Manila Standard - 2017 September 28 - Thursday

Megaworld’s new HQ (See B1) VOL. XXXI • NO. 226 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

China: No info on Triad links Sino envoy vows no protection for drug rings

Rody on EJKs: Just the facts

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE government does not invent facts to deceive the public about the number of deaths in the war on drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday as the Palace welcomed various moves to investigate the spate of drug-related killings.

“There are some countries which are

insulting us [and asking us] to open our records to them... Who are you to do that to my country?” Duterte said in his speech during the celebration of the 56th anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) Tuesday night.

“If you don’t believe our records, then go out and find something else to do. We do not fabricate,” the President said.

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By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

C

HINESE ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua denied that he is aware of a Chinese Bamboo Triad, a drug ring operating in the Philippines, and assured local officials that China will not protect criminals.

Zhao was reacting to President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that the Bamboo Triad and the 14K, Chinese and Taiwanese syndicates, have turned the Philippines into large-scale drug manufacturers.

“To be honest, I know nothing about it. The President may be right in pointing out there are some really bad Chinese who are doing the illegal drugs,” Zhao said in an ambush interview Tuesday night.

“We do not know much about the syndicates or drug rings operating in the Philippines but if we have any [information] we are ready to share [this] with the Filipino side,” Zhao said.

In his speech during the 120th anniversary of the Justice department, Duterte claimed that these syndicates had been used the country as a transshipment point for shabu sales to the United States.

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END OF THE ROAD. A container truck lies in ruins after falling off from the Pandacan flyover Wednesday, crushing a makeshift house and, according to a rescue worker, killing two residents and wounding one. Norman Cruz

Victims’ kin oppose cab driver’s bid to be witness

By Rey E. Requejo

THEY’RE IN THE LIST. President Rodrigo Duterte shows the list of government officials in the illegal drug trade during his speech Tuesday at the 56th anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association at the Manila Hotel.

Malacañang Photo

THE families of slain former UP student Carl Angelo Arnaiz and companion Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman vehemently objected to the bid of the taxi driver who accused the two of robbing him to become a state witness.

Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, counsel of the Arnaiz and De Guzman families, said Tomas Bagcal, the taxi driver, is not a credible witnesses and was not qualified for coverage under the witness protection program.

She cited the inconsisten-

cies in the statements given

by Bagcal, who turned himself in to the National Bureau of Investigation last week after being under the protective custody of non-government organization Rise Up for Life and for Rights.

“We’ve heard five versions of the story from him. In his

first version, he said the robbers used a handgun and then it later became a knife. He also keeps on changing the actual time of the incident,” Acosta said, in an interview at the Justice Department.

“How can you place him under the WPP if he is not Next page

Defense chief sees Marawi Hazing suspect freed from detention; DoJ sets hearing Rey E. Requejo and crisis end, preps for rehab ByMacon Ramos-Araneta

By Maricel V. Cruz DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, martial law administrator in Mindanao, has said the military is eyeing to end the Marawi crisis by end of September.

Lorenzana said Wednesday they would conduct the “post conflict needs assessment” of the situation in the entire Mindanao beginning October and it would take them “a couple of weeks.”

“After that, we will get

a good idea how much we need to rehabilitate Marawi, how long, and how much money we need to rehabilitate,” Lorenzana told reporters at the sidelines of the DND briefing on the Marawi conflict with lawmakers.

Meanwhile, reports from Maguindanao said four local officials were injured after they were hit by two succeeding explosion at the outskirts of Datu Sinsuat town Wednesday morning.

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Reds cool to permanent ceasefire call, says Joma

By John Paolo Bencito Sison said the Duterte COMMUNIST Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison has said the communist rebels may not accept President Rodrigo Duterte’s calls for a protracted and indefinite bilateral ceasefire, ahead of a return to peace talks.

Despite four successful rounds of peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels,

administration must first commit to the social and economic reforms, which he said was at the heart of the communist insurgency.

“If the NDFP [National Democratic Front of the Philippines] agrees to that, that would be very bad.

People will say, ‘What about the social and economic reforms?’ At least those must be taken up in advance Next page

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THE Justice department has ordered the release from detention of the principal suspect in the hazing death of University of Sto. Tomas law student

Horacio Castillo III, saying there was not enough basis to detain him.

In its resolution, the Justice department ordered the Manila Police District to immediately release Aegis Juris member John Paul Solano, saying that

the criminal charges against him were not yet resolved.

Solano had surrendered to the MPD on Sept. 22, after being tagged as a primary suspect in Castillo’s death.

“The release of the respondent would not mean he

is already off the hook. The preliminary investigation that would be conducted would only mean that he would have the opportunity or chance to file his answer,” said acting Prosecutor General Jorge Next page Catalan Jr.

Bicam sues for time to quiz Cimatu

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S

MANY Filipinos do not believe that drug suspects who were killed put up a fight during anti-drug operations, the lastest survey by the Social Weather Stations showed.

The Second Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey, conducted among 1,200 respondents, revealed that more than half or 54 percent did not believe that drug suspects shot it out with the cops.

Among these, 20 percent strongly agreed that slain suspects did not shoot it out Next page with the cops.

‘Casuals abound in DSWD’

By Macon RamosAraneta and Bill Casas THE powerful Commission on Appointments on Wednesday again deferred the confirmation of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu following the requests by congressmen for more time to ask the retired general more questions.

The bicameral committee set another confirmation hearing for him on Oct. 4.

The commission deferred Cimatu’s confirmation even as the fishermen’s group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Wednesday opposed his confirmation.

Cimatu’s confirmation

SWS poll: Nanlaban doubted

CRY FOR JUSTICE. Family, relatives and schoolmates of fatal hazing victim, UST law freshman Horacio Castillo III, call for justice for the man who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, attend a memorial service at the Santuario de San Antonio in Makati City before his interment at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. Ey Acasio manilastandard.net

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development is the bureaucracy’s “contractualization capital” due to its many temporary employees and 25,000 casuals, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Wednesday.

He said the agency had only 2,842 regular employees to serve a client base of 28 million on whom P137.5 billion would be spent next year.

“Since 2010 the [department’s] budget had ballooned by 800 percent but the number of its regular employees had increased by only 10 percent,” Recto said.

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Ex-CIDG head gets 5 years in jail

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE Sandiganbayan’s Second Division has recommended five years in jail for Eduardo Matillano, the former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, for not filing his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for eight years.

In a decision it promul-

gated on Sept. 5, the anti-

Cabinet men not exempt from data privacy—CSC

By Macon R. Araneta AN OFFICIAL of the Civil Service Commission has underscored that only addresses should be shaded in government officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth or SALNs. Lawyer Ariel Ronquillo, assistant commissioner for legal concerns, made this comment after Malacañang released SALNs of some Cabinet officials which contained redacted or blacked out portions.

Among the concealed details were properties’ locations and market value.

Malacañang, citing the Data Privacy Act, said it feared some people “may use the sensitive personal information and other data contained in the SALNs to

China...

From A1 “The drug trade is being operated by the 14K [and the] Bamboo Triad. They have taken over. They are cooking shabu on the aisles,” Duterte said.

At the DoJ, the President noted those cooking shabu in the country were given “franchise and distribution” rights by these two groups to operate in the country.

Zhao assured Duterte that the Chinese government policy is very firm and it will continue to support his campaign against illegal drugs and drugrelated crimes.

“We have already begun the interagency cooperation, sharing intel, providing equipment and we hope that this kind of cooperation and coordination will be enhanced,” Zhao said.

He also assured the Philippines that China will not protect its nationals once they have committed a crime here.

Zhao said both China and the Philippines are facing the same problems, and he urged Manila to work closely with them in combating the illegal drug trade.

“Illicit drugs and drugrelated criminal acts are our common enemies. We need to work together to fight against

Reds...

From A1 of this ceasefire,” Sison said in an interview with Minneapolis-based socialist newspaper FightBack! posted Tuesday, Sept. 26.

“In fact, properly, the permanent truce is a subject matter of the end— it’s the fourth item under the rubric of ‘end of hostilities and the disposition of forces.’ So, this is a problem,” the CPP founder added.

In related developments: The Gabriela Women’s Party on Wednesday voiced concern over the military’s aerial bombardment and indiscriminate strafing on communities in Batangas following a supposed encounter with communist rebels in the area.

Gabriela Party-List Rep. Arlene Brosas said military operations were “excessive” that these had displaced hundreds of

graft court found Matillano “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of perjury, graft and violation of the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials.

The court also ordered him to pay P8,000 in fines for the other criminal cases filed against him.

Matillano was accused of excluding several assets in

his SALN in 2001, 2002 and 2003, such as pieces of real property, motor vehicles and other assets.

And in 2012 the Office of the Ombudsman filed 11 charges against him at the Sandiganbayan for his failure to file his SALNs from 1994 to 2000.

Matillano earlier appealed to the court that he be allowed

By John Paolo Bencito

an undersecretary post at the DILG, but without lamenting being unceremoniously eased out from the agency which he led for less than a year.

“I was called to Malacañang and I was offered a position— Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs. I was called by Bong Go and Executive Secretary Medialdea,” said Diño, who served as substitute candidate for the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan until then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte decided to run for the position.

“I’m a good soldier. If I will be effective there then I will accept the offer. Actually, I already accepted it,” he said.

Chief Presidential Legal

MALACAÑANG denied appointing former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Martin Diño for an undersecretary post at the Department of the Interior and Local Gover nment, contrary to his claims made Wednesday.

“As of this date, the President has not appointed Mr. Martin Diño to any position in the Department of the Interior and Local Government [DILG] or in any instrumentality of government,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

The Palace made the clarification after Diño, who held a press conference in Manila, confirmed that he had accepted

it. Hopefully we can eradicate all these crimes in the future,” he added.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office representative Gary Song-Huann Lin also denied in a separate statement that Taiwan is the source of illicit narcotics.

“Taiwan fully supports the Philippines’ combat against transnational drug syndicates.

Taiwan will continue to join hands with the Philippine relevant authorities to enhance cooperation to vigorously eliminate the transnational drug traffickings,” Lin said.

Teco said Lin has recently approached the relevant Philippine government agencies and the Senate to clarify that Taiwan has never been the source of illegal drugs.

Based on Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration statistics, most of the drugs are actually manufactured locally and do not come from overseas, Teco said.

Lin also emphasized that Taiwan and the Philippines have been working together to fight illegal drug for years.

He said in recent years, Taipei and Manila have established cooperation mechanisms and systems for the two countries to fight illegal transnational drug trafficking.

Duterte has been reaping criticism from foreign leaders and the United Nations over his war on drugs, which has claimed the lives of thousands of drug suspects and users.

In the Palace, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the President does not want foreign countries that know nothing of local conditions meddling in Philippine affairs.

“They’ll just suddenly come to the conclusion that the killings are state-sponsored—that’s what the President does not want,” he said in Filipino.

In his speech, Duterte said more than 70,000 anti-drug operations have already been conducted under his presidency, with 3,811 killed.

“These are legitimate encounters duly recorded,” Duterte said, adding that more than 200 police and soldiers were killed in action as a result of these anti-drug operations, many because drug suspects fought back.

‘Casuals...

From A1 To meet its mandate, the department had been forced to hire 25,122 temporary employees “under an alphabet soup of hiring schemes.”

“It has 1,351 J.O. workers or those covered by Job Orders,” Recto said.

“There were those who were hired under MOA or Memorandum of Agreement and COS or Contract of Service. These two account for 14,189. The contractual employees number 9,582.

“The result is that nine in 10 DSWD employees are temps [temporary employees].

“Those hired through JO, MOA and COS have no allowances, no bo-

having been explained to him by his counsel, and that he is entering a plea of guilty to all the charges.”

The court allowed Matillano to post a P98,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

Matillano was a classmate of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Gringo Honasan in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1971.

Palace unaware of Diño’s new official position

harass people or commit fraud.”

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella also earlier said “those working in the government, such as members of the Cabinet, still have the right to privacy.”

But Ronquillo countered this, saying the CSC maintained that officials’ SALNs should not be covered by the Data Privacy Act. After all, Ronquillo said, SALNs serve as a “form of transparency.”

Ronquillo is in charge of SALNs, according to CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala.

But the CSC admitted its hands were tied and could not investigate Cabinet officials who released their SALNs which contained blacked out portions, particularly details on the location and market value of their properties. With John Paolo Bencito

families from their homes and caused class suspensions.

“The women’s party-list group will push for an investigation on the incident while gathering reports from the ground,” she said.

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas also on Wednesday assailed the continuing military operations in Talumpok Silangan in Batangas City that included aerial strikes and strafing of civilian communities following a clash between government forces and the New People’s Army, early morning of Sept. 24.

The KMP said they were holding accountable Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, for the air strikes.

“The military said the operations are in pursuit of the NPA but the air strikes targeted civilian communities, destroying houses and farms. How can farmers escape bombs dropped

to change his plea to guilty from not guilty on the charges against him.

“When asked by the court, accused Matillano confirmed the manifestation of his counsel,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“He informed the court that he fully understands the nature and cause of the accusations against him, the same

Rody...

From A1

Hazing...

From A1 The Justice department ruled that the charges against Solano and 17 others should be heard and resolved in a preliminary investigation and not through an inquest hearing.

The panel led by Asst. State Prosecutor Susan Villanueva then set the hearings for Oct. 4 and 9.

Solano was charged with murder, violations of The AntiHazing Law, perjury, obstrucby military planes?” said Gigi Bautista of Samahang Magbubukid ng Batangas.

“Bombing runs and indiscriminate firing are routine actions in the government’s all-out war. Indiscriminate air strikes have worsened since Duterte’s martial law in Mindanao. Batangas City is just a few hours away from Metro Manila.

The all-out war is closing in on us. We must unite and fight this wanton violation of human rights,” said Eriberto Pena of Tanggol Magsasaka, a watchdog monitoring human rights violations against farmers.

Sison said the NDFP demanded the administration must comply with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect For Human Rights and international humanitarian law, “by releasing the political prisoners, either by one of two methods—one is by general amnesty, the other is by withdrawal of the charges.”

Sison also feared the govern-

nuses, no pension. All of them have no security of tenure. Most of them have contracts that are renewed every six months or yearly. This is a class of ‘endo’ workers.

“Another bad side effect of having a big budget and a small staff is that when funds are not liquidated by DSWD recipients, the responsible DSWD officers are the ones sanctioned.”

This, Recto said, was reflected in the DSWD’s ability to spend allotments, having failed to obligate P23 billion of this since 2015.

“Kawawa ang mga DSWD employees. Halimbawa, kapag ang local government hindi na-account ang pondong na-download sa kanila, ang DSWD responsible officer ang natatamaan,” Recto said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

“And you say that we are killing our own countrymen? For what reason? You enjoy slaughtering your own countrymen?” he said.

Duterte’s figures matched those of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which put the number of drug suspects killed at 3,811 from July 1, 2016 to Aug. 29, 2017.

Earlier this month, however, Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa gave a lower figure of 2,216 people dead as of Sept. 5.

International rights groups and media organizations, however, use a larger figure of 7,000 deaths, which include those the police classify as “deaths under investigation.”

The President challenged his critics to show proof that he ordered police to kill criminals.

“Find me one, even one officer or a patrolman, find me one that would say that I ordered them to execute criminals and you will have my resignation tomorrow. I’m only asking for one— patrolman or a police officer,” he said.

He also challenged the opposition to execute an affidavit stating that his children are involved in smuggling.

tion of justice and robbery in a complaint filed by the MPD. Another primary suspect who reportedly fled to Chicago a couple of days after the incident, Ralph Trangia, was also slapped with the same set of charges.

Fifteen other respondents were also listed in the charge sheet for the same charges—Trangia’s father Antonio, Arvin Balag, Mhin Wei Chan, Ranie Rafael Santiago, Oliver John Audrey Onofre, Jason Adolfo Robiños, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo, Karl Mathew Villanueva, Joshua ment’s bloody drug war might be used against revolutionary forces, as what happened in Colombia.

“This campaign popularizing the extrajudicial killings at first posed against this illegal drug trade can be shifted, can be used a method, against the revolutionary movement,” Sison said, citing repercussions pointed out very early by Ka Oris, the spokesperson of the CPP and the NPA. “And this could be something like ‘Plan Colombia.’ At first the paramilitaries units were formed supposedly against the illegal drugs, then then they could be shifted against the FARC and ELN,” he added.

“The Communist Party and the rest of the revolutionary movement have been alerted, and so right now, even Duterte is making some offensives justifying the disengagement that the NDFP has to undertake.” With Maricel V. Cruz and Bill Casas

Bicam...

From A1 hearing was deferred on Sept. 20 after the Commission on Appointments decided to review the issues raised by those opposing his appointment.

Pamalakaya said Cimatu was allowing reclamation activities to continue, hence posing dangers to the marine environment and to the fishermen’s livelihood.

Cimatu, who replaced former secretary Gina Lopez, faced the CA for the first time Wednesday

Counsel Salvador Panelo, however, said Duterte removed Diño from his previous post following complaints about “the way he was running the SBMA.” “Marami rin akong nakausap na investors dun. Ayaw nila si Diño,” he said in a news briefing at Quezon City Wednesday, adding he advised businessmen to outline their concerns in a letter to the president.

Duterte had the matter investigated and decided “effectively” to sack Diño by assigning a concurrent SBMA chairman and administrator, Panelo said.

While he harbors no ill feelings towards Duterte after losing his post to now SBMA Chairman Wilma Eisma, he insisted that he would still pur-

last week, but the voting was also postponed.

His nomination had one lone oppositor in Manuel Galvez who also opposed the nomination of Lopez over air monitoring systems.

Cimatu is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1970 who served as Armed Forces chief from May to September 2002.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, chairman of the CA’s national defense committee, said the commission would act on his nomination before Congress goes on a break on Oct. 11.

sue the cases he filed against 13 SBMA officials with the Office of the Ombudsman.

“The cases should continue because I did not invent these.

There is a COA [Commission on Audit] report. All they [SBMA officials] have to do is answer the charges,” Diño said.

Last July, Diño filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, seeking to charge 13 SBMA officials with malversation, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and grave abuse of authority over unaccounted assets.

Citing a report by the Commission on Audit, he claimed that the SBMA has assets worth almost P27 billion which remained unaccounted.

On Wednesday, the Palace welcomed the petition filed before the Supreme Court asking it to compel government agencies to investigate all killings linked to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, and to make public all reports and status of the investigations.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, however, insisted that authorities do “follow protocols and procedures during the conduct of police operations.”

“Concerned agencies, such as the Department of Justice [DOJ] and the Philippine National Police [PNP], welcome the petition and would respond to the petition filed at the Supreme Court,” Abella said.

“The public is given access to the results of the investigation; however, specific details on ongoing investigations are only released when these details will not compromise the investigation, follow-up operations, and other related activities,” he added.

Panelo, on the other hand, welcomed the Senate resolution calling for an investigation into the current spate of killings, especially of children and minors. With Bill Casas

Joriel Macabali, Axel Munro Hipe, Marc Anthony Ventura, Aeron Salientes, Marcelino Bagtang, Zimon Padro and Jose Miguel Salamat.

Trangia’s mother Rosemarie was also included in the complaint for obstruction of justice. She accompanied her son to the US. Solano was brought to the DoJ Monday for inquest proceedings.

But his lawyer Paterno Esmaquel, founding member of their fraternity, has questioned the inquest proceedings, arguing that

Defense...

From A1 The injured officials were identified as barangay chairman Datu Pendatun Sinsuat, kagawad Sinaribom Lalalog, Army Staff Sergeant Eddie Cane and PO2 Bobby Gulalani Pendililang.

The twin blasts occurred within a 20-minute interval at Upper Semba junction in Barangay Semba in Datu Sinsuat town, said Capt.

Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Awang, Maguindanao.

Encinas said the first explosion took place at about 7:30 a.m. but left no injuries.

The second blast occurred at around 7:50 a.m. injuring the four officials.

Elsewhere in Mindanao, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has offered security to Christian groups who will extend assistance for internally displaced persons in the Marawi conflict, according to Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña.

The bishop said MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim assured them of help in the Church’s rehabilitation pro-

SWS poll:...

From A1 Some 25 percent were undecided while the remaining 20 percent disagreed.

Human Rights Watch said the survey findings were not suprising.

“The findings by the Social Weather Stations are not surprising given the critical mass of compelling evidence compiled by Human Rights Watch and investigative

Rody: No hand in Sereno case

By Rio N. Araja A PALACE official on Wednesday flatly denied that President Rodrigo Duterte had something to do with the impeachment raps filed against Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

“That is not true… The President never even interfered with the affairs of the Cabinet, what more outside the Cabinet?,” chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a news briefing Wednesday.

Pressed for an answer on whether or not Duterte wants the chief justice impeached, Panelo insisted that the President is not interested on the chief justice’s ouster.

“He doesn’t want to interfere, it doesn’t matter to him,” he said. “So it goes without saying it doesn’t matter to him, bahala kayo, kanya-kanyang diskarte ‘yan.”

Panelo, however, reminded that any impeachment is a “numbers game.”

Lawyer Lorenzo Gadon had filed the impeachment complaint against Sereno for betrayal of public trust and violation of the 1987 Constitution.

The committee on justice of Congress declared Gadon’s sufficient in form and substance.

