. It is also affordable than any other glassware brands, which makes it a perfect choice for those who value practicality and quality. True to its aim, LAV continues to provide high-quality, innovative and sophisticated glassware products that can match the modern lifestyle and discerning taste of Filipinos. LAV is exclusively distributed in major retail and department stores nationwide by Much Prosperity Trading International, Inc. (MPTII).

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Russel Thompkins, Jr.

and The New Stylistics at Solaire UDIENCES are deﬁnitely in for a musical treat like no other as Grand Leisure Corporation brings Russel Thompkins Jr. and The New Stylistics, in a one-night only concert, 8 p.m. on Sept. 7 at Theatre at Solaire.

Hollywood actor James Franco in a scene from "The Vault"

James Franco

in heist-meets-horror movie

Thompkins, together with Raymond Johnson and Jonathan Buckson, is committed and dedicated to the mission of providing quality representation of the group’s original recordings. Expect endearing and fresh takes to the iconic hit songs and the unmatched showmanship and stage wonder that the trio brings. Be ready to be enthralled, and yes, even a little teary eyed as their vocal harmonies and emotional commitment enliven their most popular hits, such as “Betcha By Gmalolly Wow,” “You’ll Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart,” “Stop, Look, Listen,’’ ‘We Can Make It Happen,” “Miracle” and others. Ably supported by their piano man and musical director, Kenny Thompson, 2017 marks the 14th year of the talented threesome. They will and shall continue with their tradition of delivering quality performances to their dedicated and supportive fans. Russel Thompkins and the New Stylistics hold dear in their hearts in Manila that is why they are bringing in a night of nostalgia and great music. Partnering with Grand Leisure Corporation in this concert are Steve O Neal Productions and Solaire Resort and Casino. For tickets, please call TicketWorld at (02) 891 9999.

Russel Thompkins, Jr. and The New Stylistics return to Manila for a one-night concert that promises to dish out greatest hits of the yesteryear

AFTER BEING ALARMED WITH IAN’S ENTRY TO THE KAPAMILYA SOAP CULTURE

Enchong decides he’s an actor after all ENCHONG Dee admitted that there was a time when he got alarmed with the stature of his showbiz career after he was cast as a supporting character in the Ian Veneracion-Bea Alonzo hit soap A Love to Last. “Yes, I came to a point when I was bothered by that development,” he says. “Especially when it comes to my character’s exposure in the soap. Obviously, there were gaps. It didn’t turn out the way the role was originally presented to me.” Did he take any action on the matter? “Well, I had three meetings with the creative team to ask where my character was going. Of course, it’s inevitable that my fans would expect a bigger and meatier role. Now, in recent episodes, you can see the difference. My character Andrew had been gradually visible. He has his own sub-story in the soap.” It helped that he has a mature disposition and viewpoint. “I had to remind myself that my main job as an actor is to give justice to any role given to me whether it’s lead or supporting. I have to give my best in every project assigned to me like my character

Andrew in ‘A Love to Last.’ I think that’s the key!” E n c h o n g ’s last soap in which he was one of the leads in 2013 Muling Buksan ang Puso with Julia Montes and Enrique Gil. “That’s right! And that’s four years ago. But I just worked hard instead. Personally, I remained positive with my stint in A Love to Last. It’s hard to complain about work. As I’ve said, there are no small roles for true actors.” After A Love to Last, the actor is set to star in a new soap opera along with Erich Gonzales and new Kapamilya Louise de los Reyes. “Yes! It’s exciting because after quite some time, I’ll be working with Erich again on a project. Then, there’s the opportunity to share the frame with Louise who is now in ABS-CBN. I’m sure it will be another memorable experience. Had I complained a great deal, I don’t think my mother studio will give me a grand follow-up project. So, I’m simply happy,” ends Enchong. ******** Under the helm of critically-

acclaimed director Joel Lamangan, the classic ‘70s movie Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag will have its maiden theatre version. Brought by Grand Leisure Corporation, the project promises to be a musical theatre event not to be missed. “Actually, since I was named artistic director of the Gantimpala Theatre Foundation three years ago, I really wanted for this material to be translated into stage. For one, I was part of the film directed by the late Lino Brocka so it has a soft spot in my heart. I’m grateful to Grand Leisure Corporation for making my cherished dream fulfilled,” Lamangan avers. Based on the Edgardo Reyes novel and inspired by the Brocka film adaptation, the two-act, twohour play features soaring music and brilliantly-choreographed dance routines. “I want the characters to appear on stage with heart, soul and feeling expressed in their singing and dancing. The audience should feel all their doubts, complains, disappointments and dreams. Von De Guzman, our composer and musi-

