Manila Standard - 2017 September 12 - Tuesday

It wasn’t Reynaldo’s body—PNP By Francisco Tuyay and Rey E. Requejo

VOL. XXXI • NO. 210 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

CITING DNA evidence, the Philippine National Police said Monday the body found floating in a creek in Gapan, Nueva Ecija did not belong to 14-yearold Reynaldo de Guzman, even though his parents positively identified him. “Based on the results obtained, the source of the DNA profile obtained from the male cadaver cannot be the biological offspring of Eduardo Gabriel and Lina de Guzman,” said Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez of the PNP operations branch during a press briefing. “He is not Reynaldo de Guzman,” Mendez said. Reynaldo went missing Aug. 17 apparently in the company of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz, who was gunned down by Caloocan City police in the early hours of Aug. 18. Reynaldo’s father, who arrived at the morgue shortly after the body was found, positively identified Reynaldo’s

corpse through a wart on his left knee and a mark on the boy’s neck. His mother Lina, who lifted the white cover on the cadaver’s face, also confirmed that the body belonged to her son Reynaldo. But the PNP-Crime Laboratory defended the accuracy of its findings. Chief Insp. Lorna Santos, chief of the Crime Lab DNA Division, said the DNA findings are 99.9 percent accurate. “What we have conducted is a paternity test. So that is the result of our exam,” she added. Mendez said the parents of Reynaldo might have committed mistake in identifying the body of Reynaldo since the cadaver was already bloated and the physical appearance had changed. The cadaver was still firm when it was taken to the funeral home, indicating the victim had been killed just hours before his body was dumped in the creek. Reynaldo’s father asked for new tests to be conducted, while Public Next page

Marcos kin mark centenary at LNB ANTI-Marcos rallyists on Monday locked horns with loyalists of former President Ferdinand Marcos outside the gates of the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, where a private celebration of the former leader’s 100th birthday was being held. The minor mayhem began when Marcos loyalist, identified as Henry Baluso, approached the protesters and attempted to snatch one of their banners away—seen on GMA’s Balitanghali. Policemen stepped in and stopped the fight just as the tug-of-war escalated to shoving and pushing. According to the report, personnel from the Philippine Army and Southern Police District tasked to secure the area, outnumbered the actual participants from both groups combined.

B-DAY ANNIVERSARY.

Supporters of former President Ferdinand Marcos sing Monday ‘Happy Birthday’ outside the Libingan ng mga Bayani to mark the 100th birthday anniversary of the man who ruled his country for 20 years from 1965 to 1986 while some 100 Moro, lumad and tribes from the Cordilleras join Sandugo group (right) in a protest rally at Marcos’ private celebration. AFP/Manny Palmero

The anti-Marcos groups left the area as of noontime. While the private celebration was going on, including a province-wide anniversary in Marcos’ home province of Ilocos Norte where the national government declared a non-working holiday, the opposition Liberal Party said the nation “must never forget how much the country has suffered while he [Marcos] catered to the interests of the few.” It accused the former strongman—elected in 1965 and deposed from power in 1986— of leaving what it called a lasting legacy of tyranny, oppression, and corruption. It added: “We must also remember that our People Power Uprising inspired nations in many parts of the world, such as Next page

Trillanes faces censure Ethics panel finds Gordon complaint ‘sufficient’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Senate ethics committee on Monday declared as “sufficient in form and substance” the ethics complaint by Blue Ribbon committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, also chairman of the Senate ethics and privileges committee, said they will ask Trillanes to submit a counter-affidavit on Gordon’s complaint. The complaint stated that

Priest gets five days to debunk charges By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice on Monday gave Msgr. Arnel Lagarejos, arrested by the Marikina City police last July for allegedly “booking” a 13-year-old girl from a pimp, more time to answer the complaint against him for qualified human trafficking. During the preliminary investigation of the case at the DoJ, Assistant State Prosecutor Karla Cabel gave Lagarejos, who was not present during the hearing, five days to submit his counter-affidavit. His co-accused—Shaira Pedragoza, Ace Lasaca, a minor and several John Does—were also given the same period to file their respective answers to the complaint. They were accused of allegedly acting as pimps. Cabel set the next hearing of the case for violation of Section 6 (qualified human trafficking) under the Next page

Trillanes’ allegedly committed unparliamentary acts and language damaged the integrity of the Blue Ribbon committee and the Senate as an institution. “A quick glance at the complaint and the attach-

ment submitted to this committee would easily show that it conforms to the required form as prescribed by the Rules of the Committee,” Sotto said. Sotto said parliamentary immunity must not be allowed to be used as mode to ridicule, demean and destroy the reputation of the Senate and its members, nor as avenue for personal wrath and disgust. “Parliamentary immunity is not an individual privilege accorded to the individual members of Congress for their own personal benefit, but rather a privilege for the benefit of the people and the institution,” he

added. “What constitutes unparliamentary language is generally left to the discretion of the body,” he said. The ethics complaint stemmed from a word war between Gordon and Trillanes when the latter insisted on inviting presidential son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, to attend the Blue Ribbon hearing into the P6.4billion shabu shipment that slipped past the Bureau of Customs in May. Trillanes had earlier insinuated that Gordon was lawyering for Duterte when he Next page

Faeldon yields to Senate, opts to face court By Macon R. Araneta FORMER Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon was detained at the Senate Monday for refusing to participate in hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu while he was still in charge of the bureau. The committee chairman, Senator Richard Gordon,

had issued an arrest warrant for Faeldon, who was found in contempt for refusing to attend hearings on two occasions despite the issuance of a subpoena. Asked how long Faeldon would be held, Gordon said: “Until he decides to come over, until the Senate says ‘You may go.’” Donning a white shirt printed with the message “truth is justice,” Faeldon

turned himself in at the Office of the Senate Sergeant-atArms before noon Monday. He insisted he would not attend the ongoing Senate investigation into corruption at the bureau. Faeldon had earlier said he was willing to spend years in jail but he would no longer face any congressional inquiries as the senators maligned him and destroyed his Next page

SUBMITTED WAIVERS. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV submits Monday bank secrecy waiv-

ers to the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Office of the Ombudsman to disprove President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations then challenges the latter anew to sign bank secrecy waivers, too. All documents, shown to newsmen, were notarized and received by the AMLC. Ey Acasio

Senator threatens to sue over ‘fake news’

“Within the next few days, chase you down every time.” By Macon R. Araneta Tesiorna is said to be beand John Paolo Bencito I will file a case against ErSENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV said Monday he will file libel cases against Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, journalist Erwin Tulfo, and the person behind the Davao Breaking News Facebook page, declaring that the “era of fake news is over.”

win Tulfo, Mocha Uson and Ben Tesiorna,” Trillanes said in Filipino during a press briefing. “I will sue them for libel. Fake news will no longer be tolerated. The era of fake news is over. This Duterte administration, you won the election on fake news, but now, you can’t do that. I will

hind the Davao Breaking News Facebook page, which published Trillanes’ alleged offshore bank accounts. Tulfo and Uson shared these on their pages, Trillanes said. Trillanes said he found that not only were the bank accounts bogus, but so were the banks. Next page

Barangay-SK polls reset to May State news By Maricel V. Cruz

THE CUPS BESIDE THEM. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Richard Gordon visits

Monday former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon at his holding room at the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, shortly after the latter was detained for disregarding summons to testify in the investigations into the alleged corruption in the Bureau of Customs and continues to refuse to testify in the ongoing investigation into the P6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment from China.

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THE House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a consolidated bill seeking to reset the scheduled Oct. 23, 2017 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to May 14, 2018. Voting 213-10, the Lower House approved House Bill 6308 with a holdover provision for incumbent officials. Those who opposed the measure were six members

of the Makabayan Bloc, two opposition—Reps. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list and Tom Villarin of Akbayan—and two administration—Reps. Raul del Mar of Cebu and Ramon Rocamora—lawmakers. Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez welcomed the measure’s passage, saying “We support the President in his desire to postpone the barangay elections this October. The main reason for the postponement Next page

agency site attacked

By John Paolo Bencito C O M M U N I C AT I O N S Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday cried “sabotage” after the state-run Philippine News Agency allegedly encountered a “cyberattack” after the screen shots of several stories with Next page

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News

Witnesses may yield to DoJ C

ALOOCAN Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said Monday he was willing to turn over the witnesses to the killing of Kian Loyd delos Santos, including his family, to the police anytime if they wished to leave the Church’s protective custody.

rez told a television interview. “There is a deliberate attempt to kill these minors, and we have to find out what is the motive. To instigate hatred against the administration?” Alvarez said the drug lords could have been behind the effort to sabotage the anti-drug campaign to stop it but admitted politics was also a possible motive. In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said that while there were “certain elements” actively engaged in discrediting the police, a proper investigation should be conduct-

“I am ready to release the family and other witnesses anytime if they want to,”David said after Roy Concepcion, the father of a key witness to the killing of Delos Santos, refused police custody and instead sought the Church’s protection. “I assure them that we are here whenever they need the Church’s help,” David said.

He made the statement even as Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday sought a congressional investigation into the spate of killings involving minors. He echoed the concern of President Rodrigo Duterte who claims a deliberate plot to discredit the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. “We really need to look into it,” Alva-

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unexplained wealth more than a year ago, but you kept changing the topic,” Trillanes said. Towards the end of the campaign in 2016, Trillanes, who ran unsuccessfully for vice president, accused Duterte of having unexplained wealth stashed in various bank accounts. He then challenged Duterte to sign bank waivers in order to open his accounts to the public and prove him wrong. But Duterte refused and merely gave a verbal order to the AMLC to look into his accounts.. “You can’t just be all talk, you have to sign a waiver. If you’re brave, if you’re not corrupt, then sign a waiver like I did, addressed to the AMLC and Ombudsman,” said Trillanes in a news conference. “But I know you won’t do that because you’re afraid of the

truth. I know you’re corrupt, just like your family,” he added. Trillanes said he is willing to accompany the Ombudsman and journalists to some of the actual banks mentioned to prove that he is not hiding anything. He also said at least three members of his upper class at the Philippine Military Academy are behind the operations to smear him with fake bank accounts, but he declined to name them. The Palace said Monday that Duterte has the goods on Trillanes, but clarified that the President only meant he will “destroy” the accusations against him and his family, and not the senator. In a Palace news briefing, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the President will come up with something “substantial” to link Trillanes to the allegations.

name when he attended the first hearing. Gordon talked to Faeldon when he arrived at the Senate, but the former Customs chief refused to be convinced. “I spoke to him and told him to face the panel so his side could be heard and that he will be on the losing end if he does not go up. He said he respected

the Senate and he was ready to stay here and be detained. But he felt while he was there, he won’t win,” said Gordon. Gordon noted that Faeldon would rather face a court than the Senate, and lamented the uneven playing field in the chamber. He said Faeldon cited Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Panfilo Lacson’s allegations against him. Gordon said the former Customs commissioner was humble and respectful. He said Faeldon respects the

chamber except Trillanes and Lacson, who implicated him in the corruption at the bureau. Faeldon said he wanted a clarification on the privilege of immunity from suit accorded to senators who deliver speeches. He said if the Supreme Court or any other body would make an official clarification that lawmakers “can violate” the Bill of Rights, he will willingly attend the hearings of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the shabu shipment.

Barangay-SK...

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was to get rid of barangay officials involved in illegal drugs.” In the Senate, Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said the people and not President Rodrigo Duterte should choose next barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan leaders. Aquino made this call as he criticized efforts to allow Duterte to appoint barangay officerin-charge once the barangay and SK elections are postponed. “We stand firmly against appointing barangay officials. These leaders should represent the people, serve the people and not to be indebted to Malacanang,” said Aquino. “We must uphold our democracy and respect the right of the Filipino people to vote and elect their barangay leaders,” he added. In 1986, after Corazon Aquino was swept to power, she replaced locally elected officials with officers-in-charge and also appointed a 48-member Constitutional Commission to rewrite the 1987 Charter written by elected members of a Constitutional Convention, with former President Diosdado Macapagal as the convention president. Aquino insisted the people’s right to choose their leaders through the ballot was a foundation of the nation’s democracy that lawmakers must recognize and respect. “Even if we hold over the current officials before the next elections, at least they have the mandate from the people,” said Aquino. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

rejected Trillanes’ motion to summon the vice mayor implicated by Customs fixer Mark Taguba in the widespread corruption at the BoC. Gordon has maintained

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“These are not just non-existent accounts, but non-existent banks,” he said. “That’s how glaring this fabrication is.” “This shows you what a liar Duterte is, using the power of the government to destroy a member of the opposition,” the senator said. At the same briefing, Trillanes showed copies of the 12 waivers he submitted to the Anti-Money Laundering Council covering his alleged 12 accounts. He said Duterte should also execute a document waiving his bank secrecy rights if he is not hiding anything. “Now, I’ll throw the challenge to Duterte. You made allegations against me, I signed waivers. I accused you of having

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Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 on Sept. 22. The closed-door hearing was attended by Lagarejos’ lawyers, while the victim and her mother attended and subscribed to their

ed to validate the claims. “The President himself has introduced that idea, that insight. It seems that at this stage there are probably those who are involved in making sure that the campaign—his campaign—is actually discredited,” Abella said. Earlier, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Bishop David and the others who had taken custody of one of the key witnesses in the killing of Delos Santos, Grade 11 student, could be charged with obstruction of justice. The bishop now stands as the guardian of one of the witnesses

Mobile mishap. Pope Francis, showing a bruise around his left eye and eyebrow caused by an accidental hit against the popemobile’s window glass while visiting the old sector of Cartagena,Colombia, is greeted by the faithful on Sept. 10, 2017. Nearly 1.3 million worshippers flocked to a Mass by Pope Francis on Saturday in Medellin, the Colombian city known as the stronghold of the late drug lord Pablo Escobar. AFP

there is no need to summon the vice mayor since Taguba’s knowledge of his alleged involvement in the Davao Group was merely based on hearsay. Because of this, Trillanes called the Blue Ribbon as “comite de absuelto” or committee to absolve.

Taguba had told Gordon’s committee that Duterte heads the so-called Davao Group which facilitates shipment of cargoes at the BoC in exchange for huge bribes. Gordon then backtracked on his assertion that there is no need for the Blue Ribbon Committee to invite Duterte and lawyer

Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda Acosta, said the couple never asked for a DNA test. She said they were just asked to sign a document but did not understand that it was a request for a DNA test. Acosta also debunked the need for DNA testing to make sure that the body found in Nueva Ecija was indeed that of De Guzman because the DNA samples are only reliable if the specimen is safe. The PAO chief said that after a comparative analysis of De Guzman’s face based on his pictures and that of the body found in Nueva Ecija, the victim’s parents identified the remains as that of their missing boy. “Even the parents of Kulot [De Guzman’s nickname] identified the cadaver as that of their missing son. The comparative analysis of the picture of Kulot and the cadaver in the presence of our forensic expert also made a similar conclusion, it was him,” Acosta said, in a press conference. Acosta also played down the possibility that De Guzman

could just be an adopted child as a reason for the different DNA results, adding that his parents told her that the boy was their biological son. “DNA test is reliable if the specimen is safe, but if it is contaminated, the findings, the results could be different,” Acosta said. “He’s really their son, which is why they are angry,” she said in Filipino. She added that they could identify him clearly by his face, since the body had not yet bloated or decomposed. Acosta also raised the possibility that the case is being muddled as she called on the media to be careful in their reporting on the controversy. “It seems that somebody is trying to muddle the case so I’m appealing to the media to be careful,” she said. Senator Panfilo Lacson, on the other hand, said the results of a DNA test cannot be contested. “So assuming that what the PNP was saying on the DNA analysis was authentic, that it was not Kulot who was recovered, we have to live with that and leave it at that,” he said. Meanwhile, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption founding chairman Dante Jimenez and former Negros Oriental

Rep. Jacinto Paras denounced some politicians for their effort to politicize the recent spate of killings involving teenagers. Jimenez and Paras appealed to the politicians to leave the case to the authorities and to stop making a political issue out of the killings. In particular, they assailed Senator Risa Hontiveros for refusing to turn over the two witnesses in the Kian delos Santos killing to the PAO or the DOJ. “I can feel, I can empathize with these victims. I think this is the time to call on the politicians and the government to stop making this political. There is a senator there who is very obvious that she is using this case but let us stop politicizing this issue,” Jimenez said. “She is using the death of Kian to strike back at President Duterte. This is what happening in this case, Senator Hontiveros is politically motivated,” Paras added. Also on Monday, the Palace said it expects the taxi driver who claims he was robbed by 19-yearold Carl Angelo Arnaiz to cooperate with authorities, after he contradicted police accounts that the boy died in a shootout on Aug. 18. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and John Paolo Bencito`

complaint. Lagarejos was already charged before the Marikina City Regional Trial Court for trafficking under the same law, but he was able to post bail for his temporary liberty amounting to P120,000. The complaints pending before the DoJ were in connec-

tion with two previous incidents where the DoJ said he also hired the same minor before he was arrested. Earlier, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Antipolo Bishop Francis de Leon had stripped Lagarejos of his post at the St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay, Rizal.

He was also removed as president of the Cainta Catholic College. At the same time, the CBCP assured the public it respected the criminal procedures initiated by the police against Lagarejos. The Church probe is separate from the ongoing investigation being conducted by the police.

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and the child’s siblings and lately their father, Roy Concepcion, after the latter was freed on bail and decided to be protected by the Church. “Personally, I have no problem with it. I am ready to release them,” David said. “In fact, I even prepared a letter to be signed by the witness and her father,” David said. He appealed to the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group to take care of them. Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and John Paolo Bencito

Manases Carpio, the President’s son-in-law. Appearing for the first and last time in the Senate hearing, Duterte and Carpio denied links to the Davao Group. Trillanes, who said he is unfazed by the ethics complaint, said he will file a counter complaint against Gordon.

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Poland, South Africa, and South Korea, to likewise rise up peacefully to effect change in their respective nations.” Despite the heavy downpour, the loyalist groups intended to wait for the attendees of the ceremony to come out. They also sang “Happy Birthday” for the late President. Only a few representatives from the groups were allowed to

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editors’ notes that were left untouched for months made the rounds of social media. In a radio interview, Andanar claimed that the attacks against the state-run newswire were meant to discredit him following the reforms he had implemented in the agency. “Wala namang iba ‘di ba? Sino ba iyong ibang gustong gibain dito kung hindi ako, eventually the President, hindi ba?” Andanar told dzRH. “Siyempre under ng PCOO itong PNA, so ang dami nating ginagawang reporma, tapos gustong pilit gibain iyong PNA. So, meron talagang gustong gibain ako.” Andanar said the PNA encountered a cyberattack when an IP address tried to gain access to the agency’s old website, hence the publishing of quirky editor’s notes that quickly went viral on social media.

PNP urged to redirect war chest to gun buy By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE proposed P900-million “tokhang” budget for 2018 of the Philippine National Police should remain with the agency but “rechanneled for the purchase of needed equipment,” Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Monday. “Why not use the funds intended for ‘Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded’ for new cars and guns instead?” Recto said referring to what the PNP officially bills as the 2018 edition of its anti-drug campaign. He said the PNP itself had admitted it lacked 12,399 patrol cars, 11,346 motorcycles, 50,668 service handguns and 41,136 long firearms, 132 police fast boats, and 902 specialpurpose vehicles. “Our police can better serve and protect the people if we’ll be able to pound this double barrel into cars, guns and boats,” Recto said. He said the money earmarked for new equipment in the PNP’s P131.2-billion budget for 2018 “will hardly dent the logistical shortfalls it is facing.” “Next year it will have a procurement budget only enough for 160 cars, 308 motorcycles, 20 special-purpose vehicles, 19 boats, 10,000 sidearms and 5,000 long firearms,” Recto said. “I’ve been told that for P250,000 you can have a decent, powerful bike. So the P900 million can purchase 3,600 motorcycles, which would mean a minimum two each if distributed equally to all towns.” Recto said P900 million could also buy at least 1,000 cars. “If you buy them you increase by 25 percent the size of the PNP patrol car fleet,” Recto said. He said policemen also needed bulletproof vests that must be made a standard feature of the police outfit “because these vests save lives.” Improving police emergency hot lines would also allow the PNP to comply with the performance guarantee it had spelled out in the national budget that it would respond to distress calls in 15 minutes tops, Recto said. enter the Libingan. Members of the media, who were prohibited from going beyond the gates, were told that the Marcos family was holding a simple celebration after a Mass. As their vehicles arrived, guests who attended the private event remained unknown. The Marcos family previously said it invited former members of Marcos’ Cabinet. President Rodrigo Duterte was among those invited to the event. Macon Ramos-Araneta “On Friday, we saw that there was another IP address that was trying to enter the old dashboard. There’s an old website, right? The IP address was trying to get into the old dashboard,” Andanar said. “What is the reason for a person to enter the old dashboard that isn’t being used, why did that person know about that? Because on the old dashboard, you can see the blunders of the PNA, you can trace those, right?” Andanar said the National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division would investigate the incident. “Back in April, that was the time when the new website was activated. So that was four months ago. Now, why are you trying to open the old one? So there is a bad intention here,” he said. Andanar said he would not be cowed by such attacks against the Palace communications arm. “We won’t allow ourselves to be always at the receiving end, and they’re just doing things like this to us,” he said

News IN BRIEF Bislig mayor axed for graft THE Office of the Ombudsman axed on Monday an incumbent mayor from Bislig City, Surigao del Sur for grave misconduct over the anomalous purchase of a hydraulic excavator worth P14,750,000 in 2012. Mayor Librado Navarro was also meted out the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government service. Also ordered dismissed were bids and awards—committee chairman—administrator Charlito Lerog, BAC members— treasurer Roberto Viduya, planning development coordinator Aprodecio Alba Jr., general services officer Felipe Sabaldan Jr., budget officer in charge Belma Lomantas, engineer Lorna Salgado and legal officer Daisy Ronquillo, and technical working group members—acountant Raquel Bautista, Gilbert Abugan, Laila Manlucob and Estefa Mata. Rio N. Araja

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Court dismisses graft case vs Sula By Maricel V. Cruz

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HE Sandiganbayan on Monday cited the inordinate delay as the reason for its dismissal of the graft charge against state witness Marina Sula in connection with her alleged involvement in the fertilizer fund scam in 2004. In a resolution, the antigraft court’s Fifth Division granted the motion to dismiss the charge against Sula for she was deprived of her right to a speedy trial. “The delay of more than a decade runs afoul of

the Constitutional protection afforded by the right to speedy disposition of cases. More than 10 years to investigate a case is unreasonable even under the circumstances extant in the case at bar,” the court

resolution stated. “From the foregoing, by itself, the time that this case spent pending preliminary investigation with the Ombudsman already reeks of inordinate delay,” it added. Sula’s case pertains to the allegedly anomalous acquisition of P3.2 million worth of liquid fertilizers from the Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. without public bidding in 2004. Sula was president of a non-government organization Masaganang Ani para sa Magsa-

saka Foundation Inc. In her motion, Sula took note of the delay in the filing of her case at the Office of the Ombudsman only in April 2011when in fact the alleged crime was committed in 2004 or seven years after the alleged crime took place. The Ombudsman then filed the case at the Sandiganbayan in September 2016. Sula, one of the whistleblowers of the multi-billion pork barrel fund scam, also appealed for the dismissal of

and beneficial for the accused to be afforded due process of law.” But the Sandiganbayan said that the prosecution not only “undermine the right to speedy disposition, it also belittles the prejudice caused by the prolonged pendency” of the case. “The psychological, financial and emotional burden on the accused to be a respondent to a criminal complaint for so many years, likewise, cannot be taken lightly,” the resolution read.