The President, in previous occasions, hinted that he was displeased with a jet-setting government official who apparently enjoyed luxurious travel accommodations.

While Duterte did not identify the official, who he said flew first class and slept in hotel suites when going abroad —many believed that he was referring to Sereno.

On Monday, Sereno submitted her reply to the impeachment complaint filed against her and accused the House of Representatives of “abuse of power,” saying it was exercising its impeachment power “without sufficient legal and factual basis.”

Victims’ ...

From A1

gram that focuses on healing and peace building efforts.

Dela Peña, together with Cotabato Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, talked with Murad in Rome for a meeting convened by the Community of Sant’Egidio, a global movement of lay people known for its work with the poor and refugees.

The dialogue was attended by other Muslim and Christian leaders as well as representatives of civil society from Mindanao.

“Murad gave us assurance that they will provide us security,” Dela Peña said.

Lorenzana said they would get inputs from the people of Marawi and Lanao if martial law was still needed while rebuilding and rehabilitating the conflict-stricken areas.

“Now, if they say our area can do without martial law, we will also consider that. But, the final determination whether to continue martial law or not rests with the President,” Lorenzana said.

He said the defense department would do the necessary recommendation in October on whether martial law in Mindanao would be lifted soon or extended. With Francisco Tuyay and Vito Barcelo

telling the truth, and he is inconsistent with his statements?

Real witnesses… will testify and what [they] will say will not change at all,” she said.

When he surrendered to the NBI, Bagcal claimed that Arnaiz used a knife and was with Kulot during the robbery. He earlier said Arnaiz was alone and had used a gun.

Acosta said the complainants will stand firm on their allegation that Bagcal had conspired with the Caloocan policemen involved in the two killings.

“He is a co-conspirator in this case because he legitimized the defense of the policemen that the teenagers killed were holdup robbers.

There is a conspiracy here,” Acosta said.

Acosta said only the eyewitness identified as alias “Daniel” who pointed to probers the site where Carl Angelo was killed by police on C-3 Road in Caloocan should be placed under WPP coverage.

The PAO chief disclosed that the witness, who saw how Carl was killed by the police, was already interrogated by the NBI for purposes of his WPP application.

In his affidavit, the witness said he saw police drag Carl Angelo out of a police patrol car and ordered him to kneel in a grassy area. Holding up his bound wrists, the man pleaded that he was surrendering—“susuko na po ako”—but he was shot dead by two policemen.

Daniel said he hid behind a lamppost when the police car pulled to a stop near the grassy area. He said there was also a young boy in the car, which was believed to be Kulot.

Acosta said Daniel’s statement was consistent with their forensic findings.

journalists that clearly demonstrates that Philippine National Police personnel and their agents have for the past 15 months conducted an unlawful killing campaign under the cynical veneer of ‘anti-drug/ operations,” said Phelim Kine, Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch.

“Human Rights Watch research documented cases based on eyewitness accounts that contradicted the claims by the police and the government that the thousands

of victims of the ‘drug war--men, women and children—were all shot dead because they ‘fought back.’” said Kine.

“HRW’s research into many of these anti-drug operations clearly shows the intent of police and their agents to summarily execute the victims...Police claims that the victims fought back—hence forcing the police to shoot them down— were thoroughly debunked in most of the cases Human Rights Watch documented,” Kine added.

his client voluntarily surrendered and was not arrested through warrantless arrest by police.

Esmaquel said his client’s continued detention would be in violation of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Esmaquel said Solano has rejected the gover nment’s offer to be placed under the Witness Protection Program and be given legislative immunity.

The lawyer said such offers were unnecessary because his client is innocent of the charges.

News Govt urges Pinoy OFWs to avail of KSA’s extended amnesty offer THE Philippine government has urged all Filipinos illegally working and staying in Saudi Arabia to avail of the 30-day extended amnesty program offered by the Saudi Arabian government for illegal migrants, including Filipinos.

The amnesty came into effect on Sept. 16 and will continue until Oct. 15, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said.

The POEA said the second extension was in response to the request of the Philippines and several other

countries and is seen to benefit at least 6,000 undocumented Filipinos who were unable to avail of the initial amnesty offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to thousands of illegal workers there.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said it has received information from the Saudi Immigration (Jawasat) regarding the details of the provisional extension granted by the Saudi Government on the 2017 Amnesty Programme for illegal expatriates in the Kingdom. Vito Barcelo

Journalist Protection Act pushed A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Wednesday pushed for the passage of a measure that seeks to protect journalists from harassments while in the performance of their duties.

Deputy minority leader and Kabayan Party-List Rep. Harry Roque urged the House committee on information to pass his House Bill 913 or the Journalist Protection, Security, and Benefit Act and endorse it to plenary for second reading.

“Journalists nowadays are being targeted by partisan groups

and individuals for the mere reporting of news.

The latest case of harassment I read about was the journalist who was sent threatening messages because she reported about the nonexistent bank accounts of a senator,” Roque said.

“This issue is deeply personal to me, first and foremost because my wife is also a former journalist.

Second, I have long been an advocate of the freedom of expression and freedom of the press,” he added.

Maricel V. Cruz

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Caloocan cops in illegal raid face robbery raps

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Justice has been asked to prosecute the Caloocan City policemen who tapped a minor in robbing a house they raided last Sept. 7 for allegedly committing various criminal offenses.

In a complaint, Gina Erobas, owner of the house raided by the policemen, accused 13 rookie police officers and their two su-

periors of robbery, child abuse, trespass to dwelling and violation of domicile.

Assisted by Public Attorney’s Office chief

Persida Rueda-Acosta in filing the complaint, Erobas impleaded the following respondents in her complaint: Police Officers 1 Ariel Furio, Marvin Poblete, Sherwin Rivera, Jay Gabanata, Francis Ruiz Quidic, Rene Llanto, Louie Serrano, Jaypee Tulay, Rohelio Julaton, Jay-R Sabangan, Jaime Natividad, Joey Leaban and Michael Miguel; Senior Inspector Warren Peralta and Chief Inspector Timothy Ani-

way Jr. All the 15 respondents have reportedly been relieved from their post in Caloocan City police station and transferred to other cities following the incident and the spate of killings of teenagers during antinarcotics operations last month.

In her complaint, Erobas said the policemen raided her house for allegedly hiding shabu after her neighbor, who was arrested for possession of illegal drugs,

identified her as his supplier. The neighbor turned out to be at odds with Erobas’ family.

Close-circuit television (CCTV) footages showed the policemen ransacking the house through the minor and taking at least P26,000 worth of valuables, including P6,000 cash.

The policemen were not in uniform and did not have a search warrant when they raided the house of Erobas.

They also did not file a spot report on the raid.

MMDA officials, personnel join 3rd natl quake drill

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday joined the 3rd nationwide earthquake drill spearheaded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council which aims to prevent loss of lives and lessen the damage to property in case of a big tremor.

The event also coincided with MMDA’s annual Metro Manila shake drill which simulates scenarios and response in the event a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.

All MMDA employees participated in the drill and executed the “duck, cover

and hold” maneuver, and followed the agency’s evacuation plan.

Chairman Danilo Lim said it is important to raise public awareness on disaster preparedness and safety precautions should always be observed.

“Everyone should seriously engage in the shake drill because lives are at stake here,” Lim stressed.

The nationwide earthquake drill was supposed to be held on Sept. 21 but was postponed due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of National Day of Protest and suspension of classes and work in government offices.

The earthquake drill is scheduled once every three

months and usually falls on the last month of every quarter.

The MMDA chief said it is important to have a regular earthquake drill to be better prepared in the event that the “Big One” jolts Metro Manila.

Lim said that aside from the overwhelming support from the private sector, there was also a huge number of barangay officials and community leaders who participated in this year’s drill unlike the previous exercises.

He suggested that there should be more quake drills in the future before the MMDA could conduct an unannounced earthquake exercise.

“We can never attain a perfect score here. We always strive to improve and be better every shake drill,” Lim said.

The MMDA created an Earthquake Contingency Plan or Oplan Metro Yakal Plus, a Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council’s response tool based on the 7.2 magnitude movement of the West Valley Fault (WVF) with Intensity 8 ground shaking.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director Renato Solidum said the intensity of the ground shaking from the WVF with a 7.2 magnitude will not only affect Metro Manila, but will also be felt in nearby provinces of

Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.

He said with an Intensity 8 earthquake, the scenarios of fire incidents, collapsed structures and hazardous traffic incidents would occur.

Based on the Oplan Yakal contingency plan, Metro Manila will be divided into four quadrants.

At present, the East Quadrant command center is located at Light Railway Transit—2 train depot in Santolan, Pasig City; the North Quadrant at the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; the South Quadrant at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City and the West Quadrant at the Intramuros Golf Course in Manila.

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Opinion

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Competitiveness

T

HE Philippines is the 56th most competitive country in the world, according to a survey by the World Economic Forum.

The Global Competitiveness Report measures and ranks the competitiveness of 137 economies in 12 pillars driving productivity and prosperity.

Our Asean neighbor, Singapore, ranks third in the 2017-2018 report.

Others who made it to the Top 10 were Switzerland, the United States, The Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong, Sweden, United Kingdom, Japan and Finland.

This year’s report, according to WEF founder and executive chairman

Klaus Schwab, highlights the role of a country’s innovative capacity in competitiveness.

Technological advances, which have steadily displaced workers and rendered numerous jobs redundant, create greater challenges to the global labor force.

The Philippines’ marginal improvement from 57th place last year offers little consolation especially if we bear in mind that 138 countries were evaluated last year.

It’s not always the overall ranking, too, but the specifics that would tell the story.

For instance, in the Institutions pillar, our performance falls dismally below the average for economies in East Asia and the Pacific.

That our institutions, especially public ones, are weak is tied to the most problematic factor for doing business: Inefficient government bureaucracy.

The inadequate supply of infrastructure comes a close second problem, with corruption not too far behind.

Per pillar, we rank 94th in institutions, 97th in infrastructure, 22nd in macroeconomic environment, 82nd in health and primary education, 55th in higher education and training, 103rd in goods market efficiency, 84th in labor market efficiency, 52nd in financial market development, 83rd in technological readiness, 27th in market size, 58th in business sophistication and 65th in innovation.

It is a given we face multiple prob-

lems on multiple fronts. While our officials believe they are doing everything they can—we have no reason to doubt their unadulterated intentions for the people—they must every now and then step back and look at how we are doing compared to the rest of the world.

Addressing these inadequacies that hamper our competitiveness will have long-term effects, even after they are no longer in office, even if they will no longer be able to stamp their name in every accomplishment. Remember: It’s not about them, but the people.

Where to start? They only need to go to the website of the WEF and find out where we are coasting along, and where we are on the brink of drowning.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

Belonging

Kiko’s sneaky move LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES I SAW what you did there, Kiko. That was straight out of the Yellow playbook of deceit, disinformation and sly defamation—and straight out of grade school, as well.

But did Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan really hide his resolution condemning the killing of minors in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs from seven of his colleagues for no reason at all? Only Pangilinan can answer that question; and, to me and to some of his colleagues, he doesn’t sound like he’s telling the truth in his reply.

Pangilinan, the leader of the Liberal Party contin-

gent in the Senate, threw the chamber into an uproar yesterday when he was accused by some of his fellow senators of making it appear that they did not support his Resolution Number 516 filed last Monday. That’s really silly because what senator would refuse to sign the resolution, which, as the title states, urged “government to take the necessary steps to stop the spate of killings, especially of our children”?

As a result, the seven senators who did not sign the Pangilinan resolution have earned the ire of the public, especially in social media.

Here’s what went down: It started with a privilege speech made by Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who bewailed the attacks on senators who allegedly refused to sign the Pangilinan resolution, based on

news reports that said as much. This was followed by a similar speech by Senator Manny Pacquiao in the same vein.

That was such a sneaky move by the head of the LPs in the Senate.

But then, I’m not really surprised.

Senator Richard Gordon, who was also reported as having refused to sign, stood up to speak, as well. But he couldn’t finish what he was saying —a rare thing for Gordon —because he said his “fa-

vorite” colleague Senator Antonio Trillanes was allegedly talking loudly behind his back.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, another of the seven who did not co-sign with Pangilinan, was incensed, as well. Zubiri pointed out that the Senate was working late into Monday night on the hearing on the Aegis Juris hazing death and that Pangilinan could have very well approached him if he really wanted Zubiri’s signature.

Likewise, Senator Loren Legarda said that she remembers telling Pangilinan to secure the signature of Gordon. “Don’t forget my seat mate,” Legarda recalled saying, an admonition that Pangilinan apparently forgot immediately.

Even Senator Cynthia Villar piped up, saying that she had been warned about

two of her LP colleagues, Paolo “Bam” Aquino and Risa Hontiveros. Villar was apparently of the belief that the kerfuffle was a coordinated LP move.

For once, I agree with Villar. It does look like something only the Yellow party could have cooked up.

In his defense, Pangilinan could only say that since he had already secured the signatures of 14 senators, including his jailed LP colleague Senator Leila de Lima, he did not feel the need to ask for more signatories. Besides (and this is where Pangilinan really attempts to go down a slippery slope), the LP leader said he was already in a hurry—to do what, he could not really explain.

The lawmakers who were unjustly reported to have “refused to sign” Pangilinan’s resolution, which

also calls for a Senate investigation of the killing of minors in the campaign against drugs, apart from Sotto, Pacquiao, Gordon, Zubiri and Villar, were Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Gregorio Honasan. And none of them ever recalls seeing the Pangilinan-authored document, much less being asked to sign it.

That was such a sneaky move by the head of the LPs in the Senate. But then, I’m not really surprised.

Pangilinan will do anything, even throw his own colleagues under the bus, if he stands to benefit from it politically. I guess Kiko’s updated version of his repeated remarks of “noted” during the national canvassing of the 2004 elections is “I’m really in a hurry and I don’t really

IN THE ordinary order of things, sons are supposed to bury their fathers. If what happens is the other way around, the pain and grief is difficult to bear.

Sometimes the pain never goes away.

The members of the Aegis Juris fraternity who conducted the initiation rites that killed young Horacio “Atio” Castillo III did not have to kill the young man. But they did. Atio paid the ultimate price simply by wanting to belong to a group which he thought was an exemplary organization. Yet, when he was fighting for his life, the people who inflicted grievous harm to him treated him horribly—one wonders, what sort of values does this Aegis Juris fraternity have.

What did Shakespeare say of these kinds of people? Cowards die a thousand times before their deaths.

These people cannot even face up to what they did.

They were cowardly.

Why, we might ask, did Horacio not simply quit when the initiation rites was becoming brutal and unbearable? Maybe he was ashamed to be branded a quitter if he gives up. We will be able to find this out when the investigation goes deeper or when those six people named by John Paolo Solano in his sworn statement who were present during the initiation rites begin to sing in order to save their own skin.

We will also be able to find out if Atio Castillo could have survived if those six fraternity members acted promptly and brought him to the University of Santo Tomas hospital, which was very near, instead of bringing him to the Chinese General Hospital, which was very far.

During the initial Senate hearing, the answers of the University representative, the sister sorority fraternity and the law school dean were pathetic to say the least. I was surprised why the senators simply allowed them to get away with their evasive answers and not ask deeper questions.

The university representative said that the fraternity was not registered

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Opinion More sanctions, fewer insults Bloomberg editorial NO ONE knows how North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will respond to growing pressure on his regime, other than by scouring the thesaurus. But the US and China seem to be stumbling toward a more effective strategy for confronting him. More boldness from the latter, and restraint from the former, will be necessary to see it through.

New US sanctions that give the Treasury Department the authority to block banks and businesses that do business with North Korea from using the US financial system are a powerful tool. Existing United Nations sanctions haven’t yet forced a change in Kim’s behavior, while the known military options remain inconceivable in anything but the direst circumstances.

And the US has every right to decide for itself who can and cannot participate in its financial system. China seems to recognize this, judging by recent instructions to Chinese banks not to hold accounts for North Koreans.

In fact, Treasury would be wise not to deploy its new powers immediately, in order to test whether Chinese leaders are prepared to go even further.

They should. China isn’t wrong to insist that, in the long run, the only way to defuse this crisis is through dialogue. But the “freezefor-freeze” proposal Beijing continues to push— whereby the US and South Korea would suspend joint military exercises in exchange for the North temporarily halting its nuclear and missile testing— should be abandoned, not least because Kim himself shows no interest in it.

Belonging From A4

for the school year 2017-2018 suggesting that as far as the school is concerned, the fraternity is illegal. Was this supposed to be an excuse for the school not to have supervised the initiation rites?

The sorority representative on the other hand, when asked whether there were sorority members present during the initiation rites, said was none.

And the Dean? What did he say? He also said that he did not know about it and gave instruction that there should be no hazing during the final initiation rites.

This is plain and simple hogwash. Why? Because there is no one in this world who will not equate membership in a fraternity to initiation rites. Initiation is always part of becoming a member of a fraternity. The only question to ask is what type is conducted. A group —be it a fraternity, sorority or military academies like the Philippine Military Academy—needs something that can bind members together. This may be shared hardships and experiences during the whole period of training or initiation rites.

For PMA cadets, the period is one year.

If one can go through that, then all the classmates will be “mistahs” forever.

We have heard and seen some hazing deaths of fourth class cadets from PMA and these were handled differently.

How? For instance a first year cadet dies in the hands of senior cadets, the person who pays the price of dismissal is usually the last cadet who handled or touched the plebe. This is basically the last-touch doctrine so to speak but we have not seen cadets dying because of hazing for a long time. We can only assume that brutal hazing in the PMA have already been done away with.

University fraternities are

On the other hand, fears that additional sanctions will provoke a collapse in North Korea are overblown. Furthermore, that’s not their purpose: They’re meant to slow the North’s progress toward a nucleararmed ICBM and squeeze the economy enough that the regime seeks to alleviate the pressure. There’s some evidence that current measures have already begun to drive up prices of goods in Pyongyang.

China should be focused on driving Kim back to the table, which means cracking down not just on North Korean businessmen but the Chinese intermediaries they use to evade sanctions. More creative measures may be in order, similar to the three-day “malfunction” in China’s oil pipeline to the North in 2003. If Chinese officials are indeed discussing post-Kim scenarios with their US counterparts for the first time, they should make sure Kim himself knows about it.

For his part, President Donald Trump needs to restrain his rhetoric. It’s unlikely that Chinese leaders take it seriously anymore —and, in any case, the possibility of having more Chinese banks and companies cut off from the US financial system would seem threat enough. For Kim, meanwhile, Trump’s insults only reinforce his argument that the North confronts a mortal threat from war-mongering Americans and that citizens should endure sacrifices for the good of the nation. And South Korean President Moon Jae-in has pleaded that this crisis be managed “in a stable manner.”

The US has brought out a big stick. For now, Trump should let it speak for itself. of course a different matter.

The rite of passage in order to be called a “brod” is to undergo initiation which really does not take very long. Certainly not one full year as in the PMA. Often, neophytes perform harmless orders but sometimes, the rites become deadly as in the case of Horacio Castillo III and other victims before him.

In spite of R.A 8409 popularly known as the anti-hazing law, we still see young men dying senselessly as a result of fraternity hazing rites. We cannot seem or simply refuse to learn our lessons. Dean Nilo Divina being a member of the fraternity himself should have known this and supervised the initiation rites more closely. Simply allowing those senior members of the fraternity to conduct the initiation rites themselves was a recipe for disaster as it is now proving to be so.

Fortunately, we have Police Chief Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel of the Manila Police District handling the investigation. He is an experienced investigator and if anyone can get to the bottom of all these, he can.

There is now a clamor to amend R.A 8409 and ban hazing altogether. This is of course no consolation to the parents of Horacio III but let us hope that his death will be the last because of hazing.

Horacio Castillo III simply wanted to belong to a fraternity whose senior members ended up killing him. What an irony because judging from the way those members acted and behaved when confronted by an emergency situation like saving Atio’s life, they behaved shamelessly. What sort of a fraternity is that?

Garbage is what it is.

For those responsible for Atio’s death, let us also hope that when they are identified tried and convicted of murder, they will spend their long years in prison thinking of what they did to Atio including their own lives which they wasted.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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A private army for Congress?

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO WE, THE people, elect members of Congress to be our representatives precisely to represent our interests. Their primary duty is to enact laws for the common good.

With the power of the purse, Congress remains a counterbalance to the Executive and the Judicial branches.

So far, the Philippines, when it adopted the Republican kind of government, the democratic space we live in has been observed.

There were instances of tyranny but in the end democracy prevailed.

But now we have some characters in Congress who want to change this balance of power. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas filed a bill that would enable Congress to have its own police force, independent of the Philip-

pine National Police.

Surprisingly, this idea has its supporters.

I do not know what is becoming of our duly elected representatives in Congress, but not content with their privileges, they now want to be set apart from the rest of us. They want their own police force to protect them and their families.

This is an outright condemnation of the PNP that is supposed to serve and protect us the people.

Fariñas seems to be the point man of some other members of Congress who want privilege at the people’s expense.

First, he wanted lawmakers to be exempt from traffic regulations. And now this, I wonder what his next bright idea is. *** Senator Richard Gordon was the first chairman and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Under him, things ran smoothly. His successor,

Tong Payumo, achieved the same. During those times, I was a frequent visitor to Subic. I liked the environment.