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Monday, September 4, 2017

ACROSS 1 Go over rapidly 5 — corgi 10 Leery 14 Diva — Gluck 15 Kate’s sitcom pal 16 Thrust-andparry sword 17 Minnows 18 — Khan 19 Brewery products 20 Modernized 22 Exploit excessively 24 Queues 26 Spring blooms 27 Wish granters 30 At that place 32 “See you later!” 33 Green veggies 34 Scepters 38 Pig’s digs 39 Easel partner 42 Cato’s dozen 43 Stuck-up person 45 Ten-percenters 46 General course 48 Not widespread 50 Remodel 51 Polished 54 White heron 56 Harsh 58 Made fizzy 62 Makes choices 63 Indistinct

65 Nobelist Desmond — 66 Muffin spread 67 Revise 68 Magnani or Moffo 69 Salon treatment 70 Raids 71 Greenish-blue color DOWN 1 “The Jungle Book” star 2 Give a hand 3 At the center of 4 Nat’s daughter 5 Rouses up 6 Shake off 7 Attorney’s deg. 8 Round building 9 Most burdensome 10 Sleepier 11 High mark (hyph.) 12 Della or Pee Wee 13 Words of approval 21 Hitch, as a horse (2 wds.) 23 Make mistakes 25 Bell tower 27 Interruptions 28 Paradise 29 El — (ocean

current) 31 Straw items 33 Urgent request 35 Wagon pullers 36 Slight flaw 37 Facet 40 Pertaining to old documents 41 Chloroform kin 44 Flourish 47 Drumming sound (hyph.) 49 Former Giants slugger Mel — 50 Beliefs 51 Ladle

52 Tree for autumn color 53 — space 55 Haggard 57 Military fabric 59 Adjust a guitar 60 Sight from Messina 61 Like some controls 64 College maj.

cal director did a great job with the songs to be used, ditto for Douglas Nierras, our choreographer whose intricate dance routines adds challenge for the cast to perform their best.” What can he say about the lead actors who will play the pivotal roles of Julio Madiaga and Ligaya Paraiso, which Bembol Rocco, Jr. and Hilda Koronel breathed to life in the ﬁlm version? “One main requirement was for them to have lungs of steel. The songs in the play are so powerful. I’m pleased that Arman Ferrer, Sheila Valderrama-Martinez and Lara Maigue are such good singers. I think they will deliver in their challenging roles!” According to the award-winning megger, apart from the brilliant performances and musical pieces, the general theme of Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, The Musical is what makes it really worthwatching. “The reality presented in the story is true from the ‘70s until now: that exploitation and moral decadence still exist in our society. I want the crowd to realize that the naïve should learn how to protect themselves when they’re in Manila,” states Lamangan.

KNOWN for his versatility and expansive acting chops, James Franco is back on the big screen in The Vault, an action-thriller that takes you to oblivion with Clint Eastwood’s daughter Francesca Eastwood and Taryn Manning (Netﬂix star in Orange is the New Black). The Vault starts off like any other day for weary bank manager. Ed Maas (James Franco) gets coffee, stares blankly at the clock, and gripes about a quiet bank. All seems normal until the day turns unexpectedly fast and dizzying when he’s confronted with a barrel of a gun and two on-edge sisters who are robbing his bank in order to help their brother pay off his debts. At its heart, The Vault is a loyalty play. Three estranged siblings are caught in a desperate situation that forces the resolution of life-long conﬂicts. This day will make or break them. It’s love and a family bond versus fear and betrayal; forgiveness versus revenge; trust versus suspicion, and this bank is the nightmarish battleground. The Dillon sisters don’t necessarily