‘Use unused govt funds for UHC, free tuition’

Du30 appoints DAR Usec as OIC PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Rosalina Bistoyong as officer in charge of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Malacañang said Monday. Bistoyong, a career official who has been the agency’s undersecretary for the support services office since 2010, was appointed to the agency following the rejection of the agency’s erstwhile secretary, Rafael Mariano. Upon the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea designated Bistoyong to “ensure the effective delivery of public service.” Mariano is the 4th Cabinet member under Duterte to be rejected by the CA. The ad interim appointments of Perfecto Yasay, Gina Lopez, and Judy Taguiwalo were earlier rejected by the commission. John Paolo Bencito

Cimatu plans to arm foresters BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said they are contemplating to arm foresters in the country to defend themselves even as environmental advocates urged him to muster the will to address the adverse impacts of destructive mining. “I don’t want anyone being killed or shot like the one which happened in Palawan where one of our foresters was shot,” he said yesterday during his visit at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office within the provincial capitol compound in this town. Cimatu, accompanied by key directors of DENR Central Office made visits to the PENROs and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices in Cagayan Valley over the weekend. He also advised DENR foresters doing frontline services to temporarily skip their assigned tasks in the conflict zone of upland Kasibu town where police and military operations are being conducted after a recent encounter between government soldiers and New Peoples Army rebels. Meanwhile, Edgar Maranan, a scientist and biotechnologist of Tayo Kalikasan Movement, called out Cimatu to have the determination to adopt mining solutions that are environmentally sustainable while environment rehabilitation is not yet in its “point of no return.” Ben Moses Ebreo and Rio N. Araja

her case since her co-accused were already acquitted. Sula’s co-accused in the case were former Palawan governor Joel Reyes, former Department of Agriculture officer-in-charge regional technical director Rodolfo Guieb and regional executive director Dennis Araullo—whose cases had already been dismissed by the Sandiganbayan. The prosecution said the delay in Sula’s case was “attributable to the ordinary processes of justice and was even necessary

FALLEN SOLDIER. President Rodrigo Duterte pays his last respects to yet another fallen soldier Captain Rommel Sandoval, whose body was about to be transported to Manila from Cagayan de Oro City on Sept. 11, 2017. Sandoval, who was the Company Commander of the 11th Scout Ranger company, was killed in action while rescuing a wounded soldier in Marawi City. Malacañang Photo

AN OPPOSITION lawmaker on Monday urged the government to use the unutilized budget of at least five national agencies to fund the Universal Health Coverage Act and the free college tuition law. Deputy minority leader and Kabayan Party-List Rep. Harry Roque made the suggestion as the House of Representatives wraps up its plenary deliberation for the 2018 national budget. Roque identified the said agencies: Public Works and Highways, Transportation, Health, Social Welfare and Development and Information and Communications Technology. “If you look at the budget utilization of DPWH, DOTr, DoH, DSWD, and DICT going back to 2012, you will see they have a history of underspending. Their unused budget should be put to good use and the best use of this would be to fund the Universal Health Coverage Act once it is signed to law as well as to fund the Universal Access

Heavy equipment, materials for Marawi rebuilding arrive By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Fabunan HEAVY equipment and materials started to arrive at the besieged city of Marawi as the battle against ISISinspired extremists already reached its “last mile,” the military said Monday. “We are happy to inform you that the arrival of heavy equipment to be used by Task Force Bangon Marawi for its initial ground work, for the recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi from the Armed Forces side engineering units are already there,” Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said. “And we will be hauling a little bit more equipment to help and work with the local public works department to effect all of these needed movement on the ground or improvement

of the ground. We already started doing the relocation area. Halos tapos na po iyan, iyong pagtatayo na lang ng bahay.” Earlier, Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez said several payloaders and backhoes have already been pre-positioned in Lanao Del Norte province as reconstruction efforts have already started. Galvez said the heavy equipment will be used for the building of temporary houses of the residents, particularly in Barangay Sangonsongan who were displaced by the ongoing war which started on May 23 when Maute terrorists attacked the city. Aside from the equipment, relief goods, hygiene kits, and toys also arrived for the evacuees, Galvez said.

On the 112th day of the Marawi siege, Padilla said that the fight against Islamic Stateinspired terrorists already reached “its last miles.” “The remaining areas were the rebels are held-up are getting smaller and smaller by the day. And as we clear more buildings, we deny them the opportunity to retake additional facilities or installations where they can hide. So they are actually concentrated on only a few,” the military spokesperson said. “To stop the spread of terrorist ideology, we are working as one nation, pouring resources and infrastructure development in Mindanao while pursuing peace talks with the Moro rebels and pushing for legislation the creation of a Bangsamoro region within the sovereignty of the Republic. Let us continue to remain unit-

ed in our concerted effort to defeat terrorism,” he added. Some 655 enemies have already been killed, while government force who had been killed totaled 145. Civilians killed is at 45. As this developed, the United States deployed the Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems to Mindanao for additional surveillance in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines counterterrorism efforts. Compared to current surveillance platforms used in the region, the Gray Eagle has a longer flight duration which will enable a larger area of reconnaissance and surveillance. Over the past three years the US has provided the Philippines with assistance valued at over P15 billion, to establish better command, control, communications,

computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for the AFP. Recent deliveries include a Raven tactical UAS and two Cessna-208B surveillance aircraft, as well as various munitions and weapons to support urgent defense and counterterrorism needs. The long-standing military relationship with the Philippines enables the US to respond quickly to the AFP’s needs and to support the AFP’s modernization goals. Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday vowed that the government would arrange free trips to Hong Kong for female soldiers assigned to the besieged city of Marawi, as he made his fourth visit to personally check the situation of the government troops who are on the frontline of the fight against terrorists.

Oil firms hike prices by as much as P1.30/l By Alena Mae S. Flores

MARITIME SECURITY. National Coast Watch Center director, Commodore Joel Garcia PCG (right) together with Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the US Government Mark Sullivan present the upgraded communications and surveillance equipment Radioisotope Identification Devices to enhance the country's capabilities in addressing key challenges of maritime security and law enforcement against Weapons of Destruction during the opening of the week-long Joint Inter-agency Field Training exercises dubbed as: ‘Bukluran Bantay Baybayin 01-17’ which will be held on Sept. 11 to15 in Manila, Cebu and Palawan. The event is in line with the upcoming anniversary celebration of the NCWS which was established Sept. 6, 2011 by virtue of Executive Order No. 57, series of 2011 to institute a central inter-agency mechanism for a coordinated and coherent approach on maritime issues and security operations towards enhancing governance in the country's maritime domain. Norman Cruz

OIL prices went up by as much as P1.30 per liter starting Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices last week. Petron Corp., Phoenix Petroleum, Seaoil Philippines, Flying V, Eastern Petroleum and Unioil Philippines issued price advisories of the P1.30 per liter increase in for diesel, P0.90 per liter increase for kerosene and P0.45 per liter increase for gasoline. “Petron will implement the following prices increases effective 6 a.m. Sept. 12: P0.45 per liter for gasoline, P1.30 per liter for diesel and P0.90 per liter for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market," Petron said. Rino Abad, Energy department director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau said diesel prices went

up higher in the world market compared to gasoline due to several reasons. He cited as the refining decline in the US due to the disturbance brought about by hurricane “Harvey” and Irma. Abad said the continuing production supply cut deals among the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries including Russia also raised prices. Abad also said prices went up because of the “the usual increase in demand for heating purposes with the onset of the “Ber” months.” The department warned over the weekend that pump prices may increase this coming week by as much as P1 per liter due to movements in the world oil market. “The DoE observed that last week’s international oil trading may affect the domestic prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene,” the

agency said in a statement. DoE monitor the prices of oil products in the world market and its effects on the domestic prices of petroleum products as mandated by the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998. Adjustments on petroleum products are implemented every Tuesday of the week. Last Sept. 5, the oil firms raised the price of kerosene by P0.50 per liter and diesel and kerosene by P0.40 per liter, respectively. The department, meanwhile, is intensifying its efforts to curb illegal activities in the oil industry. The DoE-Visayas field office together with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided Friday night (Sept. 8) a liquefied petroleum gas refilling station located in Mandaue, Cebu following a tip of irregularities in its operations.

to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” Roque said. “For 2016, DPWH alone had an unused appropriation of some ₱105 billion. DOTr had unused appropriations of ₱30.77 billion; DSWD, ₱23.03 billion; DoH, ₱16.21 billion; and DICT, ₱2.73 billion. Imagine if all these unused budgets will be instead used to give more medicines to the poor and send more students to college,” he added. By utilizing the unused portions of these and other agencies with low absorptive capacity instead of allocating additional funds would mean new taxes, Roque said the government need not to pass new tax measures. Absorptive capacity refers to the percentage of unused appropriations of the annual national budget divided by the total amount of appropriations available for any given year. The initial allocation of the Universal Health Coverage Act is pegged at atleast halfa-billion pesos, Roque said. Maricel V. Cruz

Ferry system suspended By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority has announced it has suspended the operation of Pasig River Ferry system due to carpet of water lilies and other aquatic plants that clogged the river from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City to Lawton in Manila. “Due to the volume of water hyacinths, the operations of the Pasig River Ferry System is suspended today until further notice. Thank you,” said MMDA stated in its advisory. The water lilies, that clogged the river during rainy season, came from Laguna Lake and it has long been the problem affecting the operation of the ferry river system since the time of then MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, who initiated to revive the system. MMDA general manager Thomas Orbos said the water lilies entangle the ferry's propeller, preventing the boats from traveling at normal speed. He added propellers have to be elevated so that tangled water lilies and even pieces of trash can be removed. The MMDA revived the Pasig River system in 2014 as a means to decongest Metro Manila’s major roads affected by road construction projects of the government. The program also aimed to boost Metro Manila’s tourism and can be used for disaster and rescue purposes as well. Reports showed that the government stopped the Pasig River Ferry operations in 2011 following complaints from passengers about the long waiting time at the terminals and the river’s foul smell.

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Opinion

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Incongruous

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T LEAST two prominent personalities have called out Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi for her silence and inaction on the plight of the Rohingya in her country. The Muslim minority are being driven out of their land. Deemed stateless, they have been dealt with violence by the Myanmar military. Soldiers have been reported to set fire to homes and to shoot at people. Retired South African cleric Desmond Tutu, now 85 years

Adelle Chua, Editor

old, has emerged from his public silence in an open letter to Suu Kyi where he called her his “dearly beloved younger sister.” Tutu and Suu Kyi are both recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu expressed profound sadness at what is happening to the Rohingya. He reminded

Suu Kyi of the injustice and sacrifice she had endured out of love for and commitment to her people. “You symbolized righteousness,” he said. A country that is not at peace with itself, that fails to acknowledge and protect the dignity and worth of all its people, is not a free country, Tutu said. “It is incongruous for a symbol of righteousness to lead such a country.” Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte

slammed his critics anew and encouraged them to slam Suu Kyi instead for her inaction at the human rights violations in her country. At a Mindanao business conference, Mr. Duterte said “human rights activists with all the hullaballoo” should look instead the Rohingya who are being brutalized in Myanmar and the Nobel laureate who was not doing anything about it. The hullaballoo the President refers to is the outrage over the

successive killings of teenagers in the police campaign against illegal drugs. Both evidence and testimony point to foul play even as some administration officials insist the boys were into drugs or some other crime— as if that would make the killings right. But human rights violations in other parts of the world do not diminish, or make any more acceptable, acts similarly violent or nonsensical at home. We wonder whether

Suu Kyi would even pay Tutu’s letter some attention, or whether she indeed has paid the ultimate political price: silence in the face of injustice. We wonder, too, whether President Duterte would ever realize that not all those criticizing him are out to sabotage his efforts and bring him down. Given the unbelievable simplicity with which this administration wants us to regard our complex issues, we are not very hopeful.

Wisdom from a legal giant

temporary period. For instance, Duterte’s expressed willingness to settle with the Marcos family is, in my opinion, grounded on his belief that he would rather have money from the dictator’s kin to spend on his own projects rather than to keep fighting them in court, with no assurance that they will ever be forced to pay up. To the believers of the Aquino version of Philippine history, even Duterte’s pragmatism with regards a settlement is unacceptable because it means a softening of the official position on Marcos. After all, if the Marcos family settles, charges will have to be dropped and no admissions of any guilt will be forthcoming. (Why practically all of Marcos’ cronies were allowed to settle with the

LAST Saturday, I wrote about and extensively quoted from Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s commencement speech to the 2 PHD in Leadership and 32 Masters in Public Management graduates of the Ateneo School of Government. The speech is entitled “My Journey in Public Service” and it is full of lessons for public servants and for those who work on governance issues in the country. I proudly claim several affiliations with Justice Carpio—a shared name, similar place of origin Mindanao, the same undergraduate dorm (Cervini Hall) and college (Ateneo de Manila University), and a common legal education (the University of the Philippines College of Law). In the Saturday column, I wrote about the governance lessons Justice Carpio identified from addressing monopolies in telecommunications and the shipping industry as well as in attempting to eradicate jueteng in the county. In today’s column, I will share Carpio’s insights from dealing with formidable legal issues. One issue that the Ramos administration (and others before it) had to contend with was the long delay in resolving administrative cases. In the Malacanang legal office alone, according to Carpio, the backlog stretched to almost 20 years when he assumed office. Likewise, this kind of backlogs existed in different government offices. I can affirm that as I run the legal office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 1996 to 98 and our backlog stretched to 50 years and I had more than 5,000 pending cases when I joined the department. Justice Carpio recalls how he addressed this problem: “I proposed to the President an Administrative

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Revising history LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES IF YOU don’t think history should ever be revised, perhaps you should become reacquainted with the leader of Myanmar, a certain Nobel Peace Prize winner by the name of Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung has long been venerated in the Western world as the very personification of freedom, democracy and human rights —sort of like a Buddhist, Indochinese Cory Aquino. Until recently, of course, when Aung was accused of allowing the commission of atrocities against the minority Muslim Rohingya population, who are being slaughtered by the military under Aung’s command. Nearly half a million peo-

ple have already signed a Change.org petition to strip Aung of her Nobel award for allegedly not doing anything to stop what some are already calling the “ethnic cleansing” of the Rohingya. The United Nations, which backed Aung’s release from prison in the early nineties, when she was hailed as an Asian Nelson Mandela, has already been calling the Rohingya situation a “humanitarian crisis.” That’s exactly what the UN said the Burmese generals who imprisoned Aung had caused in very recent history, when she was still their favorite democracy icon. But history, like most political spoils, always belongs to the victor. And in the past three decades, our own official history has followed the narrative established by the political faction that ousted Ferdinand

Marcos in 1986. Marcos, of course, was also a reviser of the historical narrative of his time.

sought to make history conform to his own vision of it, with his establishment of what he called the New Society (coinciding with his declaration of military rule) as its most crucial moment. The dominant political faction that succeeded Marcos decided that the February 1986 revolution that ousted the dictator was the defining historical moment. Except for the abbreviated presidency of Joseph Estrada, that narrative has gone mostly unchallenged until last year, with the election of Rodrigo Duterte. With Duterte’s ascendancy, post-1986 history seems to be undergoing a serious, if totally unplanned, revision. For the first time since Estrada, after all, a “Marcosfriendly” president is once During his reign as dicta- again in power—and the tor during the martial law remnants of the political forcperiod, especially, Marcos es that were instrumental in

Duterte is rewriting history because he believes present-day concerns outweigh any compelling reason not to.

demonizing the old dictator are quite naturally alarmed. I say unplanned because am convinced that Duterte is not the sort of leader who does things with an eye towards leaving a historical legacy. The man seems to live totally in the present, wrestling with problems in the here and now, like illegal drugs and corruption, as befits his own description of himself as “mayor of the Philippines.” *** But Duterte is also an admirer of Marcos—as many who subscribe to the theory of the strong leader are— and a very practical man, besides. So I think he honestly doesn’t care how history will judge him, except to say that he did not care for the political niceties and the ideological baggage that consumed and paralyzed his predecessors in the con-

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Opinion Wisdom... From A4

Order

introducing two measures. First, all parties should submit affidavits in lieu of direct testimony of their witnesses. This would cut down the time for taking testimonies of witnesses by at least 50 percent. Second, all parties should submit draft decisions of their cases, and the head of office would choose which one to adopt either wholly or partially. This would allow the head of office to promptly dispose of cases submitted for decision.” According to Carpio, he explained to the President that this was the procedure adopted in the United States and other countries to efficiently and fairly dispose of administrative cases. President Ramos was convinced and signed the Administrative Order. The result: “This allowed the Malacañang legal office, headed by then Assistant Secretary Renato Corona whom I recruited to join the Ramos Administration, to wipe out the almost 20 years of backlog of cases in the Malacanang legal office.” Other departments emulated this approach successfully. That included the DENR legal office, under my watch. With the support of then-Environment Secretary Victor Ramos, we wiped out the backlog six months before President Ramos’ term ended. Justice Carpio emphasized the lesson here: We do not have to reinvent the wheel. The problems of our government bureaucracy are likely not unique to the Philippines. Governments of other countries have faced them and have instituted solutions, some successfully and others unsuccessfully. We can learn lessons from these successful and unsuccessful solutions and craft our own solutions.” In the Supreme Court, Justice Carpio also succeeded in convincing his colleagues to adopt the Judicial Affidavit Rule. This has significantly sped up the resolution of cases in trial courts by at least 50 percent. There was initial resistance from the prosecutors but eventually the rule has been accepted. Justice Carpio points out that that there are some institutions that are slow to adopt reform. The judiciary is one of those because it operates on precedents, “but one should never give up because one day the logic of the situation will make reforms inevitable.” As Carpio describes it: “In the case of the Philippine judiciary, the ever-growing population, with the corresponding increase in court cases, is forcing the judiciary to be more receptive to novel reforms. The ideal judge to population ratio is 1 trial judge for a population of 20,000. The ratio in the Philippines is one trial judge for a population of 58,000. Budgetary constraints prevent us from reaching the ideal ratio. So, our trial courts will always be overloaded with cases. The solution is to make trial courts more efficient by simplifying procedures. The Judicial Affidavit Rule is an example of this solution.” Finally, and most significant of all, Justice Carpio shares lessons from his advocacy on the West Philippine Sea. It started with a realization that, as the writer of the decision in the Magal-