Then came Executive Order 340 which separated the positions of chairman and administrator. I was against this because I fore-

What fantastic idea will our honorable lawmakers think of next? saw the inevitable turf war between the two top officials. I was at SBMA when the security forces of the chairman and the administrator confronted each other. It became a battleground.

That was the result of the power struggle.

Things went well during

the regime of President BS Aquino III. But when President Duterte took power, he appointed his PDP Laban co-member, Martin Diño, as chairman. Then a new administrator came in.

With Executive Order No. 42, making lawyer Wilma Eisma both chairman and administrator, I think we can expect more peaceful days. *** President Duterte told reporters that he would like his daughter Sara to succeed him as president.

Some thought the President was joking. But he was serious.

Now Sara Duterte is fair game for critics. They say the Dutertes are creating a dynasty of their own.

Unless the President says otherwise, everything that Sara says and does will be interpreted as being in aid of presidential ambition.

I hate to say it but the President’s off-the-cuff statements frequently land him in trouble. Because of this, spokesman Ernesto

Abella often finds himself in difficult situations.

I must give it to him for working so hard. *** The Duterte administration should address the findings of the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness report.

The Philippines ranks the 56th most competitive out of 137 countries in the survey, but it is the second worst— next only to Venezuela—in the number of procedures to start a business.

The report cited the poor government bureaucracy here. No wonder we remain far behind our Asean neighbors in investments. *** I really wonder why students would want to join a fraternity just to belong.

They know very well they would be subjected to pain and difficulty.

I do not see any logic in it. I used to warn my children about these organizations. Do good in school so you would not feel the need to belong.

Bite the bullet OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ THE “ber” months are exciting times for us Filipinos because it reminds us that Christmas is coming. As early as September, Christmas decorations adorn our malls and streets and Christmas carols are played in public places.

Businessmen anticipate rise in profits, employees look forward to bonuses, and everyone gears up for the Yuletide season. While these holiday traditions may seem corny to some, we cannot deny that these are uniquely Filipino.

With the current traffic condition, our dream of a happy holiday will be a nightmare. “Carmaggedon” is an understatement of the parking lot that has become our streets and highways; and traffic will

only get worse in the coming months leading to the New Year.

A study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency states that the Philippines loses P2.4 billion a day due to the Metro Manila traffic jam. This number could go up to P6 billion a day by 2030 if the government fails to address the traffic problem with urgency.

How did things get this bad? It cannot be denied that the previous administration had six years to anticipate and prepare for the rise in the volume of vehicles and commuters. They could have built more roads, bridges, and alternate routes. However, they failed to take significant action to address the traffic problem. There was inexcusable underspending during their term in the areas where public funding was most needed.

Our metro railways have been subject to controversies, to the detriment of the commuting public. The maintenance projects, for some reason, were divided and distributed to companies that little, to no background in public railway maintenance. Additional train cars that were not compatible with the present operational and functional system of the original MRT were purchased.

No new stations were built.

The construction of the LRT-MRT common station was delayed due to several changes in location, that resulted to a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court.

Let’s face it. We are left to suffer the consequence of negligence.

Through the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development program of the Duterte administration, projects aimed at im-

proving public transportation and alleviating traffic are now on their way. But while we wait for the fruition of these projects, we have to make certain sacrifices as early as today.

It is good news that several local government units such as Makati City and the City of Manila have already conducted clearing operations of roads and sidewalks. Earlier this year, the Metro Manila Development Authority declared more tow-away zones and the barangays were directed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government to free their roads of obstructions. I hope that they can go further by cleaning the drainages and doing other flood control measures.

While we appreciate these measures, I reiterate the benefits of implementing the three-digit number coding scheme.

When I initially proposed this, there were violent reactions against it. But we need to make a choice. Do we maintain the present system, suffer traffic, and complain? Or we bite the bullet, make sacrifices, not just for us but for everyone else on the road?

With the current twodigit number coding scheme, 20 percent of vehicles are being eliminated from the road. With my proposed three-digit number coding scheme, 30 percent of vehicles will be automatically eliminated from the road daily. It would be best to start its implementation by November of this year until the second week of January 2018, or when everyone has already settled from the holidays. Hence, I call on MMDA chairman Danilo Lim and general manager Tim Orbos to take this matter with urgency.

Slaves to the tyranny of the drug war IT’S A cliché but it’s so apt for this situation that I’ll go ahead and use it —truth is stranger than fiction. What is happening in the Philippines has gone beyond the realm of shocking or scandalous to surreal and fantastic.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently said that major international drug triads 14K and United Bamboo Gang have turned the country into a “transshipment point” for large-scale drug trafficking in Southeast Asia and America.

If that is so, then how is the drug war helping control this tremendous menace? All it does is target individual alleged drug addicts and pushers who might not even be connected to drugs.

The drug war is a penny-

Kiko‘s...

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like you, so you can’t sign my resolution.”

It’s like we’re all back in grade school and Pangilinan gets to choose who he wants to sign his “slum book.” If so, I guess Kiko

ante, two-bit response to an enormous, uncontrollable global traffic in contraband substances. The drug war is small-time. It’s nibbling at the fringes of a huge unchewable mass. It’s not helping. It’s hurting.

Here’s a plot twist: last Tuesday, the House Committee on Health approved a bill legalizing the use of medicinal marijuana.

The proposed Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act will regulate the use of medical cannabis to treat chronic or debilitating conditions including severe and chronic pain, epilepsy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cachexia, and seizures.

Registered identification cards will be issued to qualified patients who can purchase medical cannabis at a “Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center.”

The bill can help a lot of people suffering from illnesses that traditional medicines cannot treat. How-

ever, I can foresee a lot of trouble and misunderstanding arising from this.

What’s to stop triggerhappy law enforcers or vigilantes from shooting people emerging from a cannabis dispensary? Or someone who has marijuana in their possession for perfectly legal purposes?

Or letting go someone who is actually a drug user but then claims it’s medical marijuana? The ramifications of possible scenarios boggles the mind.

The drug war dead, according to various sources, hover around 7,000 to 13,000. It is possible that many more deaths are unrecorded or unattributed.

In any case, one killed without due process is still one too many. Certainly thousands of Filipinos have summarily been murdered in the streets of Manila since Duterte took power on a promise to do exactly this—rid the country of drug addicts and users.

The tragedy of this situation is the likelihood is that many of those slain were not users, much less addicts, only innocent bystanders who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The tragedy is that the process of dehumanization of a certain group of Filipinos has proceeded so quickly that it is becoming the new norm.

The tragedy is that EJKs are supported by millions in the country who revel in vicarious bloodlust and wallow in the satisfying schadenfreude that appeals to our baser human instincts.

“In politics, being deceived is no excuse,” said Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski. Are any being deceived here? I think they know all too well what is happening, yet the dehumanization process and mob rule have gripped the country. Many continue to support the drug war

despite the unprecedented bloodbath, claiming that it is necessary for peace and order as it strikes a chilling effect among would-be evildoers.

In a 1783 speech to the House of Commons, British statesman William Pitt said: “Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”

And for Filipinos whose ancestors shook off the yoke of colonizers and occupiers only to kowtow willingly at the feet of a local-bred lord and master, the irony is only too palpable.

Let our own Jose Rizal have the last word, and no, it’s not ‘surreal’: “There can be no tyrants where there are no slaves.”

would point out that his favorite color is “Yellow.” *** The polling firm Social Weather Stations has released the results of a recent survey, which said that a slight majority of Filipinos believe that those killed in the war on drugs did not resist the police. But that, to

me, is not quite as important as the biggest controversy surrounding the campaign against illegal drugs – the runaway inflation of the alleged body count, for which no one can seem to find an authoritative primary source.

I first heard of the death toll from the war on drugs

last year, when it stood at about 3,000, according to media reports at the time.

One newspaper actually tried to come up with a “kill list” documenting the drug deaths—and, as Bobi Tiglao noted yesterday— actually came up with a figure lower than the police’s.

Now it’s up to 14,000, ac-

cording to some stubborn quarters. and no one can still come up with a list that does not include ordinary homicides unrelated to the drug war. At least, the Bangko Sentral has kept inflation in check; in the propaganda war, the inflation of the drug war body count seems limitless.

Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. FB: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, IG: @ jensdecember, @artuoste

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World

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

Villagers profit from monkey business TAFI ATOME, Ghana― The villagers of Tafi Atome, in Ghana’s Volta Region, grew up listening to tales of their spiritual links to the 1,000 or so mona monkeys that inhabit the surrounding lush forest.

But they have also turned that reverence into revenue, by making the cheeky primates part of an eco-tourist attraction that benefits both animals and locals alike.

Francis Acquaye, the manager of the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary and Cultural Village, said the monkeys and the forest were considered sacred until the 1980s, when the spread of Christianity eroded traditional beliefs.

The red, brown and white monkeys, which are found between Ghana and Cameroon, were soon hunted and trees were chopped down until the village became an eco-tourist attraction in 1996.

Now, thousands of people visit the sanctuary near the border with Togo each year.

Some stay in the village to learn about rural life.

The money earned has helped to build a health clinic, sink boreholes and renovate school buildings.

“People in the community treat the monkeys in a very friendly way just because of the benefits we derive from tourism,” Acquaye told AFP. “Everybody supports what is here.

“So the monkeys are our friends, they are our brothers and sisters.”

At the sanctuary, monkeys wait in the trees, watching a group of young visitors. When the bananas come out, so do the monkeys. Both tourist and monkey squeal with delight as the food is taken. AFP

Response to hurricane defended WASHINGTON―US President Donald Trump defended the government’s relief response to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Tuesday and promised to visit the island next week.

Trump also said he would travel to the US Virgin Islands, another American territory in the Caribbean that was slammed by a pair of powerful storms.

“Both have been devastated, and I mean absolutely devastated,” the president told reporters at a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

“Puerto Rico got hit by two hurricanes... And they were among the biggest we’ve ever seen.”

Relief efforts were complicated by the fact that it is an island, which now faces a “long and very, very difficult restoration process,” Trump said.

Before Maria struck last week, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands were also hit by Hurricane Irma― which killed at least 112 people, 72 of whom were in Florida, according to an updated death toll released Tuesday.

Rejecting accusations Puerto Rico has not received the same level of assistance as storm-hit US states Florida and Texas, Trump said a “massive relief effort is underway.”

Trump said he had ordered all relevant agencies and the military to do “everything in their power” to help the residents of Puerto Rico.

“We are unloading on an hourly basis massive loads of water and food and supplies for Puerto Rico,” the president said, adding that he would visit there on Tuesday. AFP

Saudi women may drive R

IYADH―Saudi King Salman on Tuesday ordered that women be allowed to drive from next June, in a historic decision that makes the ultra-conservative kingdom the last country in the world to permit women behind the wheel.

The longstanding driving ban was seen globally as a symbol of repression of women in the Gulf kingdom and comes after a years-long resistance from female activists.

The decision, which risks riling religious conservatives, is part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious reform push aimed at adapting to a postoil era and improving its battered global reputation for its human rights record.

“King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud has issued a decree authorizing the issuance of drivers’ licenses for women in the kingdom,” Saudi state TV said.

“The decree will take effect in June 2018.”

Saudi Arabia will use the “preparatory period” until then to expand licensing facilities and develop the infrastructure to accommodate millions of new drivers, the announcement added.

Conservative clerics in Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy ruled according to sharia law, have justified the ban over the years, arguing that it would lead to promiscuity. One of them claimed that driving harmed women’s ovaries.

Many women’s rights activists were jailed over the years for defiantly flouting the ban.

The shock announcement was met with a mix of eu-

phoria and disbelief.

“A glorious day. Can’t hold back my tears,” tweeted Saudi shura council member Latifah Alshaalan. “Congratulations to the women of my homeland.”

Activist Manal al-Sharif, who led the 2011 “Women2Drive” protest movement, tweeted: “Today, the last country on earth to allow women to drive... we did it.”

“It is a testimony to the bravery of women activists who have been campaigning for years that... Saudi Arabia has finally relented and decided to permit women to drive,” Amnesty International said.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women.

Under the country’s guardianship system, a male family member―normally the father, husband or brother―must grant permission for a woman’s study, travel and other activities. AFP It was unclear whether women will require their guardian’s permission to apply for a driving license.

After Tuesday’s historic announcement, the hashtags “I am my own guardian” and “Saudi Women Can Drive” began gaining traction on social media, while many openly lampooned the conservatives who long favored the ban. AFP

AFTER THE VERDICT. Norawit Larlaeng, head lawyer for former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, addresses reporters outside the court following a verdict in her trial in Bangkok, where she was sentenced to five years in jail. AFP

AFP correspondent Kate Webb featured in Australian stamp SYDNEY―A crusading Agence France-Presse correspondent who enjoyed a storied career covering wars and other historic events has been commemorated on an Australian stamp.

Kate Webb, who died in 2007 at the age of 64, earned a reputation as a fearless reporter during the Vietnam War and covering other momentous stories in Asia during a career spanning four

decades.

She is featured on one of five new stamps unveiled Wednesday to mark Remembrance Day on November 11, when a minute’s silence is held to honor those who have fought and died for their country. The stamps will be issued on October 6.

“This stamp issue, the fourth in a series commemorating a century since World War I, acknowledges the

important roles women have played in war and conflict,” said Michael Zsolt of Australia Post.

Webb, who was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia with her family as a child, is shown on a stamp marking the Korea and Vietnam wars, along with Red Cross worker Rosemary Griggs.

In 1971 while covering the Vietnam War, Webb was

reported killed after she was ambushed and taken prisoner

by North Vietnamese troops in Cambodia, who marched her and five others through the jungle in a 23-day ordeal.

A front-page obituary was published in the New York Times and the body of another woman wrongly identified as hers―but just as her family held a memorial service for her in Sydney, Webb and the other captives were freed. AFP

Iranians flood streets to mourn symbol of fight against IS TEHRAN―A huge crowd flooded central Tehran in a sea of red and black on Wednesday to mourn a soldier who has become a symbol of the fight against the Islamic State group.

Last month’s capture and beheading of Mohsen Hojaji, a 25-year-old volunteer with the Revolutionary Guards, has triggered a rare outpouring of public support for Iran’s military campaigns in Syria and Iraq.

The stoic image of Hojaji standing with a brutal-looking IS militant holding a knife to his back went viral last month, and his memorial service filled Imam Hossein Square in Tehran and jammed the streets all around.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met Hojaji’s relatives ahead of the service, saying: “There are many martyrs and all are dear before God Almighty, but there is some-

thing special about this young man.”

The service gained added significance as it fell in the 10-day period of Moharram when Iranians mark the killing in the seventh century of Imam Hossein, one of the most revered figures in Shiite Islam.

Iran has couched its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in religious terms, calling its fighters “defenders of the shrines” in reference to Shiite monuments in Syria.

The crowd in Tehran wore almost exclusively black and waved red flags to symbolise the blood of martyrs.

Hugely popular singer Sadegh Ahangaran delivered an emotional lament of “We are defenders of the shrine until doomsday. Hey, mad knife-wielders, this house is full of Hojajis.”

Hojaji was captured after IS launched an attack on a Revolution-

ary Guards outpost near Al-Tanaf in Syria on August 7.

His dismembered body was later delivered to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, an Iran ally, as part of a ceasefire deal, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.

An AFP photographer said the square was already full by early morning, before the Revolutionary Guards barred all foreign media from covering the event. AFP

UN draws up plan to feed ‘Fatty rice’ up to 700,000 Rohingya condoms

HARD LIFE. Rohingya men push a truck at the Thangkhali refugee camp near Ukhia. AFP

COX’S BAZAR―The UN has drawn up a contingency plan to feed up to 700,000 Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar after some 480,000 fled to Bangladesh over the past month and arrivals continue.

A senior official from the UN’s World Food Program told AFP they were now prepared to provide massive food and other emergency aid if the influx continued in the coming weeks.

“All the UN agencies together have now set a plan for a new influx of 700,000.

We can cover if the new influx reaches 700,000,” said the WFP’s deputy chief in Bangladesh, Dipayan Bhattacharyya, on Wednesday.

Rohingya have been fleeing Rakhine state in north-

east Myanmar for decades.

The new influx began on August 25 when deadly attacks by Rohingya militants on Myanmar police posts prompted a huge crackdown by the military.

Bhattacharyya said the hunger situation in camps has improved as food aid from WFP and other agencies is now reaching the refugees.

He said the plan also covers some 300,000 Rohingya who were already sheltering in southeast Bangladesh before the latest influx began―meaning it could cater for a million people in total.

“No one would be left out from any humanitarian assistance,” he said, adding that the WFP would need about $80 million for the massive aid. AFP

More supplies needed as villagers flee restive volcano in Vanuatu WELLINGTON―The villagers fleeing a volcanic eruption in Vanuatu face food and water shortages in overcrowded evacuation camps, aid workers and reports said Wednesday.

About 7,000 people on the island of Ambae―in the Pacific archipelago’s north―have left their homes after the Manaro Voui volcano rained rocks and ash on their villages.

The volcano sent up a plume of steam and ash over the weekend after weeks of rumbling, prompting authorities to declare a state of

emergency.

They have also upgraded Manaro Voui to a level four alert, representing a “moderate eruption state”, and warned of “flying rocks and volcanic gas” up to 6.5 kilometers from its crater.

However, aid workers said a more immediate concern was conditions in the 35 evacuations centers set up outside Ambae’s exclusion zone.

The area was already experiencing a dry spell and ash has now blanketed crops and water sources.

Manuel Ure, a disaster coordinator with the local Penama provincial government, said conditions in the camps were difficult.

“We have very limited shelters, we have very limited food and water and other necessities... we are facing a lot of challenges at the moment,” he told Radio New Zealand.

Red Cross coordinator Augustine Garae said the continuing influx of people was putting more pressure on the camps.

“The number of evacuees is ex-

pected to rise, making facilities at evacuation centers [such] as proper toilets and sanitation not enough for everyone to access,” he told the Vanuatu Daily Post.

A boat with supplies and volunteers left the capital Port Vila on Wednesday and more are expected in the coming days.

A New Zealand Air Force plane conducted an observation flight over the volcano on Tuesday, gathering data to help scientists assess the risk of a major eruption. AFP

coming up PORT KLANG, Malaysia―A Malaysian condom company is hoping to spice up sex lives with a contraceptive that tastes like the country’s ultimate comfort food―a chili-infused rice dish known as nasi lemak.

Industry giant Karex, which claims to be the world’s biggest condom maker, already offers an array of flavors in various pleasure-boosting textures, from grape to the pungent tropical fruit durian.

It is now set to launch a condom inspired by nasi lemak, usually translated as “fatty rice”―originally a cheap breakfast consumed at street-side stalls but now common across the country, including at higher-end restaurants.

The dish consists of rice cooked with coconut milk, served with anchovies, roasted peanuts, a boiled egg, sliced cucumbers and a dollop of fiery chili sauce.

“We Malaysians are divided across our political ideas, religion and race,” Karex chief executive Goh Miah Kiat told AFP from his office in Port Klang, outside the capital Kuala Lumpur.

“I felt one thing that unites us all (is): ‘Where’s the best nasi lemak place you’ve been?’” AFP

Sports

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Mondilla seizes 1-shot lead L

IPA City, Batangas—Clyde Mondilla dished out a near impeccable putting touch to shoot a four-under 68 and wrest a one-stroke lead over a gutsy Dino Villanueva halfway through the ICTSI Players Championship at the Summit Point Golf Club yesterday.

The Del Monte ace grabbed the lead early with three birdies inside 12 feet at the back where he teed off then added another on No. 3 before settling for pars in another hot, windless day here, moving him past Villanueva at nine-under 135 and 36 holes away

from a breakout season on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“I actually struggled with my irons but my putting clicked,” said Mondilla, the runaway PGT Order of Merit winner out to cap his remarkable season with another victory here.

Mondilla, 24, has won three events in this year’s PGT and PGT Asia Tour, including the ICTSI Riviera Classic two weeks ago, and is all set to nail his first OOM title in the absence of Tony Lascuña, Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que, the next three players in the OOM ranking, who are all competing abroad.

Unlike Mondilla, Villanueva grappled with his balky putter all day, muffing at least four birdie chances inside seven feet and missing staying on top for the second straight day in the P3 million event

sponsored by ICTSI. “Had I made those putts, I would’ve stayed on top,” said Villanueva, referring to his failed bids on Nos. 4, 8, 9 and 16.

But after failing to solve the tough par-5 No. 5 for the second straight day, the 33-year-old winless pro from Cagayan de Oro, who upstaged Mondilla and the other big guns with a 66 Tuesday, fought back with three birdies at the back and saved a 70 to stay in the title hunt at 136.

“I hit all but two greens and I’m happy to finish with a 70 despite my poor

putting,” said Villanueva.

Rey Pagunsan, one of the tour’s power hitters out to end a long title spell, matched Mondilla’s four-under card and joined Michael Bibat, who shot a 70, at 139, four strokes adrift with two rounds to play in the event hosted by Summit Point and backed by Sta. Lucia and the Leviste group.

Jay Bayron, winner here at Summit in 2015, turned in a second 70 and lead the 140 scorers, who include Justin Quiban (69), Jobim Carlos (71), Elmer Salvador (72) and Dutch Guido Van der Valk (73).

Mondilla

Toby’s Sports holds 1st Sports/Fitness Day TOBY’S Sports, the largest multi-brand sports retailer in the Philippines, announced that it will be celebrating the 1st National Sports and Fitness Day on Oct. 1 (Sunday).