like each other, but they’ll always look out for each other. Leah, exmilitary, has just picked up her career criminal sister, Vee, from prison, when they learn that their troubled older brother, Michael, has burned down a warehouse owned by a notorious gangster. The siblings find themselves on the hook for an outrageous sum of money and have only two weeks to get it or Michael will die. So with nowhere to turn, they decide to rob the town’s biggest bank. The FBI gets wind of the bank heist and surrounds the building as they go down the basement vault. But the bank’s basement hides a terrible secret and before long, the Dillons must choose whether to face the police outside or the terrible supernatural forces in the vault below. Slashfilm.com calls The Vault ‘‘like a bank robbery twist in Don’t Breathe, a film that similarly started off in another genre” The Vault opens in cinemas on Sept. 6 Axinite Digicinema). Trailer link: https://www. facebook.com/132964500239793/ videos/681404682062436/

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

WINGED CREATURES. Young stars (from left) Miguel Tanfelix, Bianca Umali, Bea Binene, and Derrick Monasterio as heroes of the Mulawin Tribe.

ON ITS LAST 3 WEEKS

‘Mulawin vs. Ravena’

Dennis Trillo as Gabriel, the king of Halconia

intensifies each episode

FTER months of keeping viewers on the ISAH V. RED edge of their seats, GMA Network’s well-loved fantasy series Mulawin vs. Ravena is down to its last two weeks and its lead stars shared their sentiments on what they’ll miss most about the show.

Kapuso Drama King Dennis Trillo who reprised his role as Gabriel says he is grateful to have worked with such talented and professional artists. “Mami-miss ko siyempre ‘yung samahan namin everyday on taping. Masaya ako na iba’t ibang henerasyon yung mga nakatrabaho ko dito at swerte ako kasi talagang prepared sila at nakita ko yung passion nila, kung gaano sila ka-proud.” He adds that they’re glad to have made a positive impact on their viewers. “’Kahit magtatapos na, ‘yung mga ginawa namin, yung mga na-achieve namin, lahat ng taong napasaya namin, masaya kami dun,” he says. Bea Binene, Anya in the series, highlighted the lessons she learned. “Challenging ‘yung role pero kahit mahirap ‘yung ginagawa mo, kailangan masaya mo siyang gagawin. Natutuwa kami sa pagsuporta ng mga tao and here, everyone feels like a family,” she says. Her on-screen partner Derrick Monasterio who breathes life to Almiro shared that he’s happy with the immense support they received every night. “Nakakataba ng puso ‘yung

mga nakikita namin sa Twitter at sa social media na talagang sinusubaybayan nila yung story tsaka naaapektuhan sila sa characters namin. Malungkot dahil matatapos na pero masaya dahil sinubaybayan nila,” he exclaims. Kiko Estrada who plays the role of Rafael also said that he would miss the entire staff. “Everyone, from the staff, the

crew, the cast, parang pamilya na kami dito eh and I will really miss everyone. Yung experience na lahat kami dito teamwork, who wouldn’t love that di ba,” he shares. Young Kapuso love team Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix as Lawiswis and Pagaspas also expressed their gratitude to everyone who supported the series. “The cast, the ﬁght scenes, the training na ginawa namin for this…lahat unforgettable. Thankful ako kasi naging maganda yung pagtanggap ng mga tao sa amin and sa show,” Bianca says. Miguel on the other hand is also grateful and hopes that the viewers loved the characters as much as they did. “Thankful ako na naenjoy nila at nagustuhan nila ‘yung binigay namin sa kanila and sana tumatak ‘yung bawat character namin sa Mulawin vs. Ravena, pati na ‘yung values na pinakita namin,” he says.

Hard court star Kobe Paras (second from right) with brother Andre, father Benjie, and GMA Network head honcho Atty. Felipe Gozon (second from left)

Meanwhile, the fight between good and evil and the war between the Mulawins and the Ravenas are more imminent than ever. Humans are suffering in the hands of the Ravenas as they grow stronger every day. Sacrifices must be made and the Mulawins need to find a way to defeat the enemy. But are they strong enough to save the world