Revising... From A4

government in exchange for the dropping of cases against them—and with them being allowed to hold on to sizable portions of presumably illgotten wealth—when the man who was their principal is denied it is one of the things that has always bothered me. Perhaps, this is also why Duterte thinks he can pull off a Marcos settlement; he is totally focused only on the practical, here-and-now side of things.) Duterte, like Estrada before him, is in a perfect position to change the old Aquino family narrative simply because he is not beholden to their historical line. And Duterte is rewriting history once again simply because he believes his practical, present-day concerns outweigh

lona v. Ermita case that upheld the constitutionality of the 2009 amendment to the Baselines Law, the Philippines was in danger of losing a great part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea to China, including all the fish, oil, gas and other mineral resources within it. According to Carpio: “China wants to grab 80 percent of our Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippines Sea. What is at stake in this dispute is a maritime area as large as the total land area of the Philippines—either we keep this huge maritime area or we lose it to China forever. The Philippines is of course no match to China militarily and economically. So how do we defend and protect our EEZ against a hegemon like China?” That is why in 2011, Justice Carpio started a public advocacy—“that in the defense of the West Philippine Sea the Philippines should use the greatest weapon ever invented by man—a weapon that could neutralize warships, warplanes, missiles and nuclear bombs—and that weapon is the Rule of Law.” He proposed that the Philippines pursue an arbitration case against China before a tribunal of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, “a forum where there is a level playing field—where the dispute would be resolved solely in accordance with the Law of the Sea.” The rest is history. We did file the case on January 2013 and three years later, on July 12, 2016, the arbitral tribunal ruled in our favor, that China’s nine-dashed line was without legal effect and could not be the basis to claim any part of the South China Sea. As summarized by Carpio: “By any yardstick, it was an overwhelming victory for the Philippines. It was also the most important case on the Law of the Sea decided by an international arbitral tribunal.” But Justice Carpio warns: “We have won a great victory but there are now forces in our midst that threaten to help China snatch defeat from the jaws of the hardwon victory of the Filipino people.” The lesson from this experience on the West Philippine Sea is clear: “We must rely on the Rule of Law to maintain peace and stability on our planet. For states that are small, or do not have the military might or nuclear bombs to defend themselves, but are unfortunately bound by geography to live with a giant, powerful and nucleararmed neighbor, their only salvation to remain sovereign and independent is the Rule of Law. We must learn to cherish the Rule of Law, which ensures equality between small and big states, and between weak and strong states. The Rule of Law is the oxygen that allows countries like the Philippines to breathe and survive as a sovereign nation.” Let me end this column by echoing the words of this legal giant: “There are solutions even to the most intractable, insurmountable and age-old problems facing our country. All it needs is the correct diagnosis, a practical and workable solution, perseverance, courage and a lot of political will.” Facebook: https://web. facebook.com/deantonylavs/ Twitter: tonylavs any compelling reason not to —especially if that reason if simply to preserve the status quo to keep Aquino admirers happy. I’m betting that majority of Filipinos, who have grown weary of the Aquinostyle politics that has kept them as poor as they were three decades ago, also believe that Duterte should be allowed to revise history, if it means that they will have a better life. And if that means letting go of the Marcos bogeyman that has kept an entire nation under the Aquinos’ spell for so long, then so be it. History is always being revised and shifts of the historical pendulum can happen right before our eyes, as we can see happening in Myanmar. Perhaps it’s time for us to consider doing the revising ourselves, a hundred years after Marcos was born.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

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Poverty and health TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO MY WIFE and I don’t normally mark our birthdays with the usual parties. We just go out to dinner with our children Vic, Nina, Eric and Nicky. This year, however, I will be 90 years old, and so we will make an exception for our relatives and friends. *** I was taken aback with the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that certain groups were out to sabotage his war on illegal drugs and that the recent killing of four teenagers point to that. He did not identify who these certain groups are. I consider it funny for a president to suggest that drug lords or his political enemies are out to sabotage his war on drugs. Killings are not the solution. Illegal drugs are

a problem of poverty and health. It must be attended to right away. It is an issue of poverty because people turn to drugs to forget their hunger, and then resort to selling drugs to finance their habit. It is also a health issue because it is a psychological and physiological problem. This is why I don’t think the problem of illegal drugs will not end, even after the term of President Duterte. Drug rehabilitation cannot just be left to the private sector. We need more rehabilitation centers! *** Another left-leaning member of President Duterte’s Cabinet has been shown the door. Security and defense officials must be heaving sighs of relief. The Commission on Appointments rejected last week the nomination of former Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano as secretary of agrarian reform. Mariano was accused

of involvement in attacks made by the NPA on a banana plantation of Lapanday Foods Corp. and the burning of three packaging plants in Davao City. The attacks resulted in losses of up to P2 billion. The complainants against

The drug menace is not going away anytime soon. Mariano included Manuel and Maria Gallego of Nueva Ecija, who said that Mariano was involved in supporting the illegal arming and forcible entry of more than 260 men with bolos, machetes and samurai swords in their ranch in October last year. The Gallegos said the

leader of the intruders came from three main groups affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas of which Mariano was former chairman. It may be relevant to point out that Mariano is also Novo Ecijano and in fact was once councilor of Quezon town. It is not surprising that he would be sympathetic with the leftist groups in the province. Mariano has also been open about his leftist inclination and radical views. Only last month, the military reported the capture of two suspected members of the NPA after a brief firefight with a group of rebels. Aside from subversive documents, arms and ammunition were also recovered. One of those arrested carried an ID of Anakpawis. Mariano is the second communist that bit the dust. The first was Judy Taguiwalo, who was accused of diverting conditional cash transfer funds to the NPA.

There are other communists that remain in government. They are Liza Masa, chairperson of the Anti-Poverty Commission, Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod and Terry Ridon of the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor. *** In the wake of the exchange of accusations of hidden assets between President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Antonio Trillanes, the question is: Whom can we believe? I would believe the President. Being a lawyer, he would know what he is talking about. *** I have been proposing the privatization of he 46 casinos of Pagcor nationwide, I am glad by the end of the year, Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez will have the necessary guidelines on the privatization of 17 Pagcor casinos. I am also glad that its chairperson, Andrea Domingo, is open to privatization.

who’s likelier to be an agent of the Chinese intelligence agencies and/or the triads, both of whom sometimes work together. After all, the general says, the senator made 16 official trips to China as the informal plenipotentiary extraordinaire of the global statesman PNoy Aquino. Plus a number of other trips there in his private capacity. Since he came back absolutely empty-handed, what the hell were all those trips made for? Again because we’re still in Trillanes’ world, he ought to show us evidence that those trips of his were on the up-and-up and not intended to drum up drug imports. After all, it was under PNoy that the number of drug users being tracked by the Dangerous Drugs Board almost doubled in just a few years’ time. Come to think of it, how DOES our esteemed former president fit into all of this? *** Yesterday was the 16th anniversary of the terrorist plane attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. It’s an anniversary that’s

especially poignant for my wife, who used to work on the 103rd floor of Tower Two. It was also in a concourse restaurant under the Twin Towers that I first proposed to her. The intervening years since 9/11 have seen the face of terrorism change, the tide of terrorist violence ebb and flow, the grim cast of characters replaced one after the other. This year we too were touched again by terrorism, as a local gang of bandits backed by itinerant foreign jihadists laid waste to Marawi City, once the crown jewel of ethnic Muslim architecture and religious culture. Despite all the times I’ve been back to the States, I still haven’t dropped by New York to see the fully completed buildings that now proudly soar above what was once “ground zero.” Yes, I think it would be a pleasure to finally see them up close, as a reminder that people can and will rebuild their lives, whether in Manhattan or in Marawi, restoring the past, restoring order.

Tattoo FORMATION GARY OLIVAR NO, WE’RE not talking here about Globe’s bestselling broadband plan. Nor even about the signature song of American Idol champion Jordin Sparks. The tattoo that everyone was gossiping about over the weekend is the one that purportedly resides on the back of Presidential son Paolo Duterte, the vice mayor of Davao City. *** According to the Right Honorable Senator of the Republic Antonio Trillanes IV, erstwhile unwanted guest of the Oakwood and Peninsula hotels, the young Duterte’s tattoo is a fantastical and mystical work of body art that, upon expert decipherment by no less than the likes of Interpol and the FBI, will incontrovertibly prove that the vice mayor is a full-fledged member of the Chinese triad gangs. Of course, the Right Honorable Senator felt unburdened by any obligation

to present evidence for his claim. That is not the way things work in Trillanes’ world, where people are presumed guilty and must be the ones to prove their innocence. The senator challenged the vice mayor to pull up his shirt and expose his naked back to the august chambers of the Senate and to the rest of the world through mass media. This, on the basis of unsupported insinuation, and without the benefit of legal protections to be found only in a proper court of law. The challenge was so ridiculous, so utterly disrespectful of parliamentary etiquette and the law, that the vice-mayor couldn’t help laughing out loud. To which the senator—who’s made an entire career out of a permanent scowl that tries to pass for gravitas but only serves to hide an impenitent impudence—predictably snarled back, “Why are you laughing?” *** The entire incident has rightly come in for widespread ridicule in social media. Skewering Trillanes has become a favorite pas-

time for the online crowd, and thankfully so. My favorite lady mayor in the world, Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, circulated a post that asks the authorities what they might make of tattoos of various animals, like a fox and so on. One might infer from this that the tattoo on her brother’s back isn’t likely to be the feared Chinese triad dragon. If anyone knows about it, she would. Some posts have flat-out denied that there’s any such dragon tattoo, while others have intimated that what’s on the vice mayor’s back is actually an image of Laotzu, the Chinese mystical philosopher. The nastiest posts have ascribed a more prurient interest in seeing that tattoo to Trillanes, whose sexuality has been derided as ambiguous. Since we’re being asked to live in his world on this issue, the burden is really on him now to prove to us that he’s as straight as the next guy, or the next PMA mistah. Going far beyond the tattoo issue, a retired general even asks us to consider that it’s Trillanes himself

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Tattoos and privacy HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA AT LAST week’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into the smuggling of P6.4 billion of narcotics at the Bureau of Customs two months ago, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the son of President Rodrigo Duterte, and Manases Carpio, the president’s son-in-law, honored the invitation for them to appear before the committee. Both denied involvement in the illegal narcotics shipment. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a sworn enemy of the president, wanted Vice Mayor Duterte and Mr. Carpio to appear at the investigation because on an earlier occasion, the two were implicated by a purported customs broker, Mark Taguba, in the illegal drug haul. Taguba, however, had already recanted his allegations against the two. Their denial notwithstanding, Trillanes challenged Vice Mayor Duterte to prove that he (the vice mayor) does not belong to a notorious Chinese drug triad whose members are supposedly identifiable by a distinguishing tattoo, in the image of a dragon, on their backs. The vice mayor admitted that he had a tattoo

on his back, but he refused to show it to the committee, citing his right to p rivacy. At any rate, there was no clear indication that if the tattoo on the back of Vice Mayor Duterte is not the Chinese drug triad tattoo Trillanes was hoping to reveal, Trillanes would have stopped his tirade against the two and, in the long run, against the President. Vice Mayor Duterte correctly invoked his right to privacy when he refused to show his tattoo to any member of the committee. As in the United States, the right to privacy is recognized in Philippine jurisdiction as a constitutional right. In 1968, then Justice, later Chief Justice, Enrique Fernando of the Supreme Court defined privacy as the right to be let alone. He emphasized that privacy itself is the beginning of all freedom. Quoting from American constitutional authorities, Fernando said – “The concept of limited government has always included the idea that governmental powers stop short of certain intrusions into the personal life of the citizen. This is indeed one of the basic distinctions between absolute and limited government. Ultimate and pervasive control of the individual, in all aspects of his life, is the hallmark of the absolute state. In contrast, a system of limited govern-

ment safeguards a private sector, which belongs to the individual, firmly distinguishing it from the public sector, which the state can control. Protection of this private sector—protection, in other words, of the dignity and integrity of the individual—has become increasingly important as modern society has developed. All the forces of a technological age—industrialization, urbanization, and organization—operate to narrow the area of privacy and facilitate intrusion into it. In modern terms, the capacity to maintain and support this enclave of private life marks the difference between a democratic and a totalitarian society.” Through the years, the jurisprudence on the constitutional right to privacy expanded. In 1977, the Supreme Court of the United States recognized the legal concept of “informational privacy” which refers to the interest an individual has in avoiding disclosure of personal matters. Later in 2014, the Supreme Court of the Philippines adopted the same concept in a case involving privacy in the social media. The Court defined “informational privacy” as the right of individuals to control information about themselves. Jurisprudence, however, requires that before the right to privacy may be

invoked, a “reasonable or objective expectation of privacy” should exist and be established. This means that the person who invokes the right has exhibited an actual expectation of privacy, and that the expectation is one that society is prepared to recognize as “reasonable” in the circumstances. As postulated in American case law, what a person knowingly exposes to the public, even in his own home or office, is not entitled to protection by law on privacy considerations, but what a person seeks to preserve as private, even in an area accessible to the public, is covered by the constitutional right to be let alone. The categorical refusal of Vice Mayor Duterte to show his tattoo to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee because he considers the tattoo a personal matter, the absence of evidence to indicate that the vice mayor has on past occasions openly displayed his tattoo to the public, and the fact that decent society respects a person’s refusal to go bareback in public, are enough to establish a reasonable expectation of informational privacy in favor of the vice mayor. It has been argued that if the tattoo on the back of Vice Mayor Duterte is not the Chinese drug triad tattoo Trillanes mentioned, there seems to be no reason for the vice mayor not to

show the tattoo to the committee. That would have put a closure to the issue. The foregoing line of reasoning, however, mistakenly assumes that showing one’s tattoo on one’s back to the public is essentially no big deal. That may be so for others, but it isn’t for Vice Mayor Duterte. For the vice mayor, he simply isn’t comfortable showing to the public a part of his body which he is not accustomed to exhibiting in public in the first place. It is possible that although the tattoo in question has nothing to do with the so-called Chinese drug triad mentioned by Trillanes, the tattoo may be of such intimate or embarrassing nature that the vice mayor would rather keep the matter outside the realm of public knowledge. If that is so, then the vice mayor is still well within his right to keep the tattoo private. The fact that Vice Mayor Duterte is a public official does not oblige him to show the tattoo to the committee. Although a public official has less privacy rights compared to a private individual, a public official is still entitled to a reasonable degree of privacy. That privacy covers any drawing affixed on any part of one’s body, permanently or otherwise, and which one has zealously kept away from the public’s eyes.

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World

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Pope Francis prays for Colombia CA RTAG E N A― Po p e Francis left Colombia on Sunday with calls for reconciliation after its halfcentury civil war and a peaceful end to the deadly crisis in neighboring Venezuela. The Argentine pope, 80, held the last in a series of open-air masses in the Caribbean city of Cartagena―one of Colombia’s top tourist draws but also one of its poorest cities. On the last day of his fifth visit as pope to his native continent, he reiterated calls for peace in Colombia and prayed for a peaceful end to Venezuela’s “grave crisis.” “I assure all of you of my prayers for each of the countries of Latin America, and in a special way for neighboring Venezuela,” Francis said. “I appeal for the rejection of all violence in political life and for a solution to the current grave crisis, which affects everyone, particularly the poorest and most disadvantaged of society.” Venezuela’s crisis has caused food and medicine shortages and clashes at anti-government protests that left 125 people dead from April to July. The Vatican tried unsuccessfully to mediate in negotiations last year between Venezuela’s government and opposition. Thousands of Venezuelans have fled to Colombia to escape the crisis. “We could ask the pope to intervene directly for dialogue,” said Venezuelan housewife Nancy Pugliese, 35, who attended Francis’s visit in Cartagena. “We need all the spiritual support we can get to free Venezuela... The pope should tell President Maduro directly to listen to the people.” On Sunday, Venezuela’s center right-led opposition was holding a vote to choose candidates for regional governorship elections scheduled for October. The opposition MUD coalition and international powers have accused Maduro of stifling democracy by taking over power from state institutions. AFP

‘Ethnic cleansing’ in Myanmar G

ENEVA―The UN human rights chief on Monday slammed Myanmar’s apparent “systematic attack” on the Rohingya minority, warning that “ethnic cleansing” seemed to be underway. “Because Myanmar has refused access to human rights investigators the current situation cannot yet be fully assessed, but the situation seems a textbook example of ethnic cleansing,” Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein told the UN Human Rights Council. The Rohingya are reviled in Myanmar, where the roughly one million-strong community are accused of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The United Nations says 294,000 bedraggled and exhausted Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh since the militants’ attacks on Myanmar security forces in neighboring Rakhine state on August 25 sparked a major military backlash. Tens of thousands more are believed to be on the move inside Rakhine after more than two weeks without shelter, food and water. “The operation... is clearly disproportionate and without regard for basic

Congo bus accident leaves 25 dead, dozens injured REACTION. Miss New Jersey 2017 Kaitlyn Schoeffel reacts during the 2018 Miss America Competition Show at the Boardwalk Hall Arena on September 10, 2017, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. AFP

‘Election thriller’ gets underway in oil-rich Norway OSLO―Polling stations opened across oil-rich Norway on Monday for an election nail-biter that will decide whether “the world’s happiest country” will be run by the outgoing right-wing coalition or the opposition for the next four years. Conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s coalition and the opposition led by Labor’s Jonas Gahr Store are neck-and-neck in the latest opinion polls.

An aggregate of opinion polls indicates the two sides could be separated by just one seat in the 169-member parliament. Editorial writers have called the legislative vote the “biggest election thriller in many decades” in the wealthy Scandinavian nation of 5.3 million people, named the happiest country in the world in a respected UN report in March. Polling stations opened at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) and

will close at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT), when the first partial results will be released. In power since 2013, the coalition government, comprising Solberg’s Conservatives and the mildly populist anti-immigration Progress Party, has campaigned on a vow of continuity. It has pledged to pursue further tax cuts to bolster the economy, which is recovering after the drop in crude prices since 2014. Norway is Western Eu-

rope’s biggest oil producer. Meanwhile, Store, a millionaire, has vowed to raise taxes for the richest, in a bid to strengthen Norwegians’ cherished welfare state and reduce inequalities in society. “We need a change now because we are growing apart from each other,” the 57-year-old Labor leader said after casting his ballot already on Sunday, an option offered in numerous municipalities. AFP

KIKWIT, DR Congo― Twenty five people were killed and 57 others injured Sunday when a bus turned turtle in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to an official toll. The accident on National Road Number 1 caused “25 deaths and 57 serious injuries”, according to the official toll which was announced on public television. Leonard Mutangu, mayor of the town of Kikwit, told AFP earlier that there had been 13 deaths and 64 injured in the accident involving a bus from a Congolese company heading from Kikwit to Kinshasa. An AFP correspondent who arrived at the scene shortly after the crash said there were bodies in the

ures to be taken by the DPRK will cause the U.S. the greatest pain and suffering it had ever gone through in its entire history,” the ministry said, using the abbreviation for North Korea’s formal name. “The world will witness how the DPRK tames the U.S. gangsters by taking [a] series of action tougher than they have ever envisaged.” The test, which the North said was a hydrogen bomb that could be fitted onto a rocket, came weeks after Pyongyang fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles that appeared to bring much of the mainland US into range. At a dinner to celebrate Pyongyang’s nuclear program, North Korean leader Kim praised the test and urged the country’s scientists to develop more weapons, KCNA reported Sunday. The North says it needs nuclear arms to protect itself, but the US has accused the country of “begging for war”. Pyongyang’s drive to stage a slew of brazen tests in recent months, which contravene existing United Nations sanctions, has sparked surging tensions over the country’s weapons program. AFP

road and other people still trapped in the vehicle. Dozens of the wounded were lying in the street, some of them still bleeding heavily. The injured were evacuated to a public hospital in Kikwit, a large town situated some 20 kilometers from the incident. “We are overwhelmed with the number of injured, especially as the pharmacy is out of medicine. Managing the fallout from this accident will be difficult,” said Guy Kilundu, a doctor at the Kikwit hospital. “Excessive speed” and “drunkenness” on the part of the driver, who died at the scene, is likely to be the cause of the accident, according to survivors interviewed by AFP. AFP

Irma weaker but still poses threat

N. Korea warns US against pushing for new sanctions SEOUL―North Korea warned on Monday it would inflict “the greatest pain and suffering” on the United States if Washington persists in pushing for harsher UN sanctions following Pyongyang’s sixth nuclear test. The September 3 detonation was the country’s largest and prompted global outrage, with the UN Security Council set to discuss a new draft resolution presented by Washington that would be the toughest-ever imposed against the isolated regime. The US is calling for an oil embargo on Pyongyang, an assets freeze on leader Kim Jong-Un, but also an end to textile exports and to payments made to North Korean guest workers. Washington wants the Security Council to vote on Monday to impose the sanctions, despite resistance from Beijing and Moscow to the new measures. In a statement published by the official KCNA news agency, North Korea’s foreign ministry warned Washington that if it did “rig up the illegal and unlawful ‘resolution’ on harsher sanctions, the DPRK shall make absolutely sure that the U.S. pays due price”. “The forthcoming meas-

principles of international law,” Zeid said. “We have received multiple reports and satellite imagery of security forces and local militia burning Rohingya villages, and consistent accounts of extrajudicial killings, including shooting fleeing civilians,” he said. Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has come in for strong international criticism over the military’s treatment of the Rohingya. “I call on the government to end its current cruel military operation, with accountability for all violations that have occurred and to reverse the pattern of severe and widespread discrimination against the Rohingya population,” Zeid said. He said he was particularly “appalled” by reports that Myanmar authorities had begun laying land mines along the border with Bangladesh to prevent those who fled from returning. AFP

THE HURRICANE PASSED HERE. This photo taken on September 6, 2017, shows a car turned onto its side in Marigot, near the Bay of Nettle, on the French Collectivity of Saint Martin after the passage of Hurricane Irma. France, the Netherlands and Britain on September 7 sent water, emergency rations and rescue teams to their stricken territories in the Caribbean hit by Hurricane Irma, which has killed at least 10 people. The worst-affected island so far is Saint Martin, which is divided between the Netherlands and France, where eight of the 10 confirmed deaths took place. AFP

King Willem-Alexander to visit hurricane-hit Sint Maarten THE HAGUE―Dutch King Willem-Alexander will visit the devastated Caribbean island of Sint Maarten on Monday to view the aid operation for tens of thousands left stricken by Hurricane Irma, Dutch media reported. “I am here to find out what has happened and how the coordination effort is going,” the king told reporters after arriving in the nearby island of Curacao late Sun-

day. Accompanied by Interior Minister Ronald Plasterk, the king toured in Curacao the aid coordination centre and visited patients who were airlifted to hospital from Sint Maarten after Hurricane Irma downed power lines, cutting electricity and communications to the island. “The only message I have at the moment, is that we know what you have gone

through and we are doing our best to help everyone who is in need,” WillemAlexander added. On Monday, besides Sint Maarten the 50-year-old king will also visit the Dutch territories of St Eustatius and Saba, the Dutch news agency ANP reported. Some 70 percent of homes and infrastructure on Sint Maarten, the island the Netherlands shares with France’s Saint Martin,

once a popular tourist hot spot, were destroyed when Irma whipped through on Wednesday. Four people were killed in the storm. The Dutch government has rushed aid and hundreds of troops to the island to help residents and restore order amid reports of looting. “There is still no functioning public administration” on Sint Maarten, Plasterk told reporters, quoted by ANP. AFP

MIAMI―Hurricane Irma weakened to a Category 1 storm early Monday as it marched up the US state of Florida’s northwestern coast, with its eye located about 40 kilometers northeast of the vulnerable Tampa area. Maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 85 miles per hour as of 2:00 am local time (0600 GMT), with Irma projected to become a tropical storm as it moved into northern Florida or southern Georgia later Monday. Warnings of dangerous storm surges remained in effect through vast swaths of peninsular Florida, where more than six million people had been ordered to flee Irma in one of the biggest evacuations in US history. “As little as six inches of moving water can knock you down,” tweeted the state’s governor Rick Scott following the downgrade. “Stay inside. Stay safe,” he added. Irma was churning toward the heavily populated Tampa Bay region, a zone seen as particularly susceptible to storm surges due to its geographical position and sloping land off the coast. The storm had killed three people when it struck the southern Florida Keys island chain as a more powerful Category Four on Sunday. AFP

Sports

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Posadas leads BWC ladies finals P AULINE del Rosario became the first Filipina to win on the lucrative Taiwan LPGA Tour, claiming the TLPGA and Royal Open crown in style on a closing sixunder 66 at the Royal Kuan-His Golf Club in Hsinchu County, Taiwan last Sunday.