Toby’s Sports established the National Sports and Fitness Day to further highlight the positive benefits of sports and fitness activities for Filipinos of all ages.

Apart from having the widest selection of sports products from the top brands in the industry, Toby’s Sports has also been at the forefront of the sports and fitness movement through a variety of initiatives, such as running a youth sports foundation, regularly holding sports events for amateurs and consistently partnering with other organizations that are dedicated to improving people’s lives through sports.

The retail giant’s 50 stores nationwide also house a team of sports enthusiasts and specialists that are dedicated to helping customers find the

right gear and assisting them in their journey to an active and healthy lifestyle.

“We have been the trusted ally in sports and fitness for millions of Filipinos nationwide for the past 39 years, and we’re excited to finally introduce a special day dedicated to appreciating the importance of engaging in sports and an active lifestyle,” said Toby Claudio, President of Quorum International Inc., the parent company of Toby’s Sports. “As we celebrate the first National Sports and Fitness Day on Oct. 1, 2017, we want our customers to know that they can count on us to cheer and support them in whatever sport or fitness activity they take on.”

To make the first National Sports and Fitness Day extra special, Toby’s Sports will be giving away Toby’s Backcourt Pro basketballs to the first 50 customers per store nationwide, as well as in its e-commerce site (www.tobys.com) on Oct. 1.

Lady Scorpions unscathed

Sonsona, Anghag seek PPS Ozamis net crowns

CENTRO Escolar University continued its winning ways in seniors’ basketball and volleyball of the 48th Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association held over the weekend.

The CEU Lady Scorpions whipped San Beda College Alabang, 93-33, on Sunday at the Assumption Makati gym to move within a four-game sweep while dealing the winless Red Lions a second defeat.

CEU, eyeing a seventh consecutive championship, will go for the sweep on Oct. 8 against Philippine Women’s University.

Defending junior champion Chiang Kai Shek College trounced St. Paul College Pasig, 99-54, and San Beda dominated St. Scholastica’s College, 59-25, on Saturday to pace Group A with 4-0 cards.

De La Salle Zobel dumped sister school La Salle College Antipolo, 78-43, also on Saturday at the St. Scholastica Manila gym to likewise go 4-0 in Group B. St. Paul and Miriam are on top of the midgets level with 3-0 records after victories over St. Jude Catholic School (52-22) and San Beda (63-39), respectively.

In volleyball matches at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, CEU downed University of Asia & the Pacific, 25-6, 25-9, 25-15, and defending champion San Beda swept Assumption College, 25-17, 25-14, 25-16, on Sunday to share the lead at 4-0.

Rookie squad University of Makati, meanwhile, streaked to its second straight win, 25-16, 25-17, 30-28 over PWU, after starting the season with two losses.

STEVEN Sonsona and Janmarie Anghag hope to live up to the hype as they shoot for two titles each in the Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Ozamiz regional tennis tournament, which fires off in various venues in Ozamiz City Friday.

Both 16-year-olds, Sonsona and Anghag also seek the crowns in the premier 18-and-under division of the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan

Toby’s Sports dedicates a special day to celebrate the importance of sports and fitness in Filipinos’ lifestyle through the 1st National Sports and Fitness Day on Oct. 1.

Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger which drew close to 200 entries.

But they expect stiff resistance from a slew of rivals out to foil their bid and fuel their respective drive for the crown and ranking points in the fiveday tournament hosted by Ian Villanueva, also the OIC of the Unified Tennis Philippines for Northern Mindanao.

To accommodate the big number of entries, the PPS-

PEPP, headed by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, have tapped three venues, including the City Engineers, Naomis Gardens and SDA tennis courts.

Andrei Cuevas, Nilo Ledama and Keane Pepito are also competing in the boys’ 16- and 18-U sides, all primed up for a crack at the championship while Anghag braces for a duel with Carmenville Gervacio, Mari Uy and Kayla Faja-

rdo in the 18-U section and Rica Labrador, Alessandra Quimbo and Faye Lim in the 16-U category.

A fierce duel also looms in the other boys’ divisions with Ashton Villanueva, Andrei Padao, Christopher Sonsona and Eric Tangub bannering the cast in the 14-U side and Allan Carbonilla, Joediefer Lim, Al Rasheed Lucman, Kurt Bandolis and Christopher Sonsona leading the 12-U roster, both drawing 32-player casts.

Meanwhile, registration for the next leg in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur set Oct. 4-9 is ongoing, according to PPS-PEPP sports program development director Bobby Mangunay. For details, call 0915-4046464.

Tipped to contend for titles in the other girls’ divisions are Guia Bandolis, Judyann Padilla, Dean Lanipa and Gwen Bandolis (12-U) and Rica Labrador, Padilla, Faye Lim and Guia Bandolis (14-U).

Price’s band out to spring golf upset JERSEY CITY—International team captain Nick Price believes his “hodgepodge” band have the talent, and the fire, needed to prevent the United States from winning a seventh straight Presidents Cup this week.

The biennial match play event between the USA and a team drawn from around the world tees off on Thursday at Liberty National Golf Club.

The United States have won nine of 11 prior editions of the event, with one tie and just one International victory, in 1998 in Melbourne.

But Price said the onepoint defeat two years ago in Incheon, South Korea, was “a shot in the arm” for players like Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, and Jason Day. “Even though we’re a hodgepodge of a team from all around the world, we are all competitors,” Price said of a team that this year draws from eight nations.

“We like to compete, and we don’t like to get beaten.”

In addition to veterans like Australia’s Scott and Day and South Africa’s Oostuizen, the Internationals have four debutants in Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, Canadian Adam Hadwin, Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas and South Korean Kim Si-Woo. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is the highest ranked International at number three in the world.

At 25, he’s making a third Presidents Cup appearance.

“This team is made up of a lot of young guys who probably have another four or five Presidents Cups in them,” Price said. “I think they have realized how important this event is now, and they want to take it to the next level.”

It will be a daunting task against a US side featuring world number one Dustin Johnson and second-ranked Jordan Spieth.

World number four Justin Thomas has five wins this season, including his first major at the PGA Championship, and locked up the $10 million FedEx Cup playoff bonus.

World number eight Rickie Fowler boasts a tour win this year, and Brooks Koepka broke through for his first major title at the US Open. AFP

Blazers rout Bulldogs in Fr. Martin cage tourney RENZO Pagulayan drilled in 22 points as the College of St. Benilde Blazers routed the National University Bulldogs, 92-83, Saturday in the 15th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament at the St. Placid gymnasium inside San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola.

Pagulayan, a transferee from the University of the

Philippines, struck with with two of six triples in the last period and this provided enough fuel to deliver the Blazers their second win in three matches, keeping them in contention for the semifinals.

The Blazers’ outside shooting allowed them to shatter a 77-all deadlock and move away, 85-78, in the last 2:38.

In other games, the Letran

Knights drew 24 points from Larry Muyang as they fended off the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 88-84, for their fourth win in five games in Group A. La Consolacion came off with a 73-68 win over the National University Bulldogs-A. In the junior division, John Ospeg put in 21 points in leading the Rich Golden

Shower Montessori School Spartans to an 88-82 beating of Xavier School, to hike their record to 5-1.

San Beda-Manila Red Kittens A won by default over Far Eastern to move up to 3-2 in Group B, while Limwell Calibo hit 33 points for San Beda-Rizal B in their 163-29 demolition of Philippine Cultural College.

Lady Bulldogs improve to 5-0 in UAAP; Tigresses score CSB Blazers cager Justin Gutang tries to dribble his way past an opponent from NU.

DEFENDING three-time champion National University overpowered Far Eastern University, 71-48, for its 53rd straight win yesterday in the UAAP Season 80 women’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ria Nabalan had 15 points, Rhena Ite-

si added 14 points and 14 boards while Jack Daniel Animam produced another monster game of 11 points, 23 rebounds and six blocks for the Lady Bulldogs.

NU also raised its season record to 5-0.

Jem Angeles shot 20 points, while Sai Larosa chipped in 14 points, nine

Fatima University, PMMS complete NAASCU quarterfinal cast LAST year’s runner-up Our Lady of Fatima University and Philippine Merchant Marine School pulled off hard-earned victories over their respective opponents to complete the quarterfinal cast in the NAASCU Season 17 men’s basketball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate.

OLFU rode on Rommel Diosa’s three-point shot with 2.2 seconds left to subdue Lyceum

of Subic Bay and arrange a quarterfinal showdown against Group runner-up St. Francis of Assisi College.

PMMS held off New Era University, 80-73, to earn the right to meet Group B topnotcher De Ocampo Memorial College in the Final Eight.

Both St. Francis and De Ocampo enjoy twice-to-beat advantages.

In the other quarterfinals, it will be defending cham-

pion St. Clare College-Caloocan against Enderun College and Colegio de San Lorenzo against Philippine Christian University.

Like De Ocampo and SFAC, St. Clare and CdSL have twiceto-beat incentive.

Miguel Cabrera topscored with 25 points, Andrei Albano added 18 points and Chris Essomba had 14 points,13 rebounds and three blocks for the Phoenix of coach

Ralph Emerson Rivera.

Diosa, however, delivered the key baskets by hitting two huge three-pointers in the final three minutes.

His three-pointer from an assist by Cabrera with 2.2 seconds left came after Allen Formera of Lyceum tied the score with a putback with 13 seconds remaining.

Lyndon del Rosario and Formera ledvthe Sharks with 19and 15 points, respectively.

rebounds and three assists as University of Santo Tomas carved out a 71-65 win over Ateneo.

The Tigresses moved to solo second with a 4-1 card.

The Lady Eagles and the Lady Tamaraws, meanwhile, fell at 2-3 in joint fourth.

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

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

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Sports

Arvin powers Tams past Bulldogs Games Saturday (Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. La Salle vs UST 4 p.m. NU vs Ateneo

By Peter Atencio

Jewel Ponferada of Rain or Shine attacks the basket and is fouled by TNT’s Danny Seigle in a PBA Governors’ Cup game won by the Elasto Painters, 106-102.

Painters force sudden death

By Jeric Lopez

R

AIN or Shine will live to fight another day. The Elasto Painters managed to survive and stave off elimination after they outmuscled TNT KaTropa in the clutch to pull off a 106-102 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.

the fourth to gain the necessar y advantage.

Rain or Shine already carried an 84-75 lead into the fourth, but a furious 18-7 run to open the period suddenly gave it a whopping 20-point lead, 102-82, with under six minutes remaining.

The Tropang Texters didn’t go away easily, answering with an 18-2 run to pull to within just four, 104-100, with under a minute to go after two free throws from Glen Rice Jr. But the Painters stood still in the final minute to hold on and force the

sudden-death game tomorrow.

As of this report, the much-anticipated collision between No. 3 Barangay Ginebra and No. 6 San Miguel Beer is currently taking place with the Gin Kings looking to book a seat in the semis and the Beermen hoping to keep their bid for a Grandslam alive.

Ginebra holds a twiceto-beat advantage and can advance should it win.

The winner between the Texters and the Painters will collide with the victor between the Gin Kings and the Beermen.

The action in the quarters continue today at as top seed Meralco and upset-conscious Blackwater face off again in a knockout game at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to determine who moves forward to the semis in that other side of the bracket.

The No. 8-ranked Elite, a heavy underdog, shocked everyone last Tuesday night when it pulled off a thrilling 9291 escape over the Bolts to suddenly put itself a game away from the semis with that huge upset.

Still, the Bolts have

one more shot at moving forward.

No. 4 Star, which already disposed of NLEX on its first try, awaits the victor in the semis.

The scores: RAIN OR SHINE 106 - Bullock 31, Norwood 15, Almazan 13, Ahanmisi 10, Tiu 10, Trollano 10, Cruz 8, Belga 5, Borboran 2, Daquioag 2, Ponferada 0.

TNT 102 - Williams 23, Castro 22, Semerad 19, Rice Jr. 19, Rosario 10, Pogoy 7, Seigle 2, Tautuaa 0, Reyes 0.

Quarters: 26-28, 52-47, 84-75, 106-102.

J’Nathan Bullock was at his best, scattering 31 points to go along with 14 boards to lead the Painters from start to finish and make sure their campaign doesn’t end just yet.

The No. 7 Elasto Painters, who faced a twice-to-beat disadvantage against the No.2 Texters, led through the f irst three quarters before breaking away in

Red Lions eye twice-to-beat edge in Final 4

Lady Tams boost semis bid in Premier volley

Games today (Filoil Arena, San Juan) 12 nn.- CSB vs Mapua (jrs) 2 p.m.- CSB vs Mapua (srs) 4 p.m.- San Beda vs AU (srs) 6 p.m.- San Beda vs AU (jrs)

SAN Beda College guns for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, while Arellano University seeks to stay in the hunt as the two collide today in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.

Already assured of a Final Four berth following a 6560 win over the Jose Rizal Bombers Friday, the Lions go for win No. 13 in 14 outings that will seal them that important incentive as they tackle the Chiefs at 4 p.m.

All eyes are on Davon Potts, who was clutch in their last win after scoring eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

It included a pair of booming triples that gave the defending champion a five-point cushion late in the game.

“Credit to his work ethic,” said San Beda College coach Boyet Fernandez on the sweet-shooting Potts, who is playing his last season to apply for this year’s PBA rookie draft.

San Beda College will play an Arellano University squad coming off an 84-79 triumph over Emilio Aguinaldo College Friday, breathing life to last year’s runner-up’s sagging Final Four campaign as it improved to 5-8 (win-loss).

Meanwhile, St. Benilde (3-10) and Mapua (1-12) tangle at 2 p.m. in a duel between the league’s two last-placed teams.

FEU’s Ivana Agudo (right) goes for a kill against JRU’s Nicole Bondoc during their PVL Collegiate Conference clash.

FAR Eastern University Victories by NU and Games Saturday checked an early struggle 8 a.m. – St. Benilde vs UST (men’s) FEU will net them the 10 a.m. – Ateneo vs National U (men’s) with a dominating showsemis slots while an 1 p.m. – Arellano vs UP (women’s) ing in the last two sets as 4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs TIP (women’s) Ateneo win coupled with it rolled past Jose Rizal 6:30 p.m. – National U vs Ateneo the Lady Tams’ victory (women’s) University, 28-26, 25-14, will force a three-way for 25-16, to bolster its Final Four drive in the Premier Volleyball League first at 4-1, necessitating a playoff.

Collegiate Conference at the Filoil Flying V FEU, which played without Pons who is Center in San Juan yesterday. in Singapore for the Southeast Asian Beach The Lady Tams, playing sans top hitter Volleyball Championships, survived a set Bernadeth Pons, groped for form coming off point at 25-26 on a Toni Rose Basas blast an 11-day break, stumbling against the game that went long.

Lady Bombers in the opening frame. But But the Lady Tams, who dropped a fourthey pulled through just the same in a deuce set setback to the Lady Bulldogs two weeks game then imposed their strength in the next ago, took the next three points—and the two to complete the straight-set victory. set—on JRU’s miscues—a Shola Alvarez It was FEU’s third win against a loss as it faulty serve, a Dolly Versoza mishit and a tied idle Ateneo at second behind NU’s 4-0 net violation. mark. The Lady Bulldogs and the Eagles It was all FEU show in the next two sets. dispute the first semis berth in Group A of Behind Basas’ 15 hits, the Lady Tams the two-division tournament organized by overpowered the Bombers in spikes, 41-18, Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and and feasted on their rivals’ sloppy service Asics on Saturday. reception with nine aces.

The Lady Tams, on the other hand, close Alvarez scored nine points for JRU, which out their elims campaign against the Lyce- closed out its maiden commercial league um Lady Pirates on Monday. campaign with a 0-5 card.

PH bowlers settle for AIMAG silver A SHGA BAT— Bowle r s Alexis Sy, Lyn Tabora, Lara Posadas and Liza del Rosario settled for a silver medal in the women’s team of four in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Wednesday at the Ashgabat Olympic Complex here.

The quartet lost to reigning world champion South Korea, 873-801, in the finals at the Bowling Hall.

Posadas led the Philippines with 219 points, Del Rosario finished with 211, Sy contributed 205 and Tabora added 166 points.

Baek Seungj, gold medal winner in the women’s singles, had 256 points to lead Korea, Jung Dawun collected 233 points, Kim Moon-

jeong had 196 points, while Hong Hae Ni 188 points.

The lady bowlers’ performance on the final day of action here matched the silver finish of Kenneth Chua, who won in the men’s singles in bowling action a week back.

“This is definitely a good start for the bowling national team and for the sport of bowling in general,” said Philippine Olympic Committee secretary-general Steve Hontiveros.

“Remember in the Southeast Asian Games in KL (Malaysia) we didn’t get a single gold medal. A gold here would have been better, but we’re still happy with the two silvers,” added Hontiveros.

In chess, international masters Emmanuel Garcia and Paulo Bersamina also took the silver medal in the men’s Rapid Team Under-23.

Garcia and Beramina lost to GMs Wei Yi and Xu Yinglun of China, 2-0.

The Philippines wrapped up its campaign in the 62-country continental Games with a bronze in men’s blitz team under-23 courtesy of Garcia and Bersamina, who lost to Wei and Lu Shanglei in the semifinals.

Janelle Mae Frayna and Shania Mae Mendoza lost to Kazakhstan in the semifinal round, 2-0, in the women’s Under-23 Blitz team event Tuesdayas they settled for the bronze medal.

Chinese chess prodigy Wei Yi (left) and international master Paulo Bersamina during the semifinals of the men’s blitz team under-23 event.

In Dance Sport, Gerald Jamili and Cherry Clarice Parcon failed on their bid to keep he gold in Latin Jive as they pocketed the bronze in the final round Tuesday at the Dance Sports Arena.

Jamili and Parcon got 32.876 points, behind South

Korea (33.499) and China (33.000).

The national team so far has two gold medals, 14 silvers and 13 bronze medals, improving the 1-0-2 (goldsilver-bonze) the country collected during 2013 AIMAG in Incheon, South Korea.

ARVIN Tolentino came up with his highest scoring output of the season, hitting 24 points and grabbing six rebounds in carrying the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to a 90-83 triumph over the National University Bulldogs at the Araneta Coliseum.

The good showing of the 6’5” Tolentino came on a day coach Olsen Racela felt that the Tams were at their most consistent in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

“Compared to our last game, we played more consistent in this game.

We did not start slow. We sustained our game for 40 minutes,” said Racela.

Axel Inigo and Barkley Ebona also came up with double-digit games, making 12 and 10 points, respectively, in FEU’s third win in five games.

First, the Tams started pulling away on the charities of Prince Orizu and Ebona as they moved ahead from a 11-10 edge into a 17-10 spread in the closing minute of the first quarter.

The Tams’ outside shooting somehow rattled the Bulldogs at the end of the second period, with Tolentino banging in a trey and a threepoint play for a 48-41 halftime FEU spread.

Tolentino came into the picture again, with his trey and a basket from Axel Inigo sending the Tams to a 63-49 spread with 5:28 to go.

The Bulldogs, with Jay Jay Alejandro firing 23 points, fell behind at 2-3.

They took a 17-point edge with 3:56 left on Tolentino’s three-pointer, 70-53.

Meanwhile, Matt Nieto shot 22 points for the solo-leading Ateneo Blue Eagles as they waylaid the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 94-84.

Nieto had seven points and joined hands with Isaac Go for 14 points in the second period as the Blue Eagles pulled away by 12 at halftime, 55-43, en route to their fifth straight win.

La Salle Greenhills bags title MARK Andrew Carganilla sizzled with 14 points in leading De la Salle-Greenhills A to a 50-22 thumping of sister-team De la SalleZobel to bag the Small Basketeers Philippines crown of the Milo Bestorganized twin basketball tournaments recently.

Carganilla got enough support from James Yuan Ison, Andre Micael Minas, Lorenzo Bryan Competente, Gian Azriel Gomez, Bryan Andrei Hachuela and Justin John Prex Sison who scored no less than four points for LSGH-A. Ateneo defeated San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 61-41, for third place of this tournament backed by Milo.

San Beda College-Rizal edged Nazareth School of National University, 63-61, for the Passerelle crown.

Meralco sees sales volume rising 5%

B3

Business

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

LNG hub project to start in 2018

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, September 27, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi said Wednesday he expects the groundbreaking of the first liquefied natural gas facility next year amid strong investor interest and increasing demand and supply.

“Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] needs to start planning for this future. We need to think of how we can ride this LNG wave, to ensure that we can safeguard our energy security,” Cusi told participants of the 35th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting.

Cusi said the Philippines would roll out the Batangas LNG terminal by 2020 to safeguard against the anticipated depletion of the Malampaya natural gas reserves by 2024.

“The buy-in is there.

The investors are in. And we expect to commence groundbreaking of this project in 2018,” Cusi said.

He said investors could forge joint ventures with state-run Philippine National Oil Co. for the LNG project.

“We will come out with the regulatory framework on LNG. Starting October 10 will be the public consultation, discussion. We will have to and then after October 20, publication as a requirement for the administrative requirement,” Cusi said.

He said that aside from the Batangas terminal, other areas could also be used for LNG development such as Mindanao and Subic in Luzon.

The energy chief said while sustainable renewable energy was expected to dominate the future, there was still a need for a stable source of electricity that could bridge the transition.