"Dobol B sa News TV" anchors (from left) Ali Sotto, Arnold Clavio, Mike Enriquez, and Joel Reyes Zobel

and their race once again? Don’t miss the last two weeks of Mulawin vs. Ravena after Alyas Robin Hood on GMA Telebabad. (30) *** Super Radyo DZBB recently launched its latest station ID and music video as GMA Network’s ﬂagship AM radio station cements its mandate of providing fair and balanced news to the public. The new station ID, seen on GMA-7 and GMA News TV, presented the DZBB team in full force and headlined by Dobol B sa News TV anchors Mike Enriquez, Arnold Clavio, Ali Sotto and Joel Reyes Zobel. GMA Vice President for Radio Operations Glenn F. Allona said that since DZBB’s reach has expanded with the mix of radio and television, a strong theme is created for this project to reﬂect the station’s commitment to public service through news and information. “The presence of our content in television is an opportunity for us to show that DZBB is not just a pool of voices but of real, dedicated and hardworking people who are committed to Serbi-

syong Totoo,” said Allona. Radio GMA President Mike Enriquez admitted that being on two platforms at the same time is more challenging since their reports now need to have a video component. “It makes it a lot more challenging but a lot more exciting. This kind of outlook is shared by all the men and women of DZBB that we are not just being listened to, but now we are also being seen,” he added. As DZBB continues to respond to the ever-changing needs of the listening and viewing public, it also reafﬁrms its commitment to live up to the motto Walang kinikilingan, Walang pinoprotektahan, Serbisyong totoo lamang. “This is not an empty slogan. It’s a way of life. As an individual, it helps the way you deal with other people—with fairness and balance, and always, always wanting to hear both sides of the story,” Enriquez emphasized. *** After the success of Gilas Pilipinas at the 29th Southeast Asia Games in Malaysia, Kapuso heartthrob and star player Kobe Paras went to his home

Network on Aug.30 to pay a visit to GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon. Benjie Paras, and brother, Andre Paras, who are very proud of his feat accompanied Kobe. Network’s executives welcomed the Paras brood.. Gozon extended his congratulations to the star athlete sharing with him words of wisdom, “Malaki ang pag-asa nito. Nakita ko siyang maglaro and I was very impressed kaya ang tingin ko pwedeng pang NBA star itong si Kobe. But don’t forget your studies. Importante rin yung meron ka ring academic background.” Kobe expressed his gratitude for the unconditional love and support he receives from the Kapuso Network. “It feels good because the last time I was here in GMA was when I won the Slam Dunk contest and I was only beginning then. And now that I’m with Gilas, I feel like they are with me every step of the way, so I’m very thankful for the way they appreciate me,” he said. Kobe is back in the USA to attend school, as he has also decided to pursue a career in Business.

ABS-CBN’s ‘Kapamilya, Thank You’ hits million members ABS-CBN’s customer loyalty program “Kapamilya, Thank You” has now reached one million members since its launch. It is the ﬁrst local TV network that introduced a loyalty program for its viewers and customers. ABS-CBN head of customer relationship management Richmond “Ezer” Escolar said “Kapamilya, Thank You” is all about knowing and understanding each Kapamilya on a personal level besides rewarding Filipinos who patronize Kapamilya products and services. “It is our attempt to get to know Kapamilyas on a very personal level and also to thank them for their loyalty to ABS-CBN though the years,”

Kapamilya stars join forces in introducing a customer loyalty program to understand and reward Kapamilya customers on a personal level

Ezer said. Some of the rewards Kapamilyas can receive are a meet and greet with

a Kapamilya star, tickets to ABS-CBN Studio Tours and shows like ASAP and It’s Showtime, freebies

from ABS-CBN Store, free access to ABS-CBN TVplus’ KBO and SKY Pay-PerView, access to iWant TV

exclusive content, and free SMS, data, or calls via ABSCBNmobile. According to Ezer, members

have also redeemed many gifts like KBO movie marathons and iWant TV all-access pins in such a short time frame.

Some members have also donated points they earned to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation. Meanwhile, interested Kapamilyas can register for free via thankyou.abs-cbn.com, make their own Kapamilya Name, and enroll the ABSCBN and SKY Cable products and services they are currently subscribed to. Alternatively, Kapamilyas who have existing accounts with any ABS-CBN website can use their registered Kapamilya account to sign up for “Kapamilya, Thank You,” which is part of ABS-CBN’s single sign-on initiative that is a ﬁrst of its kind system in the Philippines. For more information, visit thankyou.abs-cbn.com.