VETERAN Lara Posadas shpt a 10--game series of 2098 pinfalls Sunday as she opened her bid for a seconds st raight Bowling World Cup national crown at Coronado Lanes (Starlanes). Posadas, the country’s

lady representative in the International BWC held in Shanghai, China, posted 205, 252 and 207 games to recover from a low 176 start and gain enough room to keep a 44-pinfall lead over prodigious national bowler Alexis Sy,

who recorded 2049. Posadas, also a member of the Philippine team which competed in the recent Southeast Games in Malaysia, also came through with games of 226, two 223s and two more 207s. Krizziah Tabora checked in third with 1964, followed by Dyan Coronacion (1962), Mades Arles (1957), Liza Clutario (1927), Rochelle Munsayac (1911), Amelyn Sisperez (1911) and veteran international campaigner Liza del

Rosario (1906). The top 34 bowlers out of 44 lady contenders advanced to the second round where they play another 10 games at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl (Ermita) today to determine the top eight who will continue to dispute the crown and the right to carry the Philippine colors in the BWC international finals slated on Nov. 4-12 in Hermosillo, Mexico. The 34 survivors after the men’s first round competition, led by national

kegler Kenneth Chua, rolled another 12 games yesterday at Paeng’s Midtown Bowl, with the top eight advancing to the final day of action today at Paeng’s Eastwood Bowl. The other lady bowlers who advanced to the second round follow: Myrna Bautista (1822), Jackie Sadiua (1790), Bea Camile Santarin (1785), Rowena Cabas (1784), Farah Omasa (1775), Sherry Ann Cruz (1746), Joe Anne Vobifacio (1741), Pure

Anselmo (1740), Crystal Chavez (1717), Nancy Frianeza (1697), Abbie Gan (1689), Jane Corina Bonifacio (1681), Wanda Teer (1673), Bernadette Ipapo (1658), Olivia Destura (1643), Tonette Otayza (1635), Lorna Misa (1616), Gina Varilla (1612), Mier Aguinaldo (1602), Ophie Iriberri (1586), Melody Bangsi-il (1578), Ofelia San Jose (1563), Alyssa dela Rosa (1561), Liza Pabico (1545) and Silva Yap (1532).

Paris 2024 chiefs vow transparent Olympics LIMA—Paris 2024 Olympic bid chiefs pledged full transparency in planning the Games on Sunday, shrugging off the corruption scandals buffeting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of high-level meetings in Lima. Paris is set to be formally confirmed as the hosts of the 2024 Olympics during a rubber-stamp vote on Wednesday which will also see Los Angeles awarded the 2028 Olympics. The Lima meetings come just days after the IOC was rocked by a fresh wave of corruption allegations, with top Brazilian official Carlos Nuzman accused bribing officials at a 2009 vote which gave the 2016 Olympics to Rio de Janeiro. Paris bid co-chairman Tony Estanguet said the French bid was mindful of public criticism that had forced several other bid cities out of the running in the race for the 2024 games. “We want to highlight the fact that from day one we have this responsibility to be as transparent as possible,” Estanguet said in response to a question about the latest IOC graft scandal. “We all know what happened

Milo Little Olympics deadline of listup set MORE than 200 private and public schools from elementary and secondary divisions from Metro Manila had confirmed participation in the 2017 MILO Little Olympics set Sept. 23 and 24 at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City. Event organizer Prof. Robert Milton Calo of Mc Robertz Sports Academy of the Philippines said they are aiming to surpass last year’s 500 schools from the National Capital Region. He said deadline for registration and submission of documents will be until Sept. 15 at the MILO Little Olympics secretariat at the MSC ground floor office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A solidarity meeting among tournament managers and chief referees/sport coaches will be held on Sept. 16 at the sports center’s lobby. Sports disciplines, main hub, satellite venues, Miss Milo Pageant and cheerdance competitions will be the highlight of discussions. On Sept. 18, a parade rehearsal will be led by Hadjie Tejada, Sta. Elena High School students and the Junior Police Color Officers, to be led by the Marikina Junior Police. The pre-judging of the 2017 Miss MILO Pageant will take center stage at 4 p.m. on Sept. 18, to be headed by Ma. Luisa Ordonez after the mass field demo rehearsal to be conducted by Chris Cantalejos. On Sept. 22, a colorful opening ceremony will highlight the parade of colors of all participating schools, to be attended by officials of the Department of Education and the Marikina City Government and executives of Nestle Philippines, maker of MILO Energy Drink.

to different bids in Europe and the objective of this team has been to promote the best values of the Olympics. I am sure it will be of great benefit to France and the population. “We will continue to stand for those values, to fight and to make sure that the Olympics remain this fantastic event.” Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo emphasised that transparency in planning for the games was a priority. “In our cities today when you use public money you need to explain what you do with this money,” Hidalgo said. “Transparency is very important. For me I’m not an athlete I’m a politician and we need to have trust and confidence with our citizens. In our team (transparency) was very strong and it will be in the future of course.” Estanguet meanwhile cited a poll published on Sunday in the French weekly newspaper Journal du Dimanche which found that public support for Paris 2024 was running at 83 percent. “There is a big expectation for France,” Estanguet said. “French people are supportive of Paris 2024 and really want to be part of it.” AFP

TAMING THE WAVES. A surfer takes a wave on Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sept 11. AFP

Stags try to cling to Magic 4 Games today

(Filoil Arena, San Juan) 12 noon- Arellano U vs Mapua (jrs) 2 p.m.- Arellano U vs Mapua (srs) 4 p.m.- Perpetual Help vs San Sebastian (srs) 6:30 p.m.- Perpetual Help vs San Sebastian (jrs)

SAN Sebastian College seeks to cling to its place in the magic four, while Perpetual Help aims to snatch it away as the two take on each other today in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City. Behind Michael Calisaan’s strong offensive game, the Stags blasted the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, 88-69, Friday to jump into joint fourth with the Letran Knights on 5-5 (win-loss) records, but the Altas, who are just a game behind with a 4-6 mark, hope to spoil the fun when they face off at 4 p.m. And San Sebastian College coach Egay Macaraya knows they’re in for a tough fight. “As was our weakness, we have no import so we just have to make with what we’re strong at, which is running and outside shooting,” said Macaraya. Truly, Perpetual Help boast of Nigerian Prince Eze, the league’s leading MVP candidate who dropped 21 points and 19 rebounds in an 88-82 overtime triumph over Letran Thursday. Gab Dagangon is also coming off a strong game in a long, while by firing 21 points and making the clutch plays in OT.

Season 6 of UNTV Cup begins today at Araneta Coliseum SEASON 6 of the UNTV Cup, a basketball league for a cause concept of Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon, begins today with four new teams at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The new squads include the Commission on Audit Enablers, Department of Agriculture Food Masters, Department of Health Health Achievers and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Busters. A total of P8.5 million worth of prizes are at stake on The League of Public Servants this season, with the champion

getting P4,000,000 for its chosen charity organization. Second to fourth placers will receive P2,000,000, P1,000,000 and P500,000, respectively, while the rest of the non-placing participating teams will get P100,000. The following are the teams and their corresponding beneficiaries: 1. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP Cavaliers), Educational Benefit System Office; 2. Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP Firefighters), Philippine Science High School Foundation Inc.; 3. Department of Justice (Jus-

tice Boosters), Department of Justice Employees’ Association, Silong Tanglaw, Uswag Kabataan Inc. and Nazareth Home for Children Foundation Inc.; 4. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS Furies), Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa GSIS; 5. Judiciary (Magis); 6. Malacañang-Philippine Sports Commission (Kamao), Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Millennium Sports Support System Association Inc.; 7. National Housing Authority (NHA Builders)—NHA Provident

Fund Association Inc.; 8. Philippine National Police (PNP Responders), Association of Chiefs of Police of the Phils. Inc.; 9. Senate (Defenders), Khyte Foundation Inc. and Pangarap Foundation Inc. and Tahanang Mapagpala Immaculada Concepcion Inc.; 10. Ombudsman (Graft Busters), Ombudsman Provident Fund; 11. PDEA (Drug Busters), Confederation of Community Oriented Policing System NGOs Inc.; 12. COA (Enablers), Caritas Novaliches Inc.; 13. Department of Agriculture

(Food Masters); 14. Department of Health (Health Achievers); 15. Dr. Gerry Cunanan Mindanao Heart Foundation, Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko. The league is supervised by Commissioner Fortunato “Atoy” Co and Deputy Commissioner Ed Cordero since season 1 and games are regularly analyzed by veteran sports analyst Sev Razon Sarmenta and basketball legend Ronnie Magsanoc. The gates of Araneta UNTV Cup’s main Coliseum opens at 4 p.m. sponsor is Bro. Eli Soriano while program starts at 6 of the Ang Dating Daan p.m., with performances by and Members, Church of Sassa Dagdag, Jason Dy, God International. Mela and Angel Misstres.

Fitness First launches workout designed for Reebok Spartan Race FITNESS First Philippines, in partnership with the Reebok Spartan Race, launched an exciting new group workout that’s meant to prepare racers for the tough obstacle-laden run set next month. This workout can also be done by individuals who want to develop their strength and stamina like a Spartan. Known as the world’s premier obstacle event, the Reebok Spartan Race hits our shores on Sept. 16, at the Timberland grounds in San Mateo, Rizal. There will be barb wires, fire, lots of climbing through ropes, walls, and barriers and crawling through mud to get to the finish line. It’s the toughest race to hit the country yet. To help participants prepare, a 45-minute group class called Spartan SGX was designed for racers to get stronger, fitter, and faster to withstand the grind on race day. As Spartan’s official fitness partner, Fitness First Philippines exclusively offers this group workout across all its branches for its members. Registered racers also get to experience the Spartan SGX class

through a one-day free trial by simply showing their race confirmation email at the club reception. Partnering with Spartan Philippines is part of Fitness First’s effort to showcase its diversity and how its top end facilities support different fitness journeys. “We’re highly excited to be part of the Spartan Race as its fitness partner. Through the Spartan SGX classes, we get to help the racers and our members be at their best and finish strong. It also showcases how much fitness training has evolved in our clubs, too. This is a part of our commitment to our members, to constantly innovate to help them go further in their fitness journey,” shares Mark Ellis, Fitness First’s Country Manager. “Spartan is more than a race, it is a lifestyle. With the Spartan SGX program at Fitness First, you can be a Spartan every day. We are incredibly excited to be working with Fitness First in developing this program. Our quest is to rip people off the couch and promote optimized fitness and health. With Spartan SGX, no

So makes Round 4 of chess World Cup

Fitness First Country Manager, Mark Ellis (left), Spartan Philippines’ Race Director Michael Reyes (center) and Fitness First National Fitness Manager, Eric Seegers kicked off the Spartan SGX class last Aug. 15 at the Fitness First Platinum-Greenhills, San Juan.

challenge is too big and their potential is limitless,” added Michael Reyes, Spartan Race Philippine’s Race Director. Led by Elite Fitness First Spartan SGX coaches, the routines racers will do in each class essentially mimics the types of movements that they will need to do on race day—exercises that make the body move the way it’s meant to. Each workout will make participants, crawl climb, hang, jump, lift, lunge, push, pull, run, sprint, and squat throughout the 45-minute minute class. Every session is designed to

build one’s strength and endurance to be Spartan race-ready. Coaching sessions on race preparation and nutrition will also be conducted. Classes will be available on different days and various times each week and are free for all members. Fitness First members who sign up to join the Spartan Race will get a 20% discount on the race fee. To find out more about the Spartan SGX and other Fitness First programs, log on to www. fitnessfirst.com.ph. Learn more about the Spartan Race by logging to www.spartanrace.ph.

FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So turned back Pons Vallejo of Spain, 4-2, in the third round of the 2017 FIDE World Cup of Chess in Tbilisi, Georgia He advanced to Round 4 of this meet, which attracted 128 of the world’s strongest players. Earlier, So got past Colombia’s Danni Castillo, 1.5-05, before he won over Matthias Bluebaum of Germany, 4-2. World’s no. 1 Magnus Carlsen reached the third round after he won over Oluwafemi Balogun of Nigeria and Aleksev Dreev of Russia in the first two rounds. But he was knocked out of contention after taking a 0.5-1.5 loss to China Bu Ziangzhi. Peter Atencio

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

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Ramirez: No program, no financial support

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

By Peter Atencio THE Philippine Sports Commission is getting ready to allocate a budget for the programs of national sports association. PSC Chairman William Ramirez said they can do this within the month. But the NSAs will have to present them with their programs in order to receive financial assistance from the government. “We will be monitoring them and it will be performance-based,” explained Ramirez. The PSC chief said the agency will sit down with officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee to discuss the coming financial assistance that they will provide. “If they (NSAs) can’t do this, walang support,” added Ramirez.

Meanwhile, incentives amounting to P12.790 million will be awarded to medallists, who bagged medals in the recent Southeast Asian Games in simple rites this Wednesday in Malacañang. Under Republic Act 10699, a SEA Games gold medalist will receive P300,000, while a silver medalist gets receive P150,000. A bronze medalist takes P60,000. Among the country’s best-performing events were athletics, boxing, billiards, gymnastics, judo, taekwondo, triathlon, and basketball. The Philippine delegation failed to meet its target of 50 gold medals and ended the campaign with the country’s worst finish in the SEA Games since 1999 with 24 gold medals.

Milliam nails 3 wins in PPS Citigreen Cebu Spain’s Rafael Nadal poses with his winner’s trophy after defeating South Africa’s Kevin Anderson during their 2017 US Open Men’s Singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Nadal raced to a third US Open title and 16th Grand Slam crown on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 rout of South African giant Kevin Anderson. AFP

Nadal hails his best season, incredible era

N

EW YORK—Rafael Nadal described the year 2017 as “one of the best of his career” on Sunday after winning a third US Open and 16th Grand Slam.

World number one Nadal defeated South Africa’s world number 32 Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in a brutally onesided final during which he did not face a break point. Nadal also claimed an unprecedented 10th French Open in June after finishing runner-up to Roger Federer at the Australian Open. “In terms of results, this has been one of the best seasons of my career, of course,” Nadal admitted of a

year in which he won at least two Slams for the fourth time in his career. Had he gotten the better of Gilles Muller at Wimbledon, where he lost the final set of his fourth-round clash 15-13, the year might have been even more memorable. “I have been winning titles, playing three finals of Grand Slams, so that’s a lot. That’s so difficult. The other slam that I was not in the final, I lost the match 15-13 in the fifth to be

in the quarterfinals. “So was very competitive year for me. And on clay, I won almost every match. Of course is an emotional season because I have been through tough moments in terms of injuries.” Nadal’s win on Sunday was the latest chapter in an epic story of domination by the sport’s superstars. From Wimbledon in 2003, an incredible 53 of 58 Slams have now been claimed by just five men—Federer (19), Nadal (16), Novak Djokovic (12) and Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka with three apiece. Only Andy Roddick, Gaston Gaudio, Marat Safin, Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic have broken the spell.

“We are are in an era that is not nice to say, because I’m part of it, but we are in an era that some players make incredible things in this sport,” said Nadal. “It’s difficult to win a lot of titles. We should be very happy. Probably even Roger and me and Novak, much more than we ever dreamed.” To hammer home their enduring appeal and dominance, Federer and Nadal shared the four Slams in 2017—Federer winning the Australian Open before capturing a record eighth Wimbledon. Federer’s mark no big deal Despite his success, catching the 19 majors of Federer is not particularly high on Nadal’s list of priorities.

Beermen still team to beat

San Beda is swim champion JOSHUA Junsay splashed his way to six gold medals to power San Beda College to its 16th straight NCAA seniors’ swimming title at the Rizal Memorial Sports Center recently. Junsay raked in the golds in 200m and 400m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly, and 200m and 400m freestyle relays, while taking in the silver in the 1500m free as the Sea Lions claimed their 16th consecutive pool title and 21st overall. It also pocketed Unsay a third straight MVP award for his Herculean effort. Junsay’s spectacular performance underscored San Beda’s domination of the event as it swept all three divisions, including the women’s and juniors’ categories. It’s seniors’ squad amassed 1517.5 points, way ahead of St. Benilde with 477, Arellano University with 311, Emilio Aguinaldo with 205.5 and Lyceum of the Philippines University with 148. The Sea Lionesses for their part garnered 1323.5 points to snare their seventh straight women’s crown. St. Benilde, which drew strength from the recordbreaking efforts of Maria Aresa Lipat, placed second with 805 points, followed by AU with 207.

“I really never thought much about that. I just do my way. He does his way. Let’s see when we finish,” he said. “I have 16. So three is big difference. I really don’t think much about these kind of things. “Well done for Roger that he is having an amazing season, too, and well done for me because I’m having a great season, too. “Tennis is not all about the Grand Slams, so there are tournaments to come and I’m excited about this last part of the season.” It’s all a far cry from the end of last year when Nadal was ranked at nine in the world and Federer was 16. AFP

ALEXA Milliam strung up three victories while Sal Andrei Lago nailed two titles as they dominated their respective sides in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Citigreen regional age group tennis tournament at the Citigreen-Alta Vista-La Paloma tennis courts in Cebu yesterday. Milliam, 12, trampled Tiffany Nocos, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch her age-group title, then flashed top form and showed stamina in taking two more crowns in the higher division of the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger. The rising star from St. Michael Academy in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental trounced Mae Repollo, 6-1, 7-5, for the 14-U crown then upended top seed Elizabeth Abarquez, 4-6, 6-3, 10-7, in the 16-U finals. Lago, also a 12-year-old find from Sogod, Leyte, upset top seed Cesar Salimbangon in the semis, 6-4, 4-6, 102, then dominated Eric Longakit, 6-3, 6-1, to capture the boys’ 14-U diadem. Earlier, he also stunned No. 1 Khenz Justiniani, 6-3, 6-0, in the semis then whipped Mitch Largo, 6-2, 6-1, to pocket the 12-U crown. “Given the proper exposure and support, these two (Milliam and Lago) young players could fight for slots in our future national pool and become the country’s next tennis stars. Through the PPS-PEPP circuit, we provide them the venue to hone and develop their talent and skills,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro. Other singles winners in the five-day tournament, backed by the Unified Tennis Group, composed of Cebuana Lhuillier, PPS-PEPP, Wilson, Toby’s, BMeg, Citigreen, Babolat, Tru-Flez, were Chad Connor of Lapu-Lapu City, Vinz Lominoque of Mandaue City, Vhon Tudtud of Naga City, Cebu and Carcar, Cebu’s Elsie Abarquez. Connor repulsed Vincent Canete, 5-4(3), 5-3, for the 10-unisex title; Lominoque turned back Reynan Mahusay, 7-6(4), 6-2, in the boys’ 16-U finals; Tudtud downed Mahusay, 6-3, 6-2, for the 18-U crown; and Abarquez repelled Bless Coderos, 6-3, 7-6(3), for the girls’ 18-U plum.

By Jeric Lopez

PBA Player of the Week Chris Ross of San Miguel Beer tries to stop Ginebra’s JoeDevance from scoring inside in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the Beermen, 107-103.