“I would like to draw your attention to the second emerging trend that is changing our energy landscape―the revolution in gas that promises to make it the bridging fuel in the short to medium-term,” Cusi said.

He said there was an increasing demand for gas in Asia, where players would eventually transition from net exporters to net importers.

B1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 2017

MINE INSPECTION. House committee on natural resources chairman Rep. Arnel Ty (fifth from right) leads other members of the committee in visiting

some of the mine sites in Palawan and Surigao provinces. Shown with Ty during the ceremonial tree-planting at the Taganito mines in Surigao del Norte are other committee members, Nickel Asia Corp. senior vice president and chief operating officer Jose Anievas (second from left) and Claver mayor Eddie Gokiangkee (fifth from left).

Currency Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

Japan

Yen

0.008911

0.4529

UK

Pound

1.346100

68.4223

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128016

6.5071

Switzerland

Franc

1.032311

52.4724

Canada

Dollar

0.810045

41.1746

Singapore

Dollar

0.738443

37.5351

Australia

Dollar

0.788600

40.0845

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654139

134.9099

Saudi Arabia Rial

0.266667

13.5547

0.735727

50.8300

Brunei

Dollar

Indonesia

Rupiah 0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

1.5324

UAE

Dirham 0.272287

13.8403

Euro

Euro

1.179500

59.9540

Korea

Won

0.000880

0.0447

China

Yuan

0.150602

7.6551

India

Rupee

0.015278

0.7766

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.237812

0.030148

New Zealand Dollar

0.720700

Taiwan

0.033048

Dollar

37.3970

12.0880 36.6332 1.6798 Source: PDS Bridge

Megaworld expands Bonifacio “But definitely, we want to expand our office projects here because there is huge demand for office space here in Fort Bonifacio. We might launch the sixth tower soon,” Tan said.

Demand for office space primarily comes from existing BPO firms and online gaming companies, Tan said.

Megaworld and subsidiary brands Global-Estate Resorts Inc. and Empire East Land Holdings Inc. recently moved to the group’s new headquarters in the 30-story Alliance Global Tower in Uptown Bonifacio.

Megaworld’s office floors boast of wide working spaces spanning across 2,100

By Jenniffer B. Austria

P

roperty developer Megaworld Corp. is accelerating the development of the 16-hectare Uptown Bonifacio township in Bonifacio Global City as demand for office and residential condominiums in the prime commercial business district remains robust.

Megaworld senior vice president Kevin Tan said the company was developing its fifth office tower and five new residential buildings in Uptown Bonifacio. The company is also expanding its retail footprint within the property.

Megaworld earlier budgeted P65 billion to develop Uptown Bonifacio into a

mixed-use township over the next 10 years. Tan said the property firm already developed 30 percent to 40 percent of the property.

“We still have a lot of land bank in this site. We have some plans to build more offices and we might launch more residential towers as we are still feeling out the market,” Tan said.

Megaworld and subsidiary brands Global-Estate Resorts Inc. and Empire East Land Holdings Inc. transfer to the group’s new headquarters— the 30-story Alliance Global Tower in Uptown Bonifacio.

DoE endorses joint oil exploration with China THE Energy Department endorsed for Malacañang’s approval the farm-in agreement between state-run PNOC Exploration Corp. and China National Offshore Oil Corp. over a petroleum-rich area northwest off Palawan province.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi told reporters at the sidelines of the Asean Energy Business Forum 2017 that amid the strengthening ties with China, the department endorsed the agreement covering service contract 57 for the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I think we have SC 57 that is already with the Office of the President, so that we can pursue its exploration. We do that with CNOOC and together with PNOC EC,” Cusi said.

SC 57, which covers a

IN BRIEF

Araneta pushes energy city

BUSINESSMAN Gregorio Araneta III is still hoping his proposed $2.4-billion “energy city” will push through despite the recent decision of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. to reject the offer.

Araneta said at the sidelines of Philweb stockholders’ meeting the project could be one of the biggest Japanese investments in the Philippines. Araneta is teaming up with Mitsui of Japan, the biggest trader of liquefied natural gas, and Osaka Gas for the venture.

Araneta’s group plans to initially build a 600-megawatt LNG power plant for roughly $1.2 billion. It could be increased to 1,200 MW and eventually to 2,000 MW. Araneta through Energy Oil and Gas Holdings Inc. earlier submitted an offer to PNOC to build the energy city at an industrial park in Limay, Bataan.

EOGHI wants to lease the entire 220 hectares owned by dissolved PNOC Alternative Fuels Corp. from its previous offer of 90 hectares. Jenniffer B. Austria

EastWest obtains two awards

EAST West Banking Corp., the financial services unit of the Gotianun-led Filinvest Group, received awards from JP Morgan and Wells Fargo for excellent delivery of commercial payments and fund transfers last year.

East West received this year’s JP Morgan Elite Quality Recognition Award as well as the Wells Fargo Operational Excellence Award for achieving a remarkably high straight-through processing rate of greater than 99 percent in 2016.

STP refers to the end-to-end processing of fully automated and integrated financial transactions, which enable fast, accurate, and reliable execution of payment instructions for customers.

The bank said in a statement Wednesday the high STP rate from two of its correspondent banks abroad meant EastWest was able to deliver almost error-free and as such requiring no manual or human intervention, dollar-denominated fund transfers and commercial

PLDT launches reward system

total area of 7,200 square kilometers in the Calamian area, was awarded to PNOC EC by the department on Sept. 15, 2005.

The area lies north of the country’s oil and gas fields such as the Malampaya, Cadlao and Matinloc and is located within the northwest Palawan block where most of the country’s oil production comes from.

“We have already finished the documentation, the contract and presented it already to the Office of the President. SC 57 is within the Philippine territory,” the energy chief said.

Cusi said SC 57 application had been pending since 2008 and was affected by the territorial dispute with China and by cases on tax interpretation of exploration firms. Alena Mae S. Flores

payments. Julito G. Rada

ICTSI Poland terminal cited

BALTIC Container Terminal, the terminal of International Container Terminal Services Inc. in Port of Gdynia, Poland, has successfully modernized its lighting systems, and as a result received the prestigious White Certificates that may be traded on Poland’s Energy Exchange, delivering what amounts to a financial bonus.

White Certificates are basically granted property rights and are awarded by the president of Poland’s Energy Regulatory Office for Energy Efficiency Improvement.

The modernization of the lighting systems at BCT was completed in late 2016 at a total cost of PLN 420,000 ($115,000) and consisted of replacing 396 luminaries for 132 energy-saving LED systems, resulting in significant energy savings.

The level of energy saving achieved is reflected in the value of the White Certificates awarded with these able to be traded (sold) up until 2020.

BCT estimates that the use of the White Certificates will result in a total financial bonus of up to $75,000.

Taiwan Expo 2017 launched

THE Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines will bring in top manufacturers and suppliers to the country through the Taiwan Expo 2017 to be held at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex from September 29 to October 1st. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m daily. Admission is free.

The exhibition, designed based on current industry developments and market needs, will host eight theme pavilions: City Marketing, Inno-Tech, Health & Lifestyle, Agricultural Tech, Study in Taiwan, Culture & Tourism, General Support, and the Taiwan Association Philippines.

More than 170 vendors from Taiwan will present over 4,500 quality products and services to give the Filipino consumers a chance to experience Taiwan without having to fly across the sea.

square meters per floor. The office floors have a total of almost 100 meeting and conference rooms as well as training and testing rooms.

Each floor features the ‘open office layout’, allowing corporate transparency among its employees.

The Alliance Global Tower, located along 36th Street corner 11th Avenue, is an LEED-certified office tower that features integrated façade mechanical design for highly-efficient energy consumption, water-efficient landscapes, bike racks and shower facilities and use of non-to-low toxic green cleaning products and pest control strategies.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Santos Knight Frank chairman Rick Santos discusses the property consulting company’s latest findings on the future trends in real estate in the global cities around the world during a news briefing and launching of Santos Knight Frank’s Global Cities Report 2018 at Makati Shangri-la Hotel. Lino Santos

Manila rising as the ‘new Hong Kong’

By Othel V. Campos MANILA is rapidly rising as a megacity powered by a growing pool of high-value talent, real estate expansion and a robust consumptiondriven economy, property advisor Santos Knight Frank said Wednesday.

“Manila today is the Hong Kong and Singapore of 30 years ago. The level of development in the metropolis over the last decade has been unprecedented and reflects on the accelerated expansion of the property market.

Manila has since become an important hub for industries such as IT-BPO [information technology-business process outsourcing] with huge opportunities of growth for other sectors,” said Santos Knight Frank chairman and chief executive Rick Santos.

He said with a population of more than 25 million people, the Greater Manila

Area now had more people than Hong Kong and Singapore combined.

Its demographic is a high-value asset in industries such as IT-BPO, where Metro Manila ranks as fourth in the world based on the 2017 Tholons Services Globalization (Outsourcing) Index.

A fast-growing metropolis, Metro Manila’s property market remains robust visà-vis several Asian cities.

Prime office rents grew between 5 percent and 6 percent annually from 2011.

Prime office rents in Metro Manila increased 3.4 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, outperforming Tokyo at 3.2 percent; Taipei, 2.8 percent; Beijing, -1.9 percent; Shanghai, -2 percent; Singapore, -5.1 percent; and Jakarta, -8.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila had one of the lowest vacancy rates at 3.4 percent

across Asia Pacific in the second quarter.

“On a regional basis, the performance and fundamentals of the Manila office market look solid.

While some of the other Southeast Asian markets are seeing demand remain sluggish and the major Chinese cities are seeing huge amounts of new supply, the Manila market has one of the tightest vacancy rates in the region and looks set for a strong 2018,” said Knight Frank Asia Pacific head of research Nicholas Holt.

The consulting firm said with a growing number of companies venturing onto the global stage, Metro Manila continued to see diversified demand, not only in the office market, but also in the residential sector, where investors from Southeast Asia, China and the Middle East were putting more capital into the Philippines.

PLDT Inc. said Wednesday its board approved a reward system to encourage executives to perform better in a bid to meet profit targets until 2019.

PLDT said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the board approved the Transformation Incentive Plan which aimed to provide incentive compensation to key officers, executives and other eligible participants who were consistent performers and contributors to the achievement of the long-term transformation strategy and financial goals of the company.

The company said the incentive compensation would be given in the form of PLDT common shares of the stock. PLDT said it would award up to 860,000 performance shares under the plan.

“The performance shares will be released in three grants on the condition that pre-determined consolidated core net income targets are successfully achieved over three annual vesting periods from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2019,” PLDT said.

PLDT, partly owned by Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd. and Japan’s NTT group, was targeting a profit guidance of P21.5 billion this year. PLDT posted a net income of P16.5 billion in the first six months, up from P12.5 billion in the same period in 2016.

“A trustee will be appointed to acquire PLDT shares in the open market through the facilities of the Philippine Sock Exchange, which will comprise the performance shares, and to administer their distribution to the eligible participants subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan,” PLDT said.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Jack Ma completes deal to buy stake in Globe unit

By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Wednesday it completed a deal with Ant Financial Services Group, a unit of Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group, to invest in Globe Fintech Innovations Inc., or Mynt.

Globe, the country’s second largest telecommunications company led by the Ayala Group, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that after closing the transaction, Ant Financial would have a 45-percent ownership in Mynt while Globe Capital Venture Holdings Inc. would hold 45 percent. AC Ventures Holding Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala, will have 10 percent.

The fresh capital infusion from Ant will help Mynt achieve its vision to become a world-class online and offline payment pro-

vider, scale up its mobile wallet services and quickly expand its digital financial services.

Mynt operates GCash and Fuse Lending.

GCash is an internationallyacclaimed micropayment service which can be used to buy prepaid load, pay bills, send money, make donations, shop online, and purchase goods without the need for cash. Fuse Lending offers personal and business loans to unbanked and underserved Filipinos through the use of mobile technology, alternative dat and innovative credit scoring methods.

The deal represents Ant Financial’s first investment in the Philippines and demonstrates the company’s confidence in Mynt and its management team to upgrade digital financial services in the region.

Stock market climbs; EDC, PXP Energy rise

S

TOCKS rose Wednesday to end a three-day slump, after the Asian Development Bank upgraded its 2017 growth outlook for the region amid the recovery in global trade.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 51 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 8,221.92, as five of the six major sectors advanced. The bellwether was up 20.2 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also gained 19 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,851.08, on a value

turnover of P10.5 billion.

Gainers outnumbered losers, 106 to 103, while 39 issues were unchanged.

Fourteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led

by Energy Development Corp. which rebounded 12.9 percent to P5.42 and PXP Energy Corp. which climbed 6.9 percent to P8.22.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. rose 2.1 percent to P980.

Meanwhile, Asian markets struggled to make headway Wednesday but the dollar extended gains against its peers on expectations of further interest rate rises, while traders await the release of Donald Trump’s tax reform plan.

Shares were mixed as US-North Korea tensions continue to jangle nerves and keep investors from buying with any conviction.

Hong Kong added 0.4 percent in the afternoon, while Shanghai edged up 0.1 percent and Singapore gained 0.8 percent. But Seoul and Sydney each lost 0.1 percent, while Tokyo finished 0.3 percent lower.

In early European trade, London

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.7 40,000 59.7 17,740 100.4 2,456,530 4.1 1,000 129.7 3,131,750 2.8 13,443,000 35.4 32,900 16.08 50,600 31.7 824,700 8.54 500 0.65 50,000 1.74 62,000 943 10 0.69 2,081,000 87.95 2,036,430 0.87 516,000 13.06 50,300 59.8 85,880 240 5,910 120 50 88 9,790 48.8 28,200 249.6 788,940 1,815 135 86.65 132,710 1.28 146,000

189,440 1,050,485 246,333,101 4,100 405,487,061 38,132,760 1,165,495 813,630 26,042,400 4,270 32,570 103,690 9,430 1,439,400 176,276,705 442,590 656,780 5,135,817 1,418,404 5,603 861,066 1,385,971 196,852,032 245,275 11,495,895.50 185,000

144,517 -86,072,489 -76,782,044 -4,200,780 -230,095 9,900,830 -72,410,305 -4,890,431.50 1,360,796 -861,066 -817,633 872,748 -6,273,076.50 -

INDUSTRIAL 42.75 3,012,700 9.48 2,104,000 0.8 1,688,000 1.38 556,000 20 187,400 0.228 3,120,000 5.21 7,514,500 16.84 1,385,800 165.2 200 38.45 581,300 21.2 9,100 64 8,460 75.5 800 1.92 104,000 6.4 109,300 11.32 40,500 10.16 3,035,600 15 2,356,600 13.5 473,100 7.2 197,700 5.42 317,533,000 18.3 2,578,400 66.05 135,330 14.36 39,400 12.4 19,800 18.8 1,723,500 1.79 363,000 248.8 887,090 4.95 756,000 3.31 41,000 23.35 200 30.4 1,114,400 19.34 77,700 15.92 1,938,800 280 509,310 0.229 190,000 13 187,200 2.98 50,000 6.74 93,800 10.2 2,024,600 6.49 80,000 9.9 1,000 1.79 732,000 12.3 934,300 68.25 218,430 6.79 37,300 309.2 9,220 4.35 15,000 4.44 1,000 2.72 1,224,000 13 1,177,600 4.5 484,000 0.144 190,000 1.33 1,188,000 153 941,600 2.18 5,784,000 0.98 50,000

127,084,185 19,919,876 1,326,750 768,240 3,701,391 691,750 39,828,587 23,360,716 33,040 21,640,590 192,920 542,640 60,710 199,850 704,684 460,310 30,721,882 35,404,282 6,428,922 1,414,740 1,638,435,190 47,064,574 8,956,902.50 551,544 245,784 32,631,940 644,720 217,391,980 3,737,100 134,220 4,670 34,012,755 1,499,956 30,983,330 141,320,878 43,360 2,471,748 149,030 637,618 20,632,384 501,553 9,900 1,289,800 11,473,808 14,896,245 251,570 2,853,394 65,250 4,440 3,316,720 15,442,808 2,178,130 27,280 1,535,110 142,031,515 12,624,670 49,000

14,212,105 22,912 27,600 2,220 -6,862,058 -2,935,246 4,316,155 444,000 414,276 20,897,028 -1,833,084 -314,067 114,919,550 -7,901,496 -2,172,695 -4,633,914 92,540 -57,392,362 -15,825,010 353,366 -25,497,098 52,239,032 665 -11,380,030.00 559,600 -19,396 4,403,924.50 47,250 314,692 -10,089,376 2,880 -89,200 -65,991,582 -5,844,730 -

87,200 167,170,396 174,471,560 2,327,400 436,681 550,100 3,450 247,777,885 11,649,458 214,396,526 529,846 55,000 148,300 126,246,600 771,798 163,162,397.50 1,002 25,280 542 368,480 4,901,856 23,141,962 187,643,971 129,650 550,800 693,280 336,850 23,726,561.50 60,030 604,245,485 426,920 3,168,994 16,500 179,320

-45,102,877.50 -90,047,726.00 -26,331,075 1,002,960 -32,359,376 -10,043,625 -464,802 -57,105,607.50 -1,648,540 -11,646,982 -99,182,775 -6,924,981 -88,936,425 16,940 -494,720 -

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.77 ASIA UNITED 59.7 BANK PH ISLANDS 101.4 BDO LEASING 4.1 BDO UNIBANK 129.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 2.52 CHINABANK 35.4 COL FINANCIAL 15.9 EAST WEST BANK 31.55 FILIPINO FUND 8.54 FIRST ABACUS 0.66 IREMIT 1.67 MANULIFE 943 MEDCO HLDG 0.7 METROBANK 86.7 NTL REINSURANCE 0.83 PB BANK 13.06 PHIL NATL BANK 59.9 PHIL STOCK EXCH 240 PHILTRUST 110 PSBANK 88.2 RCBC 50 SECURITY BANK 249 SUN LIFE 1,820 UNION BANK 86.45 VANTAGE 1.28

4.8 59.7 101.4 4.1 130.1 3 35.5 16.08 31.75 8.54 0.66 1.75 943 0.7 87.95 0.88 13.08 59.9 240.4 120 88.2 50 252 1,820 86.7 1.28

4.7 59 99.7 4.1 129 2.52 35.35 15.9 31.2 8.54 0.65 1.67 943 0.69 85.8 0.82 13.02 59.75 240 110 87.8 48.8 249 1,815 86.45 1.25

ABOITIZ POWER 42 AGRINURTURE 9.3 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.78 ALSONS CONS 1.38 ASIABEST GROUP 21 BASIC ENERGY 0.225 CEMEX HLDG 5.48 CENTURY FOOD 17 CHEMPHIL 165.2 CIRTEK HLDG 36.9 CNTRL AZUCARERA21.2 CONCEPCION 65 CONCRETE A 76 CROWN ASIA 1.93 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.42 DEL MONTE 11.4 DNL INDUS 10.18 EAGLE CEMENT 15.18 EEI CORP 13.8 EMPERADOR 7.19 ENERGY DEVT 5.05 FIRST GEN 18.26 FIRST PHIL HLDG 66.85 GINEBRA 14 HOLCIM 12.42 INTEGRATED MICR 18.6 IONICS 1.77 JOLLIBEE 249 LMG CHEMICALS 5 MABUHAY VINYL 3.14 MACAY HLDG 23.35 MANILA WATER 31.15 MAXS GROUP 19.2 MEGAWIDE 16.5 MERALCO 277.8 MG HLDG 0.23 PANASONIC 12.7 PEPSI COLA 2.98 PETROENERGY 6.87 PETRON 10.2 PHIL H2O 6.25 PHINMA 9.9 PHINMA ENERGY 1.74 PHX PETROLEUM 12.26 PILIPINAS SHELL 68 PRYCE CORP 6.72 PUREFOODS 310 RFM CORP 4.35 ROXAS HLDG 4.44 SFA SEMICON 2.77 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.28 SPC POWER 4.52 SWIFT FOODS 0.144 TKC METALS 1.19 UNIV ROBINA 150 VITARICH 2.15 VULCAN INDL 0.98

42.75 9.52 0.8 1.39 21 0.228 5.48 17 165.2 38.45 21.2 65 76.2 1.93 6.59 11.56 10.2 15.18 13.9 7.2 5.46 18.36 67 14.36 12.42 19.2 1.8 249 5 3.36 23.35 31.15 19.4 16.6 280 0.23 13.64 3 6.87 10.3 6.49 9.9 1.79 12.3 68.4 6.79 310 4.35 4.44 2.78 13.5 4.52 0.144 1.36 153 2.2 0.98

41.8 9.3 0.78 1.38 19.2 0.221 5.21 16.84 165.2 36.65 21.2 64 75.5 1.92 6.32 11.32 10.08 15 13.46 7.03 4.87 18.06 66.05 13.98 12.4 18.6 1.77 242.2 4.88 3.14 23.35 30.3 19.2 15.82 275.6 0.225 12.7 2.98 6.65 10.1 6.24 9.9 1.74 12.16 68 6.72 309.2 4.35 4.44 2.68 13 4.49 0.143 1.18 149.3 2.14 0.98

ABACORE CAPITAL 0.355 ABOITIZ EQUITY 74.2 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 16.4 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 1.05 ANSCOR 7 ATN HLDG A 0.34 ATN HLDG B 0.345 AYALA CORP 960 COSCO CAPITAL 8.48 DMCI HLDG 15.7 FILINVEST DEV 7.6 FJ PRINCE A 5.5 FORUM PACIFIC 0.201 GT CAPITAL 1,169 HOUSE OF INV 7.67 JG SUMMIT 79 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.01 KEPPEL HLDG A 5.04 KEPPEL HLDG B 5.42 LODESTAR 0.89 LOPEZ HLDG 6.57 LT GROUP 17.1 METRO PAC INV 6.87 MJC INVESTMENTS 3.49 PACIFICA 0.048 PRIME MEDIA 1.3 PRIME ORION 2.05 SAN MIGUEL CORP 97.4 SEAFRONT RES 2.61 SM INVESTMENTS 864.5 SOLID GROUP 1.45 TOP FRONTIER 292.4 UNIOIL HLDG 0.275 WELLEX INDUS 0.197

0.355 74.5 16.4 1.11 7 0.345 0.345 985 8.52 15.84 7.77 5.5 0.201 1,190 7.88 79.2 5.01 5.06 5.42 0.9 6.57 18 6.9 3.56 0.05 1.47 2.05 97.8 2.61 875 1.45 292.4 0.275 0.198

0.345 73.3 16.14 1.05 6.84 0.335 0.345 950 8.35 15.68 7.55 5.5 0.2 1,157 7.63 76.25 5.01 5.04 5.42 0.86 6.41 17.06 6.71 3.49 0.047 1.3 2.03 97.2 2.61 859 1.41 281 0.275 0.197

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

0.315 0.5 0.47 5.96 26.5 1.79 3.18 34.6 1.03 0.87 6.28

0.32 0.5 0.495 6.19 26.5 1.85 3.2 35 1.04 0.87 6.28

0.305 0.49 0.47 5.95 26.1 1.79 3.17 34.55 1.02 0.87 6.13

0.32 0.495 0.495 6 26.5 1.82 3.2 35 1.04 0.87 6.15

46,860,000 4,580,000 4,420,000 886,300 1,278,600 899,000 87,000 10,360,200 997,000 5,000 1,809,000

14,820,150 2,245,650 2,162,650 5,352,953 33,714,805 1,642,860 276,140 360,950,535 1,027,720 4,350 11,173,261

252,000 78,450 601,585 -692,095 531,390 -61,078,000 -5,342,794

2GO GROUP 20.6 ABS CBN 40.55 ACESITE HOTEL 1.93 APC GROUP 0.57 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.039 ASIAN TERMINALS 11.18 BERJAYA 5.09 BLOOMBERRY 10.74 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.072 CEBU AIR 106.9 CENTRO ESCOLAR 8.67 CHELSEA 9.98 DFNN INC 7.01 EASYCALL 3.27 GLOBE TELECOM 2,024 GMA NETWORK 6.08 GOLDEN HAVEN 16 HARBOR STAR 2.45 IMPERIAL 2.85 INTL CONTAINER 104 IPEOPLE 12 IPM HLDG 8.41 ISLAND INFO 0.156 ISM COMM 1.33 JACKSTONES 3.1 LBC EXPRESS 16.06 LEISURE AND RES 4.36 LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.23 MACROASIA 15.9 MANILA BULLETIN 0.55 MANILA JOCKEY 2.49 MELCO RESORTS 7.88 METRO RETAIL 4.3 MLA BRDCASTING 18.5 NOW CORP 2.38 PAL HLDG 5.16 PHIL RACING 8.1 PHIL SEVEN CORP 170 PHILWEB 9.4 PLDT 1,620 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.6 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.395 PUREGOLD 50.4 ROBINSONS RTL 100.2 SBS PHIL CORP 5.85 SSI GROUP 4.54 STI HLDG 1.48 TRANSPACIFIC BR 2.09 TRAVELLERS 3.85 WATERFRONT 1.24 WILCON DEPOT 8.6

20.7 40.6 1.98 0.59 0.04 11.5 5.1 10.78 0.073 108.5 9.1 10.1 7.15 3.27 2,048 6.08 16.2 2.58 2.95 105.4 12 8.42 0.16 1.35 3.18 16.06 4.4 1.35 16.4 0.55 2.93 7.98 4.3 18.5 2.38 5.18 8.1 170 10 1,630 1.6 0.4 51.7 101.2 6 4.54 1.51 2.09 3.85 1.29 8.86

19.9 40.5 1.8 0.56 0.039 11.18 5.05 10.42 0.071 106.9 8.67 9.94 6.72 3.27 2,014 6 15.92 2.38 2.85 102.5 12 8.41 0.151 1.33 3.08 15.7 4.15 1.22 15.4 0.55 2.48 7.62 4.2 18.5 2.34 5.1 7.8 170 9.33 1,604 1.58 0.395 49.7 98.5 5.83 4.4 1.46 2.09 3.78 1.24 8.6

SERVICES 20 62,000 40.5 34,900 1.84 3,160,000 0.57 4,907,000 0.04 49,000,000 11.5 21,200 5.05 11,100 10.42 12,350,200 0.071 15,990,000 108.5 141,850 9.1 2,500 9.94 1,831,300 7.01 414,300 3.27 10,000 2,048 55,375 6.01 596,000 16.04 76,200 2.58 2,533,000 2.95 17,000 103.9 802,060 12 200 8.42 192,500 0.16 5,520,000 1.35 137,000 3.17 8,000 16.06 3,000 4.3 2,341,000 1.3 1,266,000 15.76 6,499,700 0.55 15,000 2.9 7,776,000 7.7 9,135,200 4.21 274,000 18.5 500 2.36 799,000 5.15 8,800 8.1 18,900 170 3,310 9.42 3,340,400 1,615 216,715 1.59 27,874,000 0.395 1,070,000 51.7 1,954,320 98.5 13,370,460 5.99 54,700 4.41 474,000 1.51 4,560,000 2.09 2,000 3.81 1,197,000 1.25 12,758,000 8.86 1,496,700

1,246,185 1,415,220 5,959,800 2,810,260 1,945,900 240,844 56,235 130,491,836 1,143,720 15,290,398 22,312 18,274,991 2,846,627 32,700 112,408,430 3,593,232 1,218,998 6,277,630 49,050 83,391,562 2,400 1,618,950 850,650 183,370 25,070 47,532 9,932,340 1,643,090 103,392,234 8,250 21,685,100 71,321,460 1,158,790 9,250 1,885,420 45,390 150,570 562,700 32,264,492 349,052,810 44,324,360 423,950 98,371,669 1,333,831,312.50 320,572 2,106,010 6,831,440 4,180 4,556,780 16,098,880 13,027,481

65,520 -228,000 5,691,022 611,994 -2,539,931 -612,577 -61,908,100 196,874 -54,169,800 60,800 -1,073,420 2,858,350 -84,200 51,246,752 -113,840 11,845 -94,320 -525,300 -5,390,803 -248,914,835 75,000 -64,500 -20,448,073.50 -398,082,464.50 730,030 560,750 722,970 30,720 3,490,493

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 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

0.0025 1.93 4.69 17 2 1.46 0.39 8.9 2.85 0.265 0.18 0.192 0.01 0.011 1.98 6.85 1.79 0.52 1.02 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.44 8.33 7.49 45.35 0.0078

0.0026 2.08 4.78 18.2 2 1.61 0.39 8.9 2.93 0.27 0.181 0.192 0.011 0.011 1.99 7.09 1.79 0.53 1.04 0.012 0.012 0.013 2.44 8.4 8.34 46 0.0078

0.0025 1.87 4.59 16.1 2 1.43 0.385 8.7 2.81 0.255 0.178 0.188 0.01 0.011 1.91 6.84 1.63 0.52 1 0.012 0.012 0.012 2.44 8.32 7.13 45 0.0078

MINING & OIL 0.0026 65,000,000 2.02 65,850,000 4.6 1,563,000 17.7 47,400 2 24,000 1.55 10,573,000 0.39 1,260,000 8.79 4,000 2.82 11,001,000 0.265 1,210,000 0.18 5,080,000 0.188 1,580,000 0.011 41,600,000 0.011 18,300,000 1.93 579,000 6.9 3,032,200 1.69 152,000 0.53 132,000 1.04 1,101,000 0.012 31,300,000 0.012 200,000 0.012 139,100,000 2.44 102,000 8.34 92,200 8.22 33,033,500 45.5 1,799,300 0.0078 284,000,000

165,200 132,109,290 7,235,870 790,132 48,000 16,101,550 490,850 34,991 31,424,240 314,950 909,120 299,860 444,000 201,300 1,119,770 21,001,263 257,050 68,660 1,117,760 375,600 2,400 1,669,300 248,880 769,212 261,002,030 81,502,200 2,215,200

-7,800 1,101,880 81,920 -43,140 -1,784,560 9,500 -189,200 -37,332 -341,929 3,414,422 -12,843,125 101,400

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2I

40.6 530 106 104.6 117 530 5.79 1,030 1,015 103.5 112.9 75.2 80.5 81 79.4

40.6 530 106.6 109.2 117 530 5.79 1,040 1,015 103.5 112.9 75.2 80.5 81.5 79.4

40.55 530 106 104.6 117 530 5.75 1,030 1,013 103.5 112.9 75.2 80.5 81 78.95

PREFERRED 40.6 7,800 530 100 106.6 300 109.2 110 117 4,200 530 1,000 5.75 331,800 1,039 1,535 1,013 1,500 103.5 330 112.9 80 75.2 1,650 80.5 36,000 81 30,750 78.95 84,520

316,675 53,000 31,910 11,552 491,400 530,000 1,907,978 1,585,895 1,520,500 34,155 9,032 124,080 2,898,000 2,492,100 6,683,344

308,565.00 -1,907,399 -124,080 238,200

LR WARRANT

2.6

2.6

2.51

WARRANTS 2.55 751,000

1,920,970

-25,600

4.3 4.77 5.7

4.21 4.5 5.55

SME 4.21 4.55 5.61

111,000 57,000 1,280,500

471,350 260,330 7,178,576

9,000 -2,166,274

123.9

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 123.5 123.9 19,010

2,352,589

NAME

OPEN

MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

MS

HOLDING FIRMS 0.355 250,000 74.5 2,250,220 16.3 10,708,300 1.11 2,216,000 6.9 63,200 0.34 1,620,000 0.345 10,000 980 254,930 8.48 1,373,600 15.72 13,637,500 7.55 70,100 5.5 10,000 0.2 740,000 1,190 107,520 7.63 100,700 79.2 2,099,670 5.01 200 5.04 5,000 5.42 100 0.87 421,000 6.41 756,900 18 1,315,500 6.77 27,715,100 3.5 37,000 0.049 11,400,000 1.46 484,000 2.03 165,000 97.6 243,520 2.61 23,000 875 695,970 1.41 301,000 292.4 10,930 0.275 60,000 0.198 910,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4.26 4.76 5.7

FIRST METRO ETF 123.7

6,195

DDS 8990 HLDG 5.17 A BROWN 1.19 ANCHOR LAND 10.72 ARANETA PROP 2.33 ARTHALAND CORP 1.03 AYALA LAND 43.5 BELLE CORP 3.75 CEB LANDMASTERS 5.29 CEBU HLDG 5.3 CENTURY PROP 0.51 CITY AND LAND 1.32 CITYLAND DEVT 1.49 CROWN EQUITIES 0.247 CYBER BAY 0.48 DOUBLEDRAGON 41.55 EMPIRE EAST 0.68 EVER GOTESCO 0.147 FILINVEST LAND 2.05 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.5 IRC PROP 0.9 MEGAWORLD 5.1

5.17 1.19 10.72 2.33 1.04 43.9 3.8 5.3 5.4 0.52 1.35 1.49 0.265 0.49 41.6 0.69 0.147 2.05 1.53 0.92 5.22

4.99 1.14 9.9 2.3 1.01 43.1 3.71 5.16 5.3 0.51 1.32 1.48 0.245 0.48 40.8 0.68 0.147 1.97 1.49 0.9 5.1

PROPERTY 4.99 831,500 1.15 8,023,000 10 22,100 2.31 239,000 1.04 1,845,000 43.6 15,296,600 3.76 591,000 5.25 1,889,300 5.3 26,400 0.52 5,914,000 1.35 478,000 1.49 126,000 0.26 88,750,000 0.49 2,230,000 40.8 171,400 0.69 544,000 0.147 10,000 1.97 21,402,000 1.53 3,298,000 0.92 323,000 5.18 32,618,100

USD DMPL A1 4,171,953 9,245,400 223,712 552,050 1,891,670 665,977,945 2,224,500 9,897,438 140,460 3,037,280 642,360 187,700 22,834,550 1,078,000 7,032,945 370,130 1,470 42,702,600 4,990,930 294,390 168,567,011

-2,580,966 -55,200.00 -50,000 -425,242,055 -106,130 369,472 614,120 -2,575,000 -14,400 -282,085 -514,660 -7,650 -47,315,726.00

11

11

TRADING SUMMARY

11

11

SHARES

VALUE

FINANCIAL

25,993,353

1,115,801,018.80

INDUSTRIAL

370,250,523

2,749,466,560.17

80,366,443

2,063,839,867.21

HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY

258,429,953

1,448,423,362.30

SERVICES

195,571,811

2,509,245,210.636

MINING & OIL

718,841,143

561,976,351.4144

GRAND TOTAL

1,650,922,517

10,459,023,216.83

3,000

33,000

-

FINANCIAL 1,972.74 (up) 7.86 INDUSTRIAL 11,122.07 (up) 112.27 HOLDING FIRMS 8,328.40 (up) 43.43 PROPERTY 3,879.68 (up) 19.25 SERVICES 1,693.70 (down) 12.07 MINING & OIL 13,932.70 (up) 67.31 PSEI 8,221.92 (up) 51.78 All Shares Index 4,851.09 (up) 19.23 Gainers: 106; Losers: 103; Unchanged: 39; Total: 248

rose 0.4 percent, while Paris and Frankfurt were each 0.2 percent higher.

However, the yen—which surged Tuesday on safe-haven buying after Pyongyang accused Trump of declaring war on it and said it may shoot down US bombers— was being pegged back by the dollar in Tokyo.

The greenback returned to favor after Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen indicated the bank would press on with its plan to raise borrowing costs, saying the US economy was strong enough to withstand it.

Analysts said her comments suggested she did not want to take too long to raise rates and end up having to introduce sharper increases down the line—which could risk a recession.

“In lay terms: ‘we just can’t wait till we see the whites of inflation’s eyes, that would be too late’,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

The dollar rose well above 112 yen in New York Tuesday, having sat around the 111.50 yen level earlier in the day.

And in Asia the US unit extended its gains towards 113 yen ahead of the longawaited release of details on Trump’s tax plan, which he said would cut the burden “not just a little bit, but tremendously” for the middle class.

His market-friendly promise to cut taxes, ramp up infrastructure spending and slash red tape helped drive a global rally after his November election but a series of crises and setbacks in Congress have thrown his agenda off track.

With Bloomberg, AFP

PhilWeb eyes profit by 2018

By Jenniffer B. Austria ONLINE gaming company Philweb Corp. said Wednesday it expects to return to profitability by 2018, after regaining accreditation as an electronic games service provider of stateowned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Phillweb president Dennis Valdes said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting the company was waiting for the actual certificate of accreditation from Pagcor to start operations.

“Once we have the certificate of accreditation, then we can start approaching the operators,” Valdes said.

Valdes said he was hoping to win back 120 independent gaming operators that used to work with Philweb. “We probably cannot have one quarter to turn around our losses, but definitely by 2018,” Valdes said.

Philweb chairman Gregorio Amanita III said he was optimistic about the company’s operations. “We have high expectations on our operations,” Araneta said.

Philweb regained its accreditation in August as an electronic service provider for Pagcor after more than a year of non-operations.

As an accredited EGS service provider, it can offer its software and other services to the operators of Pagcorlicensed gaming sites for electronic games.

Pagcor earlier said that an electronics service provider accreditation process “will allow for a level playing field for any qualified provider” such that the different operators of electronic gaming outlets would be able to choose the service provider or providers that could best assist them in operating their outlets.

Manila

Business

B3

Standard

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

TODAY

Meralco sees sales volume rising 5%

By Alena Mae S. Flores

M

anila Electric Co., the biggest electricity retailer, expects sales volume to grow 5 percent this year in the face of increased demand across all sectors.

“This year, we’re seeing close... to (growth of) five percent (from) a high base,” Meralco president Oscar Reyes told reporters in a chance interview.

Meralco, which has over six million customers in its franchise area, reported sale volume expanded slightly above 8 percent to 40,132 gigawatt-hours in 2016.

“On year-to-date, as of August,

growth was about 4.2 percent. We’ve seen growth to be around six percent for the balance of the year. It’s been six percent since July,” Reyes said.

The company said sales volume in the first six months rose three percent to 20,338 gWh. He said residential customers had a “slow three months” of demand because of the cool weather. The demand picked up later as more residential developments were put up.

“With economic growth, there’s rising affluence, even for residential,” Reyes said.

He said commercial demand also remained strong with activity coming from real estate, trade, BPOs, online gaming operations, new hotels and

restaurants.

The industrial segment had also been growing seven percent over the last two months, he said.

Reyes declined to give a full-year net income projection, although the company reported a core net income of P10.1 billion in the first half, down two percent from P10.388 billion year-on-year, due to lower non-electricity revenues.

Reported net income, which excludes effects of foreign exchange gains or losses, mark to market adjustments and other one-time exceptional transactions, declined three percent to P10.5 billion from P10.768 billion on year on lower revenues from non-electric subsidiaries.

Reyes, meanwhile, said the series of yellow alerts in the Luzon grid since late August underscored the need for additional power capacities to meet the increasing demand.

“I think it just shows potential vulnerability of the entire system and you’re better with adequate capacity. If we cut it too thinly, and there are a bit delays, then we’re going into a situation as we move to 2019-2022,” he said.

Reyes said Meralco did not want to raise the alarm but “it’s really just a realization that you’re better off with adequate capacity because it takes time to build, its not instant noodles.”

Power plants take at least three years to build. Meralco has over 3,500 megawatts of capacity, pend-

ing the approval of its supply contracts with seven power generators.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that ORMOC SOLAR ENERGY CORP. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Renewable Energy Developer of Solar Energy Resources (126MW Mauban Solar Power Project) in Pagbilao, Quezon to avail of the incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA9513).

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service (MS-SEPT. 28, 2017)

Nestlé tackles polluter charge GLOBAL food and beverage giant Nestle vowed Tuesday to address allegations by Greenpeace that it was polluting the world’s oceans with cheap plastic packaging for its Philippine products.

In a report released in Manila last week, the environmental group tagged the Philippines as the “third-worst polluter into the world’s oceans” after China and Indonesia.

It blamed this on the use by Western consumer giants including Nestle of cheap disposable plastic to package everything from coffee and chips to shampoo and toothpaste.

These low-value and singleuse sachets, aimed at poorer consumers, are not recyclable and usually end up in landfill or as litter or marine debris, according to Greenpeace.

“We welcome continued discussions with Greenpeace, including the sharing of any resource or existing research that Greenpeace may provide on more efficient packaging solutions,” said a Nestle statement sent to AFP Tuesday.

It said it was working “with stakeholders to improve recycling and recovery rates” and encourage consumers to dispose of waste plastic properly.

Nestle representatives met a Greenpeace campaigner on Friday to discuss its solid waste management.

However, a Greenpeace spokeswoman has told AFP the company’s solutions presented at the meeting were at odds with the movement’s campaign for a complete ban on singleuse plastics in favor of refillable containers. AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that HORUS SOLAR ENERGY CORP. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as Renewable Energy Developer of Solar Energy Resources (45.4MW Bataan Solar Power Project) in Morong, Bataan to avail of the incentives under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA9513).

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) NESTOR P. ARCANSALIN Director Resource-based Industries Service (MS-SEPT. 28, 2017)

N OTICE

INGRAM MICRO CENTER. Fortune 100 and wholesale technology distribution world leader Ingram Micro inaugurates a new facility in Two World Square, Upper McKinley, Taguig City that now serves as a new home for hundreds of associates. Ingram Micro Global Shared Services–Manila executives led by managing director Junar Amador (center) leads the ribbon cutting ceremony. He is joined

by Global In-house Center Council Chairperson Karen de Venecia-Batungbacal (fifth from left), Megaworld Corp. senior vice president Jericho Go (third from left) and Joy Cruz (fourth from right) representing Taguig City.

Britain bullish after resumption of beef shipments to PH

By Othel V. Campos BRITISH beef exports to the Philippines are expected to complement other sources such as the US and Australia.

“It is good to have it reestablished in the Philippines.

It’s rather been a long time and it’s likely we are starting over again,” UK trade envoy to the Philippines Richard Graham said in a briefing Wednesday.

Britain plans to export about €34 million worth of beef exports annually. It exports about €350 million or roughly $500 million million worth of beef to the world.

Negotiations for the re-export of British beef to the Philippines took eight to nine years following a series of accreditation process and hygienic certification for British cow farms.

“What is significant here is the incredible factor of symbolism.

Beef is a big part of our psyche.

It is nice that the Philippines has decided to include British beef among its niche exports,” Graham said.

The Philippine Animal Bureau and the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs agreed to resume British beef trade on August 9, 2017.

British Embassy trade and

investment director Mike Moon said UK had successfully passed the system wide accreditation procedure required by the Philippine Agriculture Department.