JUST when it seemed that it was having a little bit of consistency problems for the tournament, San Miguel Beer made a statement to send a message that it is still the team to beat in the ongoing 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. Import problems and a brief losing streak made the grand slam-seeking Beermen seem human, but in the brightest lights, they shone to remind everyone why they have been dominating the league for the past three years. Facing a must-win situation to remain in the top half and keep up with fellow contenders, San Miguel Beer faced a tall task of slowing down erstwhile red-hot Barangay Ginebra Sunday night in a blockbuster encounter. The Beermen dominated

before emerging victorious, 107-103. At the same time, they got their bearings back just in time for their second straight win. Now, they are holding a 5-3 mark and are back among the top teams in the playoff race. “At this point, we need to be in a better position and being a championship team, we’re handling it well and responding when we need to,” said San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria. Beermen star Chris Ross said that the key for the team now is to turn on the switch. “We’re now in playoff mode. We need to step up and approach this stretch as if it’s the playoffs already for us to get to where we want,” said Ross, who has been nothing but scintillating this season and is the Best Player of Week awardee. The league-leading Gin Kings were the league’s hot-

Menor braces for tough PH Golf Tour Riviera Classic

RENE Menor sets a modest target as he heads to the ICTSI Riviera Classic for the third leg of the inaugural PGT Asia Tour beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 13), downplaying his feat at Splendido last Sunday where he scored his maiden victory in record fashion. He cites the demanding Langer course and the field firmed up by the entry of a number of foreign aces who missed the ICTSI Splendido Classic, including Indonesia Ian Andrew, who placed third behind Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que in the PGTA kickoff leg at South-

woods last month, as challenges he has to hurdle to get a crack at another championship. “Sana nga magkaroon uli ng tsansang manalo pero mas mahirap ang Langer at malalim yung field (I wish I could get a chance to win again. But Langer is tougher and the field is strong),” said Menor, who battled from six down to get a slot in the playoff then edged PGTA Q-School topnotcher Pasavee Lertvilai of Thailand on the sixth playoff hole to clinch his first-ever championship. “Makapasok lang siguro sa cut, masaya na ako (Just to make the cut

would be enough),” added Menor. That mindset must’ve worked wonders for the brand-new winner, who never posed a threat despite finishing joint third after 36 holes at Splendido. He dropped to a share of ninth in the third round but moved up with a fiery 66 to earn a spot in the three-man playoff. Ranged against American John Michael O’Toole and Lertvilai, Menor still looked the odd-man out but the Filipino shotmaker proved his worth and mettle and outlasted the Thai ace after a marathon duel. O’Toole bowed out right on the first sudden death hole with a bo-

test team coming in, winning seven straight prior to their meeting with the Beermen, but San Miguel Beer, losers of two of its last three games heading in, started showing once again why it is a team gunning for a third straight championship. Revitalized by an import upgrade in Terrence Watson, the team’s third for the conference, and the refueled hunger of its potent locals, San Miguel Beer is once again looking to be a heavy favorite for yet another crown and Austria certainly hopes so. “We’ve had issues with our imports this conference, but with Watson with us now, we have someone who is a better fit and the locals are also stepping up. Sana ma-sustain na namin ito at alam naman namin lahat what’s at stake para sa amin and that is the chance for a grand slam,” said Austria.

gey after shooting a flawless 64 in regulation. O’Toole is out to atone for that failed title bid with Andrew and fellow Indonesians Joshua Wirawan and Elki Kow, Americans Seungjae Maeng and Cory Oride, Swede Andreas Gronkvist and Englishman Grant Jackson firming up this week’s field in the $100,000 event sponsored by ICTSI. Focus will also be on the local aces, who crumbled in the highlycharge backside charge at Splendido, including Rufino Bayron, Tony Lascuña, Clyde Mondilla, Mars PuMenor cay and Jhonnel Ababa.

Phinma prepares legal suit vs PSALM

B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

B1

Bulacan airport ‘feasible’ By Darwin G. Amojelar

IN BRIEF

T

HE Transportation Department said Monday the multibillion-peso international airport in Bulacan province proposed by conglomerate San Miguel Corp. is “feasible” and the agency is now reviewing the project.

BSP seen to hike rates next year

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is likely to raise interest rates twice next year on rising inflation and weak peso, Deutsche Bank said in a report over the weekend. “Our estimate of potential growth in the Philippines is 6 percent, and with growth expected to remain above that pace at least through yearend, and the peso expected to continue to depreciate, we expect inflation over the next few quarters to continue to rise,” the bank said. The bank said with the peso depreciating 9 percent year-on-year and the Federal Reserve expected to hike rates 100 basis points by end-2018, “we think inflation concerns will motivate the BSP to raise rates twice next year.” Inflation in the first eight months averaged 3.1 percent, slightly higher than the midpoint of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent this year. For the month of August alone, inflation accelerated to a three-month high of 3.1 percent from 2.8 percent a month ago. The main drivers of inflation are the output gap, oil prices and the exchange rate. Deutsche forecasts inflation to settle above 3 percent and possibly breach the 4-percent level in the coming quarters. The bank, however, said its inflation forecast did not incorporate the tax reform package which was recently approved by the House of Representatives and currently at the Senate. “While we think some version of the bill will pass― and that will potentially add significantly to inflation in early 2018―we won’t include it in our forecasts until we know the details…,” it said. Julito G. Rada

RCEP fails to advance

ECONOMIC ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and six trading partners announced the recalibration of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which is seen as an alternative trade pact to the aborted Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, the Asean Summit 2017 chairman, said the ministers agreed to be considerate on the timelines of RCEP but agreed to hold more negotiations on the proposed level of liberalization of trade-in goods. “For the 11th Philippine economic priority deliverable [on RCEP], the ministers endorsed during the 5th RCEP ministerial meeting the key elements paper that would guide negotiations towards significant outcomes and give momentum towards substantial conclusions in future negotiations,” Lopez said at the conclusion of the 49th AEM in Manila. He said there was a significant stride on RCEP talks, especially when assessed how RCEP came about and eventually went beyond Asean and the free trade negotiations. He said the endorsement reinforced Asean centrality which was the driving force for an Aseanled RCEP. Othel V. Campos

EAGLE-EEI DEAL. Eagle Cement Corp. seals a partnership with EEI Corp., one of the Philippines’ top construction firms. The new deal is set to strengthen the two companies’ existing partnership as it expands the EEI projects that will be supplied by Eagle. Shown during the signing ceremony are (from left) Eagle vice president for sales and marketing Ed Uy, Eagle chief operating officer and general manager Manny Teng, EEI president and chief executive Roberto Jose Castillo and EEI vice president and chief procurement officer Edwin Constantino. See related story on B2.

Foreign investments surged to $674m in June By Julito G. Rada NET inflows of foreign direct investments surged 182.7 percent in June to $674 million from $238 million a year ago, as foreign companies continued to support local operations, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday. The Bangko Sentral said in a statement the higher FDI figure in June was led by the expansion of debt instruments―or inter-company borrowings by local subsidiaries/affiliates from parent companies―to $674 million. Equity capital investments, however, posted net

withdrawals of $72 million in June as placements ($113 million) were outpaced by withdrawals ($185 million). “Equity capital placements in June came mostly from the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and India. These were channeled to real estate; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; financial and insurance; manufacturing; and professional, scientific and technical activities,” the Bangko Sentral said. Data showed despite the higher figure in June, total net inflows of FDIs in the first half declined 14 percent to $3.6 billion

from $4.2 billion a year earlier, pulled down by the 90.3-percent decrease in net equity capital to $141 million from $1.4 billion a year ago. Equity capital infusions in the six-month period came mainly from the US, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. These were invested in real estate; financial and insurance; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply; and wholesale and retail trade. Higher investments in debt instruments and reinvestment of earnings were registered in the first half, amounting to $3 billion and

$416 million, respectively. The Bangko Sentral earlier raised the FDI net inflow target this year to $8 billion from the previous estimate of $7 billion. Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the regulator also took into considerationthe actual net inflow of $7.9 billion in 2016, which surpassed the target of $6.7 billion. The 2016 figure was also 40.7 percent higher than $5.72-billion net inflow in 2015. The Bangko Sentral revisits the assumptions for foreign direct investments, hot money and other economic data twice a year.

“It’s with us now. We are coordinating with Neda [National Economic and Development Authority]. We are looking on how it will be classified, whether it’s PPP or so on, in order to give them an original proponent status,” Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Antonio Tamayo said. Tamayo described the proposed international airport as “feasible.” “We are rushing it [the process]. We are expediting it based on the direction of [Transportation] Secretary [Arthur] Tugade,” Tamayo said, adding the approval of the proposed new airport would involve other government agencies. San Miguel offered to build the new airport north of Manila, a revision from its 2014 proposal for a $10-billion airport on a reclaimed part of Manila Bay in the southern part of the metropolis. The conglomerate wanted to build an airport with at least four runways and covering 2,000 hectares in Bulacan towns near Manila Bay. Tamayo said building a new international gateway would take a long time, and the government was for the meantime improving Clark International Airport.

Govt set to cut red tape, expedite import process THE government is finalizing a faster system for import procedures in a bid to cut red tape and improve the ease of doing business in the country, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Monday. Dominguez said the new security import applications would involve over 60 agencies. He said the government was consolidating all requirements involving applications for imports to drastically shorten the process and make this new system available online. “We are working very closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology on this effort. We have gotten the majority of the different units to already agree that if it is approved by one, it should be basically approved by all,” Dominguez said. Dominguez said he was aware that applying for import permits involved a tedious process that would require approvals from as many as 60 different government agencies. Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said an online platform now being finalized by the DOF with other government agencies to modernize and fast-track the processing of import and export permits could be available soon. This single platform dubbed TradeNet aims to connect 66 agencies and 10 economic zones involved in approving import and export permits. Julito G. Rada

PH outlook upgraded to positive

BIRD FLU CONTROL. Cargill donates 100 sprayers to the Bureau of Animal Industry which will be used in the affected farms and the quarantine stations and checkpoints across the seven-kilometer control zones in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija to aid in the disinfection against the virus. Cargill Philippines corporate affairs manager Diana Donato (left) hands a sprayer to Dr. Daphne Jorca of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

PNOC, World Bank unit in talks over liquefied natural gas terminal

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, September 11, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7630

Japan

Yen

0.009242

0.4692

UK

Pound

1.318800

66.9462

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127993

6.4973

Switzerland

Franc

1.058985

53.7573

Canada

Dollar

0.822436

41.7493

Singapore

Dollar

0.745712

37.8546

Australia

Dollar

0.805500

40.8896

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654773

134.7642 13.5365

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

Brunei

Dollar

0.742942

37.7140

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0039

Thailand

Baht

0.030221

1.5341

UAE

Dirham

0.272294

13.8225

Euro

Euro

1.202100

61.0222

Korea

Won

0.000883

0.0448

China

Yuan

0.154107

7.8229

India

Rupee

0.015679

0.7959

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238550

12.1095

New Zealand

Dollar

0.726000

36.8539

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033342

1.6925 Source: PDS Bridge

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATE-OWNED Philippine National Oil Co. said it is finalizing an agreement with International Finance Corp., a member of the World Bank Group, to study the optimization of the banked gas and liquefied natural gas terminal project. PNOC said in a report IFC would assist in forging the most appropriate business arrangement that was legally, technically and financially feasible for the planned floating, storage and regassification unitpower plant project. “Concurrently, a detailed feasibility study will be conducted for the establishment of Phase 2: the LNG hub, to include studies on grid and systems impact in relation to the

“Everything is being studied, but right now it’s still dual airport. In the long term, we are open to a new gateway,” he said. State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority is currently bidding out the development of a P12.55-billion new passenger terminal in Clark International Airport in Pampanga province. The project aims to construct a new passenger terminal building to accommodate 8 million passengers per annum as well as the construction and installation of all required associated facilities – both landside and airside, to support the operations of the new terminal. The construction period is between 2017 and 2020. All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp., a consortium led by by tycoon Henry Sy and the Tieng family, also offered to build a new international airport in Sangley Point, Cavite. ARRC plans to reclaim 2,500 hectares at Sangley Point. The company expects to complete the reclamation in 12 months. The new airport would be designed to have a capacity of 50 million to 100 million passengers which would be completed in five years.

connection with the Batangas Bay sub-station,” PNOC documents stated. The Energy Department and PNOC were pushing for the Philippines to become an LNG hub of Southeast Asia because of its strategic location. PNOC said the proposed Batangas LNG hub which would include onshore facilities such as a 5-million-ton-per annum storage units and regassfication, power plant and distribution/redistribution units. It said the second phase might be located at the 60-hectare property of National Development Corp. in San Pascual, Batangas. It is expected to provide for the requirements of the five existing Malampaya-dependent natural gas power plants in Batan-

gas during the Malampaya natural gas field maintenance shut down. “On a larger scale, the hub will address the gap in energy capacity once the Malampaya gas field is depleted and the service contract expires in 2024. It will assure the sustained supply of the gas requirements of the five Malampaya-dependent power plants,” it said. PNOC raised two options to raise financing for the planned LNG hub, including trading the banked gas in the international market and extracting and burning the gas then selling it in the form of electricity. The unused Malampaya natural gas, or banked gas is stored in the Malampaya reservoir and owned by PNOC. It was contracted, paid for by the government and reserved for

future use. The banked gas, however, has accumulated in the past several years. PNOC owns the remaining banked gas equivalent to 97.67 Petajoules valued at around P11.9 billion which was unsold to date. “The first option of trading the banked gas outside of the country is an offshoot of a realization that a domestic sale of the banked gas may pose some difficulty,” the company said. It said that with the impending depletion of the Malampaya gas field by 2024, “it becomes imperative that PNOC extract and fully recover the remaining purchase cost as well as optimize its potential value at the earliest time possible which should be before the end of 2024.”

M A L AY S I A - B A S E D RAM Ratings said Monday it upgraded its outlook on the Philippines’ credit ratings to “positive” from “stable” because of the Duterte administration’s bold infrastructure agenda and tax reform efforts alongside robust economic growth and strong external payments positions. “The positive outlook… reflects stronger-than-expected GDP performance in 2016 and growing FDI [foreign direct investments] despite a change in administration,” it said in a statement released by the Investor Relations Office of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The Philippine economy grew 6.9 percent in 2016, near the upper range of the Duterte administration’s target of 6 percent to 7 percent for that year and was among the fastest in Asia. Growth momentum continued this year, averaging 6.4 percent in the first half and settling at 6.5 percent in the second quarter. Growth in the second quarter marked the economy’s 74th consecutive quarter of uninterrupted growth since 1999. “Continuous efforts to reduce red tape, simplify regulations and streamline business processes bode well for investors, having led to improved competitiveness and ease of doing business rankings,” RAMsaid.

Julito G. Rada

B2

Business

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market climbs; RLC, Chelsea up

S

TOCKS climbed Monday, in line with the movement of Asian markets on upbeat Japanese data and as hurricane Irma struck Florida with less force than once feared.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 26 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 8,049.31, as four of the six major sectors advanced. The heavier index, representing all shares, also gained 15 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,778.61, on a value turnover of P6.1 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 110 to 87, while 50 issues were unchanged. Seventeen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by oil and gas company PXP Energy Corp. which jumped 5 percent to P5.30 and developer Robinsons Land Corp. which climbed 2.4 percent to P23.90. Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. of Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy

went up 2.1 percent to P10.78 while gaming company Bloomberry Resorts Corp. advanced 2.1 percent to P11.90. Meanwhile, other Asian markets also traded higher Monday, with the North Korea crisis in focus as the US seeks to convince the UN Security Council to punish Pyongyang with tougher sanctions. Asian stocks rose along with US equity futures and the dollar rebounded from its lowest in more than two years, after hurricane Irma struck the US with less force than once feared, paring estimates for economic damage. Japan’s Topix index was headed for its biggest gain in more than three months as a weaker yen gave a boost to exporters. S&P 500 Index futures jumped 0.5 percent and European equity contracts advanced while Treasuries fell, after Irma, the second devastating storm of the season, didn’t reach the feared Category 5 and looks to have spared Miami.

Oil advanced as Gulf Coast refining capacity continued to recover after getting hit by Harvey. Risk appetite was also fanned by North Korea refraining from an expected missile test at the weekend. “Investors were quite nervous last week over a possible North Korea missile launch or other incidents of that sort, but with the weekend behind us, it’s relief for now,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, a senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. “It doesn’t feel like things are getting worse, although a bit of caution is still needed with market’s focus likely on the outcome of UN Security Council’s vote.” Hong Kong stocks closed sharply higher, in line with broad gains across Asia as concerns over the North Korean crisis waned and China released better-than-forecast inflation data at the weekend. The Hang Seng Index climbed 1.04 percent, or 286.66 points, to close at 27,955.13. With Bloomberg, AFP

Pacifica increasing capital to P5b as it expands to food By Jenniffer B. Austria PACIFICA Inc., a former mining and oil company, said it plans to increase its authorized capital stock to P5 billion as it continues to evaluate prospects in the food or retail industries. Pacifica said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the proposed increase in the company’s authorized capital stock would be done in tranches. The proposal will be presented for shareholders’ approval. “The company is assessing the timing of its commitments with

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.96 3,615,000 59.55 50,670 102 2,362,470 4.01 1,000 128 2,239,090 1.44 491,000 36.05 42,000 16 4,100 30.6 429,000 8.26 4,700 1.7 51,000 885 270 0.72 2,068,000 86.8 2,558,900 0.9 965,000 13.1 110,800 60.3 5,310 236 60,740 115 190 53.3 13,020 243.2 182,590 1,805 335 86.85 18,330 1.36 29,000

18,124,380 3,017,218.50 241,009,629 4,010 286,665,301 722,770 1,512,555 65,680 13,134,365 39,243 84,400 240,200 1,466,160 221,871,898.50 875,580 1,451,480 320,103.50 14,357,006 21,770 701,000 44,523,180 605,750 1,591,976 39,920

-20,320 2,571,810 -204,225,870 26,682,883 -4,290 1,051,200 5,330,790 -44,750 -94,584,685 -108,400 -60,272 9,456 322,073 660,032 554,971.50 -

39.8 8.78 0.8 1.45 21.85 0.24 144 5.94 17.26 35.5 22.5 63.95 80 1.91 5.48 11.5 10.3 14.98 14.24 7.04 6.82 1.7 17.78 67.5 12.1 15.12 1.77 242.2 4.11 3.3 30.35 19.48 16.82 270 0.23 11 2.9 6.73 10.36 7.08 9.94 1.81 11.9 66.5 6.75 308 4.35 4.38 2.5 12.44 4.5 0.145 1.17 153.5 3.73 2.16 0.98

INDUSTRIAL 40.2 1,465,400 8.85 941,900 0.81 1,648,000 1.47 2,615,000 22.95 141,600 0.245 850,000 145 170 5.95 2,768,500 17.3 914,500 35.8 553,300 22.55 11,000 64.75 520 82.8 5,130 1.93 468,000 5.5 650,800 11.58 34,400 10.4 2,655,400 15.1 386,100 14.38 254,500 7.06 767,800 6.89 5,905,700 1.8 13,000 17.8 1,435,100 68.25 53,830 12.36 45,300 15.46 4,050,900 1.78 491,000 244 615,460 4.22 424,000 3.3 154,000 30.75 401,400 19.5 231,100 17.26 1,368,500 271.6 208,710 0.234 1,380,000 11.28 7,300 2.9 289,000 6.73 144,000 10.4 4,582,800 7.15 55,400 9.94 5,100 1.81 373,000 12.08 627,400 66.95 125,940 6.75 214,500 310 4,740 4.36 8,000 4.38 62,000 2.55 346,000 12.62 1,167,400 4.5 66,000 0.145 10,000 1.18 33,000 153.6 1,193,680 3.73 17,000 2.23 9,691,000 0.98 33,000

58,822,105 8,327,899 1,333,700 3,815,170 3,251,545 205,010 24,890 16,513,238 15,821,494 19,918,990 249,330 33,336.50 426,606 902,950 3,696,161 398,182 27,605,148 5,813,700 3,663,016 5,432,704 40,561,888 22,750 25,565,874 3,651,193 557,154 62,180,468 875,360 150,200,198 1,837,050 508,960 12,320,750 4,519,066 23,396,278 56,601,436 318,900 82,428 845,780 978,070 48,015,898 393,860 50,994 678,410 7,564,746 8,414,219 1,457,944 1,468,660 34,880 271,560 871,760 14,691,186 297,100 1,450 38,880 183,478,491 63,620 21,453,900 32,340

-30,830,250.00 -724,869 8,100 475,330 -798,563 -207,604 215,355 5,166 -18,540 -22,076,376 1,497,612 465,968 -86,370 -3,282,101 4,469,366 134,736.50 -197,330 -27,409,778 -13,815,886 61,560 -426,460 -2,803,030 758,828.00 -5,213,184 6,284,832 115,900 -91,190 -2,355,912 -1,142,542 904,588 -847,021 -992,010 -20 541,688 58,614,612 37,300 3,545,820 -

0.36 73.9 15.02 1.13 7.05 0.325 0.325 920 8.25 16.08 7.6 6 0.208 1,130 8.09 73.6 5.27 5.22 0.92 6.92 17.5 6.84 0.051 2.15 98 829.5 1.49 300 0.28 0.2 0.225

0.345 72.85 14.62 1.13 6.9 0.31 0.32 910 8.13 15.78 7.48 6 0.204 1,117 8.09 72.5 5.26 5.2 0.9 6.84 17.18 6.78 0.048 2.06 97.05 811.5 1.45 294 0.28 0.196 0.221

HOLDING FIRMS 0.345 1,430,000 72.9 507,250 14.94 6,051,500 1.13 1,000 7 35,000 0.325 1,830,000 0.325 310,000 918 105,270 8.25 603,200 16 7,849,600 7.48 86,900 6 5,000 0.208 530,000 1,119 157,700 8.09 600 72.7 557,080 5.27 3,500 5.2 4,600 0.92 1,041,000 6.9 35,000 17.3 4,288,100 6.8 20,923,400 0.051 13,080,000 2.15 11,872,000 97.2 263,820 829 149,280 1.47 278,000 300 5,120 0.28 320,000 0.2 1,400,000 0.225 40,000

500,100 37,123,355 89,845,444 1,130 244,700 588,650 99,600 96,577,580 4,935,839 125,543,092 659,137 30,000 109,220 176,795,020 4,854 40,599,636.50 18,440 23,946 943,360 239,480 74,579,332 142,423,355 654,090 24,573,560 25,677,227 122,737,710 407,250 1,524,410 89,600 274,600 8,920

2,224,340 41,944,076 13,711,220 2,907,979 3,335,372 -357,200 654,550 -9,269,163.50 3,492,054 5,768,911 608,920 -8,680,180 -7,399,560 -

5.3 1.25 7.5 2.41 1.14 43.3 3.84 5.06 5.34 0.53 1.34 1.54 0.232 0.5 44 0.69 0.151 1.91 1.53 1 5.3 0.345 0.54 0.52 5.95 23.95 1.8

5.26 1.21 6.03 2.3 1.06 43 3.81 4.89 5.25 0.51 1.28 1.51 0.228 0.49 43.4 0.69 0.148 1.87 1.51 0.97 5.21 0.325 0.53 0.495 5.64 23.4 1.78

2,230,529 6,187,920 730,097 236,520 21,172,650 275,519,035 1,253,160 11,910,440 355,019 3,544,090 1,065,650 397,460 4,440,180 846,800 6,416,790 230,460 86,020 14,065,220 7,872,980 60,070 79,429,732 50,297,500 2,712,030 2,245,725 28,767,557 146,053,950 131,740

-2,025,998.00 48,800 340,033 -33,600 -31,507,575 122,480 7,856,320 4,680 -79,900 0 -1,062,995 6,222,440 -85,320 36,780,964 -428,300 -1,108,125 -49,397,085 -89,000

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO LEASING BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FILIPINO FUND IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

4.8 59.5 103 4.01 127.9 1.43 36 15.9 30.35 8.7 1.65 895 0.71 86.45 0.91 13.1 60.5 236.6 115 54.3 241.2 1,805 86.9 1.39

5.3 59.6 103.1 4.01 128.4 1.5 36.05 16.1 30.75 8.7 1.7 900 0.72 87 0.93 13.1 60.5 238 115 54.3 246 1,810 86.9 1.39

4.8 59.35 101.5 4.01 127.7 1.43 35.95 15.9 30.35 8.23 1.65 885 0.7 86.4 0.89 13.1 60.2 236 113 53.2 241.2 1,805 86.8 1.36

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

39.8 8.85 0.81 1.45 21.85 0.241 144 6 17.36 36.6 22.8 64 84 1.94 5.48 11.7 10.38 15.04 14.58 7.18 6.88 1.7 17.82 67.95 12.1 15.2 1.78 244 4.35 3.31 30.55 19.6 16.82 270 0.236 11 3 6.87 10.36 7.1 10.04 1.81 12 66.9 6.99 310 4.35 4.38 2.5 12.52 4.55 0.145 1.18 154 3.76 2.22 0.98

40.4 8.88 0.82 1.48 23.6 0.245 150 6.02 17.36 36.6 23 64.75 84 1.94 5.9 11.7 10.44 15.1 14.68 7.18 6.89 1.8 17.86 68.5 12.42 15.5 1.82 244.4 4.48 3.31 31.45 19.68 17.4 271.8 0.236 11.4 3.03 6.9 10.54 7.15 10.04 1.84 12.1 66.95 6.99 310 4.37 4.38 2.55 12.62 4.55 0.145 1.18 154.5 3.76 2.25 0.98

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

0.36 73.9 14.7 1.13 6.99 0.31 0.32 913 8.17 15.78 7.52 6 0.204 1,128 8.09 73.5 5.26 5.22 0.92 6.92 17.48 6.78 0.05 2.06 97.9 818 1.49 299 0.28 0.198 0.221

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL

5.27 1.24 6.99 2.3 1.06 43.2 3.81 4.9 5.34 0.52 1.29 1.54 0.231 0.495 44 0.69 0.151 1.88 1.53 0.98 5.27 0.34 0.54 0.52 5.92 23.4 1.78

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.27 33.5 1.02 7.49 0.89 5.97

3.27 33.9 1.02 7.49 0.89 6.21

3.26 33.3 1.01 7.49 0.87 5.97

3.26 33.8 1.02 7.49 0.87 6.01

333,000 4,202,300 814,000 100 13,000 10,501,600

1,088,890 141,709,325 829,980 749 11,370 63,884,842

-42,833,450 -22,921,409

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

21.1 40.6 1.64 0.56 0.04 11.2 5.29 11.64 0.073 109.9 9.29 10.56 7.74 2.27 1,990 6.1 19.76 3 3.09 108.5 12.04 8.43 0.169 1.35 15.9 4.5 1.48 12.04 0.55 2.38 9.21 4.16 18.44 2.51 11.04 5.11 2.87 170 10.28 1,695 1.66 0.405 51.1 94.9 5.78 4.43 1.5 3.58 1.24 9.49

21.15 40.8 1.64 0.58 0.04 11.2 5.29 11.9 0.075 112.1 9.29 10.84 7.74 2.27 2,024 6.1 20.2 3.08 3.09 108.5 12.38 8.45 0.171 1.35 15.9 4.55 1.52 12.3 0.55 2.38 9.25 4.16 19.6 2.57 11.04 5.18 2.87 173 10.54 1,700 1.68 0.405 52 95.9 6.02 4.44 1.51 3.64 1.28 9.5

20.1 40.55 1.6 0.55 0.039 11.2 5.29 11.5 0.073 109.9 9.28 10.56 7.58 2.27 1,990 6.07 19.48 2.95 3.09 106.6 12.04 8.43 0.169 1.35 15.4 4.4 1.48 11.74 0.55 2.35 8.92 4.06 18.44 2.5 11 5.11 2.86 168 10.1 1,683 1.64 0.4 51.1 93.55 5.78 4.21 1.46 3.58 1.23 9.35

SERVICES 20.9 40.7 1.63 0.58 0.039 11.2 5.29 11.9 0.075 111.7 9.28 10.78 7.65 2.27 2,020 6.09 19.5 3.08 3.09 106.9 12.38 8.44 0.17 1.35 15.4 4.5 1.51 12.1 0.55 2.38 8.92 4.07 19 2.51 11 5.11 2.86 168.5 10.12 1,686 1.64 0.4 51.7 95.9 6.02 4.21 1.51 3.6 1.25 9.4

163,500 19,400 171,000 5,655,000 13,300,000 2,100 100 15,748,400 4,400,000 652,880 5,200 20,883,500 101,300 1,000 11,735 243,100 647,400 5,258,000 16,000 1,290,750 1,100 265,000 1,520,000 234,000 14,700 602,000 810,000 1,517,200 1,000 53,000 8,651,400 1,413,000 15,400 1,626,000 1,300 33,800 33,000 14,290 1,273,000 47,295 5,042,000 470,000 1,551,210 390,110 1,705,500 5,211,000 2,646,000 1,853,000 10,710,000 2,062,300

3,386,935 787,815 274,510 3,239,690 520,200 23,520 529 184,375,986 325,470 72,923,326 48,295 224,639,254 770,321 2,270 23,599,005 1,479,082 12,728,493 15,836,710 49,440 138,150,827 13,584 2,234,110 257,900 315,900 227,730 2,701,520 1,214,420 18,331,532 550 125,360 78,178,307 5,764,430 292,124 4,092,190 14,332 172,859 94,440 2,428,515 13,038,768 79,765,605 8,340,380 190,000 80,176,814.50 37,274,120.50 10,000,903 22,350,190 3,947,720 6,661,890 13,434,330 19,505,104

96,370 58,899,424 8,092,308 -27,662,110.00 -1,913,825 -20,046 -368,500 -23,677,716 12,380 -12,660 59,500 -67,750 -795,910.00 -17,976,043 -488,950 50,600.00 71,500 -77,585 -851,132 -20,727,940 1,741,910 162,000 70,639,752.50 20,126,798 9,810,136 -1,807,400 121,320 928,660 -235,150 2,447,946

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

0.0027 1.74 5.69 12.18 1.86 2.24 1.3 0.385 8.32 2.63 0.27 0.184 0.011 0.011 2.01 7.75 1.89 0.52 1.13 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.52 8.9 5.14 179 0.008

0.0027 1.74 5.69 13.7 1.91 2.24 1.41 0.39 8.6 2.64 0.275 0.184 0.011 0.012 2.15 7.75 1.91 0.54 1.14 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.66 9 5.35 181.8 0.008

0.0026 1.7 5.35 12.18 1.85 1.98 1.3 0.385 8.32 2.57 0.26 0.183 0.011 0.011 2 7.54 1.83 0.52 1.1 0.012 0.013 0.012 2.52 8.79 5.12 178 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0027 206,000,000 1.71 3,481,000 5.4 243,400 13.7 200 1.91 16,000 2.01 8,000 1.41 15,697,000 0.39 500,000 8.58 2,500 2.6 7,820,000 0.275 90,000 0.183 3,330,000 0.011 40,600,000 0.012 200,000 2.07 1,081,000 7.6 4,717,200 1.88 127,000 0.54 11,000 1.1 1,510,000 0.012 10,700,000 0.013 2,400,000 0.013 1,300,000 2.66 38,000 8.92 249,800 5.3 15,083,700 179 1,069,070 0.008 2,000,000

555,600 5,975,880 1,327,020 2,588 30,030 16,380 21,406,570 194,700 20,890 20,357,250 23,850 612,040 446,600 2,300 2,238,860 36,078,604 234,440 5,740 1,674,470 136,300 31,200 15,900 96,040 2,235,480 79,828,142 191,998,191 16,000

-256,500 -291,075 9,950 -1,235,070 -19,250 -1,346,760 307,500 -2,810,771 7,200 -156,684 8,010,861 7,062,859 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H

40.5 515.5 521 106 105.2 112.4 516 5.78 1,020 1,023 1.07 108 1,015 105 2.01 76 80.5 81.5 79

40.65 515.5 521 106 106.4 112.4 516 5.79 1,025 1,028 1.07 108 1,015 105 2.01 76.5 80.85 81.5 79.6

40.5 515 517 106 105.1 112.4 515.5 5.78 1,020 1,011 1.07 106 1,015 105 2.01 76 80.5 81 79

PREFERRED 40.5 167,200 515 2,440 517 10,000 106 100 105.2 16,210 112.4 10 516 13,700 5.78 234,000 1,025 3,900 1,025 19,105 1.07 10,000 106 10,100 1,015 2,120 105 160 2.01 1,000 76.5 5,470 80.6 16,000 81 25,980 79.6 223,800

6,777,475 1,257,080 5,193,020 10,600 1,706,692 1,124 7,068,700 1,353,030 3,978,050 19,515,765 10,700 1,070,815 2,151,800 16,800 2,010 416,160 1,288,900 2,109,355 17,781,342

0 -1,393,200 -1,083,104 -416,160 -2,028,255 -

LR WARRANT

2.56

2.63

2.56

WARRANTS 2.6 231,000

600,130

-

11,183,500 645,340 11,983,053

-61,750 -153,450 -2,779,993

487,393

-

139,129

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 5.27 1.21 7.48 2.4 1.13 43.2 3.83 5.05 5.26 0.52 1.32 1.51 0.231 0.49 43.4 0.69 0.148 1.88 1.51 0.98 5.3 0.335 0.53 0.51 5.65 23.9 1.8

422,900 5,043,000 106,600 99,000 18,998,000 6,378,200 328,000 2,377,000 67,600 6,858,000 813,000 262,000 19,280,000 1,720,000 147,400 334,000 580,000 7,463,000 5,207,000 61,000 15,041,500 150,140,000 5,103,000 4,482,000 5,033,800 6,141,700 74,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4.43 4.95 6.06

4.82 5.1 6.09

4.4 4.95 5.9

FIRST METRO ETF

121.5

122

121.3

USD DMPL A1

10.52

10.52

10.5

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

15,303,995

INDUSTRIAL

58,682,701

HOLDING FIRMS

88,798,134

PROPERTY SERVICES

288,170,092 125,178,769

MINING & OIL

318,497,395

GRAND TOTAL

899,173,933

4.82 5 5.93

SME

2,396,000 129,800 2,011,500

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 122 4,010 10.5

DDS

13,250

VALUE 1,989.03 (up) 0.39 852,474,308.48 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,111.73 (up) 116.56 1,070,449,088.33 HOLDING FIRMS 7,931.12 (up) 93.01 1,231,755,146.30 PROPERTY 3,773.72 (up) 52.92 1,729.62 (up) 8.53 1,297,027,237.78 SERVICES MINING & OIL 13,495.43 (up) 241.49 1,256,762,850.98 PSEI 8,035.20 (up) 76.63 365,582,724.762 All Shares Index 4,761.99 (up) 38.72 6,098,357,938.96 Gainers: 115; Losers: 83; Unchanged: 50; Total: 248

potential partners vis-à-vis the timing of the implementation of the increase in the authorized capital stock to maximize any return on investment, taking into consideration the current and projected business climate,” Pacifica said. The company said it continued to conduct market studies to evaluate particular assets in the food or retail industries, and in other industries with positive growth outlook, which could generate revenue for the company. “The company has not yet arrived at a final decision as to which assets shall be acquired or bidded for by the company,” it said. The group of businessman Lowell Yu, who owns fast growing restaurant chain Kuya J and membership shopping chain Landers, acquired a majority interest in Pacifica in February. Yu, through Unido Capital Holdings acquired a 36.52-percent stake in Pacifica held by 9th Kingdom Investments Corp. and Mikro-Tech Capital Inc. of businessman Michael Romero. Combined with the shareholding of iHoldings Inc., which is also controlled by the same shareholders of Unido Capital, the group of Yu now has a controlling 64.17-percent stake in Pacifica. Yu also heads various companies including iKitchen Inc. which operates restaurants under the Kuya J brand.

Eagle, EEI sign cement supply deal EAGLE Cement Corp. and EEI Corp., a construction company led by the Yuchengco family, agreed to expand their cement supply agreement in anticipation of increased construction activity spurred by the government’s massive infrastructure program. Eagle Cement said in a statement the new deal was set to strengthen the two companies’ existing partnership. EEI vice president and chief procurement officer Edwin Constantino said the construction firm needed a supplier like Eagle that could provide cement that meets standards in terms of quality and quantity. He said with the upcoming line-up of projects for EEI, he said Eagle’s soon-to-be-expanded capacity would be of great asset to their business. “With the excellent experience we’ve had with Eagle Cement, along with the expansion of their capacity, they will be able to provide companies like us with cement that matches the scale and requirements of our projects. Eagle’s cement meets the required strength that we need to be able to build our projects successfully,” Constantino said. Eagle is exclusively supplying two landmark EEI projects, including the P37.4-billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project and the P62.7-billion MRT-7 project. The strategic alliance comes in the middle of the government’s aggressive P8-trillion “Build, Build, Build” program as well as the increased construction activity spurred by projects from conglomerates and property developers. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

Manila

Standard

TODAY

COURTESY CALL. Citi

Asean head Amol Gupte (right) and Citi Philippines chief executive Aftab Ahmed (left) pays a courtesy call on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. Gupte congratulated Espenilla on his appointment in July and expressed Citi’s commitment to the country and to the Philippines banking system.

BSP set to issue uniform loan rules

PH eyes inclusion of footwear in GSP By Othel V. Campos

By Julito G. Rada THE Chamber of Thrift Banks expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to soon come out with the guidelines on the adoption of a uniform loan and mortgage system that will benefit both the borrowers and financial institutions. “(We expect) the Bangko Sentral to come out with the implementing rules and regulations and memorandum advising banks on the adoption of ULAMA (uniform loan and mortgage agreement,” Gregorio Anonas, Wealth Bank president and concurrent Chamber of Thrift Banks president, said in a general membership meeting in Makati City over the weekend. “Hopefully, the adoption of ULAMA will result in the elimination of human discretion and intervention, unclogging the system, and resulting in the faster registration of mortgages,” Anonas said. The rise in housing credits earlier prompted the banking industry and the Land Registration Authority to create a system streamlining loans and mortgages documentation to protect both borrowers and financial institutions. The ULAMA was developed in collaboration with the Bangko Sentral, and different banking groups such as the Bankers’ Association of the Philippines, Chamber of Thrift Banks and Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines.

THE Philippines plans to lobby for the inclusion of Philippine footwear in the US general system of preferences after successfully adding up travel goods in the list. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a briefing Monday the development was part of the series of bilateral meetings with dialogue and trade partners held during the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings in Manila. “It is well-known that travel goods and footwear are two of the most protected industries in the US. We are thankful enough to the United States Trade Representative for accepting our request to include trade in goods to the GSP. It is not only the Philip-

pines that is advocating it but the US buyers as well,” he said. The formal proposal will be made once the refinancing act of the GSP expires on December 2017. Lopez during his trade visit to the US in late August 2017 successfully obtained the support of the American Footwear Association. Philippine travel goods came in as additional inclusion under the GSP program that extended the coverage to 23 tariff lines. Travel goods include apparels, bags, wallets and backpacks, luggage and sport and travel bags. The US imported an estimated $232 million from the 23 tariff lines of travel goods from the Philippines in 2016, making the country the fifth largest import source, according to the US In-

ternational Trade Center. With the new GSP scheme, the duty-free treatment could increase Philippine travel goods exports to the United States by $100 million annually for the first five years. The US in 2016 was the Philippines’ third major trading partner, the second biggest export market and third top import supplier. A number of American companies are manufacturing travel goods in the Philippines, including Coach, Tory Burch and Michael Kors. The Philippines will also pushed for the increased presence of Philippine fruits to Japan, Australia and Korea. The Philippines has a long standing request to export big bananas to Japan, as well as pineapples and mangoes.

BEST EMPLOYER.

Philippine Savings Bank is recognized by the World HRD Congress and the Employer Branding Institute for its human resources group’s exemplary initiatives and practices. It is named as one of Asia’s Best Employer Brand at the 8th Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards held at Le Meridien Singapore, Sentosa. Receiving the awards as one of Asia’s Top 50 HR leaders is PSBank vice president and HR Group head Mark Lord Limson (right). With him is Dr. R. L. Bhatia, founder of World CSR Day and World Sustainability and project director of the World HRD Congress.

Phinma prepares legal suit vs PSALM By Alena Mae S. Flores

P

hinma Energy Corp. will sue Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. for terminating an agreement that earlier named Phinma Energy as the independent power producer administrator for the strips of energy generated by the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plants in Tongonan, Leyte province.

Phinma Energy disclosed to nation were initiated. However, the Philippine Stock Exchange Phinma Energy received a noMonday that its board “au- tice from PSALM of the adthorized the filing of the case ministrator default and PSALM against PSALM” after the state has resolved to terminate the agency moved to terminate the agreement and forfeit the peragreement and forfeit on the formance bond,” it said. company’s performance bond The Unified Leyte geotherbecause of alleged default. mal plants are composed of Phinma Energy, formerly Malitbog, Mahanahdong and Trans-Asia Oil and Energy De- Uppoer Mahiao geothermal velopment Corp., was declared plants. The plants were built by one of the winning bidders for National Power Corp. and opthe right to administer 40 mega- erated by Energy Development watts “strips of energy” from the Corp. through a power purchase Unified Leyte power plants on agreement. November 7, 2013. PSALM, pursuant to the ElecShortly after winning the bid, tric Power Industry Reform Act however, super typhoon Yolan- of 2001 or EPIRA, issued the da struck Region 8 on Novem- invitation to bids for the strips ber 8, 2013, resulting in exten- of energy of the Unified Leyte sive damage to the ULGPP. plants in 2001. Phinma Energy cited that Strips of energy meant one PSALM awarded the strips to megawatt of the Unified Leyte’s the winning bidders after a one- output. The strips total 240 MW, year delay. of which 200 MW auctioned PSALM issued the notice and 40 MW retained by PSALM of award to Phinma Energy as as security asset. the IPPA for the 40 MW worth Phinma Energy, along with of strips of energy of the Uni- six other IPPAs, were awarded fied Leyte plants in January 29, strips of energy with associated 2014. 40 MW of capacity at a bid price “In several letters to PSALM, of P4.6629 per kilowatt-hour. Phinma Energy formally sought Phinma Energy posted a net the renegotiation of the agree- income of P298 million in the ment and proposed several mea- first six months of 2017, down sures for relief,” the company 45 percent from P542 million said. year-on-year on lower electricIt said representatives of ity prices. PSALM and Phinthereon, to wit: REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ma Energy met on REGIONAL TRIAL COURT CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE several occasions, NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OF TITLE NO. 004-2016013610 Registry of Deeds-Quezon City EX-OFFICIO SHERRIF with the power firm OFFICE OF THE QUEZON CITY expressing the dif*Grass Residences” UNIBANK, INC., (formerly Tower 2 ficulties suffered by BDO BANCO DE ORO UNIBANK, INC.), Unit No. 2736 Mortgagee/s, Unit Type: 2 Bedroom deluxe the administrators with balcony FRE NO. 11806 under the agree- -versusTotal Area: 51.59 square meter ment. RANDY MATITO REYES AND In the diagramamatic PINEDA, floor plan appended to the “Phinma Energy, JONNA MANANGHAYA Mortgagor/s enabling or master deed of the through counsel, x-----------------------------------x condominium project annotated Transfer Certificate of Title wrote a letter ex- NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL on N-320819 which embraces and SALE OF REAL PROPERTY describes the land located at ercising its right to UNDER ACT 3135 Nueva Viscaya corner Misamis (AS AMENDED) and Nueva Ecija Streets, withdraw from the UPON extra-judicial petition Barangay Sto. Cristo, Quezon agreement. Discus- under ACT 3135, as amended City with an area of Thirty Six Two and Twenty sions on the termi- by ACT 4118 and pursuant to Thousand (36,002.20) square meter.”