The British government said UK had been free from the mad cow disease a long time ago, that it was only the Philippines that took time to reestablish connections to the UK beef sector.

The UK has been exporting to Southeast Asia in the last few years. Singapore and Tokyo were among the big markets for British beef.

British beef will cater to upscale markets as a niche product.

One Belt, One Road romantic but valueless for PH IN 2017 the two countries with the world’s largest economies have been moving in totally opposite directions. The US took steps towards the loosening or severance of its ties to international institutions and arrangements—the UN, the Climate Change Treaty, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) and the six-party Iranian nuclear treaty – and towards making America a more nationalistic, less outward-looking country. China, on the other hand, widened its circle of friends and embarked on projects and started initiatives intended to extend the reach of its diplomatic and economic influence.

By far the largest and most significant of these projects are the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Twenty-First Century Maritime Silk Road—conveniently shortened to One Belt, One Road. In keeping with his expression of profound admiration for China, President Rodrigo Duterte attended the projects’ rollout early this year.

The adjective that first comes to mind when one contemplates the One Belt and One Road projects is imaginative. The proposed One Belt seeks to re-install the Silk Road that made possible travel and commerce during the storied days of Marco Polo and Genghis Khan. Mention of the Silk Road evokes images of trade caravans and human hordes traversing mountains and plains and crossing rivers to bring people and products from the Far East to the Near East and Europe. Many centuries

after its existence, the original Silk Road continues to impart its romantic imagery.

Another adjective that quickly comes to mind when contemplating the One Belt and One Road projects is gigantic. They will involve close to 60 countries on three continents—Asia, Europe and Africa – and a host of international institutions, including the Chinese-created Asian International Infrastructure Bank (AIIB). Considering that many of the Asian countries to be traversed by the Silk Road Economic Belt project formed part of the erstwhile USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), it is obvious that the project would not, for political reasons, have been possible prior to 1991, by which year Ukraine, Moldova and the former Soviet republics in the Caucasus region and Central Asia (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenial, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) gained their freedom. The Arabian Peninsula and Northeastern Africa will also fall within the ambit of the new Silk Road, as they did with its predecessor.

The third adjective that readily comes to mind when contemplating the One Belt and One Road projects is complicated. The projects will involve the participation and need the support of countries whose political systems range from democracy to dictatorship and whose economic systems range from capitalism to total State control. Thus, the implementation of One Belt and One Road will require, to the greatest extent possible, an apolitical and economically neutral approach on the part of its Chinese

sponsor. President Xi Jin-Ping and his Beijing colleagues will have to navigate their way through the varied political and economic systems with utmost dexterity.

For political reasons, the present administration, which is headed by a president who feels profound admiration and strong friendship toward China, was expected to quickly indicate support for One Belt and One Road.

The newly elected President Duterte lost no time accepting his Chinese counterpart’s invitation to the projects’ rollout.

But do One Belt and One Road have much economic significance for the Philippines? The answer is No. Most of Philippine trade is with Northeast Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hongkong), the European Union and the US. For its trade with Northeast Asia and the US, this country will have no use for the Twenty First Century Maritime Silk Road. And it will have no use, either, for it in Philippine export trade with the EU countries; the shipping routes through the Straits of Malacca and the Suez Canal have been in place for a long time. The Philippines has very little trade with the Central Asian and Caucasus-region countries.

The project to reinstall the Silk Road is an enormously romantic and richly historic undertaking. It deserves this country’s approbation and support. But in terms of economics and trade it has no practical significance for the Philippines.

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

Notice is hereby given that CLEANWAY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, INC. with office address at Meridian Industrial Complex II, Brgy. Maguyam, Silang, Cavite, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Operator of Industrial Waste Treatment Facility under the Preferred List-Strategic Services (Utilization Anaprobic Digestion System) on a non-pioneer status, with project site located at AD Constructed at Meridian Industrial Complex II, Brgy.

Maguyam, Silang, Cavite.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-SEPT. 28, 2017)

BONIFACIO DRIVE, SOUTH HARBOR, PORT AREA, MANILA 1018, PHILIPPINES, P.O. BOX 436, MANILA, PHILIPPINES TEL. NO. (0632) 527-8356, FAX NO. (0632) 527-4855 HTTP://WWW.PPA.COM.PH

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE DESIGN, LAY-OUT, PHOTOGRAPHY, MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION, COPYEDITING AND PROOFREADING AND PRINTING OF CY 2016 PPA ANNUAL REPORT The Philippine Ports Authority, through the Corporate Budget of the Authority for CY 2017, intends to apply the sum of P 1,500,000.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Service Provider for the Design, Lay-out, Photography, Manuscript Preparation, Copyediting and Proofreading and Printing of CY 2016 PPA Annual Report (BAC-PGCS-03-2017). Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The Philippine Ports Authority now invites bids for A. Conceptualization of Design B. Lay-out C. Photography D. Manuscript Preparation, Copyediting and Proofreading E. Production, Printing and Packaging. Delivery of the Goods is required within ninety (90) calendar days from the receipt by the successful bidder of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 28 September 2017 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Five Thousand (P5,000.00) Pesos.

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

The Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 06 October 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the PPA Function Room, 7th Floor, PPA Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila, which shall be open to all prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 19 October 2017 at 9:00 a.m. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the bidding documents.

Bid opening shall be on 19 October 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the 7th Floor, PPA Building, A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted.

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

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat, Philippine Ports Authority 5th Floor, PPA Bldg., A. Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila Telephone/Fax No. 527-47-35 527-83-56 to 83 loc. 539 PPA Website: www.ppa.com.ph ADRIAN FERDINAND S. SUGAY Chairperson, PPA Head Office Bids and Awards Committee for the Procurement of Goods and Consultancy Services (HO-BAC-PGCS) Standard – Sept. 28, 2017

LGUs

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

B4

thursday, september 28, 2017

LocaL government units

DA: More garlic from Cagayan Valley

By Abe Almirol

CHAMBER DONATION. Bonifacio Lui (fifth from right), chairman of the Welfare Committee of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., leads the ribbon-cutting for a new school building at Barangay Bucal Sur Elementary School in Candelaria, Quezon (inset) donated by FFCCCI director Nelson Licup (third from left). Assisting them were Candelaria Mayor Macario D. Bongaling, FFCCCI director Kimson Cua, Carlos Licup, Peter Licup, Lucy Copoc, and project director Engineer Rey Atienza. Benjie A. Antioquia

24 Cavite LGUs run quake drill BACOOR, Cavite—At least 24 local government units and private establishments in Cavite province participated in Wednesday’s Nationwide Simultaneous earthquake Drill organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Strike Gymnasium on Molino Boulevard in Bacoor served as the ceremonial “base area” of the drill, while Cavite’s other cities— Dasmariňas, Imus, Cavite City, Trece Martires, Tagaytay and General Trias—also conducted drills.

The province practiced the NDRRMC’s Duck, Cover and Hold for Safety program as it built awareness for the possible incident. The program aims to improve the people’s preparedness especially of the anticipated “Big One” earthquake.

The third-quarter nationwide drill was originally scheduled for Sept. 21, but the national government opted to move the exercise to Sept. 27, after the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte of a National Day of Protest.

Curfew info drive set

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

He city government of Makati is set to hold a citywide information campaign among residents, community leaders and local law enforcers in connection with the full implementation of curfew hours for minors in the city.’

The move, according to Mayor Abigail Binay, was made to ensure that residents and barangay officials they fully understand the provisions of the newly-enacted City Ordinance 2017-098 dubbed as “The Child Protection Ordinance of the City of Makati.”

The ordinance prescribes curfew hours in the city

from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily for children below 18 years old and those of legal age but have a mental handicap or learning disability.

The city government came up with the new ordinance to protect and save the children from getting involved in illegal drugs and other criminal activity, and prevent them from be-

ing victimized by criminal elements during wee hours.

“I have directed the liga ng mga Barangay to spearhead the information drive and coordinate with the concerned city government offices to ensure that residents, barangay officials and deputized enforcers fully understand the ordinance,” Binay said.

She added that major provisions of the ordinance will be explained in simple language in community meetings, leaflets and newsletters, and through infographics and videos posted on My Makati Facebook page and Makati portal (http://www.makati.gov. ph), among others.

Among the provisions that will be emphasized in the information drive are the list of public areas declared as offlimits to minors during curfew, protocols in handling rescued minors, and the penalties the ordinance imposes on the parent or guardian of a rescued minor.

The newly passed ordinance, which amends Section 8.5 of “The Makati City Child and Youth Welfare Ordinance” (City Ordinance No. 2004-A017), declares it unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit or allow a child to remain in any public place within the city during curfew hours.

Quezon promotes Biñan cops to town chiefs lUCeNA CITY—The Quezon Police Provincial Office completed a reshuffle on Wednesday, promoting three Biňan City police officers as the new chiefs of police for the towns of Mauban, Agdangan and Guinayangan.

Sworn into their new posts in a turnover ceremony were Chief Inspector Rodelio M. Calawit, who will now lead the Mauban Municipal Police Station; Senior Inspector Rey-

naldo J. labitoria for Agdangan MPS; and Senior Inspector Reynaldo DB Dalumpienes for Guinayangan MPS. Acting Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Rhoderick C. Armamento said the new COPs are “competent and with a high standard of commitment and dedication at their respective anchored police stations.”

Supt. June P. Urriquia, deputy provincial director for Administration, presided over the turno-

ver ceremonies.

As for the outgoing officers, Senior Inspector Marian Rose Cost will move from the Mauban MPS to the Calabarzon Police Regional Office, Senior Inspector eric Veluz, will transfer from Guinayangan to the lucena City Police, and Senior Inspector Reden l. Romasanta will go from Agdangan to the Quezon Provincial Public Safety Company.

Benjie Antioquia

This includes streets, highways, roads, sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, parks, alleys, playgrounds, curbs, gutters, driveways, walkways, and public buildings.

Also off-limits to children during curfew hours are common areas in and around churches, apartment buildings, office buildings, hospitals, schools; shops and places of entertainment such as computer shops, internet café, movie theaters and similar places or establishments; and places of amusement and eating places, whether inside or outside a motor vehicle, or other unsupervised places.

SAN MATeO, Isabela— The Regional Field Office No. 2 of the Department of Agriculture vowed to work harder to boost the production of garlic, a controversial commodity that recently gained national attention after Senator Cynthia Villar raised a legislative inquiry on import permits.

“The Department of Agriculture will intensify garlic production in the whole of Cagayan Valley,” declared DA Regional executive Director Narciso A. edillo in his regular morning program “Director’s Hour” on radio DWDA based in Tuguegarao City on Monday. edillo also mentioned other spices like ginger and onion. “This is in response to the marching order of [Agriculture] Secretary emmanuel F. Piňol to conduct field trials in all regions,” he said.

“Taking note of the national demand, only 6 percent are coming from local production. It means we are dependent on other countries to supply our needs,” edillo said.

DA will hold technology demonstrations at its research stations and in various research facilities of state colleges and universities nationwide.

A regional technology forum will be held sometime in November to map out strategies to lower the country’s dependence on imported garlic, the agency announced.

In BrIef cv rehab center to double capacity BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The capacity of the Department of Health’s Regional Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Cagayan Valley will be doubled before the end of the year, the center’s chief said on Wednesday.

The 50-bed center, located in Barangay San Antonio in Ilagan City, Isabela, currently houses at least 10 patients, former illegal drug users needing total physical and psychological transformation.

“But this will be developed into a 100-bed capacity rehabilitation and treatment center by the end of this year to cater to our other illegal drug users, who will be screened and classified as highly and severely dependent to illegal drugs,” said Dr. Charity Canapi, RDRTC chief, during the joint meeting of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Council and Provincial Peace and Order Council.

Since its opening in April this year, the two-hectare center offers dietary and workshop center, kitchen, patients quarters, lockers, multi-purpose covered court, physical fitness gym, and livelihood training center, among others.

It also offers, spiritual, psychological, mental and physical transformation activities and sessions to enable the patients in leaving their dependency on illegal drugs. Ben Moses Ebreo

caloocan lauded for ‘Kasuotan’ participation CAlOOCAN Mayor Oscar Malapitan on Wednesday thanked and recognized the city government employees for participating in the local celebration of linggo ng Kasuotan Pilipino.

The program held at Plaza Rizal was led by the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office under the supervision of officer in charge Gigi David.

In a speech delivered by CATO action officer Marianne Kathleen Mendoza, she said in Filipino: “it is during this time that the ethnic costumes of our race in the different parts of the Philippines—in luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—are showcased and remembered.”

The program is in response to the 894 Proclamation signed by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, where he declared, the country’s policy to promote, encourage and develop a major socioeconomic activity. Jun David

tesda, embassies tie up for language training THe Technical education and Skills Development Authority will coordinate with foreign embassies in the country to help improve the language proficiency and culture training of Filipinos who wish to work abroad.

Tesda Director General Guiling Mamondiong said that the language proficiency and culture training program of the agency would help the Overseas Filipino Workers communicate easily and learn about the culture of the country they have chosen.

A recent study has shown that training on language and culture will boost the appreciation and understanding of OFWs in their workplace abroad. “language proficiency at the workplace enhances quality service delivery which results in increased productivity and effectiveness. Workplace-based language proficiency and knowledge of the culture of a particular country tend to promote better human relations and provides added security overseas,” Mamondiong said, in a letter addressed to the foreign embassies. Jun David

Life

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

shopping

thuRsday, septemBeR 28, 2017

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LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST. Photographer and men’s style icon Johannes Huebl, together with his model friends, stars in a four-video series inspired by Piaget’s new platform—Sunny Side of Life.

A

S PArT of the Altiplano’s 60th anniversary celebrations, Piaget brings the timeless and effortless elegance of this watchmaking icon to Miami with a series of four videos starring Johannes Huebl.

Joined by his friends, models Jislain Duval, David Miller and Ryan Krause, the photographer and men’s style icon takes in the energy and fun of this sunny destination accompanied by the new editions of the legendary watch. released just in time for this milestone anniversary, these marvels of ultra-thin watchmaking revisits the purist aesthetics and distinctive design vocabulary of Altiplano with refreshing new colors and impeccable new movements.

A weekend in Miami with

Piaget Altiplano The mood and theme of the short films are inspired by Piaget’s new platform—Sunny Side of Life—an invitation to live life to the fullest under the warmth of the sun and enjoy a lifestyle punctuated by radiant moments. Johannes and his companions embrace this invitation and the Miami lifestyle, whether relaxing poolside under the bright sunshine, sitting on a terrace

among friends, strolling beachside or enjoying sunset cocktails on a rooftop overlooking the city. It’s this exhilarating and sophisticated atmosphere infused with bright sunshine that reflects perfectly the Piaget Society’s lifestyle.

From dawn until dusk, the different moments of the day experienced by the young men highlight the versatility of Altiplano, a defining quality of a watch

that has become such an enduring statement of elegance since 1957. With its extreme thinness, it feels like a second skin effortlessly adapting to the lifestyle of the individual who wears it. As worn

by Huebl, it becomes a sophisticated companion to a blazer and linen shirt for a cocktail party or a smart complement to a long-sleeved tee for a casual poolside moment.

As a friend of Piaget, it is not the first time that Johannes Huebl has collaborated creatively with the maison.

Behind the camera, the fashion photographer shot his wife Olivia Palermo for two Possession campaigns.

Throughout 2017, Piaget is celebrating 60 years since its ultra-thin icon made its debut with the release of new limited editions.

Piaget lends support to Only Watch As the premier international watchmaking charity event, Only Watch brings together the creative and technical talent of international watchmakers to help raise funds for scientific and medical research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Held every two years under the Patronage of HrH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Only Watch event exhibits unique watch models especially designed for the occasion by the watchmakers taking part. Piaget is reiterating its support for the initiative by offering a specially created timepiece that will be featured in the charity auction on Nov. 11 in Geneva. Prior to the auction, the watch will be part of a traveling exhibition. It will start at the Monaco Yacht Show from Sept. 27 to 30 before making stops throughout Asia, the Gulf, the United States and Europe.

“By donating this unique piece to the Monaco Association, Piaget is delighted to be able to contribute to the much-needed research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and to help raise awareness for this degenerative neuromuscular disease,” explains Chabi Nouri, Piaget CEO. “Taking part in Only Watch is an invitation to bring forward the unbridled creativity and design for an important cause; and this year the Maison has taken inspiration from an iconic era that powerfully expresses the Piaget look, a style that continues to exercise an inimitably bold appeal through the beauty of its shapes and colours.”

For the seventh edition of Only Watch, Piaget has revisited its heritage as the Maison that defied conventions in the 1950s with an out of the ordinary cushionshaped watchcase. Neither round, square nor rectangular, but all three at once, this unconventional watch displays the finest Piaget goldsmithing with superimposed matt and shiny surfaces to create the depth effect on the case.

As presented in the Only Watch sales catalogue, this atypical piece was one of a number of Piaget watches once owned by cultural icon Andy Warhol, and now part of the Maison’s patrimony.

For Only Watch 2017, Piaget introduces a Black Tie Vintage Inspiration piece in yellow gold recalling the color theme of this year’s edition of Only Watch, featuring a hard stone dial in brown pietersite. Known as the Tempest Stone with its highly charged energy, pietersite is a powerful protection stone, especially against the elements.

The Piaget Black Tie Vintage inspiration watch takes an important piece of cultural heritage and revisits it in present-day mode echoing the audacious style that captured imaginations in the 1950s and 1960s. To underscore the unique nature of this creation, the case-back is engraved with the inscription “Only Watch 2017 – Unique Piece”.

Piaget presents its Black Tie Vintage Inspiration piece for Only Watch 2017

Piaget’s Sunlight Journey collection A collection that features High Jewellery, jewellery watches and Art & Excellence is always a journey to the frontiers of influences and desires that nurture a vision of materials, motifs and lights.

This exploration often creates the most lingering emotions, even if they were to last only one day… Sunlight Journey is therefore an escapade punctuated by the path of the sun and the moods it creates, alternating between gentle meanderings, joyful effervescence and dazzling radiance.

Piaget’s newest collection draws inspiration from the scenic beauty of the Amalfi Coast. A land of fire, volcanoes, and azure blue seas; a land bathed in light, a land where the natural elements unite with strength and passion. Aland rich in culture and artistic expressions;

a land of exchanges and sharing, where life itself is regarded as an intense and refined work of art, echoing the ‘art of living’ locations so greatly prized by the Piaget Society.

Each time of day produces its own light and its distinctive vibe, in which jewellery and watchmaking creations bloom in dazzling colours thanks to the use of exceptional gems such as blue sapphires and yellow diamonds. A journey expressed through a unique pathto the h e a r t of many skills cultivated by the Maison Piaget.

Piaget is exclusively available at The Silver Vault, Rustan’s Makati and City of Dreams Manila.

Piaget’s Sunlight Journey jewellery collection is inspired by the scenic beauty of the Amalfi Coast

Life

c2

thursday, september 28, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Arts and scents with Blackwater B

UDDINg artists and do-ityourself fans recently enjoyed an afternoon of creative selfrealization at the Blackwater’s Art and Scents event.

“Blackwater’s fragrances are very diverse, to suit different personalities and lifestyles,” shared Blackwater brand manager Ivan Bañez. “What we want to do is for our guests to come in and experience self-discovery by engaging their senses – through art, where vision and touch come into play, and through scents where their sense of smell guides them to their preferred product.”

The Blackwater fragrance and grooming collections were displayed on site for guests to pick out their favorites. Using a wide selection of art materials that ranged from stickers and magazine cut-outs to watercolors and pencils, attendees created their own mood boards with Blackwater scents as their inspiration. Finally, a graphologist was present to interpret the guests’ personalities through their handwriting.

Present at the event were Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc. (EBCI) executives, led by EBCI Marketing Manager Olive Padilla, Blackwater Elite brand manager Rhona Tibor, Ever Bilena brand manager Christel Roca, and Ever Bilena Advance brand manager Creole David.

The gloomy weather proved no damper as guests enjoyed their journey to self-discovery, which was indeed made more fun with artistry and Blackwater, the fragrance and grooming line of the country’s leading cosmetics brand Ever Bilena.

To learn more about Blackwater and its products, visit blackwater.com.ph, and follow its social media accounts, www.facebook.com/BlackwaterForMen and Homegrown fragrance label Blackwater recently held an Arts and Scents event wherein guests created mood boards inspired by Blackwater scents www.instagram.com/BlackwaterElite.

Nibbles

DeNtAl CAre

‘Asin’ is in

Cookie and Chocolate in one A ClASSIC joyful treat, Cadbury Dairy Milk levels up your favorite smooth and chocolatey bar by adding a familiar crunch to your snacking time. Now in Manila, Cadbury Dairy Milk welcomes oreo into the mix and indulges your chocolate fixation.

This new flavor comes with the smooth and chocolatey goodness of Cadbury Dairy Milk and crunch of oreo, creating a duet of two well-loved brands that will entice you to give in even more. It’s definitely a perfect fit for chocolate and cookie lovers alike.

At times you want to break some dull moments or give yourself a

quick pick-me-upper, have a Cadbury Dairy Milk oreo to change your day. Experience this delectable new offering from two of your wellloved brands now. Finally, free the joy with Cadbury Dairy Milk oreo.

Cadbury Dairy Milk with oreo is available at supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide. Suggested retail price is Php 46 for the 40g bar. Also available in 60g and 130g bars.