Revisiting the industrial life insurance concept THE world life insurance industry has long known that the Philippines has one of the lowest life insurance coverage rates in this part of the world. I have not seen the latest Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA) figure, but I am prepared to guess that only around 30 percent of Filipinos are covered by life insurance. Sensing the high potential for profitable Philippine operations, an increasing number of major foreign life insurance companies have over the years established a presence in this country. Some, like Canada’s Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Manulife) and the UK’s Prudential Life Insurance Co. (Prulife), have been operating independently, but others, like Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada, Allianz of Germany and AXA of France, have partnered with leading Philippine life insurance companies. As the potential of the Philippine life insurance market gets to be better appreciated abroad, this trend is bound to intensify. With a population moving past the 100-million mark, this country is a big market. But from the standpoint of life insurance industry, that is not the number that counts. What matters is the number of Filipinos capable of maintaining life insurance policies until the end of their terms. As indicated above, that number is, and for a time has been around 30 percent of this country’s population. Although lack of knowledge about the role and value of life insurance has undoubtedly been a factor, the biggest impediment to the rapid growth of the Philippine life insurance market has been the financial incapacity of most potential life insurance buyers. It is true that the income ratio has been rising over the years – thanks almost entirely to the expansion of the OFW (overseas Filipino worker) and BPO (business process outsourcing) communities – but most of the incremental incomes have gone toward the purchase of real estate, dwellings and consumer durables. Unfortunately, acquisition of life insurance has been getting a small slice of the incremental-income pie. This is a great pity, not only because life insurance protection is a necessity for every person but also because – and from the standpoint of economic development it is highly significant that – the life insurance industry has always been one of the biggest sources of investment capital in most countries. In this regard life insurance companies are as important as the commercial and merchant banks in the developed countries. In those countries life insurance companies are prime movers of economic development. There is a need to bridge the long-standing gap between the financial

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

incapacity of most Filipinos and their need for life insurance coverage. The right approach to the bridging of the gap looks at the affordability of premiums. Affordability, in turn, involves looking at premium structures and the magnitudes of the periodic premium payments. Premium rates are based on actuaries’ estimates of the life expectancies of Filipinos at this point in the 21st century. The life insurance companies – including the foreign companies operating in this country – are well advised to review their premium structures to see if reductions in premium rates can prudently be made to accommodate the current income levels of lower-income Filipinos. But even with lowered premium rates, lower-income Filipinos would continue to have difficulty making premium payments in a consistent and timely manner if the payments are of large magnitudes. In this connection, it is worthy of note that several decades ago an insurance group – I think it was the Insular Life Insurance Co. – FGU group – introduced the concept of industrial life insurance in the Philippines. The concept was directed at life insurance buyers with no capacity to make lumpy premium payments and involved payment of premiums on a daily or weekly basis. Thus, for example, an annual premium of P1,000 was paid at the rate of around P3 per day. Clearly the premium-payment burden was rendered much lighter. In the context of a market like the Philippines the concept made much marketing sense; unfortunately the insurance group that placed industrial life insurance on the market appears to have underestimated the cost of administering the project, i.e., the cost of collecting small premium from thousands of policyholders on a daily or weekly basis. Accordingly, the project failed. Still, making it possible for lower-income Filipinos to pay for life insurance on a pay-as-you-go basis makes good marketing sense, and if the wide gap between the insured and the uninsured in this country is to be closed anytime soon, the industrial life insurance concept, properly guided by experience, deserves a revisit.

the terms and conditions of the Deed of Real Estate Mortgage executed on JULY 19, 2016 All sealed bids must be by RANDY MATITO REYES submitted to the undersigned at AND JONNA MANANGHAYA the aforesaid office on the above PINEDA – No. 15 Sto. Niño, stated date and time. Bata, Paombong 3001, Bulacan / Unit No. 2736, Tower 2, Grass Interested parties are hereby Residences Condominium, enjoined to investigate for Nueva Vizcaya corner Misamis themselves the title/s to the and Nueva Ecija Street, said property/ies and the Barangay Sto. Cristo, Quezon encumbrances thereon, if any City, Mortgagor/s in favor of there be. BDO UNIBANK, INC. (formerly BANCO DE ORO UNIBANK, In the event that public auction INC.), Mortgagee/s, to satisfy should not take place on said the mortgage debt in the date due to fortuitous event or amount of P5,627,742.68 as if the same be declared a nonof August 1, 2017 inclusive/ working holiday, it shall be held exclusive of interest, penalties, on October 24, 2017 at the attorney’s fees and other same time and place without charges together with all the further notice. lawful fees and expenses of Quezon City, Metro Manila, foreclosure sale, the Ex-Officio AUGUST 22, 2017. Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City and/or his (Sgd.) ARNULFO O. LIM duly authorized Deputy Sheriff, Sheriff IV hereby announces that on October 17, 2017 between the (Sgd.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD hours of 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Clerk of Court VII and at the Office of Clerk of Court Ex-Officio Sheriff & Ex-Officio Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., WARNING: It is absolutely Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon prohibited to remove, deface City, will SELL through public or Destroy this Notice of auction to the highest bidder Sheriff’s Sale on or Before the and for cash, in Philippine date of the auction sale under Currency, the following penalty of the law. described real property/ies with all the improvements existing (MS-Sep. 12, 19 & 26, 2017)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

This is to inform the public that Stephanie C. Morelos is no longer connected with Cirrus Global, Inc. effective September 8, 2017. Any transaction entered into by this person from this date thereafter shall not be honored by the company.

E-mail: romero.business.class@gmail.com

(MS-SEPT. 12, 2017)

LGUs

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

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

REACHING OUT. The Kabalikat Civicom non-government organization, with its chapters from Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan and KB880-Respo of Quezon City, recently reached out to Dumagat tribesmen of Norzagaray in Bulacan, handing out to the tribesmen used clothes, food items, and water pails (inset photo). The Dumagats sang their welcome and gratitude, which underlined their appeal to outsiders not to destroy the environment they called their ‘lifetime sanctuary.’

Estrada touts E-trike project for Manilans By Bill Casas THE City of Manila is the first local government unit in the country to implement a livelihood program for poor tricycle and pedicab drivers through a pioneering electric tricycle or E-trike project, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said on Monday. The E-trike project, according to Estrada, is his “brainchild” and is meant to uplift the lives of poverty-stricken tricycle, pedicab and “kuliglig” drivers and their families. For only P150 daily installment, project beneficiaries stand to earn P1,200 to P1,500 a day, Estrada pointed out, and that they get to own the E-trikes provided to them by the City Hall in a few years’ time. “They don’t need to pay for gasoline since it uses a battery. And, charging is free, paid by the government,” he added, referring to the battery charging stations put up by the city government. The city government bought 280 units of E-trikes, at P400,000 each, for distribution this year. The Manila Electric Co. has constructed several charging stations for the trikes, the first in Binondo. The Japanese-manufactured E-trikes run on gel-type batteries than can be fully charged within four to five hours. It can carry up to six passengers and has a maximum speed of 45 kilometers per hour. After Binondo, Estrada is set to introduce E-trikes to Malate, part of the city’s tourist belt, by distributing 80 more units of the environment-friendly vehicles to another batch of beneficiaries by October.

42nd centenarian feted By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Makati City government on Monday gave P100,000 cash gift to a single mother of four children named as the latest centenarian awardee in the city this year. Mayor Abigail Binay personally visited Salvacion Fantonia, the city’s 42nd centenarian, at her home in Barangay West

Rembo to award the check and a plaque of recognition as part of the city’s grateful tribute to its elderly citizens.

IN BRIEF Isabela-Quirino bridge now open TUGUEGARAO—A new bridge connecting Isabela and Quirino provinces is now providing easy access to the public traveling to and from these northern areas, Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director Engineer Melanio C. Briosos said Monday. “The Sisim Bridge is more resilient, which will benefit residents and motorists who have been risking their lives and properties crossing the old, ravaged bridge,” Briosos said. DPWH allocated P52.2 million for the construction of the new 50-lineal meter bridge, including the additional 270-meter concreted approaches on both sides to complement its reliability. The bridge “will play a major role in the interplay of agricultural, industrial and tourism growth in the said provinces,” he added. Jessica M. Bacud

“I am honored to meet one of the oldest living pillars of our community. I consider it a rare privilege to be able to somehow express our gratitude and appreciation for our elderly residents, whose contributions to our progress are immeasurable,” Binay said. Fantonia was born on June 22, 1917 in a family of 15 siblings. She became a widow in 1959, and as a single mother

of four, raised and supported her children Loreto, Estrelita, Aurora, and Lily by doing laundry for others. To make both ends meet, her eldest child, Loreto, helped her by selling pan de sal and newspapers and polishing shoes. At present, Nanay Salvacion is in good health and can still walk with the help of a walker. City Ordinance 2012-099

entitles Makati senior citizens who are Blu Card holders to a one-time P100,000 cash gift upon reaching 100 years old. It serves as a tribute for their significant contributions and role in the history and development of the city. The latest awardee met the criteria set by Makati Social Welfare Department, the lead implementer of the Blu Card Program, as follows: 1) must be a Filipino

citizen; 2) must be a bona fide resident of Makati; 3) must have reached 100 years old between January to December of the current year; and 4) must be a Blu Card and White Card holder for at least five years. Other privileges accorded to Makati seniors include unlimited free entrance to premier cinemas in Makati, free tours in Metro Manila and other parts of the country

Kalinga women ask: Do our tattoos make us criminals? BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— A woman from Tabuk, Kalinga who is a leading figure in promoting tourism here reacted to a muchpublicized remark of Senator Antonio Trillanes on having a tattoo. “Senator Trillanes, here’s a sample of the Kalinga Triad of Tattooed Women. Marked as Criminals or Beauty?” posted Naty Sugguiyao

on her Facebook account. “To be tattooed is a personal decision, and I have a choice to keep the reasons for being tattooed public or private, and I don’t want to reinforce the stigma attached to it, that of criminality,” she added in another post. Sugguiyao was reacting to a viral topic on social media—the re-

quest of Senator Trillanes to Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte to show his tattoo during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, in a bid to prove Duterte’s links to the Chinese Triad drug gang. The women of Kalinga have tattoos as a customary practice. The centenarian tattoo artist Whang-od earned international fame for her

craft, making her one of the most visited figures in the province. Contrary to what was said on social media, Whang-od is not the last Kalinga woman who practices “batok” tattooing, as there are many others in the province, but she is the oldest and is being groomed to become a National Artist. Abe Almirol

Group gifts Cagayan town with 35 houses

Task force for Asean Tagaytay meeting set CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna—The Task Group Site Tagaytay Inter Regional Agency Contingent is all set for the 23rd Senior Officials Committee on Asean Meeting and 18th Asean Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting to be held at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City from Sept. 11 to 14. Calabarzon Regional Police Director Chief Supt. Ma. O Aplasca said a total of 2,723 personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other member agencies will be deployed to secure the safety and security of all delegates of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations partner countries. The Asean officials include the Secretary General Le Luong Minh of Vietnam, country leaders, ministers, heads of economies and their spouses, international media, private business visitors, and other guests. Roy Tomandao

Pangasinan bids for National Corn Award LINGAYEN—Pangasinan takes pride in once again being nominated for the annual National Quality Corn Achievers Award under the provincial category, which recognizes the performance of farmers in the corn industry. “This is another important occasion for our province, and we are hoping to win the National Corn Achievers Awards this year,” said Nestor Batalla, Office of the Agriculturist staff, in his remarks during the evaluation at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center. Evaluators from the Department of Agriculture spearheaded by Bureau of Agricultural Research Project Evaluation Officer IV Apolonia Mendoza, the chairman of the National Evaluation Team, commended the breakthrough of the corn industry in the province of Pangasinan. Dexter A. See

through “Lakbay Saya,” free salon and spa services, cakes on their birthday and golden wedding anniversary, free medical care/hospitalization, and free and subsidized medicines for maintenance and various illnesses. Elders are also exempted from the city’s number coding scheme, and upon their death, their beneficiaries are entitled to P3,000 burial assistance.

DONATION. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan (right) hands to Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra the symbolic P1-million check donation for the restoration of the battle-torn city in Mindanao at the Caloocan City Hall gazebo. According to Gandamra, the armed conflict resulted in the collapse of the city’s economic activities, and the damage is now estimated at P56 billion. The Marawi mayor also thanked the Caloocan city government’s initiative. Jun David

QC buys ‘Justice on Wheels’ bus for lower courts By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City Council has passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Herbert Bautista to donate a “Justice on Wheels” bus to the city’s lower courts. District 3 Councilor Eufemio Lagumbay introduced City Resolution 7118 to support the program of

the judiciary in making trial courts more accessible to the public through the Justice on Wheels bus. According to the resolution, the city’s regional trial courts “shall take care of the succeeding insurance coverage, renewal of registration expenditures and maintenance cost of the Justice on Wheels bus.” “I look forward to seeing

more mobile courts to help facilitate the resolution of non-complex cases in the city,” Bautista said. Meanwhile, the 36-member city council gave Bautista authority to strengthen the commitment with various people’s organizations for better and continuous cooperation and coordination of their activities with the city government.

Under City Resolution 7111 introduced by District 6 Councilor Eric Medina, “a methodical way to strengthen its linkages is by improving the delivery of basic services, capability building and livelihood projects, and developing local entrepreneurship towards the enhancement of the city constituents’ social and economic well-being.”

TUGUEGARAO CITY— An international churchbased group from Canada turned over 35 housing units to the needy in Barangay Villa Leonor, Buguey town of Cagayan province on Saturday. The donors called on recipients of the housing project in Cagayan to “take care of the houses.” Ricky Cuenca, president of the Couples for ChristAnswering the Call of the Poor and member of the CFC Global Foundation International Council, also approved 50 scholarship grants to qualified beneficiaries among the housing recipients. Buguey Mayor Lloyd Antiporda said: “Bugueyanos are forever grateful to the CFC-ANCOP for helping the needy and less fortunate members of the town.” “The LGU will continue to collaborate with CFC-ANCOP for any assistance they can extend to us,” Antiporda said. Abe Almirol

Villainess-turned-heroine Oryol

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

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Life TRAVEL AND LEISURE

Bicol’s epic legend F

LIVES ON

ROM the dustbins of history to the streets of Legazpi City.

This is the unfolding saga of Ibalong, Bicol’s epic legend, which has been revived in a festival. Regarded as the region’s biggest non-religious festival, Ibalong is based on folklore and is perhaps the only cultural event in the country that relives an epic. Now in its 26th edition, it is a recreation of a mid-19th century fragments of 60-stanza epic poem penned by Franciscan friar Bernardino de Melendreras about the ancient civilization of the Bicol region. He was inspired by the accounts of Kadunung, a wandering minstrel and bard for being a fountainhead of folklore. Cast in the mold of classic mythologies, Ibalong tells about its three legendary heroes—Baltog, Handiong and Bantong— who, with their supernatural strengths, rid the land of beasts and helped attain a golden era. Arriving at various times in history, these warriors from a faraway land vanquished the dreaded beasts that sowed terror among the populace. Among these dreaded beasts were a giant wild boar called Tandayag and the half-man-half-beast Rabot. Another prominent character is the villain-turned-heroine Oryol, a beautiful half woman-half- serpent who had a change of heart as she fell in love with Handiong and joined his forces to defeat

By Nickie Wang OUR bus was running on the freeway, half past six in the evening but the sky was still clear with yellow clouds floating aimlessly just above the forested peaks bordering the highways. I’ve lost count of the numbers of tunnels we’ve passed through. Taiwanese government had obviously invested heavily on road networks and transportation infrastructure even in rural areas. Albert, our tour guide, suddenly stole my attention away from the verdant view from my window. “The song you’re hearing was sung by the Ami Tribe. They perform this song during harvesting season,” he said in his unmistakably Chinese accent. It was fascinating that the song was the same exact chant in Enigma’s “Return to the Innocent.” I didn’t know it was an aboriginal Taiwanese original. A quick search on Google said the tribe actually sued the band for copyright infringement -- just one of the things we didn’t know about our little neighbor. Back to the view outside the window, the sky gradually hinted nighttime but the green mountains were still visible, and with the song playing in the background you could feel yourself like you’re in an Enya music video. A few minutes more and we’re back in Taipei. In Taiwan, it’s easy to calculate travel time. When someone said you would get to your destination in five minutes, you’ll get there in five minutes or even less. Thanks to its efficient mass transport system, traffic congestion is hardly visible even on its capital’s busiest artery. On our first morning in Taipei, Albert told us we needed to meet at the hotel lobby at 7:30. We had to get to Taipei High Speed Rail Station (THSR) before 8:30 because the bullet train would leave at 8:31. When we got to the train platform, I checked the clock, the train arrived at 8:28 and in less than three minutes we we’re on our way to Kaoshiung, a one-anda-half-hour bullet train ride that would take more than five hours by car. A local once told me that domestic flights started to become unpopular choice to travel since THSR started operation in 2007. Taiwanese also began traveling more often from one city to another than ever before. “It’s easy to reserve seats, you can do it at any 24-hour convenient store,” the local said.

the monsters of the land. The legendary heroes cultivated the land, established a government and a justice system followed by an age of discovery and invention that helped civilization flourish.

modern-day heroism. The epic got into mass exposure in 1895 when editor Wenceslao Retana compiled and annotated its fragments in the book Archivo del Bibliofilo Filipino.

Warriors of Ibalong

ence to Tierra de Ibalon, the moniker the Spaniards gave to Bicolandia. In 1992, the late mayor Imelda Roces inaugurated the festival to rescue the epic from oblivion and make it a source of pride

rich heritage and resilient character amidst adversities as can be gleaned from the epic’s story. He said that in transforming a forgotten legend into a colorful festival, the city has put a vis-

Tandayag the beast and Buring the beast parade during the 26th Ibalong Festival

After recounting their exploits, Kadunung suddenly stopped and promised to resume telling the story some other time. Scholars noted that while the epic is an unfinished story, it is a living legend where the readers can freely continue the saga with their own interpretations of

While the original Spanish manuscripts were lost, what exists is the portion copied by Fray Jose Castaño and included in the Bibliofilo of Retana published in Spain. Noted Bicolano essayist Jose Ma. Panganiban supplied the title Ibalong in refer-

for the city and Bicolandia. In 2013, playwright Rody Vera of Tanghalang Pilipino adapted it as a dance musical at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said that the festival puts to the fore Bicol’s

ual touch into the epic to make it more understood by the people. He noted that Ibalong showcases the city’s strides in economic development, governance and tourism despite being frequently hit by typhoons and eruption of Mayon Volcano.

Asia’s small but charming giant

Kaohsiung skyline with 85 Sky Tower, the city’s tallest structure, on the foreground

But, Taiwan is not just all about speed and massive structures. They also consider their infrastructure’s aesthetic value. Take the Kaohsiung MRT Formosa Boulevard Station for instance. The city’s mass transit is known for its “Dome of Light”, the largest glasswork of its kind. The enormous centerpiece of the threelevel subway was designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata and was named one of the most beautiful subway stations in the world. Its entrance alone is already visually striking resembling a pair of hands clasped in prayer.

While the country’s capital is popular for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, bustling night markets, and the impressive Taipei 101, Kaohsiung on the other hand, which is home to 2.7 Taiwanese, is a fascinating mishmash of the old and the new, of Buddhism, magnificent temples, and fascinating street art. The port city is famous for its warehouse complex located near the harbor called Pier2 Art Center where visitors can marvel at street installations and old warehouses converted into museum and art centers. (To be continued next week.)

A bullet train at Taipei High Speed Rail Station (THSR) travels at the speed of 300 kph

Life

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It’s got to be

Iloilo

MERCURY RISING

Y

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

ES, that’s the Tourism tagline of this beautiful province, which occupies a major portion of Panay Island, and bordered by Antique to the west and Capiz to the north.

The very first time I set foot on Iloilo was when I was still in elementary school. My parents brought my siblings and me there for a vacation, and we stayed in a large house owned by an uncle. It was right next to a river, which would overflow and flood my uncle’s backyard on rainy days, giving us an instant “swimming pool.” We would be splashing around and doing all kinds of crazy things only children would consider fun. I was already in high school the second time I visited Iloilo. A friend from Institucion Teresiana asked me to be her escort on her Prom Night. I was so excited to find a reason to have a brand new Nehru-collared suit made, which was the fad in those days. Needless to say, it was The beautiful bas relief on the façade of the Baroque Romanesque Miag-Ao Church a most memorable evening of partying, tower intact. The other distinguishing fealasting until the wee hours. Subsequent trips to Iloilo in recent years ture of the Jaro Cathedral is that only imhave always been a pleasurable culinary ages of male saints are on display, in conjourney. Even if the trip was for a confer- trast with the all-female saints venerated in ence or a seminar, I somehow ended up Molo Church. About an hour and a half away from Ilbinging on delicacies found only in this oilo City is another architectural attraction, beautiful city. the MiagW h y Ao Church, has Iloilo’s of Bacharm lastYOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE roque Roed all these manesque years? A woman is standing, looking at the bedroom str ucture, Its culmirror. She is not happy with what she sees and with a distural and says to her husband, “I feel horrible. I look old, fat tinctive h i s t o r ic a l and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.” ochre color icons have The husband, while watching TV intently, replies, due to the endeared constr ucto domes“Your eyesight is perfect!” tion materitic and inals used--ternational adobe, egg visitors. I guess the most popular spot in the city is white, coral and limestone. What makes the four-hectare Nelly’s Gardens with the the church really attractive is its ornate mansion, considered the “Queen of Herit- bas-relief façade. The other distinguishing age Houses,” and owned by Don Vicente feature of this church, declared a UNESCO Lopez and his wife, Doña Elena Hofile- World Heritage Site, are the massive stone The Beaux Arts-style mansion of Nelly’s Garden, Iloilo’s most visited attraction ña. This beaux-arts style masterpiece in walls, 1.5 meters thick, supported by 4-meJaro district, named after the late couple’s ter flying buttresses. There are many other things that gan, Jr., who improved on the original go pastry treats—Bañadas, Barquillos, eldest daughter, has been declared a Naand Galletas. tional Historical Landmark by the Na- beckon tourists to Iloilo. But, just like recipe of his father. me, most tourists are lured by the IlongThere’s also Pancit Molo, a dumpling This bakeshop traces its roots to the contional Historical Institute. Also in Jaro, the Metropolitan Cathedral gos’ culinary fare, the most popular of soup of ground pork in wonton wrapper, struction of Molo Church during the Spanwith its Romanesque Revival architecture, which is La Paz Batchoy. This noodle shredded chicken meat, and shrimps, ish colonial times. Hundreds of crates of a one-of-a-kind church, has its bell tower soup made with pork organs, crushed best served piping hot. And if we talk eggs were used as binder for the stone blocks across a busy street. This bell tower was pork cracklings, chicken stock, and beef of the Molo district of Iloilo, only one used in the construction of the church. actually part of another church destroyed loin, may be enjoyed at Deco’s, a modest thing comes to mind—Panaderia de However, only the egg whites served this by a big earthquake, leaving only the bell restaurant owned by Federico Guiller- Molo, the most popular makers of Ilong- purpose, so the nuns found a way to make

use of the surplus egg yolks, thus, Panaderia de Molo came to be. There is so much more to like and love about Iloilo, so if you are at a quandary as to where your next exciting travel adventure should be, It’s Got To Be Iloilo. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

Driving Skills for Life Program

Tropical Living at the Peak The Treehouse, found within the Tropical Zone at Vireya, is where leisurely activities can be spent while basking in nature and scenic views.

TUCKED within the lush Tagaytay Highlands is a paradise waiting to be discovered. Within this mountain resort community awaits a tropical haven for holistic indulgence like no other. Vireya, the first and only tropical resort community in Tagaytay Highlands, perfectly bonds the cool mist of the mountains and the vibrant warmth of the tropics. Located on the highest point of the Midlands, Vireya presents views of the Taal Lake and the Highlands mountains – highlighting lush, refreshing sceneries of Mt. Makiling. Future residents at Vireya will build Bali-inspired homes on 250 to 562 square-meter lots by incorporating elements of wood and wide glass windows. High-pitched roofs and entryways with lanais and patios are also suggested to maximize natural lighting and views. Fulfilling Vireya’s vision of holistic living amidst the mountainside tropics are points of interest found within the community. Satisfy your distinct leisurely pursuits or unwind at the Pavana, a pavilion with swimming pool, or Ammanya Massage Point. Spend serene afternoons with nature at Vireya’s pocket parks or gardens such as the Cala Mira, Leafwing, and Garden Patio. Kids and kids at heart may enjoy their pastime or lounge in their favorite spot at the very first neighborhood Treehouse within Tagaytay Highlands. Several jogging paths also surround various residential zones for an active and fit lifestyle. This exclusive, gated community is equipped with 24-hour security, emergency power systems, underground utilities, and adequate water supply. Leisure, pleasure, and relaxation do not end within the confines of this tropical community. Property purchase at Vireya provides residents with extensive access to a wide selection of world-class amenities and recreational activities at The Country Club. The Club

FORD Philippines recently kicked off the 10th year of its global Ford Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program, a United Nationsrecognized training initiative that educates drivers about smart and safe driving skills to help minimize road accidents and promote fuel-efficient driving. The kick-off of this year’s DSFL coincides with the implementation of the Department of Transportation’s Anti-Distracted Driving Law, which similar to Ford’s DSFL, aims to promote safe and disciplined driving among motorists to keep roads and passengers safe. This year, Ford is planning for at least 1,500 drivers to participate in the DSFL training sessions. A specific focus this year will be on public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers such as bus, jeepney, school bus, and taxi drivers, recognizing their role as motorists is critical in ensuring that roads and passenger journeys are safe. DSFL is also expanding this year to cover key areas and locations nationwide such as Rizal, Pampanga, Baguio, Batangas, Laguna, Cebu, and Davao to reach more drivers around the country and instill the importance of driver discipline and road courtesy. At this year’s kick-off, Ford partnered with Uber Systems Inc. by providing DSFL sessions for around 200 Uber drivers from greater Manila. “We are thankful to Ford for its DSFL

program that allowed us to appreciate and understand the importance of safe driving, especially that as drivers, we are responsible for the safety of our passengers. I particularly enjoyed the hands-on driving session that taught us the fundamentals of anti-distracted driving as well as fuel-efficient driving,” shares James Rosales, one of the Uber drivers who participated in the DSFL. Since its local launch in 2008, more than 20,000 Filipinos have participated in sessions of the DSFL campaign, which has been customized for the Philippines to reflect the local driving environment and road conditions. Working together with long-time partner Tuason Racing School, Ford provides an immersive and interactive training experience in its DSFL sessions. DSFL participants are provided with useful tips on vehicle maintenance, road safety measures, and fuel-efficient driving skills, as well as practical hands-on driving sessions to apply their learnings. The Driving Skills for Life program also includes seminars for Ford employees, licensed student drivers, customers, corporate fleet accounts and automotive enthusiasts such as car clubs. The seminars are held at various Ford dealerships nationwide and at select colleges and universities.

Vireya is a master-planned tropical haven that will perfectly cater to the entire family’s holistic indulgence and leisurely pursuits.

boasts of new eco-adventures such as the Aerial Walk, Trail Buggy, Highlands Archery, and Pedal Go Kart Racing alongside its other sports facilities for swimming, tennis, bowling, and badminton. Well known specialty restaurants like the Highlander Steakhouse and the Highlands China Palace continue to be enjoyed by members and residents alike including a variety of gastronomical outlets available at the Gourmet Avenue. As Vireya continues to bloom as the benchmark of tropical mountainside living, the lifestyle it offers is truly a testament to Tagaytay Highlands’ aspiration coming to life – providing a distinct mountain resort experience unlike any.

Ford Driving Skills for Life teaches participants useful tips on vehicle maintenance, road safety measures, and fuel-efficient driving skills.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

The best in EDM in ‘ROAD TO ULTRA’ S INCE its breakout in the musical landscape 19 years ago, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has hogged the attention and following of millions of fans fascinated by the magic and spectacle of sound and lights and the sizzling performances of its DJs and their unique brand of electronic music.

The best in EDM as presented by some of the world’s hottest electro house DJs forms the centerpiece of the famed music festival, which Pinoy fans will get to experience once again when Road to Ultra Philippines returns on Sept. 15 at the Mall of Asia concert grounds in Paranaque City. Ultra Worldwide, the world’s

EDM SUPERTARS. “Road To Ultra” will be headlined by EDM heavyweights (clockwise, from top left) Hardwell , Zedd, Sam Feldt, Getter, and Rezz.

top international music festival brand, is bringing back the third edition of the popular event that will be mounted by Blackwater Events Management and Ovation Productions The one-night EDM bash will be hosted by an all-star line-up led by DJ headliners Hardwell and German hitmaker Zedd. The supporting acts will feature Getter and Rezz, two of the fastest-rising stars in EDM who will make their breakthrough local appearance, together with Sam Feldt. Touted as the biggest party ever to hit the Philippines, the music festival will also showcase cutting-edge stage production and design, lighting, kryogenics and pyrotechnics before what is expected to be a huge turn-out of ecstatic and excited fans made up predominantly of millennials. The Ultra music festival was recently voted the world’s No. 1

ABS-CBN, Kidzania Manila execs honored

Kapuso singer Aicelle Santos will promote environmental awareness in a mini concert in El Nido, Palawan

AICELLE SANTOS joins clean up drive in Palawan AS AN advocate for a better environment, Soul Songstress Aicelle Santos will participate in the annual International Coastal Cleanup drive in El Nido, Palawan on Sept. 15. The event focuses on promoting the responsibility of protecting the seas and practicing effective waste management. Together with El Nido Resorts and Lio Tourism Estate, Aicelle will help in encouraging the residents and guests of El Nido to maintain a trash-free ocean through a mini concert. An entire day of collecting garbage and sharing ideas on how to develop habits will help prevent the downfall of the Philippines’ last ecological frontier. “Everyone is coming together to save the environment, so maswerte akong maging parte ng ganitong klase ng advocacy. Every small responsible act, kapag pinagtulungan natin, can really make a difference,” suggests the Kapuso star. The concert is free for all and it will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Lio Beach, El Nido, Palawan.

ABS-CBN Head of entertainment production Laurenti Dyogi and Governor, President, and CEO of KidZania Manila Maria Rosario “Cookie” Bartolome received honors from the 27th SKAL International Tourism Personality Awards for their significant contributions in the country’s tourism industry. Laurenti was awarded “Media Personality of the Year” in the Broadcast Media Category for continuing to play a vital role in the creation of quality content that is relevant to Filipinos worldwide. Cookie, meanwhile, was hailed in the Family Entertainment Category for leading ABS-CBN’s educational theme park Kidzania - where children learn life skills through the power of play - with a vision of sharing the Filipino brand of happiness through meaningful themed experiences. Both Laurenti and Cookie were lauded with other business leaders

in a ceremony held On Sept. 7 at the New World Hotel in Makati. Accepting his award, Laurenti vowed that the network will continue to use its reach and resources to highlight the culture and destinations in the Philippines. “On behalf of the whole management of ABS-CBN, we’re here to promise that we will help promote Philippine tourism and be proud of our culture and heritage in all our platforms,” he said. Cookie added that the company also hopes to make the country proud and shine not just through content but through experiences, just like what they are doing at Kidzania Manila. “It’s very encouraging that having been only two years in operations we are already being recognized for this such a prestigious award. We are just encouraged to do even better and provide more meaningful experiences for our Filipino children. We hope to do the

Human Rights activist’s memoir in ‘First They Killed My Father’ THE Netflix original film First They Killed My Father to be launched on Friday globally on Netflix is the adaptation of Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung’s gripping memoir about surviving the deadly Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1978. Angelina Jolie directed the film told through Loung Ung eyes, from the age of 5, when the Khmer Rouge first came to power when she was nine years old. The film depicts the indomitable spirit and devotion of Loung and her family as they struggle to stay together during the Khmer Rouge years. Click here to view the trailer: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=t383qf7vg_Q First They Killed My Father is a Netflix original film produced by Jolie with acclaimed Cambodian director and producer Rithy Panh, director of the Oscar-nominated The Missing Picture. Loung Ung, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Adam

Somner (Bridge of Spies), Michael Vieira (By the Sea), and Charles Schissel (The Prestige) are executive producers, and Academy Award winner Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire) serves as director of photography.

“They Killed My Father” is an American biographical historical thriller film directed by Angelina Jolie based on Loung Ung’s memoir of same name

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, September 12, 2017

ACROSS 1 Pea-soupers 5 Not censored 10 Door post 14 Norse deity 15 Bronco snagger 16 Emmy relative 17 Cartoon bear 18 Air rifle (2 wds.) 19 Prefix for “trillion” 20 Unimportant things 22 Prepared coffee beans 24 Make mistakes 25 Fictional governess 26 Nabbed 30 Fruit peels 35 So that’s it! 36 Pause fillers 37 Asimov or Hayes 38 Old Clint Eastwood serial 41 Majestic 43 Feel anxiety 44 Sean Lennon’s mom 45 Chess pieces 46 With regret 47 Idyllic place 50 Keep on going 53 24 hours in Baja 54 Fictional work 58 Drink

62 Quite similar 63 Banded stone 66 Child’s toy 67 Jaipur princess 68 Superheroes’ gear 69 Self-images 70 Colored 71 Paid homage 72 Old ruler of Venice

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5

Philippines even prouder and bring more tourism to the country,” she said. In previous years, SKAL also awarded ABS-CBN COO of broadcast Cory Vidanes and ABS-CBN Chief Content Officer Charo Santos-Concio for their contributions in the promotion of Philippine tourism. ABSCBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak was also the International Tourism Personality Awardee in the TV Station of the Year category in 2015. The SKAL International Tourism Personality Awards aims to recognize individuals for their support and contribution to the development and promotions of tourism in the country as Asia’s best tourist destination.

Unser rival Hound’s track Leslie Caron film Whimper Opened a castle gate 6 San Francisco hill 7 Gear 8 Excessive interest 9 Soprano counterpart 10 Little bits 11 Be a party to 12 Marsh 13 Droplet 21 Rollover subj. 23 Falcon’s home 25 Koch and Wynn 26 Firewood quantities 27 Rhett’s Scarlett 28 Bellowed

29 Before, in verse 31 Shuttle’s destination 32 Judd of music 33 Titled ladies 34 Tableau 39 Falstaff’s prince 40 Romantic interlude 41 RN’s group 42 Most verbose 44 Decide 48 Endeavor 49 Applied lightly 51 Cry of woe

52 “Cosmos” host 54 Ancient ointment 55 Approve 56 Honeysuckle 57 Tennyson heroine 59 Shakespeare villain 60 Web diary 61 Otherwise 64 Fossey friend 65 Util. bill

music festival by DJ Magazine for the second consecutive year. It is slated to return to Bayfront Park in Miami for its 20th annual edition on March 23-25, 2018. Road to Ultra Philippines 2017 is one of eight major events that Ultra Worldwide is hosting in Asia this month. Now on its third staging, the local edition of the music fest has previously hosted some of the world’s biggest names in electronic dance music, including Alesso, A-Trak, Skrillex, and Tiesto. The upcoming show marks the music festival’s return to the Mall of Asia concert grounds after it moved indoors in last year’s concert. Tickets are priced at P5,500 and P3,500 and are available exclusively through smtickets. com and Ultraphilippines.com. For reservations for VIP tables, please call 5328883 or email info@ultraphilippines.com)

ABS-CBN’s Laurenti Dyogi (left) and KidsZania Manila’s Maria Rosario Bartolome are honored for their significant contributions in the country’s tourism industry

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

O

N ITS 10th year, Gabay Guro is set to top the last nine years of victory via the Grand Gathering on Sept. 17 at the Mall of Asia Arena with nothing less than promises of superlatives from the organizers. Expect an explosive celebration as the country’s biggest stars and performers converge in one grand stage that day to bring world-class performances just for the teachers. Couple that with an array of mind-blowing prizes in a raffle draw that is bound to change the life of those teachers who will be handpicked to win a house and lot, vehicles, livelihood opportunities, gadgets and cash prizes, among many others. Stellar names set to give the teachers the time of their lives on this day are Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Jaya, Sarah Geronimo, Pia Wurtzbach, Pops Fernandez, MJ Lastimosa, Andrew Wolfe, Michael Pangilinan, Jona Viray, Marian Rivera, Southborder, Jay-R, Luke Mejares, Jinky Vidal, Medwin Marfil, UP Pep Squad, and G-Force, and more surprise big stars on the big day. This year’s event is made possible through the help of Ayala Land, Foton, PR Savings Bank, Motorlandia Philippines, Honda Motorcycle, Suzuki Motorcycle, Yamaha Motorcycle, Devant, Myphone, Telescoop, PECCA, First United Travel Inc., Enchanted Kingdom, Penshoppe, Filstar, Fly Ace, Taisho, PLDT, Smart, Sun and TNT. Every single year, PLDT’s Gabay Guro Foundation celebrates the pinnacle of its achievements via a Grand Gathering spectacle that leaves its 20,000-memberstrong-organization awed and inspired and ready to

STAR-STUDDED DECADE-OLD CELEBRATION

PLDT’s nation-building through teacher advocacy

Stellar Gabay Guro advocates: Clockwise, from top left: Jona, Sarah Geronimo, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Lea Salonga, Michael Pangilinan, and Pops Fernandez

take on bigger challenges in the field of education. It is in these events where our beloved teachers – the modern heroes of the land – get to experience the tribute they deserve –

world-class entertainment and outstanding prizes that change their lives. Truly a grand way of celebrating a decade of dedication and a lifetime of thank you from everyone who make up the

core team of the Gabay Guro Foundation led by its chairman, Chaye CabalRevilla. Brand Advocacy head Gary Dujali, who has been the brains behind

this wonderful endeavor since its inception, says that Gabay Guro on its 10th year carries with it an outstanding history littered with awards and citations that make all of them

advocates stand a little taller. Among these prestigious awards and citations are the Gawad Tanglaw, two Anvil Awards in 2016, one from the Phil. Association of National Advertisers (PANA), and the Philippine Quill Awards. Gabay Guro has over 1,200 scholars in various state colleges and universities nationwide. There are over 300 LET passers, 496 active scholars as of August 2016 and a projected 167 graduates in 2017. Gabay Guro also celebrates the fact that 137 scholars graduated with honors – 112 cum laude and 25 magna cum laude. Gabay Guro has also partnered with local government units to further teacher education. The foundation has conducted trainings for over 16,000 teachers. Today, it runs eight training programs for teachers around the country namely: Teacher’s Treasure Chest; English Proficiency Training; Computer Literacy; Emotional Intelligence; Teacher’s Armor; Leadership Training; IT Sustainability and Literacy; and Unleashing Creativity in Teaching. At the same time, Gabay Guro answers the needs of the times by doing grassroots anti-drugs trainings in schools. Gabay Guro’s initiative on broadband and computerization has had great impact nationwide. All partner-schools were recipients of either computers/laptop or Internet connections from PLDT or Smart.

Knowing that shortage of educational facilities is a major disaster area in the Philippine education system, Gabay Guro has taken the cudgels in the construction of classrooms in the provinces, mostly those that have been hit by debilitating calamities. There is over 40 classrooms constructed and donated already in the ff. provinces: Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Capiz. Gabay Guro has grown to be the force that it is today. Whereas in the beginning, there were only a couple of thousand member-teachers under its stable, 2016 sees 20,000-strong membership (and growing!) at its helm and has easily taken over the leadership, the one that sets the bar of service, in all education-related NGOs around the nation. Chaye Revilla and the Gabay Guro team of visionaries with her in the foundation, were propelled by this belief: “our nation’s children depend on our nation’s teachers to lead them to the future. And this teachers’ month, Gabay Guro gives tribute to those who teach the next generation of nation-builders.” The PLDT Gabay Guro grand tribute event is exclusive for teachers only. Gates open at 12 nn. Admission is free. All they have to do is like Gabay Guro on www.facebook. com/gabayguro. For more information please visit the Gabay Guro official website www. gabayguro.com, and follow them on twitter and Instagram at @ PLDTGabayGuro.

Cast of ‘Wildflower,’ ‘It’s Showtime’ bring joy to Marawi heroes WOUNDED soldiers and the hardworking health workers of Victoriano Luna Medical Center (VLMC) had a welcome break from the usual hospital stress when ABS-CBN brought its artists led by the cast of Wildflower and It’s Showtime and mounted a program in celebration of the hospital’s 80th anniversary. “In my 29 years in service, this is the first time I’ve seen VLMC like this. Thank you to ABS-CBN. There were a lot of people of wanted to watch this show,” said Col Patrick S. De Leon, deputy commander of the AFP Health Service Command. This is actually the second time this year the Kapamilya network held a live show especially for the soldiers to show its support to the country’s heroes and to pay tribute to their bravery and nationalism. Formerly known as the AFP Medical Center, the VLMC serves as a temporary home for many Filipino heroes as they heal from sickness or injuries incurred in protecting our nation. For the first time, they had no less than Kapamilya stars like Maja Salvador, Gerald Anderson, Aiko

‘Wildflower’ lead cast members Vin Abrenica, Maja Salvador and Joseph Marco enliven the mini concert staged for the Marawi soldiers and hospital workers

Melendez, and Tirso Cruz III to join their celebration. This time, the lead stars of Wildflower, Kung Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin, and It’s Showtime joined forces to make the patients, their caregivers, and the hospital staff smile, sing, dance, and laugh together, even for just a couple of hours. GirlTrends opened the show, followed by host Eric Nicolas, former champion of the show Your Face Sounds Familiar, who never failed to make the audience giggle in unison. Afterwards, together with Ryan Bang and Roxanne

Barcelo, he had the soldiers try the “Cash-Ya” game from It’s Showtime, followed by “Sundahula” with Aiko. “Tawag ng Tanghalan” finalists Noven, Marielle, and Froilan also performed to the crowd’s delight. Gerald, Miko Raval, RK Bagatsing, and Joseph Marco gave their tributes to the nation’s heroes, right after performing for them. It was especially meaningful for Vin Abrenica whose father and grandfather both served the flag as soldiers. “People call us idol

when we’re in public and it warms my heart. For me, you are my idols and I appreciate everything you are doing for us. The whole country looks up to all of you,” the Wildflower hunk said. While the soldiers enjoyed the entertainment from the Kapamilya stars, they also got to see the talent of their fellow men in service. One sang a ballad, one played the violin, while a group of soldiers brought the house down with a performance of the rock classic “Sweet Child of Mine,” led no less by the chief of the hospital’s

Department of Medicine Lt. Col. Nerio C. Zabala. “I feel proud to perform for our Marawi heroes and bring them joy after the misery brought by the fighting. It is an honor to share the stage with professional artists. I never aspired to be one but it is an honor to perform with them,” he shared. The program ended with another powerful performance from them, right after the head of AFP Health Service Command, Brig. Gen. Edwin Leo Torrelavega presented a token of appreciation to ABS-CBN. “We are more than grateful that a dependable partner in ABS-CBN responded to our request to bring out the talents of our soldiers…Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to bring joy to our soldiers, especially our patients and we hope we can do this again,” said Torrelavega as he handed the AFP’s gift to ABS-CBN Integrated Public Service head Jun Dungo. With the hope of alleviating the pains and stresses of the nation’s heroes through entertainment and public service, ABS-CBN once again stayed true to its slogan of “In the Service of the Filipino.”

Rami Malek as the iconic singer and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury

Bryan Singer directs ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

COMING to life soon on the big screen is the story of the phenomenal and iconic British rock band Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody starring Rami Malek, directed by Bryan Singer and produced by Graham King. 20th Century Fox/New Regency has just released the first look photo of the movie – Rami Malek takes center stage in the movie as the rock icon, Freddie Mercury. “Freddie Mercury was larger than life and seeing Rami completely transform into him has only further solidified that he is the perfect choice for this role. Between Bryan’s innovative direction, Rami’s extraordinary talent and the incredible team we’ve assembled, I couldn’t be more excited to see the remarkable story of Freddie Mercury and Queen’s iconic songs coming to life,” shares King. Bohemian Rhapsody is a 20th Century Fox/New Regency film coming to Philippine theatres soon.