To know more, like Cadbury Dairy Milk on Facebook (www.facebook. com/cadburyph), and follow @CadburyPhl on Twitter and Instagram.

Chewable DHA Gummies HElP support your child’s cognitive development with Scott’s DHA gummies, a rich source of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), an essential fatty acid for healthy brain development, and normal brain growth in children.

Available in delicious orange and strawberry flavors, Scott’s DHA gummies provides 15 perent of the recommended intake of DHA+EPA per daily serving of three gummies, based on the guidelines from WHo and FAo. Scott’s DHA gummies helps moms give their child the right foundations to flourish and build their future. DHA is an important building block of the brain, and a well-functioning brain supports a child’s cognitive abilities such as learning, attention, memory and problem solving. Each gummy is microencapsulated with a patented technology that locks in the goodness of fish oil without the unpleasant taste

and smell, moms would have an easy time giving their kids Scott’s DHA gummies every day.

“By the age of six, a child’s brain by weight is already 90 percent developed. It is therefore crucial for children during their early years to take DHA to help their brain development,” said Jon Derrick Lee, country head for Skin Health and Nutrition, glaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Philippines. “But we understand that some moms might find it difficult for their growing child to drink milk, or struggle to eat DHArich foods such as fish. Scott’s DHA gummies is a perfect supplement to a child’s diet to ensure he gets DHA in a convenient and yummy format.”

More information on Scott’s DHA Gummies can be found at www.scottskids.com/ph. Scott’s DHA Gummies is available in Mercury Drug, Watson’s and leading supermarkets nationwide.

ColgATE, the toothpaste brand most recommended by dentists, introduced to the Philippine market recently Colgate Active Salt Toothpaste that contains the natural goodness of salt. Colgate Active Salt formula combines salt with calcium and minerals and with regular brushing, helps fight germs for healthy gums and strong teeth.

Developed after extensive consumer research, Colgate Active Salt addresses most Filipinos’ pressing oral health concerns. Its refreshing minty taste infused with natural ingredient of salt brings a unique brushing experience.

“Filipinos have a strong affinity with the traditional benefits of salt for oral care. Colgate Active Salt combines this natural ingredient with Colgate’s trusted formula. It is a unique and effective toothpaste perfect for the whole family to use for healthy gums and strong teeth, with regular

Colgate-Palmolive Philippines senior product manager Danai Sirisuvun and Colgate Active Salt brand ambassador Jodi Sta Maria

brushing” said Danai Sirisuvun, senior product manager at ColgatePalmolive Philippines.

Colgate Active Salt is now available

in leading supermarkets and sari-sari stores nationwide in three sizes (P105 for 180g, P85 for 132g, and P25 for 35g (based on suggested retail price).

KiKAy Kit

Internationally renowned Filipina Cosplayer releases own makeup kit

SUPErSTAr cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao dabbles in makeup and releases her first and only collaboration with cult makeup brand NYX Professional Makeup. The Alodia Collection is a makeup kit that’s the stuff of beauty fantasies: a complete collection of NYX Professional Makeup favorites perfect for everyone who want to dip their hands in full-on, everyday makeup.

Alodia Gosiengfiao is the country’s premier cosplay artist. After gaining a following within the industry—being a star staple in cosplay conventions, gaining a slew of international appearances and bagging several magazine covers—she has since expanded her fan base as she dabbled into TV hosting, acting and singing.

Products in the Alodia Collection come in a special box with artwork she designed.

“My inspiration was Japanese anime art. Those with big bright eyes, pink cheeks and cute lips,” she said.

Alodia isn’t only an expert in the art of creative costumes—she’s been crafting makeup tutorial videos in her YouTube account as early as 2011. Her desire to use makeup as a tool to transform herself into who she wants to be led her to be handpicked by NYX Professional Makeup as the first Filipina to curate a special collection with the los Angeles-founded

Lip Lingerie in Ruffle Trim The NYX Professional Makeup signature matte lipstick in a brownish pink tint.

Lip Lingerie in Teddy The NYX Professional Makeup signature matte lipstick in a greige mauve tint.

Eyebrow Gel 02 in Chocolate lightweight and waterproof, this brow gel gives you thicker, fuller brows.

The Adorable Eyeshadow Palette Stay Matte But Not Flat Foundation (light/ Warm Beige/Natural/ Medium Beige) This oil-free, water based foundation has medium coverage with an enriched matte finish.

Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder (in Light/ Warm Beige/Natural/ Medium Beige) A matte setting powder that retains your face’s dimensions, for an on-fleek yet natural look.

Alodia is thrilled to Alodia Gosiengfiao’s first curated makeup kit share this makeup collection with her fans, “I feel playful, creative style. A six-piece very lucky and honored to be able to makeup ensemble, the Alodia Collec- work with an iconic brand with amaztion is a special mix of NYX Profes- ing products. really excited with our sional Makeup products Alodia curated collaboration and looking forward to see how people would use the kit!” herself: brand. Asked about the role of makeup in her everyday life, she said, “For me makeup is art. It enhances your features and you can play around with it to match your look of the day.”

The Alodia Collection is an all-inone kit that represents the cosplayer’s

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Filipino-Chinese news

NOW ON TV

MILESEXPERIENCE releases second single

COOL SOUND. Five-piece rock band MilesExperience returns with an album featuring its chart-topper "Sunshine" and new single "Spaces" (single cover, inset)

F

IVE-PIECE rock band MilesExperience is back with “Spaces,” their follow-up single to their recent chart-topper “Sunshine” which peaked at no. 1 on Spotify Philippines’ Viral 50 chart.

Both songs will be part of the band’s upcoming sophomore album for MCA Music.

Composed of vocalist/guitarist Miles Bondoc, guitarist Justin Teano, bassist Ian Diaz, keyboardist Guido Hizon, and drummer Tim Odulio, MilesExperience is a familiar name to followers of the local music scene everywhere. Whether it’s at an intimate bar gig or at a local festival, indie music lovers have definitely gotten to watch them at a show. There’s no doubt that these boys will rise to the top of the scene in no time with their fierce love for music and steadily growing following.

If their previous single “Sunshine”

stunned listeners with its elaborate production and melody, “Spaces” seeks to do the same, but with less. The new track is “the opposite of Sunshine musically and literally,” the band says. “We wanted to create a piece where the listeners would feel like they’re floating in space with little to zero sound effects in it.” As a song written away from the bustle of city life, “Spaces” admittedly captures the group’s feelings of missing their loved ones in the

isolation of writing their new album.

Along with “Sunshine,” “Spaces” is set to appear on the band’s anticipated full-length album for MCA Music. Among the group’s notable labelmates are Urbandub, Pupil, and Autotelic.

MilesExperience had its beginnings in 2011 as a blues band from UST Conservatory of Music, later on evolving into their revamped, more confident sound in 2014. Aside from topping Spotify Philippines’ Viral 50, “Sunshine” has received ample airplay from major radio stations like Magic 89.9, Jam 88.3, Mellow 94.7, PinasFM 95.5, Play FM 99.5 and Monster RX 93.1. The band’s past singles include the well-received “Love Supreme,” “Silakbo,” and “Anggulo,” which was handpicked to be the main theme song of the local broadcast of European television series “Wolfblood”.

“Spaces” is available through digital downloads via Spinnr and iTunes and streaming at Spinnr, Apple Music, and Spotify.

For bookings and inquiries, contact MCA Music Artist Management at +639989741162 or email mcabooking@ umusic.com.

HOOQ inks exclusive deal with Disney HOOQ – the largest Video on Demand service in South-East Asia – gets exclusive SVOD rights to bring three of Marvel’s latest series – Marvel’s Inhumans, Marvel’s Runaways and Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger – on the same day as the US telecast on their platform for the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, via a newly inked deal with The Walt Disney Company South-East Asia.

While the first chapter of Marvel’s Inhumans has been released last week worldwide in IMAX® theatres, the following episodes will then be available on HOOQ from the end of September with additional exclusive content, not seen in IMAX ® theatres. Next up will be Marvel’s Runaways which debuts on digital on Nov. 21. Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger will be released later on in 2018. All these will have all episodes screened same day as the US telecast.

These three new series will join the collection of Marvel movies and series already on the HOOQ platform – the recent Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, Agent Carter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s the Avengers, Thor, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Captain America – The First Avenger.

This exclusive deal comes shortly after HOOQ announced their collaboration with Disney, earlier this year to bring their latest movies onto the platform via Transactional VOD (TVOD).

“HOOQ is always looking for new ways and partnerships to bring exciting and quality content to our viewers. This tie-up with Disney, which now allows our viewers to catch

their favorite series Inhumans, Runaways and Cloak and Dagger on the same day as the US telecast is something we are very proud of and brings the world of Marvel’s superheroes closer to Asia. Marvel’s series’ now available on HOOQ is the first of many things to come with this tie-up and we will continue to push boundaries, to evolve and stay committed to delivering unique, compelling and edgy stories

to millions of our customers in the region,” said Chief Executive Officer of HOOQ, Peter Bithos.

“We are excited to extend our collaboration with HOOQ in bringing these iconic Marvel shows day and date with the US telecast to digital audiences across Southeast Asia.

We are pleased to offer our Marvel fans yet another platform to enjoy their favourite TV shows” said Amit Malhotra, VP and GM of Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.

Marvel’s Inhumans is the latest series from Marvel Studios and its first chapter is shot completely in IMAX® cameras. After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.

Marvel’s Runaways will be the first TV adaptation of the Marvel comic of the same name, where a group of teenagers find out not only do they have superpowers, but that their parents are supervillains. Torn between filial piety and being heroes, they will face adversaries like never before.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, also follows the characters of the Marvel comic of the same name. Heroes Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen share a symbiotic relationship as a crime fighting duo since they are Light and Darkness incarnate.

These series are all set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, September 28, 2017

ACROSS 1 Allocation 6 Write on glass 10 Was cognizant of 14 Cosmopolitan 15 Diamond Head site 16 Residence 17 — box 18 Shut noisily 19 Keen 20 Fracas 22 Soup go-withs 24 19th letter 26 Escargots 27 Blondie’s — Harry 31 Possibilities 32 Delhi nannies 33 Angry 36 Cen. fractions 39 Wheel parts 40 Elephant tusk 41 Debatable 42 Weather vane dir.

43 Tiny type 44 Rho follower 45 Wordplay 46 More dapper 48 Belgian sleuth Hercule 51 Uproar 52 Nabbed

54 Human robot 59 A Guthrie 60 J in JFK 62 Too bright 63 Short play 64 Ibsen woman 65 Bad move 66 Takes a good look 67 Increased 68 Arrange, as hair DOWN 1 Knock off 2 Lahore language 3 Kimono closers 4 Art colony town 5 Deer’s rack 6 Goddess of dawn 7 Dusting powder 8 Blackens 9 Kindness 10 Tan slacks 11 Gothic romance 12 Sultans’ cousins 13 Leads to the altar 21 That, in Madrid 23 Eating place 25 Hindu god 27 Telegraph syllables 28 Green-egg layers

29 Slugger — Ruth 30 Mild interjections 34 Nonsense!

35 Sports venue 36 Berra of baseball 37 Trevi Fountain site 38 Top player 40 Snubbing 41 Cambridge univ.

43 Distinctive air 44 Larry, Curly and Moe

45 Jet jockeys 47 Sharp tool 48 Cartoon pig 49 Stan’s partner 50 Soprano counterpart 52 Carton 53 Catastrophic 55 Retail center 56 Conceal 57 Singer Billy — 58 Austen heroine 61 Playing marble

CHINATOWN TV started out as a co-produced show with NBN 4 under the name AM@NBN in 2001. After one year, NBN’s change of station format into a sports channel prompted the show to move to IBC 13 and rebranded it as AM@IBC. It became Chinatown TV in 2012 and continued to air on IBC 13 ever since. It also started airing on NET 25 in December 2016.

Chinatown TV is the first and only 60-minute FilipinoChinese lifestyle show on nationwide television. It has also organized several historic events such as the first ever Mr. and Ms. Chinatown, continuous years of nationwide telecast Chinese New Year Celebrations with ABSCBN, event partnerships with global Chinese TV networks both in Mainland China and abroad, to name a few.

On its weekly show, the common topics of Chinatown TV include people, current events, sports, fashion, travel, food, health, learning basic Mandarin, and several other relevant issues to the FilipinoChinese Community. The show airs every Saturday 9 -10 a.m. on NET 25 with replays every Sunday 10-11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on IBC 13.

Now on its 16th year,

Chinatown TV is proud to deliver the first ever, trilingual Filipino-Chinese News Program, entitled CNTV (Chinese News TV).

In its continued journey to promote shared FilipinoChinese culture and keep the public informed on current events both in the Philippines and abroad, CNTV will be the first news program that will be regularly reporting Philippine headlines in Mandarin Chinese. It will also report International headlines using Mandarin as the principal language, with English and Filipino as supporting languages.

In October, CNTV will start airing every Monday to Friday at 7 to 7:30 a.m. on NET 25. The target audience is Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs, parents, and families who check the news every morning before they start their day.

As a 30-minute news show, the aim is to deliver concise and factual headlines both locally and globally, in a language and medium that addresses the FilipinoChinese community. The news anchors are Chinatown TV hosts Candice Tan, Wesley Chua, Monica Shi, as well as Demry Cheng, Ricky Sun, Jin Chen, and Michelle Pan, to name a few.

"The Good Son" lead actor Joshua Garcia flanked

by TV directors Manny Palo (left) and Andoy Ranay (right)

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

W

ITNESS the unusual case of love for family in ABS-CBN’s muchanticipated family drama The Good Son in which four sons fight for their right and seek justice in ABS-CN’s Primetime Bida.

The Good Son surely plays on viewers’ minds every night as its story centers on four brothers who come from different families and search for the truth to prove their innocence in their father’s sudden death.

Rising teen star Joshua Garcia plays Joseph, Racquel’s (Mylene Dizon) kind and responsible son, who does everything to give his family a good life. His brother Obet (McCoy De Leon) brings them laughter and serves as their source of happiness.

They live a simple, happy life even if they are not with their father Victor (Albert Martinez), who keeps their identity a secret, even to his legitimate sons Enzo (Jerome Ponce) and Calvin (Nash Aguas), with the help of his legal wife Olivia (Eula Valdez) to maintain their good reputation.

However, just as they think their lives will go on without them knowing each other’s existence, their paths cross as they receive the worst news of their lives --- Victor dies after being poisoned, and his four sons are the primary suspects for the crime.

This marks the start of Joseph, Obet, Enzo, and Calvin’s battle to prove their innocence and testify their undying love for their father against people’s judgment and accusations.

Who killed Victor? What does the future hold for the families he left? Who among his sons is the real good son?

Meanwhile, fresh from the success of his Star Cinema movie Love You to the Stars and Back, Joshua is thankful for the anticipation and support

Four brothers prove innocence and love for family in

‘THE GOOD SON’

Primetime drama "The Good Son" also features the love team of Alexa Ilacad and Nash Aguas (left) and Elise Joson and McCoy de Leon (right)

Kapamilya’s ‘La Luna Sangre’ shines in 2nd ASEAN-Japan TV Festival ABS-CBN showcased its biggest and top rating fantasy-action drama for 2017, La Luna Sangre, in a special screening before delegates of the second ASEAN-Japan Television Festival in Manila.

The series is one of the most watched and most talked about programs in the Philippines today.

The story revolves around the journey of Malia and Tristan, whose lives intertwine because of a prophecy made under the bloodmoon.

ABS-CBN also exhibited La Luna Sangre alongside the network’s other top dramas Lost Hearts and Wildflower and box office hit movies, such as Finally Found Someone and Love You to the Stars and Back to content buyers in a special ASEAN-Japan market.

The company, represented by business unit head

and TV and film director Ruel Bayani, also joined a one-day workshop on content and production that gave a market overview on ASEAN countries and Japan, and discussed new trends in program development and co-productions, new media platforms, and challenges involving cross-border policies.

As part of the delegates’ final itinerary in the TV fest that ran from Sept. 6 to 9, ABS-CBN welcomed them to its broadcast center and studios where they visited the set of ABS-CBN’s hit noontime show It’s Showtime and kiddie gag show Goin’ Bulilit, met the shows’ producers, and had a quick meet and greet session with breakout reality TV teen stars Kisses Delavin, Marco Gallo, Edward Barber, and Maymay Entrata.

ASEAN-Japan TV fest delegates with the creator and director of ABS-CBN's hit noontime show "Its Showtime"

New season of ‘MacGyver’ on AXN EVERYBODY’S favorite hardware hero is back for more hacks in the all-new season of the action-adventure drama MacGyver, which premieres on AXN this September.

Lucas Till returns as the young Angus “Mac” MacGyver as he continues to find himself in highrisk missions to save lives around the world. With the help of former CIA agent Jack Dalton (George Eads), new Phoenix Foundation

director Matty Weber (Meredith Eaton), hacker specialist Riley Davis (Tristin Mays), and best friend Wilt Bozer (Justin Hires), MacGyver navigates through more life-and-death situations and narrowly escapes using his resourcefulness and vast scientific knowledge.

In the new season, intel extraction specialist Agent Carmen joins the Phoenix Foundation as they join her

in a rescue mission in Turkey.

MacGyver and Dalton embark on a search to find MacGyver’s father. Their lives are put in grave danger as MacGyver once again faces his formidable foe, Murdoc, after the ruthless assassin escapes from prison and plans to kill them all.

MacGyver Season 2 premieres on Sept. 30, and airs every Saturday at 8:50 p.m. within 12 hours of the U. S. telecast.

GMA-7 isn’t stopping to strengthen its commitment to bring world-class and superior entertainment to its audience with exciting stories, relatable dramas and of course, lots of laughs weeknights.

And to make the network’s primetime slate stronger than ever, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, and Heart Evangelista join forces to give the audience an explosive and back-to-back-to-back viewing experience weeknights.

The Kapuso Primetime Queen returns in Super Ma’am followed by the Primetime King’s second season of Alyas Robin Hood, while Philippine TV’s Sweetheart continues to live the ultimate K-drama fangirl’s dreams in My Korean Jagiya.

Brace for the supernaturally fantastic adventures of Minerva Henerala (Marian Rivera), a teacher whose only goal is to nurture her students’ potentials in Super Ma’am. Her entire life extraordinarily changes when she gets attacked by a Tamawo.

From then on, Minerva is no longer just an ordinary teacher.

She becomes the super heroine— Super Ma’am—chosen to be the Tamawo slayer to fight evil forces threatening the city.

Playing an important role in this series is Helen Gamboa as Lolita Honorio, Minerva’s grandmother who will be her guide in her journey as Super Ma’am. Also introducing in this soap is the newest Kapuso heartthrob Matthias Rhoads.

Joining the star-studded cast are Al Tantay, Jackie Lou Blanco, Joyce Ching, Kristoffer Martin, Jillian Ward, Jerald Napoles, Ash Ortega, Enrico Cuenca, Meg Imperial, and Kim Domingo among others.

Dingdong Dantes assures fans they are in for more actionpacked fight scenes and episodes now that Pepe digs up his past and revives his alter ego—Alyas Robin Hood.

Alyas Robin Hood is someone

viewers have given the show before it started airing.

“Our whole team feels pressured (sic) especially now that we are on primetime. But we will use this to motivate us to do better in our work,” said Joshua.

“The show will show how we can take care of and protect our family,” he added. “It is also intriguing that one of the family members killed our father. That is something viewers should watch out for.”

Also part of the stellar cast are this generation’s top teen stars – Loisa Andalio, Elisse Joson, and Alexa Ilacad, with John Estrada, Ronnie Lazaro, Jeric Raval, Alex Medina, and Kathleen Hermoso under the direction of Manny Palo and Andoy Ranay.

The Good Son airs weekdays after La Luna Sangre on ABSCBN.

GMA Telebabad’s

back-to-back-to-back treats

Heart Evangelista and Alexander Lee spread love and good vibes on primetime via "Korean Jagiya"

the viewers, especially its young audience, can look up to. He not only saves the oppressed and helps the less fortunate but also sets a good example by showing his unconditional love to his family. Very Good, Alyas Robin Hood!

Pepe’s (Dingdong Dantes) life is still involved in chaos as his main priority is his family and his search for his mother Judy (Jaclyn Jose). At the same time, Pablo’s (Jay Manalo) group, with the help of Rigor (KC Montero), continues to attack him for protecting Iris (Solenn Heussaff). Unknown to them, Emilio (Edu Manzano) is the mastermind behind all these.

Alongside this tension is the beginning of the exceptionally sexy showdown between Venus (Andrea Torres) and Iris for Pepe’s attention.

Meanwhile, there will be more reasons to get hooked on the first-ever Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series, My Korean Jagiya, as the succeeding episodes get more exciting and interesting.

A wedding in South Korea gave fans non-stop K-lig when Gia (Heart Evangelista) married her ultimate crush, Jun Ho (Alexander Lee) with the blessing of her supportive Tita Josie (Ricky Davao) and Tita Aida (Janice De Belen). During their recent trip to the stunning and picturesque Nami Island in Seoul, Jun Ho wooed Gia and apologized for hurting her feelings. Slowly, Gia’s fangirl dreams unfolded in her eyes and she planned on making Jun Ho fall in love with her for real. Will this fake marriage turn into a real one? Daebak!